Save Me (Kim Namjoon X Readers)

Chapter 26

Namjoon grew more concerned. It's been a few days and you still haven't woken up yet. Anytime Namjoon would check up on you, you would still be laying down on the bed, unmoving from your previous position. Madam Li assured him that it was because you had been extremely tired from the long journey and that he shouldn't worry about anything. She tried to distract him by taking him around the palace, showing him the garden and pond where they had met in his dream, and introducing him to the court ministers. She had been so proud when she talked about him, it sounded like she really wanted him around, and to potentially take over.

It still didn't alleviate his worry. His fingers were fidgeting, and it was distracting to his mother who was trying to enjoy her afternoon tea out in her garden. "My dear son, what's going on?" she asked.

"I'm just concerned that something happened to Y/N. She hasn't woken up yet." he explained. The madam signed, putting her teacup down gently.

"I've told you, it is nothing to stress yourself over." she repeated. She wondered how many times she can say the same thing over and over again for her son to understand.

Namjoon pressed on, feeling uncomfortable in his bejeweled outfit. "I understand mother, but why haven't you allowed me to see my aunt? Surely, she must have the remedy for the curse by now. If not, she could at least prolong it until she can lift it for sure."

The madam clenched her jaw, trying to control her breathing. It was starting to get to her, she was annoyed by the constant questions. "I will let you see her." she stated. Namjoon's shoulders perked up. "Under one condition."

"What is it?" Namjoon questioned wariedly.

"That you stay with me, and take over the throne." she answered plainly.

Namjoon hadn't expect her to say that. He had expected her to ask him to kill someone, or get some magical herbs for her. The request was simple, as simple as being a prince could be. "The drugs."

"Exactly, you have to continue our business." she nodded. Her eyes were closed as she sipped her tea. She couldn't hide her smirk. The only reason why she wanted him to join her in the first place was to consolidate her place in court and have another person carry out her business for her. When her sister took her son away, she hadn't felt even just a slight bit of a tug in her heart. Her own royal must go on without disruptions. But as tensions grew in the court, she realized that the ministers were old-school and a woman will never gain their respect. That was when she decided to actively look for her sister and Namjoon, so that they can be puppets in her game.

Namjoon gulped, "Why are you doing this, mother?"

"It's our family's prized possession, Namjoon." she affirmed. "Our family planted the black sand and that helped grow our empire. We have to continue it for their sake. If we don't it would be disrespectful and we would dishonor our family's name."

"But we're hurting so many people. We're murderers." he yelled.

"We're liberating them from their pathetic lives." she boomed. Namjoon saw her chest puffing and her eyes glazing over with anger. Then she blinked and a smile was back on her face. "Don't think of us as murderers, my dear son. We are providing them with pleasure and happiness they could not experience anywhere else. And for their dreams and determination, they will be reincarnated as noblemen."

"Noblemen?" Namjoon repeated.

"We're doing the work of gods my son, and you will be powerful." she urged.

Her words were sweet, her voice pulling him in like gravity. Along with her beauty, it must be how she was able to convince the ministers in the court to do all the bidding for her. Namjoon shivered, he would have been like this had his aunt not taken him away. Thinking about it now, he wouldn't have it any other way. Because he was taken from his mother, he was able to meet you. You who had put behind everything to help him, and who he had hurt along the way, and who he hasn't got the chance to confess to properly.

"So, what do you say?" the madam asked. Even she knew it wasn't really a question, her son had no choice. Namjoon himself knew that too. But he also knew that you would be incredibly disappointed in him if he agrees to his mother's request to kill more innocent people. He would rather not see the sadness and hurt in your eyes. Maybe he would let himself fade away so that you would remember him as a noble person.

"Mother," he began. The madam leaned forward, hopeful of what she would hear. "If I am really your son and if you do love me, why didn't you break the curse yourself?" She sat unmoving and her facial feature hadn't moved one bit, except the corner of her mouth was twitching, so small that it went unnoticed by untrained eyes. "I knew it was too naive of me to believe that I would get a happy ending. But then when I saw you and felt your embrace, all I wanted to do was rebuild our relationship. Now I know it's not possible at all. You are a selfish woman, and you will never love anyone but yourself."

The madam blinked. For a second, Namjoon thought she was crying. She had tears in her eyes, indeed, but it was not because of any anguish or sorrow. She was laughing. She kept on laughing for what felt like forever, the sound growing louder and colder. It made Namjoon shiver. He watched as the stranger's shoulders shake as she tried to calm herself down.

"Oh my dear son," she managed to say. A part of Namjoon was hoping she would deny his allegations and say that she loves him. "Of course I don't love you. I barely even know you." she remarked. The words came as arrows to his heart. "I am selfish, you're right. But at least I would have tolerated you if you had listened to me. I guess that won't happen anymore."

"What are you-"

The lavender pouch was in her hand, Namjoon panicked, it was just at his side a few seconds ago. The madam grinned like the devil as she gripped it tightly, crushing the fabric and everything inside. Namjoon felt the air being sucked out of him as he fell to the ground. Stars filled his visions and the world around him faded. He remembered her standing over him, and laughed one last time.

"You should really hope lady Y/N loves you enough because I will never break this spell."