Prince Jeon Jungkook sat in the grand study hall, staring blankly at the endless scrolls and books piled before him. The old scholars droned on and on about politics and ancient treaties, but his mind was miles away.

"I can't take this anymore," Jungkook thought, tapping his fingers restlessly against the table. "I'm not made to rot behind walls listening to dusty old men talk about wars that ended before I was born."

Without another thought, he stood, slipping quietly out of the hall. No one noticed as he disappeared into the maze of palace gardens and beyond, into the forest where adventure called him.

The forest was vast and alive. Birds chirped above, the scent of wildflowers filled the air, and the sunlight broke through the leaves in golden shards. Jungkook smiled for the first time in days.

"is this real?," he thought. "This is pure heaven."

He wandered aimlessly, until something odd caught his eye - an old, crumbling bungalow half-hidden by overgrown vines.



"Huh? What is that doing here?" Jungkook mused aloud, cautiously stepping closer. "It looks abandoned... but still standing. Weird."

"Strange..." Jungkook thought, pushing at the door. It was locked tight. Curious and uneasy, he searched around the back, where a small window hung broken. He squeezed through, landing inside with a dull thud.

The air was thick and cold. Dust and decay choked the room.

But it wasn't the darkness that made Jungkook's blood run cold - it was the broken whisper he heard.

"Please... help me..."

Jungkook spun around.

"Who's there?"

From the shadows, a boy - no, a young man - crawled weakly into the faint light. His body was painfully thin, his skin littered with bruises and scars, some fresh, some faded over years. His once-beautiful face, though marred by hardship, still shone with an ethereal grace that time and cruelty could not destroy.

"Who are you?" Jungkook asked, heart pounding.

The boy flinched at the sound, as if expecting a blow.

"...Taehyung," he whispered hoarsely. "Prince... of Daegu."

Jungkook stared in shock.

"Prince? Daegu's lost prince? The one they've been searching for... for years?"

Taehyung pressed himself against the wall, trembling. His voice cracked as he spoke:

"I was kidnapped... by the general's son. He... he wanted to keep me. To own me. He said my beauty was dangerous... said I belonged to him alone..."

His words broke into sobs. Jungkook felt rage boiling inside him.

Taehyung continued, brokenly:

"For five years... he came at night... forced me... beat me if I fought back... no one ever found me... no one ever heard me..."

He wrapped his arms around himself like he could still feel the blows.

Jungkook dropped to his knees in front of him, voice firm but gentle.

"You're not alone anymore. I'm here," he said fiercely.

"And I swear - no one will ever hurt you again."

Taehyung's wide, tear-filled eyes searched Jungkook's face, disbelief and fragile hope flickering in them.

For the first time in years, Taehyung reached out - just a small, trembling hand - and Jungkook took it without hesitation.

Outside, the forest whispered around them.

And inside that ruined bungalow, a promise was born.

Taehyung's small, trembling hand slipped into Jungkook's without resistance. His touch was cold, far too cold for a living boy, and Jungkook felt his chest tighten with anger and sorrow.

"What kind of monster could do this to someone?" he thought fiercely.

"Can you walk?" Jungkook asked gently.

Taehyung shook his head almost immediately, panic flashing in his eyes.

"My legs... they're too weak... please don't leave me," he whispered, voice cracking under the weight of fear.

Jungkook squeezed his hand firmly.

"I'm not leaving," he said. "I'll carry you."

Without another word, Jungkook slipped his arms under Taehyung's frail body, lifting him carefully. Taehyung gasped softly - more out of shock than pain - and clung to Jungkook's shoulder like a frightened child.

"So light," Jungkook thought grimly. "Too light. Like a ghost."

He made his way back toward the broken window, moving slowly to avoid jostling him too much.

As they reached the forest outside, a new fear clawed into Jungkook's mind -

"What if the general's men are still watching the area? What if they see us?"

He set his jaw firmly.

"No. I'll protect him. Even if it costs me everything."

The forest was thicker now, evening shadows stretching long and dark.

Branches scratched at Jungkook's arms and face as he forced his way through the brush, Taehyung silent in his hold, except for the occasional whimper when a sudden jolt hurt him.

"You're safe now," Jungkook kept whispering. "Just a little longer."

But luck was not on their side.

As they neared the path leading back toward the outer roads of Busan, voices rang out in the distance - angry, shouting.

Soldiers.

The general's men.

"Search the area!" a rough voice barked. "He can't have gotten far!"

Taehyung stiffened in Jungkook's arms, a choked sound of terror escaping him.

"Shh," Jungkook soothed quickly, ducking behind a large tree, heart racing.

"Think. Think."

He couldn't outrun trained soldiers carrying Taehyung. And Taehyung was too weak to hide on his own.

But he could outsmart them.

Moving quickly and silently, Jungkook left the main path and darted deeper into the forest - toward the old river that ran through the woods. He remembered the training from his royal tutors:

"Running water covers your trail."

Behind him, he could hear the soldiers shouting, boots stomping, weapons clashing against armor as they searched.

Jungkook tightened his grip on Taehyung and whispered against his ear:

"Hold on. I'm getting you out. No matter what."

They reached the riverbank, and Jungkook didn't hesitate - he waded into the freezing water, struggling to keep his footing and hold Taehyung above the surface.

The current pulled at him, but he pressed forward, teeth gritted against the cold.

On the other side, the woods thickened into rocky hills - and the borders of busan weren't far now.

Taehyung's fingers clung desperately to Jungkook's tunic, his body shivering violently.

But for the first time in five years, there was something new in Taehyung's eyes -

Hope.

A fragile, trembling hope, like a flame struggling against the wind.

And Jungkook swore to himself, as the night closed in around them,

"Even if the whole world comes after us - I'll protect you."

No matter what it costs.

Hours passed under the cold, starless night.

Jungkook's legs burned from exhaustion, but he refused to slow down. Taehyung, half-conscious in his arms, shivered violently, murmuring incoherent words under his breath — nightmares he couldn't wake from.

"Stay with me," Jungkook begged silently. "Please, stay with me."

Finally, through the thickening mist, Jungkook saw it — the broken stone pillar that marked the edge of Busan’s territory.

Just beyond it was the kingdom of busan — his kingdom.

But as he staggered closer, he heard it:

The low whistle of an arrow cutting through the air.

He ducked instinctively — and the arrow embedded itself into a tree just inches from his head.

"Found them!" a voice barked.

Jungkook spun around, heart hammering.

Three men in black armor stepped out of the darkness — assassins. Fast, silent, deadly. They weren't here to capture. They were here to kill.

"If they kill Taehyung, no one will ever know the truth," Jungkook realized with icy dread.

"They want to erase him forever."

Jungkook backed away slowly, keeping his body between the assassins and Taehyung.

"I won't let you touch him," he growled.

The lead assassin smirked coldly. "Hand over the boy, little prince. And maybe we'll make your death quick."

Jungkook's fingers brushed the dagger strapped to his waist.

It was a small blade — hardly enough against three trained killers — but he drew it anyway.

Taehyung stirred weakly in his arms, voice hoarse.

"Run... just run... leave me..."

"Never," Jungkook hissed.

The assassins moved fast — blades flashing in the moonlight.

Jungkook ducked the first swing, pivoting awkwardly with Taehyung still in his arms. He slashed out with his dagger, grazing one man's arm, drawing blood.

Pain bloomed as another blade sliced across Jungkook’s shoulder — shallow but burning.

"I can't win a fight carrying him," Jungkook thought desperately. "I have to buy time."

Summoning every ounce of strength, Jungkook dashed for the trees, weaving between them to make himself a harder target. Behind him, the assassins cursed and gave chase.

Branches whipped at his face. His shoulder throbbed. His lungs burned.

But he kept running.

Taehyung clung weakly to him, whispering apologies, tears leaking from his closed eyes.

"Don’t apologize," Jungkook thought fiercely. "You didn’t deserve any of this."

Up ahead, lights glimmered faintly — torches — and the glint of armor.

Guards.

Busan 's patrols.

Jungkook let out a broken laugh of relief.

"Help!" he shouted, voice raw. "Help us!"

The assassins, seeing the soldiers, slowed — then melted back into the shadows, disappearing like smoke.

Jungkook stumbled into the patrol’s midst, collapsing to his knees.

"Please," he gasped. "He's Prince Taehyung of Daegu... he's been kidnapped... we need help!"

The soldiers stared in shock. A few instantly recognized Jungkook — even through the blood and dirt.

"Your Highness!" one soldier cried, rushing forward.

Another caught Taehyung as Jungkook sagged forward, utterly spent.

"Get them to the fortress!" the captain barked. "Protect them with your lives!"

As they carried them toward the safety of Busan ’s outpost, Jungkook looked up at the night sky.

For the first time in years, he felt something real —

Not duty.

Not boredom.

But purpose.

Saving Taehyung wasn’t just an accident.

It was fate.

And no matter what storms came next —

He would stand by him.

Until the very end.