Bound by Fate

Chapter 8: Treading Unfamiliar Paths

The morning sun streamed through the grand windows of the palace, casting a soft golden glow over the breakfast hall. It was the first morning after the forced bond, and tension filled the air like a thick fog. Namjoon sat at the head of the table, his face calm but distant, while Seokjin sat as far from him as possible, a scowl plastered across his face. He hadn't said a word to Namjoon since their last conversation, and it was clear to everyone in the room that he had no intention of breaking the silence.

The queen grandmother, ever the traditionalist, had her own plans. She eyed the distance between them with disapproval, her hands resting lightly on the armrests of her grand chair. "Seokjin," she said suddenly, her voice sharp and commanding. "You will sit next to Namjoon at every meal from now on."

Seokjin's head snapped toward her, disbelief etched on his face. "What?"

"You heard me," she said coldly. "You are his husband now. You will join him in every part of his life, including breakfast, academic visits, and mage training."

Seokjin's stomach twisted at the thought. "I don't have powers," he muttered, clenching his hands. "I don't belong at a mage academy."

Namjoon, too, frowned at his grandmother's insistence. "Grandmother, that's not necessary. Jin doesn't—"

"I don't care what you think is necessary," she interrupted both of them. "He is a member of this family now, and it is time he acts like it."

Seokjin's father, Hyunjin, slammed his hand on the table, his expression fierce. "I will not have my son subjected to such nonsense. He doesn't have powers, and he won't be dragged into a world that could harm him!"

Grandmother merely raised a brow, her expression unmoved. "Seokjin is part of the royal family now. His presence at the academy will be symbolic. If he has no powers, then he will at least learn discipline and carry himself as befits his station."

"I won't allow it!" Hyunjin roared, standing from his seat. "He is powerless! You can't expect him to keep up with people who have magic. This is madness!"

The queen stood up slowly, a cold smile forming on her lips. "You seem to have forgotten, Hyunjin. You no longer make decisions for him. He belongs to this family now, and he will do as I say."

The tension at the table reached its peak, with Hyunjin glaring at his mother while Seokjin looked ready to explode. Tae, sitting quietly, clenched his fists under the table, frustration boiling inside him. He wasn't part of this argument, but he felt the weight of the situation all the same.

The tension between Namjoon and Seokjin had only grown since they were forced to live together. They couldn't seem to get through a single day without arguing, and today was no different.

It was late in the evening, and Seokjin was pacing around the room while Namjoon sat at his desk, scribbling notes in a book.

"Why do you always have to take up all the space?" Seokjin snapped, glaring at Namjoon. "This room belongs to both of us, you know!"

Namjoon glanced up from his book, his expression calm but slightly amused. "You're the one pacing like a wild animal. There's plenty of room if you'd just sit down."

"I don't want to sit down!" Seokjin shot back. "You're always so composed, like nothing bothers you. It's infuriating!"

Namjoon shrugged. "I don't see the point in getting worked up over nothing."

"Of course you don't," Seokjin muttered under his breath. "You wouldn't understand what it's like to be trapped in a situation you didn't choose."

Namjoon's eyes darkened for a moment, but he said nothing. The silence between them stretched on, thick with unresolved tension.