Bound by Fate

Chapter 58: A Heart in Exile

As night fell over the palace, Jin, Taehyung, and Jungkook found solace in each other's company. Taehyung gently held Jin as he cried, their breathing synchronizing in the quiet room. Jungkook lay beside them, eyes closed, but his mind was swirling with the events of the day. None of them could truly sleep, their hearts heavy with sorrow, yet exhaustion eventually claimed them, one by one.

In his room, Namjoon sat alone, the weight of guilt pressing down on him. He'd tried so hard to protect Jin, to make things right, but his soul had betrayed him. Tears silently rolled down his face as the realization sunk in deeper — Jin couldn't forgive him. He had won the battle against the Dark King, but what did victory mean when his family was crumbling apart? When the love of his life couldn't bear to be near him? Namjoon curled up in his bed, trying to fight the overwhelming pain that clawed at his heart.

Across the palace, Yoongi quietly led Jin's parents to their room, sensing their sorrow but trying his best to console them. Jin's father hadn't said a word, the shock of seeing his son suffer in silence all these years weighing on him. Yoongi gently helped them lie down, whispering soothing words before he left them to rest. Jimin did the same for Namjoon's parents, though it pained him to see the fracture in their once unshakable family. Namjoon's mother had silently wept in her husband's arms, neither knowing how to fix the damage that had been done. Jimin watched over them, making sure they were comfortable before retreating to his own room.

In another wing of the palace, Hoseok watched over Y/N, who was sleeping soundly with baby Ami in her arms. Jaemin lay peacefully beside them, his small chest rising and falling with each breath. Hoseok sat beside the bed, running a hand through his hair as the silence in the room seemed almost too loud. They had won the war, but it didn't feel like a victory. How could it, when the family that had come together so beautifully was now fractured?

Yoongi, after ensuring everyone was settled, finally returned to his own room. His mind was spinning, unable to rest. He wanted to reach out to Namjoon, to help him, but the bitterness in his heart made it impossible. Yoongi's frustration boiled beneath the surface — all this could've been avoided if Namjoon had been stronger, if he had controlled his soul. Yoongi clenched his fists, pacing his room. He hated how helpless he felt, how shattered the family had become. Eventually, exhaustion overtook him as well, and he collapsed onto the bed, though sleep was restless.

Jimin, too, found his bed but couldn't sleep. He stared at the ceiling, thoughts drifting back to everything that had transpired. The Dark King was dead, and yet... why did it feel like nothing had changed? Why did it feel like they had all lost something so precious? Jimin's heart ached for Jin and Namjoon, for their love that now seemed impossible to repair. Sighing heavily, he turned over, praying that sleep would bring some clarity.

As the palace grew silent, the weight of the night hung over everyone. Though the Dark King was gone, his shadow still lingered in their hearts. Victory should've brought joy, but instead, it only left behind a deep, aching sorrow.

Morning came, but it brought no relief. Jin's tears had subsided, but his heart was still heavy. He spoke to everyone, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy, but when it came to Namjoon, he couldn't bear it. The idea of even being near him felt like a dagger in his chest. Though Jin knew that Namjoon had tried to stop what happened, his soul had betrayed him. The comfort that Namjoon once provided was now a source of pain, and Jin couldn't forgive him. He had once thought that Namjoon's presence was his safe place, but now it was the last thing he wanted.

The truth of their reality weighed on everyone. Yoongi, who had always been Namjoon's closest confidant, now looked at him with a cold distance, filled with resentment. He couldn't forgive what Namjoon's soul had done to Jin. Taehyung, who had once seen Namjoon as an older brother figure, couldn't reconcile that image with the man who had hurt Jin. He felt conflicted, torn between loyalty and disappointment. Even Jungkook, who had shared a strong bond with both Namjoon and Jin, felt torn. He loved Namjoon as his brother, but Jin's pain cut him deeply. He wanted to support Jin, but how could he when Namjoon was also suffering? It left Jungkook in an impossible position, trying to offer comfort to both but finding no easy solution.