Díe With A Smile | Taekook

5| Caged by Blood.

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Taehyung stood beside Hoseok, his posture composed, but his mind was elsewhere. The princess’s bitter words echoed in his ears, her voice still crisp in his memory, laced with quiet arrogance. Yet now, as she sat poised, speaking with the king in such an elegant and practiced tone, Taehyung found himself wondering—was this truly the same woman who had confronted him just moments ago?

Her demeanor had shifted effortlessly, her voice carrying nothing but grace and diplomacy. The contrast was almost unsettling. Was this her true face? Or was it just another carefully crafted mask, meant to fit whatever role suited her best?

Taehyung’s fingers curled slightly at his sides, a quiet exhale leaving his lips. He knew how the royal court worked, how words could be dressed in silk yet laced with poison. But something about her intentions, about the way she had spoken to him in private, left an unshakable weight in his chest.

Still, he remained silent, his expression unreadable. He was used to playing this role—standing at the king’s side, watching, listening, but never truly being part of the conversation. And yet, for the first time in a long while, he found himself feeling something close to anger. Not because of her words alone, but because of the unsettling truth buried within them.

Every single person in this room wore two faces—one for the world and one they kept hidden beneath layers of carefully crafted poise. It was the way of the court, the way of survival. And Taehyung was no exception.

The face he showed was composed, silent, standing a step behind the king and crown prince, ever watchful but never intruding. It was a role he had never questioned, a place he had accepted without protest. The ever-loyal head alpha of Silverwind, the shield of the royal family, the one who spoke only when needed and blended into the background when not.

But beneath that mask, there was another Taehyung—one burdened with truths he could never speak, with duties that bound him tighter than any chains. A man who had been given everything yet nothing at all. A man who knew where he stood, yet sometimes wondered if he truly belonged.

His gaze flickered over the room, watching as honeyed words flowed effortlessly from lips that had spoken daggers just moments before. He shouldn’t be surprised. This was the world he lived in. A world where deception was an art, and sincerity was a weakness.

And so, like them, Taehyung wore his mask well, his face a picture of quiet indifference.

The courtroom erupted into applause as the King of Silverwind and the King of Northwind signed the alliance papers, sealing what was meant to be a bond between their kingdoms. The sound echoed through the grand hall, a display of unity, of power, of diplomacy at its finest.

But amid the sea of clapping hands and congratulatory nods, no one noticed the lone figure standing still.

Taehyung’s hands remained at his sides, his expression unreadable, his gaze locked onto the documents as if they held something far more sinister than ink and promises. Because he knew the truth—this signing was nothing but a performance, a beautifully orchestrated act to deceive the court, the nobles, and the people.

Six months. That was all this was worth.

The princess had made it clear—this alliance was conditional, a bargaining chip in a game where the final move would be made using his life. He had no reason to celebrate, no reason to clap for a show that would ultimately demand a sacrifice from him.

So he stood in silence, watching as the room filled with smiles, as voices buzzed with satisfaction over a deal that, to him, felt more like a noose tightening around his neck.