Fated Hearts[The8 FF]✅

9

After dinner, Mi Soo lay in her chamber, trying to find some semblance of peace amidst the chaos in her mind. Suddenly, the sound of the window creaking open startled her. She was about to scream when a hand swiftly covered her mouth. Her heart raced until she recognized the familiar touch—it was Minghao.

He gently removed his hand, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

Mi Soo, determined to protect him, tried to ignore his presence. “You need to leave,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m the king’s soon-to-be wife.”

Minghao's gaze softened, a mix of sorrow and frustration in his expression. “A queen?” he repeated, his voice heavy with emotion. “Yes, you deserve to be a queen. You deserve everything that comes with it—the royalty, the respect. And here I am... just a mere guard, someone who can’t offer you anything close to that.”

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. “I’m sorry, Mi Soo. I can’t give you a life of luxury, of royalty. I’m just a guard—a man whose life isn’t even his own. I don’t have the power to protect you in the way you deserve, nor can I give you the kind of future that comes with being a queen.”

His words hung in the air, the pain behind them evident. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I love you, more than anything in this world. And it kills me to see you with him, to know that I can’t be the one by your side.”

Mi Soo’s resolve wavered as she heard the heartbreak in his voice. She knew he was right; the life of a queen wasn’t something he could offer. But the love they shared was real, and it was tearing them both apart.

“Please,” Minghao continued, his voice breaking slightly. “I don’t want to lose you, but I can’t stand to see you unhappy either. Just... tell me what you want, Mi Soo. If you want me to leave, I will. But if there’s even a part of you that wants me to stay, then I’ll stay, no matter the consequences.”

He turned to leave, his heart heavy with the silence that hung between them. But just as he was about to step out of the chamber, Mi Soo's voice broke through the stillness.

“I want you, Minghao. Only you,” she whispered, her words filled with desperation.

Before he could react, she closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a fervent kiss. It was filled with all the longing and love she had kept hidden. When she finally pulled back, her eyes were filled with tears.

“Even if I’m not meant for a life of royalty, even if I’m just a woman with no title, no power... it doesn’t matter. None of it matters if I can’t be with you.” Her voice trembled as she spoke, the weight of her struggle evident. “I don’t care about the crown, the wealth, or the status. What I care about is you. And I would give up everything if it meant we could be together.”

Minghao’s heart clenched at her words. He cupped her face gently, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks. “Mi Soo,” he murmured, his voice choked with emotion. “I never wanted this life for you—to be torn between your happiness and duty. But if you’re willing to fight for us, then so am I. I’ll stand by you, no matter what.”