Pied Piper (Kim Namjoon x Reader)

Chapter 23

As you all thought, the wedding was still happening. Preparation went underway as soon as the announcement was made. Officials expressed their concerns through various meetings and interviews with reporters, but the Prime Minister was quick to silence them. Even the Queen wasn't allowed to come back to visit her daughter. When the Princess is in Japanese's grip, the money will find its way into Daehan's pocket. The Prince did manage to convince his uncle who then convinced the Japanese Prince to have the wedding in Korea. His reasoning was to give her the wedding she has always wanted. He hopes that it'll give her peace of mind, that's all he could give to her. But you were also thankful for that because it'll make your plan a little bit easier.

The wedding was tomorrow night. The Japanese Prince had already arrived for the ceremony. The wedding won't be a live broadcast type of event since the people of Korea were very much against this idea. And besides, it's more like a trade than a wedding. So instead, it will be held at the Japanese private villa. Family members of the Princess aren't allowed to be there for weird reasons. You thought about this plan a lot the moment you found the notes by Daehan. It might be crazy enough just to work. You told no one but Hoseok and Taehyung after the Prince left the other day.

"Y/N, I don't know about this." Hoseok said, biting his lips and arms crossing. "Namjoon told you to not do anything stupid." He tapped his foot on the hardwood floor impatiently. He was mad.

"I know oppa, but I have to do this for him. He would do anything for Ha Eun and so would I." You continued to stare at the clock. 24 more hours until the procession starts, 24 hours more of freedom.

"You don't even know if this is even going to work, and there's a high chance that it won't work. And you know what will happen if you're caught?" Hoseok asked, slamming a hand on the wall. It shook some of the picture frames. Taehyung and his grandparents, they look close.

"Oppa, you've told me this a thousand times already-"

"You'll be executed. If not by the Japanese then by the Prime Minister."

"But I won't get caught."

"Then what happens? You'll stay married to that creep? You'll leave the man that you actually love?"

"I-"

Just then, the front door opened and shut. Taehyung carried a few sturdy boxes in his hands.He looked neither upset nor angry, he might just be numb still. He was most upset when you told him the plan, but he was willing to help anyways.

"Your Highness, I have what you needed." he said, laying the box down on the table. Hoseok stopped questioning why Taehyung keeps calling you that and 'princess'. You told him it was complicated and if you meet again, you would tell him the answer. You removed the ribbon from the lid carefully, and red string succumbing to gravity. You almost cried when you saw the content.

"She will look beautiful in this." you said, Taehyung and Hoseok nodded behind you. The red and blue hanbok with gold trimmings and designed felt strangely beautiful to you, even if in this scenario, it was an instrument for despair. The other box had the headpiece with a veil. It was untraditional to have a veil, but since Taehyung was in charge of Ha Eun's dress as well, it was something he could slip in easily.

"Y/N, you can back out now if you want to. No one will blame you." said Hoseok.

"He's right, Princess. You're putting yourself in danger." Taehyung added. You turned to look at him specifically.

"Taehyung, you love Ha Eun, don't you?"

"I...." he trailed off, already answering your question.
"And you both trust me, right?" They both nodded. "Then it's settled. Let's go over the plan one last time." The plan was quite simple, you will be taking Ha Eun's place instead. Since the late King had done a good job of keeping the Princess hidden, practically the world doesn't know what she looks like. A procession of some palace guards and maids will accompany the Princess as she travels to the villa. Not even Daehan will be going, instead, he'll reside back in his palace. Since he found that you had escaped, the warrant for your arrest has multiplied throughout the country. It seemed he didn't know that you have his notes, maybe Jimin convinced Jungkook to come to his senses.

There will be a window of time before Ha Eun's departure to switch place with her. Taehyung will sneak you in, Hoseok will take Ha Eun back to the house while Taehyung escort you to the procession and into the paladin. Everything was set. Ha Eun doesn't know of course, or else she would have rejected the idea right away. As for the Prince, you preferred not thinking about it. He would hate you, without a doubt. But this way, with you out of the way, he could think about regaining control of the country. And he'll have his family to support him. As for you, you'll suffer in Ha Eun's place. And when it's been long enough, you might just end it yourself. Hopefully by then, everything will fall in place.

You couldn't sleep that whole night. It could be your last night alive, or the last night before hell. Either way, you were ready for it. By the morning, Hoseok was ready in his gears, and Taehyung was dressed in his nice suit. He would be leaving first while Hoseok escort you through the tunnels. Once at the palace, Taehyung would take you both to Ha Eun. The maids helped you into the hanbok, it fitted your body perfectly. You admired the craftsmanship of the garment. Like many people, you've dreamed about your wedding day. The day you would finally have a real family with the person you love. And you were so close to getting it too with the Prince. It seemed like a distant memory now.

The Princess sat in front of her vanity, staring at herself in the mirror. She was going to get married today, for the sake of her country. She practice her smile many times while the maids complimented how she looked beautiful. Taehyung's breath got caught in his chest when he first saw her. She gave him a sad smile in the mirror. But the smile was replaced by a shock expression when she saw you behind him, dressed in the exact outfit.

"Y/N," she said, running up to you. The maids turned around to have deniability later. "You're alive! But what do you think you're doing right now?"

"I'm doing what any big sister would do." you answered, a hand cupping her cheek. "You have to go now, Hoseok is waiting to take you away."

"Y/N, you can't do this. I'll never forgive myself. And my brother will be devastated." she cried, you were beginning to push her towards the door.

"Please tell him I love him. And please take care of him and yourself for me."

"Thank you." she said, before disappearing from your sight. You took her seat before the vanity, waiting for the signal. The maids began fixing your hair and makeup, they said nothing the whole time. The door opened again, you thought it was Taehyung.

"Your Highness." the maids said, bowed, and you froze. Luckily the veil was already covering your face.

"Could you both please leave us for a moment?" the Prince asked quietly. The maids bowed again and left the room. The Prince approached the vanity, you looked down at your hands. "I know I don't have the right to be your brother." he began, "I couldn't get you out of this mess and you probably hate me." You shook your head vigorously. He sighed loudly. "I wish I could do more for you. But I'm stuck, I can't help anyone. Even Y/N. I wish she wouldn't love a coward like me. Do you think she would stop loving me?"

Again you shook your head.

"You're right. And I'll always love her too. I swear, I will get you back soon. And then I'll marry Y/N, and then I'll leave this damn place with you and mom. We'll be a real family again." He waited for you to answer and stepped closer. He saw that your fingers were fighting with each other. His eyebrows furrowed.

"It's time to depart, Princess." It was Taehyung who just entered the door. He gave the Prince an apologetic smile, which the Prince assumed it was for the lost of his sister. He glanced at the mirror one last time, and then he left.