✅ The Enemy's Daughter ♡ Rosé x Fem!Reader

14.) Broken

Fading sunlight casts its eerie shadows across the land as your carriage makes its quick return to the palace. Your leg bounces nervously as you gaze out the detailed window, clearly scared at what the future holds. Rosé scoots closer to you on the cushioned bench and wraps an arm around you, wordlessly consoling you in your time of need.

--

The moment you arrive at the palace, you throw the door of the carriage open and lift Rosé out of it, both of you urgently running through the front doors. You throw thanks over your shoulder to your people as you speed down the halls and up the stairs, eventually making it to your father's room.

Taehee stands outside of it, holding her chin in deep thought. She perks up when she sees you round the corner.

"Y/N, Roseanne; quickly please. He's in here and he's been asking for you." She motions you over, wrapping you in a hug before opening the door and sending both of you in.

"Oh, dad," you sigh upon seeing him in such a weak state. The room is lowly lit by some candles randomly placed around, and an oil lamp sits on his bedside table. You approach him and sit in the chair next to him, frowning when another strong coughing fit racks through him.

"Hi, sweet girl." He says weakly, his voice strained from all the stress on his body. He's fighting hard, but it seems to be a losing game.

"Are you hurting?" You ask through the tears that brim in your eyes, clutching onto his hand. You bring it to your cheek to offer yourself some comfort, momentarily closing your eyes.

"No, surprisingly. It doesn't hurt anymore."

His words bring you back to when you were in this same position with your mother, clinging to her as she faded away. The thought of doing that with him too breaks you, and you know you won't be able to bear it alone.

"I wanna thank you, sweetheart. For everything you've ever done for this family and the kingdom. I know it hasn't been easy, and I'm so proud of the woman you've become." He smiles, countless memories flashing through his mind. He can see you running through the palace when you were younger, your sweet giggles filling the air and making the castle come alive with the joy you felt. He can see you and your mother at the dinner table, flicking peas at one another as the staff ducked behind him for cover.

"You deserve to be happy, and I'm grateful that the universe answered my prayers and brought Rosé along for you. I'm the luckiest man alive," he says through tears, feeling his heartbeat slowing. He doesn't tell you about that, though, knowing it would only hurt you more. As his grip begins weakening, he requests for Rosé to come over so he can talk to her. You let her sit in your seat while you choose to stand, doing your best to steady your breathing and hold yourself together for him.

"Now, I know I never got to give you the proper 'if you hurt her, I'll kick your ass' speech, but just know it still applies. I'm not above haunting you!" He teases, pointing a finger at her. She chuckles, feeling a few tears fall onto her soft skin. "In all seriousness, though, I want to thank you as well. You brought happiness back into her life, and I'll forever be indebted to you for that. Now I can be at peace; I don't have to worry about her doing all of this alone when I'm gone. Keep her safe for me, would you?" He requests softly, shedding some tears alongside her. They trail down his cheeks in waves, and a few stray ones trek across the sharp angle of his nose. She strokes his arm, and you nearly break down at the sight; two of the most important people to you, doing all they can to comfort each other as they're utterly distraught themselves.

"I will, sir. I'll protect her with my life and spend the rest of it at her side." Her lip trembles as she looks back at you, finding your hand over your mouth to keep yourself quiet. She motions you over, and you kneel beside them, all of your hands joined on the bed beside him.