Jisoo POV
After traveling for some time, we can finally see our Kingdom in the distance.
"Home sweet home," Jungkook said smiling.
We stopped our horses and from here we could see the sun rising behind our Kingdom that made it look so heavenly. It made me feel so many emotions, but mostly happiness that gave a lasting smile on my face.
Not knowing what's waiting for us inside made me both excited and anxious.
"I can't believe we're home," V said with watery eyes as we crossed the bridge leading to our Kingdom.
We all nodded. All of us thought that we'll never see our home again. There were a lot of doubts that we'll make it out alive, but we did.
We finally reached the massive gates then jumped off our horses. Jungkook guides V down off his horse because he's still struggling with his legs.
Two guards walked towards us cautiously
with their weapons pointing at us.
My father walked in front of them with his hands up "I am Seung-hyun also known as The Great Red Lion. The commander of this Kingdom. We've been gone for a while but we're finally home" he said.
The guards walked closer to see the five of us clearer, their eyes widened from the recognition, then the guard yelled to another guard stationed at the top of the gate "Let them in!"
Then we saw the gate slowly rising and a loud trumpet was blown, announcing our return.
My father walked closer to us before saying "I'll talk to the King and we'll deal with the Longfords. I don't want any of you acting suspiciously when it comes to the Longfords. We'll handle this quietly. We don't want them attacking us when we don't even know the situation with the King" He said seriously.
We nodded. This is going to be hard. How can we act normal when the family who's been funding the monsters who killed a lot of our people is standing and relaxing in our very own castle.
I sighed but my father is right. We can't handle this recklessly. We need to be smart about this.
"What if I accidentally punched the Prince in the face. Is that still suspicious?" Lisa asked with a serious face.
I chuckled and my father rolled his eyes but smiled.
We walked through the open gate and entered our kingdom.
I immediately looked around and saw that a lot has already changed. A lot of new shops have been built and new decorations for the Kingdom and a lot of things have also been replaced.
"It still feels like home even though so much has changed," V said.
"I'm just looking forward to lying on my bed. I'm so exhausted" Jungkook said.
A knight ran towards us "Sir Seung-hyun. The King wants to welcome you all back and thank you personally" the knights said.
My father nodded and we went straight to the Castle. While we were walking, everyone is staring at us. Most of them recognized us and some looked at us confused maybe because of what we're wearing or maybe because all of them thought we're dead. But no one dared to come closer.
We walked up the wide steps leading to the castle. When we reached the door a knight opened it for us.
We stepped inside the castle and I looked around. Everything's the same then suddenly memories started to hit me.
I lived in this castle for a long while that I could already consider this my second home and being gone for as long as I did made me miss this place so much.
A knight walked towards us and led us to the same big room and high ceiling that I remember so well. That is where I first met all the royals.
We walked inside and it's so quiet. I could see a lot of people waiting for us at the end of the room.
We walked further and started to recognize them. The first person I saw was the King, he is smiling so widely and I noticed a lot of things changed about him. His beard is a lot longer and his hair is starting to turn white slightly.
"Seung-hyun!" The King walked to my father and hugged him tightly "I'm so glad you made it"
My father hugged him too "They couldn't get rid of me that easily my friend" he chuckled with his deep voice.
"I still can't believe it. We've been mourning your death and now all of you are here and you brought home victory" The King looked emotional.
I got distracted by my thinking that I wasn't listening to their conversations anymore. Where's Jennie?
I looked around but I couldn't see her anywhere. I could see the Queen with his husband talking to my father. All the council members are also here but not Jennie. I was looking forward to seeing her.
"Princess Jennie is at the arena handling some business for the next event," The King said when he noticed me looking around. He already knew who I was looking for.
I just nodded as a thank you and he changed the topic immediately and asked us about what happened, and we told everything but we left the Longfords out of the story. My father will tell him that when they're alone.
The King looked at us smiling "You are all considered heroes and you should be treated as one. I assigned a room for all of you inside this castle where you will be staying. But before any of that, we need a ceremony"
"A ceremony your Highness?" V asked.
The King smiled "Well of course. You should be awarded for everything you've done. You destroyed the monsters of this world and saved us all" he said looking at us proudly.
"Thank you, Your Highness. When's the ceremony?" My father asked.
"Now, of course," The King laughed "There's no better way in welcoming you than with the love of our people". Then he walked leading us to the large balcony of the castle.
We looked down and saw all the people below surrounding a wide stage. Everyone was cheering.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Everyone was there, waiting for us.
"Now let's give the people what they want,"
The King said then we went down the stairs.
The King went in a different direction while assigning a knight to lead us to the people.
The closer we walk to the stage the louder my heartbeat became. I'm not used to the attention and seeing people look at me. I'm used to people watching me but I was wearing a helmet. They didn't know it was me.
So this is all somehow new to me. I looked at V and he was being carried by Jungkook and both were smiling so widely, loving the attention.
Lisa looked awed like she couldn't believe this is happening.
The host spoke "Our Kingdom has gone through so much but we couldn't have succeeded without our brave group of knights who went straight to the eye of the storm and defeated the King of Savages" The people cheered.
"We welcome them all back from the dead. First, is our very own commander Kim Seung-hyun also known as The Great Red Lion!" The people cheered
My father walked up the stage waving smiling.
"And we welcome our top three knights Kim V, Jeon Jungkook, and Lalisa Manoban!" The people cheered.
The three of them walked up the stage and a knight gave a chair for V to sit on and V was wiping tears from his eyes from happiness. Jungkook was waving at his family at the back and Lisa was smiling.
"And lastly our very own The Knight of Roses! or what we should know her by now as Kim Jisoo!" The people cheered louder.
I walked up the stage and it felt surreal. I never felt like a hero but right now I do, and it's a crazy feeling. Like you could feel the adrenaline was pumping through your veins.
I stood in front of the crowd and I can see all the smiles of the people, especially the ones I knew like Judy and Soojoo waving at me.
The pride the people felt when they heard we defeated The Savages is palpable.
"We give these medals for your bravery and courage and for bringing a great deal of pride to our Kingdom," The host said smiling.
Three knights walked up the stage, each carrying a red pillow with medals laying on top of it.
"Let's welcome our beloved King!" The host
announced.
The King walked up the stage followed by one of the knights carrying medals. "This first medal is the Medal of Honor" He reached for a medal and put it around my father's neck then did the same to V, Jungkook, and Lisa.
He got the last medal and walked towards me. He put the medal around my neck and smiled softly "I'm proud of you and I owe you my life. You let me and my family run to safety while you run to the chaos. I wish I could repay you with the same amount of happiness you gave me but somehow I did the opposite" he looked down sadly.
We were too far up from the audience that they couldn't hear us.
I looked at him confused. What does he mean by that?
But before I could ask him, he walked down the stage. The queen walked up and was followed by the second knight with medals.
"Let's welcome our wonderful Queen!" The host announced.
"This is the Medal of Bravery" The Queen announced before putting it over my father's head and kissing his cheek.
She did the same to V, Jungkook, and Lisa. Then she reached me "Thank you for saving our Kingdom," she said to me then kissed my cheek.
I smiled at her and watched her walk down the stairs. Then I heard a gasp "Did she become more beautiful or is it just me" I heard Jungkook mumble.
I didn't know what he was talking about until I looked and saw the Princess walking up the stage.
I looked at her and she looked a little different from when I last saw her. Her blonde hair is a little longer now and she looked more mature. Somehow she became much more beautiful than before.
I could feel my heart beating two times faster than it should've and it scared me a little that it might beat right out of my chest.
I'm just so happy to know that she's safe. I've worried about what happened after I left and the relief I'm feeling now is what I've been wishing for.
"Let's welcome our newlywed Princess!" The host announced.
Wait. What?
She's married?
My mind couldn't comprehend what was happening that I didn't get to hear what she's saying about the medals. My mind was going blank.
I knew she was engaged when I left but I didn't think she would go through with it.
I sighed and looked down. I could somehow feel my heart shatter. I did everything to go home to her and I arrive home just to know she didn't wait for me.
I thought she loved me.
Lisa turned to me and looked at me with pity.
I was too late.
I was occupied with my thinking that I only noticed the Princess after she put the medal around Lisa's neck.
We stared at each other's eyes when she started to walk towards me holding the last medal.
She stood in front of me just looking at my face like she's still processing if it's really me.
She reached up and slowly put the medal around my neck but she didn't let go of it. She watched her hands as she dragged them from my neck to my shoulders, to my upper chest tracing the lace of the medal.
The heat of her hands dragging on the skin of my neck made me miss her more.
I never looked away from her, then I whispered "You're married?" I hate that my voice cracked a little, it made me show her that I'm vulnerable.
She looked up sadly and her soft lips trembled and her eyes watered but she blinked it away. She didn't answer me. She just looked down and walked down the stage.
"Let's congratulate them once again!" The host said happily. The people cheered but I was still in my own head.
Then we walked down the stage with the people cheering our names.
But somehow I wasn't as happy as I should be. I looked to the side and saw the King looking at me sadly. Now I know what he meant by his earlier message.
The Princess passed by him and he grabbed her arm to stop her from walking away but Jennie glared at him and pulled her arm from her father's grasp and she walked back to the castle.
They used to be so close and now it looks like Jennie would rather be anywhere else than be near her father.
Maybe everything did change.
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