48

ALL EYES DIRECTED to the deep voice accompanied by the dark messy brown head, his hair falling just above his eyes. Panting, fists, and teeth clenched. His brown eyes search for the brunette and his boyfriend before opening his mouth. Seokjin had turned around, eyes wide and a wave of relief washed over him but so did bewilderment.

Why out of all people, Taehyung decided to stop his so-called actual marriage with a beautiful maiden he doesn't want to hurt but might, hence, the poor girl seemed to have a good heart. 

Kim Seokjin thought and felt a smile blossom across his face when they met each other's gaze for Taehyung's lips curled into a sly and confident smirk, his gaze moving up to the ceiling where the throne sat and the couple stood.

And then he suddenly understood the raven head's smirk, looking above at the ceiling where the chandelier began to sway side to side and he felt a touch around his ankle, causing him to flench. The maiden asked him if he was alright, worried. When she met eyes with the king of Rekinia, she realized the depth, kindness, gentleness, and despair shining in his brown ones. 

Her arm reached out, hand embracing his, giving it a squeeze. She gave him an acknowledging and accepting look that finally allowed him to breathe.

"Who the hell allowed you to marry the woman who has my heart and I have hers? Did you even think or consider how she feels about this marriage, how she feels about me, what she wants?" 

Taehyung says, chest heaving as his eyes glowed with emotion, throwing his hand to the right side of his chest and started towards the couple.

Seokjin would have questions arising in his mind but he did not question it and found that this particular boy has talent in acting, clearly, that's what he was doing. 

He was making it so obvious about his love for the very maiden so no one would question it, so everyone would believe him.

Seokjin knew Taehyung loved Jungkook. He couldn't possibly be swept off his feet by anyone else since he was head over heels for the muscular, charming, quiet, and cute dark brunette.

She whispered into the king's ear. His father and the people of Rekinia must not know.

"I find him quite fancy and humorous, however handsome too. Although I don't know him or your story, I can see it in your eyes that you have someone you love, and that's him, isn't it? That funny charming silly boy?"

Kim Seokjin tried not to laugh or smile. He really did.

But he felt himself smiling all the while recalling Hoseok being adorable, soft, gentle, and protective, and everything he could have ever wished for in a partner.

He remembered his fragile kisses, his fiery kisses, his touches sending electricity across his entire skin. 

His voice sent shivers down his spine.

His cheeks had turned crimson and burned at the very memory.

"He's everything you've mentioned but he's not the one that owns my heart. It's the man who our country despises, wants him dead, my father's enemy . . . Jung Hoseok." The maiden's mouth went agape, she brought a hand to her mouth and smiled, then turning to face Seokjin.

"You're a lucky man."

"Did you . . . did you love him or admire him?"

"Oh, Hoseok, Jung Hoseok . . . he's the man of every girl's dream, not that you aren't your kind royal highness, it's just there's something about him that leaves us, girls, crazy and awed. I can say so myself I had a crush on him. Yes, I like him. I'm more than happy to know he's happy with the one he loves and finding out that it's you makes me happier."

They found themselves whispering with one another despite the sudden interruption. Han Sol had immediately left the courtroom with his men, Seokjin noticed. The royal guests had their full attention on Taehyung who entertained them with his made-up love story between him and the maiden. 

Otherwise, the lady and king's conversation wouldn't have carried on.

"Why is that?"

"Besides two handsome boys being together is every fujoshi's dream . . . both of you have something in you, both of you can do something more, both of you can make fireworks and restore what our world needs, I believe."

"You mean world peace?"

"Oh, you are close, your kind royal highness," she smiles, throwing her gaze to the raven boy laughing and grinning and he caught her gaze and she blushed. She looked back at the king with a beam on her vanilla face, her blonde hair somehow glowing like her eyes.

"Oh, please. Call me Seokjin." And so she smiles again, feeling butterflies in her stomach. Happiness pouring on her during this crestfallen time.

Then she replies, "I meant you both can restore love in the world, love, is what the world needs, Seokjin. The world is dying because love has become so scarce that selfishness is doing a pretty darn good at destroying it."

Seokjin now understood what she meant.

The touch around his ankle still lingered, a soft yet fiery touched he recalled, knowing all too well whose touch from being with the other boy during the time. He knew his body well as if they were married couples.

For they aren't, really.

But an odd, terrifying feeling surrounded him. He didn't know what it was.

"Seokjin! Move away from there!"

When Seokjin heard Taehyung call out to him in a worried voice, his eyes darted to the ceiling above him where the chandelier swayed side to side, and he quickly acted. Seokjin grabbed the maiden's hand and rushed away from the throne, his chest heaving as he saw the chandelier fall on the ground, it's chards spilling across the carpet.

He swore he almost felt his heart fall. 

His gaze met the maiden's and took her hand in his, asking her if she was okay. The maiden nodded and noticed the young boy's hands shaking, so she embraced his and quietly consoled him. And that's when his heartbeat quickens, blood surging through his body, eyes wide.

An alarm had gone off.

Someone had grabbed the map that led to the enchanted rose from his father's bedroom.

Taehyung was here which meant that Jungkook, Yoongi, or Hoseok could have done so, however, the touch on his ankle was most likely Hoseok's. Then that means Jungkook and Yoongi performed the thievery to bring attention and stop the marriage if not the coronation!

It all made sense now. All the pieces started coming together.

Seokjin released a sigh, realizing he was holding his breath. His grip on the maiden's had loosened and she noticed, she noticed his shoulders had relaxed.

"Hey, mind telling me what time it is?"

"Don't you think it's time for you to get a watch? Oh, I'm kidding! It's almost midnight, Seokjin." The maiden said after glancing at the watch wrapped around his wrist, waiting for the king to respond.

At this, Seokjin pulled at his hair and heaved an upset sigh before managing to get his words together properly, "Oh dear, time is running out." He didn't know what could go right or wrong at this point, knowing the walls of the kingdom had worn out, veins were crawling on them, and the roses were dead.

Time was running out.

We have approximately eight minutes before the magical rose loses its beauty and if it does, it's all over. The world will dim and we won't be able to breathe from the lack of nature. 

It really was almost over but the gentle touch on his hand and beautiful clear blue eyes that were looking into his brown ones showered a rain of hope over him, and so he helped her up as he got to his feet.

"So, your kind royal highness, Seokjin, mind if I join the adventure?"

Seokjin almost smiled at this despite the cost he'd pay for allowing a female to join their dangerous mission of saving the world.

"It wouldn't hurt having a fair maiden helping out," he said, thinking if allowing the maiden was appropriate, she seemed very lady-like so he wasn't so sure about this.

"Oh, forgive me. I forgot to mention, my name. I'm Isabelle, but you can call me Belle," the maiden said smiling, reaching out a hand to the king.

Isabelle sounds familiar. And Seokjin was smiling again.

"If we're about to die or let's say you're near to your death type of situation or jumping from building to building and fighting and there's blood . . . will you be okay with that?"

She laughed.

She untied her hair and let it tangle in waves down her chest. Her blonde hair was wild yet beautiful. And her blue eyes were now sparkling with new determination and excitement, her smile fresh and everlasting blossoming across her face. 

"I'm more than okay with that, your royal kind highness."

"You are unbelievable."

"The best kind of unbelievable."

. . .

AS EXPECTED SEOKJIN'S father was not letting Hoseok get his way. He had sent his men after the young boy and his friends. The royal courtroom had calmed down, the guests were chatting away and clinked the wine glasses against each other for a toast. They ate their meal slowly, then turned their attention towards Seokjin, Taehyung, and Isabelle.

Isabelle stood next to Taehyung, her hand embraced in the young boy's hand, and smiled to the royal guests as few came to greet them and welcome to the royal family. Isabelle simply denied her marriage with the king and played along with Taehyung when he assured the guests that they were in love.

They were in love.

Taehyung and Isabelle.

It was all pretending.

Taehyung knew that.

Isabelle knew that.

Seokjin chuckled as he watched the two young adults pretend acting like they were in a romantic relationship.

Recalling his father's actions and from the historical dramas he watched, Kim Seokjin called to the royal guests for the coronation to continue, the ball where they would dance and celebrate his crowning and marriage, however, marriage would be considered for later. Seokjin wants his marriage with Hoseok to be official, so they would talk on that later when the world wasn't dying.

Seokjin sat on the majestic throne, his broad shoulders easing and his smile falling.

What was he doing sitting here doing absolutely nothing? He wanted to move. No, he needed to move and help his husband, his betrothed, his friend, the one and only, Jung Hoseok. 

The royal courtroom was dancing in circles as classical music flowed through the room and the guests performed their country's traditional dance as they smiled and laughed when they changed partners in the process. 

Taehyung and Isabelle were also dancing together, capturing everyone's attention from their remarkable chemistry, the raven's hand on her waist, the blonde's hand on his shoulder, their eyes staring into each other's soul as if they were in love.

The two were quite the actors.

And then it hit Kim Seokjin. Who Isabelle really is.

Isabelle the maiden who was so small and fragile when she moved yet so brave and courageous when she turned sixteen on her birthday, itching to rip her long dresses and wear shirts and trousers instead and climb mountains. Run the grassy land and fight the bad guys.

Isabelle was the maiden who caught the sadness in his eyes whenever their families were meeting each other. Isabelle was the maiden who laughed when she slipped on the floor after washing it. 

Isabelle was the maiden who ate chicken like a master.

She was brave.

Isabelle was a young lady who kept secrets too. 

It seemed like she was going to tell him the very truth for her blue eyes were now glistening. 

Her hand tightened on Taehyung's shoulder. Taehyung let out a groan of pain and discomfort, about to ask her why she did that, but before he could, the maiden had glanced at the king. 

And then she grabbed the young boy in front of him and ran.

Seokjin pulled himself to his feet, worry glistening his eyes as he watched them disappear into the darkness all the while his heart racing once he caught a familiar brown head and a decorated mask covering the upper half of the young man's face.

"Hoseok?" Seokjin's voice barely whispered under his breath.

. . .

ISABELLE'S FINGERS gripped Taehyung's shoulder blades. She pulled him close enough where she could observe his deep brown eyes, his messy hair, his mouth that was trying to form words, an eyebrow hitched up.

"Darn it! What'd you do that for woman!"

Isabelle placed a finger to her lips, glaring at the young boy. Their chest heaved as they looked at each other, confusion and sympathy all mixing into one color. 

"Stay still, will you? It's not like I'm going to bite you or confess my utter devotion to a handsome lad like you despite your gorgeous complexion and eyes—but what I'm trying to say is please hear me out and don't scream."

"Woman we are about to die," Taehyung said, turning on his heels, about to walk away and check up on Seokjin but halted in his steps. 

Dark brown eyes wide when he heard the beautiful maiden confess something that's been bothering him for years.

"Taehyung! How dare you not recognize me. How dare you think of leaving without thinking about the very girl you grew up with cherishing and protecting and stitched her dresses when she ripped them accidentally. The very girl you pranked on and taught her how to shoot with an arrow and survive on her own! For heaven's sake Kim Taehyung! I'm your darn younger sister!"

Taking steps back, fists clenched, eyes glossy from tears welling up in them, Taehyung released a deep breath and then turned around, facing her. Taking steps towards her, reaching out a hand to cup her cheek, the pad of his fingers brush her rosy skin there. A smile awoke on his face at the familiar touch and same blue eyes that stared into his when she became stubborn. 

The same voice that urged him to teach her how to fight despite being a lady, the same hair that was magical and golden and beautiful like Rapunzel's.

"Belle . . . Isabelle, my sweet, annoying, silly, and brave younger sister," his voice soft, the sound of her name barely audible as he tried not to cry.

His hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her towards him into his chest. His arms wrapped around the young woman's small frame with her head resting on the right side of his chest, smiling as she felt him tighten the warm embrace that felt like home. He then let go and breathed once again. 

She did the same, searching his deep eyes and him searching her crystal clear ones.

The warm reunion came to a pause when the two heard male voices approaching them. Their figures large, creating a shadow on the corridor walls from the torch of light that was adjusted there.

Isabelle moved back, arm over her brother's chest, pushing them back and against the wall where the guards wouldn't dare to notice them. They were holding their breaths, waiting for the guards to leave. 

Finally, she and he could breathe. And then they laughed like children all the while finding each other the same as before but just more mature in appearances, as a person overall.

"You've been protecting me all this time. Now it's time I protect you."

Taehyung smiled and hummed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear that was laying flat against the end of her cheeks.

"As long as you don't hurt yourself."

"But you've hurt yourself multiple times."

"I can't afford to lose you again, sister."

Her happiness had silenced again, she realized upon remembering the time they lost each other in the woods of Rekinia.

"I'll make sure to it."

"I'll always remember this and sister when the world isn't dying, would you . . . would you want to go riding the horses in the forest again with the others?" Taehyung and Isabelle used to go horse riding during the earliest sunrise, so the young boy asked her, and to his surprise, she nodded happily.

"Now let's go save that enchanted rose before it withers."

. . .

KIM SEOKJIN GASPED at the warm touch of a hand covering his mouth, an arm wrapped around his waist, and was pushed against the wall. His chest heaved as he released deep panicky breathes, eyes wide when realization dawned on him.

"Jung Hoseok? What are you doing here? I thought you were with Jungkook and Yoongi, what about Han Sol, and oh my god the enchanted rose—" he felt something warm over his mouth,  soft and fragile like snowflakes tickling his plump lips, a hand resting near his ear, cupping his cheek. His eyes wide but he then relaxed into the touch and found his arms coming around the young man's waist, shutting his eyes in serenity.

Hoseok was kissing him softly and he had given in not realizing how disconsolate and lost he felt without the other there. It wasn't like he didn't trust the latter. He was honestly so scared and worried about his safety and yes of course the enchanted rose and his friends.

They pulled away, gazing into each other's brown eyes as they breathed.

"Yoongi and Jungkook are going after the rose. But we need to make the royal guests on our side first so they could understand what's going on with the world and what they're missing. We need an army that can possibly stop Han Sol from reaching us and accomplishing his rather sickening goal of ruling the world by destroying its nature."

"But . . . but how did you escape my father's men and enter his bedroom?"

At this Hoseok grinned, "We found the apple of Eve and Adam that allowed us to enter your father's bedroom. Apparently the apple represents your father and mother's relationship."

Seokjin released a sigh of relief. "How did you know this and the apple represents my parents' relationship?" He raised a brow, eyes curious, and hands dripping his husband's arms.

"According to the story of Eve and Adam, your parents' relationship is similar. Also, I know all these thanks to three friends I met arriving in this kingdom. On another note, there are two kingdoms? I didn't know this."

Realization dawned on Seokjin again. He would have been shocked but he found he wasn't.

"The Kingdom of Busan and Rekinia."

"And you said you were the supposed king of Busan, correct?" Hoseok searched his eyes, occasionally glancing to the side and back for guards or any of Seokjin's father's men.

"Oh god . . . if I am the supposed king of Busan does that mean I was swapped after birth?"

Hoseok's eyes were wide as saucers but soften, noticing his husband had gone silent and betrayal swimming in his eyes. "Seokjin, I'm sure it wasn't like that. I'm even more sure your mother loved you so much." The young king took in his words and rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, head rising back up to meet Hoseok's eyes.

"Okay . . . I trust you, Hoseok. Whoever I am and whatever I am supposed to be doesn't matter. I am only the person I want to be and for myself no one else." Seokjin tried so hard not to cry but he couldn't help it and cried more when he felt the other man wrap his arms around him, rubbing his back.

"You are your own very special person, so never think you need to have a title."

WHILE EVERYONE was chatting away, their attention diverted to Taehyung and Isabelle who bravely and loudly confessed their love which immediately turned into an emotional story and eventually started gaining their trust when they spoke of Shin Han Sol.

"Do you want to suffocate and be mindless robots of Shin Han Sol? Do you want poison in your drinks and damage in your veins and a knife stabbed at your heart when you could have the most beautiful thing on this planet has ever grown? Why it is love, of course! Your king's father, Shin Han Sol has wiped out almost every rose that has bloomed and every plant that has breathed and helped us breathe for I cannot possibly imagine a world without life. And that very life is the plants that grow just like us they need us. So what are doing, sitting and dining and following Han Sol's commands when you can be feeling peace, safety, and happiness from the supposed king of Busan, Kim Seok Jin!"

Silence swam through the royal courtroom, wide eyes, breathing even. 

Isabelle's chest raised and fell, her teeth and fists clenched as she finished her inspirational speech of changing the royal's guests' minds onto the good side.

"Are you on the good side or the evil side? Kim Seokjin will assure you there is happiness in the darkness and he will provide everything needed for at least security and remind us when it is dark one of us must open the light!"

Now Taehyung proclaimed, his chest rising and falling too. He looked at his sister who was smiling at him and he smiled too, feeling almost too happy and accomplished, yet nervous for what the guests would reply.

The royal guests cheered and some were still not bothered, thinking Shin Han Sol was a perfect leader. 

"To hell with Shin Han Sol! He's been tricking us and killing plants that help us breathe!" A lady shouted, her eyes holding determination.

"I say we follow our new royal highness, Kim Seokjin, although he was the supposed king of Busan and help the world breathe again for Shin Han Sol must suffocate!"

Not once did Seokjin gasp or fire back at them as he heard the shoutings, running through the corridor with Hoseok. He caught Taehyung's gaze and smiled when he did so, knowing everything was going to be alright. At least, that's what they all thought.

. . .

THEY GASPED for air as half of their body leaves the water, swimming into each other's arms, panicking when they heard a familiar loud almost appalling call and a large red body with huge wings and fire breathing out of the creature's nostrils.

It was Gandalf.

Jungkook and Yoongi's gaze follow the dragon's swift movements in the air. Gandalf swoops down, calling out to the two young boys to hop on. Without hesitating the both adjust themselves on the dragon, rising into the sky and then the dragon began to flap its large wings and fly towards the tower of the enchanted rose.

It's raining hard and the ocean waves hit the castle's tower walls aggressively, it seemed like a hurricane was coming from the darkness that enveloped the castle, dark clouds swallowing the sea of the sky. Lightening shone and thunder boomed all the while the dragon hovered near the castle tower as the boys hopped off of the dragon, eyes falling down from how high they are.

"Yoongi, it's very far down there. I'm scared," Jungkook's voice shakes, eyes glimmering with far and brood, his fingers gripping on the older boy's shoulders as he looked at him.

"Hey, Jungkook, you've climbed mountains before it's the same. Just don't look down, alright? It's going to be okay. You are not going to die," Yoongi comforted him, putting his feet down on the rocks surrounding the tower. 

Gulping, Jungkook nodded and slowly did the same as his friend, whipped his head over his shoulder to see Gandalf smile at him with trust shining in eyes. Both of the boys began climbing the tower after the dragon flew away, heading towards the direction of the call from his new master, Hoseok. The castle tower of where the enchanted rose was blooming is tall and grey with veins wrapping around them, the thorns of roses came in contact with the boy's hand, causing the pad of their fingers to bleed and groan in pain quietly. It was long way upto the window, however, both friends continued climbing, teeth clenched and breathing, wind rushing past them. They shivered from the touch and ignored the pain rising in their legs and fingers.

Reaching the window of the tower, Jungkook heaved himself inside and helped Yoongi. Once inside the tower they breathed and scanned the room for a particular red rose, coming across a frame of the young crown prince with his family. But what caught their attention was the small girl next to Seokjin and a small boy right next to the girl.

The girl had long, wavy, wild hair that tumbled in waves down her chest and her round big crystal blue eyes held the ocean as soft smile reached from ear to ear. 

The boy looked young of age, his messy hair, brown locks falling above his eyes and a sweet smile sat on his mouth as his hand embraced the crown prince's. He looked timid with the uncertainty in his milk chocolate crescent eyes as if he didn't belong and wanted to flee.

But why would the boy want to flee when he was standing with the crown prince, Kim Seokjin?

Their observing of the royal family's picture stopped all of the sudden upon a familiar errie voice that invited darkness into the room as if the moon that was shining across from them had disappeared into the grey clouds.

"What a surprise to meet the infamous Little John and Will Scarlet? Oh, wait, but it isn't a surprise since the boy you call friend led me to the both you. I'll end this conversation quick, so let's not meddle like children, alright? So if you don't want any bloodshed, stay away from the rose, then your friend, Seokjin will not die."

"NO! Leave Seokjin alone!" Jungkook protested, his hands balling into tight fists, shoulders stiff but fell down in relaxation when he felt Yoongi's hand there and his eyes looking into his gently.

Jungkook knew he shouldn't strike a conversation when Shin Han Sol mentioned ending his message quick, sending worry and grief like fire flames around them. Jungkook and Yoongi held their ground, watching Shin Han Sol stand up from the chair and smile wickedly, greeting the raven that now sat on his shoulder, proud.

"No? No? I take it you would rather die instead, correct?"

This time Shin Han Sol threatened the dark brunette who didn't dare to leave eye contact, his mouth firm, lips sealed, feet glued to the ground. He stared at the old man with such hatred, bravery, yet fear glowing in his dark eyes.

"You do remember what happened last time right?"

"I remember everything and this time it shall happen to you."

And then quickly the dark brunette escaped from the raven-head's side, grabbed onto the pocket knife that was in his hand and dashed towards the old man, pushing him back against the wall, panting.

"Oh, you want to create the masterpiece instead? Be my guest."

"SHUT UP. Leave my friends alone," Jungkook said in low voice, the pocket knife laying flat against Han Sol's throat as the both held eye contact, breathing hard. Yoongi tried calling out to Jungkook, looking around the room and caught his breathe when he noticed the enchanted rose, it's petals dropping one by one. 

"YOONGI HYUNG! WATCH OUT!"

Yoongi didn't hear. He was too captivated by the enchanted rose.

Legend has it the rose was so beautiful that it enchanted anyone and left them only focusing on it's beauty, absolutely nothing else.

He could feel the temperature in the room drop and felt himself walking towards the glass that housed the flower. However, reaching there, taking the glass off he was met with an aching pain echoing in his ears, a sound so loud and frightening as if it knocked someone down. 

Heart pounding as he realized Jungkook was behind him and breathing so hard and then his body fell down, slamming the ground with a loud banging noise. Then Shin Han Sol left the place, content that his men would bring the boys to him.

He pulled an arm over his body, his breath shallow. Yoongi dropped to his knees, eyes wide in alarm, his breath coming in quick short ones just like the younger boy's who desperately fought the pain surging through his chest. 

"Yoongi hyung?"

"Taehyung? What are you doing here?"

"I—I came with my sister but . . . oh my god, what happened to Jungkook?" Taehyung asked, his words jumbling, coming out slowly and quietly as he took in the gush of blood appearing on the dark brunette's shirt. He rushed to his side and pulled him into his arms, tears welling up in his eyes, hand fumbling with his boyfriend's shirt and he felt like a planet broke that couldn't possibly be fixed or made again.

Jungkook felt Taehyung's touch, his tears dropping onto the skin of his face. He brought a hand to the older boy's warm face, caressing it, and smiled.

"Hey, Taehyung, stop crying, will you? It's not like it's the end of the world. Ha, even if it was, there's always another way to help the world continue living, right? So, I'll be okay. You'll be okay. You're amazing, you know that? You've grown so much—"

"Stop it! Stop saying words that means its all over."

"Nothing's over, nothing really is over. In fact, the war has just begin."

And then Jungkook's eyes slowly shut and his breathing stopped.

It was time to sleep, yes, Jungkook was going to go in a deep sleep.

And Taehyung had to continue rising like the golden sun for the world to awake.

A/N: Hi everyone! This was a long chapter but gosh it was so fun and emotional to write! I tried writing the scene where our poor baby Jungkook got shot 😭l I didn't want to seriously but I really thought about it then and found that it connected to the plot. I hope that I surprised you guys with who the maiden Isabelle is 😥

I'm sorry if there are any mistakes and I'm pretty sure there are but it's okay! I'll edit this chapter whenever I can and the book will totally be edited thoroughly because I know there are probably plot holes yIOKES

I know I was going to update around 10 pm but OH WELL I weNT thROUGH thE wHOLE cHAP to cHECK foR misTAKES AHAHA

Thank you for reading! As always, comments and constructive criticism are appreciated

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