Chapter Text
"Your Highness, this is Jeon Jungkook. He's going to be your personal bodyguard starting from today," Mr. Park announced, gesturing to the boy who stood next to him.
The boy in question silently bowed towards you but you were too flustered by yet another revelation being dumped on you out of nowhere to spare him a glance.
Your lips parted in shock, "Personal bodyguard? Why would I need one of those?" you looked between your grandmother and the head of security detail in disbelief.
Your grandmother put a hand on your shoulder, the feeling just as heavy and burdensome as always, "You are the sole heir to Corea's throne, an heir whose existence had always been concealed...and your safety is of utmost importance. Things will change after your official introduction at the ball next Saturday...the world is a dangerous place my dear, and it will be ten times more so for you from now on," she explained with her usual air of calmness; calmness that you hadn't been able to feel for even a single second since you'd stepped foot into this country six days ago.
Mr. Park nodded in agreement, "We have assessed all the risks and come to these decisions about your safety after careful deliberation. Jungkook has been a member of the Royal Guard for around a year and five months now, and he has black belts in karate, judo and taekwondo," he said, but you were too flustered to be impressed by the long list of credentials, "Rest assured, you'll be in good hands,"
When you didn't say anything in response, Mr. Park took the chance to continue, "A security team of four, including Jungkook here of course, will accompany you when you fly home next month and stay with you –"
You suddenly sat up straighter on the sofa, "Wait, what?!" you shrieked, "Why? Why do they need to do that? That's my home, I've lived my entire life there! What would I even need protection from?"
If Mr. Park was annoyed at your interruption or your strong reaction, he didn't let it show; not that he was allowed to, "Anything can happen, Your Highness, especially now more than ever, and we need to be able to protect you from any kind of harm that may come your way,"
You were quiet for a few seconds, "What about school?"
"Jungkook will go with you,"
You shook your head immediately, "Nope. Not happening. That'll make all the students and teachers uncomfortable and it'll attract even more attention to me and that's the very last thing I want," you protested, looking at your grandmother with a pleading look in your eyes.
You already knew it wouldn't be the same at school anymore, you knew you wouldn't be going back to the life you left behind before you came here and it broke your heart, but you'd be damned if you didn't try your best to keep things as close to how they'd been as possible.
Mr. Park smiled, as if he'd expected your reaction and was fully prepared for it, "That's not what I meant. It turns out that Jungkook didn't complete his senior year of high school so he will enrol as a student alongside you. Nobody has to know that he's your bodyguard if you don't want them to...it's a win-win situation for everyone, thankfully,"
It was really frustrating that he had an answer and a solution to everything. More than that, it was really frustrating that everyone around you was so composed and so put together when you were on the verge of falling apart.
"I guess I don't really have a choice, do I? Not like I've had a choice in any of this," you huffed, looking away as you dug your teeth into your bottom lip to keep your tears at bay; you knew letting them fall wouldn't accomplish anything at all.
Your grandmother sighed, taking your hand in her own, "_____, I know this is a lot to take in and –"
Before she could continue, there were three quick knocks on the door before it was pushed open to reveal Kang Jihyo, your grandmother's trusted aide and your princess coach.
"Sorry to interrupt Your Majesty, but Spain's waiting on the line to discuss the trade agreement," she informed, hugging her clipboard close to her chest.
Your grandmother turned to you apologetically, "We will continue this conversation when I am done," was all she said before she let your hand go and left the room with Mr. Park following after her, leaving you alone with a bodyguard you didn't ask for.
It was only now that you actually regarded him and his presence. You could only see his side profile from where he was standing a few feet away from you, his gaze trained on the carpeted floor and his hands neatly folded in front of him.
You didn't know where it came from but you decided to break the ice and the awkward silence.
"Babysitting me probably isn't the ideal situation for you either...and having to follow me to another country and go back to high school on top of that? I'm so sorry," you offered with a sheepish smile. You honestly did feel bad that he'd have to go through all of that...just because of you.
Jungkook looked up at you as soon as you addressed him and wow, he was easily one of the most gorgeous men you'd ever laid your eyes upon and your heart involuntarily skipped a beat. He appeared to be near your age, only a couple of years older if that, and as far as you could tell, he was at least five inches taller than you. He was clearly well-built (there was no way he wouldn't be, with all those belts he had and all that training) but there was this boyish charm about his face, probably those full cheeks and big doe eyes, that had you absolutely melting.
"Oh no, you don't need to apologise, Your Highness," he rushed to say, clearly taken aback by your words, and good God, even his voice was just as gorgeous as his face, "It is my honour and my pleasure to work for you,"
You groaned at the sound of the title, "Please don't," you sighed. You hated how formal and unfamiliar it felt, you hated how it instantly created an uncrossable gap between you and everyone else in this palace, and you especially hated how it seemed to erase you and your identity as yourself, "Call me ______,"
His eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly, "Oh Your Highness, I can't, it - that's highly inappropriate and completely against protocol –"
"That was an order from the Princess of Corea...no titles and definitely no bowing," you retorted, and his words immediately died in his throat at the ultimate trump card that you'd thrown down, "Please," you added a little more desperately when it looked like he still wasn't convinced.
He looked like he wanted to argue, but he felt like it wasn't his place to and you'd left him with no other choice but to concede, "I...if that's what you want..._____," he relented, still a bit hesitant.
Your heart fluttered a little because nobody had actually listened to what you wanted ever since you'd stepped foot inside the palace (even when you'd tried to abuse your power like you just did). You'd tried to get all the staff members to call you by your name, to treat you like you were a normal person like them, but they'd been quick to profusely deny and remind you that no, you weren't in fact a normal person like them at all, not anymore.
You didn't know why Jungkook had respected your wishes when so many others hadn't allowed themselves to, but you did know that you were very grateful.
"Thank you, Jungkook. Maybe this royalty thing isn't so bad after all...this princess power might even be a good thing to have,"
Jungkook couldn't help but crack a small smile and you couldn't help but mirror it (you also couldn't help but swoon over how stunning his smile was, but that was another matter).
Something shifted between the two of you in that moment, the air feeling much lighter than it did before. You didn't know why but you felt the most content you had felt since coming to Corea, and it struck you that maybe having a personal bodyguard wouldn't be as insufferable as you thought it would.