Arranged marriage

Chapter 16

The night passed in a haze of restless thoughts for Y/N. Jungkook's words from earlier echoed in her mind, each syllable tinged with a cold finality. What was he planning? Where were they going tomorrow at dawn? The thought of leaving the village unsettled her, especially after the attack, but what unnerved her even more was the icy distance between her and Jungkook. Every time she thought she was getting close to understanding him, he pulled away, reinforcing that wall around his heart.

She barely slept, her mind replaying everything that had happened since the beginning of their arranged marriage. Jungkook's anger, his protectiveness, and then the cruelty of his indifference—it all felt like a puzzle she couldn't quite piece together. And the weight of it sat heavy in her chest.

By the time the first rays of dawn slipped through the small window of her room, Y/N hadn't come any closer to finding clarity. She rose quietly, knowing they would leave soon, but her body felt sluggish, weighed down by exhaustion and emotional turmoil. She dressed quickly, her thoughts a swirl of anticipation and dread.

As she stepped outside, she found Jungkook already waiting by the front of the house. His posture was rigid, his expression unreadable as always. The cold morning air wrapped around them, and a dense fog clung to the trees, making everything seem eerily quiet.

"You're late," he said without looking at her, his voice clipped.

Y/N resisted the urge to snap back. Instead, she took a deep breath and approached him. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at her.

Jungkook finally turned to face her, his dark eyes scanning her face as if calculating how much to reveal. After a long pause, he answered, "Back to the capital. We've been here too long."

Y/N blinked in surprise. The capital? That was a place she hadn't expected to return to so soon. And something about the way he said it made her uneasy. There was an edge to his tone, something unspoken hanging between his words.

"Why now?" she pressed, trying to meet his gaze. "After everything that happened—"

Jungkook cut her off with a sharp look. "We're not safe here. The attack made that clear. Staying in this village is too risky."

Y/N frowned, folding her arms across her chest. "But are we any safer in the capital? The people who want to hurt us... they could be anywhere."

Jungkook's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. "You don't need to question me. Just pack your things."

His dismissiveness sent a fresh wave of frustration through her. He always shut her out, never letting her in, never explaining anything. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the sharp retort rising in her throat. She wasn't going to get through to him by fighting.

"Fine," she said quietly, turning to head back inside and gather her belongings.

But before she could take a step, Jungkook's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. The sudden contact startled her, and she froze, her heart skipping a beat.

"I'm doing this to protect you," he said, his voice lower, more serious. His grip was firm, but not painful, and for a fleeting moment, she saw something in his eyes—something that wasn't cold or distant. Concern? Fear? It disappeared too quickly for her to be sure.

Y/N met his gaze, her breath catching in her throat. This was the first time he'd touched her without anger or indifference since the attack. The warmth of his skin against hers sent a strange sensation through her, and she wondered if he could feel it too.

"I don't need your protection," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat.

Jungkook's grip tightened for a fraction of a second before he released her, stepping back as if the moment had never happened. His expression hardened once more, his walls slamming back into place.

"Get ready," he muttered, turning away from her.

The journey back to the capital was tense, the air between them thick with unsaid words. Y/N couldn't stop replaying the fleeting moment of softness she'd seen in Jungkook's eyes, but it felt like it had been erased by the cold distance that had taken its place once again. He didn't speak much during the trip, only offering brief, emotionless instructions when necessary.

They traveled by horse through the dense woods, the path winding and narrow. The sound of hooves crunching against the forest floor was the only thing that filled the heavy silence between them.

Y/N stole glances at Jungkook when she thought he wasn't looking, trying to decipher the enigma that was her husband. Every time she thought she saw a crack in his armor, he shut her out again, retreating into that cold, untouchable persona.

Hours passed, and the landscape slowly began to change as they neared the outskirts of the capital. The trees thinned, giving way to open fields, and in the distance, Y/N could see the towering walls of the city. A sense of dread settled in her chest as the reality of their situation became clearer. Returning to the capital meant returning to the political schemes, the dangers lurking in the shadows.

As they approached the city gates, Y/N felt her anxiety mounting. She knew this wasn't just about their safety—there was something else Jungkook wasn't telling her. Something that had forced them to leave the village so abruptly.

The guards at the gates let them pass without issue, recognizing Jungkook immediately. Y/N couldn't help but notice how people's eyes followed them as they entered the city—some curious, others wary. She had forgotten how public their marriage was, how much scrutiny they were under.

Once inside the city walls, the streets bustled with activity. Merchants hawked their goods, children ran through the streets, and the smell of food wafted through the air. But Y/N barely noticed any of it. Her mind was focused on Jungkook, on the storm of emotions brewing beneath the surface.

They arrived at the grand estate that now served as their home, and Jungkook dismounted, helping Y/N down from the horse with a stiff, distant gesture. She barely had time to take in their surroundings before Jungkook was already striding toward the doors, his expression unreadable.

"Jungkook, wait," she called after him, her voice laced with frustration.

He stopped but didn't turn to face her. Y/N's heart pounded in her chest as she took a step closer, determined to break through the walls he kept building between them.

"You can't just keep shutting me out like this," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "We're married. We're supposed to be in this together."

Jungkook finally turned, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. For a moment, he didn't say anything, just stared at her as if weighing his options.

"I told you before," he said quietly, his voice low and measured. "This isn't about love."

Y/N flinched at his words, the familiar sting of rejection settling deep in her chest. She knew that, but hearing it out loud, especially after everything they'd been through, felt like a fresh wound.

"Then what is it about?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly. "Why do you keep pushing me away? Why won't you let me in?"

Jungkook's jaw clenched, and for a moment, she thought he might actually open up, might finally tell her what was going on inside his head. But then he shook his head, turning away again.

"It's better this way," he muttered before walking into the house, leaving Y/N standing outside, feeling more alone than ever.

As Y/N watched Jungkook's retreating figure, her heart ached with the weight of everything unsaid between them. But just as she was about to follow him inside, a shadow moved out of the corner of her eye.

She turned sharply, her breath catching in her throat as she saw a figure lurking in the alley across the street. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Who was watching them? And why?

Her blood ran cold as the figure slipped into the darkness, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.

Was the danger truly over... or had it just begun?

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