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Once upon a time, in a grand and prosperous kingdom, a King and Queen longed for a child. They prayed to the heavens, sought counsel from wise men, and offered gifts to the spirits of the land. Yet, year after year, their arms remained empty.
Then, as if by miracle, the Queen found herself with child. The kingdom erupted in joy, bells rang from every tower, and poets composed verses about the long-awaited heir. And when the baby was finally born—a son, with eyes like polished amber and a face more radiant than the dawn—his parents named him Seokjin and swore he would be the most cherished prince the world had ever known.
As was tradition, the King and Queen hosted a grand celebration and invited the thirteen fairy guardians who blessed the royal bloodline. One by one, the fairies arrived, shimmering in gowns woven from stardust, their wings casting prismatic reflections against the marble halls. Each came bearing a gift—wisdom, grace, charm, kindness, musical talent, and all manner of virtues suited for a prince.
But among them, one fairy was late.
She was a forgetful thing, prone to distraction and easily flustered. In her rush to the castle, she had tripped over her own robes, forgotten half her belongings, and arrived breathless, only to realize she had completely missed her turn to bestow a gift.
She seethed, “How dare you start the ceremony without me! I’ll make sure you regret this!”
And before anyone could stop her, before she could even think of the consequences, she spoke a spell.
"If I cannot bless him, then let me make sure he is unlike any other prince this kingdom ever had."
Her hands trembled as magic surged from her fingertips. The room grew cold.
"Let Prince Seokjin be the fairest of them all, more beautiful than any who walk this land. But beauty is fleeting…"
The Queen gasped, clutching her child to her chest.
"And so, he shall prick his finger upon a needle and fall into a slumber from which he shall never awaken and the whole castle shall sleep with him."
A horrified silence fell upon the hall.
The fairy froze, realizing too late what happened. But the damage was already done.
The King surged to his feet. The Queen let out a broken cry. The other fairies gawked, stunned into speechlessness.
The forgetful fairy’s hands flew to her mouth. "Oh no."
Such magic was too powerful and ancient to just take back.
And so, it fell upon the last three fairies to fix what they could.
Hoseok, warm and bright as the sun, stepped forward first. "If he must sleep," he declared, "then let his slumber be peaceful, filled with only the sweetest dreams."
Taehyung, a lover of art and beauty, followed. "If he must be lost, then let time itself halt for him. Until the day he is awakened, he shall not age a single day."
And finally, Namjoon, wise beyond his years, raised his staff. His voice was solemn as he uttered the last gift.
"If he must sleep, then let him awaken only when kissed by his one true love."
A soft golden glow settled over the Prince, sealing his fate.
But no one celebrated.
The Queen sobbed. The King clenched his fists. The kingdom, once filled with music and laughter, now sat in uneasy silence.
For though the curse had been softened, the truth remained:
One day, Prince Seokjin would sleep and the whole castle with him.
The King and Queen knew that Seokjin can’t escape his destiny, but that didn’t stop them from trying to prevent it. Immediately, the use of needles was strictly forbidden as well as the use of other sharp objects, just to be safe.
And so, Prince Seokjin grew up surrounded by luxury, love, and an exhausting amount of supervision.
From the moment he could walk, he was never alone.
His nanny hovered over him like a hawk, ensuring he never so much as tripped over his own feet. His valet was always nearby, making sure his royal robes were perfectly pressed and his hair was as pristine as a painting. His guards followed him like shadows, ever vigilant, ever watchful, as though the very air around him might conspire against his safety.
Nothing sharp. Nothing high. Nothing even mildly dangerous.
If he ran too fast? “Slow down, Your Highness, you might trip!”
If he tried to climb a tree? “Absolutely not, Your Highness, that is reckless behaviour!”
If he picked up a sword? “PUT THAT DOWN THIS INSTANT, YOUR HIGHNESS!”
It was exhausting.
But Seokjin, unaware of the true reason for their overprotectiveness, simply assumed his parents were overly cautious.
"Because I am their only son," he reasoned. "And they love me too much to see me hurt."
He did not know about the curse.
His parents had made sure of that.
They didn’t want him to worry, preferring him to enjoy life without any regrets or remorse.
And so, Prince Seokjin lived his life in blissful ignorance, believing himself to be nothing more than a particularly coddled royal.
He had no idea that his fate had already been sealed.
Prince Seokjin was thrilled.
A new set of royal robes had arrived for him that morning, commissioned by his parents for a grand festival in his honour. The fabric was exquisite, a deep royal blue with golden embroidery, tailored to perfection. Of course, it had to be made in the neighbouring kingdom, because there were no needles left in this one.
Jin ran his fingers over the fine stitching, admiring the craftsmanship. “Ah, finally, something worthy of my beauty.”
“Try it on,” his valet encouraged, draping the robes over Jin’s shoulders.
Jin did just that, spinning toward the mirror, preening. “How do I look?”
“Like a prince,” the valet assured him.
Jin grinned. “I am a prince.”
But just as he moved to adjust the sleeve—
Prick.
A sharp sting bloomed at the tip of his finger.
Jin barely had time to blink before a sudden, overwhelming drowsiness washed over him.
He staggered. “Huh?”
The valet’s eyes widened. “Your Highness?”
Jin’s body swayed, his limbs heavy, his vision blurring at the edges.
Then—
Darkness.
And all across the castle, one by one, people and animals fell with him.
“What do you mean it already happened?” Namjoon cried, nearly knocking over his own wings as he landed in the throne room.
Hoseok, beside him, looked equally panicked. “He wasn’t supposed to touch anything sharp! We made sure everything was destroyed!”
“Clearly, we missed something!” Namjoon snapped.
Taehyung, the last of the three, hovered over the fallen prince, looking deeply distressed. “Oh no. Oh no no no.” He reached out, gently patting Jin’s cheek. “Wake up, pretty boy.”
Jin, of course, did not wake up.
The fairies panicked.
Hoseok fluttered in frantic circles. “We need to fix this!”
Namjoon groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “We can’t fix this. We could only lessen the curse. The best we can do is—”
“Make sure he stays comfortable in his sleep?” Taehyung offered weakly.
Namjoon sighed the sigh of a thousand regrets. “Yes.”
Hoseok looked at the slumbering Prince, then at the rapidly stilling castle. Servants, knights, nobles—everyone had collapsed where they stood, locked in the same enchanted sleep as their prince.
“We should’ve just locked him in a room,” he muttered.
“That would’ve lasted maybe an hour,” Namjoon said dryly. “You’ve met Seokjin.”
Taehyung floated closer, nudging Jin’s shoulder. “Maybe we can at least put him into bed?”
“Yes,” Hoseok agreed. “Let’s also put up spells in case something goes wrong.”
Namjoon sighed again, waving his hand over the room, casting an additional layer of protective magic. “And now… we wait.”
They turned toward the grand doors of the palace, knowing that beyond them, the world would move on without them.
All they could do now was hope. Hope that somewhere out there, was Seokjin’s one true love.
Unbeknown to them, the castle would remain cursed for many years, its inhabitants frozen in time.
Almost hundred years later, in the neighbouring kingdom, the King and Queen sat anxiously before the grand prophetess, a woman draped in shimmering silks and adorned with ancient symbols of foresight. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows along the stone walls.
The Queen reached for her husband’s hand as the prophetess placed her fingertips upon the sacred basin of stars. The water inside rippled, swirling with silver mist as her voice echoed through the chamber:
"One of your sons is destined for greatness. His path will be riddled with trials, but he shall rise above them and bring forth a new era."
The Queen gasped, clutching her chest in delight. The King straightened, eyes gleaming with pride. Their son—one of their sons—would become a legend.
From that day forward, whispers of the prophecy spread through the court.
And everyone, everyone, assumed it would be young Prince Jungkook.
It was obvious, really.
Jungkook was bold and fearless, a warrior in the making. He excelled in swordsmanship, had the strength of three men, and carried himself with an undeniable air of royal charisma. If there was greatness to be found, it would surely be his to claim.
And then there was Yoongi.
Who… well.
Yoongi had the enthusiasm of a dying plant and the energy of a very comfortable rock.
He spent most of his time sleeping in the library or avoiding all forms of responsibility. He was intelligent, yes, but had no desire to prove it. If given the choice between attending an important council meeting or napping under a shady tree…
Well.
The kingdom had long since stopped expecting much from Prince Min Yoongi.
"It will be Jungkook," the King often said confidently, watching his youngest son train in the courtyard.
"Of course, it will be Jungkook," the Queen agreed, ignoring Yoongi, who was currently using a royal scroll as a pillow.
"It must be Jungkook," the nobles whispered, casting sceptical glances at Yoongi, who had once accidentally set his own sleeve on fire because he’d leaned too close to a candelabra while dozing off.
Yes, it had to be Jungkook.
There was no way the prophecy had meant Yoongi.
Now, let’s look more closely at the striking differences between the two young princes.
Prince Jungkook was born ready.
From the moment he could walk, he was running—climbing up walls, toppling expensive vases, and challenging knights to duels using nothing but wooden spoons. He was strong, adventurous, and annoyingly good at everything he tried.
At five years old, he declared that he was going to be a hero, rescuing princesses and slaying dragons.
At seven, he attempted to ride the kingdom’s fiercest warhorse. (He fell off almost immediately, but no one had the heart to tell him he didn’t even make it out of the stables.)
At ten, he vowed to find a grand quest, but when no such quest presented itself, he instead started wrestling the guards for practice.
Jungkook was a force of nature, a whirlwind of energy that left devastation (and broken furniture) in his wake.
And then there was Yoongi.
Yoongi was born tired.
While his younger brother was conquering the world, Yoongi was… existing.
At five years old, he fell asleep in the middle of a royal banquet—face first into his soup.
At seven, he found a secret hiding spot behind the castle library and promptly moved in, appearing only when absolutely necessary.
At ten, he informed his parents that his life goal was to sleep for as long as possible without interruption.
When Jungkook sparred with the knights, Yoongi read books about military strategy while lounging under a tree.
When Jungkook practiced archery, Yoongi spent an entire afternoon feeding ducks at the royal pond.
When Jungkook swore he would one day fight a monster, Yoongi sighed and said, "Why fight it when you can just move away?"
They were as different as night and day, but somehow, it worked.
Even if Jungkook frequently dragged Yoongi into things against his will.
Jungkook was six when he decided that he and Yoongi needed a quest.
“You’re my older brother,” he reasoned, tugging Yoongi down the castle hallway. “You have to come with me.”
“I really don’t,” Yoongi said flatly.
Jungkook ignored him.
Their destination?
The Great Tower—a towering, spiralling fortress that no one was allowed to climb.
Which, of course, meant that Jungkook had to climb it.
Yoongi, to his credit, at least attempted to talk him out of it.
“This is a bad idea,” he said as Jungkook dragged him toward the tower entrance.
“Think of the view!” Jungkook countered.
“We’ll probably die.”
“We probably won’t.”
Yoongi sighed, realizing he had no way out of this.
So, with great reluctance, he followed his younger brother up the winding stone steps.
By the time they reached the top, Jungkook was bouncing with excitement.
“Look at this!” he cried, spreading his arms dramatically. “We can see the whole kingdom from here!”
Yoongi, slightly winded, leaned against the stone wall. “Wonderful. Can we go back down now?”
Jungkook grinned. “Not yet.”
And that was the moment Yoongi knew something was about to go horribly wrong.
Because in the next second—
Jungkook climbed onto the ledge.
"JUNGKOOK, NO."
"JUNGKOOK, YES!"
"GET DOWN FROM THERE!"
“I WANNA SEE IF I CAN FLY!”
“YOU CAN’T.”
“HOW DO YOU KNOW? I HAVEN’T TRIED.”
Yoongi was this close to having a heart attack.
But before Jungkook could do anything too insane, a terrible sound echoed from below.
The unmistakable snap of a breaking ladder.
The only ladder.
That led down.
Silence.
Then:
“Oh,” Jungkook said cheerfully. “I guess we will stay here for now.”
Yoongi wanted to scream.
They were stuck in the Great Tower for hours, missing lunch (the greatest tragedy of all). By the time the guards found them, the King and Queen were furious.
Jungkook, completely unbothered, was already planning his next adventure.
Yoongi, meanwhile, spent the rest of the week in bed, recovering.
(And possibly reconsidering his life choices.)
Jungkook somehow always convinced Yoongi to partake in his ridiculous adventures.
Like the time Jungkook decided to rescue a cat stuck in a tree—only to get stuck himself. (Yoongi refused to climb after him and just sat at the bottom, judging.)
Or when Jungkook swore he’d defeat the “evil” rooster that terrorized the courtyard. (It ended with Jungkook running for his life and Yoongi laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe.)
Once Jungkook insisted they build a raft and sail down the river, which resulted in them crashing into a fisherman’s boat and being dragged back to shore like wet rats.
Every time, Yoongi complained.
Every time, Yoongi swore he’d never go along with Jungkook’s nonsense again.
And every time… he still did.
Because as much as he grumbled, as much as he pretended not to care, he was always there, right beside his brothers side.
Even when he was dragged kicking and screaming into it.
Jungkook was not supposed to be eavesdropping.
And yet, there he was, crouched behind a column in the great hall of the palace tavern, eyes wide as he listened to a traveling bard sing a tale of tragedy.
"A kingdom lost, a prince asleep,
A curse that lingers, dark and deep,
For true love’s kiss the spell must break,
But who will risk their fate to wake?"
Jungkook gasped.
His father, the King, gave him a suspicious look across the dinner table. "Jungkook, why do you look like you just got an idea? I hate it when you get ideas."
Jungkook, overflowing with righteous determination, slammed his hands on the table. "Father, I must save the neighbouring kingdom!"
His mother groaned. His father buried his face in his hands.
And Yoongi, his unfortunate older brother, nearly choked on his drink.
Jimin, the ever-loyal valet, immediately brightened. “Oh, a noble quest! How romantic!”
"Shut up, Jimin," Yoongi muttered.
Jungkook, completely ignoring them, dramatically pointed toward the castle gates. "I will ride into the cursed land, find the Sleeping Prince, and break the spell!"
"Absolutely not," the King and Queen said at the same time.
"But I’m destined for greatness!" Jungkook insisted. "Didn’t the prophetess say one of your sons would do something magnificent?"
"Yes," his father said dryly, "but that was twenty years ago and you still have yet to do anything remotely incredible."
Jungkook clutched his chest in betrayal.
"This is my moment!" he insisted. "I will be a hero!"
The King and Queen exchanged a look.
Jungkook talked in earnest. "And I will restore hope to another kingdom!"
His mother groaned again. His father turned to the heavens, begging for patience.
"Fine," the King finally relented. "Go throw your life away on some ridiculous quest."
Jungkook beamed.
"But," his mother interjected, "on one condition."
Jungkook hesitated. "...Yes?"
"You are not going alone."
Jungkook blinked.
"Your brother goes with you."
Jungkook turned shocked eyes to Yoongi, who looked absolutely horrified at the idea of leaving his comfortable, sleep-filled life.
"I beg your pardon?" Yoongi deadpanned.
"And Jimin," the Queen added with a pleased smile.
Jimin practically sparkled with joy. "I would be honoured!"
Yoongi groaned. Jungkook looked betrayed.
The King sighed, already regretting everything. "Whatever you do, just please come back."
And thus, the most chaotic rescue mission in royal history began.
Jungkook had imagined his first great quest many times.
In his mind, it was glorious—he would ride through the land on his noble steed, sword gleaming in the sunlight, saving villages, defeating monsters, and proving once and for all that he was a true hero.
In reality?
"Jungkook, put that sword away," Yoongi groaned. "It’s just a rabbit."
Jungkook, poised in battle stance, scowled. "You don’t know that. It could be an evil rabbit."
Yoongi sighed. "I beg you to stop talking."
Their journey had barely begun, and already, it was proving to be exhausting.
First came the bandits.
A group of unfortunate fools decided to rob them on the road.
Jungkook, thrilled at the chance to display his swordsmanship, leapt from his horse with the energy of a man who had been waiting for this his entire life.
"Villains!" he declared. "You have chosen the wrong travellers to rob!"
Jimin clutched his face in distress. "Jungkook, I don’t think we should—"
Too late.
In a blinding display of skill, Jungkook disarmed the bandits in under a minute.
They fled, crying about "the demon prince."
Jungkook beamed. "I told you! Destined for greatness!"
Yoongi, unimpressed, stepped over an unconscious bandit. "You just threatened them really loudly until they panicked."
"Heroically."
Yoongi rolled his eyes.
Then came the enchanted river.
They reached a long stretch of water, its surface shimmering unnaturally.
Jimin gasped. "This must be the River of Forgetting!"
Yoongi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fantastic. If we step in it, we lose our memories."
"Then we’ll jump over!" Jungkook announced.
Yoongi, a man with limited patience, did not argue.
Jungkook went first, clearing the river with ease.
Jimin followed, landing gracefully.
Yoongi took two steps back, preparing to jump—
And promptly tripped.
Right into the river.
Jungkook and Jimin screamed.
For a long, agonizing moment, Yoongi just lay there in the water, blinking up at the sky.
Then, slowly, he sat up.
"...Who are you people?"
Jungkook and Jimin stared at him in horror.
Yoongi frowned, then looked down at his own hands. "Wait. Who am I?"
Jungkook turned to Jimin, panicked. "WHAT DO WE DO?!"
Jimin frantically dug through his satchel for the book with useful tips the royal advisor had given them. "Uh—uh—wait! It says memory loss is only temporary!"
Jungkook exhaled in relief. "Oh, thank the heavens."
Yoongi, still sitting in the river, narrowed his eyes. "I don’t know who you are, but I feel an overwhelming urge to punch you."
Jungkook glared. "Yep. That’s still Yoongi."
The final challenge was a dragon.
Well.
More like a very large, very grumpy lizard.
Still, when they stumbled upon a burning village and a frantic elder shouted, "The beast must be stopped!"—Jungkook knew this was it.
His great moment.
His destiny.
"Stay back," he warned, drawing his sword. "This is a job for a hero!"
Yoongi and Jimin watched as Jungkook charged forward.
Jungkook dodged flames, leapt onto a rooftop, and finally landed on the dragon’s back.
The villagers cheered.
Jungkook raised his sword, prepared to strike—
And then the dragon shrieked.
"I JUST WANTED SOME FOOD!"
Jungkook froze.
"...You talk?"
The dragon whimpered. "Of course I talk! I’m an ancient creature of wisdom! I was just hungry!"
The village elder blinked. "Wait, what?"
The dragon sniffled. "I stole some livestock, and now everyone wants to kill me!"
Jungkook lowered his sword.
Then, slowly, he turned to the villagers.
"...Did you even try negotiating?"
There was a long silence.
The village elder cleared his throat. "...No."
Yoongi sighed. "I hate everyone in this story."
Jungkook, now thoroughly annoyed, forced the village to sign a peace treaty with the dragon.
In exchange for food deliveries, the dragon agreed not to burn down their homes.
And just like that—another crisis was averted.
Jimin clasped his hands. "Jungkook, that was amazing!"
Jungkook smiled proudly. "Definitely heroic feat worthy of being written in the history books."
Yoongi, annoyed beyond belief after a week of restless sleep, scowled. "Can we just get to the cursed prince already?"
And so, after many trials and questionable adventures, the three travellers finally reached the lost kingdom.
Meanwhile, in a Dream of Sleeping Beauty…
Prince Seokjin was walking through a grand hall of mirrors, his own reflection staring back at him from every side. The golden light shimmered across the glass, casting endless versions of himself—each one as devastatingly handsome as the last. He smiled approvingly at himself. Yes, this dream was going quite well so far.
That is, until the mirrors began to ripple. The reflections distorted, their faces twisting into looks of pity, sadness—even horror. A chill ran down his spine.
"Well, that’s certainly not the reaction I expect from my own reflection," Seokjin huffed, crossing his arms. "If this is a nightmare, at least have the decency to make me ugly first. You know, really commit to the bit."
Before he could complain further, a gust of wind whooshed through the hall, scattering golden dust in its wake. Three figures materialized before him, their robes fluttering as though caught in an unseen breeze.
Namjoon, Hoseok, and Taehyung—the royal fairies assigned for his protection after his birth—stood before him, their expressions ranging from regretful to downright guilty.
"Ah," Seokjin said, tapping his chin. "Three mysterious figures in an ominous dream… Yes, this feels like an important moment. Go ahead, tell me how the weight of the world rests upon my shoulders."
The fairies exchanged uneasy glances. Hoseok stepped forward first, his usual radiant smile dimmed with guilt. "Prince Seokjin, we—uh—we need to tell you something. Something very important."
Seokjin gasped, clutching his chest. "Am I dying? Tell me now! How much time do I have? Will I still be beautiful on my deathbed?"
Taehyung coughed. "No, you’re not dying. You’re, uh… you’re just asleep."
Seokjin blinked. "Well, obviously. It’s a dream."
Namjoon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, Seokjin. You’re trapped in an enchanted sleep. You pricked your finger on a needle, and because of an unfortunate curse placed upon you as a child… you won’t wake up until—"
"WAIT." Seokjin held up a perfectly manicured hand. "You’re telling me I was cursed? And no one told me? How long have I been sleeping?"
Hoseok bit his lip. "Um. A while?"
"HOW LONG IS ‘A WHILE’?"
Namjoon hesitated. "Just a bit over…a hundred years?"
Seokjin let out the most scandalized gasp the world had ever heard. "A century?! I’VE BEEN ASLEEP FOR A CENTURY?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY FASHIONS I’VE MISSED?!" He flung himself dramatically against the nearest mirror, his reflection mirroring his devastation.
"Forget my kingdom, forget my family—WHAT ABOUT ME? My skincare routine! My reputation as the most eligible bachelor in the land! All of it—ruined!" He spun toward the fairies, betrayal burning in his eyes. "And none of you thought to fix this sooner?!"
"We tried!" Hoseok protested. "We softened the curse! I made sure you only had sweet dreams—"
"—And I made sure you wouldn’t age," Taehyung added, clearly expecting gratitude.
Seokjin threw his hands in the air. "Oh, wonderful! So instead of being a tragic but dead beauty, I’m just a tragic beauty in pyjamas? Stuck in dreamland like a useless decorative pillow?!"
Namjoon cleared his throat. "Actually… I was the one who modified the curse so you’d only wake up if kissed by your one true love."
Seokjin froze. The hall of mirrors went silent.
His eyes narrowed. "…You what?"
"It was meant to be romantic," Namjoon defended weakly.
Seokjin inhaled sharply, pressing a trembling hand to his forehead. "So let me get this straight. I—Prince Seokjin, the epitome of grace, beauty, and charm—am doomed to wait in this godforsaken dream until some random stranger deigns to kiss me awake?!"
"Well… yes," Taehyung admitted.
Seokjin let out a horrified wail. "AND WHAT IF HE’S UGLY?!"
The fairies collectively winced.
"Not the main concern here," Namjoon muttered.
Seokjin turned away from them dramatically, his silk dream-robes fluttering. "I cannot believe this. I was supposed to live a long, fulfilling life! Marry a handsome prince! Wear extravagant crowns and bask in my people’s adoration!" He turned back, eyes glistening with despair. "And instead, you expect me to be passive in my own fate?!"
Hoseok sighed. "I mean, technically, you are unconscious."
"THAT IS NOT THE POINT, HOSEOK!"
Seokjin paced furiously. "I refuse to believe that this is my grand destiny! A century of waiting for a prince to maybe show up and plant one on me? No. No, no, no, I refuse. I demand a rewrite!"
Namjoon sighed. "Unfortunately, magic doesn’t really work like that—"
Seokjin stomped his foot. "Then find a loophole! There has to be something. JUST FIX IT."
Namjoon threw his hands up in frustration. "What do you want me to do? Summon the nearest prince out of thin air?"
Before Seokjin could retort, the mirrors around them flickered, their surfaces rippling once more and the three fairies disappeared.
The air shimmered like golden silk, and Seokjin found himself standing atop an impossibly high balcony, overlooking a kingdom bathed in eternal twilight. The sky was painted in soft purples and blues, stars twinkling above like a personal audience waiting to hear his next dramatic monologue. He approved of this setting. It was appropriately grand.
He turned slowly, letting his royal robes flare behind him in a flourish. Yes. This was the kind of dream he deserved.
Then, the sky ripped open.
A beam of ethereal light burst forth, and three figures descended, their silhouettes outlined in a divine glow. Seokjin gasped, placing a delicate hand over his heart. Angels? Had he finally ascended? Was he being welcomed into the celestial realm as he always knew he deserved?
But as the light dimmed, the figures came into view—Namjoon, Hoseok, and Taehyung, each looking suspiciously guilty.
Seokjin’s eyes narrowed. "Oh. It’s you lot."
Namjoon cleared his throat, floating slightly above the balcony as if the laws of physics had given up on him. "Seokjin, we—"
Seokjin held up a hand, silencing him instantly. He took a slow, measured breath, and then—
"HOW DARE YOU?!" His voice boomed across the dreamscape, causing flocks of dream-birds to scatter in terror. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE WOKEN UP THINKING SURELY TODAY IS THE DAY SOMEONE WILL SAVE ME, ONLY TO REMAIN STUCK IN THIS CURSED BEAUTY SLEEP?!"
Taehyung winced. "Technically, you haven’t woken up at all."
Seokjin shot him a glare so powerful the stars flickered. "DO NOT TEST ME RIGHT NOW, KIM TAEHYUNG."
Hoseok took a cautious step forward. "We, uh, came to explain—"
"Explain? EXPLAIN?!" Seokjin threw his hands in the air, pacing with the elegance of a tragic prince in a doomed romance. "Oh no, please, do tell me! Tell me why I have been cursed to slumber for a CENTURY while the world moves on without me! Tell me why I have been robbed of my youth, my social life, my chance at wearing the latest fashion trends!" He turned abruptly, pointing an accusatory finger at Namjoon. "And YOU! You’re the worst of them all!"
Namjoon blinked. "Me?"
"YES, YOU!" Seokjin strode toward him, the sheer weight of his presence making the dreamscape tremble. "You’re supposed to be the smart one! The responsible one! And yet you thought, ‘Ah yes, let’s make this even harder for Seokjin by making it so he can only wake up if kissed by his one true love!’" He threw his hands up again. "ONE! TRUE! LOVE?! Are you SERIOUS?!"
Namjoon shifted uncomfortably. "I was trying to be romantic…"
"ROMANTIC?!" Seokjin clutched his head as if physically pained. "So you mean to tell me that instead of a quick and painless wake-up call, I have been stuck here waiting for some random man to waltz into my life and kiss me awake?!"
"Technically, he wouldn’t be random, he’ll be destined to love you," Hoseok pointed out.
Seokjin gasped. "EVEN WORSE! What if he doesn’t care? What if he kisses me and then just LEAVES? What if he has terrible breath? What if—"
Taehyung, ever the chaotic one, hummed thoughtfully. "Or what if he turns out to be ugly?"
The world froze.
Seokjin’s face drained of colour. "…Ugly?" he whispered, as if the word itself might strike him down.
Namjoon elbowed Taehyung. "We weren’t supposed to mention that possibility."
Seokjin staggered back, clutching his chest. "I… I need to sit down." He conjured a throne from thin air (because this was his dream, and if he was going to suffer, he would do so majestically).
Hoseok rushed forward. "No, no, he surely won’t be ugly!"
Seokjin narrowed his eyes. "Define ‘not ugly.’"
The fairies exchanged uneasy glances.
Seokjin groaned and threw himself dramatically over the armrest. "This is it. This is how I die. Not from age, nor battle, nor even a tragic heartbreak. But from waiting. Waiting for some questionable suitor to maybe have feelings for me!" He draped his arm over his forehead. "I have never been so humiliated in my life!"
Namjoon sighed. "Well… about that."
Seokjin peeked through his fingers. "What now?"
Namjoon rubbed the back of his neck. "A prince is coming to wake you up."
Seokjin bolted upright. "WHAT."
Taehyung beamed. "Yup! Some guy named Jungkook! He’s on his way!"
There was a beat of silence.
Seokjin squinted. "Who the hell is Jungkook?"
The fairies looked at each other.
"Uh," Hoseok started. "He's… well, he’s—"
"He’s very determined! Multiple princes tried waking you up over the years but we have a great feeling about this one." Taehyung cut in.
Seokjin narrowed his eyes. "…How determined?"
Namjoon coughed. "He’s fought off several creatures, made a grand speech about destiny, and is currently cutting through the wild vegetation that swallowed up the whole castle just to get to you."
Seokjin frowned. "Huh. That’s… oddly impressive." He thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. "But still! What if I don’t like him? What if he’s clingy? Or worse—what if he’s boring?"
Taehyung shrugged. "Well, you’ll find out soon, because he’s almost here."
Seokjin gasped. "WHAT?! AND YOU’RE ONLY TELLING ME THIS NOW?!"
The fairies shuffled awkwardly.
"Well," Hoseok said, "we thought we should prepare you first—"
"PREPARE ME?! What part of my current state seems prepared?!" Seokjin shot to his feet, frantically adjusting his dream-robes. "Oh gods, what do I even look like right now?! Have I been sleeping ugly?!"
Namjoon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Seokjin, you’ve been magically preserved, you look exactly the same—"
"OH, SO YOU’RE SAYING I LOOK LIKE SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN ASLEEP FOR A HUNDRED YEARS?!" Seokjin threw his hands up. "DO YOU EVEN HEAR YOURSELVES?!"
Before the fairies could calm him down, the dreamscape trembled.
Prince Seokjin was having the most wonderful dream.
In it, he was being rescued.
He could see it so clearly—his hero, tall and handsome, standing atop a gleaming white steed. The sun shone dramatically behind him, casting his noble features in a golden glow.
"Oh, my beloved!" Jin sighed dreamily, draping himself across the nearest conveniently placed chaise lounge in his subconscious. "You have come at last!"
The mystery prince dismounted in one graceful movement, his long, flowing cape billowing behind him.
"I have searched far and wide for you, my love," the prince declared in a deep, sultry voice. "No force in this world could keep me from your side!"
Jin batted his lashes. "Then kiss me, my darling, and awaken me from this dreadful slumber!"
The prince swooped forward, cradling Jin’s face with tender reverence. Jin’s heart fluttered, his lips parting ever so slightly—
And then, just as their lips were about to meet—
BOOM.
The dream shattered.
Jin blinked awake in his endless, enchanted slumber, utterly offended.
Somewhere, in the real world, the entire castle rumbled, as though something (or someone) had just crashed into the front gates.
Jin let out a deep sigh, rolling onto his side. "They better be handsome," he muttered, before drifting back into his romantic, overly dramatic fantasies.
The journey had been long, perilous, and mildly ridiculous, but at last, the three travellers stood before the towering gates of the cursed kingdom.
Jungkook, ever the eager prince-in-the-making, looked up with sparkling determination in his eyes. "We finally made it," he announced, gripping the hilt of his sword dramatically.
Jimin, who had spent the last hour swatting away overgrown vines, wiping mud off his velvet coat, and silently resenting Jungkook’s enthusiasm, sighed. "Can we rest first?"
"We don’t have time for that," Jungkook said, already examining the massive gates. "Prince Seokjin needs me."
Yoongi, who had been half-asleep on his horse for the past several miles, finally decided to contribute. "Do we know if he actually needs you?"
Jungkook scoffed. "It’s a prophecy, Hyung. Of course, he needs me."
"Right," Yoongi muttered. "And you’re definitely the ‘great’ prince the prophecy spoke of?"
Jungkook ignored him and raised a fist to knock—
POOF.
A cloud of golden, pink, and purple sparkles exploded in front of them. When it cleared, three figures stood before them, blocking their path.
Jungkook’s eyes widened as he took in the three unusual individuals. One was tall and dignified, adjusting the sleeves of his elegant robe. The second had wild curls, his smile far too knowing. And the third… Well, the third was currently smacking the second over the head with a wand.
"Honestly, Hoseok, stop grinning like that," Namjoon sighed. "You’ll scare them."
"I think they should be scared," Taehyung whispered loudly. "They’re trespassing."
Hoseok, still smiling, clasped his hands together. "Welcome, noble travellers!"
Jimin, who had seen enough strange things on this journey, sighed. "Let me guess. You’re the Prince’s guardians?"
Namjoon nodded. "We are the three remaining greatest fairies of this land, tasked with protecting the Sleeping Prince."
Yoongi arched a brow. "If you’re so great, how’d he end up cursed?"
Silence.
Hoseok cleared his throat. "That’s not important."
Taehyung waved his hand. "The real question is… what are you doing here?"
Jungkook straightened his posture. "We’ve come to wake the Prince!"
The fairies exchanged a glance.
Namjoon sighed. "Of course, you have."
Taehyung, suddenly grinning mischievously, leaned toward Hoseok. "Should we tell them about the others?"
"Others?" Jungkook frowned.
"Oh, you know." Hoseok gestured vaguely. "The other dozen princes who have tried before you."
Jungkook froze. "Dozen?"
"Some were very handsome," Taehyung added cheerfully. "One of them even brought us gifts."
Jungkook paled, he didn’t think about that.
Yoongi, ever helpful, patted his back. "Don’t worry. Maybe thirteenth time’s the charm."
Namjoon sighed again, rubbing his temples. "Well, if you’re truly determined, I suppose we have no choice but to let you try."
Jungkook brightened immediately. "So, you’ll take us to him?"
Namjoon turned to Hoseok and Taehyung. "Well? Shall we let them in?"
Hoseok beamed. "Let’s see if he’s ready to handle Jin!"
Jimin blinked. “what?"
Taehyung smirked. "Oh, you’ll see."
With a swirl of magic, the great gates creaked open, and the three travellers stepped forward—completely unaware of just how ridiculous things were about to become.
Jungkook had never felt this much pressure in his life.
After weeks of heroic deeds, sleeping in the dirt, and listening to Yoongi complain every five minutes, he had finally arrived at the Sleeping Prince’s bedside.
And wow.
Prince Seokjin was gorgeous.
Even in sleep, he looked like he belonged in a painting, his lips full and pink, his skin flawless, his hair effortlessly tousled.
Jungkook swallowed.
"This is fine," he muttered. "I can do this."
Beside him, Jimin looked far less enthusiastic.
"You’re about to kiss him," Jimin said, forcing a smile. "That’s… great."
Jungkook turned to him, oblivious. "Yeah! This is my destiny! My moment of glory!"
Jimin nodded mechanically. "Right. Your moment."
He wanted Jungkook to succeed—of course he did! He was a good friend! But… somewhere deep down, there was a traitorous part of him that wished this wouldn’t work.
That wished he was the one destined to be with Jungkook.
He shoved the thought away.
"Alright," Jungkook said, taking a deep breath. "Here I go."
He leaned in.
Jimin clenched his fists.
Namjoon, Hoseok, and Taehyung watched in anticipation.
Yoongi, meanwhile, stifled a yawn.
Jungkook tilted his head, eyes fluttering shut—
And promptly missed Seokjin’s lips entirely, landing somewhere on his chin.
Silence.
Jungkook pulled back, horrified.
"Wait, wait, I can do it again—"
Jimin bit his lip. "Maybe—uh—take your time?"
Jungkook nodded furiously, adjusting his position.
This time, he pressed a very careful, very determined kiss to Seokjin’s lips.
And then he pulled back, waiting for the magic to happen.
…Nothing.
Jungkook blinked.
Jimin exhaled, half relieved, half guilty.
"Try again!" Taehyung whispered urgently.
Jungkook tried again.
…Nothing.
Jimin patted his back. "Maybe it’s not you."
Jungkook paled. "No, no, it has to be me! This is my prophecy!"
He grabbed Seokjin’s shoulders and shook him slightly.
"Hyung! Wake up!"
Seokjin remained perfectly still.
Yoongi sighed from where he had been casually leaning against a pillar. "This is painful."
Namjoon, ever the responsible one, began pacing.
"There must be a way, we felt you were the right one," he muttered. "Maybe a different approach? Maybe we need more—"
Then, mid-gesture, he clumsily tripped over his own feet—
—and crashed into Yoongi.
Yoongi, caught off guard, stumbled forward, arms flailing—
—and fell directly onto Seokjin.
His face landed right against Seokjin’s exposed neck.
There was a collective gasp.
Then—
Seokjin stirred.
Jimin gasped.
Jungkook gasped harder.
The fairies gasped the hardest.
Yoongi, face still buried in Seokjin’s neck, mumbled, "…Ow."
Seokjin, still groggy, blinked his eyes open.
The first thing he saw was a pair of unfamiliar arms crushing him. The second thing he noticed was someone’s lips pressed to his throat.
He frowned. "What—"
And then he screamed.
"WHAT KIND OF PERVERTED RESCUE IS THIS?!"
Yoongi yelped and rolled off the bed, hitting the floor with a thud.
Seokjin sat up furiously. "WHO JUST—WHO WAS—WHO—"
Jungkook, still in shock, pointed to Yoongi.
Seokjin’s eyes narrowed. "You mean that guy woke me up?!"
Yoongi, still on the ground, groaned. "Trust me, I’m just as upset as you are."
There was a loud crash somewhere in the castle as servants jolted awake, guards stumbled over themselves, and somewhere in the distance, a dog started barking frantically.
The world around them shook off its century-long slumber. Dust settled, curtains fluttered, and the faint echo of startled screams carried through the halls.
And then the doors burst open.
"MY SON!" The King’s booming voice filled the chamber as he and the Queen rushed in, their royal robes in disarray. "You’re awake! The curse is broken!"
Seokjin, still lying elegantly against his pillows, smiled serenely. "Yes, Father. And it was the most horrible experience of my life. Do you know how long I have been waiting to be rescued? I swear, I had to entertain myself with dreams and monologues—"
"How do you feel, my love?" the Queen interrupted, pressing her hands to his cheeks, eyes filled with unshed tears.
"How do I feel?" Jin echoed dramatically, his voice filled with woe. "Mother, I have been asleep for a century! I feel neglected! Abandoned! Betrayed by fate! But most of all—" He paused suddenly, looking around with a frown.
“Who should I thank for saving my only son?” the King asked tearfully.
At that moment, the crowd parted, and all eyes fell upon the unexpected hero.
Yoongi stood there, arms crossed, looking entirely unimpressed. "Yeah, that’d be me."
Jin stared at him. The room held its breath.
"…Him?" the Queen was overcome by her surprise.
The entire court turned to look at the dishevelled, very unenthusiastic prince who had somehow broken the legendary curse.
"Yes, me," Yoongi deadpanned, rubbing his neck. "I tripped. It was an accident."
Jin gawked at him. "You accidentally rescued me?!"
Yoongi yawned. "Technically, my brother was supposed to do it."
"Then why didn’t he?!"
Jungkook, standing beside Namjoon and Jimin, let out a long, suffering sigh. "I tried!" he said, throwing his hands up. "I did everything I could think of!"
Jimin cleared his throat, looking unusually pale. "I-I was there. He really did his best."
Jin looked between them, his expression unreadable. Then, very slowly, he turned back to Yoongi, squinting. "And all you did was trip and fall on me?"
"Basically."
Silence.
Then Jin clutched his chest again, gasping. "How unromantic!"
The entire court exploded into whispers, the King and Queen looking between Yoongi and Jin in utter bewilderment.
"Well," the King cleared his throat. "A rescue is a rescue, I suppose."
"A rescue?! A rescue?!" Jin looked personally offended. "I did not wait a century for some accidental hero!"
"Would you have preferred to stay asleep?" Yoongi asked dryly.
Jin’s mouth opened. Then closed. He huffed. "That’s beside the point."
Namjoon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Your Majesty, perhaps we should focus on the fact that the curse is actually broken—"
The Queen, still in shock, grasped Yoongi’s hands. "You must stay for a grand celebration! We must honour our son’s rescuer!"
Yoongi groaned. "Do I have to?"
"YES!" the entire court shouted at once.
Jin crossed his arms. "I refuse to let my rescuer be this unenthusiastic."
Yoongi shot him an unimpressed look. "I refuse to let my rescuee be this dramatic."
Jin gasped in outrage. The entire room braced for impact.
Namjoon sighed, looking longingly toward the door. Jimin watched Jungkook, who was staring at Jin like he had personally failed him.
The King clapped his hands, beaming. "A grand feast shall be prepared! A celebration for this historic day!"
Yoongi groaned.
The celebration had barely begun before the King made his declaration.
"A wedding!" he boomed, raising his goblet high. "Our beloved son has been awakened by his true love—therefore, a royal union is only fitting!"
Jin, who had been gracefully sipping his wine and basking in the attention, immediately choked.
Yoongi, who had been slouching at the farthest end of the table, blinked in alarm. "What."
The Queen beamed, clasping her hands together. "A match written in the stars!"
"No, no, no," Jin sputtered, waving his hands. "There has been a misunderstanding."
"A massive one," Yoongi muttered, already pushing his chair back to stand. "This was an accident. A huge accident."
But the King was undeterred, turning to his most trusted friend, who looked like he wanted to throw himself into a fire. "Royal advisor, please begin preparations! The wedding shall be held at once!"
Jin’s jaw dropped. "AT ONCE?"
Yoongi groaned. "Can I at least think about it first?"
The Queen laughed daintily, as if Yoongi had made the most charming joke in the world. "Oh, nonsense, dear! You awoke our son—there is no purer sign of love than that!"
"That’s really not how this works," Yoongi muttered.
Jin, still shell-shocked, turned toward his supposed true love with wide eyes. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done?" he hissed.
Yoongi threw his hands up. "I tripped! I didn’t propose!"
Jungkook, who was still nursing his heartbreak over not being the hero of this story, perked up. "Wait. If you don’t want to marry him, I could do it!"
Jimin, who had been silently suffering through this entire ordeal, gripped his goblet so tightly it nearly cracked.
Yoongi massaged his temples. "No one is marrying anyone yet."
But the King waved off their protests. "Destiny has spoken! The wedding shall commence!"
"DESTINY CAN SHUT UP!" Jin snapped.
"And I’m leaving," Yoongi grumbled, standing.
Unfortunately, before he could escape, two guards—very large, very well-armed guards—stepped forward with suspiciously cheerful smiles.
Yoongi narrowed his eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You’re not going anywhere, sir," one of them said pleasantly.
Jin paled. "Oh my god, we’re being held hostage."
The King exhaled through his nose. "Not hostage, just… strongly encouraged to embrace your fate."
Jin turned to Yoongi, looking utterly betrayed. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT."
"HOW IS THIS MY FAULT?"
"You woke me up!"
"THAT WAS NOT ON PURPOSE!"
The royal parents, meanwhile, were already making arrangements.
"Gold or white for the wedding robes?" the Queen asked.
"I think they would look divine in deep blue," the King mused.
"WE ARE NOT GETTING MARRIED!" Jin and Yoongi yelled in unison.
Namjoon, watching from the corner, rubbed his forehead and muttered under his breath, "You will be, though."
And sure enough—no matter how much they fought, argued, or attempted (and failed) to flee, the preparations continued.
By the end of the night, Yoongi and Jin sat slumped on thrones beside each other, exhaustion weighing them down as the kingdom celebrated around them.
Jin scowled. "I can’t believe I’m being forced to marry you."
Yoongi sighed. "Believe me, same."
They both stared at the grand hall full of dancing nobles, unaware of just how doomed they were.
Because, unfortunately for them, fate—and the kingdom—had already decided.
The wedding was a grand affair.
Despite Jin and Yoongi’s relentless protests, the kingdom had insisted. The moment the new royal seamstresses had fitted them into matching ceremonial robes, it was over.
And now, as they stood at the altar, staring at each other in mutual disbelief, the High Priest cleared his throat.
"With this union," he proclaimed, "we also welcome a new ruler to the throne."
Yoongi blinked. "Excuse me, what?"
The King beamed. "My dear son-in-law, you shall rule as King Min Yoongi with our son as King consort."
Jin’s mouth fell open. "He’s being crowned?"
The Queen dabbed at her eyes. "Isn’t it beautiful?"
"No," Jin and Yoongi said in unison.
Before either could protest further, the royal crown—an extremely heavy one—was placed onto Yoongi’s head.
The High Priest raised his hands. "May the gods bless our new king and his union with—"
"WAIT," Yoongi blurted. "I am not qualified for this!"
The King chuckled. "Oh, but you are! You awakened our Prince, and thus, the kingdom is yours to rule together!"
Jin clenched his fists. "That is not how kingship works!"
The High Priest ignored them both and finished the ceremony.
And just like that, Min Yoongi, a man who did not even want to be here, became King.
At first, it was painful.
Jin and Yoongi barely spoke unless absolutely necessary. The castle staff learned quickly to deliver messages between them rather than force them into the same room.
And ruling?
An absolute disaster.
Yoongi had no patience for courtly matters. The moment someone started droning on about trade agreements, his mind left the building.
Jin, meanwhile, had been born for royalty—eloquent, diplomatic, and admittedly a bit dramatic. But ruling with Yoongi? Infuriating.
"You have to actually attend the council meetings," Jin scolded, arms crossed.
Yoongi groaned, leaning against the throne. "Or… I could not."
Jin’s eye twitched. "You’re the King."
Yoongi gestured vaguely. "And you’re the King consort. You like talking. You do it."
Jin inhaled deeply, muttering something murderous under his breath.
That’s when the fairies intervened.
It started small.
Namjoon left books on "Effective Co-Rulership" in Yoongi’s chambers. Hoseok arranged suspiciously romantic diplomatic events. Taehyung, for some reason, filled the royal garden with heart-shaped flowers.
Yoongi and Jin didn’t notice at first.
Then came the forced bonding exercises.
"I don’t see how this is necessary," Yoongi muttered as Namjoon shoved him and Jin into a ballroom.
"You must dance together at the upcoming festival," Namjoon said simply. "It’s tradition."
Yoongi scowled. "So is listening to your King."
Namjoon ignored him entirely. "Start with a waltz."
Jin held out a hand. "Let’s get this over with."
Yoongi grumbled but took it.
One step. Another.
It was awkward. Stiff. But as they moved, something shifted.
For the first time, Yoongi actually looked at Jin—really looked. At the way he moved effortlessly, the way his lips pursed in concentration, the way his hand felt good in his own.
Jin noticed too.
They danced in silence, something unspoken settling between them.
Later that night, when Jin found a sleeping Yoongi in the royal study, head slumped over half-finished paperwork, something in him softened.
And, for the first time since waking up, he covered Yoongi with a blanket instead of kicking him awake.
It didn’t happen all at once.
But over time, they argued less. Yoongi actually stayed in meetings. Jin stopped threatening to exile him every other day.
And one night, after a long discussion about trade policies (which Yoongi shockingly contributed to), Jin sighed and said, "You’re not completely hopeless."
Yoongi smirked. "High praise, Your Highness."
Jin rolled his eyes. "It’s Your Majesty to you."
Yoongi leaned closer. "Is it?"
Jin’s breath hitched. "Yes."
A pause. Then—
"Would you like me to say it again?" Yoongi murmured.
Jin swallowed. "You’re insufferable."
And yet—when Yoongi leaned in, Jin didn’t pull away.
Somewhere in the distance, three fairies high-fived.
The road back to their kingdom felt longer than before.
Without the weight of their quest, without a mission to drive them forward, the journey stretched endlessly ahead of them.
And Jungkook?
Jungkook was lost.
For as long as he could remember, he had been the golden prince, the one destined for greatness. He was the one who was supposed to change the world, the one who was supposed to wake the Sleeping Prince.
But he hadn’t.
He had failed.
And Yoongi, the one person who had wanted nothing to do with destiny, had somehow become the hero instead.
Jungkook didn’t know who he was without his purpose.
Jimin watched him carefully.
"Jungkook," he said softly as they stopped to set up camp for the night. "You’ve been awfully quiet."
Jungkook stared into the fire, jaw tight. "I don’t know what to say."
Jimin hesitated before sitting beside him. "You don’t have to be a hero to be important, you know."
Jungkook let out a humourless chuckle. "That’s easy for you to say."
Jimin’s heart clenched. "I mean it. You don’t have to save kingdoms to be worthy."
Jungkook glanced at him, something flickering behind his eyes. "Then what am I supposed to do?"
Jimin hesitated before reaching out, his fingers brushing over Jungkook’s hand. "You could… stay with me."
Jungkook looked at him fully then.
Jimin swallowed. "You don’t have to be a hero, Kook. You just have to be you."
For the first time in days, something in Jungkook’s expression softened. "Jimin…"
And suddenly, Jimin felt exposed—because he had been holding onto these feelings for so long, because he had dreamed of this moment but had never dared to believe it could be real.
Jungkook’s fingers curled over his.
"Maybe," Jungkook murmured, voice quieter now, "I don’t know who I am yet. But… would you help me figure it out?"
Jimin exhaled shakily, his lips curling into a soft smile. "Of course."
And under the glow of the fire, with only the trees as their witness, Jungkook leaned in—tentative, unsure—
But when Jimin met him halfway, it finally felt like something had clicked into place.
By the time Jungkook and Jimin arrived at the palace, they were covered in dust, their boots worn from endless travel, and their patience hanging by a thread. They had survived storms, wild beasts, suspicious innkeepers, and one particularly persistent grandmother who had mistaken them for thieves trying to steal her prized goat.
But despite everything, they had made it.
Jungkook barely had time to take a deep breath before the palace guards spotted them.
Silence.
Then, pure chaos.
"PRINCE JUNGKOOK?!"
One guard dropped his spear. Another bolted inside. In seconds, the palace erupted in screams, gasps, and the unmistakable sounds of people scrambling into position. Within moments, advisors, nobles, and servants flooded into the grand hall, their faces a mix of disbelief, dread, and… disappointment?
Jungkook frowned. "Uh. Nice to see everyone too?"
The royal advisors, all pale and visibly trembling, practically lunged at him.
"Where is the Sleeping Prince?!" one of them demanded.
Jungkook winced. "Awake."
A wave of horrified gasps.
"You did it?" someone whispered.
"Well," Jungkook rubbed the back of his neck, "not… exactly."
The silence was suffocating.
Jimin, sensing that Jungkook was moments away from being strangled, stepped in. "Yoongi woke him up."
The entire court lost their minds.
"YOONGI?!"
A woman shrieked. An elderly nobleman fainted. Several advisors began praying to various deities, hoping this was some cruel, cosmic joke.
The King’s face drained of all colour. "You’re telling me that Yoongi—the son who actively avoids responsibility, who once spent three months pretending to be ill to get out of a diplomatic meeting—Yoongi is the one who broke the curse?"
Jungkook grimaced. "Well, to be fair, he didn’t really mean to."
The Queen looked ready to collapse. "What do you mean, didn’t mean to?"
Jimin coughed. "He tripped."
More silence.
Then:
"HE TRIPPED—"
"—ONTO PRINCE SEOKJIN—"
"—AND THAT BROKE A CENTURY-OLD CURSE?!"
One of the royal advisors physically gagged. The lead diplomat looked ready to throw himself off the nearest balcony.
Jungkook held up his hands. "Okay, look, it was more complicated than that. The castle was a mess. There were these fairies and one of them was really clumsy. He accidentally pushed Yoongi and he fell directly into Seokjin’s bed, kissing his neck. Next thing we knew—bam!—eyes open, curse broken, very loud screaming."
The Queen looked like she needed to sit down. "And then what happened?"
"Well," Jungkook hesitated, "then there was a lot of yelling—mostly from Seokjin—about how rude it was to be woken up by an unshaven stranger falling on top of him."
Jimin nodded. "It got worse when he realized Yoongi was technically his ‘destined saviour.’ There was a lot of dramatic hand-flailing."
A noblewoman clutched her pearls. "Then—then they parted ways? Surely? Please tell me they parted ways."
Jungkook gave her an awkward smile. "Not… exactly."
More gasps.
The King, looking as if he’d aged a decade, ran a hand down his face. "Jungkook. Tell me exactly what happened."
Jungkook sighed. "So, after the whole ‘accidental rescue’ thing, Seokjin was furious. He called Yoongi a ‘disaster in human form’ and tried to declare the whole thing invalid, but apparently breaking an ancient spell means ‘divine fate’ and ‘a sacred bond between kingdoms.’ Seokjin’s parents insisted they get married immediately."
A loud wail from one of the court members.
"And Yoongi," Jungkook continued, "who was deeply against this at first, tried to argue his way out of it. But unfortunately, Seokjin’s father is—uh—worse than him in stubbornness. He refused to let Yoongi go. They got married. And Yoongi was crowned King that same day."
The palace exploded.
"THIS IS A DIPLOMATIC NIGHTMARE!" one of the advisors wailed.
"The kingdom will collapse—!"
"Yoongi doesn’t even like attending his own birthday celebrations—!"
The King groaned into his hands. "Our most reluctant child is now the ruler of a neighbouring kingdom. He—he has to be joking. Please, tell me this is all just a bad joke."
Jimin shook his head. "I wish."
And then, as if things couldn’t get worse, a breathless messenger sprinted into the hall, clutching a sealed letter. "A message—from King Yoongi."
The Queen snatched it like it contained her last shred of hope. Hands trembling, she read aloud:
To my esteemed royal family, stop screaming. The kingdom hasn’t burned down (yet). Seokjin is bossy but tolerable. I’m handling things. I have a crown now. It’s hideous. Send me my favourite pillows.
Also, tell Jungkook I’m proud of him, I suppose. We heard all about his heroic acts.
We’ll visit soon. Prepare for Seokjin’s entrance accordingly—he expects a grand parade.
The entire room reeled.
"A PARADE?!"
The Queen groaned, rubbing her temples. "At least someone got their happy ending."
Jungkook perked up. "Actually—" He turned to Jimin, his grin softening as he took his hand. "I may not have saved Prince Seokjin, but I did find someone along the way."
Jimin turned bright red.
The entire court gawked at them.
The King groaned so loudly it echoed through the hall. "This was not in the prophecy."
The palace was in shambles.
Not because it was falling apart—no, the kingdom was one of the wealthiest in the land. But because its people, advisors, and especially its royal family were in a state of complete and utter panic.
Yoongi was coming.
Yoongi, their most reclusive, grumpy, chronically disinterested Prince, was now King and would be stepping through the palace gates any moment now.
It was bad enough that he had somehow accidentally broken a century-old curse and married the Sleeping Prince. But now, Yoongi and his new husband, the infamous Prince Seokjin, were visiting. And from what Jungkook had told them, Seokjin was…
Well.
"A force of nature."
The advisors had already prepared the guards for severe diplomatic damage control. The servants had placed fainting couches at strategic locations. The King had a bottle of wine in each hand. The Queen had given up and was just praying.
And then—
A trumpet blast.
A second trumpet blast.
And then an entire orchestra.
The massive palace doors swung open as golden-clad knights marched forward, banners fluttering. A massive procession of horses, carriages, and foot soldiers paraded into the courtyard. Flowers rained from the sky, courtesy of Seokjin’s royal mages, who had apparently decided this was necessary.
And then, at the very front—
There they were.
King Yoongi and King consort Seokjin.
Yoongi, dressed in all black, slouched in his saddle, looking like he was seconds away from turning his horse around and leaving. His expression was the exact same as always—mildly annoyed but too tired to do anything about it.
Seokjin, however—
Seokjin was glowing.
Seokjin sat atop a gilded white stallion, wearing the most unnecessarily dramatic royal outfit anyone had ever seen. It had sequins. It had silk embroidery. It had a seven-foot cape trailing behind him, which one of his servants was carrying to prevent it from dragging on the ground.
The moment he reached the palace steps, Seokjin flipped his cape, slid off his horse in one smooth, royal motion, and flourished his hand toward the gathered nobles like he was bestowing them with divine favour.
"Beloved citizens of my husband’s former home!" he declared. "We have arrived! You may rejoice!"
Utter silence.
A soft thud as an elderly nobleman actually fainted.
Yoongi slid off his horse—far less gracefully—and groaned. "Jin. Please."
Seokjin ignored him entirely. "It has been a gruelling journey, fraught with peril, discomfort, and—worst of all—mediocre food. But fear not!" He raised a perfectly manicured hand. "I have survived. And thus, I bring to you the greatest gift of all—me!"
The king buried his face in his hands. "I need a drink."
The queen, visibly exhausted, stepped forward. "Seokjin. Yoongi. Welcome home."
Yoongi sighed. "Yeah, hi."
Seokjin beamed. "Dearest Mother-in-Law! How I have longed to meet you properly!"
The Queen blinked.
"Uh. Yes. Well, we—"
She didn't get to finish, because Seokjin had already seized her hands in his own and dramatically bowed over them.
"You have raised a magnificent man," Seokjin declared, voice thick with emotion. "A man of grit, of grace, of questionable morals but undeniable charm. And though he may have been reluctant, and though he may have groaned in despair as the priest recited our vows, know this—he is mine now, and I shall treasure him forever."
The Queen opened her mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again.
Yoongi looked like he wanted to sink into the earth and disappear forever.
"Jin," he muttered. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?" Seokjin gasped. "Expressing my undying devotion?"
"Making it sound like a hostage situation."
Seokjin dramatically placed a hand on his chest. "Do you not wish for me to shower you with affection?"
"I wish you'd stop yelling it in public!"
Seokjin turned to the gathered nobles. "You hear that? My husband, the King, wishes for me to be quiet!" He sighed. "Alas, such burdens I must bear! To be so deeply in love yet so cruelly silenced—!"
Yoongi, completely done, turned to Jungkook. "You owe me so much for this."
Jungkook, trying desperately to suppress his laughter, only grinned. "Nah, I think this is exactly what you deserve."
Seokjin clapped his hands. "Now then! We have much to discuss, many things to see! I assume my royal chambers have been prepared?"
The queen blinked. "Your chambers?"
Seokjin smiled. "Of course! I am your son now, am I not? And it is a son’s duty to grace his parents’ home with his presence." He turned to a stunned servant. "Be a dear and fetch my things, will you? We have at least ten trunks outside."
Yoongi groaned. "Jin, we’re only staying for three days."
"Yes, and I have to look perfect for each of them!"
The royal advisors, watching this unfold, were all on the verge of collapse.
One whispered, horrified, "The kingdom is doomed. It’s going to be a diplomatic nightmare."
Yoongi heard that.
And for the first time in his life, he smirked. "You know what?" He threw an arm around Seokjin’s shoulders. "You're absolutely right. We are your problem now."
The advisors almost wept.
Jungkook burst out laughing. "Oh, this is going to be fun."