Chapter Text
Yoongi isn't known for being a gentle king; quite the opposite, he's known for being ruthless and unmerciful. During these seven years, Yoongi has searched for his husband. There were times when he wanted to give up, but with the help of his advisors and friends, he held firm. The palace had become much more than a place for the nobility to live; it had become a military base. Yoongi gathered the best soldiers, commanders, and anyone with even the slightest military knowledge. Together, they analyzed maps and strategies, scoured ancient records, intercepted messages, and even sent spies to neighboring kingdoms.
The search for her missing husband wasn't just a personal mission; it was a matter of public safety. If the enemies managed to kidnap the king's beloved, then they could take anyone they wanted. Yoongi hired countless guards to protect his kingdom, especially the palace, which became a forbidden area for all those not permitted to enter. From then on, people needed special authorization to enter, and even with authorization, they were searched and never left alone.
The king's beloved's name was Jimin; he was Yoongi's lotus flower. Jimin was the only one who could make Yoongi feel calm, secure, and whole. When the weight of the crown threatened to crush him, one look from Jimin was enough for the world to slow down. His gentle gestures, his smile that blossomed like spring, and his voice that seemed to lull the northern winds—everything about him was balm to the king's soul.
However, seven years ago, everything went up in smoke, and Yoongi's worst side emerged. Anyone who made a mistake or displeased him was invited and couldn't deny the sharp edge of the king's sword. At first, he was in denial; he simply couldn't accept that Jimin had been taken. Yoongi searched everywhere for him, but couldn't find him, causing anger to rage in his heart like an endless storm. With each false lead, each unfounded rumor, Yoongi's fury grew, fueled by the pain of loss and the feeling of helplessness. His advisors tried to calm him, but it was like trying to tame a fire with soothing words.
Then came the bargaining; Yoongi became a staunch religious believer. For months, he spent inordinate amounts of time in temples; no one could count how many Yoongi visited. He spoke to shamans, healers, seers, and even priests of forgotten cults, seeking answers, signs, any promise of reunion. He offered gold, land, even part of his own vitality in obscure rituals, all in exchange for one thing: bringing Jimin back.
Yoongi began fasting for days, bathing in sacred waters, and sleeping on cold stones as penance. Some said he'd had visions, others that his mind was fragmenting. But the king didn't care about the rumors; he believed that if he were pure enough, if he repented enough, the gods would reward him. Yoongi began to believe in karma; he believed that in his past life or this one, he had committed a sin so grave that he was paying the price. Seers told him that Jimin was alive, but on another plane. Shamans spoke of portals, sacrifices, specific moons. Healers offered potions that promised to open the mind to the afterlife. And when these things failed, Yoongi would cut off the heads of these charlatans. All the heads were displayed throughout the palace as an example of what would happen to anyone who tried to deceive the grieving king.
Then came a severe depression; healers tried to cure him of a disease that wasn't there. Yoongi spent days in bed, unable to eat, and needed help with basic tasks like eating, bathing, brushing his teeth, getting dressed, and combing his hair. Activities always tinged with tears. Thankfully, Namjoon was there to help him run the kingdom. If it weren't for the king's best advisor, Daegu would have already succumbed to the flames of disorder. Namjoon took the reins with firmness and compassion, balancing political chaos with the king's emotional fragility. He reorganized the council, strengthened the borders, and kept hope alive among his subjects, even when the palace seemed plunged into darkness.
Namjoon became the shield between the people and the king's grief. He filmed the decisions, prevented the nobles from taking advantage of the situation, and, above all, protected Yoongi from himself. Many said Namjoon was the true ruler during that dark period, but he never claimed the throne; his loyalty was unwavering.
The advisor listened to Yoongi without complaint, even enjoying playing the role of the king's friend. During this time, their friendship developed, and Yoongi felt safe enough to confide his most deeply held secrets. He told him everything he felt, even his thoughts of ending his own life. Without Jimin, Yoongi no longer saw meaning in life. Jimin had become his world, the light that illuminated his days, the compass that guided his decisions, the only reason the throne still made sense. Without Jimin, everything seemed gray, without purpose. Yoongi confessed to Namjoon that, for many nights, he thought about disappearing, about leaving everything behind: the kingdom, the crown, the pain.
Namjoon listened in silence, his heart heavy. He knew he couldn't replace Jimin, but he could be a presence. And he was. He never judged, never tried to minimize the king's pain. He was simply there, with hot tea, with calming words, with silence when necessary. And, little by little, Yoongi began to breathe again. She began to feel the oxygen in her lungs after nearly drowning in the sea of agony and anguish.
After that, Yoongi simply accepted that Jimin wouldn't return; he began to acknowledge reality. He still had the anger, the pain, and everything else, but he became more mellow, without that enormous weight crushing him. The overwhelming anger and sadness gradually subsided, one step at a time. One day he brushed his teeth, the next he went out to see the sun, and the next he sat on the throne to command. It may seem contradictory, but Yoongi calmed down when he fought, sparred, or trained with his sword. No matter who the opponent, the king always gave his all. News that the king was returning to normal began to spread throughout Joseon, but the king had a new normal filled with anger, cruelty, and ruthlessness.
But then one day Yoongi returned to his peak, in the best state of health. He even resumed exercising and became strong, both in body and mind, and became unshakable. He returned to guiding the kingdom with his advisors, chancellors, treasurers, and seneschals. At that time, the throne, the kingdom, and the king were stronger than ever. Yoongi was once again adored by the people, conquered lands, and did business. Joseon became prosperous and respected by all neighboring kingdoms. The borders were secure, the markets bustled with activity, and culture flourished like never before. Artists, poets, and scholars found support and inspiration under Yoongi's reign, which encouraged knowledge, beauty in all its forms, and all kinds of relationships.
Yoongi found the strength to search for Jimin again, and the search resumed, more focused than ever. The king left no stone unturned, scouring every nook and cranny, tracking down kidnappers, thieves, and suspicious merchants, interrogating each one with relentless determination. The pain of Jimin's absence consumed him, but it was this very pain that drove him forward.
Night after night, Yoongi rode along the kingdom's borders, guided by rumors, fragile clues, and whispers from travelers. Some claimed to have seen a young man with bright eyes and black hair being carried by a caravan heading north. Others spoke of a mysterious figure who sang mournful songs in the kingdom's hidden recesses.
With the help of his most loyal advisors, the king mapped out possible escape routes and hidden strongholds. He sent emissaries to neighboring kingdoms, offering generous rewards for any information. Hope, though faint, still burned in his chest.
Yoongi wasn't just any alpha; he was an alpha who was a king and who one day became weak due to the lack of Jimin and their bond literally causing him pain. There were days when Yoongi felt the bond between them weaken to the point where he thought Jimin had died. But as he felt the bond strengthening, Yoongi felt a strength within him that he himself didn't know where it came from. He only knew that it helped him not give up, because even if he had to embody Ulysses and it took twenty years for Jimin to return home.
But one day he would return and on that day Yoongi would marry him, let Jimin mark him forever as his. He would give himself completely to Jimin and give him everything he desired, he would do everything to make him feel happy and safe.
So Yoongi decided to search somewhere he'd never looked before: Onsong, the northernmost city in all of Korea. Until now, it was thought Jimin had been taken somewhere near Daegu. They didn't want to search that far because it would require too much resources and time, two things that couldn't be wasted. But Yoongi had become a desperate man, and desperate times call for desperate measures.
Yoongi summoned the kingdom's best soldiers, along with General Jungkook and Lieutenant Taehyung. They were the kingdom's best alphas, the strongest and most capable for this mission. The king had no idea how much training they had, but he figured it was enough to be unbeatable on the battlefield. Sometimes Yoongi thought he saw them exchanging suspicious glances, but to avoid embarrassing them, he pretended not to see anything. A relationship between two alphas was taboo, even though Yoongi thought they lived in a very modern society. However, he believed there would be conservatives no matter where he went.
To get to Onsong it took half a month on horseback, they rode during the day and set up camp at night and still had to stop from time to time for the horses to rest, drink water and graze a little with grass and hay. The advantage of the night is that they could guide themselves by the stars and check if they were on the right route.
Yoongi was sitting around the fire after dinner, and when everyone had gone to their tents, he was there alone with his own thoughts, which tended to be negative. This was something he was trying to change.
But then he felt someone approaching and quickly drew his sword, stood up and pointed it at the enemy, however, it was not an enemy.
“Jungkook” disse Yoongi
“My lord,” greeted Jungkook.
Yoongi sheathed his sword and sat down, Jungkook sat next to him.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find him,” Jungkook said.
“I can’t do anything else but worry,” Yoongi said, looking at the fire.
“I understand, it’s wanting someone you can’t have,” Jungkook said.
Yoongi frowned
“Do you have something to tell me, Jungkook?” Yoongi asked suspiciously.
Jungkook's eyes widened, which made him look funny because his eyes were already naturally large, and his back suddenly straightened. Then the general cleared his throat.
“N-no sir” said Jungkook
Yoongi laughed through his nose
“Tell me when you feel ready,” said Yoo gi.
“But I have nothing to tell you,” Jungkook said.
“Uh-huh, I know,” Yoongi said.
“But it’s true,” Jungkook said.
Yoongi smiled
“I know, I’m just kidding,” Yoongi said.
“Ah,” Jungkook said, “it’s just been so long since I’ve seen you like this.”
Yoongi looked at Jungkook with a small, almost imperceptible smile, but one that held a spark of humanity that hadn't been seen on his face for a long time. The fire crackled between them, casting dancing shadows across their tense, sincere expressions.
“You know, Jungkook,” Yoongi said, his voice lower, “sometimes I wonder if I’m chasing a ghost. If all of this… is just an illusion keeping me from falling apart.”
Jungkook hesitated, but answered firmly:
"Even if it is, my lord, it is an illusion that keeps you standing. And as long as there is a chance, however small, it is worth pursuing."
Yoongi nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the flames.
“You speak as one who has already lost something precious,” said the king.
"Maybe," Jungkook said, looking up at the starry sky. "But not as precious as the one you lost."
Silence settled between them, comfortable and heavy. It was as if the universe were listening, waiting, conspiring.
“Do you think he’s alive?” Yoongi asked, almost in a whisper.
Jungkook looked at the king, and for a moment, his eyes shone with a rare conviction.
"I think the bond between you two wouldn't have survived if he were dead. And if that bond still pulsates, then Jimin's pulsates somewhere too," Jungkook said.
Yoongi closed his eyes, absorbing those words as if they were a balm.
“Then let’s find him. Even if I have to go through hell,” Yoongi said.
“And I will go with you,” Jungkook said with a sincere bow. “Until the end.”
That night, under the Onsong sky, something changed. It wasn't a concrete clue, nor a divine revelation. It was a spark. A silent promise between two warriors, between a king and his general, that the search wouldn't end there. That as long as there were stars in the sky and fire in the heart, Jimin would be sought.
And maybe, just maybe, found.