Chapter 3 – The Council's Decision

"The cruelest battles are not always fought with swords. Sometimes they are fought inside a royal court."

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Morning arrived far too quickly.

The lively streets of Lunaris, once filled with laughter and music, had fallen quiet after the grand Moon Festival.

Inside the royal palace...

The atmosphere was completely different.

Heavy.

Silent.

Unforgiving.

Prince Taehyung stood on the balcony of his chambers, watching the morning sun rise above the Silver Lake.

Yet his thoughts remained with the previous night.

A stranger.

A lantern.

A pair of warm eyes.

A promise written in silver ink.

He unconsciously touched the small silk ribbon tied around his wrist—the ribbon that had accidentally brushed against Jungkook's hand while they released the lantern.

A tiny memory.

Yet it made his heart race.

"Your Highness?"

Mira entered carrying a tray of breakfast.

"You haven't slept."

Taehyung smiled faintly.

"Was it that obvious?"

"You've been standing here since dawn."

She hesitated before speaking again.

"Are you thinking about... him?"

Taehyung's ears turned pink.

"I don't even know him."

"But you want to."

He remained silent.

Silence itself became the answer.

In another part of the palace...

The Royal Council had already gathered.

Seven ministers.

The King.

The Queen.

Crown Prince Namjoon.

Military commanders.

Scholars.

Every influential noble in Lunaris.

Today...

The future of Prince Taehyung would be decided.

King Hyun rose from his throne.

"The Moon Kingdom requires a strong alliance."

"The neighboring kingdoms continue expanding their armies."

"Our borders grow weaker each season."

One elderly minister bowed.

"Your Majesty speaks wisely."

"The quickest path to peace is a royal marriage."

Another minister nodded.

"The Dragon Kingdom has yet to send a proposal."

"The White Tiger Kingdom has already expressed interest."

"The Ocean Kingdom has also requested negotiations."

The hall filled with discussion.

Only one person remained silent.

Namjoon.

The King finally looked at his eldest son.

"Crown Prince."

"You have said nothing."

Namjoon slowly stood.

"I have only one question."

The room became quiet.

"Has anyone asked Taehyung what he wants?"

Several ministers exchanged uncomfortable glances.

One of them answered.

"A prince's duty comes before personal wishes."

Namjoon's eyes hardened.

"And a father's duty?"

The King frowned.

"Be careful."

"I am."

Namjoon replied calmly.

"I simply refuse to forget that my brother is a person before he is a political agreement."

Silence spread across the council chamber.

Far beyond the palace walls...

Jungkook sat inside a quiet teahouse overlooking the capital.

He had barely touched the tea before him.

His bodyguard watched with amusement.

"You've been staring at the palace for an hour."

"I know."

"You plan to leave?"

"No."

The guard smiled knowingly.

"I thought so."

Jungkook finally looked away from the palace.

"When does the council finish?"

"By noon."

"And after that?"

"They'll announce the prince's engagement."

Jungkook's hand tightened around the porcelain cup.

Something inside him refused to accept it.

At the palace...

Queen Hana entered Taehyung's chambers.

She dismissed every servant except Mira.

Then gently sat beside her son.

"You know why I'm here."

Taehyung nodded quietly.

"The council."

She reached for his hand.

"If your father announces an engagement today..."

"I want you to know something."

Taehyung looked at her.

"I tried."

His eyes widened.

"I argued."

"I pleaded."

"I asked him to wait."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"But the kingdom..."

"...comes first."

For the first time...

Taehyung saw tears gathering in his mother's eyes.

Instead of comforting him...

She was apologizing.

He immediately embraced her.

"You've always protected me."

"I know."

"And that's enough."

The palace bell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The signal that the Royal Council had reached its decision.

Citizens gathered before the palace gates.

Nobles filled the grand courtyard.

Servants lined both sides of the royal staircase.

The announcement everyone had been waiting for...

Was about to begin.

Taehyung stood beside Namjoon.

His hands trembled beneath the sleeves of his robes.

Namjoon quietly reached over and squeezed his hand.

"No matter what happens..."

"I'm with you."

Taehyung smiled gratefully.

King Hyun stepped onto the balcony overlooking thousands of people.

The crowd immediately fell silent.

"My beloved people..."

"Today..."

"The Moon Kingdom takes another step toward lasting peace."

Taehyung closed his eyes.

His heart pounded painfully.

"The Royal Council has unanimously decided..."

A gust of wind swept across the courtyard.

Far below...

Hidden among the crowd in a dark cloak...

Jungkook watched every movement.

"...that Prince Taehyung shall be formally engaged..."

Time itself seemed to stop.

"...during the upcoming Assembly of Seven Kingdoms."

Gasps spread through the crowd.

The name of the future spouse...

Had not been announced.

Only the engagement.

Taehyung lowered his head.

His worst fear had become reality.

His future now belonged to politics.

Hidden beneath his cloak...

Jungkook felt an unfamiliar anger.

Not toward the Moon Kingdom.

Not toward the King.

Toward a tradition that treated a person's heart as nothing more than a bargaining tool.

His bodyguard noticed the change.

"What are you thinking?"

Jungkook's answer came without hesitation.

"I'm going to stop this."

The guard nearly choked.

"...Excuse me?"

"I don't know how yet."

"But I refuse to let someone else decide his life."

The guard stared at him.

"You met him yesterday."

Jungkook smiled faintly.

"I know."

"And somehow..."

"It already feels too late to walk away."

High above the courtyard...

Hidden behind silk curtains...

Lady Iseul watched Jungkook carefully.

Recognition flashed across her face.

"So..."

"The mysterious traveler..."

"...is Crown Prince Jungkook of Drakonis."

Her smile slowly widened.

"This will be much more entertaining than I expected."

She folded the corner of a letter.

A letter already bearing the seal of a foreign kingdom.

"If two kingdoms wish to unite..."

"I'll make sure they become enemies instead."

Above the palace...

Dark clouds slowly gathered.

The peaceful festival had ended.

The game of kingdoms...

Had finally begun.

"Love had arrived quietly beneath the moon... but politics had awakened with the dawn." 🌙🐉

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