royal blood | sim jaeyun ✓

five🩸

After that encounter between her stepmother and Jaeyun, Miyeon hurried back into her bedroom and luckily for her she managed to fall into slumber.

"Wake up," someone said softly but firmly, close to her ear. While still half-dreaming, Miyeon stirred. Rolling over, she muttered, "Harin?" her eyes still closed. She couldn't quite place the voice in her groggy daze, even if it didn't sound quite like her maid's. "Harin, let me sleep a little longer."

The voice said, sounding both amused and impatient, "No, it's not Harin."

Miyeon jolted awake at that. Her eyes snapped open, and she was faced with Prince Jaeyun leaning over her bed, his normally stern facade softened just a bit by a hint of exhaustion. With a few loose strands of his golden hair falling over his forehead and a drowsy haze remaining in his dark eyes, he looked almost human.

Heart leapt into Miyeon's throat. She stammered, her voice still heavy with sleep, "J-Jaeyun?" She instinctively pulled the blanket up to her chest, both out of modesty and to create some distance."What are you doing here?"

Jaeyun straightened up, stroking his dishevelled hair while a slack smile tugged at his mouth. "Your stepmother believed that you might require motivation to get out of bed. And it appears I have been given the assignment as your future husband." He sighed slightly, obviously not thrilled about the task.

Miyeon frowned, her confusion slowly giving way to annoyance. "And you thought waking me up like this was the best way to do it?"

With a quiet laugh, his grin became somewhat wider. "Well, I was considering a more dramatic entrance, but I suppose this will do." Then he looked about her room, his gaze lingering on the decor. "You realise that you snooze like a corpse. I've been in this position for a while now."

Miyeon felt her cheeks heat up with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Why didn't you just send Harin, then?" she muttered, feeling entirely too exposed under his gaze. "Is it about last night?"

"Oh no definitely not." said Jaeyun, dismissing her thoughts immediately. Jaeyun took a step back from her bedside, his demeanor shifting from mildly amused to serious once more. His expression was more guarded now, the mask of the cold prince slipping back into place.

"My parents and older brother will be visiting the castle tomorrow," Jaeyun announced, his voice matter-of-fact, though his eyes flicked to her to gauge her reaction.

Miyeon's heart skipped a beat as she processed Jaeyun's words. She was still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, but this news jolted her fully awake. "Your family...are coming here?" she repeated, her voice filled with surprise and anxiety.

She knew of his family by reputation, a family of power, pride, and ruthlessness to match Jaeyun's own cold persona. The thought of having to face them, especially so soon after their own tense meeting, was enough to send shivers down her spine.

"Yes," Jaeyun continued, his expression hardening. "My mother, father......and my older brother, Prince Jungwoo. They want to see how the preparations are coming along and perhaps to scrutinize you and your kingdom as well."

Miyeon's mind raced. She had heard countless stories of the vampire royal family. How cruel and ruthless they were. Even more than Jaeyun if that were possible. Queen Seoah was said to be a master of manipulation, a woman whose kindness was always suspicious and her cruelty had no bounds.

King Beomseok, though less hidden, was known for his coldness and unyielding control. And Prince Jungwoo , Jaeyun's elder brother and heir to the Decelis throne had a reputation for being even more dangerous and cunning than his brother.

"Why are you telling me this?" Miyeon asked, her voice cautious. She didn't trust him. She didn't trust why he would suddenly be sharing such information with her.

"Because," Jaeyun replied, his gaze piercing, "You will need to be prepared. They aren't like your father or stepmother. They'll see right through any lies or hesitation. If you want to survive this marriage Miyeon, you'll need to be more than just a princess playing at defiance."

Miyeon bristled at his words. "I don't need a lecture from you, Jaeyun," she snapped back. "I'm not afraid of your family."

A small, almost unnoticeable smile tugged at the corner of Jaeyun's lips. "Maybe not," he admitted. "But you should be cautious. They aren't here to make friends."

Miyeon fell silent, her mind already swirling with the implications of what was to come. She couldn't afford to be careless now. She couldn't afford to show any weakness. She had to be strong for herself and her kingdom.

"How long will they be staying?" she asked, her voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in her stomach. She needed to know exactly what she was dealing with.

He glanced back at her, his expression unreadable. "They'll be here for a few days," he replied. "Maybe longer, depending on how things go."

"Will they be here long enough to attend the ball?" Miyeon asked cautiously, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Jaeyun's expression.

He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words. "Yes," he finally replied. "They'll stay for the ball. My parents enjoy these sorts of events, especially when there's an opportunity to showcase the strength of our family."

Jaeyun watched her for a moment longer, as if weighing something in his mind, then turned to leave. "I'll see you later, Princess," he said over his shoulder, his voice a mix of amusement and warning.

And with that, he left her room, leaving Miyeon alone with the new weight of what was awaiting for her.