"Hey, Jeon Jungkook, you punk!!" Min Yoongi shouted, his voice echoing through the hallways as he followed the unbothered Jungkook into the Jeon Castle.

Jungkook made a sharp right turn and stepped into his lavish bar, Yoongi still hot on his heels. As Jungkook poured himself a golden glass of red wine, Yoongi filled another one next to him-without Jungkook noticing.

Without a word, Jungkook turned to face Yoongi, only to be met with a splash of alcohol hitting his face and bangs. The room fell into an awkward silence for a whole minute, both men standing there with cool, collected expressions, waiting for an explanation that never seemed to come.

Yoongi broke the silence first, his tone laced with irritation. "I'm assuming you're the only Jeon Jungkook in this kingdom, because I'm not talking to the walls!" He snapped, his eyes flashing in frustration, while Jungkook stood calmly, letting the wine drip from his face.

Jungkook sighed deeply, clearly unimpressed. "Hyung, why do you think I filled two glasses of wine?" he asked, his eyes empty of emotion as they met Yoongi's.

Yoongi glanced over at the two golden glasses, momentarily distracted, before turning his gaze back to Jungkook. "Now, tell me why you suddenly called off the war. I thought that was my gift to you!" Yoongi sank into a chair, taking one of the glasses from Jungkook.

Jungkook didn't flinch. "I have something much better for you," he replied, his voice low and cryptic.

__________________________

"Kim Seokjin? Isn't he the new King of the West? The son of King Jinmoon?!" Yoongi asked, his curiosity piqued. Jungkook gave a slight nod, gulping down his wine.

"Yaah~ I know that punk! His biggest strength is his handsome face and wide shoulders," Yoongi clicked his tongue, a wry grin pulling at his lips.

Jungkook scoffed, his gaze darkening. "He's too proud of that face, isn't he?"

Yoongi shook his head and raised an eyebrow. "He's a spoiled brat, the only son to his father," he began, his voice tinged with disdain. "All he's ever achieved in his life was handed to him-his throne, his kingdom, everything. He just plays the role of the 'kind prince,' now king, but behind closed doors? No one's as corrupt as him. He's draining everything from his people and nobody sees it."

Jungkook let out a soft laugh, taking another swig of his wine. "I've heard the same. The 'king in shining armor' act is just for show. But you know, as bad as he is, his defense skills aren't half bad," Yoongi added with a hint of respect.

Jungkook's lips curled into a smirk. "And the wh0re he is, there isn't a princess he hasn't tasted. His d!ck needs a new woman every week."

Yoongi laughed, but there was something calculating in his eyes.

"I know, right? He's marrying that Yesol girl just for her sculpted figure." Jungkook scoffed.

Jungkook's mind wandered briefly to his encounter with Yesol. His lips twitched as he thought about the woman.

"Is she that desirable of a woman?" Yoongi squinted, his small eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"More than that," Jungkook said, a dark glint in his eyes as his lips curled into a knowing smirk.

Yoongi blinked slowly, unimpressed, his face unreadable. "You're not making this easy to care about" he muttered, his indifference cutting through the tension.

"Seokjin thinks his title and kingdom make him untouchable. But he's just another fool playing in a game he doesn't understand." Jungkook continued, his voice colder now.

"I won't let anyone lay claim to him-no one, not even death. I'll be the one to end him." His eyes darkened with intent.

"Wow, a war to claim your mistress? Really?" Yoongi asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he leaned back, clearly unfazed. "You know you're capable of claiming her without a war"

Jungkook's smile was slow, filled with menace. "Easy isn't thrilling enough. Jeon Jungkook was born to pave the way for devils" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper.

"Perhaps you haven't realised, but a woman who can make me start a war, is more than just a woman..." he continued, his deep voice a declaration of obsession. "She is a spark, a destructive force, leading me to whatever that leads to her"

Yoongi stared at him for a long moment, the weight of the words settling between them. "Sounds more like you're after a bloodbath to satisfy your pride, not a war for a kingdom."

Jungkook's lips curved into a grin, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. "Pride, vengeance, power-it's all the same when you're born to take what you want. I'll leave Seokjin with nothing. His throne, his Queen, they'll all be mine."

He leaned forward, the promise in his eyes dangerous and clear. "And when I'm done, the world will know why they should fear the name Jeon Jungkook."

Yoongi exhaled sharply, a wry smile creeping onto his face. "Don't act like this is about me, Kook. You're doing this for your own ego"

_________________________

<Next morning>

"I heard you left the war midway, Jeon Jungkook," the Empress's voice was sharp, piercing through the quiet chamber. Jungkook stood silently, his hands clasped behind his back, facing the floor.

"Yes, Mother," he replied evenly, his tone devoid of emotion.

"May I know why?" she demanded, her gaze narrowing. "It's unlike the Jeons to retreat. Do you realize how much this has tarnished our reputation?"

Jungkook raised his head slightly, meeting her cold eyes with a calm, detached expression. "It's only for something greater, Mother. I expect your trust, as you know this competitive son of yours never fails," he said, a subtle smirk playing on his lips-a deliberate jab to remind her of Hoseok's shortcomings. He straightened his posture and bowed deeply before turning toward the door.

"Jeon Jungkook," her voice halted him in his tracks. "Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked, her eyes glinting with malice as she leaned back on her chair, watching him with cruel amusement.

His shoulders stiffened at her words, his fists clenching momentarily before he turned back. Without a word, Jungkook knelt before her, his hands steady as he lifted the bowl of water by her feet. Slowly, methodically, he began to wash them, the icy water biting into his pride more than his skin.

The Empress observed him with satisfaction, her lips curling into a patronizing smile. "You should remember your place, Jungkook," she said, her tone dripping with false affection. As he finished, she ruffled his dark hair, her gesture cruel reminiscent of petting a dog. "Don't make Mother feel bad about reminding you again."

Jungkook kept his head low, masking the fury simmering beneath his composed exterior. When he was done, he bowed once more, rising to his feet. He began to leave but paused at the threshold, his back still turned to her.

"Trust me, Mother," he said softly, his voice carrying an edge of dark promise. "Someday, no one will forget my place."

The Empress said nothing, her eyes narrowing at his departing figure, but her smile faltered just slightly.

The Empress's lips curled into a sinister smile, her expression a vivid reminder of where she believed Jungkook belonged. "The throne will be the last thing I ever let you have, Jungkook," she murmured, her words laced with venom as she turned to leave the quarters entirely.

Jungkook remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the floor long after she had left. Her intentions were no secret to him-he had always known the depth of her malice and the weight of her hatred. Her cruel treatment was a familiar sting, one he had endured countless times.

She was the only woman, the only person in his life, to whom he allowed such disgraceful acts. Not because he accepted them, but because he understood her game too well. For now, he let her believe she had control. But deep within, his resolve only grew stronger.

One day, he vowed silently, she would see the place he had carved for himself-not beneath her shadow, but far beyond her reach.

As Jungkook stepped out of the room, his eyes met Yoongi's sharp gaze.

"All that arrogance for what, Jungkook? If you live like a slave in your own castle?" Yoongi stormed into the room, his tone dripping with disappointment. "That w!tch of a woman-she doesn't deserve to breathe another day. I swear I'll-"

"No, hyung!" Jungkook interrupted, his voice a mix of steel and fury. "She cannot die... not like that."

Yoongi froze, watching as Jungkook clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with rage.

___________________________

*Past flashbacks*

"You're going to serve the Jeon Empire faithfully, aren't you, Jeon Jungkook?" Empress Jung Hyun Jin asked, her voice deceptively sweet as she handed a gleaming, heavy sword to the small, innocent hands of her five-year-old adopted son.

Young Jungkook, his eyes wide with innocent joy and brimming with trust, beamed up at her. "Yes, Omoni!" he exclaimed, clutching the weapon tightly, unaware of the darkness behind her seemingly loving smile.

"And you will serve your elder brother Hoseok with unwavering loyalty, won't you?" she pressed, her tone sharp beneath its surface charm, her calculating gaze shifting between the two boys.

Jungkook turned to face nine-year-old Prince Hoseok, his older stepbrother, who stood silently by their mother's side. Hoseok's eyes held the same veiled cruelty, though Jungkook was too young to recognize it. Bowing deeply, Jungkook replied with untainted sincerity, "Yes, Omoni. I will serve Hoseok-hyung."

The empress's lips curled into a satisfied grin, a sinister light flickering in her eyes. She watched as Jungkook, full of trust and devotion, unknowingly walked a path forged by her manipulations. Hoseok's smirk mirrored hers, both of them quietly reveling in their shared intent to shape the boy into nothing more than a tool for their ambitions.

Jungkook, however, remained blissfully unaware, his young heart brimming with loyalty and love for a family that saw him as nothing more than a pawn.

~~~~~~~~

Time passed, and Jungkook was now nine years old. Though older, he hadn't changed much from the wide-eyed, hopeful boy he once was. He still held unwavering loyalty toward the Jeon Empire and his elder stepbrother, Hoseok. The difference now was that Jungkook was no longer naive-he understood their true intentions. However, it was far too late to turn back. He had already dedicated his life to them with no choice but to follow the path they carved for him.

Helpless and isolated, Jungkook was a lonely child, surviving in silence. He hadn't yet discovered his true potential, his days filled instead with the simple joy of indulging in his hobbies and interests-especially painting.

But that solace was cruelly ripped away from him one fateful day.

THUD!

"Omoni-Omoni, please!" Jungkook sobbed, his voice cracking as he watched his precious paintings being tossed into the fire. The flames devoured his vibrant creations, the only source of light in his bleak world. "Please don't destroy them!" he pleaded, falling to his knees.

Two soldiers gripped his arms tightly, holding him back as he struggled desperately to save his work. Tears streamed down his reddened face, his sobs growing louder.

"Jeons don't paint, Jeon Jungkook!" the empress declared, her voice sharp and icy. Yet her calm, calculated tone carried an ominous edge that sent chills down his spine.

Her cold gaze bore into him as she approached, her words slicing through his cries like a blade. "The only paintings you should be creating are with your sword, using the blood of your enemies as ink!" she hissed, tracing her index finger over Jungkook's tear-streaked, sweat-soaked face.

Jungkook trembled under her touch, his sobs muffled by the sheer terror radiating from her.

"I am not raising you to become a worthless painter," she continued, her tone eerily calm, yet far more dangerous because of it. "Dare to paint again, and I will have your knuckles cut off."

Her words were a dagger to his young heart.

Painting was the only light in Jungkook's dark world. With hands gifted by the gods and an artistic mind brimming with beauty, he found peace in bringing life to blank, white sheets. It was his escape from the suffocating walls of the palace.

Now, that light was extinguished. The smoldering ashes of his work were all that remained. The one thing that brought him happiness was gone, destroyed by the woman he feared most.

As Jungkook's cries faded into hollow silence, the weight of her cruelty settled deep into his soul. He was left broken, traumatized, and alone-his once vibrant world reduced to ash and emptiness.

~~~~~~~~

Fourteen-year-old Jungkook grasped the girl's arms tightly, his trembling hands betraying the fear he tried so hard to mask. Tears welled in his dark eyes, threatening to spill as he spoke in a voice cracking with urgency.

"Run away-please," he pleaded, his breath ragged. "You have to go now."

The girl, as angelic as ever with concern etched on her delicate face, cupped his tear-streaked cheeks. "But why, Jungkook?" she asked softly, her honey-brown eyes searching his for answers.

"Don't ask questions, for God's sake! Just run away-please!" His voice broke as tears slid down his cheeks. He stood trembling in the middle of the forest, the thick canopy of trees shielding them, but the fear in his heart told him it wouldn't be enough.

"Run far away from here and never come back!" Jungkook insisted, his grip on her arms tightening. "Promise me you'll never come near me or this place again."

"But Jungkook..." her voice wavered, tears pooling in her eyes. "We decided to escape this place together. I know something is wrong, and there is no way I'm leaving you alone in this."

"I can't escape," he whispered, his voice laced with a mixture of pain and resignation. He slid his trembling hand to the nape of her neck, his eyes desperate. "They'll find me no matter where I go, even if I hide underground. But you-" he paused, his voice choking on the words. "You can escape, and you have to. We don't have time!"

Taking her hand, Jungkook turned to lead her away, but her sudden embrace stopped him in his tracks. The warmth of her hug softened his shaking frame, their hearts pounding as if in sync.

"Jungkook, you're my best boy," she whispered, her voice barely audible but loud enough to reach his ears.

He closed his eyes and exhaled shakily. "I know," he murmured, running his hand gently through her hair.

"You'll take care of yourself, won't you?" she asked, pulling back slightly to look at him. He nodded, his throat tight with unspoken words.

"Jungkook..."

"Hmm?" he hummed, his voice barely a whisper.

TWANG!

The sharp, piercing sound of an arrow slicing through flesh filled the air. Jungkook froze as the girl in his arms arched her back, gasping in pain.

"No..." he whispered, his voice shaking as he stared in horror. Her head fell back, and blood dripped from the corner of her lips. He looked down to see her back drenched in red, the arrow protruding like a cruel symbol of their shattered escape.

"No-no!" he panicked, lowering her gently to the ground, his hands stained with her blood as he tried to stop the flow.

________________

"A friend, huh?" the Empress sneered, her cold eyes darting between the lifeless girl on the ground and Jungkook, who was held captive by her guards.

"No wonder you've been growing weaker, Jeon Jungkook," she spat, her tone venomous.

"Omoni, please-please don't do anything to her!" Jungkook sobbed, his voice raw and broken. "She's done nothing wrong! Please spare her life!"

The Empress's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Look at you, Jeon Jungkook. So weak, so helpless-begging like a pathetic beggar. Trembling from fear, you've become a shadow of the monster I raised you to be," she hissed through gritted teeth. "And you know who's to blame? Her." She pointed at the girl's lifeless form, her tone laced with contempt.

"She has done nothing! Please, I beg you, have mercy upon her!" Jungkook cried harder, desperation etched into every word.

"I cannot see you like this anymore, Jeon Jungkook. You are my possession. I want you to stay loyal to me, your only saviour, your mother."

Jungkook's eyes widened on her words, he shook his head continuously. "No--no please--no, Oh God!!" he glanced at the girl behind who was on the verge of dying because of the poison arrow that went through her flesh.

"You need to go back to who you were, an emotionless beast, and for that you will have to lose her. She needs to die for you to come back to your senses" Empress stated coldly with a deadly grin.

"Omoni, no please--please I beg you! Have mercy!" he broke miserably, his messy bangs sticking on his sweaty pale face.

"You brought this upon her, Jungkook. You let her in this hell because she made you happy..." she scoffed coldly. "You're just a monster."

"Pour the kerosene over her," she ordered coldly, gesturing to her guards.

Jungkook thrashed against their iron grip, his cries growing more frantic. "NO! Please-no! She doesn't deserve this!" His voice cracked as his pleas echoed through the forest.

The girl, barely clinging to life, gazed at Jungkook with tear-filled eyes. Her lips moved faintly, forming her final words. "I... love... you," she whispered before her eyes fluttered shut, leaving Jungkook's world in deafening silence.

"NOOO!" Jungkook screamed, his voice ripping through the air as his heart shattered into pieces.

The Empress, unbothered by his anguish, struck a match and tossed it onto the kerosene-soaked body. Flames erupted, consuming the lifeless figure as Jungkook's screams filled the air.

"NO! LEAVE ME!" he begged, his voice raw and desperate. "Omoni! OMONI!"

But his cries fell on deaf ears as the fire blazed, devouring the only happiness he had ever known.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<Present>

"She has to live," Jungkook nodded, his voice trembling as tears swelled in his eyes, betraying the weight of his emotions. His past clawed at him, filling the room with a heavy, unspoken sorrow.

"I need her to see it all," Jungkook continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every victory, every crown I take-she has to witness it. She has to feel what I felt." His gaze burned with a mix of anguish and determination, though his tears betrayed the boy who once sought nothing but love.

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