⊰ chapter twenty one ⊱

The house moved slow the next day. Everyone looked drained. The kids slept through the late-morning, the snow heavy outside and the inside cozy as Adona helped with the woods into the fire. Wineri sat by the fireplace, refusing to drink the tea Adona offered. Dara walked down the stairs to find the melancholy mode of the house. Of course, Jungkook did not return. Though she was worried, she knew he would be safe.

"Where is he?" Wineri whispered, voice shaking as she cried in silence, "What if he is in danger?"

"Dara said the summoner couldn't get to him anymore. It knows who he is now, it fears Jungkook," Adona comforted, "When Dara hugged Jungkook, she hugged the soul too. It brought back memories, so there is less possibilities of the summoner capturing the King again."

"Your son is brave, Wineri," Dara joined the conversion, in a lilac evening gown, taking her sit beside Wineri before reaching for her hands, "He defeated the summoner once, the summoner wouldn't dare to cross paths with him again."

"Why did Jungkook want to be forgotten?" Wineri whispered, her voice unable to raise.

Dara never gave it a thought, but there were dots that connected, "It's not like he wanted to be found by all. He was...a good king, the greatest man, but his ways of ruling were cruel," Dara knew why her mind worked that way when she took the throne or used power in her hand, the swap of positions left marks in her from his reign, "But Arossa, Deborah Arossa only saw the good in him while the Outerns, the subjects talked of his cruelty. The Outerns don't mourn for him, they mourn for Arossa. Because Jungkook wanted that."

"Deborah Arossa sacrificed herself for Jungkook," Adona nodded, "Ryder Jungkook, left us a monument to pray upon. Little did he know, people did love him enough to pray for him. Or maybe it was just the Curse of the Curve that brought him back."

"Jungkook is cursed?" Wineri asked.

Dara did not want to lie, "We all are."

"Thank you for protecting Jungkook—,"

The fixed main door opened and Jungkook appeared, his lip still bruised. He had papers in his hands. He walked towards the couches, handing the papers to Dara. Dara raised her brows, taking a look at the papers before the light on her face dimmed down, "What do you mean?"

Adona snatched the papers before her eyes grew big, she stood up at once before holding the papers before Jungkook's face, "Have you lost it, Jungkook?"

Jungkook stared at Dara, who seemed nothing but disappointed. Dara looked hopeless. Silent. Speechless.

"Divorce papers," Adona slammed the papers against Wineri's extended hand, "Your son has lost it."

"Jungkook, what is this?" Wineri glared at Jungkook, "Speak! What is this?!"

"This is final," Jungkook raised his voice, "I am divorcing Koveski. The Jeon's Old house is ready for both her and Adona, they will stay there till the war."

"You carried the Northern divorce papers all the way?" Dara grinned, ironically, "You really are a circus yourself, aren't you?"

"Sign the papers and leave. The carriage is outside," Jungkook appeared to be not joking about it the way Dara wished for him, "I cannot risk more lives because of me. Theodore needs to be safe too—,"

"We all are safe," Dara stood up, "I have this under my control, what are you even thinking—,"

"You don't know what I have done, Koveski?" Jungkook stepped forward, inches away from Dara's face, she sensed his rage right on her neck as he breathed heavily, "You don't see what I have done?"

"You have done nothing, Jungkook, this is not your fault—,"

"The Curve, the fallen Kingdom, your death, our child," Jungkook said through his teeth, "It is all my fault. I couldn't save any of us. I dragged everyone down with me. The war is my fault, if anyone died yesterday, it still would have been my fault—,"

"That Jungkook is dead," Dara told him, "The Jungkook they thought, made from cruelty, is no more. You are Jeon Arthur Jungkook, you are made from goodness. You were made to love, to be kind. You are different. It's just the memories, Jungkook. I have known both of you, and you differ worlds—,"

"Do not try to lie to me, Koveski," Jungkook's eyes were red, "Do you see yourself? You were bleeding from head to toe, trying to protect my family from me. I was on the verge to kill you. I believe the summoner rebirthed, primarily because I couldn't finish the war I started with the Curve? I was pathetic."

Dara's fears came true.

"You cannot make me leave," Dara's voice broke, eyes swelling with tears, "I don't want to leave."

"If you don't leave my life, I will," Jungkook's lips throbbed, "You and I, both have had enough. You may return to the Outern valley too if you would like—,"

"What about Sam—,"

"We will pay for the bail, somehow," Jungkook knew it was hopeless though.

"You cannot find the curve, nor can you fight the summoner—,"

"I am calling the war off," Jungkook said, the room gasped at once. Wineri stood up at once, concern spread across her face, "I am calling everything off. We are going on a lockdown. The troops will be training only for attacks at West—,"

"You are giving up on me?" Dara whispered, face breaking into a scrunched paper.

The air became still between the two. Jungkook couldn't seize his gaze away, guilt pouring out of his face like water down a stream. Jungkook's throat closed, drying up, "We need to seperate. This is final. Sign the papers when you feel like—,"

"I will not," Dara said, nodding to herself before snatching the divorce papers and tearing them into shreds, "I will not accept this, nor will I divorce you. I am staying here."

"Then you will provoke me to leave—,"

"Then leave," Dara told Jungkook, "How far will you go?"

"Fine," Jungkook nodded, glancing at Wineri before looking at Dara again, "I am leaving West."

"Good luck,"Dara said just before Jungkook stormed out of the home with the Western Sword around his waist but empty-handed. Adona stood there with a troubled expression on his face as Wineri knelt down on the couch and stuffed her hands in her palms. Dara murmured, "I am going to the Western prison. What is the highest form of crime to lead to a death penalty?"

At the market, there was a tragedy. Although no one moved, their shouts started to shift. When Adona and Yoongi arrived at the market, a vague situation Dara had manufactured was once more displayed. Dara was inches away from slicing the neck of a man wearing a blue prisoner's shirt when she held a blade to his throat. Adona sighed, "Dara, what now?"

"Wait," Dara's eyes were at the end of the crowd.

"You are scaring the citizens," Adona looked uncomfortably.

"Really? Then, why are they coming here?" Dara saw the group of people gathering more and more, the shops closing at once but the people never stopped swarming the two. She grabbed the man tighter, holding the sword inches away from him as he shivered, "Two more minutes, Adona. Then, I won't have to slaughter him anymore."

"What is his crime anyway?" Yoongi frowned.

"I don't know. I found him with other rapists at the prison, he was enjoying his breakfast and I did not like it, so we are here," Dara said casually, frowning at the man who tried to move away from her grip, "Oi, you move and I will plunge this sword where the sun doesn't shine, we will see how you rape people then."

"Please let me go. I want to be arrested by the police, take me to the Court—,"

"Shut up," Dara hit the back of the man's head before grabbing his hair into her palm, "Yuck, don't they have soap and water at prison? When did you last wash your hair, goddamnit?"

"Last year," cried the man.

Before Dara could give more reasons to Adona to laugh at such situation, the Western police from the High Court and their big carriages were already turning around the corners of the market. The head police, dressed in black, sighed at Dara, "What is this, miss?"

"This," Dara looked down at the criminal, "Is me teaching girls self defense. Since you will never."

"Miss, you have to come with us—,"

"I mean why would you, teaching them self defense won't come to your benefit anyway," Dara taunted the Head police, "I mean look at you, dying to save this prisoner from it's absolute punishment, which I could pledge it to him. The very threatening death penalty—,"

"This is our job—,"

"Are you even serious about your job?" Dara wasted time, eyes on the very ends of the gathering of people, before looking at the police again, "If you were, you would allow this bloodshed."

"Fine," the police nodded, "You are as stubborn as we heard you would be. GUARDS!"

Dara snickered coldly, "You think you will be able to take me away? Don't you know I am an important property?"

Dara was ignored as the guards marched towards Dara, with their swords out. Adona shrieked when a steel platter hit three guards at once, turn by turn before they banged their heads against the ground, falling out of their senses. The Head Guard looked behind to find the attacker to see non other than the Blood Heir walking through the path the gathered people cleared for him. The guards bowed lightly to Jungkook, "Prince—,"

"Take the prisoner away. No need to take her," Jungkook said.

"No," Dara grabbed the prisoner tighter, "Anyone taking a step further, I will slide my sword right across his throat."

"Koveski," Jungkook stepped forward fearlessly, "Stop making things difficult for this realm. No one is debt to you, so leave the laws alone—,"

"The way you are leaving the realm alone too?" Dara said loud enough for the citizens present in the market, which by the way, was hundreds of them by now. And more people just kept gathering here to see the royals, "Weren't you fleeing? I am still your wife, so if you leave, the realm becomes mine. I become your Princess in Consort—,"

"This is my realm, these are my subjects," Jungkook said, eyes strict and bold, "The constitution is mine."

"Really?" Dara threw the criminal off her grips, kicking him off her way as she walked over him to get near Jungkook, "You called off the war."

The market gasped, a widespread of gossips immediately flashed between the people. The State guards surprised and in shock. Adona did not know where this argument would lead them to, but it did not look good.

"Yes, Jeon Jungkook called off the war, everyone," Dara said loudly, "We are doomed. In fact, we are on lockdown—,"

"Koveski," Jungkook warned, "Do not make me do something you will not forgive me for."

She tilted her head, "You have done the worse. You gave up on us, on me. You expect me to shut up after you have ruined everything? How can you call of such a war, that is going to cost lives out there—,"

"Going to this war will cost all of us if we do not win!" Jungkook screamed at Dara, her soul flinching, "It will cost you, me and my family, all these people! I cannot do this to them, not again!"

"You coward," Dara whispered, greeting her teeth.

"KOVESKI!" Jungkook screamed, shaking the people present in there, "DO REMIND YOURSELF WHO YOU SPEAK TO!"

"WHO DO I SPEAK TO?" Dara screamed, eyes searching for answers in his eyes, "THE MAN WHO KEEPS LEAVING ME AGAIN AND AGAIN? BECAUSE HE IS TOO AFRAID OF HIMSELF? DO YOU EVEN DESERVE TO BE KIN—,"

"YES," Jungkook yelled, spitting his words out with a red, angry face, "I have shed blood after blood of my own body for twenty five years not to be strangled by the person I was eighty seasons ago! I have wasted every midnight planning the war, wasted every sweat and strength to become stronger, OF COURSE I DESERVE THE THRONE."

There was silence but Jungkook did not stop, "I BUILT THE WESTERN REALM, I PASSED DOWN LAWS. I BECAME THE ENTIRE ARMY OF NORTH MYSELF AND SERVED MY ENEMY FOR A DECADE LIKE HE DID NOT KILL MY FATHER, MARRIED THE WOMAN WHO WAS RULING MY THRONE, SACRIFICED MY LIFE FOR HER AT EVERY STEP SHE TOOK AND WORSHIPED HER LIKE SHE WAS MY GOD, YES OF COURSE I DESERVE THAT FUCKING THRONE!"

"You may think you have ruled Zisk for seven months and eighteen days, you may think you have won the people and done the never-seen, but you would never, ever see the sun the next day if I wasn't guarding you all night," Jungkook spat, "You think you are the only one who is gifted? You are the only one who has obstacles and a holed fate? I rebirthed when I was not supposed to, and do you know who prayed for me?"

Dara stared.

"I prayed for myself," Words erupted from Jungkook's wounded mouth as he greeted them, "I prayed for my own return when I was bleeding to my death, I cut myself so I could come back. I do not need prayers to bring myself back! I wrote my own fate, I endured on my own, and I made a man out of myself. So when my Kingdom falls, I will be the one to build it back, and you Koveski, cannot do that. You cannot keep claiming what's mine!" Although Jungkook struggled to talk since he had so much to say, he did it nevertheless, "I remember, I remember it all. I ruled. I ruled you, I ruled them all. I am the King of the Curve, and nothing changes that I, gave you a reason to live! Again. I BROUGHT YOU BACK. I BROUGHT YOU BACK FROM YOUR VAINED DEATH. SO YOU WOULDN'T DIE IN VAIN. AND YOU ASK ME IF I REALLY DESERVE TO BE KING?"

"I gave birth to the blood throne the day I cut my own throat and left my blood at the Curve," Jungkook said, making history, "I built the realms when I died, I made the prophecies, I gifted you and your people in the valleys hopes to live with. I made the Blood Throne you reigned over conceivable. I prayed for myself. I have always been on my own, so how dare you ask me that?"

Dara was speechless. Yoongi wrapped an arm around Adona, her tears unstoppable as she heard Jungkook's voice. The people had their worlds shaken by Jungkook's words, believing every word he had said, every sound of pain he had occurred here.

"The blood throne is mine! These people are mine, the lands are mine. And no one seizes them from me, NO ONE!"

"You are mine too," Jungkook's jaws clenched, "You could rule all of Zisk, Koveski, but it will never be enough if I did not let you rule me. You are my excuse, my vessel. You are my slave. You forget who speak to."

Dara swore her heart was absent. She couldn't feel it beat, nor hear it.

"You speak to your King," Jungkook's eyes circled with tears as he said, nose as red as a rose, "You speak to the Empire himself!"

Cries, gasps, and astonishment were heard throughout the crowd. For the first time, the market was still. The person they referred to as their Prince was none other than the one who, eighty seasons prior, governed the Curve, lost the love of his life to wickedness, and then conquered over her via her struggle. The misfortunate Prince was nothing more than the cursed King about whom they had been hearing tales for the majority of their lives and which they had read to their children at nightfall. Nothing more than witnessing the reincarnation, the son of Western soil and their rescuer, standing up so near to them caused their body hair to spring up.

"The unshakeable dynasty of Zisk," Jungkook said, his voice calmer, "is me."

She nodded, eyes streaming down tears as she searched for her pressed voice, "Yes, Your Majesty."

And no, that remark did not sound ironic. Because Dara's heart broke when she spelled the words, her body relieved for some reason as she, the very Queen of North that she was once and the candidate of the Curve, broke a knee to bow down to Jungkook.

Respect him like he is a King, Yoongi's words screwed into Dara's brain. She has been waiting for this day.

And the realm of Westerns followed. Jungkook watched the people fall to their knees before him, lowering their heads towards him. Dara's tears never stopped falling that day. Yoongi couldn't believe his eyes, nor could Adona as they too bowed down. Jungkook stared down at Dara, the red haired woman, the slave from South, once again made him their hope.

"May you live long!" Dara had to peer past the crowd to Adona to see whether the march started by the Guards were real because they were so loud. Adona nodded immediately when she herself yelled with the citizens, "May you live long, Jeon Jungkook!"

And Jungkook's rule had begun as Dara, the one who was never to kneel before one to begin with, put a stop to her reign at North by submitting and surrendering herself to the legitimate successor as his slave with the rest of the realm.