The forest was eerily quiet, only nature's amphibious and beastly creatures singing in the distance. There were no sounds of cars driving by, airplanes flying overhead. One moment he had been in his grandfather's basement and the next, he was waking up in a random forest.

A moment ago, Taehyung had been touching one of his grandpa's inventions, it had been blinking erratically, making an unbearable high pitched buzz. Curiosity led him to start touching the mechanism, to press and poke at whatever would make the persistent sound disappear.

His poking and prodding had been nothing but an innocent attempt to stop a triggering sound yet it resulted in him getting engulfed by a bright light blinding him and knocking him out.

Taehyung was laying down adjusting to the illuminated sky, which was once a ceiling and looked around. He was sitting down next to the sparking time machine. The noise had stopped, but one quick look at it and he knew it was damaged. If he's lucky it may be repairable on the assumption that he has the right tools.

It was emitting a foul odor, making the delirious male fan the air. His mind was hazy and obscure. Watching as everything moved slowly as he'd look around.

Below him at his side, he recognized an old journal and picked it up pressing it against his chest: it was his grandfather's. As long as he had this, the probability of him going back home increased. At least he wasn't completely in the dark.

Taehyung never believed his grandpa's inventions would work. It's why he mindlessly touched the strange gadget not thinking it was the time machine his grandpa babbled on and on about.

Taehyung had grown used to the routine of nodding along and getting ready for his grandpas invention to fail so he could make the old man feel better by making his favorite dish.

Now, Taehyung is sure that his grandpa has succeeded while unintentionally making him some sort of guinea pig in the process.

He didn't know how to feel.

The life that he grew up with was erased by a vast forest. Who could say how far he was from actual human beings. He has no phone, no means of communication. His clothes are ruined and his high spirits are drifting.

Looking at the machine, his heart stopped for a moment. To make matters worse, he was stuck in the time period 930 in South Korea.

His grandfather talked greatly of this time period hence why it must be set around said date. Taehyung knows little about the historical aspect only the basics. They wear hanboks, never cut their hair, shower in lakes. Not only would having short hair cause a scene but he's not wearing their traditional clothing either.

He'd be an outcast. They'd throw him in jail, feed him scraps, beat him. What if they don't have prisons and deal with imposters with the death penalty?

Taehyung wrapped his arms around his stomach, an uncomfortable knot appearing caused by the fear coursing inside his body. There was still so much he was unaware of. What if they talked differently? Where is he? Will he die here?

He had been refusing to understand the urgency of his situation because his life may be changed forever and he cannot accept that.

Forget the luxuries of modern technology, the automatic showers, the music, it's all gone, he's taken it all for granted.

Taehyung wiped his eyes.

He shouldn't cry. He needs to think of a solution. He can fix this, he might not be a mad scientist like his grandfather, but he's not dumb.

"Hello? Who's out there?"

Taehyung tensed up, heart racing once again. He looked around and grabbed the flickering machine.

"Fuck not yet," He groaned. He couldn't afford to get caught with anything remotely close to the future, he's watched enough movies to know that messing with the past affects the future which leads to unnecessary world abomination.

There was only one thing he could do in this type of crisis.

He attempted to move the time machine and successfully hid it near a cluster of bushes, the notebook hidden inside his clothing. With that out of the way, he roamed the forest in search of the human who had been talking from far away.

"Help, somebody, help me! I'm lost!" Taehyung yelled behind a tree. He peeked scanning the forest, for any type of reaction.

"You, who are you?"

Taehyung screeched, turning around. "Me?" He was facing a sharp sword and gulped nervously, "Oh, my."

"Who else would I be talking to? Now answer my question."

Taehyung looked up at the stranger. He was about to talk and explain his situation before the man, holding the sword, dropped it.

"Forgive me," He dropped to his knees and bowed his head. "I did not recognize you. I beg for your forgiveness, my lord."

Taehyung could only stare. My lord? Last time Taehyung checked, he's just a normal college student.

Regardless, there was no harm in playing along to ensure his survival. "Thank you for your apology," he said, managing to make himself appear high and mighty.

He expected a reply but the man in the hanbok remained silent. "Um, you may stand up now," Taehyung mumbled. "It's getting weird."

The man peered up and slowly stood. He put his sword back into its rightful place regaining his composure. "You're not going to hit me? My lord?"

"What? Do you want me to?"

"No, no, I'm thankful. Thank you," He bowed his head. "I'm so glad I've found you. Were you kidnapped from the royal palace? Everyone's been looking for you non stop. Something must have happened considering you are wearing such vulgar clothing. Not to mention your hair...it was so beautiful." The man held a hand to his face in obvious agony. He didn't attempt to hide how bad he found Taehyung's look to be.

"I—I was not kidnapped. I may have hit my head because I was—tipsy. Um, what's your name, again?"

"You've never asked for my name before," His face lightened up and he stood straighter, hands at his sides. "I am Kim Namjoon, the palace's most adored knight. I'm sure you've heard my name around."

Taehyung couldn't allow himself to break this man's shit-eating grin of self-pride. He patted Namjoon's shoulder and nodded, "Sure I have."

He began walking forward to appear more righteous and looked back, "Now, is it possible for you to...acquire... a change of clothing for me? Sir, knight." He looked forward again and scuffed. Saying that made his whole body shiver in disgust with himself.

"Ah, you know what? Let's drop the formalities. I'll call you by your name. Namjoon!"

"But my lord!"

"Call me Taehyung."

"But that's not your name—"

"Well, it's the name I've always wanted..."

Namjoon laughed in defeat and bowed again, "I shall fetch you your clothing right away then, Taehyung."

Before he could walk away, Taehyung grabbed onto his shoulder, "And can you do me a small favor? Don't tell them exactly what I was doing out here. And only you can come back, nobody else."

"As you wish my lord—Taehyung." He bowed for the last time and began walking away. He looked back one last time waving, "I'll be back real soon!" His figure faded out amongst the trees, away from Taehyung's vision.

The blonde sighed in relief. What could a knight possibly be doing wandering the forest so early? How far did he venture? If there really is a palace it must not be too far away.

"That was a close one."

He slid down and sat on the floor in dismay. He may have gotten away with trouble but if he were to get caught for lying, he'd be in worse danger. The royalty, Namjoon confused Taehyung with, is capable of showing up any minute. This could go badly for him unless fate is miraculously on his side.

He felt the soft grass ignoring the grumble of his stomach, reminding him of his lack of food. All he could do was wait. And as long as he knows where the time machine is hidden he'll be okay.

Taehyung felt his arm and lifted up the sleeve finding that he had a purple bruise. He must've rolled down a slope getting here, that's the only logical explanation as to how the machine broke and why his arm aches. He stayed laying down for a couple of minutes and wondered how long he'd have to wait.

"I'm back! I've got your clothing!"

Taehyung flinched, standing up from the tree he dozed upon. He saw Namjoon running towards him, clothes hanging on his shoulder, and his long black hair, and blue hanbok flowing behind him.

Taehyung attempted a smile, he needed to be thankful that Namjoon didn't bring back an army to arrest him. But, this wasn't something to celebrate; he was adding fuel to a fire.

Namjoon handed Taehyung the clothing, the smile on his face unwavering, "I hope you didn't wait long. I ran as fast as I could there and back."

"It wasn't far, was it?"

Namjoon looked to the side pursing his lips in thought, "It was about half an hour."

"Oh? That's not too bad," Taehyung replied. He looked at the clothing and looked back up at Namjoon who was still standing there. "Thank you for doing this. I know you are probably super confused and—"

"And I am supposed to do what you say. Regardless of your ambiguous actions," He interrupted. "In all honesty, I'm baffled that you have regarded me at all. It's as if your personality has changed along with your appearance."

Taehyung froze laughing awkwardly, "What? No way. I'm just—going through a phase of some sort. A rebellious phase. Yeah, that." He looked away. He'd have to stop this conversation before it gets out of hand, "I should change now."

"Oh, yes, of course."

Taehyung waited for Namjoon to stand behind a tree and turned around taking off his clothing. He looked at the pieces in front of him. There was a long white robe and a light blue piece with tigers embroidered on the sleeves. There was also a pair of woven shoes. He slips on the white robe first and then the blue piece.

"I'm done," Taehyung mumbled looking down. The shoes were his size but were uncomfortable. He had also managed to successfully hide his grandfather's notebook in the hanbok.

Namjoon turned around gleefully, "Okay, are you ready for our journey to the palace? Everyone is thrilled that you've been found."

"Great," He mumbled, lips pressing to a thin line.

"You said this would take half an hour. We've been walking for like...hours," Taehyung panted.

"Perhaps I miscalculated." He looked back at Taehyung and reached an arm out to help him. "I thought you enjoyed walks? I'm surprised, for someone as active as yourself, you sure are struggling."

Taehyung scrunched his face. Him? Active? He started laughing hysterically.

"Taehyung?"

Taehyung froze and smiled, "I'm just out of shape right now." He wasn't lying about that for sure.

They continued trudging through the forest, Namjoon occasionally stepping in to assist Taehyung with the long and tedious walk. The blonde had been staring down at his feet hoping not to trip. He was making sure to memorize his path as well; he wouldn't want to forget his only source of escaping.

Namjoon nudged Taehyung, to make him lookup. "And we have arrived to the palace," He beamed.

Taehyung looked up and his mouth parted almost instantly. "M-my palace?"

"What? Of course not."

Taehyung looked at Namjoon confused. Namjoon stared at him back with the same expression but chuckled after a few seconds.

"You're actually hilarious when you want to be. You're staying at the Jeon's palace for the time being. Don't you remember? The treaty?"

Jeon.

That name sounded familiar. Taehyung remembers his grandfather talking to him about a rivalry their ancestors used to have and if he's right, the Jeons aren't necessarily supposed to be on good terms with the Kims.

"Oh? What for? I kinda forgot."

Namjoon raised an eyebrow, not fabricating his deep concern, "The peace treaty of course. You are with the Jeons so the rivalry between the two clans may rest in history. But, because you ran off they were afraid the peace treaty would fail. Now that you're back, everything is back in order."

"What?" If Taehyung's ancestor ran away and is the reason their clans remained as rivals, Taehyung has already begun rewriting history. "I mean, oh, of course, I knew that. Sorry."

He looked back at the palace-like structure. It was certainly not what he was used to.

It was beautiful but even that didn't replace the turmoil in his stomach.

"Oh my! He's truly here!" A beautiful middle-aged woman yelled, running over to Taehyung, her hands were holding up her hanbok, and her hair was in an updo. It seemed like she was on the verge of tears, "Your hair! What have you done?" She covered her mouth in agony. She then glared over at Namjoon, stomping over to him, "You—you did this!"

Taehyung noticed how the woman raised her hand and quickly stepped in front of Namjoon in order to stop her, "Please, he's done nothing wrong. He's only helped me find my way back. He's—"

"Your majesty!" Namjoon interrupted bowing.

Taehyung looked back at him furrowing his eyebrows.

"I apologize for my incompetent behavior. He was my responsibility and I failed my duty as a knight." Namjoon stared down at the floor. His expression unreadable and his eyes were vague of emotion.

"Jaehyung, why have you stopped me? He deserves to be punished!" The woman moved Taehyung's head and looked at him with a disapproving gaze.

He realized the woman called him Jayhyung. That must be his look-alike's name. How ironic.

Despite that, Taehyung raised his voice, "It's my fault that I've been in the forest unaccounted for. Not his, if anything, you should be punishing me," Taehyung interjected. Who was this woman to him? She's unbelievably horrid, beautiful yes, but personality-wise, terrible.

She reached out a hand and touched Taehyung's chin with her pointer finger, "Honey, it's not your fault. Now, go to your sleeping chambers. You must be famished. Let me deal with this. The Jeons knight is to be blamed for this incident, not you."

Taehyung looked back at Namjoon, his head was still hanging down. This woman was like a villain in a Korean Drama. He wasn't going to let her blame Namjoon, the man who saved him. It wasn't right and he wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to him.

"M-mother, just this once, please, let this one go." Taehyung put a hand on his "mothers" and her eyes widened, her red lips forming an 'o'.

She looked down frustratedly but looked at Taehyung less irked. "Very well," She huffed and looked at Namjoon spitefully. "But if anything happens again, this peace treaty is done for." She kissed Taehyung's cheek, "I'm glad you're back and safe. I'll be with your father. Be prepared for dinner, there will be a feast for your long-awaited return."

Taehyung watched his supposed "mother" walk away and turned to see Namjoon. He noticed the way Namjoon stared at him, it was full of disbelief.

"Why? Why did you help me?" He questioned.

Taehyung tilted his head. Is making the right choice questioned here?

"What do you mean?"

Namjoon rubbed his lips, "Your clan holds an advantage over ours because you have more women. So because you escaped without any of the knights knowing, the Jeon clan was to blame for losing you. Your mother had every right to hit me. As the lead knight, I've failed. That's why I was so deep in the forest. I was looking for you."

"Oh, well it feels like I wasn't gone for long, thankfully."

Maybe by saying that it would help him know how long he's been gone.

"Yes, it has only been a day since you went missing, but if I hadn't found you when I did, your family would've ended the treaty."

If this Jaehyungs only been gone for a day, Taehyung could be in danger.

"I'm sorry, for causing such a ruckus..." Taehyung gave a gentle smile to shift the atmosphere, "And thank you for being understanding with me and telling me all of this. I must seem naive and unaware."

"I'm not surprised! If anything I'm more shocked at the fact you're actually caring about this. You always worried too much about yourself—I mean—Uh," Namjoon covered his mouth.

What Namjoon said made Taehyung ponder about his assumption on the royal Kim family. This Jaehyung and his mother appear to be entitled. The Jeons must really need this if they're willing to handle such narcissistic people.

What bothers him more is that he's also a Kim by blood. These are his ancestors yet he's nothing like them.

"Hey, it's okay!" Taehyung laughed putting a hand on Namjoon's shoulder, it only seemed to scare him more but Namjoon soon joined in the laughter. Taehyung batted his eyes, "I mean c'mon look at me. How can I not worry about myself all the time?"

"Ah, there he is," Namjoon sighed, shaking his head amused. "I was starting to wonder if it really was you with your lack of comments about yourself. Though you loved your long hair, it was known to be the finest. Why cut it?"

Taehyung pouted touching his bangs, "I wanted a change in my life."

"I suppose it's fine. But, now those you teased for having short hair will start ridiculing you."

"Then I'll just have to take it, right?"

In the corner of Taehyung's eye, he noticed a guy, about his age, staring at him from behind a wall. But when the stranger realized Taehyung saw him, he disappeared.

"Yes. Yes, you will," Namjoon replied.

All Taehyung could think about, despite the act he's putting on, was how he needed to start planning his return home. This Jaehyung is different from himself so who knows how long he has 'till they're all questioning him.

This was bad. This act won't be able to last him forever.