⤷ throne room

@♤ jeon jungkook ʳᵒʸᵃˡ ᵍᵘᵃʳᵈ As he meets Gayoung’s gaze, he stands firm, his unwavering demeanor catching her attention. "Interesting," she muses inwardly, a subtle smile gracing her lips as her gaze remains fixed on the formidable royal guard. Observing this exchange, the Queen quietly appraises the newly minted guard as he rises gracefully from his kneeling position. His towering stature and commanding presence are striking.

"He will suffice," the Queen murmurs, her tone carrying a note of approval.

Ever respectful, his eyes are cast to the ground from where she stood.

Gayoung's playful remark carried a touch of amusement as she addressed Jungkook. "You can lift your gaze, Jungkook," she said with a teasing tone, her eyes sparkling mischievously. She was well aware of the stringent protocols ingrained in royal guards, but she couldn't resist injecting a bit of levity into the interaction. It wasn't just about breaking rules; it was about infusing some personality into the stoic presence that would likely accompany her in the days ahead.

The Queen contemplated the situation with a hint of intrigue. If this young guard was to shadow her, she wanted more than a disciplined soldier. She sought someone with depth, someone who could engage in banter and respond with wit—not just a rigid sentinel following orders. She had encountered her fair share of those robotic figures within the palace walls, and the prospect of another one was less than appealing.

Leaning back slightly in her ornate chair, Gayoung regarded Jungkook with a thoughtful gaze. "If I had disapproved, I would have asked you to avert your eyes," she added, her smile widening. "But where's the fun in all that rigidity, hmm?" The Queen's voice held a hint of challenge, inviting Jungkook to embrace a bit of spontaneity amidst their formal surroundings.

"Alright, the rest of you may leave," Gayoung commanded with a casual wave of her hand, dismissing the assembled royal guards who had knelt before her. The rhythmic clinking of their metal armor filled the air as they rose in unison and exited the grand throne room, leaving only a few guards stationed by the ornate doors.

Once the room was cleared, Gayoung settled back onto her regal seat upon the dais, her gaze now fixed on Jungkook. "Well, Jungkook," she began, her tone conversational yet commanding, "how about you tell me a bit about yourself? I have an hour until the next council meeting, and I intend to use that time to acquaint myself with the one who will be at my side henceforth."

Curiosity gleamed in the Queen's dark, obsidian eyes as she awaited the young royal guard's response. "Start by telling me why you chose to serve as a royal guard," she instructed, her voice carrying a subtle authority.

@♤ kim gayoung ᵠᵘᵉᵉⁿ The nervousness of everyone was quite evident in the room the moment the queen got up from her throne and began walking around the line of guards that had knelt down in front of her, the sounds of her heels clicking against the cold hard floors, even the sound of her walking was elegant and powerful to the ear; it was easy to feel the power she held. Although he was nervous it wasn’t as nearly as much as the other recruits in line with him, thankful to his father for raising him as someone to respect royalty. Especially the royal family, who his father always looked up to and was loyal to.

All the men could do was wait and he was sure that to some of them it felt like hours. Jungkook had great confidence he wouldn’t get chosen, him being a guard to the most protected and important person in the palace? He couldn’t see himself doing so, Jungkook was so confident about it that he didn’t even realize her calling out the place he was in. And when the queen stopped in front of him he thought of it as a hallucination. The heels ceasing in front of him, his eyes looking a the crimson fabric of her dress. There was just no way…. But as his face began to be tilted up he met the eyes of his ruler. Jungkook didn’t say or do anything, maintaining the eye contact until she herself stood up.

He was confused, but followed the order with no hesitation. Standing up from his place and returning his gaze onto the floor as he bowed his head towards her direction. “My name is Jungkook, your majesty, and can I say what it is an honor to meet you.”

@♤ jeon jungkook ʳᵒʸᵃˡ ᵍᵘᵃʳᵈ Choosing a personal guard for the Queen seemed more of a formality than a weighty affair. After all, she was the paramount figure in Pyrolith. It was a requirement imposed by the council, though she privately attributed it to their insistence. Nevertheless, she would need to make a selection and proceed with her day. With countless responsibilities demanding her attention, she refused to allow this inconvenience to disrupt her plans.

The ornate doors of the throne room swung open, and the newly minted royal guards marched inside, presenting themselves to Gayoung. She vaguely recalled requesting these fresh recruits instead of the seasoned veterans who had served the royal family for years—why not? Between her and her twin and the king, Hyunjin, Gayoung was known for her whims and unpredictability.

The Queen rose from her throne, her steps deliberate and regal, descending the steps as the crimson fabric of her dress flowed behind her like molten lava. She reached the center of the line, feeling almost disappointed that the guards had bowed their heads. Gayoung first surveyed the guards before her; there were at least ten of them.

"The sixth one will do," she announced, plucking a random number from thin air. Gayoung cared little about who it was; her decision had already been made. With purpose, the Queen walked toward the sixth guard in line.

Gayoung stopped in front of the young man, bending her knees slightly to bring herself closer to his level. With a delicate touch, she lifted his chin between the pad of her thumb and index finger, examining his face with a small smile playing on her lips. His visage was pleasant enough, she supposed.

"Rise, and state your name," she instructed, withdrawing her hand and taking a step back, waiting for her new guard to respond. He appeared somewhat younger, sparking the Queen's curiosity.

@♤ kim gayoung ᵠᵘᵉᵉⁿ The palace walls were just as he imagined they’d be. Light fixtures, tapestry, and wonderfully beautiful paintings that was pleasing to the eyes. Within the palace hallways was the unison of feet marching, a line of men headed towards the huge wood crafted doors that opened when they approached it. With his eyes Jungkook observed the door as well as peeking at the other men who were all pretty nervous looking just as he was. Most of them were guards that had already been here for a bit so to Jungkook it was a shock to him hearing from his commanding officer that he had been given the opportunity to meet the Queen. And to also have a chance at becoming her personal guard. Nervous he was, but apart of him had a feeling that it’d be quite a while until he’d become anyone’s personal guard.

The wait was long, but he’s trained to stand for hours so this wasn’t anything challenging for him. No. The real test would be the moment he’d be in front of the Queen.

‘Remember your training’ he would state in his inner monologue.

His turn had finally come. His armor clanks, though not annoyingly loud, his sword sheathed at his belt once he’s walking down the long reddish carpet and at the end of it was the Queen of the nation. Jungkook kept his eyes on the floor, kneeling down on one knee once he reached her, keeping his head bowed.

“Your majesty.”