THE EVIL QUEEN'S LOVE | YOONGI X READER

《~THE EVE OF RUIN~》

Namjoon’s presence lingered like smoke in the garden even after his steps had vanished into the shadows.

“I’ll take it all from you,” he had said, his voice echoing in her ears. “Everything you love… will crumble.”

Queen Y/n stood frozen beneath the willow tree, her breath shallow, chest heaving. The weight of his words cracked through her ribs like thunder. Her knees buckled beneath her, the cold wind slicing through the thin veil of composure she had left.

She would’ve fallen—

But strong arms caught her just in time.

“Y/n,” Jimin’s voice whispered, urgent and raw as he cradled her trembling body against his chest.

She didn’t resist.

She couldn’t.

A broken sob escaped her lips as her fingers curled into the fabric of his tunic, her tears soaking into his shoulder as she buried her face in him like she had so many years ago—when everything was simpler, and safe.

“I failed, Jimin…” she choked. “I failed to protect him… to protect our child… our kingdom…”

He held her tighter, his own jaw clenched with fury and grief.

“Namjoon—he’s going to destroy everything,” she cried, each word like a dagger. “I thought I was strong enough—I thought… giving my soul to the King of Azurethra would be enough. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t.”

Jimin’s breath hitched, his grip tightening protectively around her waist as realization struck him like a blade.

“You gave your soul?” he whispered, barely able to say the words. “You traded your soul to him…?”

She nodded against his chest, shaking. “To protect Yoongi. To protect the child. But now… nothing is enough.”

The anguish in her voice shattered him.

Without another word, Jimin gently lifted her into his arms. Her body was fragile, her expression ghostly. He didn’t care who saw—he couldn’t let her walk another step in that state.

When they reached her chamber, he pushed the door open and laid her gently on the bed, carefully brushing the hair from her tear-streaked face.

“I’ll fix this,” he said, voice trembling with quiet determination. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll go to Azurethra.”

“No!” she gasped, reaching up and grabbing his wrist. “Jimin, you can’t. I got you out of that place years ago. I won’t let you go back. Not again.”

“I’d do it for you,” he whispered. “You know I would.”

Before he could say more, the doors slammed open.

King Yoongi strode in, eyes blazing with worry, his cloak trailing behind him. “Where is she?”

Jimin stood immediately, shoulders squared. “She wasn’t feeling well. I was just leaving.”

Their eyes met for a beat. An unspoken understanding passed between them.

Y/n’s voice, soft and urgent, caught Jimin’s arm as he turned. “Don’t tell him. Please. He can’t know about the deal.”