As I moved through the grand halls of the castle, the familiar weight of my armor pressing against my shoulders, I felt an unsettling stillness settle within me. Each step echoed in the vastness, amplifying the silence that had consumed this place in the past few weeks. The servants bowed as I passed, their eyes full of unspoken words, but I paid them no mind. My focus was already far from this castle—focused on the battle awaiting me, on the war that had become inevitable.

But as I neared the castle's exit, something tugged at me, an invisible force pulling me to look in one specific direction. Her room.

I slowed my pace, turning my gaze toward her window. My heart quickened, an irrational hope building that I might catch a glimpse of her—just one glance before I left. But the window was empty. The curtains were drawn, leaving no sign of life behind them.

An ache spread through my chest, sharp and relentless, as if her absence itself was a wound I couldn't heal. It was foolish, absurd even, that I should feel this way. I was about to lead an army into war, a war I had declared, and yet here I was, craving the sight of someone who had all but disappeared from my life.

I had never been one to dwell on emotions, especially not emotions like this. But the fact that she was avoiding me so deliberately—it gnawed at me, hollowing me out with every passing day. It was as if I had wronged her somehow, made some mistake I couldn't understand, and now she was punishing me by pretending I didn't exist.

I clenched my jaw, forcing the thoughts away. There was no room for such feelings, not now. I had responsibilities, an empire to defend, and yet it was her absence that weighed heavier than any sword I carried.

With a final glance at her window, the emptiness mocking me, I turned away. There would be no answers, no closure. Not today.

I strode through the gates, the cool air biting against my skin. The courtyard was bustling with soldiers and horses, the preparation for war in full swing. My horse stood at the ready, its dark eyes watching me with a calm that I envied. I mounted in one swift motion, settling into the saddle, feeling the familiar strength beneath me.

The moment I sat down, everything felt different—heavier, more final. It was as if the act of leaving had closed a door, one I wasn't sure I'd be able to open again. But I had made my choice. There was no turning back now.

As I took the reins and prepared to ride out, I allowed myself one last thought of her—of Y/N. Her laughter, her defiance, her eyes that seemed to see through everything. The memory of her was a thorn, lodged deep in my heart, refusing to dislodge no matter how hard I tried.

But now, I had to focus. With a sharp pull on the reins, I urged the horse forward, leading my men out of the castle and into the unknown. The wind whipped through the air, and with each beat of the horse's hooves, I left behind the walls of the castle, and with it, any hope of seeing her again before the war.

E N D O F J U N G K O O K'S P O V

𓆩♕𓆪

The battlefield stretched endlessly before them, a vast expanse of scorched earth and jagged hills that rose like the backs of sleeping beasts. The Jeon Empire's army stood in formation, their polished armor glinting beneath the gray, overcast sky. Banners fluttered in the cold wind, proudly displaying the black dragon sigil that symbolized King Jungkook's reign.

Jungkook sat atop his warhorse, eyes fixed on the horizon where the opposing army gathered like a dark, threatening cloud. The Jung Dynasty forces were formidable, their warriors known for their ruthlessness and discipline. But Jungkook was no stranger to war, and his men trusted him with their lives. He had led them to victory before, and today would be no different.

But as the king looked out over the approaching enemy, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. The last two weeks had been filled with preparations and strategic meetings, but in the quiet moments before battle, his thoughts drifted to Y/N. Her absence lingered like a shadow in his mind. Even here, on the brink of war, the memory of her lingered, clawing at the edges of his resolve.

Shaking the thought away, Jungkook gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. There was no time for distractions. Not now. He had a kingdom to protect.

Behind him, Chin Hae stood ready, surveying the troops with his usual calm demeanor. Chin Hae was a veteran of many battles, and his strategic mind was one of the sharpest in the Jeon Empire. He had fought alongside Jungkook for years, and today would be no exception.

"Your Majesty," Chin Hae spoke, his voice low but steady. "The troops are in position. We await your command."

Jungkook nodded, his gaze still locked on the enemy lines. He could see the flicker of movement in the distance as the Jung Dynasty soldiers prepared for the inevitable clash. He could feel the tension in the air, thick and electric, like a storm about to break.

"Hold the line," Jungkook ordered, his voice firm. "We wait for their advance."

The wind howled between the armies, carrying with it the scent of smoke and steel. The battlefield seemed to breathe, alive with anticipation. In the far distance, drums began to beat, a slow and deliberate rhythm that echoed across the valley. The Jung Dynasty was making their move.

As the enemy forces began their advance, a sea of bodies marching in unison, Jungkook raised his sword high, signaling his men to stand firm. The front lines braced themselves, shields raised and spears at the ready.

The first wave of arrows came hurtling through the sky, black as ravens, raining down upon the Jeon soldiers. Shields clanged together as the men defended themselves, the sound of metal on metal filling the air. Then, with a roar that shook the ground, the armies collided.

Jungkook charged forward, his horse galloping into the fray with terrifying speed. His sword flashed through the air, cutting down enemy after enemy with precision and strength. He fought with a fury that only a king could possess, his movements fluid and lethal, each strike a testament to the power he wielded.

All around him, the battlefield was chaos. Swords clashed, arrows flew, and the cries of men filled the air. Blood soaked the earth, turning the ground beneath their feet into a muddy, treacherous mess. Jungkook moved through it all like a force of nature, his presence commanding, his soldiers following him with unwavering loyalty.

In the midst of battle, Jungkook caught sight of General Chin Hae locked in combat with an enemy commander. The two men clashed fiercely, their swords meeting with a deadly force. Jungkook spurred his horse toward them, knowing that Chin Hae could handle himself, but unwilling to risk the life of one of his most trusted allies.

With a swift, powerful strike, Jungkook disarmed the enemy commander, sending the man sprawling to the ground. Chin Hae nodded in thanks, his breathing heavy but controlled.

"We're holding them off, Your Majesty," Chin Hae shouted over the din of battle. "But their numbers are vast."

Jungkook glanced around, assessing the situation. The Jeon Empire soldiers were holding the line, but the Jung Dynasty forces were relentless, pressing harder with each passing moment. The battle was far from over, and the outcome was uncertain.

"We push them back," Jungkook said, determination burning in his voice. "No retreat. We fight until the last man."

With that, he urged his horse forward once more, plunging deeper into the chaos. His sword sliced through the air, cutting down any enemy that dared cross his path. Blood splattered across his armor, his movements a blur of strength and precision.

But even as he fought, a part of him remained distracted. The question Y/N had asked him lingered in his mind, haunting him in the most unexpected moments. Do you believe in love? It echoed in his thoughts, a constant reminder of something he didn't want to confront.

He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the battle. The war was his priority now. The kingdom came first.

But deep down, even amid the bloodshed and violence, Jungkook couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted within him, something he wasn't ready to face. And as the battle raged on, he wondered if he would ever truly understand the answer to that question.

As the battle raged on, Jungkook fought with an intensity that matched the storm swirling inside him. His sword cleaved through enemies with ruthless precision, each strike a testament to his skill and power. But no matter how fiercely he fought, no matter how many enemies he cut down, his thoughts kept returning to the same place—back to Y/N, back to her question.

He couldn't afford distractions, not here. Yet, every time he heard the clash of steel or the grunt of pain from a soldier nearby, the words echoed in his mind, Do you believe in love?

The battle was nearing its peak. The Jung Dynasty's forces pushed harder, relentless in their attempts to break the Jeon Empire's defenses. Despite the chaos around him, Jungkook felt a growing frustration gnawing at his core. His focus wavered with every reminder of the question Y/N had asked him before he left.

Why did she ask me that? Why now? It wasn't like he ever gave love much thought. Power, duty, and loyalty—these were the values that defined him. Yet, in the quiet moments, especially in the depths of this battle, the idea of love began to claw at his carefully built walls.

Another soldier lunged at him, sword raised. Jungkook deflected the strike with a sharp twist of his wrist, countering with a fatal blow. Blood sprayed across his armor, but it barely registered. He had faced hundreds like this, men who sought to tear down his empire, to crush what he had built. But even as he fought, his mind wasn't fully here.

The enemy line started to break. Jungkook's soldiers pushed forward with renewed vigor, their king leading the charge. Jungkook's battle sense took over, his movements fluid and instinctual, but even as he delivered the killing blow to another foe, his thoughts strayed to Y/N, to her absence from his life these past weeks, and to the damn question that kept haunting him.

A loud roar echoed across the battlefield, signaling the enemy retreat. Jungkook didn't let up. He urged his men forward, pushing the advantage as the Jung Dynasty soldiers fled. Victory was within their grasp, but it felt hollow. Even as they won the day, something weighed on him, gnawing at his conscience.

When the battle was finally over, and the cries of the defeated army had faded into the distance, Jungkook stood amidst the bodies of fallen soldiers. His chest heaved with exhaustion, but his mind was far from rest. Chin Hae approached, his armor dented and smeared with blood.

"We've won, Your Majesty," Chin Hae said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Their forces are retreating. The Jung Dynasty has been pushed back."

Jungkook nodded, but his gaze was distant. "Good," he muttered, the usual satisfaction of victory missing from his voice.

Chin Hae studied his king for a moment, noticing the change. "Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?"

Jungkook shook his head slightly, waving him off. "It's nothing. Ensure the men are taken care of. We'll regroup and begin the next phase of the campaign soon."

Chin Hae hesitated but nodded, bowing before heading back toward the troops. Jungkook remained where he was, standing alone amidst the carnage. He had won the battle, but why did it feel like something inside him had been lost?

The weight of the past weeks pressed down on him. He had started this war to assert his dominance, to prove the strength of the Jeon Empire. But now, with the battlefield behind him and his soldiers victorious, a different battle raged inside him. A war of emotions he wasn't prepared to face.

He could no longer deny the truth. Y/N's absence affected him more than he had ever imagined. He missed her presence, her sharp tongue, her defiance. He missed the way her laughter had filled the once-stale halls of his castle. And that question, the one she had asked in that final moment before everything had changed, refused to leave him.

Do you believe in love?

Jungkook sheathed his sword and closed his eyes, trying to shut out the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind. Love? He had always seen it as a weakness, something that made men vulnerable, something that clouded judgment. But now, standing here, victorious yet hollow, he wasn't so sure.

The sound of the wind whistling through the trees brought him back to the present. The battlefield was silent now, save for the distant calls of his men as they tended to the wounded and gathered the fallen.

I have to see her, Jungkook thought suddenly, the realization hitting him like a blow to the chest. He needed to see Y/N, to confront this storm of emotions that had been festering inside him.

But before he could dwell on the thought, a shout echoed from the distance. It was one of the soldiers, running toward him with news. Jungkook straightened, his mind snapping back to his duty, but deep down, he knew he couldn't ignore what was brewing inside him any longer.

The war may have been won today, but the battle within his heart was just beginning.

Jungkook sat atop his horse, the steady rhythm of its hooves echoing in his ears as he pressed forward with a clear vision of his destination in mind. The path before him was winding, but every twist and turn led him closer to what he sought. He felt the familiar presence of Chin Hae alongside him, a silent shadow who had chosen not to question his decision to forge ahead alone. Jungkook appreciated this; Chin Hae understood the weight of unspoken thoughts, allowing him the space to navigate his emotions without interruption.

As they rode, Jungkook's mind drifted back to the reason he had declared war. It hadn't been just a matter of power or territory; there was something deeper driving him, something that had compelled him to act decisively. The image of sprawling gardens filled with blossoms danced in his mind, a vivid reminder of a world that seemed so far removed from the chaos of battle. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he imagined what lay ahead.

He felt a surge of determination well up within him. The garden he was heading to was not merely a place; it represented hope, a brief escape from the turmoil surrounding them. The thought of gathering what he needed filled him with anticipation, and he could almost picture the scene: the soft petals against his fingers, the sweet scent enveloping him as he breathed in the tranquility.

With every step his horse took, Jungkook reaffirmed his resolve. He was doing this for a reason—one that transcended the battlefield and spoke to the heart. The weight of his responsibilities loomed over him, yet in this moment, he felt lighter, fueled by purpose. The smile remained on his face, a stark contrast to the world around him, as he pushed forward, ready to embrace the next chapter of his journey.

As the destination came into view, a sprawling expanse of greenery punctuated by bursts of color, Jungkook brought his horse to a stop. The anticipation pulsed through him, and he dismounted, feeling the ground firm beneath his feet. Each step forward was deliberate, a quiet determination propelling him as he approached the garden.

The air was thick with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and he inhaled deeply, letting the scent wash over him like a comforting embrace. He scanned the landscape, taking in the vibrant hues that danced in the sunlight, each petal a whisper of beauty amidst the chaos of war. This was not merely a battlefield; it was a sanctuary, a reminder of everything he was fighting for.

Jungkook's heart raced as he moved deeper into the garden, the soft crunch of grass underfoot grounding him in the moment. He could almost feel the warmth of Y/N's presence, the way she would light up at the sight of the flowers, and it filled him with a sense of urgency. He had come to gather something precious, a symbol of hope and connection, and he was determined to make it meaningful.

With every glance around him, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. The chaos of the world outside faded, leaving only the vibrant beauty of the garden and the promise of what he aimed to create. Jungkook knew he had to act swiftly, for both the battle ahead and the feelings that stirred within him.

He bent down and plucked a single blossom—

a white rose