Chapter 2

The military transport hovered silently above the capital before descending onto a private landing platform.

Jeon Jungkook stepped out without hesitation.

His cousin, Jeon Minjae, followed behind him, unusually quiet. The apology still lingered like a thorn in his throat.

Commander Jeon stood waiting at the entrance, dressed in a crisp black military uniform. His sharp eyes swept over Jungkook.

"You seem... different."

Jungkook met his gaze calmly.

"I almost died."

A brief silence followed.

"I suppose people change after experiences like that."

Commander Jeon studied him for another moment before nodding toward the waiting vehicle.

"The Kim family requested to meet you today."

"They requested?"

"They refused to force this marriage. Even under military recommendation, they want your consent."

That surprised Jungkook.

From the memories he had inherited, he expected powerful families to value status over personal choice.

Perhaps the Kim family was different.

An hour later, the vehicle entered one of the oldest estates in the capital.

The mansion overlooked a quiet lake lined with silver trees. Soldiers stood guard around the property, yet the atmosphere felt peaceful rather than intimidating.

Inside the main hall, an elderly alpha rose to greet them.

His hair was completely white, but his posture remained straight.

General Kim.

Kim Taehyung's grandfather.

Instead of examining Jungkook like a commodity, the old general bowed slightly.

"I'm sorry."

The unexpected apology caught everyone off guard.

"You've been dragged into a situation you never asked for."

Commander Jeon looked uncomfortable.

General Kim ignored him and continued.

"My grandson died protecting this empire. Continuing his bloodline was never his wish—it became ours."

He placed a thin data tablet on the table.

"This contains every detail of the procedure, the legal agreement, and your rights."

Jungkook picked it up.

One sentence immediately stood out.

The candidate may withdraw at any time before the procedure without legal consequence.

His eyebrows lifted.

"You'd let me leave?"

General Kim answered honestly.

"A child born through coercion would never honor Taehyung's memory."

For the first time since arriving in this strange world, Jungkook felt the tension in his shoulders ease.

At least one family still remembered what dignity meant.

As tea was served, Jungkook asked quietly,

"May I ask something?"

"Of course."

"What kind of person was Kim Taehyung?"

The old general smiled faintly.

"He hated formal dinners."

"He skipped military ceremonies whenever he could."

"He loved stray animals."

"And despite being the empire's strongest alpha..."

"He was terrible at remembering birthdays."

The stories were simple.

Nothing like the flawless hero described in official records.

Instead, they painted the picture of an ordinary young man who happened to carry extraordinary responsibility.

Jungkook found himself listening far longer than he intended.

When the conversation ended, General Kim stood.

"You don't need to answer today."

"Take your time."

"This decision belongs to your future—not ours."

As Jungkook walked toward the estate's entrance, something caught his eye.

Beyond the gardens stood a separate building.

Unlike the rest of the estate, it remained heavily guarded.

Two elite soldiers blocked the entrance.

The sign above the doorway read:

Restricted Military Archive. Authorized Personnel Only.

For a brief second, Jungkook thought he saw a figure move behind one of the darkened windows.

Then it disappeared.

One of the guards immediately stepped forward.

"Please return to the main path, Mr. Jeon."

Jungkook nodded without protest.

But a question quietly settled in the back of his mind.

If Kim Taehyung had truly died...

Why was the most heavily guarded building on the estate dedicated to someone who was supposed to be gone?

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