Beauty & War: A Crown of Thorns

𝔣𝔬𝔲𝔯

Jeongguk stormed into his quarters, fury radiating off him as he yanked his belongings from drawers and tossed them into his travel bag with rough, jerking motions. His boots pounded against the wood floor, each heavy step a reflection of the turmoil swirling within him. His scent was a chaotic storm of anger and disbelief.

After everything he had sacrificed—his blood, his sweat, and nearly his life—this was his reward? To be sent away on a task so beneath him, a glorified errand? It was a slap in the face, an insult to his dedication.

The door creaked open, and Namjoon entered, immediately covering his nose. "Jeongguk," Namjoon called out, worry etched on his forehead. "What's going on?"

Jeongguk didn't stop his frantic packing, his movements sharp and angry, as he replied. "Our beloved king is sending me away because he thinks I'm unstable," he spat, his voice dripping with bitterness.

Namjoon's brow furrowed in confusion. "He said that?"

Jeongguk paused, his hands stilling for a moment as the frustration twisted inside him. "No," he admitted, his tone hard, "he denied that's the reason, but I know it is. What other explanation could there be? Why else would he send me to drag his stubborn brother back here when any lesser knight could do the job?"

Namjoon's expression darkened, and his voice dropped a note, filled with quiet authority. "Jeongguk, watch your tone. You don't know what you're talking about."

Jeongguk turned, his eyes flashing as he faced Namjoon, his anger barely held in check. "I know enough! He's been looking at me differently ever since the war ended—like I'm broken. And now this... he doesn't trust me anymore."

Namjoon took a step closer, his gaze steady and filled with concern. "That's not true, and you know it. The king trusts you more than anyone. This isn't a punishment, you're being sent because you're the only one who can do this—because Jimin will trust you." He spoke, but his words fell on deaf ears.

Jeongguk clenched his fists, frustration still bubbling beneath the surface. It wasn't just about being sent away—it was the fear that he was no longer seen as the warrior he once was, that everything he had built was crumbling. 

"I don't need a lecture right now, hyung," he snapped, his voice low, but laced with barely restrained fury.

Namjoon crossed the room with steady steps, his eyes never leaving Jeongguk's rigid, angry form. "I'm not here to lecture you," he began, his voice soft but carrying an unyielding weight. "I'm here because I'm worried about you. This mission—it's important, whether you see it or not."

Jeongguk let out a bitter scoff, his frustration erupting as he slammed a chest shut with far more force than necessary. "Important? You think sending me off like a glorified babysitter is going to fix anything? I'm the best knight in this kingdom, Namjoon hyung. They're wasting me—on this, on some meaningless errand!"

Namjoon held his ground, his tone calm yet resolute. "It's not meaningless," he countered, his words cutting through the air. "Jimin is the King's brother, and his return—his safety—matters. But let's not pretend this is what's truly eating at you."