Chapter 4 – The Warrior's Decision

"Some promises are spoken aloud. Others are made in silence, with nothing more than unwavering determination."

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The palace courtyard slowly emptied.

The nobles returned to their mansions, discussing the royal announcement with excitement.

Merchants whispered about the coming engagement.

Soldiers resumed their duties.

Only one person remained standing in the middle of the crowd.

Jungkook.

His eyes never left the palace balcony where Taehyung had disappeared moments ago.

His bodyguard, Minho, sighed dramatically.

"So..."

"What now?"

Jungkook answered without looking away.

"I need to meet him again."

Minho blinked.

"The Moon Prince?"

Jungkook nodded.

"I owe him the truth."

Minho folded his arms.

"Which truth?"

"That I'm not a traveler."

"And then?"

Jungkook finally looked at him.

"I'll ask him."

"Ask him what?"

"If he truly wishes to accept this engagement."

Minho almost laughed.

"You've known him for less than a day."

Jungkook smiled faintly.

"Sometimes..."

"One day is enough."

Inside the Moon Palace...

Taehyung quietly walked through the royal gardens.

The cheerful atmosphere of the festival had completely disappeared.

Even the birds seemed quieter today.

His fingers absentmindedly brushed against the blooming moon lilies.

They had always been his favorite flowers.

His mother used to tell him,

"Moon lilies bloom brightest just before a storm."

He never understood those words.

Until now.

"Your Highness."

Taehyung turned.

Namjoon approached with two cups of warm jasmine tea.

"I thought you might need this."

Taehyung accepted the cup with a grateful smile.

They sat beneath the ancient Moon Tree.

For several minutes...

Neither of them spoke.

Finally...

Namjoon broke the silence.

"Do you like him?"

Taehyung nearly dropped the teacup.

"W-What?"

"The traveler."

Taehyung's cheeks instantly turned pink.

"I..."

"I don't even know him."

"That wasn't my question."

Silence.

The gentle breeze carried white petals between them.

Taehyung stared into his tea.

"When he looked at me..."

"I felt..."

His words disappeared.

Namjoon smiled softly.

"Safe?"

Taehyung's eyes widened.

"How did you know?"

"Because that's exactly how Mother looked at Father when they first met."

Taehyung looked toward the sky.

"But it doesn't matter."

"My future has already been decided."

Namjoon placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Not yet."

"What do you mean?"

"The council announced an engagement."

"They didn't announce a groom."

Hope flickered inside Taehyung's heart.

Just for a moment.

At the same time...

Several miles away...

A royal carriage bearing the crest of the Dragon Kingdom approached Lunaris.

Inside sat King Jeon and his royal advisor.

The advisor looked confused.

"Your Majesty."

"You left without informing the council."

King Jeon chuckled.

"My son is in Lunaris."

"I know him well."

"When Jungkook suddenly becomes interested in attending a festival..."

"It usually means destiny has interfered."

The advisor blinked.

"You believe in destiny?"

King Jeon smiled.

"I believe in my son's eyes."

"They only shine like that for one reason."

Elsewhere...

Lady Iseul stood inside her luxurious chambers.

A servant knelt before her.

"Did you confirm it?"

"Yes, My Lady."

"The traveler is indeed Crown Prince Jungkook."

She smiled slowly.

"So..."

"The Dragon Kingdom's future king has fallen for the Moon Prince."

The servant hesitated.

"What shall we do?"

Iseul walked toward the window.

Below...

The palace guards changed shifts.

An idea slowly formed in her mind.

"Prepare a letter."

"To whom?"

"The White Tiger Kingdom."

"And another..."

"The Ocean Kingdom."

The servant looked confused.

"You intend to start a political conflict?"

"No."

She smiled coldly.

"I intend to start a misunderstanding."

That evening...

The Moon Palace hosted a banquet for the visiting nobles.

Music filled the grand hall once again.

Yet Taehyung barely touched his food.

His thoughts wandered.

Again and again...

To the mysterious traveler.

Will I ever see him again?

Outside the palace...

Jungkook watched from the shadows.

He knew entering the palace was impossible.

Royal guards surrounded every gate.

Minho suddenly whispered,

"Look."

A group of palace servants exited through the eastern gate carrying empty baskets.

One servant accidentally dropped a silk pouch onto the road.

Without thinking...

Jungkook picked it up.

The young servant bowed repeatedly.

"Thank you!"

Jungkook smiled.

"You work at the palace?"

"Yes."

"Then..."

He hesitated.

"Could you deliver something for me?"

The servant looked around nervously.

"If it isn't dangerous..."

Jungkook removed the silver moon ribbon from his wrist—the ribbon that had become tangled with Taehyung's during the lantern ceremony.

"I believe this belongs to your prince."

The servant accepted it carefully.

"I'll make sure he receives it."

Late that night...

Mira entered Taehyung's chambers carrying a small silk pouch.

"Your Highness."

"A palace servant found this outside."

Taehyung opened the pouch.

Inside...

Lay the silver ribbon.

Along with a neatly folded note.

His hands trembled as he unfolded it.

Only one sentence was written.

"I promised we'd meet again. Trust me one more time. — Jun"

Taehyung's heart pounded wildly.

A smile—small but genuine—spread across his lips.

He held the ribbon close to his chest.

"He came back..."

Mira noticed the change immediately.

"So..."

"The mysterious traveler remembers you too."

Taehyung looked out toward the moonlit palace gardens.

For the first time since the council's announcement...

Hope quietly returned.

Far beyond the palace walls...

Jungkook mounted his horse.

Tomorrow...

He would stop hiding.

No more disguises.

No more false names.

If he wished to stand beside Taehyung...

He would do so as Crown Prince Jeon Jungkook of Drakonis.

Even if it meant challenging kings...

Even if it meant starting a war.

Hidden in the darkness...

A pair of eyes watched him ride away.

Lady Iseul folded her fan with a satisfied smile.

"Everything is happening exactly as I planned."

"But neither of you knows..."

"That the first trap has already been set."

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"A ribbon returned. A promise renewed. And somewhere in the shadows... betrayal quietly took its first breath."

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