It was a typical day at the palace, but Jimin couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She had been feeling restless and anxious all morning, and it only grew worse as she watched Minjeong, the palace guard, prepare for her daily duty.

"Be careful out there," Jimin said, her voice soft and full of concern as she watched Minjeong fasten her sword to her waist.

"I will," Minjeong replied with a reassuring smile. "I promise I'll come back to you."

Jimin nodded, trying to push down the fear and uncertainty that had been plaguing her. But as Minjeong headed towards the palace gates, Jimin couldn't resist the urge to follow her.

"Jimin, what are you doing?" Minjeong asked as Jimin caught up to her.

"I just want to walk with you," Jimin said, her voice small and uncertain.

Minjeong looked at Jimin, a mix of emotions crossing her face. She knew the risks of their relationship, knew that it could put both of them in danger. But she couldn't deny the pull she felt towards Jimin, the way her heart raced whenever she was near.

"Okay," Minjeong said finally, offering Jimin a small smile. "But you have to promise me that you'll stay close."

Jimin nodded eagerly, grateful for the opportunity to spend more time with Minjeong. As they walked side by side, Jimin couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over her. The anxiety and restlessness she had been feeling earlier seemed to fade away as she basked in Minjeong's presence.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the warm sunshine and the gentle breeze that swept through the palace grounds. But as they neared the edge of the palace walls, Jimin's heart began to race once again.

"Minjeong, please be careful," Jimin said, her voice trembling with fear.

Minjeong turned to face Jimin, her eyes soft and full of tenderness. "I will, Jimin. I promise."

And with that, Minjeong stepped out of the palace gates and into the bustling streets beyond. Jimin watched her go, her heart heavy with worry and uncertainty.

______

As Jimin paced back and forth in her chambers, her nerves frayed with each passing moment. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over her like a thick fog, clouding her mind with worry and fear. Her heart raced with each passing second, and she couldn't help but wonder what could be keeping Minjeong so long.

As the hours dragged on, Jimin found herself lost in a sea of thoughts, her mind conjuring up worst-case scenarios and dark possibilities. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Minjeong, not when they had only just found each other, and the mere idea of it sent shivers down her spine.

It wasn't until several hours later that Jimin heard the sound of footsteps approaching her door. Her heart leaped into , and she rushed to fling open the door, her eyes scanning Minjeong's face for any signs of harm. Relief flooded through her as she saw that Minjeong was unharmed, her face weary but resolute. Jimin felt a surge of gratitude and love towards the brave and beautiful guard who had risked her life to keep the palace safe.

"Minjeong," Jimin breathed, her voice laced with emotion. "You're okay."

Minjeong pulled Jimin into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around her as if she would never let go. Jimin felt a sense of safety and comfort in her embrace, as if nothing could harm her as long as Minjeong was by her side.

"I promised you I would come back," Minjeong said softly, her voice filled with emotion.

Jimin knew that Minjeong's job would always come with risks and danger, but she couldn't help but worry about her safety. However, in that moment, as she stood in Minjeong's embrace, she knew that she wouldn't be able to stay away, couldn't resist the pull she felt towards the brave and beautiful guard who had captured her heart.

As Jimin pulled away from Minjeong's embrace, she couldn't help but notice the way her skin glistened with sweat and her hair was disheveled. It was clear that Minjeong had been through something, but Jimin didn't want to push her to talk about it if she wasn't ready.

Instead, she led Minjeong to a nearby couch and sat down next to her, their hands intertwined as they sat in silence for a few moments.

Finally, Minjeong spoke up. "There was an attempted breach at the palace gates today," she said, her voice low and serious. "But we were able to handle it and prevent any harm from coming to anyone."

Jimin's heart raced at the thought of what could have happened, but she tried to keep her voice steady as she asked, "Are you sure you're okay? You seem shaken."

Minjeong nodded, but Jimin could see the fear still lingering in her eyes. Without a second thought, she leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Minjeong's cheek, hoping to offer some comfort and reassurance. "I'm so glad you're safe," Jimin whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Minjeong turned to Jimin and their eyes locked, the intensity of their gaze causing Jimin's heart to skip a beat. In that moment, she knew that no matter how dangerous Minjeong's job was, she wouldn't be able to stay away from her. She would always worry, always fear for her safety, but she also knew that the love she felt for Minjeong was worth the risk.

Part of her wants to pull away, to protect herself from the inevitable heartbreak that could come with their relationship. But another part of her feels drawn to Minjeong, unable to resist the pull she feels towards the brave and beautiful guard.

_________

As the sun began to set over the castle walls, painting the sky in a soft array of colors that reflected off the castle walls in the distance, Jimin and Minjeong made their way towards the outskirts of the castle. The air was cool and crisp, with a gentle breeze blowing through the trees that surrounded them. Jimin took in the sights and sounds around her, feeling a sense of peace wash over her.

Minjeong walked beside her, a towel draped over her shoulders from her recent shower as she had just finished her shift as a palace guard, Jimin couldn't help but steal glances at her, admiring the way the sunlight danced across her skin and the way her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, watching the way her hair swayed with every step, the way her lips curved into a small smile when she caught Jimin's eye. She couldn't help but feel relieved that she was finally able to spend some time with her. They had both been busy with their duties, and moments like these were few and far between.

The silence between them was comfortable, a shared understanding that words weren't necessary in moments like this. They walked in step, their pace slow and steady as they took in the beauty around them.

"Are you feeling better now?" Jimin asked, breaking the silence between them.

Minjeong nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yeah, the shower really helped," she said, her voice soft and tender.

Jimin couldn't help but feel a sense of calmness wash over her in Minjeong's presence. The anxiety and stress of the day slowly melted away, replaced with a deep sense of contentment and peace.

As they approached a clearing, Minjeong led Jimin towards a large tree, the branches providing a natural canopy above them. They settled down on the soft grass, with Minjeong's arm draped around Jimin's shoulders.

Jimin leaned into the embrace, feeling the warmth of Minjeong's body next to hers. She breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of Minjeong's freshly washed hair and the subtle hint of her perfume.

For a while, they simply sat in silence, watching the sun set over the horizon. Jimin felt a sense of gratitude for moments like this, where she could simply be with Minjeong, without any distractions or worries.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jimin couldn't help but feel conflicted. She was grateful for this moment with Minjeong, but at the same time, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were dancing dangerously close to the edge.

Jimin knew that she should be content with what they had, that she should cherish every moment they spent together. But the desire burning inside her was too strong, too overwhelming to ignore. She longed to feel Minjeong's lips on hers, to lose herself in the warmth of her embrace.

Minjeong seemed to sense Jimin's inner turmoil, and she reached out to take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "What's on your mind?" she asked softly.

Jimin's heart stuttered in her chest at the touch, and she turned to face Minjeong, their eyes locking. In that moment, Jimin felt everything come to a head. All the uncertainty, the fear, the longing - it was all there, right on the surface, threatening to spill over at any moment.

"I want to kiss you," Jimin said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Minjeong's pupils dilated with an almost primal intensity, sending a jolt of electricity down Jimin's spine and thought that she might pull away, but before she knew it, Minjeong was closing the gap between them, her lips mere millimeters away from Jimin's. The scent of Minjeong's musky perfume enveloped Jimin's senses, fueling a burning desire within her. With a husky voice that dripped with need, Minjeong whispered, "I want that too," her breath hot against Jimin's lips, sending shivers down her body.

Time stood still as Jimin and Minjeong stood face to face, their bodies magnetically drawn towards each other. The air crackled with an electric tension, as if they were the only two people on the planet. Jimin could feel her heart pounding in her chest, drowning out all other sounds except for the rush of blood in her ears. She surrendered to the heady impulse to lean in and capture Minjeong's lips with her own, but just as their lips were about to touch, a jarring sound ripped through the stillness like a gunshot. Both women jumped in surprise, and the moment shattered into a million tiny fragments.

They pulled back from each other, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before they turned around, eyes wide as they scanned their surroundings. It took Jimin a moment to register that it was just a group of soldiers passing by, their laughter echoing through the night. But the moment was gone, the spell broken, and Jimin knew that they had to pull back from the brink, at least for now. The reality of the situation hit Jimin like a bucket of cold water.

"I...I should probably head back," Jimin said, her voice shaking slightly.

Minjeong nodded, a look of regret crossing her face. "Yeah, I should get back to my duties too."

They stood up and made their way back to the castle, the silence between them heavy with unspoken emotions. But Jimin knew that they had made the right decision, that they couldn't risk everything they had fought for on a moment of passion. They would have to be patient, to wait for the right time, even if it was agonizing.