Our stars aligned ages before our hearts did.

Jung Hoseok was overwhelmed by his anxiety when he heard that Princess Inhee was absent. He hurriedly reached the White Palace, but he wasn't allowed to meet King Seokjin nor could he find Prince Jungkook.

I shouldn't have left her on her own for this long.

The swordsmith he worked for was sick so he had to be present at the shop all the time, not being able to visit the princess.

While he paced back and forth in the garden thinking of the possible places Inhee could be at, he spotted an assassin who was handing Prince Taehyung a note. He instantly recognized the assassin to be from The Crimson Kingdom, and before he could let his thoughts make further connection he deemed following Taehyung as the best decision.

When they arrived at the Crimson Palace, Hoseok was baffled to see Taehyung easily entering the Palace. He waited outside until he spotted Inhee and Jimin along with Taehyung.

He had to override the urge to run up to Inhee to check if she was alright, but he was surprised to see them mount into the Crimson carriage and also the guards surrounding them. Therefore, he decided to quietly follow them for now, keeping a good distance. However, halfway he lost track of them and for 15 minutes or so he was lost in the woods.

Fortunately, he found the trails of the carriage and he followed it. He reached the graveyard too late or perhaps in time. He saw the guards going back to the palace.

Taehyung had his sword above Inhee's head and as an impulsive reaction, Hoseok found himself running up to save her with his sword tightly clutched in his hand.

He managed to stop the blow and Taehyung instantly turned around, too stunned to see him here. Hoseok snarled at him for hurting her precious friend, but Taehyung was too lost in his own shadows as he mindlessly kept swinging his sword at him.

He encountered one attack after another. He couldn't focus on the combat when Inhee was lying unwell on the ground. In fury, Hoseok slashed his sword forward with force which sent Taehyung's sword rattling on the ground.

Taehyung's eyes widened in shock. "How? How is that possible? A common swordsmith like you cannot win against the prince of The Black Kingdom!"

Hoseok couldn't hide his daze either. Although he's heard many praises for his skills, standing against a prince was not an easy feat. Before Taehyung could pick up his sword again, he received a punch on his face by a very furious Jimin who managed to pull himself up to deliver his wraith in his cousin's face.

When Taehyung fell to the ground, Jimin picked him up by his collar and sent another punch to his jaw. "Traitor," he mumbled in annoyance, leaning against the wall for support.

Hoseok ran up to Inhee, cradling her in his arms. "Inhee! Wake up!" He chanted her name like a spell wishing she would open her eyes. Every bruise on her face weighed heavy on his chest.

If only I had come here in time.

He regretted leaving her alone. Furthermore, he loathed himself for not keeping his promise. "I'm sorry, Hee." He didn't notice the tears that streamed down his cheeks, dropping on the ground.

The grave moved like thunder, and an unpleasant sound roared as dark foggy shadows erupted from the ground. They flew up in the sky then they came down, all together, towards Hoseok.

He had to leave Inhee and get back up on his feet. Taehyung's shocked laughter echoed. "How is this possible? Come to me! I called for you, "Taehyung begged the shadows, and he got what he wanted, or maybe not. The shadows surrounded him, and he disappeared into the air.

Hoseok took a step back then another. His sword just passed through the thick air, helplessly. Those shadows embraced him completely and Jimin stood there in shock as Hoseok disappeared along with the shadows.

Jimin struggled to take Inhee in his arms and mounted the horse, jerking the reins. "Prince Jimin," Inhee mumbled in her drowsiness, "Hoseok. We must save Hoseok."

"We will," he assured her, "but first I will take you home. You are injured." She held his wrist, demanding his attention, forcing him to slow down.

"I can't lose more people I love." Her voice was nearly breaking down as she whispered. Jimin could tell by the look in her eyes that she didn't care about herself at all, so he silently made a promise to do that for her.

"You won't, Inhee. I will help you save him." So they changed their lane, and now their destination was the castle that was drowning in darkness.

Inhee, in her faint consciousness, saw the films running in her mind of when she was little, meeting Hoseok and Yoongi for the first time when she had visited Downtown with Seokjin, and bumping into both of them. When she demanded an apology, both the boys snickered and ran away.

A week later, when she returned to Downtown she noticed those boys spying on her from beneath a fruit seller's cart, whispering to each other and giggling now and then, which made her feel very offended.

"Brother, those boys are making fun of me." She tugged the sleeve of Seokjin's shirt and complained.

"Let them," Seokjin said, smiling, "Pay no mind." When Seokjin got busy talking to his uncle, she took the chance to approach the Downtowners.

"What is so funny?" she asked, crouching down to talk to them, "would you like to share it with me?"

"Do you always keep your hands clasped together?" Hoseok questioned instead of answering her.

"We were laughing because you were sitting inside the yolk-like thing which was being pulled by horses," Yoongi explained, "can the royals not walk?"

"Uh, we-" she began thinking, "You are right. We can walk perfectly fine. I should ask my brother about this."

"Your brother?" Hoseok asked.

"Yes," she pointed towards the carriage, "he is smarter than me. He knows everything!"

"He must be a genius then," Yoongi thought aloud.

"Are you brothers?" Inhee inquired, her hands still clasped together, as she balanced in her crouched position. The boys were lying on their stomachs, peeking from under the cart.

"No. We are friends." Yoongi said, "Do you have friends?"

She hummed in thought. "I have Jungkook, but he is my cousin."

"We can be your friends!" Hoseok exclaimed in joy.

Inhee mirrored his joy, reaching her hand forward for handshakes. "I'd love to make you two my friends."

After she introduced them to Seokjin, they were allowed to visit her in the palace now and then, but as time passed by she turned eighteen and started having responsibilities to take care of.

"Being a princess isn't easy!" She complained to Jungkook who was lying in her bed, making fun of her for falling in her dancing class.

"Yes. Waking up every day, wearing beautiful dresses, sipping a cup of tea, and spinning around in the name of dance isn't easy at all," he mocked.

"Why don't you try it then? Began by wearing these satan's teeth." She threw her heels on the bed, one by one, almost close to him. He picked up a pillow to cover his face from getting hit.

"Your Royal Highness, that is not how you behave with gentlemen!" Lady Ross, their sweet rosy-cheeked caretaker, exclaimed, "Now, now, Prince Jungkook, you cannot lie down in a lady's bed like that."

"A lady." Getting out of her bed, Jungkook mocked Inhee once again with his nose scrunched, which earned him a hairbrush thrown at his back.

"I am a lady!" She shouted as he exited her room with laughter.

"You are not a kid anymore, my princess, you cannot behave as that," Lady Ross softly said, "you are supposed to have tea with the noble women of our court tomorrow. Please, begin practicing for that. You cannot act clumsy in front of them. Now, straighten your back, don't slouch!"

Lady Ross left, leaving a very grumpy Inhee staring in the mirror with her shoulders sticking back in full force.

"Straighten your back, don't slouch!" She heard a voice repeat those words.

"Yoongi!" she hissed, seeing the boy standing outside her window, "You aren't supposed to be here. You guys aren't allowed to see me for 2 more weeks because apparently, you both are a distraction from my studies."

"Well, you look like you need that distraction because- wait, were you just about to murder the mirror?"

"Jungkook managed to escape my wraith, so I have no one to pour it out on."

"Before you ask, I'm not interested in being your target, but I do know a way you can relieve your anger," he said smugly, placing his elbows on the window's frame.

"Is it Hoseok again?" Inhee sighed.

"Yes, he is, once again, rambling about courting Sera." Yoongi then broke into a grin, "How about I sneak you out of here like the last time and you put some sense into his brain? He has taken her to Van's place for dinner."

"You say we interrupt their peace?" She bit her lips in excitement.

"Their peace isn't long-lasting anyways. Two more days, and she will start asking him for money like the last time."

Inhee shook her head. "It happens all the time yet Hoseok fails to see her true intentions."

So, they did sneak out. The moon graced the sky and under its light, they made their escape, through the royal garden all unnoticed by the guards. They ran to the woods. By a tree, Yoongi had roped his horse, which they both used to reach the Downtown. Bustling streets with crowds and flashing lights.

Like a storm, people were hurriedly going their way, circling each other in all directions. "The same corner?" she asked Yoongi.

"Yes. The same old Hoseok corner." So they went to the Van's place and found Hoseok eating with his lady companion in the same corner he preferred.

Inhee had tied Yoongi's handkerchief around her face, from her nose to her mouth, to hide her identity, so they approached the couple without gaining any looks from the other customers.

"Hee?" Hoesok stood up from his seat, easily recognizing. "What are you both doing here?"

"To see you," Yoongi replied, acknowledging the bland stare Hoseok's partner was throwing their way.

"I should introduce you guys. Sera this is Yoongi and -"

"Inhee, Hoseok's sister," she interjected, not removing the cloth from her face. Hoseok looked at them, eyes double their size.

"I'm Sera. The chief's daughter." She offered her hand to Yoongi, expecting him to gently peck it like any other man does to a lady of high status, but Yoongi kept his cool stare on her, completely unmoving.

She then looked at Inhee with her brow raised, about to say something but Inhee beat her at that. "So you are the woman robbing my family! My mother's in such a critical stage, and you are taking all the money from my brother, knowing that he is the only provider of our family!"

Customers were no longer interested in their meals, as all the eyes turned their way. Judgmental murmurs towards Sera already started.

"Hee wha-" Yoongi clamped his palm on Hoseok's mouth.

"Miss, I think you are mistaken-" Sera had begun.

"A chief's daughter you say? Oh, Lord! When will the rich stop robbing the poor? My dear mother is suffering from her disease with no good food to help her recover, and here you are, demanding money from my fool brother who is so blinded by your act of love!"

A sound of sympathy roared from the people around them. Sera had started nervously looking around. "Ho- Hoseok, I never asked for your money! Tell them!"

Hoseok succeeded in removing Yoongi's hand and turned towards the people. "Yes, yes. She never did! Don't misunderstand. I gave her money on my own will when she needed to get accessories for her hair," he spoke in her defense.

Another roar of gasps went through the crowd.

"Oh, my lord! She has made a fool of such a good-looking boy! Instead of tending to his mother, he is spending his hard-earnings on her."

"She is a spoiled child! First, her family, and now she is using innocent boys for her luxury."

"The poor woman waiting at home for her son to bring her food, and he is here captured in this witch's trap."

Yoongi and Inhee smiled at each other on their victory.

Hoseok was perplexed by the crowd's reaction, trying to repeat his words and waving his hands at them to listen to him, but the arrow was already out of the bow.

A stressed-out Sera gave them one last glare and hurried her way of the dinner place, hiding her face from the people.

Yoongi gestured for Inhee to take the seat across the table. "Oh, you've ordered quite a lot."

"Why did you do that?" Hoseok asked in fury.

"Because you couldn't do it yourself," Yoongi mumbled, mouth full of food.

A woman was passing by. Hoseok pointed his finger at Inhee, gaining that old lady's full attention. He told her, "She isn't my sister, I don't have a mother, and Lady Sera was not robbing me!"

The old lady gave a sympathizing look to Hoseok before reaching forward to caress Inhee's head. "I will pray for your mother's health."

A grumpy Hoseok slumped down in the chair after the lady left. "You're not my sister," he murmured, nose fuming pink.

Inhee cooed at the boy's cute anger, clutching his arm, and leaning her head on his shoulder, she said, "But I love you like one."

"We are your saviors. Now, you must pay for the food in return," Yoongi suggested, taking another spoon of rice.

Hoseok mouthed him a word that Inhee was sure she wasn't supposed to learn.