Through the Looking Glass (TXT x Itzy)

two

Her father was the King of the country, known for his brutality after the vicious battles between him and his siblings in order to gain control of the throne. He had many wives, to be able to have an entire flock of offspring to be able to continue his legacy just the way he liked it.

And Ryujin was one of them. She was born from one of the King's more favoured wives, therefore having a better life. But in the end, despite the titles and names of her mother, she was still of commoner's blood. Every night, as Ryujin's mother tucked her into bed, she would whisper the same sentence.

"You must be perfect, Ryujin. Only the best would be able to get the throne."

Her mother's insatiable desire to be the most loved wife of the King infected Ryujin, who became desperate to uphold her mother's wishes.

So, when all her half-siblings recoiled at the sight of the dying carcass, Ryujin would skin the animal without a second thought. If she had to go through a dozen reports repeating the same thing over and over again by two hours, she would hand them in in one. Should she have to represent her father in any competition, she would do so proudly, and excel.

But her mother never seemed satisfied.

Ryujin could come home with a medal or an award, and be met with the same thing: her mother pacing around the living room of her quarters, muttering to herself and sometimes wailing and cowering from things that did not exist.

That used to terrify Ryujin to no bounds, causing her to flee to a closet and hide there until her mother had calmed down. But once she grew up, Ryujin got used to putting a sugary smile on her face and offer to clean up the bloody mess her mother had made or call the servants to prepare her mother to sleep.

Ryujin grew up to be the best.

-

Ryujin had a sister, from the same mother.

But when the girl had failed to perform as expected, she had been cruelly disowned, given another name, and placed at a lower rank, forced to witness her sister bask in glory while having the constant reminder that she was not, and never will be, enough.