Chapter Text
"This morning, Lord Min Jae-Hwa was found on the floor of his chambers. His neck was cut, and a shard of one of the castle's precious Eun Mirrors was found beside him, with Lord Min Jae-Hwa's blood staining its once pure surface. The shattered mirror was later discovered in the hallway by the very same servant who found Lord Min Jae-Hwa's corpse.
"As of now, no one is to leave this castle. No one is above suspicion, not even Lord Min Jae-Hwa's son, Lord Min Yoongi. If the murderer is not found, war will be declared on the occupants of the castle, as they are the prime suspects," Jungkook told the prisoner. The young thief scowled.
"This simply means that I am stuck here for a while longer," he said. "What difference does one nobleman's life make to mine?"
"Sunbae, don't say that! He was a person," Jungkook said, sweeping the very corner of the cell as the prisoner ate.
"Why are you calling me Sunbae? I told you not to. Just because I am older, it doesn't mean I'm higher class than you. You may be a servant, Jungkook-ah, but I am a thief. Who has the higher standing? You. So call me V, like I told you to."
" I'm not going to call you V, Sunbae. I will only call you Sunbae or your real name, " Jungkook said stubbornly. "If I have a higher class than you, then I will call you whatever I want."
"Aish, Jungkook-ah, what's gotten into you?" V mock-sighed. " Back when I first became a prisoner, you were so shy that you wouldn't even talk to me. Now I wonder if that Jungkook is better than this pushy one."
Jungkook just stared at V. The elder finally gave in. "Fine, but you cannot tell this to anyone, okay?"
Jungkook nodded quickly.
"Not even if it's about the murder, Jungkook-ah," V warned. "Even if they just want you to confirm that I was here the whole time. Call me V to them, or just say the thief. Okay?"
Jungkook had been bobbing his head up and down the whole time his friend had been talking, and he barely heard what V said. V sighed.
"Okay, Jungkook-ah. Here. My name is Kim Taehyung. You can call me Taehyung-ah or Tae-ah, but only if no one is around, okay? We are nearly the same age anyway."
Jungkook glanced around, then, seeing no one, said, "Okay, Taehyung-ah."
"Now don't you have a job to do? " Taehyung said, gesturing to the plate he had finished eating from. "Or are you going to dust one corner of my prison for the rest of your life?"
Jungkook laughed and picked up the plate. He would be able to come back to his friend's cell for his lunch break anyway.
On his way out, Jungkook spotted the rotation of the guard. A young soldier, who Jungkook knew from servants' gossip to be Park Jimin, had just arrived to guard the entry into the area where V's cell was. Jungkook quickly slipped aside- Jimin was something of a social being, and Jungkook didn't want to get pulled into an awkward conversation with him like had happened last time Jungkook saw him.
His servant's invisibility worked, and he made it down to the kitchen where he worked, getting there unnoticed. Immediately, the head of the castle kitchens came up to him.
"Jeon Jungkook! Where have you been?" The cook's words were heavily accented- he came from the same country as the dead noble, Min Jae-Hwa. "The emissary just came down here to tell us that we will have to spend the whole day making dishes for a funeral feast tonight, in honor of Lord Min Jae-Hwa's death."
Great, Jungkook thought. I guess talking to Tae-ah will have to wait.
Out loud, he just mumbled, "What should I start making?"
"Oh, no, you won't be cooking. I need you to ask Lord Min Yoongi what his father's favorite dish was, and when Lord Min Yoongi should expect his own meal."
" He won't be attending the banquet? " Jungkook asked in surprise.
"No, he has requested that he receive his dinner in his room. Prince Jung Hoseok and Emissary Kim Namjoon will be accompanying him through his mourning."
Like he's actually mourning, Jungkook thought. Anyone who had heard the rumors knew about the truth behind the relationship between Min Yoongi and Min Jae-Hwa. He hated his father. Probably killed him, in fact. That way, he'd have his father's position in society for himself.
But what does Hoseok have to do with any of this? Could he be in on it too? But he's the only upper class who is actually kind. Is it an act? Is he just a conniving, greedy pig like the rest of them?
As for the emissary, what is even with him? He's not upper class, he's just a translation tool for the nobility, so that we can communicate through the language barrier. All he does is parrot others' words all day. Does he even have a single thought of his own?
Did Yoongi or Hoseok put him up to this? Did he follow their orders like a mindless animal? Is he a mindless animal?
Jungkook shook his head to clear it of his spiraling train of thoughts. He was just grasping at straws, hoping for a quick accusation that would find the culprit and return castle life to normal so that he could leave each night to be with his family.
They must be worried sick.
Jungkook smiled to himself at the irony of it all as he trudged up the stairs to the room in the west wing of the castle where all the important guests stayed. Min Yoongi and Min Jae-Hwa included.
Who knew that when he got a job cooking, cleaning, and polishing valuable mirrors, he'd end up dealing with a murder?