Taehkook

The moon behind the palace walls

Busan, the distant years of the Chosan dynasty

The morning had not yet come.

A cold fog rose from the sea and sat on the clay roofs of the palace. The sound of a small temple bell in the distance was lost in the morning silence and the royal flags gently swayed in the sea breeze.

The palace looked peaceful from the outside.

But within its high walls, nothing was peaceful.

The servants were on the move from the first hour of the day. Soldiers were checking the inner gates. Handmaids prepared the royal robes and scribes sorted the letters that arrived from all over the realm.

Everyone knew one thing:

The king had woken up.

In the main hall, several dignitaries were kneeling in their official clothes.

No one was talking.

Because behind the large wooden doors, there was a man whose silence was heavier than any command.

The doors of the hall opened.

"Your Highness!"

They all lowered their heads.

Jungkook entered.

His dark royal robe was stretched to the ground and the golden dragon pattern on his chest shone in the morning light. The royal crown rested on his neat hair, and his face was so cold that even the oldest ministers looked down upon him.

He walked unhurriedly.

ascended the throne.

sat down

And just after that he said:

"Speak up."

The prime minister came forward.

"Your Highness, the report of the northern borders is ready."

Jungkook held out his hand.

He took the report.

read

A few moments later, he placed it on the bed.

"This report arrived three days late."

The Prime Minister immediately bowed his head.

"I beg your pardon, Your Highness."

"I don't want an excuse."

Jungkook's voice was calm.

This calm made him more fearful.

"My kingdom is not governed by excuses."

The minister did not say anything.

Jungkook looked around the audience.

“If a letter arrives three days late, a soldier may be without orders for three days. "If an order is implemented three days late, a village may be left without guards for three days."

He paused.

"I did not become king for delay."

Everyone lowered their heads.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The meeting continued.

tax

Rice products.

Port security.

And finally, the topic that everyone was running away from.

The Prime Minister cautiously said:

"There is another matter, Your Highness."

Jungkook didn't even look up.

"Marriage."

The pen stopped between the king's fingers.

The hall fell silent.

"I said talk about territory issues."

The Prime Minister cautiously answered:

"This is also a matter of territory."

Jungkook slowly raised his head.

He looked directly at the minister.

"Explain."

"Your Majesty, you are the king of this land. The royal family needs an heir. Powerful families are also waiting for your decision.

Jungkook didn't smile.

He did not get angry.

just said

"Then let them wait."

The Prime Minister paled.

"But—"

"I told them to wait."

This time, Jungkook's voice was colder.

"I didn't wear a crown to please the families."

Then he got up.

"The meeting is over."

Everyone bowed.

And the king left the hall without even looking behind him.

That day, a rumor spread throughout the palace.

The king is not yet ready to marry.

Some said he hates women.

Some said that his heart belonged to someone outside the palace.

Some even dared to say that the king is not interested in marriage at all.

But no one knew the truth.

The truth was simpler.

Jungkook didn't want anyone.

Not an aristocratic lady.

Not the daughter of a powerful family.

Not someone who smiles to get his attention.

He cared about his people, his kingdom, the crown he wore.

But to love?

no

For Jungkook, love was what diverted weak kings from their path.

A few weeks later, the palace was prepared for the arrival of a group of new servants.

Taehyung was one of them.

He had no knowledge of the discussions behind the doors of the royal hall.

He did not know who the king was.

He didn't know why everyone fell silent when he heard his name.

And he did not know that his entry into this palace is going to slowly change the order of a king's life.

That morning, Taehyung was standing in front of the inner gate with some newly arrived maids.

He was wearing a simple dress.

His head was down.

One of the senior servants said in a dry voice:

"There is no room for mistakes in this palace."

Everyone answered:

"Yes, my lady."

“You are in the service of the royal family. Keep your head down when family members pass by. Do not enter any hall without permission. Do not speak to the king directly unless he speaks to you.

Taehyung nodded slowly.

There was only one thought in his mind:

I have to be careful.

The palace was too big.

Too quiet.

And too magnificent.

He didn't know why his heart was a little restless.

That same evening, the king was in the training ground of the palace.

Jungkook had ditched his formal royal attire and was wearing a combat outfit.

The sword was spinning in his hand.

His movements were precise, quick and without hesitation.

The generals were standing at a distance.

No one dared to stop him in the middle of training.

Jungkook struck the final blow.

He lowered the sword.

"That's enough."

The generals bowed.

A young soldier who had just joined the royal service made a mistake while gathering his equipment.

Jungkook looked at him.

"Your name."

The soldier said with fear.

"Minsu, Your Highness."

"How many years have you been training?"

"Four years."

"Then why are you holding your sword like that?"

The soldier hit him dry.

Jungkook stepped forward, took the sword from her hand, and corrected her posture.

"If one day the enemy stands in front of you, doubt will not kill you."

He returned the sword.

"Carelessness will kill you."

The soldier bowed his head.

"Yes, Your Highness."Distress."

Jungkook left the field.

At that moment, from the other side of the courtyard, some newly arrived maids passed.

Taehyung was among them.

He looked up for a moment.

Just for a moment.

And his eyes fell on the king.

Taehyung immediately looked down.

Jungkook also only gave half a glance to the group.

Nothing special happened.

There were no long stares.

No weird feeling.

They were just two strangers who passed each other.

The king and the maid.

That's it.

At least for now.

At night, it rained.

Jungkook was sitting alone in the royal study room.

Several letters were in front of him.

But his mind was busy with one of them.

A letter from the royal council.

In it, the names of several powerful families were written; The families whose daughters were proposed for marriage to the king.

Jungkook read the letter.

Then, without changing his expression, he folded it.

and threw it into the flame of the candle.

The paper burned slowly.

He looked at the window.

The rain was pouring on the stone courtyard of the palace.

The king said under his breath:

"I don't want a wife."

And he still didn't know that in the same palace, in one of the servants' rooms, a newly arrived maid was getting ready for tomorrow morning.

A maid who did not even imagine that the day would come when her name would become more important to the king than all the names written on those letters.

But that day was still far away.

For now...

Taehyung was just one of the hundreds behind the palace walls.

And Jungkook was still the proud and unattainable king that no one could reach his heart.

(Jungkook hates women, but he doesn't like to fall in love with men either, but with the arrival of the new maid, who is Taehyung... he falls in love with her little by little, he becomes sensitive to Taehyung and always sticks to Taehyung and punishes him and always yells at him...) (Taehyung doesn't know about this either and remains obedient and always works inside the palace)