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“Taehyung!”  King Yoongi was calling him at two o’clock in the morning.

He was already standing at attention outside the royal bedchamber.

“Join me in my room,” the king commanded.

Taehyung smiled.  He and Yoongi had known each other since childhood.  They trusted each other implicitly.  Taehyung followed Yoongi into his room.

“I am changing your assignment,” the king informed him immediately.

Surprised, Taehyung’s eyes met his as his eyebrows quirked upward.  “You are?  I’m not to guard you whilst you sleep anymore?”

Yoongi shook his head.  “I need you on a much more important mission.”

Taehyung doubted such a mission existed.  “Who is more important than the king?” he murmured.

“Come with me.  And you will find out.”

Yoongi led him to the garden.  When they were still a great distance from Moonflower but Taehyung could clearly see her, the king stopped and leaned over to whisper in his ear.

“Her name is Moonflower.  She’s the night gardener.  She’s blind.  She remains her every night until five in the morning.  I want you to protect her.”

Taehyung’s heart shifted violently in his chest.  Could the king read the desires of his heart?  

Taehyung’s eyes sought out the king’s.  Did Yoongi know that Taehyung had been in love with Moonflower since they were children?  Was that why he was assigning him to this duty?

“She is most precious, Taehyung.  That is why I’m assigning you to her.  Guard her life – and her virtue – at all costs.”

“I will.” Gladly. “You came to the right man.”

Yoongi smiled at him.  “I know it.  Now.  Who do you recommend to guard me while I sleep?”

Taehyung grinned.  “Jungkook.”

“Ahhh.  A fine choice.  Is he in bed right now?”

Taehyung shook his head.  “No.  He’s been on nights for a while.  He guards the north side of the palace.”

The king nodded.  “I will find him.  Stay here and watch over Moonflower.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

“You’re a good man,” Yoongi clapped his hand on the younger man’s shoulder before turning to leave.   “I should introduce you to Moonflower before I go.  Come.”

They strode across the garden.

“Moonflower!” Yoongi called to her.

She glanced up.

“This is my friend, Taehyung.  He is my most trusted guard.  I have assigned him to you.  He will stay with you at all hours whenever you are in this garden.  You will no longer be alone.”

Was that the sheen of tears that Taehyung noticed in her eyes?  

As he watched her, his heart released a pang, for he could tell she was in love with the king.  Her whole face was lit up the entire time the king was speaking to her.  

Taehyung glanced at the king.  The same light was illuminating his countenance too.  They were in love!  Moonflower and the king!  

How his heart hurt!  For them both.  And for himself.  Theirs was a forbidden love, surely.  Between a king and an orphan who had grown up hidden away from the world in a dark corner of the palace.  A blind girl.  The kingdom would never accept such a flawed creature as their queen.

Yet, Taehyung knew…she was just perfect.

Moonflower’s eyes lit up as Yoongi introduced her to Taehyung.  He was the one man in the entire palace that she would have trusted her life to – other than Yoongi, of course.  

Taehyung was the one who had come to her rescue the day the king’s brother had attacked her. Taehyung had discovered her cowering in a hidden section of the garden that night.  She’d been shaking like a leaf.

“Milady, whatever is wrong?” the handsome guard had asked her as he performed his night rounds.

He had often seen her in the garden after midnight.  On this particular night, her face had glowed in the light of his torch.  She’d been too terrified to speak.

“Where are you, you grubby wench!” the voice of the then-king, Yoongi’s despicable brother, had suddenly sounded to their right.

Taehyung had seen her eyes widen in fear.  He had silently pushed her back down on the ground behind a bush.  Then, he’d gone to assist the king.  Taehyung had led him far away from her.  Allowing her enough opportunity to escape.  And escape she had.

“This man saved me from your brother,” she whispered.

Yoongi quirked his eyebrows as he turned to gaze at Taehyung.  “Did he now?”  He grinned.  “Now I know why you are my most trusted guard, friend.  You did what I was unable to do for her.  Good man.”  He clapped him on the shoulder again.  “I want her under twenty-four hour guard, Taehyung.  When you are sleeping, set the man you trust the most on her detail.”

Taehyung nodded.  “I will, Your Highness.  You can trust me to defend Moonflower with my life.”

Yoongi’s gaze sharpened on him for a moment.  Taehyung sounded awfully enthusiastic.