In the northern forests, the patrol caravan heard a breath of noise under the cover of night: a secret meeting broken, hurried footsteps, and finally a traitor caught. His clothes were torn with blood, his eyes filled with fear like gray rain on stone. Guards dragged him in chains into the royal hall.
Jungkook stood in the center, his presence hardening the air. Taehyung was beside him, a handful of pale blossoms in hand, his face troubled but resolute. Silence pressed upon the courtiers as the prisoner was thrown to the ground. The guard restrained him and presented him
"Your Highness, this man was caught in the forests. He confessed to selling information about the borders."
The traitor spoke with a trembling voice:
"I was hungry… I needed money… I promised someone, he gave us a hotline…"
His eyes flicked toward the burning torches, where guards stood beneath Jeon Lee's banner. A stir ran through the hall. Jeon Lee himself entered like a shadow, face of stone, lips without a smile.
"What did you say?"
Jungkook asked so coldly that the words themselves shivered.
Jiwoon Lee stepped forward and said softly
"It's easy to wring truth from a traitor's tongue. But the question is, for whose gain was he selling it?"
Taehyung gently took Jungkook's hand.
"Lee, why are you here?"
His voice carried a softness that melted the edges of the hall.
Jiwoon Lee cast a sharp look at him
"I came to protect my borders. And whoever dares play inside them, I will deal with personally."
Jungkook's eyes burned crimson, yet he said
"Bring the truth forward first. Then judgment will follow."
He turned to the traitor.
"Tell me, who were you working for?"
When the traitor spoke again, the hall froze in time
"Taehyung… Taehyung prince.. he promised money…"
His voice was smoky, fading into air.
Taehyung's face drained white, his innocent smile vanished at once.
"That's a lie, I never…"
He tried to force the words out, but Jungkook's gaze silenced him.
Jungkook stepped forward. The entire hall shook with him. His eyes carried power enough to silence angels and beasts, yet inside them a crack appeared, an inner war unseen. The first kingdom, his family, his duty, burned like a sacred flame within. But Taehyung… Taehyung was his home, his weakness, his human solace.
"You spoke his name?"
Jungkook said slowly to the traitor, his voice the frost that had ended lives before.
The traitor bowed his head
"Y-yes, my lord"
Jungkook looked at Taehyung. Fear, doubt, helplessness clouded his eyes. Taehyung stepped forward, placed a trembling hand on Jungkook's arm, his voice breaking
"Jungkook… you know I would never, I would never betray your kingdom…"
Jungkook's face softened for an instant, then the frost returned. He stepped back, his fingers curling like iron.
"The kingdom comes first."
He said firmly, though a spark trembled beneath his tone.
"You are mine, but my kingdom is my identity."
The order was given. Jungkook sentenced the traitor to death, payment for loyalty traded as coin. Swift, merciless. He silenced the traitor himself, one sharp act, then the final strike. The man fell, casting a last look at Taehyung as if begging forgiveness before leaving the world.
Taehyung's hands shook. His breath fractured.
"You killed him…"
His voice was faint, unsure whether he was crying at his partner's hands or the cruelty of duty.
Jungkook lowered his eyes, then moved to stand by the throne.
"I judged his act as treason against the state.
But Taehyung, you are accused. I will not punish you, I will keep you under protection. But this matter must be investigated."
Whispers rose in the hall. Some courtiers were satisfied, others remained mute. Inside Jungkook, another war raged, love versus throne. His kingdom was a current he could not let go. Yet Taehyung was the one who held him away from blood. Now Taehyung himself was accused.
Jungkook gave the order
"Bring all border records and messages at once. No one will act until the truth is known. Taehyung, you will stay under our watch, safe, but detained."
Taehyung's face became a storm of emotions, anger, shame, silent fear.
"So you will… keep me in prison?"
"I will not punish you. But I need the truth. Whether it clears you… or destroys you."
Taehyung clutched his sleeve, eyes burning with both pain and hope.
"I did nothing…" he said softly but firmly.
Jungkook remained silent as he looked at his gaurds, they hesitated before taking taehyung towards dungeon.....