"General Jungkook and his army are back!"

General Jungkook is the crown prince of Goryeo, yet no one knows too much about him. He is said to be cold and unforgiving of nature but a great soldier and very strong Pyre. He directed many of his kingdom's battles and won them all, at prices sometimes more hefty than others. Word goes around that his orders have left countless of men for dead, others to be taken prisoners, and the ones to survive scarred for life. When the soldiers come back from the war, Jungkook is always leading, riding his horse glorious, followed by a ridiculously smaller number of men. 

The people await the moment with dread but nonetheless hope of seeing their loved ones return home, many of which have been disappointed, losing a husband, father or son to the horrors and pain of battle. Those people have all heard the rumors; some were prepared and accepted their loss to violence, but others grieved with the strong and building grudge against general Jeon Jungkook consoling them. 

The young man didn't want the throne, he didn't want to lead a country he knew despised him. They never voiced it out in fear of the fate that might befall them, but he realized it every time he crossed the gate to the city under daughters' silent glares, and mothers' agonizing muffled screams.He wanted the war and bloodshed, because that's the only thing that kept him away from home where he was reminded of the monstrous character he is in the eyes of innocent children. 

Jungkook was a bright young man, his father the king entrusted him with the kingdom's fate because he believes he raised him to be strong and fearless. Training his swordsmanship and element proved to be nothing too difficult for the prodigy who, unbeknownst to his impressed father, had stayed up late, or even skipped sleep a few nights to be able to master new techniques. 

He did a lot for his father's satisfaction, but gaining the people's trust at the same time was where he failed. Nobody wants to believe in the goodness of a man who's had blood on his hands in more ways than one, a man who is said to take lives for his own sake, a man who wouldn't even apologize for his people's losses.

He thought about it countless times; what will happen when his father passes away. Eyes fixed on the small Kwanzan cherry tree in the courtyard of his Hanok, an instance of life he is keen on taking care of despite his element, he let images of the last battle glaze his eyes. 

Swords clashing, fire starting, and the ground shaking. His men screaming in pain, choking on their own blood and burning alive. He sees soldiers falling one by one but there's only so much he can do about it when he's fighting for his own life. Retreat was not an option, it would've saved lives then, but the day would come when the enemy takes it as a weakness and attacks even bolder; there won't be much to protect anymore. 

"My prince, I've come to you bearing wonderful news" He heard the advisor say, he would never mistake that husky voice for anybody else's. The middle-aged man approached in a steady pace, stopping a couple of feet behind the younger. 

"Should I ask for another one of these?" The prince questioned referring to the tree, softly dragging his finger on the bumpy bark. The man looked at the it and then at the Prince whose back was still turned.

"That would solely depend on your heart's desire my Prince" he replied. 

"But you're my advisor currently, what do you advise me to do?" the Prince asked again, creating an interrogative look on the elder's face.

"Well, a root this strong and healthy would need to be brought in from the kingdom of Japan, a trip that long would need a good number of men. However, we've just gotten back from a battle and the men are still recovering-" 

"I've heard enough, thank you. The good news?" The prince faced the elder with a subtle smile on his face and his arms behind his back, indulging in a walk alongside the other. 

"Of course. I've gotten word that the young prince Kyungsoo has tied for the first time against master Jung." The sentence immediately got the crown prince to chuckle. 

"Is that so! Well of course he's my little brother after all, a soldier!" he proudly praised, and the elder laughed agreeing to his statement, until he noticed they have come to an abrupt stop. 

"What's wrong my Prince?" 

"I should congratulate him. I believe new blades don't need a trip to the kingdom of Japan" he said in an inquiring tone "Of course not your highness, our blacksmiths will do a wonderful job" he replied with a nod of his head.

"Very good, get him the best out there. They absolutely need to have purple on them, that's his favorite color, and I remember how disappointed he was when father forgot that detail gifting him his first set" Jungkook mentioned and the other bowed in acknowledgement. I should visit him at the palace, the Crown Prince thought before heading to his chambers.

Upon his arrival, he realized word had already travelled to the younger Prince who was running towards him in excitement. Prince Kyungsoo was his half brother, son of Queen Linha of the Oh family. Jungkook would say he cannot pick favorites amongst his siblings, but he knows deep down he loves Kyungsoo more than the others. 

The King had 5 children, Jungkook being the eldest with 23 years of age, two 20 year old twin daughters, Kyungsoo who turned 15 recently, and another baby boy who was barely 5 that year.

Having a favorite sibling probably has to do with the fact that Jungkook is closest to the younger boy than he ever was to his sisters, them being girls and participating in completely different activities in the palace. Not to mention the significant age difference between him and his baby brother. 

One of his sisters got married two winters ago to a wealthy Thera family in the west of the kingdom, she has already given birth to her first son and is awaiting another child. His other sister lived in a house in the capital but he barely saw her once or twice every season if he wasn't out of town, she was soon to be wed as well anyway. Byunho, the youngest, was very well protected by his mother the Queen Sunmi who wouldn't let him get anywhere close to a brute such as the Crown Prince. 

"Brother! What brings you to the palace? Did you hear, I won against master Jung!" he exclaimed, clearly excited about his achievement, or almost. 

"It was a tie" a deeper voice said from behind the young boy, making him roll his eyes. 

"I almost won" he muttered under his breath after earning a soft hit with the back of master Jung's sword. 

"Welcome back general Jungkook, or your highness, we don't know what to call you anymore these days" he joked ruffling Kyungsoo's hair. "I don't know, I kind of like general Jungkook" the prince replied in a cocky tone, earning the same hit with the back of the sword. "Don't get ahead of yourself, you're still that kid I used to beat everyday in practice" The other said shaking his head. "There you said it, you used to"  

"We can settle this any time"

"Sure thing" After an intense stare in each other's eyes, Jungkook's smile started showing and the other bursted into laughter.

"You never could resist a good old staring contest" the prince nodded, joining his old friend and former combat training master.

"It's good to see you Hoseok. I heard Kyungsoo is following in my footsteps" he added inviting the youngest closer. 

"He's getting there, slowly but surely. On the other hand, I heard Jin complaining about him not being a good student, apparently he doesn't do his readings" the master said, making a frown appear on the young prince's face. 

"Snitch" the teenager snickered.

"Won't you look at that! You've just earned yourself a longer practice session tomorrow"

"But then I won't have time to do my readings" Kyungsoo shrugged innocently.

"This kid. You taught him all the wrong things Jungkook"  

"I hate to be the bad influence" Jungkook chuckled in amusement.

Suddenly, court ladies were by the Crown Prince's side, informing him about the King's request to see him. Jungkook had missed his father, they were pretty close especially after his mother the first Queen died of illness when he was a child. His father had just married the next Queen, and Jungkook had never felt more left out; he used to think his father was going to forget about him and just start a new family. The King however was loving and gave Jungkook all the affection he needed to help him overcome his tremendous loss and grow into the man he is now. 

"General Jungkook, the Crown Prince, has arrived" one of the King's counsellors announced as he walked into the room. There was his father sitting on his throne in the back of the room with his men lined up ahead of him. 

"It is a pleasure to see you my King" he greeted respectfully, bowing completely. 

"Crown Prince Jungkook, my son. You've come back to your home in victory yet again. Thank you for your hard work" the King said and jungkook nodded. 

"It is only my duty to fight for my kingdom, my King" Jungkook replied. A few minutes later, the counsellors were leaving the room for them to speak comfortably. 

"My son, I have asked for you because I need to discuss something important"

"What is the matter my King"

"You should come back to the palace"

Jungkook was surprised. His father had never mentioned this before and he does not see the relevance of the topic compared to everything else they could be talking about right then. 

"With all due respect my King, I've just come back from a battle, isn't that more urgent to discuss than my choice of residence?"

"You are correct. However for once, I do believe it has to wait. You've been away long enough son, it is time for you come back and start living like a Crown Prince should. That house isn't fitted for you" the King explained and Jungkook would honestly rather be anywhere else at that moment. 

"My King, I believe you know why I moved out of the palace. What's the point of living in a place where almost everyone sees me as a brute, while I could be living in my house away from all of it" Jungkook tried to reason but it appeared the King wasn't ready to hear any of it. 

"But you are not, do not speak of yourself in such derogative fashion"

"It is what they believe, and it is easier this way. I'm doing what nobody wants to do, which is taking the blame"

"Son, listen to me, you are meant to be King one day and you need your people to be united" The King tried to explain.

"I do realize that. However, You need the country's support, always. I cannot allow myself to let the people turn on you for our Kingdom's weakness because no matter how much one doesn't want to mention it, it remains. Losing our men in such relevant numbers proves we are not strong enough to go against any more kingdoms. We need to include the other elements in our forces and train our Pyre army to fight Theras and Liquis as well" Jungkook articulately replied. 

"In the last battle, a fifth of my men were wiped out by an earth attack, swallowing them into the ground, and another fifth sucked dry of any water in them. We cannot afford other battles, and the people will start riots if they find out our conflicts persist because of the traitors still among your trustees, that have not been punished yet by Your Majesty." Fast enough, the Crown Prince realized he displayed his frustrations in a fit he probably should have contained.

"Watch your words Crown Prince." The King warned. "The only reason you get to challenge your King's competence without facing severe repercussions or even being accused of treason, is because you are my son... Overstep your boundaries again and it may no longer matter." He added in a tone that didn't fail to show his displeasure.

"I want to express my most sincere apologies, my King. Yet it is only because I am indeed your son that I find it my duty to speak to you in all honesty, the way nobody else would dare in this palace. I only mean good" Jungkook admitted as he kneeled to convey the candor of his words.

The older man huffed, shaking his head as he let his mind go over the prince's declaration. "I am completely aware of the mistrust in my circle but I need to wait for the right time. Those two are related to Queen Sunmi and accusing them now would make me lose an advantage over the other Pyres, the Chang family in the North. I need to wait until they are caught conspiring in the palace so that I can put the situation in my favor" he explained while his son listened attentively.

"This must be hard for you as well, I've seen Queen Sunmi hide her son from your sight when you are here, I've seen the court ladies behave differently with you and heard of others calling you a killer." Suddenly the cutting edge of the King's tone was no longer as sharp.

"It's not all wrong, I have left men behind and watched others get taken and killed if not tortured. I'm not innocent at all in this matter" Jungkook replied truthfully, eyes set on the floor beneath his knees.

"You only left them when you couldn't do anything about it. Your soldiers knew it and were ready to fight by your side, if only you'd let them speak of the battles and tell the truth to their families. War is exactly what it is, I've always known you to be a good man, son. You wouldn't give up on the people who protected you and kept you alive unless you had no choice. All these rumors have to be addressed or else nobody will want you as their King" His father spoke with a kind tone.

"So am I just supposed to walk to the people and say that I'm sorry they lost their loved ones? That I cared about the lives of my men too and never abandoned them to save myself? Nobody would believe it, their grudges run deep and their anger is strong. They need to point those feelings at someone, and I'd rather that be me than you" Jungkook replied.

"If you'll excuse me, my King, I have to see the physician for my wounds"

"Excused" he last heard before leaving the King's room and heading to his.