ASHES OF THE CROWN (Taekook)
The weight of the crown
The night in Eldoria was thick with an unsettling silence, the kind that settled before a storm. The torches along the palace walls flickered against the cold wind, casting long, dancing shadows upon the stone. The scent of burning incense mixed with the distant stench of steel and blood—reminders of a kingdom at war.
Jungkook sat near the tall window, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of a goblet filled with untouched wine. Her reflection in the glass was foreign, dressed in rich silks rather than the armor he had spent years wearing. Every inch of this palace was a prison, a gilded cage meant to keep her bound to a future she did not choose.
The heavy sound of boots echoed through the chamber, announcing Taehyung’s arrival. Jungkook didn’t turn, already knowing the prince’s presence by the shift in the air. The room, once cold, felt charged with an unspoken tension.
Prince Taehyung
You’re still awake?
( Taehyung observed, his voice unreadable)
princes kookie
(Jungkook scoffed, finally looking at him) How does one sleep in the enemy’s den?
Taehyung sighed, removing the golden cuffs from his wrists and setting them onto the polished wooden table. His ceremonial attire was slightly undone at the collar, his dark eyes taking in Jungkook’s tense form
Prince Taehyung
You will need rest. Tomorrow, you will attend court with me.
princes kookie
(Jungkook turned fully at that, fire flashing in her gaze)
I am not your subject.
Prince Taehyung
No.
(Taehyung agreed smoothly)
But you are my consort now. And my enemies are watching.
Jungkook clenched her jaw. She knew what Taehyung meant—this marriage was not just a binding of fates, but a spectacle for the scheming nobles who sought to manipulate the tides of war. she could not afford to show weakness. Not here. Not now.
The tension in the chamber thickened. Taehyung moved toward the table, pouring himself a goblet of wine. He took a slow sip, studying Jungkook over the rim before speaking.
Prince Taehyung
Eldoria’s council is not one of unity. It is a battlefield of words and alliances. If you wish to survive, you must learn how to wield power beyond the sword
princes kookie
(Jungkook narrowed his eyes)
You think I am incapable?
Prince Taehyung
No.
(Taehyung smirked slightly)
I think you are untrained.
The words stung, but Jungkook refused to rise to the bait. Instead, she turned back to the window, watching as the last embers of the city lights flickered against the night.
She had fought wars. She had bled on the battlefield. But this war—the one waged with whispers and deception—was one she had never prepared for.
The morning arrived with the slow toll of the palace bells, a sound that echoed through the vast halls of Eldoria’s keep. Jungkook was already awake when the servants arrived, bowing as they laid out the ceremonial robes she was expected to wear. The weight of expectations settled on her shoulders, heavier than any armor.
In the great hall, the court had gathered. Nobles adorned in gold and crimson stood in clusters, their hushed conversations ceasing the moment Taehyung entered with Jungkook at her side.
Jungkook kept her chin high, meeting the stares with unwavering resolve. Let them watch. Let them whisper. She would not cower.
At the center of the room, the council convened, an assembly of Eldoria’s most influential figures. Taehyung took his seat at the head, his expression composed yet sharp, a ruler in the making. Jungkook remained beside him, listening as the discussions began.
Talk of war strategies, supply chains, and political alliances filled the chamber, each noble vying for influence. But beneath the formal exchanges, Jungkook sensed something deeper—a game of power, subtle but ruthless.
She caught the eye of one noble in particular, an older man with a calculating gaze. Duke Seonghwa. The way the man observed her, weighing her worth, sent a chill down Jungkook’s spine.
Duke seonghwa
The prince’s marriage has secured temporary peace.
(Seonghwa spoke, his tone smooth)
But peace is fragile. And fragile things must be reinforced
A ripple of murmurs followed. Jungkook tensed, already anticipating what was to come.
One of the nobles stepped forward.
Welles
The Euphorians are warriors, are they not? Should the prince’s consort not prove his loyalty on the battlefield?
Jungkook’s fists clenched beneath the table. She recognized this ploy. They wanted to test her, to see if she was a puppet or a force of her own
Taehyung, however, remained composed.
Prince Taehyung
Jungkook has already proven her worth. Do you doubt my judgment?
Silence followed, thick with unspoken tension. The nobles exchanged glances before bowing their heads. “Of course not, Your Highness.”
Jungkook exhaled quietly, casting a sideways glance at Taehyung. The prince’s face remained impassive, but there was something in his eyes—an acknowledgment, perhaps even the barest hint of amusement.
The meeting continued, but Jungkook understood one thing clearly.
This was only the beginning.
Night fell once more, casting long shadows across the palace corridors. Jungkook found herself in the royal chambers again, the vast space feeling no less like a prison than before.
Her routine had begun to settle—mornings spent in court, afternoons training in solitude. She refused to let herself grow weak, even as the castle walls sought to confine hee. Each day, she would take to the training grounds, her sword clashing against that of Eldoria’s finest warriors, proving again and again that she was no caged princes
Taehyung entered the chambers, removing his coat and setting it aside
Prince Taehyung
You handled yourself well today
princes kookie
(Jungkook turned from the window)
Do not mistake my patience for submission.
Prince Taehyung
(A smirk ghosted over Taehyung’s lips)
I would never
Silence stretched between them, charged but not hostile. It was a battlefield of a different kind, one where neither was willing to yield.
princes kookie
(Jungkook sighed, rubbing his temples) And what now?
Prince Taehyung
(Taehyung walked to the table, pouring a drink before answering)
Now? We wait. And we prepare.
Prince Taehyung
( Taehyung met her gaze) For whatever comes next
Jungkook didn’t reply. Instead, she looked out at the night sky, the vastness stretching beyond the kingdom’s walls. Somewhere beyond, Euphoria remained—a home she could no longer return to, yet one she could never forget.
The war was far from over.
It had merely changed its form.
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