XIV. Fear
3138 Words
"To escape fear, you have to go through it, not around it." Richie Norton.
Taehyung came back to Velvus during the afternoon. Prince Jin was declared innocent but the case was still not closed. The fairy's murder was still a mystery to them.
"Jimin!" he called right after he stepped inside the mansion.
He has been absent only for a few hours and he already missed the young boy. "Jimin!"
He took off his coat and headed to the library, knowing he spends most of his time there.
He opened the door with a large smile on his face, but it was empty.
He raised an eyebrow and walked to his room.
He wasn't there either.
"Y-your grace." the butler bowed to him. He looked quite nervous and disturbed.
"Oh, hello. Do you know where Jimin is?"
"Your grace..." the younger Elf rubbed the back of his neck.
The Duke sighed. "Karlyle, where is Jimin?"
The butler pressed his lips, "I am really sorry your grace, I should not have left him go out."
"What do you mean?"
"He wanted to go to the village's library because of a book he could not find here. I could not leave him first, but you know how insistent he can be."
Taehyung frowned. "When did he leave?"
Karlyle couldn't stare at his master's eyes anymore. He knew what could happen if he makes him angry.
"Hours ago..." he answered with a small voice.
"Hours?!" Taehyung widened his eyes.
"I went to look for him but... I could not find him.... I am so sorry your grace."
The Duke stared at him with confusion. He couldn't understand what he meant by he didn't find him.
"You mean that he is not in the village?"
Karlyle shook his head.
Taehyung ran his fingers in his white hair. "How... how could you let him leave? Without my permission?" he tried to sound calm in order not to scare his servant.
"I thought he was just going to take the book and come back." the butler said.
Taehyung left a heavy sigh. He didn't want to get alarmed so quickly. He remembered the few times he couldn't find him because he went to the castle to see the King.
The King...
He clenched his fists, he has not seen him since they left the crown room. Yoongi didn't have dinner with them earlier, he thought it must be because he met Jimin.
"He must be in the castle then." Taehyung mumbled with an angry voice.
"The castle?" Karlyle raised an eyebrow. "But you just came back from there."
"I know, I am sure he did not want anyone to see him." the Duke said. "I will go back there."
"B-but you should rest your grace, you must be tired."
"I do not care!"
Taehyung was angry. Not because Jimin left Velvus, but because he would always take advantage of his absence to meet the King. He could not understand why he liked spending time with the grumpy and cold creature he became. He didn't like Jimin being around him.
He put his coat on and left the mansion.
He arrived to the castle after a long moment of walking. He headed to the main hall where he found Hoseok.
"Your grace?" the Wizard was surprised to see him again. He raised an eyebrow and approached him. "You look angry, did something happen?"
"Where is Jimin?" Taehyung asked, impatiently.
"Jimin?" Hoseok furrowed. "Is he supposed to be here? Because I have not seen him."
The Duke frowned.
He rubbed his neck and looked at the guards, "You! Did any of you see Jimin here in the castle?"
"No, your grace." the ogres shook their head.
The Wizard stared at his friend confusingly. He didn't understand why he looked so angry and worried about Jimin.
Taehyung let out a heavy sigh, "Where is the King?" he asked.
"I don't know, I haven't s-"
"I am here." Yoongi joined them. "I thought you left earlier." he told the Elf.
"I did." Taehyung bowed. "Is he with you?" he asked.
"Who?"
"Jimin."
Yoongi furrowed, "I have not seen him since yesterday."
"Are you telling the truth?" Taehyung crossed his arms.
"Why would he lie to you?" Namjoon arrived. His eyes rested on Hoseok who was staring at him with anger, sadness and disappointment.
"T-then where is he?" the Duke nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Karlyle said he could not find him in the village."
"Why do you look so worried?" Hoseok asked. "I am sure he just went for a walk."
"No." Taehyung shook his head. "He never leaves the mansion without me."
Yoongi frowned.
Just imagining Jimin spending more time with the Elf, going out and eating their meals together made him feel jealous.
He stared at Taehyung, seeing him worried like this made him believe that Jimin must be in danger.
"Guards!" he called.
A dozen of ogres appeared in the room in a fraction of seconds.
"Go look for Jimin!"
"Yes, your Majesty." they bowed to him and left the castle.
Taehyung sat on a chair and looked at the King. He had a good reason why he worried a lot about Jimin and Yoongi could be the main cause.
The King stared back. He knew what his friend was thinking about and his heart ached just by seeing how he couldn't trust him anymore with anyone.
- Writer
