there was nothing more annoying than her father. the man possessed an extraordinary talent on pestering his daughter. the way he strung his words together resembled blades. each one intended to bruise the young’s girl pride. she could almost taste the venom he induced. despite knowing her father was a good man with an idealistic ideology and pragmatic behavior, a great king; it didn’t make it less unbearable. she was tired—tired of his constant blowouts, where anger raged on the ichor they both held. she was tired of being his daughter.

“i didn’t raise you to be selfish,” he called out first, his fingers grasped the metal utensils. the friction caused between them accumulated sweat and left marks of foam. as a reaction, yeri simply stitched a smile together.

“i’m not selfish, father.” she replied back nonchalantly. her lithe fingers defied gravity as she restrained them from turning into fists.

“then, why don’t you get married? you’re a princess. you serve one purpose.” his tone was callous, hostility rimmed on each word.

“my purpose is not to get married. my purpose is to serve our kingdom. i have enough capabilities for that.” she spat back, mimicking his tone. silence prevailed for a few moments, her gaze settled in her dish. but, she could see it. the rumbling in his features, how they contorted into a raw rage. she hears how he released a chortle, how resonated in the now fragmented silence.

“if you had the capability you speak about, you wouldn’t be having this conversation with me.” his voice rose slightly, quivered with restraint. once hearing that, yeri couldn’t distinguish what emotions were now exploding inside her. she thought she could only feel sadness or anger. however, she felt more. the young girl heard her heart turned into shards and her pride diminished to a speck of dust.

“what?” the word slipped. her tongue felt too large for her shrinking mouth. what else could she say? but, her words were not needed once she encountered her father’s expression. his actions were loud enough. it reflected the strength of a god, unyielding. in the attempt to restrain herself, the princess recurred to defeat.

she felt how closed down, bile lathered her teeth. “you're right.” she clenched as the words were choked out. “my purpose is to marry him.” venom laid in her palette. hatred awaited to fester, rooting itself into her ribcage. pain coursed through every limb she had.

“good.” his word sounded resolute, impotent. “his name is choi hansol. he will be coming to the ball. i presume sooyoung is teaching you well, correct?” his inquiry ringed with malice, almost taunted in her ears. but, yeri already lost one game. she wouldn’t let another fall in his favor. not after that one.

“correct, she is an excellent teacher.” her words are sewn with saccharine, one resembling those candies that are too sweet to consume. “i feel more prepared than anything under her guidance.”

the king almost challenged her with his gaze again. but, he lets the war come to an end for the night. his eyes were fixated on the princess before nodding. “very well. the dinner is done. retire.” at his command, she leaped. her feet released from the clenching pressure she gave them. as she walked out from the room, her lungs could feel the oxygen. how it ran wildly and how freedom must taste like.

her legs sprinted through the corridors. her mood was now running everywhere, chaos raced through her mind. as maidens are only able to provide bows as their princess was rampant. her body guided her into the room where her mother once resided. her hands reached for her heels, slung them underneath the bed. now barefoot, yeri walked towards the balcony and let the fresh air greet her. her cheeks stung, turning red at the touch with winter. but, it was better than anything. she sensed how her emotions are washed away as if rain poured into her embers.

her arms are propped against the balcony, aiding her the support to stare at the moon. at the sight, the girl couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. melancholy embedded in her spirit as she remembered the former queen. better known as the woman who stole the throne with enchantments of seduction.

“mother,” she called out to the air, hoping the wind carried them. “where are you? why did you have to leave me behind?” her questions were meant to pull out the anger. the anger she couldn’t subject her father to or it would lead her somewhere where her destruction waited. yeri hated receiving pity, but she couldn’t help but take a bite as her heart was now exposed.

“because life out there is harder. if anyone had to be our princess, she knew you were the best choice.” a baritone voice took her back to reality. she knew this voice very well. it belonged to the person who held her heart. he carried with immense care, almost as if it was made of frail glass.

“jungkook, i didn’t ask for your opinion,” she replied back, but there’s no negativity surrounding it. it’s mostly light-hearted. as she was capable of cruelty, kim yeri could never be spiteful to jeon jungkook. not him, never him.

“i’m only saying what should you know.” his docile tone almost caused her eyes turn bleary. the tears threatened to roll down her cheeks. but, she defied her own body by laughing. the sound resonated in the now warm night.

“shut up.” her tone is colored with gold, as it melted from somewhere only he could reach. he offered her his smile, a smile made out of a heart that bled out of empathy and sincerity. the only comfort he could offer her. she wanted to say that’s enough. but, she was too wistful to let that lie become the truth.

her mind was flooded with a sole wish. a wish for him to hold her, to kiss her forehead and reassure her everything will be okay. for her to voice out his eternal love for him. but, she knew where her boundaries were. she knew she had to stand by them. the word "forbidden" always looked tempting. but, when it came to jungkook, it only looked frightening. after all, it meant losing him. little does she know that her bodyguard felt the same way.

“did you know? i finally got a marriage proposal!” she jested, shutting her thoughts down. “proposed by some prince from the north called choi hansol.” the older of the two couldn’t help but stiffen at the mention of the prince. he knew plenty about the other through rumors. he was a beloved prince, always praised for having a heart that always bled for his kingdom. adoration was an understatement when it came to the people who loved the prince. duty told him to smile. which, he does with a tinge of bitterness.

“i heard good things about him.” the bodyguard commented, caution in the background of his tone. his gloved hand gave her pat on the back. he was already expecting a feisty reply back, one where she would mock the said prince in question. but, there was no fire in her expression. there was only a build-up of defeat. a closed smile laced with fatigue.

“man, jungkook. you certainly raise a girl’s hope. i was expecting you to rescue me from this like you did when we were kids. you know, the princess and her bodyguard escaping a place where both could be happy.” the impulse behind her dialogue made her cringe. she wasn’t supposed to say those melancholic-driven words. so, before the male could react, the girl lets out a chuckle. letting everything seem like a light-hearted joke.

her hand coiled slightly, fingers pressed against each other before she hit the other’s shoulder. “just kidding. instead of doing that dramatic scenario, i have another easier request.”

he wanted to mull his reply. after all, jungkook wanted to voice out his desires. his desire that he would do that if he could. his arms were palpitating as he wished to embrace and take to a place where her smile would remain forever.

“what is it?” he asked back. he knows very well that she respected him. he hated she did that. after all, it made his glided wings made of hope flutter. a possibility where he could stop being her employee.

“you know castle’s formalities. when i meet the prince, there’s a choice of whenever or not i want you or another type of help around. i don’t want you there, jungkook. let me meet him alone.” it sounded frigid. his heart became fragmented. she knew the male indulged her in so many things. he has given her the best adventures she could ever had. but, it was time for her to go to one where she ventured alone. yeri knew she couldn’t rely on him all the time. there was a point where they both needed to put emphasis on the distance.

“because,” she paused, almost as if she was afraid of what she was facing without him. but, she was kim yeri. the girl who ran with her impulses and had courage spiked in her veins. if it was for jungkook, she would do anything.

“i want to meet him without anyone. seeing you know about him, it’s only fair he might be putting up an image. i don’t want that. i want to meet him for who he is.”

he knew it was fair what she was saying and understood it. but not even duty could hold him back. “but yeri-” her name slipped by and she almost felt the need to retract her favor.

“no buts. i’m now telling you as an order. you shall not follow me on the formal meeting with the prince.”

with that, yeri set the first piece on a motion.

author note: hey everyone who is still here. i just wanted to put redo this because my first chapter's writing was so ugly. so here you go!