TAEHYUNG THE SLY KING

The Kingdom of Saidhanta appeared to be a prosperous realm under the rule of King Harsyan—a ruler known for his fairness and humility. But that prosperity was nothing more than a mask. Behind the grand palace and the smiling faces of its people, a dark truth remained hidden from the world.

One of those secrets was a murder committed by King Harsyan himself. The tragedy left a deep scar on his soul, yet it was buried beneath of silence. Only he and the queen knew of the crime. The murder was not born of cruelty, but of rage—and devastating betrayal. Queen Asmiranda, his beloved wife, had dared to be unfaithful, engaging in an affair with the king of another realm.

From that marriage, King Harsyan had two children: Clara, the 21-year-old crown princess—gentle and innocent—and Husnan, the young prince, only eight. Clara grew up unaware of her family’s shadows. To her, the palace was a place of love and warmth.

Meanwhile, far across the land in the Kingdom of Madginta, King Taehyung Vhi harbored a burning hatred for King Harsyan—whom he blamed for the death of his father.

Now, having ascended the throne in his father’s place, that hatred had grown into a consuming obsession. In the silence of the royal library, his fingers traced the names etched into the Saidhanta family tree. His sharp gaze lingered on each one. Without a word, he vowed revenge. Even if it meant destroying King Harsyan’s children, he would deliver justice in his own brutal way.

Taehyung Vhi was known far and wide for his ruthlessness. Even before becoming king, he was feared on the battlefield. He always led from the front lines, cutting down enemies with his own hands, without hesitation.

Now, as the new King of Madginta, his cruelty had only deepened. Mercy had no place in his reign. And with his father's blood still fresh in memory—a murder that happened merely a week ago—his fury was unrelenting. His heart boiled with vengeance, and all of it pointed to one name: King Harsyan.

That night.

Princess Clara and her younger brother, Prince Husnan, were attending the people’s festival held in the vast central field.

Twinkling lights hung from every corner, adding to the festive spirit of the joyous evening. In the middle of the field, a massive bonfire burned brightly, its flames reflected in the eyes of the people gathered in awe.

King Harsyan and Queen Asmiranda were absent that night. Still, two royal guards faithfully accompanied the royal siblings.

The celebration ended exactly at midnight. The crowd slowly dispersed, returning to their homes. Little Prince Husnan began to yawn and rubbed his sleepy eyes.

“Sister, let’s go home. Husnan is sleepy,” he whispered, his drowsy face utterly adorable.

Clara smiled gently. “Alright, little one.” She reached out, took his hand, and held it warmly as they walked side by side. The two guards followed close behind.

Clara felt a quiet joy seeing how much her brother had enjoyed the festival. But that happiness slowly faded. The night grew eerily silent. Only the sound of crickets echoed in place of the earlier cheerful noise.

She realized they had passed the edge of the village. Now they were entering the forest path—dark, quiet, and ominous.

Thankfully, Clara still carried a small lantern in her hand, as did Husnan. The soft glow from the two lanterns was their only source of light in the thick shadows.

But something felt wrong. The air grew heavy. Clara’s chest tightened with unease. She instinctively gripped her younger brother hand tighter and quickened her pace.

“Hurry, Husnan,” she whispered, panic rising in her throat.

The two guards walked just behind them. But then—

Thwack!

An arrow flew from the bushes, striking one of the guards squarely in the back.

Thud!

The man collapsed, blood soaking the ground. Husnan screamed in terror, his small body trembling uncontrollably. Clara grabbed his hand and ran with all her strength.

“RUN!!” she screamed, her voice breaking with horror.

They ran blindly, panic overtaking them. Desperate to reach the safety of the palace, they darted into the dark forest. But the sounds of pursuit grew louder. Moments later, a second arrow sliced through the air, bringing down the last remaining guard.

There was no time to think. Clara’s breath came in ragged gasps, but she forced her legs to keep moving, dragging Husnan as he stumbled beside her.

“S-Sister… I’m scared…” Husnan whimpered, eyes brimming with tears.

Clara looked at him, choking back her own sobs.

“Keep running, Husnan! We can’t fight them—we have to run!”

But hope was short-lived.

Someone stepped out of the shadows ahead—tall, fast, and unrelenting. A masked figure stood in their path, blocking their escape.

Clara froze. The man looked terrifying. His sharp eyes locked onto her, cold and filled with fury.

Taehyung Vhi.

The young king of Madginta. A man feared across kingdoms for his cruelty and utter lack of mercy.

“W-Who are you… p-please… don’t hurt me or my brother…” Clara’s voice trembled, her knees nearly giving out.

But Taehyung said nothing. He stepped forward and, without warning, hoisted Clara over his shoulder.

“Hey! Let go! LET ME GO!” Clara screamed, kicking and struggling. But it was useless. His grip was iron.

Husnan, still just a boy, ran after them, his cries piercing the night.

“SISTER! SIS—TER! DON’T TAKE MY SISTER!!”

Tears streamed down his small face as he tried to follow—but Taehyung never once looked back.

Clara couldn’t bear the sound of her brother’s cries. She thrashed in the stranger’s hold, but she wasn’t strong enough.

Seeing her brother chase after them broke her heart. She had to do something—Husnan must not be dragged into this.

With a heaving breath and trembling voice, Clara cried out:

“Go home, little brother! Tell Father—save me!”

Husnan’s small feet stopped. His teary eyes watched his sister vanish into the darkness. Through quiet sobs, he nodded, then turned back—her words burning into his memory.

Clara could no longer see her younger brother. All she felt now was fear creeping through her body. She didn’t know who this man was—or what he would do to her.

Not long after, Taehyung Vhi arrived at a black horse-drawn carriage waiting in the woods. Several dark-clad guards stood beside it, unmoving.

Without a word, Taehyung threw Clara off his shoulder and shoved her toward them.

“Take care of her,” he said coldly, voice void of emotion.

One of the guards grabbed Clara’s wrist, while another opened a large burlap sack. She tried to scream, but a cloth soaked in something sweet and sharp was pressed to her face. The world blurred and dimmed—she lost consciousness.

Without wasting time, they stuffed her limp body into the sack and placed it inside the carriage.

The carriage sped through the night. Inside, Taehyung sat in silence, his sharp eyes fixed on the road ahead. His face remained unreadable—but his mind raced.

He had just kidnapped the daughter of King Harsyan.

And this… was only the beginning.

Upon arriving in Madginta, the guards swiftly carried Clara’s unconscious body through a hidden underground corridor in the castle. They moved quickly, past cold stone walls and narrow passageways—until they reached a secluded room.

Silent.

Dark.

And waiting.

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