Bound by Fate

Chapter 4: The Night of Sealing

The ritual was complete, but the air was thick with unease. The chamber was silent, save for the sound of Seokjin's quiet sobbing and the occasional rustle of clothing as Namjoon shifted uncomfortably. He stood still, staring at his grandmother in disbelief as she made her next demand.

"You will seal the bond tonight," the queen mother declared with chilling finality. Her voice was unwavering, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. Her cold eyes locked onto Namjoon, daring him to oppose her.

Namjoon's heart dropped into his stomach. Seal the bond? Tonight? He had known the marriage was an inevitability, but this? This was too much, too soon. He was forced to marry Seokjin, but forcing himself on him was a line he couldn't cross.

"I... I can't," Namjoon stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't force him like this."

But his grandmother's gaze remained icy, unmoved by his plea. "You will, Namjoon. You cannot go against our traditions. The bond must be completed, or the marriage will not hold. And we both know what that means."

Namjoon clenched his fists, his body tense as every muscle screamed for him to defy her. Yet, he knew deep down that defying his grandmother wasn't an option. She held the power here—over him, over Seokjin, over everything.

Namjoon gave a silent nod, his face unreadable, but inside, he was in turmoil. How could he do this to Seokjin? How could he hurt someone so innocent, someone who had been thrust into this nightmare against his will?

The others in the room were just as shocked. Seokjin's mother collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried out in anguish. "No! Please, he's powerless! He can't withstand Namjoon's strength. He'll... he'll die!"

Seokjin's father, King Hyunjin, was beside himself with grief, tears falling freely as he knelt before his mother, begging her to stop this madness. "Mother, please," he pleaded, his voice raw with emotion. "You've already taken everything from us. Don't take my son's life as well. Please, I'm begging you."

But the queen mother remained unmoved, her cold demeanor betraying no hint of compassion. "This is the way things must be," she said simply. "Namjoon will take over, and your son will do his duty."

In the corner, Taehyung stood frozen, his mind reeling from the events unfolding around him. He didn't fully understand what "sealing the bond" meant, but the sheer terror on his mother's face and the grief in his father's eyes told him enough. Whatever it was, it was dangerous. It could hurt his brother, and he felt powerless to stop it.

Once the command had been given, everyone slowly returned to the palace, their hearts heavy with the knowledge of what was to come. Seokjin's parents were inconsolable, with Queen Hyejin sobbing uncontrollably while Taehyung clung to her, trying to hold back his own tears.

Namjoon's mother and father had arrived at the palace with Namjoon's grandfather, who had been inspecting another part of the kingdom. They rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, hoping to put a stop to the madness. Namjoon's mother, in particular, was horrified by what was happening to her son and to Seokjin.

"We can't let this happen," she said, desperation in her voice. "Father, please... you have to talk some sense into her."

Namjoon's grandfather, a man of great wisdom and power, stood before the queen mother, his voice steady but firm. "This isn't right, and you know it. You're forcing Namjoon and Seokjin into something they're not ready for. Let them be."

But even he could not sway her. "You may be my husband, but you do not rule here," the queen mother replied coldly. "This must be done for the good of our bloodline."

As night fell, the weight of the impending ritual grew heavier. Seokjin's mother, desperate to save her son, found a way to meet with Namjoon privately before the final event. Her face was pale, and her eyes were swollen from crying.

"Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, don't hurt him. He's not like you. He's... he's powerless. Your strength... it could kill him."

Namjoon's heart clenched as he listened to her plea. He had no intention of hurting Seokjin, no matter what his grandmother demanded of him. "I promise you," he said softly, his voice filled with determination. "I won't do anything to him. I swear."

Queen Hyejin looked at him with a mixture of relief and fear, knowing that, despite his promise, the situation was still out of their control. "Thank you," she whispered, her tears returning as she turned away, her heart breaking for her son.

As midnight approached, Seokjin and Namjoon were escorted to the secure chamber where the bond would be sealed. The chamber itself was heavily guarded, surrounded by powerful spells and invisible soldiers. No one could enter or leave without the queen mother's permission, and no sound could escape the room's enchanted walls.

Outside, Seokjin's parents stood vigil, their hearts breaking as they imagined what their son was about to endure. Namjoon's family stood with them, equally helpless. Namjoon's mother wept quietly, her arms around her brother, King Hyunjin, trying to offer what little comfort she could. Taehyung had been sent to his room to rest, though his heart was too heavy to find peace. He worried for his brother, afraid of what might happen behind those closed doors.

Inside the chamber, the atmosphere was suffocating. Seokjin sat huddled in a corner, his body shaking with fear and anger. He refused to look at Namjoon, his eyes red from crying.

"You... you want my body, don't you?" Seokjin spat, his voice thick with emotion. "That's what this is all about, isn't it? Take it, then! Just get it over with!"

Namjoon flinched at Seokjin's words, his heart breaking at the sight of the broken man before him. "It's not like that, Seokjin," he said gently, his voice filled with regret. "I don't want to hurt you. I never wanted any of this."

But Seokjin wasn't listening. His anger and fear blinded him to Namjoon's words. All he could think about was the pain he had endured, the betrayal he felt. "Liar," he hissed, his voice shaking. "You've already ruined everything."

Namjoon sighed, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words. He didn't know how to make Seokjin understand that he wasn't the enemy. He didn't know how to make this right.

"I'll sleep on the floor," Namjoon finally said, his voice soft. "You take the bed. I won't touch you. I promise."

Seokjin didn't respond, but he curled up even tighter in his corner, his sobs growing quieter as exhaustion began to take hold. He was too tired to fight anymore, too broken to resist. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep, his body trembling from the weight of his grief.

Namjoon watched him from the other side of the room, his heart aching for the man he had been forced to marry. He wanted nothing more than to comfort him, to tell him that everything would be okay. But he knew that Seokjin wouldn't believe him, not now. Not after everything that had happened.

So, with a heavy heart, Namjoon lay down on the cold floor, staring up at the ceiling as Seokjin's quiet sobs echoed in his ears.

As the night wore on, both men fell into an uneasy sleep, their minds filled with turmoil and uncertainty. The bond had not been sealed, but their hearts remained fractured, and the future ahead of them was shrouded in darkness.

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Envi: Many of you have doubts about why everyone is saying Seokjin will die because of Namjoon's power. After the marriage, they will seal their bond, and Namjoon's power will try to merge with Seokjin. Since Seokjin is powerless, Namjoon's power could overwhelm and kill him—Seokjin's body simply can't handle that kind of force. Even during the marriage, when the bond forms between their hearts, it might cause Seokjin great pain.

I hope this clears things up. Let's see what happens next!

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