♛ Baby, you're not dancin' on your own ♛

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- Personal Maid -

Third Person's POV

Eight years ago

The Prince's birthday was a holiday.

The entire kingdom prepared for the day the royal highness was presented with another year of life. They prepared for weeks. They decorated every house, every shop, and every gravel road in the kingdom.

As for the castle, well, the entire structure was decorated to match the season. Colors of blue and white paired with grey and gold. They draped silks from the support beams above the corridors and polished vases as they collected flowers.

Taehyung's birthday was most certainly a holiday, and the entire kingdom knew it.

The Prince, a 13-year-old, was sitting in his room as he watched the kingdom below him. He admired the decorations as the snowflakes fell graciously to the ground. They piled on top of one another and covered the grass in white.

He adored his birthday but not because of the celebration. He adored his December birthday because of the snow. The winter was undeniably his favorite season. He treasured every moment of it. He embraced the invigorating cold. He admired the blankets of snow.

Fruma was known for its heavy winters. The snowfall often trapped them within their houses and buildings, but Taehyung loved it all. He loved watching the snow pile up outside of the grand windows as he pressed his fingers to the glass and felt the cold surface.

The sudden knock at his door drew his attention away from the kingdom below him. His head turned toward the elegant door, painted white and gold, as he sat up straight and allowed the person entrance.

However, his eyes brightened and a smile graced his face when he noticed Jungkook, his best friend and crush.

It took him a while to figure out why Jungkook made his heart race like no other. It had been happening for years, so it seemed normal now, but Taehyung could never seem to shake off the pounding of his heart and the nervousness in his stomach.

In the end, he pieced the puzzle together and concluded only one thing- Jungkook was his crush.

"May I shut the door, your highness?" At the mention of the formality, the Prince cringed and waved his hand. "Please do," he muttered. Jungkook shut the door with a thud and clicked the lock as his posture slouched and a sigh escaped his pretty pink lips.

"Sorry, Tae," the boy apologized. His cheeks flushed pink as he removed his hands from behind his back and slowly walked closer to the Prince. Taehyung's instructions from a year ago were clear. Jungkook wasn't to address him as someone higher.

It was the Prince's orders, so naturally, Jungkook obeyed. He appreciated it though. Addressing the Prince as his first name, or even a nickname, was much more humble and exciting than using formalities.

"No need for apologies. I understand, Kook," the Prince said. His smile was bubbly and bright as he admired his friend from his seat at the window. Jungkook looked tired. His hands trembled with exhaustion and his eyes were nearly closed.

"How hard are they working you?" The Prince questioned. This was not acceptable. The boy was eleven- not even a teenager- yet they had him working harder than the adults. The guards were on top of him at every hour of the day, the servants were pushing him around, and the maids had him washing dishes every meal.

"Not too hard," he younger lied. Taehyung could see right through his lies. The way Jungkook refused to meet the Prince's gaze was a mere indication of the lie itself. Taehyung stood as he readjusted the crown upon his head and strode toward the younger.

"Don't lie to me. Why are they working you so hard?" Jungkook met the Prince's eyes. They were brown- almost hazel- and they were usually warm and loving. Yet, as he gazed into the older's eyes, he noticed a certain hardness and anger that resided within them.

"Taehyung, it's not my place to say," the younger whispered. Taehyung hated using his power against Jungkook, but for the sake of his friend and his health, he would have to.

"I am royalty," Taehyung scowled. His fingertips gently touched the tip of Jungkook's chin as he held his gaze with the younger's. Jungkook's eyes widened in utter surprise as his pretty pink lips parted beautifully.

"Tell me why they are working you so hard." Jungkook couldn't disobey the Prince. Even if the guards had instructed the boy to keep his mouth shut and to not tell anyone, he couldn't disobey royalty. Disobeying the guards was a crime, but disobeying the royals was a death sentence.

"They're training me," Jungkook whispered softly. His voice was barely above a whisper. It was gentle and filled with fear. "For what, Kook? Why are they training you?" The younger played with his thumbs as he subconsciously leaned into Taehyung's feather-light touches.

"When I become a teenager, they're assigning me to become your personal maid and servant." Taehyung's eyes widened. His fingertips fell from the younger's chin as his lips parted in disbelief. Jungkook as his personal maid?

"You can't tell the guards. They'll kill me, Tae," the younger pleaded. He had found himself extremely comfortable around the Prince. The maids were never allowed to touch the royals unless they were given permission to, but Jungkook knew Taehyung better than that.

The boy gripped Taehyung's royal attire and pleaded silently. "Kook," the Prince mused gently, "you're safe here, okay? They can't hurt you, and they most certainly will not lay a finger on you. It doesn't matter what their position is in the royal guard, I am above them."

Jungkook's tensed body visibly relaxed as he noticed the Prince's kind eyes. They softened immediately. The Prince's eyes fixated on his best friend as he flashed him a grin.

"You do understand what it means to be my personal maid, yes?" Taehyung despised the title they had given the younger. Jungkook was too young to be a maid. Better yet, as a male, he shouldn't even be a maid. He should be a servant, or even better, a guard.

Just because his mother was one meant he fell right behind her.

"They gave me a brief explanation, but I was running around and completing tasks as they explained. I'm sorry. I don't really remember," he whispered shyly. Jungkook knew that Taehyung wouldn't get mad at him, but he was still cautious. The younger had seen when Taehyung did get mad and it certainly wasn't pretty.

"Don't apologize," Taehyung reminded. The younger nodded frantically. "A personal maid follows their assigned royal wherever they go. You are at my side most of the day except when we're sleeping and showering. The title states that you must follow my orders and bring me whatever I ask for, as you already know, but you do get to tag along."

Jungkook's eyes sparkled with excitement. Yes, he knew his place as a maid. He knew that regardless of the time he would spend with the Prince, he would need to tend to his necessities and wishes, but he couldn't help it. Spending the entire day with Taehyung?

That's all he really wanted.

"Plus," the Prince laughed gently, "you know me better than to command you to bring me something. As my personal maid, you'll be given protection twenty-four-seven. No one can touch you as long as you remain beside me." Something within Jungkook sparked.

He felt it. He felt the flame ignite and burn lowly. It was deep within him, and truthfully, was almost overlooked. It was so small, so dull and low, that he almost missed it.

But he didn't. He felt this smug, cockiness reach the surface of his skin. He felt this excitement bubble up in his blood as he processed the Prince's words. No one could touch him. Even the guards would eventually fear him.

As if it was a sudden desire of his, it made his pretty, flawless lips tilt upward in a genuine smile of gratitude and happiness. He couldn't wait for that. After the years of the guards, servants, and even maids shoving him around and working him until he was at the brink of exhaustion, it would stop.

"Why don't you take a nap?" Taehyung offered gently. His eyes glistened with care and affection for his dear friend as his hand gestured to the king-sized bed. "The party doesn't begin for another hour or two. I'll wake you up before I leave."

Jungkook had forgotten his exhaustion. He had forgotten the way his hands trembled tiredly and the way his eyelids fell heavily. He was about to decline, simply because he wasn't relieved of his work and duties yet, but he couldn't.

The way the Prince stared and marveled at him was different than everyone else. The way he admired him from afar and studied him cautiously made his heart pound. Even if he denied, the Prince would insist until the younger had no choice.

He was safe with the Prince. He had to keep reminding himself of that.

So, with a mumble of gratitude, he climbed on top of the grand bed and fell deep into the covers. They were soft and plush, not to mention warm and inviting. The Prince watched as the younger's eyes fell closed and his body buried itself beneath the sheets.

It was adorable. It was heartwarming.

The Prince was aware of the maids' quarters. They weren't as nice as they should be. Half the time, the maids slept on thin mattresses. They were given one sheet to act as a blanket and a pillow. That's all.

The guards, however, were given bunk beds and proper blankets. Taehyung hated that. He hated how unfair the ranks were, but would it change? Even when he was the next ruler, would it? It had been the same for centuries.

Taehyung's attention shifted from his sleeping friend to the cold window beside him. The snow fell beautifully just outside the glass. He watched the snowflakes cascade down onto the garden and the gravel roads.

His birthday celebration was in a few hours. The entire kingdom was invited. From civilians to slaves to guards. The maids and servants were attending. Everyone would be there.

Taehyung adored his birthday. He was grateful for the gifts and the celebration, but a sadness lingered within him as he stole another glance at Jungkook.

They were working him far too hard. He was merely eleven. His eyes hardened in anger as he stood from the windowsill and marched toward the door. He unlocked it, opened it, then shut it gently as he stormed down the hallways.

He wouldn't allow it. As Prince and soon-to-be King, he had a say in the Kingdom's decisions. He would change the fate of his crush. It wouldn't start when Jungkook was a teenager. It would start now.

He burst through the door of the throne room. The doors parted open with a loud slam. The focus shifted from the bowing guards to the arrival of the Prince. "Taehyung, son! There's my Prince. Did you need something, little one?" His father asked.

Taehyung allowed his anger to subside for only a second as he flashed a happy smile at his parents. However, he had a goal. He stormed over to Ash, the head guard, and stood before him.

The guard bowed respectfully. He awaited the command of the Prince before he lifted his head or rose to a stand. "Your highness," the guard greeted respectfully. Taehyung folded his arms over his chest and grumbled.

"Explain why you are working the maid Jeon Jungkook so hard, Ash." The mention of the maid's name had the entire army freeze up tightly. The King, who sat upon his throne, watched from afar with an amused stare.

"Your highness, we are training him to become your personal maid and servant. He must learn everything before we can assign him such title and duty." The Prince's eyes narrowed in anger. He snapped his fingers and the entire army stood up and straightened their posture.

"He's eleven," Taehyung declared. "You are working an eleven-year-old boy until he can't walk and his eyes cannot remain open. Tell me, are you the one who commanded your guards to do such?" Ash visibly gulped as his head dipped down in a nod.

"Yes, your highness." Taehyung stepped back as he glanced at his parents then at the head guard once more. "As Prince of Fruma, I am commanding that you rank Jungkook up to my personal maid tonight and provide him twenty-four-seven protection and kindness. He no longer works under you."

Ash's eyes widened in disbelief. He wished to retort a response at the young Prince, but his title and place didn't allow him to do so. If he wished to keep his head upon his shoulders, he needed to abide by the Prince's wishes. "Yes, your highness. I will make it clear at the celebration tonight."

The Prince spun on his heels and turned away from the guards. He glanced at his parents once more and flashes them a smile. "Sorry, mom and dad. I didn't mean to interrupt." His father laughed wholeheartedly as his hand slammed down on the throne's armrest.

"You heard the Prince! From this day forth, the maid known as Jeon Jungkook shall be untouchable and treated with the same respect as the royals. Am I understood?" The guards bowed and saluted the King.

Taehyung marched out of the throne room with a big smile upon his face. Jungkook was beside him now. They'd be together all day every day. They could spend hours doing whatever they pleased without the worry about anyone telling them otherwise.

There were times when Taehyung hated the authority he held over the civilians, but there were also times when he treasured it. This was one of those many times when he valued his authority over the entire Kingdom.

However, little did the Prince know how his command to the royal guard was just another step toward creating Jungkook's future personality.

And one major step closer to fueling Jungkook's desires.

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As the years count down to the present day, you'll begin to see how Jungkook changes from a shy little boy to a cocky, powerful maid and soon to be prince alongside Taehyung.

The process has already begun. Jungkook has become untouchable despite holding the title of a maid.

What happens now? (:

I purple you 💜

~Pisanthrophobia.