s̶a̶c̶r̶i̶f̶i̶c̶e̶

s̶a̶c̶r̶i̶f̶i̶c̶e̶³

The next morning, King Namjoon found himself lost in the tranquility of his loyal garden, his mind still consumed by the haunting dream from the previous night. The vivid images of bloodshed, the agonizing deaths of his people, and the audacious Prince of Mahan referring to him as his wife lingered in his thoughts, casting a dark shadow over his usually composed demeanor.

He let out a heavy sigh, his gaze fixated on a solitary rose in the garden, its delicate beauty concealed by a thicket of prickly thorns. It was a poignant reminder that even the most beautiful things in life were often guarded by a formidable beast, much like the challenges he faced as a ruler.

Lost in contemplation, Namjoon was abruptly interrupted by the sight of one of his guards sprinting towards him, his face etched with fear and trepidation. The king's confusion quickly transformed into concern as he demanded, in a commanding voice, "What is the matter? Why are you running?"

The guard skidded to a halt, dropping to his knees and bowing deeply before his sovereign. "Forgive me, my king, but the news I bear is of utmost importance and incredulity. You must be made aware," he pleaded, his voice trembling with urgency.

Namjoon's senses sharpened, his expression growing more serious. "Speak," he commanded, his voice laced with urgency. The guard glanced up at his king, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and urgency. With a trembling voice, he relayed the shocking revelation, "The mighty Kingdom of Mahan, our neighboring realm and the largest in Korea, has sent a message to you. They request your hand in marriage for their Prince Taehyung. If you refuse, they have threatened to unleash a devastating war upon our lands."

Namjoon's heart pounded in his chest, disbelief washing over him like a tidal wave. His eyes widened in shock as he demanded to see the letter for himself, unwilling to accept such a grave matter without tangible proof. The guard swiftly handed him the missive, and as Namjoon perused its contents, his worst fears were confirmed. The letter bore the unmistakable seal of the Mahan kingdom, leaving no room for doubt regarding its authenticity.

But how could this be? Just a week prior, Namjoon had personally witnessed the banishment of Prince Taehyung from the Mahan kingdom. The prince was no longer a member of their realm, yet now they brazenly sought his hand in marriage. The king's mind swirled with a maelstrom of confusion and apprehension, his thoughts consumed by the enigmatic motives behind this unexpected turn of events.

King Namjoon's mind raced with questions and confusion. He couldn't understand why the Mahan kingdom would suddenly change their stance on Prince Taehyung. Was this some kind of trick or political maneuver? Or had something happened within the Mahan kingdom that he was unaware of?

As he pondered over the situation, King Namjoon realized that he needed more information before making any decisions. He called for his advisors and summoned the royal council to discuss the matter further. He wanted to gather all the facts and opinions before formulating a response to the Mahan kingdom's request.

The council members arrived, and King Namjoon shared the news with them. They too were taken aback by the sudden turn of events. They deliberated on the possible motives behind the Mahan kingdom's proposal and the potential consequences of accepting or rejecting it.

"Our relationship with Mahan is like that of a family. The king and queen of Mahan have always treated you as their own child, my king. So how can they suddenly threaten us with war if you deny the marriage proposal?" King Namjoon sighed, knowing that something was wrong, something was missing.

"Where is Jackson?" he asked, knowing that his personal guard must know something. Jackson always roamed around all the kingdoms to gather information. As the king asked about Jackson, Jackson entered the hall and knelt down, greeting King Namjoon first. "Tell me," King Namjoon asked, and Jackson nodded, standing up and saying, "There is something terribly wrong happening in the Mahan kingdom." Everyone in the room was shocked as they listened carefully. King Namjoon asked, "What do you mean?"