♛ Can't live without me, you wanna, but you can't, no, no, no ♛

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- Only the prettiest -

Third Person's POV

Seven years ago

Taehyung was head over heels for Jungkook.

As the days he spent with Jungkook turned into weeks and months, it became blatantly obvious. The Prince would open doors for the younger. He would let him go first despite the fact that he stood at higher authority.

During the Prince's free time, he would wander the garden in search of the finest flowers. He searched for the prettiest, brightest, and the most eye-catching flowers in the grand gardens that surrounded the Fruma castle.

The Prince was only thirteen. His birthday had passed only five months ago. Yet, even as a newly turned teenager, he was falling hard for his best friend, personal maid, and crush, Jeon Jungkook.

Every day, he'd pick five good flowers and hold them carefully. He'd stride through the doors of the castle and walk directly past the bowing guards, servants, and maids. He'd find the younger wandering the kitchen as he prepared breakfast for the two.

Taehyung knew his place in the castle. He knew that as the future King he should sit and wait for the civilians and the servants to bring him whatever he desired. He knew that he had control over the entire Kingdom, and if he wanted something, he should command Jungkook to bring it.

But Taehyung couldn't do that. He would command another maid, one who was far older than both him and Jungkook. He couldn't command his best friend to bring him something when he could do it himself.

Regardless of that, the Prince walked through the elegant, wooden door of the kitchen and allowed his brown eyes to scan the interior of the grand kitchen. His eyes landed on the younger. His back was turned to the Prince as he served some juice into two glasses and prepared the plates.

With a smile, he cleared his throat and the entire kitchen fell silent. The maids dropped to their knees and bowed before the young Prince. They greeted him respectfully. Jungkook turned and his eyes widened for a split second.

Taehyung eyed him carefully. They had grown to know one another perfectly. They would communicate through their eyes. Jungkook knew that familiar look. It was the message and signal for the younger to hold his ground and keep eye contact with the Prince.

"Jungkook, there you are," the Prince breathed a sigh of relief. The younger smiled. His eyes softened and sparkled in response as his lips tilted upwards in a fond, joyous grin. "Was there something you needed, your-" Taehyung's eyes narrowed in a warning.

Jungkook held his head up and kept his smile upon his face. In fact, it only grew. "Taehyung," he finished. The Prince grinned from ear to ear as he jerked his head toward the entrance of the grand kitchen and pointed with his index finger. "Let's go to the stables!"

Jungkook giggled in response. "Aren't you hungry?" That was the reason why Jungkook was in here, after all. Taehyung's eyes shone with happiness and gratitude as he nodded and pointed to the door again. "Come on, I want to show you something."

The younger grabbed the plates and drinks as he balanced them on his arms beautifully. He was great at that, honestly. Taehyung offered his help and Jungkook gladly accepted. The Prince took his own plate of food and his own drink as he managed to hide the flowers.

"Sorry, Taehyung," the younger apologized. "I'm not used to the whole 'Don't use formalities in front of the other maids' yet." Taehyung smiled in response. It was his newest order to Jungkook. Originally, formalities were dropped only behind closed doors.

When Jungkook was ranked up to Taehyung's personal maid and servant, that was a rule Taehyung had set. Formalities were dropped at all times. Even in front of the other royals.

"Don't apologize. You know that already, Kookie." Jungkook grinned as his head dipped down in a nod. The two walked out of the castle and toward the stables. There was a small grass clearing around the stables.

It was Taehyung's newest getaway area. Of course, Jungkook knew of it too.

As the two walked down the gravel pathway, the civilians bowed and greeted them both with respect. Jungkook was barely growing used to it. His cheeks would flush when civilians and guards fell to their feet before them both.

As they arrived at the grass clearing and took a seat, Taehyung presented Jungkook with his daily set of flowers. The younger took them graciously and smiled up at the Prince. "You shouldn't have, Taehyungie." The Prince waved off the comment and sat beside his crush.

"Only the prettiest of flowers for you," he mused. Secretly, Jungkook loved how the Prince, the one destined to rule the kingdom next, brought him flowers. It made him feel special and a little powerful.

The kingdom was always in a state of disbelief to watch the Prince treat a maid so highly, but it didn't matter to Taehyung. He was head over heels for the younger, so why should it?

"Only the prettiest for me?" Jungkook teased. His heart was pounding in his own chest as he admired the way Taehyung's eyes lit up and sparkled with care. There was something else within them, but he could never seem to figure out what it was.

"Always, Kook. Don't you forget that, okay?" That same feeling within Jungkook sparked. It was this warm feeling and it trickled up to his arms and fingertips. As if a fire had sparked within him, it burned carefully and lowly.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, honestly. It made him feel a little powerful and full of authority whenever Taehyung said specific things. He felt as if he had some sort of control.

"Yes, your highness," Jungkook teased. He tended to do that often. He'd playfully tease the Prince with formalities despite the order not to. It gave him this quick adrenaline rush and a surge of confidence to disobey his orders.

The Prince gazed at the younger playfully. His eyes narrowed and he stuck his tongue out at his friend. "Stop with the formalities," he scolded playfully. The younger took a sip of the juice that was freshly squeezed this morning and hummed at the taste. It was sweet and bitter.

"Make me, your highness." Taehyung's eyes rounded on the younger. He nearly spat out his juice as his heart hammered in his chest. His eyes widened drastically and he gulped down the drink harshly. With a cough, his cheeks tinted pink and his palms began to sweat.

What was that? The Prince questioned. Jungkook was never that confident- that bold. He usually obeyed with a shy nod or giggle, but never did he playfully talk back.

The younger laughed as he admired the Prince's shocked face and widened eyes. "Did I go too far?" That's all it took for the Prince to snap out of his shock and his inner thoughts. His disbelief faded and he actually flashed a smirk at the younger.

"No," Taehyung mused, "keep doing it. Be bold." Now it was Jungkook's turn to feel shocked. "It suits you, Jungkook." The younger was quick to mask his shock as he dug his fork into the breakfast he prepared and smiled.

Taehyung didn't know it, and Jungkook wasn't sure when he would, but the younger's heart raced far too quickly in his chest whenever he was around the Prince. His stomach flipped and somersaulted and his head sometimes spun whenever he was around Taehyung.

He didn't even know what it meant. He assumed that happened with every friend. He had ever only had Taehyung as his friend, so he wasn't sure. It was weird though. Around Taehyung, he felt giddy and extremely happy. His smile brought happiness to the younger.

Jungkook stole a glance at the Prince. He was attractive, no doubt about that. As the Prince began to grow up and mature, Jungkook saw it more and more. He found himself staring at Taehyung more often and admiring his features. Every time he'd stare, his hands would tremble nervously.

He had no idea what it meant. He was too shy to ask though. So, until he figured it out on his own, it would remain a secret.

"The guards aren't messing with you, are they?" The Prince asked softly. They had fallen into a peaceful silence as they ate their breakfast and listened to the horses nearby. The birds chirped above them and the familiar shouts of the merchants were heard in the distance.

"Not anymore. I think they've grown used to it now," the younger responded. His thoughts drifted to the guards. When he was first declared to be Taehyung's personal maid, they seemed to dislike the younger. They'd pick on him and attempt to force him to obey, but Taehyung was always there to intervene.

Now, however, they seem to back away from the younger in slight fear and dip their heads down in a bow when they saw him in the corridors. "They better," Taehyung practically growled. The Prince would be lying if he said it didn't bother him. The Prince demanded that the younger have respect.

"Relax," the younger murmured softly, "they can't do anything to me anyway." The Prince glanced at his best friend and nodded in a mutual agreement. That was correct. If they lay a finger on Jungkook, Taehyung would have them beheaded.

So, in a way, Jungkook was practically a royal. He was gifted power. He was untouchable. Jungkook adored that. He never truly realized how much he desired it either. To be able to stride down the castle corridors without fear of being reprimanded by the guards was remarkable.

Truthfully, it fueled that fire within him even more. It made him feel cocky and smug but also full of control. Was this how Taehyung felt whenever he snapped his fingers and had the civilians doing as he wished?

"Apparently," the Prince began, "father is gifting me a horse. He said he'd be out here around eleven or so. According to him, all royals are to have a horse." Jungkook's eyes shifted from the nearly empty plate to his friend.

"Oh really?" He asked. Taehyung nodded as he spun his head around and grinned. "I requested that you have one too," Taehyung admitted. Truthfully, Taehyung had some intentions lying within him.

He knew his love for Jungkook was growing. He wasn't seeing Jungkook as merely a friend anymore. He was seeing the younger as more. Jungkook was probably too young to see it, but Taehyung couldn't deny it.

He wanted a future with the younger. It's why he brought him the prettiest of flowers, opened doors for him, treated him right, and requested that Jungkook have things only royals could.

He had hopes to date Jungkook one day.

"You did?" Jungkook asked. His voice was filled with shock and his eyes widened. "Of course. You're my best friend. You're at my side constantly anyway. You need one too." Taehyung flashed him that smile that allowed his mouth to turn into a boxy shape.

Jungkook's heart raced as he smiled too. A horse? Only royals had horses.

"A-And what did the King say?" Taehyung rolled his eyes as he drank the rest of the freshly squeezed juice and stared up at the sky. "Father allowed it. He seems to take a liking to you. Whenever I talk about you to him, he has this really happy smile and his face glows with joy. Not sure what it is."

That's a lie and Taehyung knew it. He knew exactly why his father had that same smile and look every time Jungkook came up in conversations. The King knew of Taehyung's crush. In fact, Taehyung had confessed it. He wanted to know how to win Jungkook over and why he felt the way he did.

The King adored it. He thought the spark of young love between two childhood friends was heartwarming. The King adored Jungkook, the little personal maid of Taehyung's.

"So, he allowed it?" Jungkook asked carefully. Taehyung nodded excitedly and pointed to the stables. "Our horses are in there. Father will be helping us ride them and get them used to us. Isn't that exciting?" Jungkook nodded as his eyes flashed with joy.

It was exciting.

The younger couldn't believe it.

"Thank you, Taehyung. I'm grateful," Jungkook whispered gratefully. His eyes clouded over with happiness. They turned glassy and teary as the younger found himself staring at Taehyung. The Prince was too lost in Jungkook's eyes to look away or mutter or response.

He felt his world slow down when he stared into his beautiful, big doe eyes. He could hear the pounding of his heart within his ears. His hands trembled at his side as he shook off the trance with a big grin.

"Only the best for you, Jungkook."

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Young love (:

Taehyung gets crowned the King at age sixteen. Meaning he has less than three years left. When will Jungkook be crowned Prince?

Ready for these lovebirds to confess soon?

I purple you 💜

~Pisanthrophobia.