A Crowned Heart

{9}

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery light across the grand palace. The night was unusually quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by an eerie stillness. Y/N had been escorted to her chambers by Davin, who had been uncharacteristically silent during their walk. The atmosphere between them was thick with unspoken tension, a stark contrast to the playful banter she had enjoyed with Taehyung earlier in the day.

Once they reached her chambers, Davin had insisted on a private conversation. "I need to speak with you, Y/N," he had said, his voice firm. "Alone."

Y/N, feeling a sense of foreboding, nodded and allowed him inside. As she turned to face him, the door clicked shut behind her with an unsettling finality. She glanced at the door, a pang of unease creeping up her spine.

Davin stood by the door, his expression unreadable. "I'm afraid I must take a more direct approach to address this matter."

Y/N's heart began to race. "What do you mean?"

Davin walked towards her, his movements measured and deliberate. "It has come to my attention that you've been spending a great deal of time with Lieutenant Kim."

Y/N's gaze dropped to the floor, her thoughts immediately flying to Taehyung. "He's just a soldier, Davin. We were merely talking."

"Just talking?" Davin's voice was cold, his tone filled with disbelief. "I saw the way you looked at him. The way he looked at you. It was more than just conversation."

Y/N's heart pounded. "You're reading too much into it. We were enjoying each other's company. There's nothing more to it."

Davin's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer. "Don't lie to me, Y/N. I've seen the way you act around him. It's not the behavior of someone who is merely 'talking.'"

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "What exactly are you accusing me of, Davin?"

"I'm not accusing you of anything," Davin replied, his voice harsh. "I'm asking you to be honest with me. Do you have feelings for Lieutenant Kim?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and charged. Y/N's heart felt like it was in her throat. "I—"

Before she could finish, Davin cut her off. "Answer me directly, Y/N. Yes or no?"

Y/N's silence was enough of an answer for Davin. His expression darkened, and he walked over to a side table, pulling out a small key. "I see. It's as I feared."

Y/N watched in confusion and growing alarm as Davin approached her, his face set in a stern line. "Davin, what are you doing?"

"I'm taking steps to ensure that this... situation does not escalate," he said, his voice cold and final.

He reached for the door, unlocking it with the key. Y/N's eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen. "Wait, what are you—"

But before she could react, Davin pushed her into a room that had been prepared for just such an occasion. It was a small, windowless chamber with stone walls and a single wooden door. The lock clicked shut behind her with a definitive sound.

"Davin!" Y/N shouted, banging on the door. "Let me out! What is this?"

From the other side of the door, Davin's voice was muffled but clear. "You need to think about your actions, Y/N. I can't have you jeopardizing our arrangement or causing any more scandals."

Y/N felt a rush of panic and frustration. "You can't just lock me in here!"

"You'll be released when I feel you've had enough time to reflect," Davin's voice came through the door, cold and unyielding.

Y/N slumped against the door, her heart racing. The room was small and bare, the only furniture a simple wooden stool in the corner. She sank onto it, feeling a mixture of anger and sadness.

Her thoughts raced as she replayed the day's events in her mind. Taehyung's playful words, his touch that had made her heart flutter, and now this—being trapped and confronted about something she had only begun to understand herself.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Y/N murmured to herself, her voice echoing in the small, confined space. She felt the weight of her predicament bearing down on her, a crushing reminder of the constraints of her world.

Outside the door, Davin paced back and forth, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. He knew that his actions were harsh, but he felt justified in his need to protect his interests and ensure that Y/N remained his.

As the minutes ticked by, Y/N felt a profound sense of isolation. The room was silent except for the faint sounds of the palace outside, and the oppressive quiet only seemed to heighten her sense of being trapped—not just in the room, but in a life she had not chosen for herself.

Time dragged on, and Y/N's mind continued to swirl with thoughts of Taehyung, Davin, and the complex emotions she was struggling to understand. Her heart ached with a longing for freedom and a connection that seemed so close yet so impossibly distant.