ʏᴇᴀʀs ʙᴀᴄᴋ (𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚) (𝒇𝒕:𝒚𝒏)

EPISODE - 14

A/n's pov

Soobin and Y/N bowed respectfully before the king and queen, their hearts pounding in unison. The tension in the grand hall was palpable, and it felt as though the air itself was charged with anticipation.

"So, the reason we called you here is...?" the queen inquired, her voice deceptively calm as she examined them closely.

Yeonjun stood off to the side, visibly tense. He had been silent up until now, but his nervous glances between Soobin and Y/N made it clear that something serious was about to unfold. Y/N, too, could sense that this was not a typical royal summons. Something significant was about to be revealed.

"What is your relationship with my son, Steve?" the queen asked suddenly, her tone sharp and to the point.

Soobin's eyes widened in shock. His gaze immediately darted to Yeonjun, who had the same worried look on his face. It was as if the floor had dropped out from beneath them. Y/N quickly pieced together what was happening and stiffened.

The queen turned toward the maid standing beside her and gave a slight nod. The maid, looking uneasy, spoke up.

"I saw them spending an unusual amount of time together... more than just a bodyguard and a prince," the maid confessed quietly.

Soobin's heart skipped a beat, his stomach twisting into knots. He felt exposed, like their secret had been laid bare before the royal court.

Yeonjun, although clearly scared, stepped forward hastily. His fear was evident in the tremble of his voice, but his resolve was stronger.

"Mom, I-" He took a deep breath and, before he could think better of it, blurted out, "I like him. We're boyfriends."

The entire room seemed to freeze in that moment. The king and queen looked at Yeonjun, utterly stunned. Even Soobin stood in shock, staring at Yeonjun as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. Y/N, who had anticipated something along these lines, rubbed her forehead. She could feel the situation spiraling out of control.

"What!?" The queen's voice rang out, echoing off the grand walls of the hall.

"Yeonjun," the king's voice was sterner, more commanding, "you are already engaged to the prince of the Staehan Kingdom. You cannot be involved with anyone else. This... relationship will not be accepted."

"We don't approve of this," the queen added, her voice cold as she looked between Yeonjun and Soobin.

"But I've never even met him!" Yeonjun protested, his voice growing more desperate. "And I don't care! I love Steve, and I will protect him with my life if I have to. He's the only one I care about!"

The room fell into a stunned silence. Even the king and queen appeared momentarily taken aback by the passion and certainty in their son's voice. Y/N, though, wasn't surprised. She had always known how much Yeonjun loved Soobin. She had seen it in every small action, every glance they shared.

Soobin, on the other hand, tugged at Yeonjun's sleeve, trying to pull him back. His eyes silently pleaded with him to stop before the situation got even worse. Yeonjun, noticing Soobin's quiet distress, stopped his outburst and turned to look at him. Soobin shook his head subtly, urging him to say no more.

"Yeonjun, this is final. You are engaged, and that cannot be broken," Yeonjun's mother declared, her tone brooking no argument. "You must end this relationship with him, and the sooner, the better."

Soobin's heart sank further. He wanted to scream, to tell them the truth-that he was, in fact, the very prince of the Staehan Kingdom to whom Yeonjun was unknowingly engaged. But the weight of the situation kept his lips sealed. Revealing the truth now would only complicate matters further, and he couldn't bear the thought of making everything worse.

"It's not what you think!" Y/N suddenly blurted out, her voice cutting through the thick tension in the room.

All eyes turned toward her, confused and curious.

"What do you mean, Y/N?" the king asked, his voice measured but firm.

"I mean, yes, they're boyfriends, and they love each other deeply. That much is true," Y/N explained, her voice shaking slightly, but she pressed on, "But can't you see how much your son loves him? Can't you accept his feelings? You're not just denying them a relationship-you're denying him his happiness."

The room fell into an uneasy silence once more. Even Soobin looked at Y/N in surprise, unsure what to make of her sudden outburst. His heart pounded in his chest as he wondered how things had come to this.

"I know it's a lot to take in," Y/N continued, looking directly at the queen and king. "Even for Steve oppa. He probably doesn't know I am aware of this. But the truth is-"

Before Y/N could finish her sentence, the doors to the hall burst open, and a soldier rushed in, panting heavily.

"Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesties," the soldier said hurriedly, bowing deeply. "But we're under attack by Dark Thome. They are at the gates now, and their numbers are overwhelming. We need you to take command immediately!"

The shock that rippled through the room was almost tangible. The king and queen stood abruptly, their faces etched with urgency.

Y/N's eyes widened in horror, her heart racing faster than ever before. She knew this moment. She had read it this in the book. This was the same war-*the war where Yeonjun and Soobin would die*.

"Dark Thome?" Y/N gasped, her voice shaky. "Are you sure? Is it really them?"

The soldier nodded grimly. "Yes, they've come in full force."

The king's face hardened with resolve as he turned to the soldier. "Prepare the defenses. We must act quickly."

The queen, though still visibly shaken by the revelations about her son, focused on the pressing matter at hand. "This conversation will continue later, Yeonjun. Right now, the kingdom needs us."

Yeonjun's hands balled into fists, but his mind was already moving to the battle ahead. He shot a worried glance at Soobin, whose face mirrored the same fear and confusion. Neither of them knew what to do-about the attack or their complicated situation.

But Y/N knew one thing for sure: if they went to battle like this, Yeonjun and Soobin were doomed.

And she would do anything to stop that from happening.

________