The grand castle of Eudaemonia stood resplendent, adorned in banners and flowers, as the kingdom busily prepared for Princess Roseanne's coronation. In the bustling corridors, the castle staff hurried about, meticulously ensuring every detail was perfect for the afternoon's festivities.

However, Roseanne, adorned in her nightgown from the previous night, paced the castle's corridors with a sense of unease. Her heart was filled with anxiety about Jungkook and Mingyu, who had been absent since the previous day. Peering through each window in search of any sign of them, she reached the tranquil Rose Garden, a sanctuary within the castle walls.

Sir Anthony noticed her unrest as he entered the serene garden.

"Your Highness, forgive me for intruding, but you seem troubled," he gently remarked, his concern evident.

Roseanne sighed, her eyes scanning the garden's serene beauty. "Uncle, I am worried about Jungkook and Mingyu. They have been gone since yesterday, and they haven't shown up until now."

Sir Anthony regarded her with an understanding gaze, "I understand your concern, Princess. But have faith, they shall return. In the meantime, it might be wise for you to ready yourself for the ceremony."

She nodded, attempting to compose herself as she made her way to the part of the garden that bloomed the most, "I will. I just...want to take a little breather here first."

"Very well, Your Highness. If you need anything, let me know.", with a bow, he left Roseanne to her thoughts.

As the day progressed, the castle buzzed with activity. Alice and Alicia, two diligent members of the castle staff, rushed to add the final touches to the already splendid courtyard, while Sir Anthony oversaw the preparations, ensuring everything was proceeding smoothly.

In the midst of the whirlwind preparations, Roseanne could not shake the sense of longing and apprehension. Her steps faltered as she wandered to the Grand Hall, hoping for a glimpse of Jungkook or Mingyu on the horizon. She needed them to be there when the ceremony begins or her plan for that day would not be successful.

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As the afternoon sun bathed the castle courtyard in golden hues, the air filled with an expectant hush. The time for Roseanne's coronation drew near. Sir Anthony, adorned in his ceremonial garb, gently reminded her of the imminent moment.

"Rosie, it's time to proceed to the stage for the ceremony," Sir Anthony announced to her.

With a resolute nod, Roseanne took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the pivotal event. As the castle staff and guests began to gather around the adorned stage, eager to witness the princess's grand entrance, Roseanne beckoned Seokjin and Hoseok, the diligent royal guards, to her side.

"Seokjin, Hoseok.", she addressed them in a hushed tone, "I need your assistance with something very important before the ceremony begins."

The two guards nodded attentively, ready to fulfill her request. "Anything you need, Your Highness," Seokjin affirmed, his gaze steady.

With a whisper, she instructed them, a glimmer of hope lighting up her eyes.

Seokjin and Hoseok exchanged a quick, understanding glance before nodding in unison. "We'll do our utmost, Your Highness.", Hoseok assured her, and the two guards swiftly made their way to do as ordered by the future ruler of the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the castle staff initiated the commencement of the ceremony. The sound of the ceremonial siren reverberated throughout the kingdom, signaling the start of the grand event. Guests gathered eagerly, their murmurs hushing as they awaited the arrival of the princess.

On the stage, Sir Anthony, dignified and composed, stood ready to receive Roseanne as she prepared to make her momentous entrance. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone anticipated the princess's arrival. As Roseanne readied herself backstage, her heart prayed for everything to go smootly in the ceremony.

Moments later, Alicia gently reminded Roseanne of the momentous occasion.

"Princess, it's time to grace the stage."

With resolve in her eyes, Roseanne nodded, her heart aflutter with emotions. As she stepped forward, she bumped into Seokjin and Hoseok. They nodded to her as a sign that they had prepared what she asked them. Seeing their signal, she took a deep breath before making her move to see the people of the kingdom in the courtyard.

With a calm and dignified gait, she made her grand entrance onto the stage, her presence commanding the attention of the gathered audience. The air was thick with anticipation as she stood poised, a vision of grace and nobility. As the ceremony commenced amidst the silent anticipation of the crowd, Roseanne's heart held a silent hope that Jungkook and Mingyu would miraculously appear before her moment of coronation reached its pinnacle.

"Jungkook, Mingyu, where are you guys?", she whispered, her eyes scanning the crowd for the two figures.

Just as her anxiety threatened to overwhelm her, a subtle signal caught her eye—a faint gesture from Hoseok from the curtain. The princess's heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of familiar figures behind him. Jungkook and Mingyu stood there, grinning broadly and waving at her.

"Thank the heavens," she whispered under her breath, a mixture of relief and joy flooding her expression.

With a subtle nod to them and Sir Anthony, she steadied herself on the podium and turned to the front to address the people, her voice carrying across the courtyard.

"Ladies and gentlemen of Eudaemonia," she began, her tone projecting strength despite the turmoil within her. "Today marks a momentous day for our kingdom. As we embrace the future, let us cherish our unity and the bonds that tie us together.", she looked at each of the people below carefully, trying to decipher their feelings to meet her as their future ruler.

"First of all, before we begin, I would like to apologise for everything that had happened while I was away. From...the misfortune that came upon our land; the drought, the scarcity of resources to...the passing of my father, King Julius. All of these would never happen if I did not act selfishly. I promise I will take responsibility for everything that's happened.", she said, her head hung low as she acknowledged her guilt.

As she spoke, Sir Anthony moved closer to her with serious expression, "Your Highness, what are you saying?"

Everyone, including Jungkook and Mingyu, was confused with her speech.

"Uncle, let me do this. Trust me.", Roseanne replied as she looked at her advisor with hope to be understood.

The older man nodded before stepping back.

"People of Eudaemonia, I am sorry that today might not be as how you wanted to remember it. I was informed that the coronation would take place yesterday but I requested it to be delayed today. However...the coronation will not take place today either.", Roseanne said.

The people began to chatter among themselves as they were perplexed by her words.

"But you will still witness an important occasion that might surprise you in a good way, I hope.", she said before she left the podium. "Without further ado, I want you to meet someone.", she added, her eyes searched for Jungkook to show up on the stage.

He looked shocked, his gaze fixed on the ground, apprehension evident in his stance.

"I..I don't" he tried to say before Mingyu pushed him to the center stage.

He stood in front of Roseanne but he did not dare to turn to the people.

With a whisper, he asked her, "Is this a part of our plan, Rosie?"

Observing his nervousness, she turned to him, her eyes filled with warmth and courage.

"Jungkook," she whispered, reaching out to him. "Trust me, it'll be fine."

With a reassuring smile and a supportive nudge on his arm, she encouraged him, "Go ahead. Show them your face."

Reluctantly, Jungkook turned and lifted his gaze to meet the curious eyes of the people of Eudaemonia. When they saw him, their expressions were a mix of surprise and wonder.

Unaccustomed to being the center of attention, Jungkook felt a rush of shyness wash over him. The sight of a sea of people watching him crept him up so he did the best thing he could think of to avoid their gazes. He bowed down to them, earning a chuckle from the person beside him.

She asked him to stop before she spoke to the people again, "I know all of you are surprised. I could hear your chatter. Is that the angel-like man? How did he survive? Where are his wings? He's still alive. How..."

Her hand reached his bare shoulder, their eyes met as he turned to her.

"This is Caladrius, the angel-like man that had helped us to fix our land. How did he survive? I would say...he found something that was able to save him but it cost his immortality that we are aware of before. Because of that, he lost his wings-"

"Does it mean he can't help us anymore?", a boy standing at the front of the crowd asked.

His question stopped Roseanne. Her eyes located the boy as his father covered his mouth.

"Forgive me, Your Highness.", the man said before putting his finger on his lips, signalling to his son to remain silent.

Roseanne smiled warmly, "It's okay. I will answer the question." She nodded before continuing, "This good man beside me..he may not be the same in your eyes anymore but his generosity and altruism have never changed since I met him. In Crimsonheart, he took care of me. When he brought me back here, he helped our land as much as he could. And even after he was harmed, he came back to help me again."

"But what about The Executioner's accusation on him?! Is he really here with good intentions now?", another person asked from the crowd, sounding displeased with Jungkook's presence.

Some of the royal guards were ready to rush to the person but Roseanne stopped them.

"I know some of you are doubting him but I will let him tell you all the truth about what happened to him the day you saw him with The Executioner's scroll.", she said before she turned to Jungkook. "Jungkook, you can tell them everything that's happened that day.", she said to him.

Slowly, he nodded before looking at the eyes that were curious of him.

"Hi, everyone.", he began.

At first, he was nervous but he had told Roseanne that he would want to clear his name to the people of Eudaemonia by himself. If it was with his own ways, he might need a longer time to gain their trust on him again. He knew by heart as he spoke to them all now, Roseanne was giving him a quicker way to prove his innocence to them.

He told them what happened the night before he was found 'dead' to the fake scroll of the legendary vigilante but he kept the identity of the real criminal until someone asked. He looked at Roseanne when they heard the question from the crowd. Seokjin and Hoseok peered from the curtain, nodding that they were ready to bring the criminal to the stage.

"Royal guards, please bring the criminal up here!", Roseanne commanded, her eyes were sharp on the direction of the two royal guards holding a person with covered face and tied hands to the stage.

The crowd were gasping and murmuring as they wondered who was behind the black clothing covering the face.

"Open it.", Roseanne said.

When the black clothing was taken off, they were shocked again to see that it was Wendy behind the attack on Jungkook. They just found out how cruel she was when she eagerly wanted to have a coronation yesterday but now to add this, they realized how wicked she was.

Roseanne went closer to her, seeing how she struggled to speak as her mouth was taped. With a little touch, Roseanne pulled the tape off, causing Wendy to scream in pain.

"Argh! How could you?!"

"Forgive me...everyone.", Roseanne turned her face to her people. "I never been this cruel before and today I just had to.", she added.

Wendy felt angry with her, "Rosie, untie me! This is a mistake, you know?!"

She shook her head, "I don't make mistakes like this, Wendy. It's the truth. You are the one who tried to kill him that night."

Wendy was going to reply but then, she saw Jungkook standing behind Roseanne. Her eyes widened at his appearance. He stepped forward and stood beside Roseanne.

"Hello.", he greeted Wendy.

"How- how can- wait...you don't have any proof.", Wendy stuttered.

Jungkook and Roseanne looked at each other.

"We have the proof.", both of them said.

Seokjin and Hoseok came up with the proof trapped in a metal cover as tall as a typical human height. Upon looking at it, everyone was wondering how it could be proof of Wendy's crime. Meanwhile, Wendy was the only one who looked shocked to see the proof brought there.

"Jungkook, tell them about the tree.", Roseanne said.

"Is that The Betrayer?", someone asked.

Roseanne and Jungkook turned to the person.

"Mr Min Yoongi.", she nodded as she recognised him, the healer who told her about her father's illness.

"What's The Betrayer?", another person asked.

Jungkook took it as a sign to tell them about it, "The most dangerous tree in the world, the thorny branches and leaves of the tree could kill in an instant. This is The Betrayer or the founder would call it as the treacherous tree, it could kill even its owner if he stepped on the wrong path. Since a century ago, the last known Betrayer has been destroyed due to its harmful nature."

"And it's also a mystical tree, whoever found it could be its new owner and possess the power to ask the tree to do as they instructed.", Yoongi added.

Jungkook nodded, agreeing with the healer from the crowd.

"But it seems like you have cut all the thorns except one.", Yoongi said.

"Yes, because I need it to help me to prove Wendy's crime.", Roseanne replied. "Jungkook is a gifted man. He understands the nature's language. He could help us talk to the tree to admit its crime.", she added.

Jungkook looked at the tree and then, asked it of who its owner was.

The tree's one thorny branch pointed to Wendy.

He asked it if it was instructed to kill him but the tree remained still.

He asked it if it was instructed to kill him, who was the person that instructed it.

Once again, the tree pointed to Wendy.

"No!! You are wrong! I have no such knowledge about that tree!", Wendy shouted, trying to defend herself.

"No? You don't know the tree was able to take instructions and kill people?", Jungkook asked her.

"Yes, I don't know!"

Jungkook laughed as he leaned against the metal cover where the tree was confined in, "Look, I told you. Your owner will abandon you."

He smirked at Wendy, his trick was a success. He might have lost his abilities as he turned mortal but he knew somehow the nature would still be on his side. And with The Betrayer, it was easy to manipulate it to side with him.

"It looks like you will never admit your crime...then, I guess...I have to make you admit it with permission from the future ruler of the kingdom. Princess Roseanne?", Jungkook spoke with a tone of confidence.

"You have my permission, Jungkook.", Roseanne responded.

"Wendy, you know that you've just turned your tree into a betrayer with your denial to the crime, don't you?", Jungkook asked, trying to remind Wendy of what could happen next.

"What- what are you trying to say?", Wendy looked at the tree with fear in her eyes.

Jungkook pointed to the tree's thorny branch, "This tree may have only one thorn but it still able to kill a person."

He looked at Wendy before telling the tree to stab Wendy the way it did to him. Wendy was speechless as the tree brought its branch closer and closer to her. When it was aiming at her neck, she shouted, asking it to stop and she will admit her crime.

"I admit it. I did all the bad things in the town. I put the thorns into the soil to make it bad. I put them in the tea my father drinks. I told the tree to kill him. I did all of that."

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THE END

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NAH, JUST KIDDING. Anyway, Wendy admitted. Suggest me a few punishments for her and only then, we'll have a happy ending. 😌