Cloaked in Shadows: A Tale of Redemption

Chapter 8: The Mischievous Prince and His Silent Prey

Hello bunnies!!
The following chapters is Flashback so stay tuned!!!

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Flashback:

In the bustling palace of Jeon Kingdom, a small whirlwind of chaos often followed Jungkook, the youngest prince. Mischievous and full of energy, Jungkook took great pleasure in pranking everyone, from the palace staff to his parents, even his elder brother Namjoon and Namjoon’s husband, Seokjin. His antics were never harmful—just enough to keep everyone on their toes. He found joy in the thrill of each prank, the laughter that echoed through the halls after each successful trick.

One fateful day, however, everything changed.

When the royal family of Honseong visited the Jeon Kingdom, among the guests was Taehyung, the beloved son of King Seonho and Queen Mother Yoona. At only ten years old, Taehyung was calm, wise beyond his years, and exuded an aura of kindness that softened even the sternest of hearts. He was admired by many for his quiet intelligence and gentle demeanor, a stark contrast to the wild and carefree Jungkook, who was seven at the time.

The moment Jungkook laid eyes on Taehyung, he saw his next target. Taehyung seemed like the perfect prey—so calm, so composed. Surely, he could shake that serenity with a few well-placed pranks. And so, the mischievous prince set his sights on the silent visitor.

During their first encounter, Taehyung was seated under a cherry blossom tree in the palace garden, reading a book with serene concentration. Jungkook, hiding behind a bush, grinned as he placed a small frog on Taehyung’s shoulder, waiting for the inevitable startled reaction. But when Taehyung noticed the frog, he simply smiled gently and carefully placed the creature on the ground.

Jungkook’s brow furrowed in confusion. No scream, no panic. Instead, Taehyung thanked the frog for visiting and returned to his book. Unfazed, Jungkook tried again. This time, he set up a bucket of water above the door to Taehyung’s room. When Taehyung walked through the door, water splashed down on him, soaking him from head to toe. Jungkook watched, expecting a shout of frustration. But Taehyung merely chuckled softly, shaking the water from his hair and muttering something about needing a bath anyway.

No matter what prank Jungkook pulled, Taehyung remained calm, his kindness never wavering. This both intrigued and frustrated Jungkook. How could someone be so unshakeable? So...perfect?

Over time, Jungkook found himself drawn to Taehyung for reasons he couldn't quite understand. What had begun as a game turned into something deeper. He began following Taehyung around, not with mischief in mind, but with curiosity. He would sit in the same room as Taehyung, observing how the older boy interacted with the world. Taehyung’s quiet strength, his thoughtful words, and his genuine kindness made an impression on Jungkook that no prank ever could.

One afternoon, after a particularly bad day of mischief gone wrong, Jungkook sulked alone in the palace gardens. His prank on a palace servant had caused more harm than he intended, and the guilt weighed heavily on him. He expected Taehyung to avoid him, as the older boy often found solace in his quiet readings and meditations.

But instead, Taehyung approached him, sitting down next to the sulking Jungkook without a word. They sat in silence for a while before Taehyung finally spoke.

"You don't have to try so hard, you know," Taehyung said, his voice soft but wise. "Being yourself is enough."

Jungkook frowned, not understanding. "What do you mean? I’m just having fun. Pranking people."

Taehyung smiled at him, a soft and understanding smile. "I know you like to make people laugh, Jungkook. But sometimes, just being kind to someone can be the best way to make them smile."