The Wolf's Heart

23

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Jungkook’s brow furrowed in confusion and irritation. “What are you talking about?”

Daek Kyun’s eyes glinted as he leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Don’t play dumb with me. The pin former queen  gave to you. It’s not just some family heirloom—it holds powers. Power that should never have been given to someone as naive as you.”

Jungkook frowned, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. “Power? It’s a pin. It’s a piece of jewelry meant for royal consorts. What could you possibly want with it?”

Daek Kyun chuckled, his tone mocking. “You really don’t know, do you? It figures. But I won’t explain myself to someone who wouldn’t understand its value. Just hand it over, Jungkook. It doesn’t belong to you anyway.”

Jungkook’s grip tightened on the box in his hands, anger bubbling beneath his calm demeanor. “What would you even do with it? It’s useless to you. It’s a woman’s accessory, isn’t it?”

Daek Kyun’s smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. “You’ll regret underestimating me. You have no idea what I can do with that ‘woman’s accessory.’”

Jungkook straightened, his voice firm. “I may not understand what you’re plotting, but I know one thing—it was entrusted to me by Her Majesty, and I won’t give it to you.”

Daek Kyun’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. “We’ll see about that, little brother. You might want to think twice about standing in my way.”

He turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Jungkook in the corridor, his heart pounding and his mind swirling with questions.

~~

Later that night, the palace was quiet, the moonlight casting silver shadows across the halls. Taehyung stood in his chambers, his mind restless. He replayed the events of the day—Dae Kyun’s constant visits, his insincere smiles, and the nervous way Jungkook had reacted around him. Something wasn’t right.

He wasn’t one to pry into others' affairs, but this was different. The tension between the brothers had been palpable, and Taehyung couldn’t ignore the flicker of fear in Jungkook’s eyes when Daek Kyun addressed him. It wasn’t something he could brush off.

With a sigh, Taehyung left his chambers, his footsteps quiet against the polished floors. He made his way to the consort’s wing, where Jungkook’s room was lit dimly from within.

When he knocked lightly on the door, there was a pause before Jungkook’s soft voice called out, “Come in.”

Taehyung entered to find Jungkook seated by the window, his pastel hanfu slightly rumpled as if he’d been twisting the fabric in his hands. The royal pin rested on the table beside him, its jewels glinting faintly in the light of a single lantern.

“Your Majesty,” Jungkook said, standing quickly, bowing deeply.

“At ease,” Taehyung said, his tone softer than usual. He gestured for Jungkook to sit, then took a seat across from him. “I came to talk.”

Jungkook looked surprised but nodded, his hands fidgeting in his lap.

“I’ve noticed,” Taehyung began, his eyes steady on Jungkook, “that your brother has been coming here more often. With increasingly trivial excuses.”

Jungkook’s hands stilled, and he avoided Taehyung’s gaze, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Taehyung leaned forward slightly, his voice quieter but no less firm. “And today, I saw how you reacted to him. You were… afraid.”

Jungkook’s eyes snapped up, wide with surprise, before he quickly looked away again. “It’s nothing, Your Majesty,” he said hastily, his voice shaky. “Just… family matters.”

Taehyung frowned. “Family matters don’t make one’s consort tremble. What did he say to you?”

Jungkook shook his head, his shoulders tense. “I… It’s nothing worth troubling yourself over. He’s just… stubborn.”

Taehyung’s gaze hardened, though his voice remained calm. “Jungkook, if something is troubling you, especially if it concerns your safety, it is my duty to know. I won’t tolerate anyone—family or not—causing harm to my household.”

Jungkook hesitated, his throat working as he swallowed. He glanced briefly at the royal pin, then away again. “He asked for the pin,” he finally admitted in a low voice. “He said it doesn’t belong to me and that I should give it to him.”

Taehyung’s brows furrowed, his eyes narrowing. “The pin? Why would he want that?”

“I don’t know,” Jungkook said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But he seemed… desperate. He said it wasn’t just a piece of jewelry, that it holds some kind of power.”

Taehyung leaned back, his expression darkening. So, it wasn’t just an ornament—it was something more. And Daek Kyun’s frequent visits suddenly made a sinister kind of sense.

Taehyung stood abruptly, his cape swishing as he moved toward the door. “Stay here tonight, Jungkook. Lock your door and don’t open it for anyone except me.”

Jungkook blinked, startled. “Your Majesty?”

Taehyung turned, his gaze sharp. “I’ll deal with this. You’re under my protection, and no one—not even your brother—has the right to intimidate you.”

As he left the room, Jungkook sat in stunned silence, his heart pounding.

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What kind of power did the pin hold, and why would Daek Kyun go to such lengths to obtain it? And more importantly, what danger had he just stepped into by refusing him?