Chapter 3

Authors Pov :

The royal garden was quiet, the sun beginning to dip low in the sky, casting everything in a golden glow. Birds chirped softly in the distance, and the smell of fresh flowers filled the air.

Prince Tae stood with a bow in his hand, his focus absolute. He wasn't about to let anything distract him, not even the silly distractions that usually came from his royal life. Nope,today was all about hitting that target.

Prince fingers tightened around the bow, the string pulled back just right.

His breath was steady, his eyes narrowed as he aimed in on the target in front of him.

"Just... focus," he whispered to himself, feeling the calmness wash over him. "You've got this. Easy."

He was ready.

Everything was perfect.

Then, just as his fingers were about to release the string...

BAM!

A hand shot out of nowhere, grabbing the arrow just inches from the string.

Prince eyes widened in shock. "What the- ?!"

He spun around, ready to snap, but then he saw who it was.

Of course.

It had to be him.

There, standing with the arrow in his hand, was Prince Jungkook, looking way too pleased with himself.

He flashed that irritating grin, the one that always made Tae want to punch him, but also-not punch him.

"Hey, Prince Tae," Prince Jungkook said casually, as if he hadn't just ruined Tae's perfect shot.

"I was just making sure you didn't shoot that into a tree,You know how wild things can get when you're not paying attention." He shook the arrow in his hand like it was nothing.

Tae's jaw nearly hit the ground.

"What the hell, Prince Jungkook? You can't just grab an arrow like that!"

Jungkook shrugged, still grinning.

"Why not? It looked like it was heading for the bushes anyway. I'm just saving you the trouble of looking for it later. I mean, that's a serious archery disaster waiting to happen, don't you think?"

Tae was fuming, His hands were clenched into fists and his face was already flushing red.

"I had that under control, Prince bunny! Under control! You" He threw his hands up in frustration, but Jungkook wasn't even slightly phased.

Jungkook looked at him like he was some sort of joke, cocking his head to the side. "Really? Because it looked like you were about to shoot that arrow straight into the bushes." He gave Tae a teasing look. "If you want, I could teach you how to aim, you know. I'm an expert."

Tae stared at him, wide-eyed. "Are you seriously telling me you?" He stopped in the middle of the sentence.

His heart thudded a little faster, but he fought to keep his composure.

He turned his gaze away, willing himself to ignore the way Jungkook's voice seemed to make everything else fade. "I don't need your help, Prince Jungkook."

Jungkook's smirk softened into something more genuine, more playful, as if he could see right through Tae's defenses.

"Sure you don't." He paused, his voice suddenly quieter. "But you know, sometimes... you don't need to be perfect. Sometimes, you just need to feel-the moment."

Tae's breath caught in his throat. That hit a little too close to home. His fingers tightened on the bow, but his grip wasn't as sure now. His heart wasn't in it, He glanced back at Jungkook, who was standing there, just a little too close, watching him like he was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I can do this," Tae said, though there was less conviction in his voice now. He'd had it all figured out, but with Jungkook standing there, his teasing words, his warmth-it all felt like it was slipping through his fingers.

Jungkook reached out then, slowly, almost like he was giving Tae the chance to push him away.

But Tae didn't.

He didn't want to.

Jungkook's hand brushed lightly against Tae's arm, sending a spark through him.

It was a casual touch, barely anything, but to Tae, it felt like it meant everything.

"Just take a breath," Jungkook said softly, his voice like a whisper meant only for Tae. "Relax. It's just a garden. It's just an arrow. Don't let it be more than that."

Tae's heart pounded in his chest, the air suddenly thick between them.

He could feel the warmth of Jungkook's touch even after he'd pulled his hand back.

It felt like everything was quieter, like it was just the two of them.

His fingers hovered over the string again, but this time, his mind wasn't as clear.

There was a pull in his chest, something he didn't quite understand.

"You're distracting me," Tae muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, though he wasn't sure if he was mad or not. He glanced up at Jungkook through his lashes. "You always do."

Jungkook chuckled softly, his eyes softening as he watched Tae, his teasing smile replaced with something gentler. "Maybe I like distracting you."

Tae's breath hitched.

The words landed too heavy in the air, lingering between them like a challenge neither of them wanted to admit.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension hung there, thick and undeniable.

Then Jungkook stepped back with a grin, as if he realized what he was doing. "Alright, alright," he said, his voice a little lighter now. "I'll stop distracting you. Go ahead. Show me your perfect aim."

Tae's heart was still racing as he pulled the string back again, but this time, his thoughts weren't focused on hitting the target.

They were on the way when Jungkook was looking at him.

The way his presence had settled into every part of the moment.

With a deep breath, Tae let go of the string.

The arrow flew, hitting the target squarely in the center.

He knew what Jungkook was doing, He always knew. The smirk on the other prince's face was enough to tell him everything.

Tae's grip tightened around the bow, He was about to turn, open his mouth and let loose all the irritation he had been holding in.

But before he could, Jungkook interrupted him, cutting him off with a nonchalant grin.

"I'm not coming here alone, by the way," Jungkook said, his voice smooth and confident, as though he'd won already.

Tae froze.

Jungkook's eyes gleamed, a mischievous glint that always sent a spark of annoyance and something else racing through Tae's veins. His lips curved into that infuriating smirk, the one that made his chest tighten, even if Tae would never admit it.

And then, the worst thing happened.

Tae's cheeks, which had been burning with anger, suddenly flushed with an unexpected warmth.

His face turned slightly red, and he quickly turned his head, trying to hide it, but not before Jungkook noticed.

Tae could feel his heart racing, and he cursed under his breath. Why did Jungkook always do this to him?

Without thinking, Tae started to turn away, ready to storm off and escape the tension in his chest, but before he could take a single step, he felt someone's grip on him.

A strong hand wrapped around his waist, pulling him back. The warmth of Jungkook's touch sent a jolt of electricity through him, and Tae immediately stopped in his tracks, frozen, unable to move.

Jungkook's voice was low and steady, barely whispering his grip tightening slightly as he held him in place, his lips slowly touching tae ear, "Where do you think you're going, Prince Tae?"

Tae struggled, his body tense, every muscle fighting against Jungkook's hold.

He tried to break free, his mind clouded with anger and the overwhelming need to get away from the warmth that seemed to pull him in.

His eyes flicked to the door, but Jungkook held him firm.

"No," Jungkook said with that insufferable smirk of his. "You're not leaving just yet."

Tae's breathing quickened, his frustration mounting. He wasn't sure if it was because of the situation, or the way Jungkook's fingers seemed to tighten around him, or the fact that this wasn't the first time he'd felt something like this when Jungkook was near.

He wanted to yell, to fight back, but something in Jungkook's expression made him hesitate.

"King here for some work prince tae," Jungkook continued, his voice teasing yet somehow serious. "And I'm afraid you're going straight to King Yoongi's room, You wouldn't want to disturb him, would you? After all, both kings have responsibilities."

Tae's eyes flashed with annoyance, and he glared at Jungkook, his lips pressed into a tight line. "Obviously," he snapped, his anger still simmering. He didn't like being treated like a child, especially by Jungkook.

But he wasn't about to back down.

"I'm also his responsibility," Tae shot back, his voice rising. "You're holding your Next Queen, so let me go."

Jungkook's face shifted, the playful smirk fading for just a moment as he processed what Tae had said.

Tae could see the brief flicker of surprise in his eyes, and then, just like that, Jungkook's grip on him loosened.

Tae stepped back, trying to regain his composure, but the words still lingered in the air. "Next queen".

Jungkook cleared his throat, his expression suddenly more serious, more composed.

"Okay, Your Highness. But I'm just doing my duty, you know? If you disturb Hyung, you know how he gets." He glanced at Tae one last time, the smirk reappearing, though it was softer this time. "But it's not my fault if you get caught in his anger, is it?"

Tae stood there for a moment, his chest rising and falling with the rush of emotions.

He felt like he was caught in a whirlwind of frustration, confusion, and something else he couldn't quite name.

Jungkook turned on his heel, about to leave, but then stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "Go ahead. Grab your king. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Tae opened his mouth to say something, anything, but the words stuck in his throat. His mind flashed to the image of the King, his temper, his responsibilities and before he could stop himself, he turned toward the direction of the king's room.

Jungkook's smirk still lingered in his mind as he walked away, but the words next queen kept ringing in his ears.

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To be continued...

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