Chapter 3: “I Think I Accidentally Challenged the Prince to a Duel”

In which Taehyung speaks without thinking, Jungkook gets triggered, and everyone else watches with popcorn.

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It all started with a meat pie.

A simple, innocent, gravy-filled meat pie.

Taehyung was enjoying it during lunch—sitting under the shade with Jimin and Suga, telling a dramatic story (probably fake) about fighting off three wild swans at once.

"And then," he said with his mouth full, waving his fork, "I told the swan queen, ‘Back off, bird!’ And she bowed to me because I’m obviously the alpha—"

The pie flew from his hand and smacked a passing noble straight in the face.

The noble gasped. Everyone turned.

Including Prince Jungkook.

And guess who the noble was?

Lisa.

One of the Black family girls.

One of the villainesses.

“Oh no,” Jimin whispered. “You’ve just hit Lisa Black in the face with a meat pie. You might as well dig your grave now.”

Lisa slowly wiped gravy off her cheek like a Disney villain about to monologue.

“You filthy little country mutt,” she sneered. “How dare you—”

“It was an accident!” Taehyung stood up, panicked. “I swear! I didn’t mean to pie-slap you!”

Lisa narrowed her eyes, obviously enjoying the attention. “You insult me in front of the prince and half the school? Then apologize. On your knees.”

Taehyung blinked.

Then something in him snapped.

Maybe it was the humiliation. Maybe it was his pride. Maybe it was because he could feel Jungkook watching and his heart was doing that stupid flutter thing again.

But instead of kneeling… he pointed his fork at Lisa like a knight with a weapon.

“I will not bow to a bully,” he said dramatically. “If you want to punish me, we’ll settle it like nobles. With a duel!”

The courtyard went silent.

Lisa's mouth fell open.

Suga facepalmed. “Here we go.”

Jimin spit out his drink. “You WHAT?!”

Then—

“Accepted,” said a deep voice.

Everyone turned.

Prince Jungkook had stepped forward, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

Taehyung blinked. “Huh?”

Jungkook walked calmly toward him.

“You just challenged someone of noble blood to a duel,” Jungkook said. “But Lisa isn’t trained. She’s a noble lady.”

“Okay? So… what now?”

“I’ll fight in her place,” Jungkook said.

Taehyung’s soul left his body.

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Later that afternoon, at the Academy’s dueling arena…

Taehyung stood in the middle of the field, holding a beginner’s practice wand like it was made of soap.

Across from him stood Jungkook.

Cool. Collected. Definitely not taking this seriously.

Taehyung was shaking.

“This is fine,” he muttered. “Totally fine. I’ve only been in this world for a week and now I’m about to be vaporized by the crown prince. No big deal.”

“Try not to cry,” Jimin whispered from the side.

“Too late,” Taehyung sobbed.

The match began.

Jungkook didn’t move.

Taehyung, terrified but stubborn, flung his wand up and yelled the first spell that came to mind.

“Puffus Maximus!”

A cloud of pink smoke exploded in front of him.

When it cleared… nothing happened. Except now he was covered in glitter.

The crowd started laughing.

Jungkook blinked. For the first time… he smiled. A real one.

And then he raised his own wand. Quiet. Focused.

“Don’t kill me,” Taehyung whispered.