The End of Us! [JK x Reader]

Chapter Twenty Two

—Y/N POV

At exactly three in the dead of night, I found myself standing in the center of the throne room. The council members sat on either side of me, their gazes piercing, their judgment suffocating. The King sat ahead on his grand throne, his presence commanding the room, exuding authority as if it were stitched into the very fabric of his being

Beside him, Rowan sat in silence, his expression unreadable. He hadn't even spared me a glance

And on the other side of the King... an empty throne

My throne

A reminder of what I was supposed to be. A reminder of what I had long abandoned

"Y/N" the King's voice sliced through the silence, devoid of any formalities. He hadn't even called me Princess this time "Anything you want to say for yourself?"

I inhaled deeply, forcing the tremble out of my voice as I looked up "I did what I had to do. I stopped him before he could get in my way" My voice was even, unwavering as I met the King's eyes head-on

"And you believe that was a good move?" One of the council members spoke, their voice laced with skepticism "Telling him your true identity?"

I clenched my fists but tried to keep my voice smooth "I... I did what I felt was right at that moment"

"What you felt was right?" Another council member leaned forward, unimpressed "Reckless, impulsive, and dangerous... You jeopardized everything. And for what?"

"For him to stay away from us, from this world" I said

"Stay away from us?" One of them asked, eyebrows rising

"Yes... He had already suspected I wasn't just from Earth"

"And how exactly did he suspect?" The council member's voice turned sharp "No human ever suspects there's another realm beyond Earth. They think of us as nothing but ghosts and myths"

"I—"

"Did you give him any hints? Or was it his brother, Ji-Yeong? He's a commoner here, isn't he?" "Ji-Yeong has nothing to do with it!" I said quickly, my voice turning firm now

"Then who did? How does this human know there's something called the Devil World?"

I let out a shaky breath "He... he just knew."

A cold silence followed my words, but then "Princess Y/N..." A different council member spoke now, their voice smooth, yet edged with warning "You think this is a game? We're a joke sitting here?" The member paused, looking at me intently, before continuing "We want you to know, we have seen more lives, more generations than you did"

I said nothing, neither I looked down

I knew who they were... angels, sent by God to judge. Not human souls, not mere advisors. They were more powerful than any of us, even the King himself

"Would you say it yourself, or should we intervene?"

I sighed, the weight of their scrutiny pressing against my ribs like an iron cage "He suspected me because of my behaviour"

A heavy pause

The council exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Then "He suspected you just from your behavior?" one of them echoed, voice dripping with disbelief "And yet, no other human has ever done the same?"

"I—"

"Strange, isn't it?" Another voice cut in, laced with quiet authority "Or perhaps... you wanted him to know"