The Innocent and The King

Chapter One - The Encounter

Reva Sah brushed a strand of her wavy black hair behind her ear, her brown eyes scanning the crowded Seoul street with a mix of awe and nervousness. She wasn’t used to the chaos, the relentless pace, or the towering skyscrapers. Growing up in a small Indian town had left her unprepared for the electric hum of a foreign city like this. But here she was, twenty-five years old, taking her first real steps toward independence.

Her hands clutched a folder filled with resumes. Finding a job as a foreigner wasn’t easy, but she was determined to make it work. Seoul had always been a dream of hers—a place of opportunity and culture. What she didn’t know was that this city held more than just career prospects.

The crosswalk light turned green, and Reva moved with the flow of the crowd, her pace brisk. She was so engrossed in following the stream of people that she didn’t notice the black SUV barreling toward the intersection, ignoring the red light.

A loud screech of brakes brought her to a halt. She turned just in time to see the vehicle come to a stop mere inches from her legs. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stumbled back, dropping her folder. Papers scattered across the street.

“What the hell?” she muttered, crouching down to gather her things.

The car door slammed open, and a tall man stepped out. His black hair fell across his forehead, tattoos peeking out from beneath the sleeves of his tailored suit. He was strikingly handsome, but his expression was ice cold, his sharp jaw clenched in irritation.

“Do you have a death wish?” the man growled in perfect English, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine.

Reva straightened, clutching her papers to her chest. “Excuse me? You’re the one who almost hit me!”

The man’s dark eyes narrowed. He wasn’t used to being spoken to in such a way, especially by someone so small and seemingly fragile. But there was fire in her gaze, and it caught him off guard.

“I don’t have time for this,” he snapped, stepping closer. “Get out of the way.”

Reva’s fear was momentarily eclipsed by indignation. “You could at least apologize!”

A low chuckle escaped him, though there was no humor in it. “Apologize?” he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. “Do you know who you’re talking to?”

“No,” Reva shot back, “and I don’t care. What I do know is that you’re rude and reckless.”

The tension between them crackled like static. For a moment, Jungkook—though Reva didn’t yet know his name—simply stared at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. She wasn’t like the people he was used to. Most cowered in his presence, their fear palpable. But this woman... she wasn’t backing down.

Before he could reply, a second man stepped out of the SUV. He was older, with broad shoulders and a calm demeanor.

“Jungkook,” the man said, addressing him, “we’re late.”

Jungkook’s jaw tightened, and he turned back to Reva. “This isn’t over,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

Reva’s eyes widened as he returned to the SUV and slammed the door shut. She stood frozen as the car sped away, disappearing into the busy streets.

---

Later that evening, Reva sat in her tiny studio apartment, replaying the incident in her mind. She couldn’t shake the image of that man—his piercing gaze, the tattoos curling around his neck and wrists, the way he seemed to radiate authority.

“Who does he think he is?” she muttered, stirring a pot of instant ramen on the stove.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was her best friend, Ananya, calling from India.