“Princess JinYoung!”

I rolled over in my bed, still stuck in a sleepy spell.  “Ne?”

“You have to get up!” one of the maids opened my door.  “You have to attend an important meeting today!”

I groaned again and rolled onto my stomach.  “Can’t NamJoon oppa go alone without me instead?  I’m tired...”

“My lady, it is very important that both of you attend!” the young maid walked over to the side of my bed.  “It could make or break this deal you’ve been working on with the other kingdom!”

I sighed.  Business, as usual…  “Arasseo, I’ll get up.  Thank you,” I dismissed her politely.  The maid bowed and left the room.  I rolled up to a sitting position and rubbed my eyes.  “I hate meetings...with a burning passion.”  I got out of bed and stretched my arms.  “NamJoon oppa is the king, so why do I have to go?”

I live in a royal family, as you can probably tell by now.  My older brother is the king since our parents died when we were younger.  For now, we rule the kingdom together and split the work evenly.  When my brother marries, then he’ll have a Queen to rule with him and I won’t have to do this anymore.

I’m praying for the day that happens.

Our kingdom isn’t the typical fairy tale stuff.  Us girls don’t have to always dress up in back wrenching corsets, high heels, or long dresses.  My brother and I decided that it wasn’t needed a while ago, just for special occasions.  We modernized pretty much everything; we live normal lives except for the fact that we run an entire kingdom.  No arranged marriages, no stupid galas every day of the week, no need to be proper and uptight.  Just they way I liked it.  I hate feeling like a caged up animal.

The only thing I wasn’t able to do was go past the kingdom borders.  NamJoon says “it’s not safe” and I could get hurt, the normal big brother stuff.  The territory outside of the kingdom was unclaimed, so anything could happen on it and there was no liability, which would be why he was so scared for me.  But I was so curious, how could I not be?  I’m normally a very gentle girl, but I just want to taste the outside air.  Nonetheless, I obeyed his warnings and stayed within the boundaries.

I got dressed quickly and went downstairs to see my brother for breakfast.  The maids all greeted me with a "Good morning, Princess" and a bow, which I returned with a smile and a small bow.  I finally came to the dining room where my brother was waiting.

"And here comes the Queen," my brother cheekily joked.

"Please," I rolled my eyes playfully at him.  "You're supposed to be marrying one soon, or did you forget?"

"Oh JinYoung," he punched me in the arm when I passed by him.  "I'll get married when I find the right girl."

"You don't get out enough for you to even find one, you're too stuck in your work."  I sat down next to him, thanking the maid that placed a dish in front of me.  "But if I were to make a suggestion, I would really like having MiRae as an unni," I said pointedly, stuffing a bite in my mouth.

"You don't understand, JinYoung," my brother shook his head.  "I need a girl that I know could help me rule well, but really fun and sweet too."

"But NamJoon oppa, MiRae would be perfect for you!" I protested.  "She's very hardworking, and she is the daughter and heir of a business owner so she knows how to keep a company stabilized, and she can handle the workload and meetings.  Plus, she knows how to cook and she can kick your in basketball."

"You're not my mother, squirt," he stuck his tongue out at me playfully.

"Fine, I won't impose on your nonexistent love life then, I'm only trying to help you.  You can stay lonely for the rest of your life," I guilted him.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you, baby sister?" NamJoon tilted his head and smiled widely.

I threw a strip of bacon at his head, which he dodged.  "Don't you even think of kissing up to me."

"What if I told you I already proposed to MiRae...?" he trailed off.

My eyes flew open.  "You did?!  Why didn't you tell me?!"  I punched his arm continuously.  "And here I am worried that you're gonna stay a lonely bachelor for the rest of your life and I'd get married before you did and I become Queen instead."

"Is that what you want to happen?" NamJoon raised an eyebrow at me.

"Heck no, I don't want the responsibility of that, you can keep it.  I can't even get up to go to a stupid meeting," I snorted.  “But anyway, congrats oppa, you won’t be lonely and I don’t have to worry about getting rid of a woman that you were gonna marry that was secretly evil.  You got it right the first time!”  I gave him a thumbs up for emphasis.

“Thank JinYoungie,” he ruffled my hair.  "Well, since we got my love life out of the way, how about yours now?”

I snorted.  “My nonexistent love life?  Listen, I may have an entire kingdom of guys at my doorstep, but none of them like me for who I am, they just want royalty.  If I were to marry a guy, he wouldn’t have to know that I’m a princess nor would he care that I was one.”  I paused.  “I’m most likely gonna marry a peasant or an outsider from some other kingdom or planet or something.”

NamJoon laughed.  “Another planet?  Really?  I doubt that.”

I frowned.  “You never know, ok?  Stop laughing at me!”

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry,” his laughter died down.  “We should get going now, we don’t wanna keep them waiting.”

I huffed.  “Work, work, and more work,” I grumbled as I stood up and followed NamJoon.

~*~*~*~*~

I let out a deep breath as I flopped onto my throne in the throne room.  “NamJoonie~ How much longer do I have to be presentable~?  I need my sweatpants now~” I whined like a child just to annoy him.

“Just a little bit longer JinYoung-ah,” he patted my head and assured me.

We had been out all day for meetings, mostly for NamJoon’s upcoming engagement party for this coming weekend.  He let me pick out some of the decorations for the party and I got to see MiRae unni again.

I sat up straight again and smoothed out my pale pink blouse when I heard footsteps.  It was this guy that was interested in doing some kind of interview or something from this magazine in town.  Something about a special article about how normal us royal people are.

As soon as I saw the man, there was an alarm going off in the back of my head.  There was really something off about this guy.  The aura around him was kind of...dark.  Call me crazy, but I have this kind of sixth sense thing called an instinct, something that NamJoon makes fun of me for and something he lacks.  I sat stiffer as I laid eyes on him, almost drilling holes into his head just to figure out what was in it.  I leaned forward with my hands resting in my lap.  He was asking questions for his article, and I was trying to figure out why the hell he was asking what our normal schedule was and if we had high security when we were away.  Red flags were going off in my head every second as this guy became more suspicious.

The guy asked if he could be excused so he can go to the bathroom.  As soon as he was out of earshot, I turned to NamJoon.  “I don’t like this guy,” I said firmly.

“This again?” he sighed.  “I’m pretty sure he’s an innocent guy.”

“I don’t think so, I just think we should be a little bit careful about what we tell him,” I whispered.

“I still think you’re overreacting JinYoung,” NamJoon whispered back.

“Fine then, don’t listen to me,” I grumbled.

The man came back and I scanned his face more carefully.  His eyes seemed very dark and he was a bit fair skinned.  His face seemed like he was putting on a fake smile and he was very strained doing it.  He just had a crazed look in there somehow.  And it was mysterious why he decided to dye his hair orange of all colors.

“If you don’t mind,” he started.  “Can I see a tour of the castle?”

I sprang up from my seat and glared at the man.  “No.”

“We’d be happy to do that for you,” NamJoon glared at me.  “Be nice,” he whispered.

I rolled my eyes but reluctantly followed just so I could keep an eye on this guy.  He was looking around an awful lot for someone that just needed to see the “feel” of the place.  He’s memorizing the layout in his head, I just know it.

After he was done, NamJoon insisted on us personally letting him out the door rather than just letting one of the butlers do it.  I was giving my brother death glares the whole time and only gave the visitor a curt nod.

“Thank you for visiting, TaeHyung ssi,” NamJoon bowed to the man.

I stared at him.  First name basis?!  Are you kidding me?!

“It’s no problem, my lord,” the man returned the gesture.  “I will be writing my article for the following week.  It would be an honor if you read it.”

“I will, good sir,” NamJoon laughed heartily and patted his shoulder.  “Now go be on your way before it gets too late.”

After the two bid their goodbyes, I turned around and left without another word, NamJoon calling after me.  I got up to my room to shower and changed back into my comfortable sweats, sighing as I realized I was out of my terrible clothes.  I didn’t mind dressing up, but I love my sweats more than anything in the world.

“JinYoungie~” NamJoon knocked at the door.

I groaned and threw myself onto my bed.  “Go away, I’m not talking to you.”

“I’m sorry, can you let me in~?” he pleaded, doing aegyo.

I almost laughed at his failed attempt, but I had to control myself.  “No, you didn’t listen to me.”

I heard silence from the other end, and wondered if he was still there until I heard him speak again.  “I’ve got kimchi bokkeumbap~”

My eyes widened and my mouth watered.  That was one of my favorite foods in the world.  And it didn't help that I haven't eaten all day, my stomach was growling.  I rushed to the door and opened it a crack.  I looked down and saw my brother being dorky and actually carrying two plates of the steaming hot goodies.  “Okay, you can come in.”  I opened the door wider and let him in.

“I know you can’t resist your favorite food,” he smiled widely and set both plates on my bed.  He crossed his legs and patted the space next to me.

I sat down next to him.  “Doesn’t mean I forgive you,” I huffed and picked up my chopsticks.

He just ruffled my head and ate his own dish.  After a while, he spoke up.  “I’m sorry JinYoung.  I know you’ve told me to listen to you, but I don’t.  I’m not umma, I don’t have that instinct like you do and I can’t understand your situation.  I’m more like appa, I just figure things out on my own and gets yelled at by his wife all the time.”  I giggled while he paused.  “Looks like I have that to look forward to with MiRae…  Anyway, I’m sorry.  I will try to be a better older brother to you.”  He wrapped his huge arm around my shoulders and rested my head on his shoulder.  “I know that umma and appa aren’t here and I’m supposed to take responsibility and make you happy.”

“You already do all that, oppa,” I hugged him.  “You’re just an idiot sometimes.”

He ruffled my hair.  “I love you, JinYoungie~” he cooed.

“Ok, enough with the aegyo, I’m gonna throw up all my bokkeumbap,” I teased and pushed him away.

“You know, MiRae may become my wife, but you’re still the most important girl in my life,” NamJoon admitted.

“Shhh, don’t let anyone hear you,” I joked.

And just like that, it was just another fun bonding night between a king and his sister.

~*~*~*~*~

Lurking in the shadows were two other figures, one of them spying on the castle with his binoculars.  "Are you sure that none of them will come out here and catch us?"

"Would you relax, hyung?  You know I'm good at this, are you doubting my skills?" the other figure feigned hurt, playing with the shrubs that they were hiding in boredly.  "The king told me to my face, he was too friendly.  The princess was suspecting something though."

"Whatever, we should just check in with the king," the older boy nodded.  “Boss?”

“What?” came the static reply from his headset.  “Suga hyung’s busy, Jimin.”

“Are you sure that we’ll be able to go through with this plan?  I mean, trashing their engagement party...isn’t that a bit too drastic?”

“Matna?” Suga responded in his Gyeongsang-do Satoori, a habit he had when he was starting to get angry, and Jimin knew that he was in trouble.  “You think it’s bad?”

“No sir!  I was just making sure that you were serious!” Jimin said quickly.

The other boy face palmed himself at his partner.  "Idiot..."

“Johda Jiminnie,” Suga praised.  “Now do as I asked and survey the entire perimeter, and listen to V.  We need to know how to get in this weekend without getting caught.”

“Yes hyung…” Jimin reluctantly answered and continued sneaking around the castle.

"See?" V smirked.  "Suga hyung likes me more than you."

"Oh shut up TaeHyung," Jimin snapped.  "I'm still older than you by two months."

"Just not taller than me," he prodded.

"Yah!"

~☆~☆~☆~

A tall man was staring at the stars after setting up his camp.  He was only staying for a little while, but he loved the view of the stars here.  He ruffled his brown hair and brushed the bangs out of his eyes as he just stared at the night sky.  He had picked a great place to stay while he was here; on a hill with a tree to rest his back on and gaze up at the stars for hours until he slowly shuts his eyes and falls asleep.  Below the starry sky were the lights of a beautiful, walled city.  The lights of the buildings twinkled like they were the stars that lived on the ground.

He enjoyed watching stars, especially since his home was up there, and he could pinpoint exactly where it was among the millions of sparkling dots in the blackened sky.  He would go back after that weekend, but he had to savor the view for a few nights.

“I’ll return home soon, don’t worry,” he murmured to no one in particular.  There was nothing awaiting him there anyway.  He needed a little break from the busy, lonely life he lived.  His eyes slowly started to droop as he tried counting the stars.

“I guess I’ll do some exploring tomorrow…” he muttered as he fell into his deep sleep on the tree.