Our fate:

Blurred.

Inhee found herself in the same four walls she grew up in. She could see herself as a kid running around the room, chasing Jungkook, and her brother, Seokjin, would be scolding them for discarding their wooden horses on the floor.

When they grew tired, they'd join Seokjin in the library, and he would read out a story to them. The day after that, Jungkook and Inhee would pretend to be the book characters and together pretend to save the world.

That scene was vivid in front of her eyes. Must be the thing she ate, still playing games with her brain. "Inhee," a voice softly called her name. Inhee recognized it instantly, but what she couldn't figure out was the familiarity, something flickering in the far back of her memories.

She could no longer make out what he was saying. Her mind only clung to his voice, trying to find the traces of it in the depth of her heart. He called out once again, and she refused to meet her eyes with him.

"Please, Hoseok, I don't wish to speak with you."

"Inhee, I don't deserve to be punished for what I have not done, " Hoseok softly mumbled. He wasn't defensive, but she could understand the desperation in his voice, "I was there to deliver the weapons the king had ordered from the shop I work in."

"What you have done or haven't done, I don't trust myself to make that judgment just yet," she sighed,  "Hoseok, did you not hear? Yoongi led me to my death with a huge grin on his face. I can't trust you now when I trusted him the same."

Inhee was on the verge of breaking apart, her voice stumbled on the tightrope between anger and sorrow. She could not, for the life of her, hurt the people she loved, Hoseok for that matter, but she no longer wanted that to become her weakness. She made a silent resolution to keep her distance from people.

"That is understandable. Although I want to make you believe in me and tell you that you will always have me by your side, I understand what happened must have shaken you," he reached out to caress her back, "do not let your guard down, Hee," and then he left.

'Hee,' A nickname he used for her when they were not surrounded by the royal guards or the general people. He would call her that when they would play hide and seek on the streets of Downtown.

She couldn't hold back her emotions from choking her up, knocking her breath out of her lungs, because Hoseok wasn't the only one who used to call her that. Countless scenes played in her mind of her and Yoongi, him helping her sneak out of the palace, and then making bugs with dough to scare Hoseok. She rubbed the tears off her cheek.

How on earth could someone change overnight?

Jungkook tapped the door for her attention, his eyes immediately softened when he saw her crying by herself. "Shouldn't have let Hoseok stay."

He sat beside her, engulfing her in his embrace. She shook her head when he apologized.

"You know I'm not good with words, Inhee. I don't know how to make you feel better, but I promise you I won't let anyone hurt you again," his sincerity gleamed in his eyes.

He was always like this, a pure and loyal boy. They both grew up together, but Inhee could never see him as anything other than the little boy who'd sit with her in her closet until the thunder halted. The sweetest prince who'd rather give candies to their enemies and make friends out of them than use the weapons.

However, he was an excellent fighter with the determination to never raise his sword when it was not necessary. The same reason why he stepped out from being the candidate for the crown.

"I'm glad to have you by my side," she closed her eyes once again, resting her head on his shoulder.

They sat there for a few minutes, and then Jungkook said, "I need you to listen to me carefully now."

She turned to look at his face with concern. "King Namjoon and the princes are coming here. I need you to stay away from Prince Taehyung."

Inhee stared at him in confusion. "Why? I'm rather glad to hear that he is coming. I was about to write to him anyway. He must have been worried."

Jungkook scoffed. "I can't stand him. He argued with me to take you with him. How could I have let that happen?"

She gasped. "Don't tell me you offended him in any way!"

He put his finger on the chin, deep in thought. "I might have...," he grinned, "but I do regret using the same tone on Prince Jimin when he was nothing but kind to me."

She rolled her eyes. "You better apologize to Prince Taehyung."

"Why do you dislike Jimin so much?" Jungkook asked with a frown.

"I could ask the same, why do you dislike Taehyung?" but before he could answer, a maid knocked on the door.

"Your Royal Highness, His Majesty wishes to see you."

She slightly groaned when she got up, head still heavy. Jungkook helped her walk to the great hall.

"As Prince Jimin suspected, the king was under a spell. He was being controlled. We believe the Crimson Kingdom is behind this. They are strengthening their forces for a possible war," Namjoon said.

Namjoon and Seokjin were sitting around the round table. Jimin was sitting along with them, whilst Taehyung stood a few feet away from them, staring at a piece of art hanging on the wall.

"We must look for a way to end that spell and resume our connections with The Silver Kingdom. They need our help," Seokjin resonated.

"The only way to help them would be to defeat the Crimson King, Jung Johan," Jimin stated, "if a war is what he is planning then we must be prepared."

"I can aid you with our special forces, you may do what you see fit," Seokjin said.

"I will begin by protecting the borders of our lands while I require you to handle the matters with the Silver Kingdom," Namjoon spoke, getting up from the table.

"You can be reassured, I will take care of that. Also, you can take Prince Jungkook with you to help with the preparations." Seokjin rose to his feet upon spotting Inhee. "How are you feeling now?"

She bowed to the other king and the two princes.

"I'm feeling quite alright now, thank you."

Namjoon offered her a small smile, a sight she hadn't witnessed before, and she couldn't quite stop admiring, especially the adorable dimple denting on his cheek. She returned the smile, her fears, and discrimination far from catching up to her.

In spite of the fact that a lot can change with time, the way Inhee's gaze crashes with Jimin's might last the same way for eternity. While it would seem absurd to others, only they understood the intensity they felt.

Lastly, Taehyung took her hand in his and planted a little peck on her knuckles. "I'm glad to see life back in your face. I must admit, I was quite concerned for your wellbeing, my princess."

My princess.

The way her cheeks heated up instantly, she was glad her fever hadn't fully recovered, or else she had no other excuse for her flushed face. However, Junkook didn't waste a single heartbeat in steering the princess away from the one she had promised her hand to.

Halting in front of Jimin, he bowed. "Your royal highness, I dearly regret the way I talked to you yesterday-"

Jimin was fast to rise on his feet and ruffle Jungkook's hair. "We all had a hard day. I'm glad to see that you are feeling better now."

It was intriguing for Inhee to see him smiling like this. She doubted how genuine his actions were. However, Jungkook was already returning the smile.

Inhee rolled her eyes, which Jimin noticed, and attentively stared at her. Is he trying to dispel me with his eyes? She mentally scoffed. It will certainly take more than just that.

"Prince Taehyung will be staying here to watch over you as he wants to earnestly take responsibility for your protection," Seokjin announced. He raised his eyebrow to seek her approval, and the answer to that he got without her saying a single word.

The little squeal she let out while happily smiling at Taehyung was enough for the King to let out a sigh and allow it.

Namjoon cleared his throat. "May I have a word with the princess?"

After obtaining Seokjin's permission, they went outside for privacy. "Princess, I would like to offer you my sincere apology. It was my responsibility to ensure your protection - everyone's protection," he handed her a golden seal, "you may use this whenever you are in danger. I will not disappoint you again. With this seal, you can directly send your letter to me."

Once again, she was astonished by his goodness. "I would also like to apologize, Your Majesty. I let the words circling the town draw a picture of what you must be like. Not all the stories are true. You are very generous and kind."

"I'm glad we could see each other for who we truly are. I hope our bond remains evergreen," he smiled.