Jungkook nervously adjusted his clothes, tugging at the fabric as he glanced at himself in the mirror. He had never cared much about his appearance before, but tonight was different. Jimin had insisted on adding a touch of glittery powder to his face, claiming, "Because you're baby star candy," as he carefully dusted it on. Jungkook had never understood Jimin's obsession with making him look like a shimmering dream, but it was hard to deny how the glitter caught the light, giving him an ethereal glow.

His lips were tinted a soft pink, and his blond hair, styled meticulously, fell just perfectly across his forehead. The dress, the same one he'd worn that fateful day, still felt foreign to him. He stared at his reflection, a little unsure, yet there was something undeniably beautiful about the image staring back at him. Jungkook wasn't vain, but in this moment, he felt... pretty.

Jimin grinned, stepping back to admire his work. He gently placed a jewelled headpiece on Jungkook's head, his eyes sparkling. "You look amazing," he said, his voice laced with satisfaction.

Yoongi, who had been quietly observing from the corner, nodded in agreement. His approval, though rare, felt oddly reassuring.

Jimin, ever the dramatist, leaned closer and whispered in a teasing tone, "The emperor is going to fall head over heels for you and propose before the night ends."

Jungkook rolled his eyes, a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "Yeah, I'm sure."

He wasn't sure what the night would bring, but he wasn't about to be swept up in fantasies. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

Yoongi broke the moment with a soft but firm voice. "The carriage is here, Jungkook."

Jungkook nodded, trying to steady his nerves. "You and Jimin go ahead, I'll catch up later," Yoongi said with an almost nonchalant tone. Jungkook, though still jittery, agreed.

The journey to the grand mansion felt surreal. The sight of it as they pulled up to the grand entrance left him momentarily breathless. The mansion was even more magnificent than he had imagined, and the nobles who gathered inside made it all the more overwhelming.

As soon as Jungkook stepped inside, the hushed murmur that spread across the room was unmistakable. Whispers followed him like a shadow, and the attention was both suffocating and strange. Just as he tried to find a way to blend in, a familiar voice called out, "Jungkook oppa!"

He turned and saw a young woman with striking red hair making her way toward him. She had an air of elegance about her, and a warm smile on her lips. "Oh my god, I heard you were sick," she said, concern flashing in her eyes as she reached out to touch his cheek. "Are you feeling better?"

Jimin, ever the protector, stepped in between them, a playful smirk on his face. "That's enough, Yunjin. Let him breathe. He's still recovering." He shot Jungkook a wink, as if to say, You're safe, relax.

Yunjin smiled sheepishly, withdrawing her hand but still eyeing Jungkook with warmth. "You look so handsome, oppa," she said, her voice sweet and unguarded. Then, with a playful glance at Jimin, she added, "And you too, I guess."

Jimin puffed his cheeks in mock indignation. "Hey! What do you mean, 'I guess'?"

Jungkook laughed, the tension easing from his shoulders. Yunjin's kindness was a refreshing change, and for a moment, it felt as if everything was normal. Why am I the villain, then? he thought, looking at the people around him. All of them seemed to like him-so why did they make him the villain?

Yunjin's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Jungkook oppa, your fiancé is here," she said, her eyes turning toward the entrance.

Jungkook's heart skipped a beat. His fiancé? He wasn't ready for this, not yet.

Kim Taehyung entered the hall with an effortless air of command, his presence drawing the attention of everyone around him like gravity pulling at the fabric of the room. The nobles' chatter faltered as his eyes scanned the crowd. When they landed on Jungkook, there was a brief but noticeable pause-a flicker of recognition in Taehyung's gaze, followed by a raise of his eyebrows. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Jungkook felt an unexpected rush in his chest. But before he could process the weight of that glance, Taehyung turned away to address someone else, his entourage trailing behind him like shadows.

Jungkook exhaled, unaware he had been holding his breath. He hadn't expected the emperor to have such an effect on him, not like this.

The emperor's reputation preceded him, of course-whispers of his intellect, his aloof charm, his effortless power. But now, seeing him in person, Jungkook couldn't help but feel an undercurrent of something else. Something that wasn't just royal. Something magnetic.

Jungkook took a small gulp from the drink in his hand, the cool liquid doing little to calm his nerves. Jimin leaned in close, his voice a soft hum in his ear. "You're really going to talk to him?"

Jungkook nodded, though his heart was thumping loudly enough for him to hear it in his ears. He had prepared for this, or at least he thought he had. But now, in the presence of Taehyung, all of his carefully constructed thoughts felt fragile, like they might shatter if he moved wrong.

"Don't worry," Jimin whispered, offering a small smile. "He''s your fiance. He'll listen to whatever you have to say to him."

Jungkook gave a tight-lipped smile and made his way through the crowd, forcing his legs to move despite the knot of uncertainty in his stomach. As he approached Taehyung, he could feel the weight of the room's attention on him. The emperor was speaking with a noblewoman, and Jungkook hesitated, waiting for an opening.

It came when Taehyung's gaze shifted toward him, briefly locking eyes with Jungkook once more. There was a flicker of surprise in the emperor's eyes before they softened, and the noblewoman beside him fell silent.

"What do you want?" Taehyung's voice was steady, calm-almost indifferent, but there was an edge to it that Jungkook couldn't quite place.

Swallowing, Jungkook cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, I... I have something to discuss with you," he said, his voice shaking ever so slightly.

Taehyung didn't seem particularly impressed. He glanced over his shoulder, perhaps looking for an excuse to dismiss him. "I do not have the time for this," he replied, the words cool but not cruel.

Jungkook's heart beat faster, the weight of the moment pressing on him. He couldn't back out now. "Please, Your Majesty, it will only take a moment of your time."

There was a pause, a flicker of something unreadable crossing Taehyung's face. He crossed his arms and studied Jungkook for a long moment, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "What is it?" The question came more out of a sense of obligation than genuine curiosity.

Jungkook glanced around at the crowd, the nobles still watching with interest, and his stomach tightened. This wasn't the right place. He needed to speak with Taehyung alone.

"Can we... speak in private?" he asked, his voice quiet but insistent.

Taehyung's gaze flickered briefly to the crowd, then back to Jungkook, his expression unreadable. After a moment that stretched longer than necessary, he nodded, excusing himself from the group with a small gesture, his voice commanding but not unkind as he led Jungkook through the hall.

They stepped into the cool night air, the garden offering them a rare moment of privacy away from the prying eyes of the court. The silence was almost deafening, the hum of the distant party and the rustle of leaves their only company.

Jungkook felt the weight of the conversation to come, but in the quiet of the garden, his nerves began to settle. This was it. No more distractions. He took a steadying breath and turned to Taehyung, who stood with his arms crossed, waiting.

Taehyung didn't speak immediately, his eyes studying Jungkook with a calm intensity. The silence stretched between them for a moment before Taehyung spoke.

"I'm listening," Taehyung said finally, his voice low but steady. The garden around them seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for Jungkook's next words.

Jungkook swallowed, gathering every ounce of resolve. This was the moment. He couldn't afford to hesitate.

Jungkook took a deep breath, his hands clasped tightly together to keep them from trembling. He knew this conversation would change everything, but he had to do it. It was the only way to avoid the fate he'd seen coming.

"I've been thinking for the past few days, Your Majesty," Jungkook began, his voice soft but steady. Taehyung turned to him, his dark eyes sharp and calculating, though there was a faint sense of curiosity in them. "And I... I want to annul the engagement."

Taehyung blinked, the words clearly taking him by surprise. For a moment, he said nothing, his lips parting slightly as though he was about to respond but caught himself. "What?" he finally asked, his tone more shocked than Jungkook had ever expected from someone so composed.

Jungkook swallowed hard. "I know this engagement is just a political arrangement, a way to strengthen alliances. I understand that. But... I don't think it's right to tie you to someone like me-someone you don't even like."

Taehyung's brow furrowed, his arms crossing over his chest. "And where, exactly, is this coming from?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it now. "You've been unwell for a while. Is this still the haze of your illness speaking?"

Jungkook shook his head quickly. "No, Your Majesty. I... I've had time to think. To reflect. And I realized..." He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I realized that someone like you deserves more. Someone who truly complements you."

"Someone who complements me?" Taehyung repeated, his tone incredulous now. His head tilted slightly as he studied Jungkook, as if searching for some hidden motive. "That's an odd thing to say from someone who's been so... persistent about this engagement."

Jungkook flinched at the subtle jab. He knew the original character had been obsessively attached to Taehyung, practically throwing himself at the emperor's feet. But he wasn't that person. Not anymore. "I was wrong before," he said softly. "I see that now. I don't want to trap you in a relationship where there's no affection, no trust. It's not fair to either of us."

Taehyung was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "And this epiphany of yours... does your father know about it?"

Jungkook bit his lip, shaking his head. "No, Your Majesty. He wouldn't listen to me. Only you have the power to annul it."

Taehyung's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "So you came to me instead, hoping I'd agree without question? Why now, Jungkook? What has changed?"

"I..." Jungkook hesitated, the words caught in his throat. How could he explain the truth? That he wasn't even the original Jungkook, that this was all to avoid his eventual demise? He looked down, his voice faltering. "I just think... my heart has changed."

Taehyung's gaze didn't waver, though something in his expression shifted, softening slightly. "Your heart has changed," he echoed, as if testing the words. "Interesting. And yet, you're here, risking so much to ask me this. That doesn't sound like someone whose heart is truly indifferent."

Jungkook's head shot up, eyes wide. "It's not like that," he said quickly. "I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. For both of us."

Taehyung's lips pressed into a thin line, his expression carefully guarded. "You've always been bold, but this... this is unexpected," he said, his voice quieter now. "I never thought you'd be the one to end this engagement."

Jungkook felt a pang in his chest at the words, but he pushed it aside. "I just want you to be happy, Your Majesty. And I know that can't happen with me."

Taehyung studied him for a long moment, his eyes unreadable. "And what about you? What happens to you if I agree to this?"

Jungkook froze. He hadn't expected that question. "That doesn't matter," he said after a beat, his voice trembling slightly. "What matters is doing what's right."

Taehyung's gaze lingered on him, and for a moment, Jungkook thought he saw something flicker in the emperor's eyes-something almost like regret. But it was gone just as quickly as it appeared.

"I'll think about it," Taehyung said finally, his tone firm but not unkind. He turned to leave, his cape swaying behind him, but he paused after a few steps. Without turning back, he added, "Next time, don't make decisions about what I deserve. You might be wrong."

And with that, he walked away, leaving Jungkook alone in the garden, the weight of his decision settling heavily on his shoulders.