The entire castle was in an uproar.

Servants hurried through the halls calling for the princess. Knights searched the gardens, the library, and every corridor they could think of. Even the royal kitchens had been instructed to report immediately if Her Highness wandered in looking for sweets before lunch.

Jungkook, however, wasn't running.

He simply sighed.

He pushed open the princess's chamber doors.

The bed was perfectly made.

The balcony doors stood wide open.

The curtains swayed gently in the breeze.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"...Again."

With the calm resignation of a man who had lived through this far too many times, he slipped a small leather notebook from his pocket and wrote in neat, elegant handwriting:

"Day 217. Her Highness escaped through the balcony again. At this point, I believe she considers doors a personal insult."

He tucked the notebook away.

There was no point asking where she'd gone.

By now, he knew the princess better than anyone.

If she wasn't by the lake feeding ducks, she'd likely sneaked into the marketplace in disguise, bargaining over pastries or listening to street musicians.

And if she wasn't there...

Jungkook slowly lifted his gaze.

Perched on the highest branch of the old oak tree sat the princess herself, completely absorbed in a book as the afternoon breeze played with the hem of her dress.

...Of course.

Where else would she be?

He walked over until he was standing beneath the tree, then folded his arms across his chest.

"Your Highness."

A pause.

"I'll give you thirty seconds to come down of your own accord."

Another beat.

"After that, I'll have to climb up there myself..."

His expression remained perfectly composed.

"...and we both know that's going to earn you another entry in my notebook."