MY CROWN PRINCE | JEON JUNGKOOK

Episode 14: The Web of Sacrifices

Queen Soojin bowed gracefully as she entered the royal chamber. Her face, though calm, betrayed the storm of thoughts racing within her. Standing before the king, she straightened her posture, awaiting his words."Your highness, do you want to say something else?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with concern.The king, sitting upon his throne, nodded arrogantly, his gaze cold and calculating. "Don't you know what you did, Queen Soojin? Don't you know? It's a crime not to obey my decision! Have you forgotten? I am not only your husband, but the King of Silla. You must obey me, Queen," he declared with a hint of anger.Soojin sighed deeply, her voice low and uncertain. "I don't know what you are trying to say, your highness," she murmured, unsure of what was about to unfold.The king's expression shifted into one of aggression, his eyes narrowing. "I told you before, Sooyeon is to marry the King of Goguryeo! That is my final decision—no one can change this. And yet you went to Minister Kim's place and spoke against me! Why?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber.Despite the king's fury, Queen Soojin trembled but refused to show any fear. "Your highness, our daughter, Sooyeon... She wants to marry Minister Kim's son, not the King. Please, your highness, she is our daughter. Don't think only of Silla this time," she pleaded, her voice desperate, yet composed.The king rose abruptly, taking his sword and pressing it gently but menacingly to his wife's shoulder. Her eyes widened with fear as tears began to roll down her cheeks."I didn't listen to my late Queen Eun Mi when she begged me about Crown Prince Jeon Jungkook," he hissed, his tone venomous. "She cried for him, and she died without seeing her son. I sent him away from Silla for twelve long years—do you think I won't sacrifice anyone else for Silla? Sooyeon is the Princess of Silla, and if she doesn't obey, she'll spend the rest of her life in prison. She will die there for defying me," the king declared coldly.Queen Soojin bowed her head, defeated. "Ne, your highness. I understand," she whispered, her voice breaking as she submitted to his will.---Meanwhile, in the royal gardens, Kim Taehyung stood silently under a tree, his expression unreadable. A woman, clad in an exquisite hanbok, approached him, followed by a procession of maids. She was the epitome of beauty, her hair tied in an elegant bun. She bowed before him, her eyes sparkling with excitement."I'm really glad someone as special as you called me here, Kim Taehyung," she said, her voice sweet, filled with warmth and a hint of nervousness.Taehyung did not share her enthusiasm. His face remained serious, detached. "I need to speak with you, Princess Sooyeon," he said flatly.Sooyeon, her smile faltering slightly, nodded shyly and motioned for her maids to leave them. As the wind blew, rustling the trees, she took a deep breath, anticipating the conversation."I just want to make one thing clear, Sooyeon," Taehyung began, his voice harsh. "I don't love you. I'm going to marry Lee Mina. Don't try any of your tricks on me or my family. I don't care if you are the princess of Silla—I just don't care," he said, his words cutting through the air.Tears welled up in Sooyeon's eyes, and she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Aniya! Taehyung jebal! I can't live without you! Don't do this! What did I do wrong?" she cried, her heart shattering.Taehyung smirked, his eyes darkening as he stepped closer to her. "Do you remember Eun Jungmi?" he muttered under his breath.Sooyeon's face drained of color, her body stiffening as the memory flooded her. Five years ago, she had been close to Taehyung, so close that she developed feelings for him. But when her best friend, Eun Jungmi, confessed her love to him, Sooyeon had become jealous, and in a fit of rage, she had killed her."I can't believe you did that," Taehyung whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.Sooyeon remained silent, her eyes filled with shame. "I couldn't share you with anyone. She was wrong for confessing to you. Only I could confess to you," she said, her voice cold and unapologetic.Taehyung, his brow furrowed, turned away, his final words cold and final. "From now on, don't even think about calling me. You're nothing to me," he said before walking away.---Taehyung could not escape the haunting thought of Sooyeon's threats. He was growing anxious. She had the power to harm Lee Mina, and Taehyung was determined to protect her at any cost.Later, Taehyung sat with his best friend, Lee Minha, his face weary and troubled. "Yaaa! Kim Taehyung, why are you sitting here? Eonni was asking about you!" she shouted, sitting beside him, her voice filled with concern.Taehyung glanced at her, barely meeting her gaze. "Taehyung? Gwenchana?" she asked gently, noticing his subdued demeanor.He nodded weakly, offering a small smile. "Ne, gwenchana. Just not feeling well," he said, but his voice lacked conviction.Minha, noticing his distress, leaned her head on his shoulder and intertwined her fingers with his. "Paboya! What's bothering you? Talk to me," she murmured, her voice soft and soothing.Taehyung chuckled softly, appreciating her care but still weighed down by his thoughts. "Jeon Sooyeon," he muttered under his breath.Minha pulled back, sitting up with a look of disbelief. "Jeon Sooyeon? The Princess Jeon Sooyeon? What has she done this time?" she asked, concerned.Taehyung sighed heavily, not wanting to burden her further, but he knew he had no choice. "She wants me to marry her. And if I refuse, she'll kill Mina," he admitted quietly.Minha stood up, her eyes blazing with anger. "Mwoeyeo? She'll kill eonni? My Eonni? TAEHYUNG, if she even thinks about it, I swear I'll kill her!" she shouted, her fists clenched in fury.Taehyung placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Minha-yaa. I won't let her hurt Mina. I won't give her permission to do this," he reassured her.---Meanwhile, Mina, unaware of the turmoil surrounding her, lay in her bed, worried about Taehyung. "Minha-yaa! Are you sure Taehyung is okay? I feel like he's hiding something from me," she murmured, her voice tinged with concern.Minha gave her a reassuring smile. "A-aniya, eonni. He's just busy these days, excited about his marriage. You know, he's going to be a big man now," she said, brushing off Mina's worries.Mina smiled, though her heart remained uneasy. "Ne," she replied softly, still unsure.Minha, sensing her sister's concern, kissed her forehead gently. "Now, eonni, don't think too much. Just sleep. I have some important work tomorrow," she said, her voice firm yet caring.Mina chuckled softly. "Ne, eomma," she teased, and with that, Minha left her to rest.---In the training grounds, Minha found herself once again teaching Jungkook how to hold a sword properly. Frustration bubbled up as Jungkook fumbled, holding the sword incorrectly. "Yaa, Jungkook! You're doing it wrong!" she scolded.Jungkook whined, clearly struggling. "Eh, I told you I'm not good at this," he replied, a hint of frustration in his voice.Minha rolled her eyes, a disgusted look on her face. "Aishhh, not like that!" she muttered, moving closer to help him. She placed her hand over his, guiding his stance from behind. Her small frame struggled to align with his taller one, but Jungkook noticed her difficulty and chuckled. Without warning, he turned around, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her closer. Her back touched his chest, her breath catching at the sudden proximity."Yaa! What are you doing?" she blurted out, flustered.Jungkook whispered, his voice low and teasing, "I'm just helping you. It'll be easier to teach me this way, won't it?" he said, his breath warm against her ear.Minha, feeling her heart race, took a deep breath and nodded, trying to maintain her composure. "Okay, you need to hold the sword like this. Got it?" she said, her voice still steady but betraying a hint of nervousness.He didn't respond at first, and when she turned to check, she found him staring at her with those deep, loving eyes. "Yaa!" she exclaimed, startled by his intense gaze."Ne, I totally understand," Jungkook said with a playful smile, clearly enjoying her discomfort.Minha narrowed her eyes, her arms on her hips. "You weren't listening to me, were you?" she accused.Jungkook's smile widened. "Animida, I was listening," he said, his voice warm and sincere.She sighed in exasperation. "Well, now I'll teach you how to defend yourself," she said, trying to refocus the lesson.Jungkook nodded, his smile never fading. "Ne," he replied.And so, they continued their practice, unaware of the storm brewing just beyond their grasp.---Later, as Minha prepared to leave, Jungkook grabbed her wrist, stopping her. "Yaa! What are you doing?" she shouted, surprised by his sudden action."Don't you want to eat something else?" he asked gently."Aniya, I'm not hungry. I've got to go," she said quickly, pulling away from him.Jungkook didn't say anything, but as she walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that their bond was growing deeper, whether either of them realized it or not.---**End of Episode 14**