The Painting || BTS TAEHYUNG

Chapter 20: Uninvited Surprise

Loud horn trumpets sounded and echoed through the whole castle, announcing the arrival of a royality.

With Princess Jugyeong slightly in front of me I followed her to the big entrance door of the castle to welcome the aunt of the royal family.

Elegance was written all over her from the very first moment she stepped out of her royal palanquin, carried by her four guards through the entrance. The way she carried herself was so beautiful that you couldn't help but stare at her in awe.

She was a woman who had aged beautifully, even though you could spot a few soft wrinkles around her face it didn't make her look old and grumpy, instead she had a dazzling glow on her face which gave her an angelic look every time the sun caressed her skin.

"I've missed you Dear" Her strong but soft voice filled the hall when her eyes met Jugyeong's sparkling eyes.
She slowly approached Jugyeong and pulled her into a tight and warm hug while caressing her dark and braided long hair.

"I've missed you too aunty" She sniffled into her hug which made a smile appear on my lips. While her aunt caressed her pitch black hair, her eyes shifted to Jungkook who was quietly standing in front of Jimin.

She cupped Jugyeong's face in her hands and smiled softly at her before pulling away and approaching Jungkook who was standing straight with no emotions shown on his face.

"When did you grew up into this handsome man my little deer?" I saw a glimpse of sadness in her eyes but she gracefully swayed it away while caressing his cheek with her thumb.

"Glad you are here aunty" Jungkook responded, a slight smile covering his pink lips while a glint of sadness showed in his doe eyes as he bowed to her.

She carefully looked around every corner and raised her eyebrows when she couldn't find what she was searching for.

"Where is my oldest nephew, our great and merciful King?" She finally spoke and broke the tensed silence, one eyebrow arched with an expectant look on her face as she looked at Jugyeong, waiting for an answer.

"Here" His deep voice shook up the hall and ran like a hot chill down my spine, awakening every fibre in my body while causing my swollen heart to beat rapidly against my warm chest.

The guards immediately lined in a row when he made his grand appearance and the maids bowed at him, including me.

His formal garments fell stately on his broad shoulders, his dark and softly waved bangs fell above his eyes dark eyes while he coldly looked at his aunt who seemed a little taken back by his sudden appearance.

His dark eyes curiously looked around the hall and I couldn't help but smile when his eyes captured mine in the middle of all the royalities.

"It has been a long time" His attention was now fully on her and the way the words left his mouth made me tense up. There was a sour tone behind each word that left his mouth.

Did something happen between his aunt and him?

"Indeed it has been a long time, this shows in the way you have handled the Kingdom in my absence" She responded and I gulped while feeling the suffocating tension increasing between them.

"Of course the time you was absent was long enough to make efficient in my Kingdom." The mischief smirk was back on his scarlet lips and his aunt frown a little while arching her brow at him.

"Step in Aunt, you had a long day" His smile widened as he elegantly turned around and stepped into the throne hall with her following him while we bowed again before slowly following their steps and leaving the guards and other maids behind.

He sat on his throne while his aunt took the place next to him. Jugyeong walked over to the seat next to Jungkook on the other side of the throne while Jimin and I were quietly standing right behind them.

Jimin gave me a little nod and I smiled in response to him. It has been two days since the day The King and I left the castle and I can still feel every gaze, every little touch on my body. The kiss that turned my evenings into sleepless nights while butterflies were flying all over my stomach. I somehow gave up searching for that little door just for a little, just to sort out my thoughts, just for a little while..

"There must be a reason why you suddenly honored us with your visit" His deep voice echoed through the empty hall, my chest rose and fell heavily and I bit on my lower lip.

As foreign as all this royal protocols and traditions sounded to me as long as he was in the same room as me, all of this didn't feel as strange as it should.

"Do I need a reason to visit my lovely nephews?" She smiled at The King but her smile didn't reach her eyes and the tone of her voice wasn't genuine at all.

He tilted his head to the side while the corner of his lip lifted slightly. His body looked tense I could sense it but he was trying to remain calm.

"But indeed there is a reason why I'm also here" She looked over Taehyung's shoulders at Jugyeong who flinched at her sudden strong gaze.

"As you know I couldn't arrive on time for Jugyeong's wedding ceremony which happened without my validation" She glared at the embarrassed Jugyeong who lowered her head. Their aunt shifted her eyes from Jugyeong to Taehyung who had arched one of his eyebrows while looking at his aunt in amusement.

"I don't think we need your validation as long as I am the King" He spit the words through his teeth while staring at her.

"I am the only family member you have left and I wasn't aware that crowning you would erase the manners your parents have taught you! Listen to me good, for decisions that will affect our family you will need my validation. You are crowned as The King of Mahiron to rule the Nation not to mingle between the wedding of your sister!" I gasped quietly as she suddenly raised her tone at The King who didn't even flinch but stared at her while the knuckles of his clenched fist turned white as she spit out the words burning inside her chest.

"As your father had wished, you should have been the first heir among you three who will get married. It was your responsibility to marry The Princess of Jeonsan after the age of 18 but as stubborn and disobedient as you are, you decided to wed your younger sister first, thinking it could benefit our Kingdom while profiting from the affair with the Wang Dynasty while you immaturely broke the rules of this CASTLE! Insulting the blood line of your ancestors! But now I am here to announce you, our great King Kim Taehyung of Mahiron that you have 10 days until your espousal with Princess Aera of Jeonsan who will arrive in 8 days!"