Chapter Text
“You may stand.”
Jungkook slowly rose to his feet on shaky legs. He’d been kneeling for what felt like forever. Although it wasn’t unusual for the king to make him kneel because he “was getting to confident,” it always made his legs feel like noodles that had been boiled for too long.
Nevertheless, he stood as tall as he could and willed his legs not to shake enough to be noticeable. He kept his head bows and eyes averted from the king’s throne in front of him. There was a few moments of silence where the king seemed to just be looking at him. Or maybe he was just distracted; Jungkook never looked up to check.
“You may raise your head.”
Jungkook slowly rose his head to look at the king. The throne hadn’t changed much since Jungkook was little- the most recognizable difference being the small chip in the corner of the left armrest. He believes he was about 11 years old when he first noticed it. It was th first time the king allowed him to look up at him inside his throne room.
Jungkook first moved into the palace when he was eight, after the king saved him, and even though it’s only been ten years, he feels like he’s lived there for a lifetime and then some.
“I have a new mission for you,” the king informs him, and- is that a hint of a smile on the aged king’s face?
Jungkook bows as deep as he can without his knees buckling. “I’m honored to do whatever you ask of me, your majesty.”
The king tilts his head in consideration. “I need you to deliver a message for me. The Kims. I’m sure you’ve heard of them. They’re annoying me. Kill one of them. I don’t care who. But bring me back a body.”
Jungkook knows exactly who the Kims are. It’s rare to find anyone in the town who doesn’t know who the Kims are. They’re known for being rebels, for openly disobeying the king, and for getting away with it.
The people have many theories as to why the Kims haven’t been punished, but Jungkook knows why. They’re the oldest magic users in the land. Well, more like the only magic users in the land. Anybody else who has even tried to use magic has been sentenced to immediate death. Nobody has even been able to get close to the Kims to punish them. Everyone knows they could easily kill you first. The king knows this better than almost anyone. So why is he sending Jungkook?
He’s not one to question though, so he bows again with a confirmative.
“Good,” the king nods, satisfied. “You leave tonight. Make sure you get your troops in order before you go.”
With another low bow and a confirmative, Jungkook is sent away.
+++
“He’s sending you to the Kims!?” Yugyeom repeats, eyes so wide Jungkook is surprised they don’t fall out of his head.
The two sergeant’s troops are busy a few yards in front of them, working on drills and practice exercises.
Jungkook lets out a sigh, the exhaled breath making a faint whisp of white swirl in the cold air of winter. “I know. I don’t know what he’s expecting, but I think it’s more than I can do.”
Yugyeom levels him with a look of shared sadness. “You can always leave you know. He never wastes time on chasing after old head wardens. You know that story about the old one that ran away? He never even got chased after. That can be you!”
Jungkook frowns at the thought. “I can’t just leave. I owe the king too much to just take off like that.”
“I think ten years is enough repayment for him kidnapping you.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes at the familiar comment. “I told you, he didn’t kidnap me. He saved me. My family was gone and-“
“-and he took you in yada yada yada. I’m just saying Kook, no one would blame you. Even being the highest ranking next to the king you still have to sleep in the same old creaky rooms that all the other sergeants get.”
“I just don’t think I-”
The monitor next to them beeps, signaling the end of the training session for the day. Signaling the end of Jungkook’s preparation for his mission.
+++
The wind blows steadily in the dead of night as Jungkook creeps into the Kim home. It’s a large home on the side of the town opposite to the king’s palace, and to Jungkooks pleasure, all the lights were off. He crept in carefully through an open window, and stepped as quietly as he could.
Just one body.
One body and he could rest easy.
One body and he would please the king.
He scans the room he stepped into. It seems as if it’s not used often, as it’s cold and there’s a light layer of dust covering the surface of every object.
He creeps to the open doorway, and listens for any noise. He sees the reflection of a light coming from a room down the hall, and hopes that it’s only one person.
After making his way down the hallway, he peeks into the lit room. A few feet in front of him, facing a small desk away from the door, is a small man. The back of his head is covered in short loose honey blonde curls, and he’s wearing what appears to be lounge wear, however it’s much more luxurious than anything Jungkook has ever seen. Although the man is small, he seems well fed; his bones are still hidden by skin and fat as he moves his body. Jungkook would be lying if he said he wasn’t just a little jealous.
As much as he doesn’t really want to kill this honey-blonde man, an order is an order. And Jungkook follows orders. So he lifts his dagger high, and swings down.
If only the honey blonde man wasn’t faster.