Chapter 1: Shadows and Whispers Part 2: The Exile

Chapter 1: Shadows and Whispers

Part 2: The Exile

Summary: Taehyung escapes the Azure Palace under the cover of night, seeking refuge in the wilderness. His thoughts linger on betrayal and vengeance as he begins his journey alone.

---

The stars above seemed indifferent to his plight. Kim Taehyung tightened the hood of his cloak, its fabric worn but still shielding him from the night’s chill. The moonlight cast long shadows across the forest path, twisting the ancient trees into clawed specters that reached for him as he passed.

Each step echoed the words he’d heard earlier in the day: Traitor. Poison. Exile.

His fists clenched around the bundle he carried—everything he could salvage in his hasty retreat. Inside were a few coins, a dagger with a chipped blade, and a locket containing the portrait of his late mother. The thought of her soothed him for a moment, but the sting of betrayal quickly returned.

“Cowards,” he muttered under his breath, his voice raw with bitterness. The royal court was no stranger to deceit, but to accuse him of plotting against his own family was beyond cruel.

His mind wandered to his elder brother, the golden heir of the Azure Palace. They had once been close, sharing secrets as children beneath the palace cherry trees. But over time, envy and ambition had soured their bond.

The forest thickened as Taehyung trudged deeper into its depths, each step taking him further from the palace gates—and the memories he wished he could leave behind. The path was uneven, littered with roots that snaked across the ground. His foot caught on one, sending him sprawling into the dirt.

“Damn it!” he cursed, his voice loud in the stillness. He sat up, brushing leaves and soil from his hands, and glared at the offending root as if it had acted with intent.

For a moment, he remained still, his breathing heavy. The quiet pressed in around him, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. He pulled his knees to his chest and allowed himself a rare moment of vulnerability.

“This is just the beginning,” he whispered to himself, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his heart. “I will return. And they will regret what they’ve done.”

The sound of twigs snapping nearby startled him. His head whipped around, his senses suddenly on high alert. Taehyung’s hand instinctively moved to the dagger at his waist.

“Who’s there?” he demanded, rising to his feet. His voice carried authority, even in exile.

The shadows remained silent. He could feel the weight of unseen eyes on him, but nothing emerged from the darkness.

Taehyung’s grip on the dagger tightened as he backed away slowly, his gaze darting between the trees. Whatever was out there, it didn’t feel human.

“You won’t scare me,” he said, more to himself than to the unseen presence.

Without warning, a low growl rumbled from the shadows. A pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared between the trees, followed by the sleek, muscular form of a wolf-like creature. Its fangs gleamed in the moonlight, and its fur bristled as it stalked closer.

Taehyung’s heart pounded in his chest, but he didn’t run. Instead, he raised his dagger, positioning himself defensively.

“I said, stay back!” he barked.

The creature paused, its head tilting as if assessing him. For a brief moment, its eyes seemed almost intelligent, its expression curious rather than hostile.

Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the creature turned and melted back into the shadows, leaving Taehyung alone once more.

He exhaled shakily, lowering the dagger. Whatever that was, it wasn’t natural.

“This forest…” he murmured, glancing around. “It’s as cursed as the palace.”

He tightened his cloak around him and resumed walking, his steps faster and more purposeful. There would be no rest tonight, not with dangers lurking in every shadow.

Ahead, the trees began to thin, revealing a clearing bathed in silver moonlight. In the center stood a crumbling stone archway, its surface etched with symbols he couldn’t decipher.

Drawn to the structure, Taehyung approached cautiously. The air here felt different—charged, almost humming with an unseen energy. As he stepped closer, he noticed a faint blue light emanating from the carvings.

“What is this place?” he whispered, reaching out to trace the symbols with his fingertips.

The moment his skin made contact, a surge of heat shot through his hand, and an image flashed in his mind—a vision of a pair of glowing eyes, this time a deep, mesmerizing gold. A voice, soft and melodic, whispered a single word:

“Fate.”

Startled, Taehyung stumbled back, clutching his hand. The vision faded, but the feeling of being watched remained.

He turned away from the archway, his thoughts racing. Something—or someone—was guiding him. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, he couldn’t yet tell.

“All I know,” he muttered, resuming his path, “is that I can’t stop now. Not until I find answers.”

As the forest closed in around him once more, Taehyung pressed on, his resolve hardening with each step.

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***