Loving the Monster the World Feared [Taekook]

CHAPTER 1

The freezing air wicked away his body heat. The frigid cold penetrated his entire body, making him shiver unconsciously like a reed swaying in the wind.

"If... if you truly hate me...!"

The shaky voice faded inconsequentially into the night as he struggled to fight his drowsiness. His blurred vision landed on a little boy concealing half of his face behind a mask. Moonlight reflected off the boy's gleaming silver hair and bewitching crimson eyes. He was enchantingly picturesque.

Taehyung awoke wrapped in soft sheets as a streak of sunlight trickled through the window. Slowly and reluctantly, he opened his eyes.

"Your Highness! You're finally awake!" Some shouted excitedly. "His Highness is finally awake!"

"His Highness is finally awake!"

Your Highness? Who are they talking about?

Taehyung scrutinized his surroundings in confusion. A wall-mounted mirror encircled by an ornate frame caught his attention. Yet the reflection staring back was not the face he remembered.

Emerald-green eyes shimmered softly in the light. Long platinum-blond hair cascaded down past slender shoulders to his waist.

Days later, Taehyung realized this setting was eerily identical to an R18+ romance novel he had read in his previous life. 'The Beast and the Lady.' A romance fantasy—a twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Two cursed beasts, Jeon Jungkook and Jeon Richard, would fight fiercely for the heroine's love: Diana

Taehyung had transmigrated into Taehyung's role, Diana's half-brother in this rewritten fate.

From a young age, Taehyung had been arranged to marry the Crown Prince, Jeon Jungkook. However, shortly after seeing Jungkook's cursed appearance, Taehyung had thrown himself into a freezing lake on their wedding day.

That incident left an irreparable wound in Jungkook's heart. The Crown Prince shut himself off completely, becoming cold and ruthless, trusting no one until Diana eventually lifted his curse. In the end, Jungkook lived a miserable life—never chosen by her.

According to the original story, Taehyung should have drowned, his frozen body retrieved from the lake by Jungkook himself.

"If... if you truly hate me...!" The boy clutched Taehyung's body and wept bitterly. After all, his spouse had tried to die because of him.

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"Your Highness, where are you going?" A maid asked when she saw him going somewhere.

"I'm going to meet the Crown Prince." He stated.

"His Royal Highness?" The maid, Melissa, glanced at Taehyung in surprise.

"Yes. Take me there."

"Your Highness," she said carefully, "His Highness is still deeply shocked by the recent incident..."

She likely assumed Taehyung intended to demand an annulment.

"Don't worry. He won't do anything harmful." Taehyung said firmly.

Taehyung had no intention of abandoning Jungkook. He couldn't leave him like this—not when he had the chance to rewrite Jungkook's miserable childhood.

Taehyung had nowhere else to go. Born to Count Bellacian's first wife—who died shortly after childbirth—Taehyung was never wanted. The count remarried and had Diana, whom he cherished. Knowing Taehyung wouldn't survive under his roof, Count Bellacian sent him away as Crown Princess—no, Crown Prince Consort in all but name. Taehyung hadn't jumped into the lake solely because of Jungkook's appearance. He had done it because his family had abandoned him.

The maid led him to Jungkook's bedroom.

"I'll go in myself."

Taehyung placed his hand on the elongated handle and opened the door. Inside, a small child lay curled tightly on the bed.

"Your Highness. It's me." He announced gently.

"I can't believe you did that!" Jungkook cried. "You jumped into the lake without my permission!"

Taehyung suppressed the ache in his chest. This wasn't the terrifying beast from the novel. Jungkook looked like a frightened rabbit.

"I have something to tell you." Taehyung sat on the edge of the bed. Jungkook instinctively scooted away. But Taehyung caught his trembling hand and gently removed the mask covering half his face.

"What are you doing?!" Jungkook panicked, trying to pull away.

Taehyung instead cupped his face firmly.

"Don't–don't look!" Jungkook cried. Trying to free himself.

"You're not hideous." Taehyung said gently.

"...What?"

"I've never seen someone as beautiful as you." He said softly.

It was the truth. Despite the curse, Jungkook's appearance was breathtaking—silver hair, crimson eyes, delicate features sculpted as if by angels. In the original story, once his curse was lifted, Jungkook possessed the most captivating face on the continent.

"But... you hate me." Jungkook said in a low voice.

"I don't hate you." Taehyung shook his head.

"But—"

"I didn't try to kill myself," Taehyung said softly. "I slipped and fell into the lake."

A lie. But one Jungkook needed to hear.

"Really...?"

"Yes. I heard you saved me, so I came to thank you."

"..."

"Thank you." Taehyung smiled and clasped both of Jungkook's hands. "You saved my life."

Jungkook's nose reddened as warm tears fell onto the back of Taehyung's hand. "I thought... you almost died because of me..."

"Why would I?" Taehyung replied gently.

"I'm married to someone wonderful." He sobbed, "I was afraid you'd hate me..."