#he would’ve grinned and bared it for the sake of his family mainly his mother

[dulcewrites]

Honestly…. Realistically (using this word LOOSELY)…. one of aemyrah’s kids would probably ‘want’ (also using this loosely to marry back into the family

[jiminsa]

His Throne [JJK] | 03 final

Genre: smut, angst, fluff

Word Count: 6,242

Summary: You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible prince Jeon Jungkook on his throne.

Parts: 01 | 02 | 03

Other member vers: Hoseok | Yoongi | Namjoon | Taehuyng | Jimin | Seokjin

You shuffled between tables, wiping them clean of the drunken mistakes the village's fustian knights left behind. You were so tired of working at the local inn, but it was the only way you could afford to adequately support yourself.

It'd been two months since you left the palace to find work elsewhere, and not a day's gone by where you haven't thought of Jungkook. Sometimes you wish you could go back. You left behind so much more than the love of your life; you left your friends, your integrity, your home. It was hard on you having to adjust to your new environment, all alone, with no one to support you the way Jungkook always silently did.

But then you think of Jungkook with Jisoo... It just wasn't worth it to you to stay in the palace knowing you came so close to something only to let it slip away without a fight. That constant reminder would tauntingly dangle in front of you every time you made their bed or cooked their breakfast.

You had to leave, for your sake and for his. Without saying a word to anyone, you disappeared from the palace and into the night. You figured there was no point in telling anyone; it's not like Jungkook would've stopped you if you'd said anything anyway. You weren't sure what you were going to do after you left, you just knew you couldn't take anymore of the suffering of watching Jungkook care for someone that wasn't you.

Luckily for you, not long after you arrived at the barren town, the inn's owner was kind enough to give you a job as a maid and server for the pub connected to the inn. She even allowed you to live in one of the inn's old storage rooms. It wasn't much different from the room you stayed in at the palace, so it was comforting in a sense. You could easily cry yourself to sleep on the pile of blankets you called a bed, just like in the palace. It was almost like home.

A month after arriving at the inn, you began to feel very fatigue. You brushed it off as a symptom of overworking yourself at the pub, but what could you do when it was your only source of income? So you continued working until you started feeling nauseous in the early mornings in addition to your weariness. That's when you realized, you were pregnant. You told Sumi, the innkeeper, about your pregnancy because you felt scared and alone. How were you supposed to raise a child on your own? The worst part was your baby would grow up without ever knowing their father.

It was then that Sumi became like a mother to you. She listened to your problems, soothed your aching heart with warm hugs, and loved you like no other. You trusted her more than you've ever trusted anybody before. Not even a month after you met, you felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about your relationship with the crowned prince. You knew she'd keep your secret safe, and it felt liberating to finally be able to tell someone that you loved Jeon Jungkook.

And that he loved you, too.

After you finished cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, you grabbed one of the many candles that lit the pub and disappeared behind the bar. It was around midnight, ten minutes past closing, and about time you locked up the entrance of the pub. You searched the shelves under the bar and shuffled around old rags trying to find the key. Usually it hangs on a hook under the countertop, but of course you forgot to put it there after you opened this morning.

Sumi always berated you for your carelessness - you were always misplacing things. You never did that at the palace. Then again, you were mainly in charge of cleaning and cooking, not watching over small dumb keys. The lack of light didn't help. No matter how many candles or lanterns you lit, the pub would never be bright enough for you.

Eventually you noticed the key at the back of the shelf behind a glass mug. You probably shoved it back there on accident after putting a cup back.

As you reached for the key, you heard the door of the pub open and then shut with a loud thud.

Oh, great, you thought. Probably another drunk.

There were too many occasions in which you had to chase out a drunkard - some nice, others not so much. You really hoped it was just someone asking for directions or the innkeeper coming to tell you to hurry up. You mentally prepared yourself to meet the unidentified stranger.

"I'm sorry," you apologized as you stood up, "but we're closed."

The stranger jumped at your voice, his back turned to you. Finally, he turned around and faced you. You immediately recognized his face; he was one of the pub's regulars.

He greeted you with a smile. "Uh, hi."

By his steady voice and somewhat calm composure, you assumed he wasn't drunk. He looked like he was around your age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and laid flat against his forehead.

He scratched the back of his head and knitted his brows together as he took a step towards you. "I don't know if you remember me, but I was here earlier today..."

"Yeah," you said. "I remember."

The sheepish grin he bared widened. "Well, my name's Hoseok, and I was - uh - I wanted to ask you this earlier but timing wasn't right. You were so busy getting people their orders and stuff. I didn't wanna bother you. Actually I've been wanting to ask this for a long time now, but I figured it'd be weird since we don't know each other. But then I was like how else am I supposed to get to know you if I don't ask you and talk to you? Anyway, I was kinda wondering if... you'd wanna go out sometime?"

You couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He came all this way, this late at night, to ask you out. His rambling gave away his nervousness which you found cute.

That thought suddenly left you as it sunk in just what he was asking. It'd only been two months since you left the palace. You weren't sure if you were ready to start seeing other people. You wanted to move on because you were so tired of crying over a married man that you'd probably never see again, but wasn't two months too soon?

When you didn't say anything, Hoseok cleared his throat. "We could just get something to eat? Doesn't have to be anything serious." He tried to convince you to say yes.

"I don't know..." you responded.

"Just one date." Hoseok motioned the number one with his pointer finger and took another step closer to you. "And then if you don't think we could be anything serious, we can just be friends."

Would this be a good idea? You asked yourself. You knew you'd never get over Jungkook if you just stayed at the inn and worked, but you didn't want to go out with this guy just to help yourself get over someone. Hoseok didn't deserve that.

"I'm sorry, I don't think..." your voice trailed off. You wanted to tell him no, but you couldn't bring yourself to say it. He seemed so nice; he was always smiling and laughing when he'd drink with his friends at the pub. He had a cute smile that was hard to forget.

If it weren't for Jungkook, you probably would've said okay without a second thought.

Hoseok's smile faltered slightly, and you immediately felt bad and wanted to take back your rejection.

"Well, it was worth a shot," his smile was back, only not as bright as before. "If you ever change your mind, just let me know."

Hoseok turned around to leave.

Would one date really be that bad? He did say it'd be enough. Who knows, I might actually have fun. You debated with yourself some more, still unsure if you wanted to go or not.

You thought about Jungkook again. He would have wanted you to go. He would want you to move on and be happy. You could hear his voice in the back of your mind, and you could see his heart-shaped smile, the one you loved so much, form as he'd say, "Come on, Princess, this guy could be your new prince." You could hear him telling you it wasn't like you to be so hesitant.

As Hoseok neared the door, you senselessly called out to him, "Wait!"

With his hand on the doorknob, Hoseok turned around to look at you. You didn't know what you wanted to say, but you knew you didn't want him to leave.

Stepping out from behind the bar, you tentatively walked towards him. Your hands were balled into fists by your sides, you clenched and unclenched them, nervously. "Uh, I change my mind. I'll take you up on that offer." You gnawed on the inside of your cheek, hoping you weren't going to regret this decision.

That familiar smile was back again, and Hoseok's eyes lit up, "Really?"

You smiled gently and nodded your head, "Yeah, but you gotta keep your word. If I just want to be friends then we'll just be friends. Okay?"

Hoseok nodded his head vigorously, causing his hair to fall into his eyes. "Of course! Are you free later today?"

It was Sunday, so you knew the pub would be closed today. Sumi didn't believe in drinking on the day of the lord, so that was the one day out of the week the pub didn't open. "Yeah, I am. The pub will be closed, so I'll be at the inn next door."

"Okay, great!" Hoseok said, his excitement evident in his scrunched eyes and wide smile. "I'll come pick you up around noon." Hoseok gave you one last look before leaving you alone in the dimly lit room.

You really hoped the Jungkook in your head led you to make the right decision.

After you locked the pub up last night, you made your way to the inn where you found Sumi, warming you up some leftover dinner. You told her about your date with Hoseok and how you'd be gone - you assumed - for most of the day.

Sumi was elated to hear you were trying to move on, but the motherly part of her was still worried you were forcing yourself too soon. She kept reminding you that you weren't obligated to go on this date and that you could leave in the middle of it if you felt like you needed to. You wanted to be annoyed by her nagging, but all you could do was appreciate her concerns.

Once Sumi was finished nagging you, she began to ask you what Hoseok was like since she had no idea who he was. There was only so much you could say since you didn't really know Hoseok either, but you did know he had the sweetest smile. Of course, it was nothing compared to Jungkook's, but it did make your heart flutter just the tiniest bit. You told Sumi he was a brown eyed cutie with soft features that reminded you of a puppy dog.

The more Sumi talked about the date, the more excited and anxious you became for it. You've never been on a date before - never went through the process of picking out an outfit, anticipating what you're gonna do on the date, or wondered if this could be the guy. So, your nerves were kicking into high gear as the date neared.

It was almost noon, about an hour till, and you were all ready for your date. You did your hair and wore your nicest dress; it was Sumi's dress when she was younger, and she was nice enough to give it to you since you didn't have any clothes other than the ones you wore on your back the day you two met.

As you stood in the inn's kitchen, you kept having to drink water to calm yourself. You were getting so anxious.

What if he's the one? The one that'll take your breath away even more than Jungkook ever could. The one you can actually grow old with. The one that'll make you forget Jungkook. Although you found that highly unlikely, you couldn't help but wonder.

What if he isn't the one? What if he just makes you miss Jungkook even more? You've never loved anyone like you loved Jungkook.

Your thoughts were boundless and slightly irrational for just one date, but having to bounce back from a love that meant the world to you was scary. You didn't know what was scarier, the thought of never finding love again or actually moving on from the one who taught you how to love.

You were in the middle of downing your fourth glass of water, pondering if it was too late to cancel the date, when Sumi walked into the kitchen. She eyed you, admiring how beautiful you looked in her old dress. It reminded her of when she was young and lively.

Sumi smiled gently as she said, "Hoseok's here!"

"What?" You almost choked on your water. "But the date's not for another hour, I'm not prepared!" You thought back to what Hoseok said and remembered he told you around noon, not at noon. You stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen and placed your glass on it. Your grip on the cup was tight as you looked to Sumi. Nervousness settled into the creases of your furrowed brows.

Sumi chuckled. "I found him standing in front of the inn, he asked about you. He really did look like a puppy - a lost one."

"What'd he say?" You inquired.

"Just asked if I knew ya, and I told him I did and to wait in the check-in area. You can still cancel, you know?"

You knew that, but it'd be rude to have him come all this way only to cancel last minute, right? No, it wouldn't be rude, but it wouldn't feel right. It's just one date. Just two people hanging out, getting something to eat. It's not like he was expecting you to fall in love with him today.

"No, it's fine. I'm dressed. I'll go." You released your grip on the cup and inhaled deeply. You gave Sumi a smile and thanked her for notifying you that Hoseok was here.

He's not gonna propose for goodness sake, stop being so nervous, you told yourself.

You gathered your courage and made your way to the inn's lobby where you saw him sitting on one of the couches, his back turned to you.

"Hey, sorry I made you wait," you released a shaky chuckle. "I wasn't expecting you to be so early."

When he stood up and looked at you, your heart dropped. Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat because that wasn't Hoseok waiting for you. "Jungkook?"

He looked tired and worn out, but his eyes lit up the second they met yours. Your name dripped from his lips like honey, all sweet and loving, as he took a step towards you. "I've been looking everywhere for you." Jungkook smiled, and it made your heart flip.

Jungkook wore the clothes of royalty, but they were slightly tattered and dirtied - evidence of his quest to find you.

Seeing Jungkook brought back all these painful feelings and made nostalgia bubble in your stomach. It took everything in you not to reach out and touch him or hold him, tell him how much you've missed him, how much you still love him. You didn't need him here to make you lose your will to move on.

The fact that Jungkook was here was surreal. You'd always fantasized about him coming to find you, but you never expected it to actually happen.

"What are you doing here?" You asked as you took a step back. Your heart was racing and your palms sweaty. You flattened them on your sides to rid them of the claminess.

You always thought if you saw Jungkook again, you'd run straight into his arms and never let go. But now that he's really here, your legs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. There was an anchor in the pit of your stomach keeping you from embracing the love of your life. You were paralyzed to your very core.

The tone in your voice made the sparkle in Jungkook's eyes die out, and his smile disappeared without a trace. "I came to see you."

The weak part of you melted at his words, but you quickly regained your composure. He's married, you reminded yourself. "Does Jisoo know you're here?"

You were so conflicted with your feelings. You wanted to be happy he was here for God knows what reason, but the practical - and slightly cynical - side of you kept screaming for you to disregard your feelings because if you don't and succumb to them, then you'll be left vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt again. Seeing him brought forth a rush of feelings that you've been trying to lock up for months now. The gates have opened, the dam broken, and your feelings were like a unyielding flood trying to drown you.

"No," Jungkook sighed. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. Jungkook thought you'd be overjoyed to see him. Then again, he did show up out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. He never stopped to consider for even a second that you wouldn't want to see him. "I... ended things with her."

Jungkook lifted his head and searched your eyes, looking for some kind of reaction.

Your mouth fell open in shock. You wondered for a second if you heard him correctly. Did Jungkook really just say he "ended things" with the princess of a neighboring country? "Ended things" with his wife.

"What are you talking about?" You questioned. "Nothing's as simple as ending things, Jungkook... Are you saying you got divorced?"

"Not exactly," he responded. "I told the king about us..."

As soon as Jungkook muttered those words, it felt as if the ground that was keeping you steady suddenly crumbled from beneath you, and you were falling. The rush of adrenaline that consumed your every nerve wasn't exhilarating in the slightest, it made your hairs stand on end and your heart clench.

"Jungkook," you whispered. "You didn't."

What exactly did he tell the king? "Hey I've been screwing one of the maids for the past couple of years." That's the only way you could have imagined the scene to go down.

"I told him I love you," he continued. "Told him I can't be with Jisoo, and that I want to marry you."

Before you could even digest the fact that Jungkook just said he wanted to marry you, he continued.

"He told me to never bring divorce or you up ever again, especially not in front of Jisoo, or he'd disown me. He said that this was the path chosen for me since birth, and that he's given me everything I've ever wanted, and I didn't deserve to ask for more."

You couldn't help but agree with what the king was saying. This was the path chosen for him. He's a prince for goodness sake. It's his duty to help bring our country and neighboring countries together in any way possible. Even if that meant marrying somebody he doesn't love because someday he's going to be king, and he needs to learn how to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of this country.

Besides, what did he think he'd get out of telling the king? Did he really think that just because he says he wants to marry you that his parents would allow him to sever ties with Jisoo so soon after their marriage? For a maid no less? Even if they were okay with him divorcing Jisoo, they wouldn't let him do it to be with a maid. Perhaps someone of royalty, but never a maid.

That thought saddened you, but this was your reality.

"So I left," Jungkook's husky voice pulled you out of your reverie.

"You should go back," you found yourself whispering in a soft voice. He can't just leave the palace as if there won't be any consequences. How typical of a prince to assume he can do whatever he wants. "Jungkook, this isn't right. You were born to be king. You deserve a lavish lifestyle in the palace where you belong. You wouldn't survive a day in a commoners shoes."

What would happen to Jisoo? How would this affect our country's relationship with hers? Who will be king now? So many questions ran through your mind as you wondered what would happen if Jungkook did stay. Of course, Jungkook's younger brother could always take the throne, but he was considerably younger than Jungkook. He was only sixteen years old. It'd be a long time before he could become king.

Jungkook walked towards you, his face hard. "No amount of riches could keep me away from you. I deserve to choose how I live my life, and I choose to live it with you."

"Jungkook..." It's not like you genuinely wanted him to go back, but you knew what was right, and him staying with you wasn't. He has a duty to uphold.

"If I can't be with you, then I don't want to be with anyone." He hesitantly reached up before slowly cupping your face in his large hands. They were warm and felt like home. He was thankful you didn't withdraw from his touch like he thought you would. He knew how much he's hurt you, and he was so worried the damage was irreversible.

"But you don't get to choose." You looked into Jungkook's pleading eyes, they were dark and solemn. You never would have thought you'd have to reject Jungkook, but here you were, saying no to a man practically begging you take him. Oh, how you wanted to take him.

You reached up and engulfed Jungkook's hands in yours. You gave them a light squeeze before removing them from your face, watching as his face fell with despair. You took two step backwards, bringing some distance between you two. It made it so much easier to reject him when you couldn't feel his warmth and imagine yourself wrapped up in his arms. Tears brimmed your eyes, but you smiled at him.

"Y/N," his voice trembled.

"Go back, Jungkook. Go back to where you belong, and live the life that you should. You could be happy with Jisoo if you tried."

"I left everything for you." Jungkook huffed. "Do you really think they'd take me back after what I did to be with you? I walked out on the royal family; no one even knows where I am, Y/N. They've probably disowned me already."

You considered Jungkook's words for a second. No way they'd disown him that easily. Surely they'd take him back. At least that's what you hoped.

You opened your mouth to assure Jungkook they'd accept him without hesitation, but he cut you off.

"I won't go back." His voice was firm. Jungkook took a step towards you, closing the space you'd just created. "I love you, and I know you love me, too."

Everything around you stood still. This was the first time Jungkook's ever directly told you he loves you. He's said he loved you, he's said he told his father he loves you, but he's never told you face to face, out loud, "I love you." It nearly broke your entire resolve to send Jungkook back. You were too taken aback to retaliate, so Jungkook continued without giving you a second to completely compose yourself.

"You don't want me to go back, and you know it. Don't give me some bullshit lie that being a prince is what I deserve, and the palace is where I belong. We both know that's not true; I belong with you wherever that may be.

"We could be happy together. I don't care about this country, I don't care about money, and I sure as hell don't care about Jisoo or what the king and queen think. I love you Y/N, and I want to be with you. I want to live with you and wake up to you every morning and go to sleep to you every night. I want to get married and have kids with you. I'll work day in and day out to give you everything you deserve. Stop putting me before yourself because you deserve to be happy, too, and I know that you'd be happy with me."

I want to have kids with you. You immediately thought about the child you were carrying. If Jungkook stayed, your child wouldn't be fatherless, and you could actually tell Jungkook that he's going to have a kid. Of course you wanted to live with him, raise your kid with him, and you had no doubt in your mind that you'd be happy with Jungkook. The thought was so deliciously tempting that the more you entertained it, the more your resolve seemed to dissipate.

You imagined Jungkook as a dad, taking care of your little baby and playing with them. You pictured yourself growing old with him and watching as that child turned into an adult and started to love like you and Jungkook did.

Instinctively, your hand rested on your belly. The tears that were welling in your eyes earlier finally spilled over. A soft sob fell past your parted lips. You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling and allowing more whimpers to escape. You looked down at your small baby bump. You gripped your dress and let the cloth bunch up in your clenched hand.

Would it be wrong of you to change your mind and ask him to stay? You wanted that - you wanted that happy ending, and by God did you deserve it. Jungkook was right, you deserve to be happy. You were hardly ever selfish or voiced your wants and needs. Would it really be so bad for you to let yourself have this one thing even if it meant getting in the way of Jungkook's life?

Suddenly, you found yourself searching for reasons for him to stay. He wanted to be with you. You didn't force him to come find you or leave his family behind. He did that all on his own. Who are you to say no to that? You should be grateful and accept him with open arms.

"What?" Jungkook asked when he noticed your tears and your hand on your stomach. He wondered for a second if you were in physical pain. Concern laced his words as he asked you again, "What's wrong?"

"I'm," you choked out, "I'm pregnant."

A second or two passed and suddenly you were in Jungkook's arms. He held you tight against himself. You could hear his heart hammering inside his chest. Jungkook rested his chin on your head, trying to find the right words to say.

He was so caught off guard. He didn't want to insult you, but he had to ask. "Is it m-"

"Yes it's yours, you idiot." You answered without him having to finish his question. Your tears stained his shirt as you buried your face further into his chest.

Jungkook thought about the last time you two had sex. You must have been at least two months along. He immediately felt bad thinking about how scared you must have been when you found out all alone. He was a little bitter because he knew, if he'd never came to see you, he would have never known about his own child. But that wasn't important at the moment. What was important was you were so obviously shaken, and all he wanted to do was console you.

"I can't go now, Y/N," Jungkook lifted his chin from your head and leaned back so he could look you in your eyes. His thumbs wiped away the tears streaming down your face. You stared into his brown eyes, they were soft and inviting. "You need me as much as I need you. I can help you raise the baby. You don't have to do this alone. Jungkook can be king, Jisoo can find some other prince from some other country, but you'll never find another man that will love this baby as much as I would."

With each passing word, Jungkook continued to tear your resolve to shreds. There was hardly any piece of you left that was convinced he should go back to the palace. You were overcome with a sudden desire to keep Jungkook all to yourself. Screw what was right.

"But-"

"Sh," Jungkook silenced you. "No ‘buts'. I've let you go once, and I'm not doing it again."

Jungkook leaned down and kissed you. It was a soft affectionate kiss filled with love, there was no urgency to it. You simply melted into him, and that was it. There was no turning back; he'd won you over. As Jungkook deepened the kiss, he pulled you close into a loose hug. His hands rested on your waist, intimately. You snaked your arms around his neck and clasped your hands together.

Your heart was pounding loud and clear, and you were sure Jungkook could hear it, too. After what felt like an eternity, you broke the kiss, your eyes still closed.

It still hadn't quite registered that you and Jungkook are finally going to get your happy ending. You knew there were going to bumps and obstacles along the way, and you might have to fight to stay together, but you knew it would be worth it in the long run. Finally, all the suffering would come to an end because Jungkook was yours.

"I love you," you whispered.

"I love you, too."

"And then what happened Mommy?" Your daughter, Nayeon, asked. You sat perched on a rickety old rocking chair Jungkook tried to make for you not long before Nayeon was born. She was seated at your feet, her legs crisscrossed, her chin resting on her clasped hands, and her eyes gleaming.

You'd just finished telling Nayeon the story of how you and Jungkook got together and how Jungkook so bravely left his home and family to be with you. You weren't afraid to mention he was the prince because you knew if Nayeon mentioned it to any other kid, they'd think it was a simple story.

In fact, your story had spread throughout the country. You were the protagonist of the great love that overcame societal differences. Your story inspired young women everywhere and helped them realize that, if meant to be, love was boundless and could overcome anything.

You picked Nayeon up and placed her on your lap, and her arms naturally wrapped tightly around your shoulders. "And then you came along," you booped her cute button nose.

"So if daddy was a prince and soon to be king, does that make me a princess?" She inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Every six year old dreams of being a princess, but in Nayeon's case, she was one.

You chuckled as you said, "I guess it does."

The grin on Nayeon's face only grew wider; she couldn't wait to boast to her friends that she was a real life princess.

You pushed a strand of her long dark hair out of her eyes. They reminded you so much of Jungkook's, slanted towards the end but bright and wide with wonder and so full of curiosity. She was compassionate and understanding, very intelligent, too. She took so much after her dad. Although Jungkook likes to argue she took all those traits from you.

"Then does that mean the baby inside you will be a princess, too?"

"Who knows?" You smiled. "Maybe they'll be a prince."

Jungkook was the first one to suggest having another kid. He loved Nayeon so much he wanted another child to cherish and shower with love. At first you were against the idea because even though you weren't poor, you weren't exactly the most well off family. Having another child would put a strain on money, but Jungkook was so good with kids, and he vowed to work hard enough and make enough money to raise a second child without worry. So of course you couldn't say no to him. Once Jungkook is determined to do something there's no stopping him.

Your daughter placed a small hand on your round belly and jumped when the baby kicked. She giggled endlessly, and it was music to your ears. You gave her a tight squeeze and proceeded to smother her in kisses and tell her how much you love her.

Eventually, she asked you to continue with the story, so you did.

The world continued to turn after you and Jungkook decided to stay together. Everything really fell into place. It turns out the neighboring country was secretly planning to assassinate the entire royal family with Jisoo as their perpetrator, so she was executed, and the relationship with her country hasn't been the same since. For awhile, we were in war with them, but once Jungkook's younger brother became king, he put an end to it. He realized it was only wasting rations and hurting civilians who were losing loved ones in a stalemate war. If it weren't for the war, however, you were positive the royal family would've sought out Jungkook and forced him back into the palace to be king.

Jungkook never went back to the palace. You two stayed at the inn for a couple of months. Because you were pregnant, you were too weak to work yourself, so Jungkook took on your shifts at the pub and the inn. With a little help from Sumi, eventually you accumulated enough money to buy your own home and finally get married. It wasn't a big wedding, but it was perfect in your book because Jungkook was the groom, and that's all you've ever dreamed about.

After you moved, you still visited Sumi often, especially since she was Nayeon's godmother, and even started working at the pub again when Nayeon turned three.

"What about the guy you were supposed to go on a date with?" Your daughter cocked her head to the side and pulled her eyebrows together, curious.

The corners of your mouth twitched up slightly. You rocked the chair back and forth and hugged Nayeon to your chest. "We became very good friends."

You thought back to the moment Hoseok walked into the inn's lobby, looking for you, only to find you crying in Jungkook's arms. You were so upset that you forgot all about him and apologized profusely for having to cancel the date and any further offers he'd want to make.

Hoseok was no fool; he easily read the atmosphere and assured you he was okay. He told you he wished he'd gotten there sooner, but timing really just wasn't right for him when it came to you. You remember the chuckle that escaped his lips as you both thought back to his incessant rambling on how he wanted to ask you out sooner.

You always wondered what would have happened if he did.

Suddenly, Jungkook walked through the front door, pulling your attention away from your thoughts. Your daughter perked up, immediately leaving your lap to hug him. She truly was a daddy's girl, even though she claimed to love both of you equally.

"Daddy!" She squealed.

Jungkook effortlessly picked your daughter up and pulled her into to a tight hug. "Hey, Buttercup."

He was dressed in casual work clothes, a white short sleeved shirt tucked into his pants. Ever since Jungkook started working, he's grown more robust, his hands bared calluses from working to support your family, and he genuinely seemed happy. You never thought he'd make it this far.

"Mommy told me I'm a princess!" Nayeon smiled a toothy grin. Jungkook looked to you with a raised eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

You shrugged your shoulders and smiled slyly at him.

He turned his attention back to the squirming daughter in his arms. "That you are!"

"I'm daddy's princess, right?" Nayeon asked in a sugary sweet voice. She wrapped her arms around Jungkook's neck and waited for an answer.

"Sorry, Buttercup," Jungkook smiled, setting her down onto the ground. He strode towards you and rested one of his hands on the armrest of the rocking chair and the other on your stomach. His hand caressed you as he smiled thinking about the little baby boy or girl that would soon be entering your lives. He leaned down till his face was merely inches from yours. "But that spot's been reserved for your mom for a long time now."

He kissed you, smiling against your lips. With his eyes closed he pulled away, and when he opened them, he admired you like he'd never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. "I told you you'll always be my princess."

[jiminsa]

His Throne [PJM] | 03 final

Genre: smut, angst, fluff

Word Count: 6,242

Summary: You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible prince Park Jimin on his throne.

Parts: 01 | 02 | 03

Other member vers: Hoseok | Yoongi | Namjoon | Taehyung | Jungkook | Seokjin

You shuffled between tables, wiping them clean of the drunken mistakes the village’s fustian knights left behind. You were so tired of working at the local inn, but it was the only way you could afford to adequately support yourself.

It’d been two months since you left the palace to find work elsewhere, and not a day’s gone by where you haven’t thought of Jimin. Sometimes you wish you could go back. You left behind so much more than the love of your life; you left your friends, your integrity, your home. It was hard on you having to adjust to your new environment, all alone, with no one to support you the way Jimin always silently did.

But then you think of Jimin with Jisoo… It just wasn’t worth it to you to stay in the palace knowing you came so close to something only to let it slip away without a fight. That constant reminder would tauntingly dangle in front of you every time you made their bed or cooked their breakfast.

You had to leave, for your sake and for his. Without saying a word to anyone, you disappeared from the palace and into the night. You figured there was no point in telling anyone; it’s not like Jimin would’ve stopped you if you’d said anything anyway. You weren’t sure what you were going to do after you left, you just knew you couldn’t take anymore of the suffering of watching Jimin care for someone that wasn’t you.

Luckily for you, not long after you arrived at the barren town, the inn’s owner was kind enough to give you a job as a maid and server for the pub connected to the inn. She even allowed you to live in one of the inn’s old storage rooms. It wasn’t much different from the room you stayed in at the palace, so it was comforting in a sense. You could easily cry yourself to sleep on the pile of blankets you called a bed, just like in the palace. It was almost like home.

A month after arriving at the inn, you began to feel very fatigue. You brushed it off as a symptom of overworking yourself at the pub, but what could you do when it was your only source of income? So you continued working until you started feeling nauseous in the early mornings in addition to your weariness. That’s when you realized, you were pregnant. You told Sumi, the innkeeper, about your pregnancy because you felt scared and alone. How were you supposed to raise a child on your own? The worst part was your baby would grow up without ever knowing their father.

It was then that Sumi became like a mother to you. She listened to your problems, soothed your aching heart with warm hugs, and loved you like no other. You trusted her more than you’ve ever trusted anybody before. Not even a month after you met, you felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about your relationship with the crowned prince. You knew she’d keep your secret safe, and it felt liberating to finally be able to tell someone that you loved Park Jimin.

And that he loved you, too.

After you finished cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, you grabbed one of the many candles that lit the pub and disappeared behind the bar. It was around midnight, ten minutes past closing, and about time you locked up the entrance of the pub. You searched the shelves under the bar and shuffled around old rags trying to find the key. Usually it hangs on a hook under the countertop, but of course you forgot to put it there after you opened this morning.

Sumi always berated you for your carelessness - you were always misplacing things. You never did that at the palace. Then again, you were mainly in charge of cleaning and cooking, not watching over small dumb keys. The lack of light didn’t help. No matter how many candles or lanterns you lit, the pub would never be bright enough for you.

Eventually you noticed the key at the back of the shelf behind a glass mug. You probably shoved it back there on accident after putting a cup back.

As you reached for the key, you heard the door of the pub open and then shut with a loud thud.

Oh, great, you thought. Probably another drunk.

There were too many occasions in which you had to chase out a drunkard - some nice, others not so much. You really hoped it was just someone asking for directions or the innkeeper coming to tell you to hurry up. You mentally prepared yourself to meet the unidentified stranger.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized as you stood up, “but we’re closed.”

The stranger jumped at your voice, his back turned to you. Finally, he turned around and faced you. You immediately recognized his face; he was one of the pub’s regulars.

He greeted you with a smile. “Uh, hi.”

By his steady voice and somewhat calm composure, you assumed he wasn’t drunk. He looked like he was around your age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and laid flat against his forehead.

He scratched the back of his head and knitted his brows together as he took a step towards you. “I don’t know if you remember me, but I was here earlier today…”

“Yeah,” you said. “I remember.”

The sheepish grin he bared widened. “Well, my name’s Hoseok, and I was - uh - I wanted to ask you this earlier but timing wasn’t right. You were so busy getting people their orders and stuff. I didn’t wanna bother you. Actually I’ve been wanting to ask this for a long time now, but I figured it’d be weird since we don’t know each other. But then I was like how else am I supposed to get to know you if I don’t ask you and talk to you? Anyway, I was kinda wondering if… you’d wanna go out sometime?”

You couldn’t help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He came all this way, this late at night, to ask you out. His rambling gave away his nervousness which you found cute.

That thought suddenly left you as it sunk in just what he was asking. It’d only been two months since you left the palace. You weren’t sure if you were ready to start seeing other people. You wanted to move on because you were so tired of crying over a married man that you’d probably never see again, but wasn’t two months too soon?

When you didn’t say anything, Hoseok cleared his throat. “We could just get something to eat? Doesn’t have to be anything serious.” He tried to convince you to say yes.

“I don’t know…” you responded.

“Just one date.” Hoseok motioned the number one with his pointer finger and took another step closer to you. “And then if you don’t think we could be anything serious, we can just be friends.”

Would this be a good idea? You asked yourself. You knew you’d never get over Jimin if you just stayed at the inn and worked, but you didn’t want to go out with this guy just to help yourself get over someone. Hoseok didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think…” your voice trailed off. You wanted to tell him no, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it. He seemed so nice; he was always smiling and laughing when he’d drink with his friends at the pub. He had a cute smile that was hard to forget.

If it weren’t for Jimin, you probably would’ve said okay without a second thought.

Hoseok’s smile faltered slightly, and you immediately felt bad and wanted to take back your rejection.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” his smile was back, only not as bright as before. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Hoseok turned around to leave.

Would one date really be that bad? He did say it’d be enough. Who knows, I might actually have fun. You debated with yourself some more, still unsure if you wanted to go or not.

You thought about Jimin again. He would have wanted you to go. He would want you to move on and be happy. You could hear his voice in the back of your mind, and you could see his heart-shaped smile, the one you loved so much, form as he’d say, “Come on, Princess, this guy could be your new prince.” You could hear him telling you it wasn’t like you to be so hesitant.

As Hoseok neared the door, you senselessly called out to him, “Wait!”

With his hand on the doorknob, Hoseok turned around to look at you. You didn’t know what you wanted to say, but you knew you didn’t want him to leave.

Stepping out from behind the bar, you tentatively walked towards him. Your hands were balled into fists by your sides, you clenched and unclenched them, nervously. “Uh, I change my mind. I’ll take you up on that offer.” You gnawed on the inside of your cheek, hoping you weren’t going to regret this decision.

That familiar smile was back again, and Hoseok’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

You smiled gently and nodded your head, “Yeah, but you gotta keep your word. If I just want to be friends then we’ll just be friends. Okay?”

Hoseok nodded his head vigorously, causing his hair to fall into his eyes. “Of course! Are you free later today?”

It was Sunday, so you knew the pub would be closed today. Sumi didn’t believe in drinking on the day of the lord, so that was the one day out of the week the pub didn’t open. “Yeah, I am. The pub will be closed, so I’ll be at the inn next door.”

“Okay, great!” Hoseok said, his excitement evident in his scrunched eyes and wide smile. “I’ll come pick you up around noon.” Hoseok gave you one last look before leaving you alone in the dimly lit room.

You really hoped the Jimin in your head led you to make the right decision.

After you locked the pub up last night, you made your way to the inn where you found Sumi, warming you up some leftover dinner. You told her about your date with Hoseok and how you’d be gone - you assumed - for most of the day.

Sumi was elated to hear you were trying to move on, but the motherly part of her was still worried you were forcing yourself too soon. She kept reminding you that you weren’t obligated to go on this date and that you could leave in the middle of it if you felt like you needed to. You wanted to be annoyed by her nagging, but all you could do was appreciate her concerns.

Once Sumi was finished nagging you, she began to ask you what Hoseok was like since she had no idea who he was. There was only so much you could say since you didn’t really know Hoseok either, but you did know he had the sweetest smile. Of course, it was nothing compared to Jimin’s, but it did make your heart flutter just the tiniest bit. You told Sumi he was a brown eyed cutie with soft features that reminded you of a puppy dog.

The more Sumi talked about the date, the more excited and anxious you became for it. You’ve never been on a date before - never went through the process of picking out an outfit, anticipating what you’re gonna do on the date, or wondered if this could be the guy. So, your nerves were kicking into high gear as the date neared.

It was almost noon, about an hour till, and you were all ready for your date. You did your hair and wore your nicest dress; it was Sumi’s dress when she was younger, and she was nice enough to give it to you since you didn’t have any clothes other than the ones you wore on your back the day you two met.

As you stood in the inn’s kitchen, you kept having to drink water to calm yourself. You were getting so anxious.

What if he’s the one? The one that’ll take your breath away even more than Jimin ever could. The one you can actually grow old with. The one that’ll make you forget Jimin. Although you found that highly unlikely, you couldn’t help but wonder.

What if he isn’t the one? What if he just makes you miss Jimin even more? You’ve never loved anyone like you loved Jimin.

Your thoughts were boundless and slightly irrational for just one date, but having to bounce back from a love that meant the world to you was scary. You didn’t know what was scarier, the thought of never finding love again or actually moving on from the one who taught you how to love.

You were in the middle of downing your fourth glass of water, pondering if it was too late to cancel the date, when Sumi walked into the kitchen. She eyed you, admiring how beautiful you looked in her old dress. It reminded her of when she was young and lively.

Sumi smiled gently as she said, “Hoseok’s here!”

“What?” You almost choked on your water. “But the date’s not for another hour, I’m not prepared!” You thought back to what Hoseok said and remembered he told you around noon, not at noon. You stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen and placed your glass on it. Your grip on the cup was tight as you looked to Sumi. Nervousness settled into the creases of your furrowed brows.

Sumi chuckled. “I found him standing in front of the inn, he asked about you. He really did look like a puppy - a lost one.”

“What’d he say?” You inquired.

“Just asked if I knew ya, and I told him I did and to wait in the check-in area. You can still cancel, you know?”

You knew that, but it’d be rude to have him come all this way only to cancel last minute, right? No, it wouldn’t be rude, but it wouldn’t feel right. It’s just one date. Just two people hanging out, getting something to eat. It’s not like he was expecting you to fall in love with him today.

“No, it’s fine. I’m dressed. I’ll go.” You released your grip on the cup and inhaled deeply. You gave Sumi a smile and thanked her for notifying you that Hoseok was here.

He’s not gonna propose for goodness sake, stop being so nervous, you told yourself.

You gathered your courage and made your way to the inn’s lobby where you saw him sitting on one of the couches, his back turned to you.

“Hey, sorry I made you wait,” you released a shaky chuckle. “I wasn’t expecting you to be so early.”

When he stood up and looked at you, your heart dropped. Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat because that wasn’t Hoseok waiting for you. “Jimin?”

He looked tired and worn out, but his eyes lit up the second they met yours. Your name dripped from his lips like honey, all sweet and loving, as he took a step towards you. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Jimin smiled, and it made your heart flip.

Jimin wore the clothes of royalty, but they were slightly tattered and dirtied - evidence of his quest to find you.

Seeing Jimin brought back all these painful feelings and made nostalgia bubble in your stomach. It took everything in you not to reach out and touch him or hold him, tell him how much you’ve missed him, how much you still love him. You didn’t need him here to make you lose your will to move on.

The fact that Jimin was here was surreal. You’d always fantasized about him coming to find you, but you never expected it to actually happen.

“What are you doing here?” You asked as you took a step back. Your heart was racing and your palms sweaty. You flattened them on your sides to rid them of the claminess.

You always thought if you saw Jimin again, you’d run straight into his arms and never let go. But now that he’s really here, your legs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. There was an anchor in the pit of your stomach keeping you from embracing the love of your life. You were paralyzed to your very core.

The tone in your voice made the sparkle in Jimin’s eyes die out, and his smile disappeared without a trace. “I came to see you.”

The weak part of you melted at his words, but you quickly regained your composure. He’s married, you reminded yourself. “Does Jisoo know you’re here?”

You were so conflicted with your feelings. You wanted to be happy he was here for God knows what reason, but the practical - and slightly cynical - side of you kept screaming for you to disregard your feelings because if you don’t and succumb to them, then you’ll be left vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt again. Seeing him brought forth a rush of feelings that you’ve been trying to lock up for months now. The gates have opened, the dam broken, and your feelings were like a unyielding flood trying to drown you.

“No,” Jimin sighed. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. Jimin thought you’d be overjoyed to see him. Then again, he did show up out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. He never stopped to consider for even a second that you wouldn’t want to see him. “I… ended things with her.”

Jimin lifted his head and searched your eyes, looking for some kind of reaction.

Your mouth fell open in shock. You wondered for a second if you heard him correctly. Did Jimin really just say he “ended things” with the princess of a neighboring country? “Ended things” with his wife.

“What are you talking about?” You questioned. “Nothing’s as simple as ending things, Jimin… Are you saying you got divorced?”

“Not exactly,” he responded. “I told the king about us…”

As soon as Jimin muttered those words, it felt as if the ground that was keeping you steady suddenly crumbled from beneath you, and you were falling. The rush of adrenaline that consumed your every nerve wasn’t exhilarating in the slightest, it made your hairs stand on end and your heart clench.

“Jimin,” you whispered. “You didn’t.”

What exactly did he tell the king? “Hey I’ve been screwing one of the maids for the past couple of years.” That’s the only way you could have imagined the scene to go down.

“I told him I love you,” he continued. “Told him I can’t be with Jisoo, and that I want to marry you.”

Before you could even digest the fact that Jimin just said he wanted to marry you, he continued.

“He told me to never bring divorce or you up ever again, especially not in front of Jisoo, or he’d disown me. He said that this was the path chosen for me since birth, and that he’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted, and I didn’t deserve to ask for more.”

You couldn’t help but agree with what the king was saying. This was the path chosen for him. He’s a prince for goodness sake. It’s his duty to help bring our country and neighboring countries together in any way possible. Even if that meant marrying somebody he doesn’t love because someday he’s going to be king, and he needs to learn how to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of this country.

Besides, what did he think he’d get out of telling the king? Did he really think that just because he says he wants to marry you that his parents would allow him to sever ties with Jisoo so soon after their marriage? For a maid no less? Even if they were okay with him divorcing Jisoo, they wouldn’t let him do it to be with a maid. Perhaps someone of royalty, but never a maid.

That thought saddened you, but this was your reality.

“So I left,” Jimin’s husky voice pulled you out of your reverie.

“You should go back,” you found yourself whispering in a soft voice. He can’t just leave the palace as if there won’t be any consequences. How typical of a prince to assume he can do whatever he wants. “Jimin, this isn’t right. You were born to be king. You deserve a lavish lifestyle in the palace where you belong. You wouldn’t survive a day in a commoners shoes.”

What would happen to Jisoo? How would this affect our country’s relationship with hers? Who will be king now? So many questions ran through your mind as you wondered what would happen if Jimin did stay. Of course, Jimin’s younger brother Jungkook could always take the throne, but he was considerably younger than Jimin. He was only sixteen years old. It’d be a long time before he could become king.

Jimin walked towards you, his face hard. “No amount of riches could keep me away from you. I deserve to choose how I live my life, and I choose to live it with you.”

“Jimin…” It’s not like you genuinely wanted him to go back, but you knew what was right, and him staying with you wasn’t. He has a duty to uphold.

“If I can’t be with you, then I don’t want to be with anyone.” He hesitantly reached up before slowly cupping your face in his large hands. They were warm and felt like home. He was thankful you didn’t withdraw from his touch like he thought you would. He knew how much he’s hurt you, and he was so worried the damage was irreversible.

“But you don’t get to choose.” You looked into Jimin’s pleading eyes, they were dark and solemn. You never would have thought you’d have to reject Jimin, but here you were, saying no to a man practically begging you take him. Oh, how you wanted to take him.

You reached up and engulfed Jimin’s hands in yours. You gave them a light squeeze before removing them from your face, watching as his face fell with despair. You took two step backwards, bringing some distance between you two. It made it so much easier to reject him when you couldn’t feel his warmth and imagine yourself wrapped up in his arms. Tears brimmed your eyes, but you smiled at him.

“Y/N,” his voice trembled.

“Go back, Jimin. Go back to where you belong, and live the life that you should. You could be happy with Jisoo if you tried.”

“I left everything for you.” Jimin huffed. “Do you really think they’d take me back after what I did to be with you? I walked out on the royal family; no one even knows where I am, Y/N. They’ve probably disowned me already.”

You considered Jimin’s words for a second. No way they’d disown him that easily. Surely they’d take him back. At least that’s what you hoped.

You opened your mouth to assure Jimin they’d accept him without hesitation, but he cut you off.

“I won’t go back.” His voice was firm. Jimin took a step towards you, closing the space you’d just created. “I love you, and I know you love me, too.”

Everything around you stood still. This was the first time Jimin’s ever directly told you he loves you. He’s said he loved you, he’s said he told his father he loves you, but he’s never told you face to face, out loud, “I love you.” It nearly broke your entire resolve to send Jimin back. You were too taken aback to retaliate, so Jimin continued without giving you a second to completely compose yourself.

“You don’t want me to go back, and you know it. Don’t give me some bullshit lie that being a prince is what I deserve, and the palace is where I belong. We both know that’s not true; I belong with you wherever that may be.

"We could be happy together. I don’t care about this country, I don’t care about money, and I sure as hell don’t care about Jisoo or what the king and queen think. I love you Y/N, and I want to be with you. I want to live with you and wake up to you every morning and go to sleep to you every night. I want to get married and have kids with you. I’ll work day in and day out to give you everything you deserve. Stop putting me before yourself because you deserve to be happy, too, and I know that you’d be happy with me.”

I want to have kids with you. You immediately thought about the child you were carrying. If Jimin stayed, your child wouldn’t be fatherless, and you could actually tell Jimin that he’s going to have a kid. Of course you wanted to live with him, raise your kid with him, and you had no doubt in your mind that you’d be happy with Jimin. The thought was so deliciously tempting that the more you entertained it, the more your resolve seemed to dissipate.

You imagined Jimin as a dad, taking care of your little baby and playing with them. You pictured yourself growing old with him and watching as that child turned into an adult and started to love like you and Jimin did.

Instinctively, your hand rested on your belly. The tears that were welling in your eyes earlier finally spilled over. A soft sob fell past your parted lips. You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling and allowing more whimpers to escape. You looked down at your small baby bump. You gripped your dress and let the cloth bunch up in your clenched hand.

Would it be wrong of you to change your mind and ask him to stay? You wanted that - you wanted that happy ending, and by God did you deserve it. Jimin was right, you deserve to be happy. You were hardly ever selfish or voiced your wants and needs. Would it really be so bad for you to let yourself have this one thing even if it meant getting in the way of Jimin’s life?

Suddenly, you found yourself searching for reasons for him to stay. He wanted to be with you. You didn’t force him to come find you or leave his family behind. He did that all on his own. Who are you to say no to that? You should be grateful and accept him with open arms.

“What?” Jimin asked when he noticed your tears and your hand on your stomach. He wondered for a second if you were in physical pain. Concern laced his words as he asked you again, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m,” you choked out, “I’m pregnant.”

A second or two passed and suddenly you were in Jimin’s arms. He held you tight against himself. You could hear his heart hammering inside his chest. Jimin rested his chin on your head, trying to find the right words to say.

He was so caught off guard. He didn’t want to insult you, but he had to ask. “Is it m-”

“Yes it’s yours, you idiot.” You answered without him having to finish his question. Your tears stained his shirt as you buried your face further into his chest.

Jimin thought about the last time you two had sex. You must have been at least two months along. He immediately felt bad thinking about how scared you must have been when you found out all alone. He was a little bitter because he knew, if he’d never came to see you, he would have never known about his own child. But that wasn’t important at the moment. What was important was you were so obviously shaken, and all he wanted to do was console you.

“I can’t go now, Y/N,” Jimin lifted his chin from your head and leaned back so he could look you in your eyes. His thumbs wiped away the tears streaming down your face. You stared into his brown eyes, they were soft and inviting. “You need me as much as I need you. I can help you raise the baby. You don’t have to do this alone. Jimin can be king, Jisoo can find some other prince from some other country, but you’ll never find another man that will love this baby as much as I would.”

With each passing word, Jimin continued to tear your resolve to shreds. There was hardly any piece of you left that was convinced he should go back to the palace. You were overcome with a sudden desire to keep Jimin all to yourself. Screw what was right.

“But-”

“Sh,” Jimin silenced you. “No ‘buts’. I’ve let you go once, and I’m not doing it again.”

Jimin leaned down and kissed you. It was a soft affectionate kiss filled with love, there was no urgency to it. You simply melted into him, and that was it. There was no turning back; he’d won you over. As Jimin deepened the kiss, he pulled you close into a loose hug. His hands rested on your waist, intimately. You snaked your arms around his neck and clasped your hands together.

Your heart was pounding loud and clear, and you were sure Jimin could hear it, too. After what felt like an eternity, you broke the kiss, your eyes still closed.

It still hadn’t quite registered that you and Jimin are finally going to get your happy ending. You knew there were going to bumps and obstacles along the way, and you might have to fight to stay together, but you knew it would be worth it in the long run. Finally, all the suffering would come to an end because Jimin was yours.

“I love you,” you whispered.

“I love you, too.”

“And then what happened Mommy?” Your daughter, Nayeon, asked. You sat perched on a rickety old rocking chair Jimin tried to make for you not long before Nayeon was born. She was seated at your feet, her legs crisscrossed, her chin resting on her clasped hands, and her eyes gleaming.

You’d just finished telling Nayeon the story of how you and Jimin got together and how Jimin so bravely left his home and family to be with you. You weren’t afraid to mention he was the prince because you knew if Nayeon mentioned it to any other kid, they’d think it was a simple story.

In fact, your story had spread throughout the country. You were the protagonist of the great love that overcame societal differences. Your story inspired young women everywhere and helped them realize that, if meant to be, love was boundless and could overcome anything.

You picked Nayeon up and placed her on your lap, and her arms naturally wrapped tightly around your shoulders. “And then you came along,” you booped her cute button nose.

“So if daddy was a prince and soon to be king, does that make me a princess?” She inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Every six year old dreams of being a princess, but in Nayeon’s case, she was one.

You chuckled as you said, “I guess it does.”

The grin on Nayeon’s face only grew wider; she couldn’t wait to boast to her friends that she was a real life princess.

You pushed a strand of her long dark hair out of her eyes. They reminded you so much of Jimin’s, slanted towards the end but bright and wide with wonder and so full of curiosity. She was compassionate and understanding, very intelligent, too. She took so much after her dad. Although Jimin likes to argue she took all those traits from you.

“Then does that mean the baby inside you will be a princess, too?”

“Who knows?” You smiled. “Maybe they’ll be a prince.”

Jimin was the first one to suggest having another kid. He loved Nayeon so much he wanted another child to cherish and shower with love. At first you were against the idea because even though you weren’t poor, you weren’t exactly the most well off family. Having another child would put a strain on money, but Jimin was so good with kids, and he vowed to work hard enough and make enough money to raise a second child without worry. So of course you couldn’t say no to him. Once Jimin is determined to do something there’s no stopping him.

Your daughter placed a small hand on your round belly and jumped when the baby kicked. She giggled endlessly, and it was music to your ears. You gave her a tight squeeze and proceeded to smother her in kisses and tell her how much you love her.

Eventually, she asked you to continue with the story, so you did.

The world continued to turn after you and Jimin decided to stay together. Everything really fell into place. It turns out the neighboring country was secretly planning to assassinate the entire royal family with Jisoo as their perpetrator, so she was executed, and the relationship with her country hasn’t been the same since. For awhile, we were in war with them, but once Jungkook became king he put an end to it. He realized it was only wasting rations and hurting civilians who were losing loved ones in a stalemate war. If it weren’t for the war, however, you were positive the royal family would’ve sought out Jimin and forced him back into the palace to be king.

Jimin never went back to the palace. You two stayed at the inn for a couple of months. Because you were pregnant, you were too weak to work yourself, so Jimin took on your shifts at the pub and the inn. With a little help from Sumi, eventually you accumulated enough money to buy your own home and finally get married. It wasn’t a big wedding, but it was perfect in your book because Jimin was the groom, and that’s all you’ve ever dreamed about.

After you moved, you still visited Sumi often, especially since she was Nayeon’s godmother, and even started working at the pub again when Nayeon turned three.

“What about the guy you were supposed to go on a date with?” Your daughter cocked her head to the side and pulled her eyebrows together, curious.

The corners of your mouth twitched up slightly. You rocked the chair back and forth and hugged Nayeon to your chest. “We became very good friends.”

You thought back to the moment Hoseok walked into the inn’s lobby, looking for you, only to find you crying in Jimin’s arms. You were so upset that you forgot all about him and apologized profusely for having to cancel the date and any further offers he’d want to make.

Hoseok was no fool; he easily read the atmosphere and assured you he was okay. He told you he wished he’d gotten there sooner, but timing really just wasn’t right for him when it came to you. You remember the chuckle that escaped his lips as you both thought back to his incessant rambling on how he wanted to ask you out sooner.

You always wondered what would have happened if he did.

Suddenly, Jimin walked through the front door, pulling your attention away from your thoughts. Your daughter perked up, immediately leaving your lap to hug him. She truly was a daddy’s girl, even though she claimed to love both of you equally.

“Daddy!” She squealed.

Jimin effortlessly picked your daughter up and pulled her into to a tight hug. “Hey, Buttercup.”

He was dressed in casual work clothes, a white short sleeved shirt tucked into his pants. Ever since Jimin started working, he’s grown more robust, his hands bared calluses from working to support your family, and he genuinely seemed happy. You never thought he’d make it this far.

“Mommy told me I’m a princess!” Nayeon smiled a toothy grin. Jimin looked to you with a raised eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

You shrugged your shoulders and smiled slyly at him.

He turned his attention back to the squirming daughter in his arms. “That you are!”

“I’m daddy’s princess, right?” Nayeon asked in a sugary sweet voice. She wrapped her arms around Jimin’s neck and waited for an answer.

“Sorry, Buttercup,” Jimin smiled, setting her down onto the ground. He strode towards you and rested one of his hands on the armrest of the rocking chair and the other on your stomach. His hand caressed you as he smiled thinking about the little baby boy or girl that would soon be entering your lives. He leaned down till his face was merely inches from yours. “But that spot’s been reserved for your mom for a long time now.”

He kissed you, smiling against your lips. With his eyes closed he pulled away, and when he opened them, he admired you like he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. “I told you you’ll always be my princess.”

[jiminsa]

His Throne [KTH] | 03 final

Genre: smut, angst, fluff

Word Count: 6,242

Summary: You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible prince Kim Taehyung on his throne.

Parts: 01 | 02 | 03

Other member vers: Hoseok | Yoongi | Namjoon | Jimin | Jungkook | Seokjin

You shuffled between tables, wiping them clean of the drunken mistakes the village’s fustian knights left behind. You were so tired of working at the local inn, but it was the only way you could afford to adequately support yourself.

It’d been two months since you left the palace to find work elsewhere, and not a day’s gone by where you haven’t thought of Taehyung. Sometimes you wish you could go back. You left behind so much more than the love of your life; you left your friends, your integrity, your home. It was hard on you having to adjust to your new environment, all alone, with no one to support you the way Taehyung always silently did.

But then you think of Taehyung with Jisoo… It just wasn’t worth it to you to stay in the palace knowing you came so close to something only to let it slip away without a fight. That constant reminder would tauntingly dangle in front of you every time you made their bed or cooked their breakfast.

You had to leave, for your sake and for his. Without saying a word to anyone, you disappeared from the palace and into the night. You figured there was no point in telling anyone; it's not like Taehyung would've stopped you if you'd said anything anyway. You weren't sure what you were going to do after you left, you just knew you couldn’t take anymore of the suffering of watching Taehyung care for someone that wasn't you.

Luckily for you, not long after you arrived at the barren town, the inn’s owner was kind enough to give you a job as a maid and server for the pub connected to the inn. She even allowed you to live in one of the inn’s old storage rooms. It wasn’t much different from the room you stayed in at the palace, so it was comforting in a sense. You could easily cry yourself to sleep on the pile of blankets you called a bed, just like in the palace. It was almost like home.

A month after arriving at the inn, you began to feel very fatigue. You brushed it off as a symptom of overworking yourself at the pub, but what could you do when it was your only source of income? So you continued working until you started feeling nauseous in the early mornings in addition to your weariness. That’s when you realized, you were pregnant. You told Sumi, the innkeeper, about your pregnancy because you felt scared and alone. How were you supposed to raise a child on your own? The worst part was your baby would grow up without ever knowing their father.

It was then that Sumi became like a mother to you. She listened to your problems, soothed your aching heart with warm hugs, and loved you like no other. You trusted her more than you've ever trusted anybody before. Not even a month after you met, you felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about your relationship with the crowned prince. You knew she'd keep your secret safe, and it felt liberating to finally be able to tell someone that you loved Kim Taehyung.

And that he loved you, too.

After you finished cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, you grabbed one of the many candles that lit the pub and disappeared behind the bar. It was around midnight, ten minutes past closing, and about time you locked up the entrance of the pub. You searched the shelves under the bar and shuffled around old rags trying to find the key. Usually it hangs on a hook under the countertop, but of course you forgot to put it there after you opened this morning.

Sumi always berated you for your carelessness - you were always misplacing things. You never did that at the palace. Then again, you were mainly in charge of cleaning and cooking, not watching over small dumb keys. The lack of light didn't help. No matter how many candles or lanterns you lit, the pub would never be bright enough for you.

Eventually you noticed the key at the back of the shelf behind a glass mug. You probably shoved it back there on accident after putting a cup back.

As you reached for the key, you heard the door of the pub open and then shut with a loud thud.

Oh, great, you thought. Probably another drunk.

There were too many occasions in which you had to chase out a drunkard - some nice, others not so much. You really hoped it was just someone asking for directions or the innkeeper coming to tell you to hurry up. You mentally prepared yourself to meet the unidentified stranger.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized as you stood up, “but we’re closed.”

The stranger jumped at your voice, his back turned to you. Finally, he turned around and faced you. You immediately recognized his face; he was one of the pub’s regulars.

He greeted you with a smile. “Uh, hi.”

By his steady voice and somewhat calm composure, you assumed he wasn't drunk. He looked like he was around your age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and laid flat against his forehead.

He scratched the back of his head and knitted his brows together as he took a step towards you. “I don't know if you remember me, but I was here earlier today…”

“Yeah,” you said. “I remember.”

The sheepish grin he bared widened. “Well, my name's Hoseok, and I was - uh - I wanted to ask you this earlier but timing wasn’t right. You were so busy getting people their orders and stuff. I didn’t wanna bother you. Actually I’ve been wanting to ask this for a long time now, but I figured it’d be weird since we don’t know each other. But then I was like how else am I supposed to get to know you if I don’t ask you and talk to you? Anyway, I was kinda wondering if… you’d wanna go out sometime?”

You couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He came all this way, this late at night, to ask you out. His rambling gave away his nervousness which you found cute.

That thought suddenly left you as it sunk in just what he was asking. It'd only been two months since you left the palace. You weren't sure if you were ready to start seeing other people. You wanted to move on because you were so tired of crying over a married man that you'd probably never see again, but wasn't two months too soon?

When you didn't say anything, Hoseok cleared his throat. “We could just get something to eat? Doesn't have to be anything serious.” He tried to convince you to say yes.

“I don't know…” you responded.

“Just one date.” Hoseok motioned the number one with his pointer finger and took another step closer to you. “And then if you don't think we could be anything serious, we can just be friends.”

Would this be a good idea? You asked yourself. You knew you'd never get over Taehyung if you just stayed at the inn and worked, but you didn’t want to go out with this guy just to help yourself get over someone. Hoseok didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think...” your voice trailed off. You wanted to tell him no, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it. He seemed so nice; he was always smiling and laughing when he’d drink with his friends at the pub. He had a cute smile that was hard to forget.

If it weren't for Taehyung, you probably would've said okay without a second thought.

Hoseok’s smile faltered slightly, and you immediately felt bad and wanted to take back your rejection.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” his smile was back, only not as bright as before. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Hoseok turned around to leave.

Would one date really be that bad? He did say it’d be enough. Who knows, I might actually have fun. You debated with yourself some more, still unsure if you wanted to go or not.

You thought about Taehyung again. He would have wanted you to go. He would want you to move on and be happy. You could hear his voice in the back of your mind, and you could see his heart-shaped smile, the one you loved so much, form as he’d say, “Come on, Princess, this guy could be your new prince.” You could hear him telling you it wasn't like you to be so hesitant.

As Hoseok neared the door, you senselessly called out to him, “Wait!”

With his hand on the doorknob, Hoseok turned around to look at you. You didn't know what you wanted to say, but you knew you didn't want him to leave.

Stepping out from behind the bar, you tentatively walked towards him. Your hands were balled into fists by your sides, you clenched and unclenched them, nervously. “Uh, I change my mind. I'll take you up on that offer.” You gnawed on the inside of your cheek, hoping you weren't going to regret this decision.

That familiar smile was back again, and Hoseok's eyes lit up, “Really?”

You smiled gently and nodded your head, “Yeah, but you gotta keep your word. If I just want to be friends then we'll just be friends. Okay?”

Hoseok nodded his head vigorously, causing his hair to fall into his eyes. “Of course! Are you free later today?”

It was Sunday, so you knew the pub would be closed today. Sumi didn’t believe in drinking on the day of the lord, so that was the one day out of the week the pub didn’t open. “Yeah, I am. The pub will be closed, so I’ll be at the inn next door.”

“Okay, great!” Hoseok said, his excitement evident in his scrunched eyes and wide smile. “I’ll come pick you up around noon.” Hoseok gave you one last look before leaving you alone in the dimly lit room.

You really hoped the Taehyung in your head led you to make the right decision.

After you locked the pub up last night, you made your way to the inn where you found Sumi, warming you up some leftover dinner. You told her about your date with Hoseok and how you'd be gone - you assumed - for most of the day.

Sumi was elated to hear you were trying to move on, but the motherly part of her was still worried you were forcing yourself too soon. She kept reminding you that you weren’t obligated to go on this date and that you could leave in the middle of it if you felt like you needed to. You wanted to be annoyed by her nagging, but all you could do was appreciate her concerns.

Once Sumi was finished nagging you, she began to ask you what Hoseok was like since she had no idea who he was. There was only so much you could say since you didn’t really know Hoseok either, but you did know he had the sweetest smile. Of course, it was nothing compared to Taehyung’s, but it did make your heart flutter just the tiniest bit. You told Sumi he was a brown eyed cutie with soft features that reminded you of a puppy dog.

The more Sumi talked about the date, the more excited and anxious you became for it. You’ve never been on a date before - never went through the process of picking out an outfit, anticipating what you're gonna do on the date, or wondered if this could be the guy. So, your nerves were kicking into high gear as the date neared.

It was almost noon, about an hour till, and you were all ready for your date. You did your hair and wore your nicest dress; it was Sumi’s dress when she was younger, and she was nice enough to give it to you since you didn't have any clothes other than the ones you wore on your back the day you two met.

As you stood in the inn’s kitchen, you kept having to drink water to calm yourself. You were getting so anxious.

What if he’s the one? The one that'll take your breath away even more than Taehyung ever could. The one you can actually grow old with. The one that'll make you forget Taehyung. Although you found that highly unlikely, you couldn't help but wonder.

What if he isn't the one? What if he just makes you miss Taehyung even more?  You've never loved anyone like you loved Taehyung.

Your thoughts were boundless and slightly irrational for just one date, but having to bounce back from a love that meant the world to you was scary. You didn't know what was scarier, the thought of never finding love again or actually moving on from the one who taught you how to love.

You were in the middle of downing your fourth glass of water, pondering if it was too late to cancel the date, when Sumi walked into the kitchen. She eyed you, admiring how beautiful you looked in her old dress. It reminded her of when she was young and lively.

Sumi smiled gently as she said, “Hoseok's here!”

“What?” You almost choked on your water. “But the date's not for another hour, I'm not prepared!” You thought back to what Hoseok said and remembered he told you around noon, not at noon. You stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen and placed your glass on it. Your grip on the cup was tight as you looked to Sumi. Nervousness settled into the creases of your furrowed brows.

Sumi chuckled. “I found him standing in front of the inn, he asked about you. He really did look like a puppy - a lost one.”

“What'd he say?” You inquired.

“Just asked if I knew ya, and I told him I did and to wait in the check-in area. You can still cancel, you know?”

You knew that, but it'd be rude to have him come all this way only to cancel last minute, right? No, it wouldn't be rude, but it wouldn't feel right. It's just one date. Just two people hanging out, getting something to eat. It's not like he was expecting you to fall in love with him today.

“No, it's fine. I'm dressed. I'll go.” You released your grip on the cup and inhaled deeply. You gave Sumi a smile and thanked her for notifying you that Hoseok was here.

He's not gonna propose for goodness sake, stop being so nervous, you told yourself.

You gathered your courage and made your way to the inn’s lobby where you saw him sitting on one of the couches, his back turned to you.

“Hey, sorry I made you wait,” you released a shaky chuckle. “I wasn't expecting you to be so early.”

When he stood up and looked at you, your heart dropped. Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat because that wasn’t Hoseok waiting for you. “Taehyung?”

He looked tired and worn out, but his eyes lit up the second they met yours. Your name dripped from his lips like honey, all sweet and loving, as he took a step towards you. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Taehyung smiled, and it made your heart flip.

Taehyung wore the clothes of royalty, but they were slightly tattered and dirtied - evidence of his quest to find you.

Seeing Taehyung brought back all these painful feelings and made nostalgia bubble in your stomach. It took everything in you not to reach out and touch him or hold him, tell him how much you’ve missed him, how much you still love him. You didn’t need him here to make you lose your will to move on.

The fact that Taehyung was here was surreal. You’d always fantasized about him coming to find you, but you never expected it to actually happen.

“What are you doing here?” You asked as you took a step back. Your heart was racing and your palms sweaty. You flattened them on your sides to rid them of the claminess.  

You always thought if you saw Taehyung again, you’d run straight into his arms and never let go. But now that he’s really here, your legs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. There was an anchor in the pit of your stomach keeping you from embracing the love of your life. You were paralyzed to your very core.

The tone in your voice made the sparkle in Taehyung’s eyes die out, and his smile disappeared without a trace. “I came to see you.”

The weak part of you melted at his words, but you quickly regained your composure. He’s married, you reminded yourself. “Does Jisoo know you’re here?”

You were so conflicted with your feelings. You wanted to be happy he was here for God knows what reason, but the practical - and slightly cynical - side of you kept screaming for you to disregard your feelings because if you don't and succumb to them, then you'll be left vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt again. Seeing him brought forth a rush of feelings that you’ve been trying to lock up for months now. The gates have opened, the dam broken, and your feelings were like a unyielding flood trying to drown you.

“No,” Taehyung sighed. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. Taehyung thought you’d be overjoyed to see him. Then again, he did show up out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. He never stopped to consider for even a second that you wouldn’t want to see him. “I… ended things with her.”

Taehyung lifted his head and searched your eyes, looking for some kind of reaction.

Your mouth fell open in shock. You wondered for a second if you heard him correctly. Did Taehyung really just say he “ended things” with the princess of a neighboring country? “Ended things” with his wife.

“What are you talking about?” You questioned. “Nothing’s as simple as ending things, Taehyung… Are you saying you got divorced?”

“Not exactly,” he responded. “I told the king about us…”

As soon as Taehyung muttered those words, it felt as if the ground that was keeping you steady suddenly crumbled from beneath you, and you were falling. The rush of adrenaline that consumed your every nerve wasn’t exhilarating in the slightest, it made your hairs stand on end and your heart clench.

“Taehyung,” you whispered. “You didn’t.”

What exactly did he tell the king? “Hey I’ve been screwing one of the maids for the past couple of years.” That’s the only way you could have imagined the scene to go down.

“I told him I love you,” he continued. “Told him I can’t be with Jisoo, and that I want to marry you.”

Before you could even digest the fact that Taehyung just said he wanted to marry you, he continued.

“He told me to never bring divorce or you up ever again, especially not in front of Jisoo, or he’d disown me. He said that this was the path chosen for me since birth, and that he’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted, and I didn’t deserve to ask for more.”

You couldn’t help but agree with what the king was saying. This was the path chosen for him. He’s a prince for goodness sake. It’s his duty to help bring our country and neighboring countries together in any way possible. Even if that meant marrying somebody he doesn’t love because someday he’s going to be king, and he needs to learn how to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of this country.

Besides, what did he think he’d get out of telling the king? Did he really think that just because he says he wants to marry you that his parents would allow him to sever ties with Jisoo so soon after their marriage? For a maid no less? Even if they were okay with him divorcing Jisoo, they wouldn’t let him do it to be with a maid. Perhaps someone of royalty, but never a maid.

That thought saddened you, but this was your reality.

“So I left,” Taehyung’s husky voice pulled you out of your reverie.

“You should go back,” you found yourself whispering in a soft voice. He can’t just leave the palace as if there won’t be any consequences. How typical of a prince to assume he can do whatever he wants. “Taehyung, this isn’t right. You were born to be king. You deserve a lavish lifestyle in the palace where you belong. You wouldn’t survive a day in a commoners shoes.”

What would happen to Jisoo? How would this affect our country's relationship with hers? Who will be king now? So many questions ran through your mind as you wondered what would happen if Taehyung did stay. Of course, Taehyung’s younger brother Jungkook could always take the throne, but he was considerably younger than Taehyung. He was only sixteen years old. It’d be a long time before he could become king.

Taehyung walked towards you, his face hard. “No amount of riches could keep me away from you. I deserve to choose how I live my life, and I choose to live it with you.”

“Taehyung…” It’s not like you genuinely wanted him to go back, but you knew what was right, and him staying with you wasn’t. He has a duty to uphold.

“If I can’t be with you, then I don’t want to be with anyone.” He hesitantly reached up before slowly cupping your face in his large hands. They were warm and felt like home. He was thankful you didn’t withdraw from his touch like he thought you would. He knew how much he’s hurt you, and he was so worried the damage was irreversible.

“But you don’t get to choose.” You looked into Taehyung’s pleading eyes, they were dark and solemn. You never would have thought you’d have to reject Taehyung, but here you were, saying no to a man practically begging you take him. Oh, how you wanted to take him.

You reached up and engulfed Taehyung’s hands in yours. You gave them a light squeeze before removing them from your face, watching as his face fell with despair. You took two step backwards, bringing some distance between you two. It made it so much easier to reject him when you couldn’t feel his warmth and imagine yourself wrapped up in his arms. Tears brimmed your eyes, but you smiled at him.

“Y/N,” his voice trembled.

“Go back, Taehyung. Go back to where you belong, and live the life that you should. You could be happy with Jisoo if you tried.”

“I left everything for you.” Taehyung huffed. “Do you really think they’d take me back after what I did to be with you? I walked out on the royal family; no one even knows where I am, Y/N. They’ve probably disowned me already.”

You considered Taehyung’s words for a second. No way they’d disown him that easily. Surely they’d take him back. At least that’s what you hoped.

You opened your mouth to assure Taehyung they’d accept him without hesitation, but he cut you off.

“I won’t go back.” His voice was firm. Taehyung took a step towards you, closing the space you’d just created. “I love you, and I know you love me, too.”

Everything around you stood still. This was the first time Taehyung’s ever directly told you he loves you. He’s said he loved you, he’s said he told his father he loves you, but he’s never told you face to face, out loud, “I love you.” It nearly broke your entire resolve to send Taehyung back. You were too taken aback to retaliate, so Taehyung continued without giving you a second to completely compose yourself.

“You don’t want me to go back, and you know it. Don’t give me some bullshit lie that being a prince is what I deserve, and the palace is where I belong. We both know that’s not true; I belong with you wherever that may be.

“We could be happy together. I don’t care about this country, I don’t care about money, and I sure as hell don’t care about Jisoo or what the king and queen think. I love you Y/N, and I want to be with you. I want to live with you and wake up to you every morning and go to sleep to you every night. I want to get married and have kids with you. I’ll work day in and day out to give you everything you deserve. Stop putting me before yourself because you deserve to be happy, too, and I know that you’d be happy with me.”

I want to have kids with you. You immediately thought about the child you were carrying. If Taehyung stayed, your child wouldn’t be fatherless, and you could actually tell Taehyung that he’s going to have a kid. Of course you wanted to live with him, raise your kid with him, and you had no doubt in your mind that you’d be happy with Taehyung. The thought was so deliciously tempting that the more you entertained it, the more your resolve seemed to dissipate.

You imagined Taehyung as a dad, taking care of your little baby and playing with them. You pictured yourself growing old with him and watching as that child turned into an adult and started to love like you and Taehyung did.

Instinctively, your hand rested on your belly. The tears that were welling in your eyes earlier finally spilled over. A soft sob fell past your parted lips. You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling and allowing more whimpers to escape. You looked down at your small baby bump. You gripped your dress and let the cloth bunch up in your clenched hand.

Would it be wrong of you to change your mind and ask him to stay? You wanted that - you wanted that happy ending, and by God did you deserve it. Taehyung was right, you deserve to be happy. You were hardly ever selfish or voiced your wants and needs. Would it really be so bad for you to let yourself have this one thing even if it meant getting in the way of Taehyung’s life?

Suddenly, you found yourself searching for reasons for him to stay. He wanted to be with you. You didn’t force him to come find you or leave his family behind. He did that all on his own. Who are you to say no to that? You should be grateful and accept him with open arms.

“What?” Taehyung asked when he noticed your tears and your hand on your stomach. He wondered for a second if you were in physical pain. Concern laced his words as he asked you again, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m,” you choked out, “I’m pregnant.”

A second or two passed and suddenly you were in Taehyung’s arms. He held you tight against himself. You could hear his heart hammering inside his chest. Taehyung rested his chin on your head, trying to find the right words to say.

He was so caught off guard. He didn’t want to insult you, but he had to ask. “Is it m-”

“Yes it’s yours, you idiot.” You answered without him having to finish his question. Your tears stained his shirt as you buried your face further into his chest.

Taehyung thought about the last time you two had sex. You must have been at least two months along. He immediately felt bad thinking about how scared you must have been when you found out all alone. He was a little bitter because he knew, if he’d never came to see you, he would have never known about his own child. But that wasn’t important at the moment. What was important was you were so obviously shaken, and all he wanted to do was console you.

“I can’t go now, Y/N,” Taehyung lifted his chin from your head and leaned back so he could look you in your eyes. His thumbs wiped away the tears streaming down your face. You stared into his brown eyes, they were soft and inviting. “You need me as much as I need you. I can help you raise the baby. You don’t have to do this alone. Jimin can be king, Jisoo can find some other prince from some other country, but you’ll never find another man that will love this baby as much as I would.”

With each passing word, Taehyung continued to tear your resolve to shreds. There was hardly any piece of you left that was convinced he should go back to the palace. You were overcome with a sudden desire to keep Taehyung all to yourself. Screw what was right.

“But-”

“Sh,” Taehyung silenced you. “No ‘buts’. I’ve let you go once, and I’m not doing it again.”

Taehyung leaned down and kissed you. It was a soft affectionate kiss filled with love, there was no urgency to it. You simply melted into him, and that was it. There was no turning back; he’d won you over. As Taehyung deepened the kiss, he pulled you close into a loose hug. His hands rested on your waist, intimately. You snaked your arms around his neck and clasped your hands together.

Your heart was pounding loud and clear, and you were sure Taehyung could hear it, too. After what felt like an eternity, you broke the kiss, your eyes still closed.

It still hadn’t quite registered that you and Taehyung are finally going to get your happy ending. You knew there were going to bumps and obstacles along the way, and you might have to fight to stay together, but you knew it would be worth it in the long run. Finally, all the suffering would come to an end because Taehyung was yours.

“I love you,” you whispered.

“I love you, too.”

“And then what happened Mommy?” Your daughter, Nayeon, asked. You sat perched on a rickety old rocking chair Taehyung tried to make for you not long before Nayeon was born. She was seated at your feet, her legs crisscrossed, her chin resting on her clasped hands, and her eyes gleaming.

You’d just finished telling Nayeon the story of how you and Taehyung got together and how Taehyung so bravely left his home and family to be with you. You weren’t afraid to mention he was the prince because you knew if Nayeon mentioned it to any other kid, they’d think it was a simple story.

In fact, your story had spread throughout the country. You were the protagonist of the great love that overcame societal differences. Your story inspired young women everywhere and helped them realize that, if meant to be, love was boundless and could overcome anything.

You picked Nayeon up and placed her on your lap, and her arms naturally wrapped tightly around your shoulders. “And then you came along,” you booped her cute button nose.

“So if daddy was a prince and soon to be king, does that make me a princess?” She inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Every six year old dreams of being a princess, but in Nayeon’s case, she was one.

You chuckled as you said, “I guess it does.”

The grin on Nayeon’s face only grew wider; she couldn’t wait to boast to her friends that she was a real life princess.

You pushed a strand of her long dark hair out of her eyes. They reminded you so much of Taehyung’s, slanted towards the end but bright and wide with wonder and so full of curiosity. She was compassionate and understanding, very intelligent, too. She took so much after her dad. Although Taehyung likes to argue she took all those traits from you.

“Then does that mean the baby inside you will be a princess, too?”

“Who knows?” You smiled. “Maybe they’ll be a prince.”

Taehyung was the first one to suggest having another kid. He loved Nayeon so much he wanted another child to cherish and shower with love. At first you were against the idea because even though you weren’t poor, you weren’t exactly the most well off family. Having another child would put a strain on money, but Taehyung was so good with kids, and he vowed to work hard enough and make enough money to raise a second child without worry. So of course you couldn’t say no to him. Once Taehyung is determined to do something there’s no stopping him.

Your daughter placed a small hand on your round belly and jumped when the baby kicked. She giggled endlessly, and it was music to your ears. You gave her a tight squeeze and proceeded to smother her in kisses and tell her how much you love her.

Eventually, she asked you to continue with the story, so you did.

The world continued to turn after you and Taehyung decided to stay together. Everything really fell into place. It turns out the neighboring country was secretly planning to assassinate the entire royal family with Jisoo as their perpetrator, so she was executed, and the relationship with her country hasn’t been the same since. For awhile, we were in war with them, but once Jungkook became king he put an end to it. He realized it was only wasting rations and hurting civilians who were losing loved ones in a stalemate war. If it weren’t for the war, however, you were positive the royal family would’ve sought out Taehyung and forced him back into the palace to be king.

Taehyung never went back to the palace. You two stayed at the inn for a couple of months. Because you were pregnant, you were too weak to work yourself, so Taehyung took on your shifts at the pub and the inn. With a little help from Sumi, eventually you accumulated enough money to buy your own home and finally get married. It wasn’t a big wedding, but it was perfect in your book because Taehyung was the groom, and that’s all you’ve ever dreamed about.

After you moved, you still visited Sumi often, especially since she was Nayeon’s godmother, and even started working at the pub again when Nayeon turned three.

“What about the guy you were supposed to go on a date with?” Your daughter cocked her head to the side and pulled her eyebrows together, curious.

The corners of your mouth twitched up slightly. You rocked the chair back and forth and hugged Nayeon to your chest. “We became very good friends.”

You thought back to the moment Hoseok walked into the inn’s lobby, looking for you, only to find you crying in Taehyung’s arms. You were so upset that you forgot all about him and apologized profusely for having to cancel the date and any further offers he’d want to make.

Hoseok was no fool; he easily read the atmosphere and assured you he was okay. He told you he wished he’d gotten there sooner, but timing really just wasn’t right for him when it came to you. You remember the chuckle that escaped his lips as you both thought back to his incessant rambling on how he wanted to ask you out sooner.

You always wondered what would have happened if he did.

Suddenly, Taehyung walked through the front door, pulling your attention away from your thoughts. Your daughter perked up, immediately leaving your lap to hug him. She truly was a daddy’s girl, even though she claimed to love both of you equally.

“Daddy!” She squealed.

Taehyung effortlessly picked your daughter up and pulled her into to a tight hug. “Hey, Buttercup.”

He was dressed in casual work clothes, a white short sleeved shirt tucked into his pants. Ever since Taehyung started working, he’s grown more robust, his hands bared calluses from working to support your family, and he genuinely seemed happy. You never thought he’d make it this far.

“Mommy told me I’m a princess!” Nayeon smiled a toothy grin. Taehyung looked to you with a raised eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

You shrugged your shoulders and smiled slyly at him.

He turned his attention back to the squirming daughter in his arms. “That you are!”

“I’m daddy’s princess, right?” Nayeon asked in a sugary sweet voice. She wrapped her arms around Taehyung’s neck and waited for an answer.

“Sorry, Buttercup,” Taehyung smiled, setting her down onto the ground. He strode towards you and rested one of his hands on the armrest of the rocking chair and the other on your stomach. His hand caressed you as he smiled thinking about the little baby boy or girl that would soon be entering your lives. He leaned down till his face was merely inches from yours. “But that spot’s been reserved for your mom for a long time now.”

He kissed you, smiling against your lips. With his eyes closed he pulled away, and when he opened them, he admired you like he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. “I told you you’ll always be my princess.”

[jiminsa]

His Throne [JHS] | 03 final

Genre: smut, angst, fluff

Word Count: 6,090

Summary: You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible prince Jung Hoseok on his throne.

A/N: if you listen closely you can hear me ugly sobbing, it’s finally finished! Sorry it took so long! Also sorry it’s not as fluffy/happy as y’all had hoped. I really can’t do fluff (PCs to Vikttoria16)

Part 1: Hoseok | Yoongi | Taehyung | Namjoon | Jimin | Jungkook | Seokjin

It’d been two months since you left the palace to find work elsewhere, and not a day’s gone by where you haven’t thought of Hoseok. Sometimes you wish you could go back. You left behind so much more than the love of your life; you left your friends, your integrity, your home. It was hard on you having to adjust to your new environment, all alone, with no one to support you the way Hoseok always silently did.

But then you think of Hoseok with Jisoo… It just wasn’t worth it to you to stay in the palace knowing you came so close to something only to let it slip away without a fight. That constant reminder would tauntingly dangle in front of you every time you made their bed or cooked their breakfast.

You had to leave, for your sake and for his. Without saying a word to anyone, you disappeared from the palace and into the night. You figured there was no point in telling anyone; it’s not like Hoseok would’ve stopped you if you’d said anything anyway. You weren’t sure what you were going to do after you left, you just knew you couldn’t take anymore of the suffering of watching Hoseok care for someone that wasn’t you.

Luckily for you, not long after you arrived at the barren town, the inn’s owner was kind enough to give you a job as a maid and server for the pub connected to the inn. She even allowed you to live in one of the inn’s old storage rooms. It wasn’t much different from the room you stayed in at the palace, so it was comforting in a sense. You could easily cry yourself to sleep on the pile of blankets you called a bed, just like in the palace. It was almost like home.

A month after arriving at the inn, you began to feel very fatigue. You brushed it off as a symptom of overworking yourself at the pub, but what could you do when it was your only source of income? So you continued working until you started feeling nauseous in the early mornings in addition to your weariness. That’s when you realized, you were pregnant. You told Sumi, the innkeeper, about your pregnancy because you felt scared and alone. How were you supposed to raise a child on your own? The worst part was your baby would grow up without ever knowing their father.

It was then that Sumi became like a mother to you. She listened to your problems, soothed your aching heart with warm hugs, and loved you like no other. You trusted her more than you’ve ever trusted anybody before. Not even a month after you met, you felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about your relationship with the crowned prince. You knew she’d keep your secret safe, and it felt liberating to finally be able to tell someone that you loved Jung Hoseok.

And that he loved you, too.

After you finished cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, you grabbed one of the many candles that lit the pub and disappeared behind the bar. It was around midnight, ten minutes past closing, and about time you locked up the entrance of the pub. You searched the shelves under the bar and shuffled around old rags trying to find the key. Usually it hangs on a hook under the countertop, but of course you forgot to put it there after you opened this morning.

Sumi always berated you for your carelessness - you were always misplacing things. You never did that at the palace. Then again, you were mainly in charge of cleaning and cooking, not watching over small dumb keys. The lack of light didn’t help. No matter how many candles or lanterns you lit, the pub would never be bright enough for you.

Eventually you noticed the key at the back of the shelf behind a glass mug. You probably shoved it back there on accident after putting a cup back.

As you reached for the key, you heard the door of the pub open and then shut with a loud thud.

Oh, great, you thought. Probably another drunk.

There were too many occasions in which you had to chase out a drunkard - some nice, others not so much. You really hoped it was just someone asking for directions or the innkeeper coming to tell you to hurry up. You mentally prepared yourself to meet the unidentified stranger.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized as you stood up, “but we’re closed.”

The stranger jumped at your voice, his back turned to you. Finally, he turned around and faced you. You immediately recognized his face; he was one of the pub’s regulars.

He greeted you with a smile. “Uh, hi.”

By his steady voice and somewhat calm composure, you assumed he wasn’t drunk. He looked like he was around your age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and laid flat against his forehead.

He scratched the back of his head and knitted his brows together as he took a step towards you. “I don’t know if you remember me, but I was here earlier today…”

“Yeah,” you said. “I remember.”

The sheepish grin he bared widened. “Well, my name’s Taehyung, and I was - uh - I wanted to ask you this earlier but timing wasn’t right. You were so busy getting people their orders and stuff. I didn’t wanna bother you. But I was kinda wondering if… you’d wanna go out sometime?”

You couldn’t help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He came all this way, this late at night, to ask you out. His rambling gave away his nervousness which you found cute.

That thought suddenly left you as it sunk in just what he was asking. It’d only been two months since you left the palace. You weren’t sure if you were ready to start seeing other people. You wanted to move on because you were so tired of crying over a married man that you’d probably never see again, but wasn’t two months too soon?

When you didn’t say anything, Taehyung cleared his throat. “We could just get something to eat? Doesn’t have to be anything serious.” He tried to convince you to say yes.

“I don’t know…” you responded.

“Just one date.” Taehyung motioned the number one with his pointer finger and took another step closer to you. “And then if you don’t think we could be anything serious, we can just be friends.”

Would this be a good idea? You asked yourself. You knew you’d never get over Hoseok if you just stayed at the inn and worked, but you didn’t want to go out with this guy just to help yourself get over someone. Taehyung didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think…” your voice trailed off. You wanted to tell him no, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it. He seemed so nice; he was always smiling and laughing when he’d drink with his friends at the pub. He had a cute smile that was hard to forget.

If it weren’t for Hoseok, you probably would’ve said okay without a second thought.

Taehyung’s smile faltered slightly, and you immediately felt bad and wanted to take back your rejection.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” his smile was back, only not as bright as before. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Taehyung turned around to leave.

Would one date really be that bad? He did say it’d be enough. Who knows, I might actually have fun. You debated with yourself some more, still unsure if you wanted to go or not.

You thought about Hoseok again. He would have wanted you to go. He would want you to move on and be happy. You could hear his voice in the back of your mind, and you could see his heart shaped smile, the one you loved so much, form as he’d say, “Come on, Princess, this guy could be your new prince.” You could hear him telling you it wasn’t like you to be so hesitant.

As Taehyung neared the door, you senselessly called out to him, “Wait!”

With his hand on the doorknob, Taehyung turned around to look at you. You didn’t know what you wanted to say, but you knew you didn’t want him to leave.

Stepping out from behind the bar, you tentatively walked towards him. Your hands were balled into fists by your sides, you clenched and unclenched them, nervously. “Uh, I change my mind. I’ll take you up on that offer.” You gnawed on the inside of your cheek, hoping you weren’t going to regret this decision.

That familiar smile was back again, and Taehyung’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

You smiled gently and nodded your head, “Yeah, but you gotta keep your word. If I just want to be friends then we’ll just be friends. Okay?”

Taehyung nodded his head vigorously, causing his hair to fall into his eyes. “Of course! Are you free later today?”

It was Sunday, so you knew the pub would be closed today. Sumi didn’t believe in drinking on the day of the lord, so that was the one day out of the week the pub didn’t open. “Yeah, I am. The pub will be closed, so I’ll be at the inn next door.”

“Okay, great!” Taehyung said, his excitement evident in his scrunched eyes and wide smile. “I’ll come pick you up around noon.” Taehyung gave you one last look before leaving you alone in the dimly lit room.

You really hoped the Hoseok in your head lead you to make the right decision.

After you locked the pub up last night, you made your way to the inn where you found Sumi, warming you up some leftover dinner. You told her about your date with Taehyung and how you’d be gone - you assumed - for most of the day.

Sumi was elated to hear you were trying to move on, but the motherly part of her was still worried you were forcing yourself too soon. She kept reminding you that you weren’t obligated to go on this date and that you could leave in the middle of it if you felt like you needed to. You wanted to be annoyed by her nagging, but all you could do was appreciate her concerns.

Once Sumi was finished nagging you, she began to ask you what Taehyung was like since she had no idea who he was. There was only so much you could say since you didn’t really know Taehyung either, but you did know he had the sweetest smile. Of course, it was nothing compared to Hoseok’s, but it did make your heart flutter just the tiniest bit. You told Sumi he was a brown eyed cutie with soft features that reminded you of a puppy dog.

The more Sumi talked about the date, the more excited and anxious you became for it. You’ve never been on a date before - never went through the process of picking out an outfit, anticipating what you’re gonna do on the date, or wondered if this could be the guy. So, your nerves were kicking into high gear as the date neared.

It was almost noon, about an hour till, and you were all ready for your date. You did your hair and wore your nicest dress; it was Sumi’s dress when she was younger, and she was nice enough to give it to you since you didn’t have any clothes other than the ones you wore on your back the day you two met.

As you stood in the inn’s kitchen, you kept having to drink water to calm yourself. You were getting so anxious.

What if he’s the one? The one that’ll take your breath away even more than Hoseok ever could. The one you can actually grow old with. The one that’ll make you forget Hoseok. Although you found that highly unlikely, you couldn’t help but wonder.

What if he isn’t the one? What if he just makes you miss Hoseok even more?  You’ve never loved anyone like you loved Hoseok.

Your thoughts were boundless and slightly irrational for just one date, but having to bounce back from a love that meant the world to you was scary. You didn’t know what was scarier, the thought of never finding love again or actually moving on from the one who taught you how to love.

You were in the middle of downing your fourth glass of water, pondering if it was too late to cancel the date, when Sumi walked into the kitchen. She eyed you, admiring how beautiful you looked in her old dress. It reminded her of when she was young and lively.

Sumi smiled gently as she said, “Taehyung’s here!”

“What?” You almost choked on your water. “But the date’s not for another hour, I’m not prepared!” You thought back to what Taehyung said and remembered he told you around noon, not at noon. You stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen and placed your glass on it. Your grip on the cup was tight as you looked to Sumi. Nervousness settled into the creases of your furrowed brows.

Sumi chuckled. “I found him standing in front of the inn, he asked about you. He really did look like a puppy - a lost one.”

“What’d he say?” You inquired.

“Just asked if I knew ya, and I told him I did and to wait in the check-in area. You can still cancel, you know?”

You knew that, but it’d be rude to have him come all this way only to cancel last minute, right? No, it wouldn’t be rude, but it wouldn’t feel right. It’s just one date. Just two people hanging out, getting something to eat. It’s not like he was expecting you to fall in love with him today.

“No, it’s fine. I’m dressed. I’ll go.” You released your grip on the cup and inhaled deeply. You gave Sumi a smile and thanked her for notifying you that Taehyung was here.

He’s not gonna propose for goodness sake, stop being so nervous, you told yourself.

You gathered your courage and made your way to the inn’s lobby where you saw him sitting on one of the couches, his back turned to you.

“Hey, sorry I made you wait,” you released a shaky chuckle. “I wasn’t expecting you to be so early.”

When he stood up and looked at you, your heart dropped. Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat because that wasn’t Taehyung waiting for you. “Hoseok?”

He looked tired and worn out, but his eyes lit up the second they met yours. Your name dripped from his lips like honey, all sweet and loving, as he took a step towards you. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Hoseok smiled, making your heart flip.

Hoseok wore the clothes of royalty, but they were slightly tattered and dirtied - evidence of his quest to find you.

Seeing Hoseok brought back all these painful feelings and made nostalgia bubble in your stomach. It took everything in you not to reach out and touch him or hold him, tell him how much you’ve missed him, how much you still love him. You didn’t need him here to make you lose your will to move on.

The fact that Hoseok was here was surreal. You’d always fantasized about him coming to find you, but you never expected it to actually happen.

“What are you doing here?” You asked as you took a step back. Your heart was racing and your palms sweaty. You flattened them on your sides to rid them of the claminess. &

You always thought if you saw Hoseok again, you’d run straight into his arms and never let go. But now that he’s really here, your legs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. There was an anchor in the pit of your stomach keeping you from embracing the love of your life. You were paralyzed to your very core.

The tone in your voice made the sparkle in Hoseok’s eyes die out, and his smile disappeared without a trace. “I came to see you.”

The weak part of you melted at his words, but you quickly regained your composure. He’s married, you reminded yourself. “Does Jisoo know you’re here?”

You were so conflicted with your feelings. You wanted to be happy he was here for God knows what reason, but the practical - and slightly cynical - side of you kept screaming for you to disregard your feelings because if you don’t and succumb to them, then you’ll be left vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt again. Seeing him brought forth a rush of feelings that you’ve been trying to lock up for months now. The gates have opened, the dam broken, and your feelings were like a unyielding flood trying to drown you.

“No,” Hoseok sighed. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. Hoseok thought you’d be overjoyed to see him. Then again, he did show up out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. He never stopped to consider for even a second that you wouldn’t want to see him. “I… ended things with her.”

Hoseok lifted his head and searched your eyes, looking for some kind of reaction.

Your mouth fell open in shock. You wondered for a second if you heard him correctly. Did Hoseok really just say he “ended things” with the princess of a neighboring country? “Ended things” with his wife.

“What are you talking about?” You questioned. “Nothing’s as simple as ending things, Hoseok… Are you saying you got divorced?”

“Not exactly,” he responded. “I told the king about us…”

As soon as Hoseok muttered those words, it felt as if the ground that was keeping you steady suddenly crumbled from beneath you, and you were falling. The rush of adrenaline that consumed your every nerve wasn’t exhilarating in the slightest, it made your hairs stand on end and your heart clench.

“Hoseok,” you whispered. “You didn’t.”

What exactly did he tell the king? “Hey I’ve been screwing one of the maids for the past couple of years.” That’s the only way you could have imagined the scene to go down.

“I told him I love you,” he continued. “Told him I can’t be with Jisoo, and that I want to marry you.”

Before you could even digest the fact that Hoseok just said he wanted to marry you, he continued.

“He told me to never bring divorce or you up ever again, especially not in front of Jisoo, or he’d disown me. He said that this was the path chosen for me since birth, and that he’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted, and I didn’t deserve to ask for more.”

You couldn’t help but agree with what the king was saying. This was the path chosen for him. He’s a prince for goodness sake. It’s his duty to help bring our country and neighboring countries together in any way possible. Even if that meant marrying somebody he doesn’t love because someday he’s going to be king, and he needs to learn how to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of this country.

Besides, what did he think he’d get out of telling the king? Did he really think that just because he says he wants to marry you that his parents would allow him to sever ties with Jisoo so soon after their marriage? For a maid no less? Even if they were okay with him divorcing Jisoo, they wouldn’t let him do it to be with a maid. Perhaps someone of royalty, but never a maid.

That thought saddened you, but this was your reality.

“So I left,” Hoseok’s husky voice pulled you out of your reverie.

“You should go back,” you found yourself whispering in a soft voice. He can’t just leave the palace as if there won’t be any consequences. How typical of a prince to assume he can do whatever he wants. “Hoseok, this isn’t right. You were born to be king. You deserve a lavish lifestyle in the palace where you belong. You wouldn’t survive a day in a commoners shoes.”

What would happen to Jisoo? How would this affect our country’s relationship with hers? Who will be king now? So many questions ran through your mind as you wondered what would happen if Hoseok did stay. Of course, Hoseok’s younger brother Jimin could always take the throne, but he was considerably younger than Hoseok. He was only sixteen years old. It’d be a long time before he could become king.

Hoseok walked towards you, his face hard. “No amount of riches could keep me away from you. I deserve to choose how I live my life, and I choose to live it with you.”

“Hoseok…” It’s not like you genuinely wanted him to go back, but you knew what was right, and him staying with you wasn’t. He has a duty to uphold.

“If I can’t be with you, then I don’t want to be with anyone.” He hesitantly reached up before slowly cupping your face in his large hands. They were warm and felt like home. He was thankful you didn’t withdraw from his touch like he thought you would. He knew how much he’s hurt you, and he was so worried the damage was irreversible.

“But you don’t get to choose.” You looked into Hoseok’s pleading eyes, they were dark and solemn. You never would have thought you’d have to reject Hoseok, but here you were, saying no to a man practically begging you take him. Oh, how you wanted to take him.

You reached up and engulfed Hoseok’s hands in yours. You gave them a light squeeze before removing them from your face, watching as his face fell with despair. You took two step backwards, bringing some distance between you two. It made it so much easier to reject him when you couldn’t feel his warmth and imagine yourself wrapped up in his arms. Tears brimmed your eyes, but you smiled at him.

“Y/N,” his voice trembled.

“Go back, Hoseok. Go back to where you belong, and live the life that you should. You could be happy with Jisoo if you tried.”

“I left everything for you.” Hoseok huffed. “Do you really think they’d take me back after what I did to be with you? I walked out on the royal family; no one even knows where I am, Y/N. They’ve probably disowned me already.”

You considered Hoseok’s words for a second. No way they’d disown him that easily. Surely they’d take him back. At least that’s what you hoped.

You opened your mouth to assure Hoseok they’d accept him without hesitation, but he cut you off.

“I won’t go back.” His voice was firm. Hoseok took a step towards you, closing the space you’d just created. “I love you, and I know you love me, too.”

Everything around you stood still. This was the first time Hoseok’s ever directly told you he loves you. He’s said he loved you, he’s said he told his father he loves you, but he’s never told you face to face, out loud, “I love you.” It nearly broke your entire resolve to send Hoseok back. You were too taken aback to retaliate, so Hoseok continued without giving you a second to completely compose yourself.

“You don’t want me to go back, and you know it. Don’t give me some bullshit lie that being a prince is what I deserve, and the palace is where I belong. We both know that’s not true; I belong with you wherever that may be.

“We could be happy together. I don’t care about this country, I don’t care about money, and I sure as hell don’t care about Jisoo or what the king and queen think. I love you Y/N, and I want to be with you. I want to live with you and wake up to you every morning and go to sleep to you every night. I want to get married and have kids with you. I’ll work day in and day out to give you everything you deserve. Stop putting me before yourself because you deserve to be happy, too, and I know that you’d be happy with me.”

I want to have kids with you. You immediately thought about the child you were carrying. If Hoseok stayed, your child wouldn’t be fatherless, and you could actually tell Hoseok that he’s going to have a kid. Of course you wanted to live with him, raise your kid with him, and you had no doubt in your mind that you’d be happy with Hoseok. The thought was so deliciously tempting that the more you entertained it, the more your resolve seemed to dissipate.

You imagined Hoseok as a dad, taking care of y’alls little baby and playing with them. You pictured yourself growing old with him and watching as that child turned into an adult and started to love like you and Hoseok did.

Instinctively, your hand rested on your belly. The tears that were welling in your eyes earlier finally spilled over. A soft sob fell past your parted lips. You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling and allowing more whimpers to escape. You looked down at your small baby bump. You gripped your dress and let the cloth bunch up in your clenched hand.

Would it be wrong of you to change your mind and ask him to stay? You wanted that - you wanted that happy ending, and by God did you deserve it. Hoseok was right, you deserve to be happy. You were hardly ever selfish or voiced your wants and needs. Would it really be so bad for you to let yourself have this one thing even if it meant getting in the way of Hoseok’s life?

Suddenly, you found yourself searching for reasons for him to stay. He wanted to be with you. You didn’t force him to come find you or leave his family behind. He did that all on his own. Who are you to say no to that? You should be grateful and accept him with open arms.

“What?” Hoseok asked when he noticed your tears and your hand on your stomach. He wondered for a second if you were in physical pain. Concern laced his words as he asked you again, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m,” you choked out, “I’m pregnant.”

A second or two passed and suddenly you were in Hoseok’s arms. He held you tight against himself. You could hear his heart hammering inside his chest. Hoseok rested his chin on your head, trying to find the right words to say.

He was so caught off guard. He didn’t want to insult you, but he had to ask. “Is it m-”

“Yes it’s yours, you idiot.” You answered without him having to finish his question. Your tears stained his shirt as you buried your face further into his chest.

Hoseok thought about the last time you two had sex. You must have been at least two months along. He immediately felt bad thinking about how scared you must have been when you found out all alone. He was a little bitter because he knew, if he’d never came to see you, he would have never known about his own child. But that wasn’t important at the moment. What was important was you were so obviously shaken, and all he wanted to do was console you.

“I can’t go now, Y/N,” Hoseok lifted his chin from your head and leaned back so he could look you in your eyes. His thumbs wiped away the tears streaming down your face. You stared into his brown eyes, they were soft and inviting. “You need me as much as I need you. I can help you raise the baby. You don’t have to do this alone. Jimin can be king, Jisoo can find some other prince from some other country, but you’ll never find another man that will love this baby as much as I would.”

With each passing word, Hoseok continued to tear your resolve to shreds. There was hardly any piece of you left that was convinced he should go back to the palace. You were overcome with a sudden desire to keep Hoseok all to yourself. Screw what was right.

“But-”

“Sh,” Hoseok silenced you. “No ‘buts’. I’ve let you go once, and I’m not doing it again.”

Hoseok leaned down and kissed you. It was a soft affectionate kiss filled with love, there was no urgency to it. You simply melted into him, and that was it. There was no turning back; he’d won you over. As Hoseok deepened the kiss, he pulled you close into a loose hug. His hands rested on your waist, intimately. You snaked your arms around his neck and clasped your hands together.

Your heart was pounding loud and clear, and you were sure Hoseok could hear it, too. After what felt like an eternity, you broke the kiss, your eyes still closed.

It still hadn’t quite registered that you and Hoseok are finally going to get your happy ending. You knew there were going to bumps and obstacles along the way, and you might have to fight to stay together, but you knew it would be worth it in the long run. Finally, all the suffering would come to an end because Hoseok was yours.

“I love you,” you whispered.

“I love you, too.”

“And then what happened Mommy?” Your daughter asked. You sat perched on a rickety old rocking chair that Hoseok tried to make for you not long before Nayeon was born. She was seated at your feet, her legs crisscrossed, her chin resting on her clasped hands, and her eyes gleaming.

You’d just finished telling Nayeon the story of how you and Hoseok got together and how Hoseok so bravely left his home and family to be with you. You weren’t afraid to mention he was the prince because you knew if Nayeon mentioned it to any other kid, they’d think it was a simple story.

In fact, your story had spread throughout the country. You were the protagonist of the great love that overcame societal differences. Your story inspired young women everywhere and helped them realize that, if meant to be, love was boundless and could overcome anything.

You picked Nayeon up and placed her on your lap, and her arms naturally wrapped tightly around your shoulders. “And then you came along,” you booped her cute button nose.

“So if daddy was a prince and soon to be king, does that make me a princess?” She inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Every six year old dreams of being a princess, but in Nayeon’s case, she was one.

You chuckled as you said, “I guess it does.”

The grin on Nayeon’s face only grew wider; she couldn’t wait to boast to her friends that she was a real life princess.

You pushed a strand of her long dark hair out of her eyes. They reminded you so much of Hoseok’s, slanted towards the end but bright and wide with wonder and so full of curiosity. She was compassionate and understanding, very intelligent, too. She took so much after her dad. Although Hoseok likes to argue she took all those traits from you.

“Then does that mean the baby inside you will be a princess, too?”

“Who knows?” You smiled. “Maybe they’ll be a prince.”

Your daughter placed a small hand on your round belly and jumped when the baby kicked. She giggled endlessly, and it was music to your ears. You gave her a tight squeeze and proceeded to smother her in kisses and tell her how much you love her.

Eventually, she asked you to continue with the story, so you did.

The world continued to turn after you and Hoseok decided to stay together. Everything really fell into place. It turns out the neighboring country was secretly planning to assassinate the entire royal family with Jisoo as their perpetrator, so she was executed, and the relationship with her country hasn’t been the same since. For awhile, we were in war with them, but once Jimin became king he put an end to it. He realized it was only wasting rations and hurting civilians who were losing loved ones in a stalemate war. If it weren’t for the war, however, you were positive the royal family would’ve sought out Hoseok and forced him back into the palace to be king.

Hoseok never went back to the palace. You two stayed at the inn for a couple of months. You were too weak to work yourself, so Hoseok took on your shifts at the pub and the inn. With a little help from Sumi, eventually you accumulated enough money to buy your own home and finally get married. It wasn’t a big wedding, but it was perfect in your book because Hoseok was the groom, and that’s all you’ve ever dreamed about.

After you moved, you still visited Sumi often, especially since she was Nayeon’s godmother, and even started working at the pub again when Nayeon turned three.

“What about the guy you were supposed to go on a date with?” Your daughter cocked her head to the side and pulled her eyebrows together, curious.

The corners of your mouth twitched up slightly. You rocked the chair back and forth and hugged Nayeon to your chest. “We became very good friends.”

You thought back to the moment Taehyung walked into the inn’s lobby, looking for you, only to find you crying in Hoseok’s arms. You were so upset that you forgot all about him and apologized profusely for having to cancel the date and any further offers he’d want to make.

Taehyung was no fool; he easily read the atmosphere and assured you he was okay. He told you he wished he’d gotten there sooner, but timing really just wasn’t right for him when it came to you. You remember the chuckle that escaped his lips as you both thought back to his incessant rambling on how he wanted to ask you out sooner.

You always wondered what would have happened if he did.

Suddenly, Hoseok walked through the front door, pulling your attention away from your thoughts. Your daughter perked up, immediately leaving your lap to hug him. She truly was a daddy’s girl, even though she claimed to love both of you equally.

“Daddy!” She squealed.

Hoseok effortlessly picked your daughter up and pulled her into to a tight hug. “Hey, Buttercup.”

He was dressed in casual work clothes, a white short sleeved shirt tucked into his pants. Ever since Hoseok started working, he’s grown more robust, his hands bared calluses from working to support your family, and he genuinely seemed happy. You never thought he’d make it this far.

“Mommy told me I’m a princess!” Nayeon smiled a toothy grin. Hoseok looked to you with a raised eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

You shrugged your shoulders and smiled slyly at him.

He turned his attention back to the squirming daughter in his arms. “That you are!”

“I’m daddy’s princess, right?” Nayeon asked in a sugary sweet voice. She wrapped her arms around Hoseok’s neck and waited for an answer.

“Sorry, Buttercup,” Hoseok smiled, setting her down onto the ground. He strode towards you and rested one of his hands on the armrest of the rocking chair and the other on your stomach. His hand caressed you as he smiled thinking about the little baby boy or girl inside that would soon be entering your lives. He leaned down till his face was merely inches from yours. “But that spot’s been reserved for your mom for a long time now.”

He kissed you, smiling against your lips. With his eyes closed he pulled away, and when he opened them, he admired you like he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. “I told you you’ll always be my princess.”

[jiminsa]

His Throne [MYG] | 03 final

Genre: smut, angst, fluff

Word Count: 6,090

Summary: You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible prince Min Yoongi on his throne.

A/N: if you listen closely you can hear me ugly sobbing, it’s finally finished! Sorry it took so long and probably not as fluffy/happy as y’all had hoped. I really can’t do fluff (PCs to Vikttoria16)

Parts: 01 | 02 | 03

Part 1: Hoseok | Taehyung | Namjoon | Jimin | Jungkook | Seokjin

You shuffled between tables, wiping them clean of the drunken mistakes the village’s fustian knights left behind. You were so tired of working at the local inn, but it was the only way you could afford to adequately support yourself.

It’d been two months since you left the palace to find work elsewhere, and not a day’s gone by where you haven’t thought of Yoongi. Sometimes you wish you could go back. You left behind so much more than the love of your life; you left your friends, your integrity, your home. It was hard on you having to adjust to your new environment, all alone, with no one to support you the way Yoongi always silently did.

But then you think of Yoongi with Jisoo… It just wasn’t worth it to you to stay in the palace knowing you came so close to something only to let it slip away without a fight. That constant reminder would tauntingly dangle in front of you every time you made their bed or cooked their breakfast.

You had to leave, for your sake and for his. Without saying a word to anyone, you disappeared from the palace and into the night. You figured there was no point in telling anyone; it's not like Yoongi would've stopped you if you'd said anything anyway. You weren't sure what you were going to do after you left, you just knew you couldn’t take anymore of the suffering of watching Yoongi care for someone that wasn't you.

Luckily for you, not long after you arrived at the barren town, the inn’s owner was kind enough to give you a job as a maid and server for the pub connected to the inn. She even allowed you to live in one of the inn’s old storage rooms. It wasn’t much different from the room you stayed in at the palace, so it was comforting in a sense. You could easily cry yourself to sleep on the pile of blankets you called a bed, just like in the palace. It was almost like home.

A month after arriving at the inn, you began to feel very fatigue. You brushed it off as a symptom of overworking yourself at the pub, but what could you do when it was your only source of income? So you continued working until you started feeling nauseous in the early mornings in addition to your weariness. That’s when you realized, you were pregnant. You told Sumi, the innkeeper, about your pregnancy because you felt scared and alone. How were you supposed to raise a child on your own? The worst part was your baby would grow up without ever knowing their father.

It was then that Sumi became like a mother to you. She listened to your problems, soothed your aching heart with warm hugs, and loved you like no other. You trusted her more than you've ever trusted anybody before. Not even a month after you met, you felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about your relationship with the crowned prince. You knew she'd keep your secret safe, and it felt liberating to finally be able to tell someone that you loved Min Yoongi.

And that he loved you, too.

After you finished cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, you grabbed one of the many candles that lit the pub and disappeared behind the bar. It was around midnight, ten minutes past closing, and about time you locked up the entrance of the pub. You searched the shelves under the bar and shuffled around old rags trying to find the key. Usually it hangs on a hook under the countertop, but of course you forgot to put it there after you opened this morning.

Sumi always berated you for your carelessness - you were always misplacing things. You never did that at the palace. Then again, you were mainly in charge of cleaning and cooking, not watching over small dumb keys. The lack of light didn't help. No matter how many candles or lanterns you lit, the pub would never be bright enough for you.

Eventually you noticed the key at the back of the shelf behind a glass mug. You probably shoved it back there on accident after putting a cup back.

As you reached for the key, you heard the door of the pub open and then shut with a loud thud.

Oh, great, you thought. Probably another drunk.

There were too many occasions in which you had to chase out a drunkard - some nice, others not so much. You really hoped it was just someone asking for directions or the innkeeper coming to tell you to hurry up. You mentally prepared yourself to meet the unidentified stranger.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized as you stood up, “but we’re closed.”

The stranger jumped at your voice, his back turned to you. Finally, he turned around and faced you. You immediately recognized his face; he was one of the pub’s regulars.

He greeted you with a smile. “Uh, hi.”

By his steady voice and somewhat calm composure, you assumed he wasn't drunk. He looked like he was around your age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and laid flat against his forehead.

He scratched the back of his head and knitted his brows together as he took a step towards you. “I don't know if you remember me, but I was here earlier today…”

“Yeah,” you said. “I remember.”

The sheepish grin he bared widened. “Well, my name's Taehyung, and I was - uh - I wanted to ask you this earlier but timing wasn’t right. You were so busy getting people their orders and stuff. I didn’t wanna bother you. But I was kinda wondering if… you’d wanna go out sometime?”

You couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He came all this way, this late at night, to ask you out. His rambling gave away his nervousness which you found cute.

That thought suddenly left you as it sunk in just what he was asking. It'd only been two months since you left the palace. You weren't sure if you were ready to start seeing other people. You wanted to move on because you were so tired of crying over a married man that you'd probably never see again, but wasn't two months too soon?

When you didn't say anything, Taehyung cleared his throat. “We could just get something to eat? Doesn't have to be anything serious.” He tried to convince you to say yes.

“I don't know…” you responded.

“Just one date.” Taehyung motioned the number one with his pointer finger and took another step closer to you. “And then if you don't think we could be anything serious, we can just be friends.”

Would this be a good idea? You asked yourself. You knew you'd never get over Yoongi if you just stayed at the inn and worked, but you didn’t want to go out with this guy just to help yourself get over someone. Taehyung didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think...” your voice trailed off. You wanted to tell him no, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it. He seemed so nice; he was always smiling and laughing when he’d drink with his friends at the pub. He had a cute smile that was hard to forget.

If it weren't for Yoongi, you probably would've said okay without a second thought.

Taehyung’s smile faltered slightly, and you immediately felt bad and wanted to take back your rejection.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” his smile was back, only not as bright as before. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Taehyung turned around to leave.

Would one date really be that bad? He did say it’d be enough. Who knows, I might actually have fun. You debated with yourself some more, still unsure if you wanted to go or not.

You thought about Yoongi again. He would have wanted you to go. He would want you to move on and be happy. You could hear his voice in the back of your mind, and you could see his heart shaped smile, the one you loved so much, form as he’d say, “Come on, Princess, this guy could be your new prince.” You could hear him telling you it wasn't like you to be so hesitant.

As Taehyung neared the door, you senselessly called out to him, “Wait!”

With his hand on the doorknob, Taehyung turned around to look at you. You didn't know what you wanted to say, but you knew you didn't want him to leave.

Stepping out from behind the bar, you tentatively walked towards him. Your hands were balled into fists by your sides, you clenched and unclenched them, nervously. “Uh, I change my mind. I'll take you up on that offer.” You gnawed on the inside of your cheek, hoping you weren't going to regret this decision.

That familiar smile was back again, and Taehyung's eyes lit up, “Really?”

You smiled gently and nodded your head, “Yeah, but you gotta keep your word. If I just want to be friends then we'll just be friends. Okay?”

Taehyung nodded his head vigorously, causing his hair to fall into his eyes. “Of course! Are you free later today?”

It was Sunday, so you knew the pub would be closed today. Sumi didn’t believe in drinking on the day of the lord, so that was the one day out of the week the pub didn’t open. “Yeah, I am. The pub will be closed, so I’ll be at the inn next door.”

“Okay, great!” Taehyung said, his excitement evident in his scrunched eyes and wide smile. “I’ll come pick you up around noon.” Taehyung gave you one last look before leaving you alone in the dimly lit room.

You really hoped the Yoongi in your head lead you to make the right decision.

After you locked the pub up last night, you made your way to the inn where you found Sumi, warming you up some leftover dinner. You told her about your date with Taehyung and how you'd be gone - you assumed - for most of the day.

Sumi was elated to hear you were trying to move on, but the motherly part of her was still worried you were forcing yourself too soon. She kept reminding you that you weren’t obligated to go on this date and that you could leave in the middle of it if you felt like you needed to. You wanted to be annoyed by her nagging, but all you could do was appreciate her concerns.

Once Sumi was finished nagging you, she began to ask you what Taehyung was like since she had no idea who he was. There was only so much you could say since you didn’t really know Taehyung either, but you did know he had the sweetest smile. Of course, it was nothing compared to Yoongi’s, but it did make your heart flutter just the tiniest bit. You told Sumi he was a brown eyed cutie with soft features that reminded you of a puppy dog.

The more Sumi talked about the date, the more excited and anxious you became for it. You’ve never been on a date before - never went through the process of picking out an outfit, anticipating what you're gonna do on the date, or wondered if this could be the guy. So, your nerves were kicking into high gear as the date neared.

It was almost noon, about an hour till, and you were all ready for your date. You did your hair and wore your nicest dress; it was Sumi’s dress when she was younger, and she was nice enough to give it to you since you didn't have any clothes other than the ones you wore on your back the day you two met.

As you stood in the inn’s kitchen, you kept having to drink water to calm yourself. You were getting so anxious.

What if he’s the one? The one that'll take your breath away even more than Yoongi ever could. The one you can actually grow old with. The one that'll make you forget Yoongi. Although you found that highly unlikely, you couldn't help but wonder.

What if he isn't the one? What if he just makes you miss Yoongi even more? You've never loved anyone like you loved Yoongi.

Your thoughts were boundless and slightly irrational for just one date, but having to bounce back from a love that meant the world to you was scary. You didn't know what was scarier, the thought of never finding love again or actually moving on from the one who taught you how to love.

You were in the middle of downing your fourth glass of water, pondering if it was too late to cancel the date, when Sumi walked into the kitchen. She eyed you, admiring how beautiful you looked in her old dress. It reminded her of when she was young and lively.

Sumi smiled gently as she said, “Taehyung's here!”

“What?” You almost choked on your water. “But the date's not for another hour, I'm not prepared!” You thought back to what Taehyung said and remembered he told you around noon, not at noon. You stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen and placed your glass on it. Your grip on the cup was tight as you looked to Sumi. Nervousness settled into the creases of your furrowed brows.

Sumi chuckled. “I found him standing in front of the inn, he asked about you. He really did look like a puppy - a lost one.”

“What'd he say?” You inquired.

“Just asked if I knew ya, and I told him I did and to wait in the check-in area. You can still cancel, you know?”

You knew that, but it'd be rude to have him come all this way only to cancel last minute, right? No, it wouldn't be rude, but it wouldn't feel right. It's just one date. Just two people hanging out, getting something to eat. It's not like he was expecting you to fall in love with him today.

“No, it's fine. I'm dressed. I'll go.” You released your grip on the cup and inhaled deeply. You gave Sumi a smile and thanked her for notifying you that Taehyung was here.

He's not gonna propose for goodness sake, stop being so nervous, you told yourself.

You gathered your courage and made your way to the inn’s lobby where you saw him sitting on one of the couches, his back turned to you.

“Hey, sorry I made you wait,” you released a shaky chuckle. “I wasn't expecting you to be so early.”

When he stood up and looked at you, your heart dropped. Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat because that wasn’t Taehyung waiting for you. “Yoongi?”

He looked tired and worn out, but his eyes lit up the second they met yours. Your name dripped from his lips like honey, all sweet and loving, as he took a step towards you. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Yoongi smiled, making your heart flip.

Yoongi wore the clothes of royalty, but they were slightly tattered and dirtied - evidence of his quest to find you.

Seeing Yoongi brought back all these painful feelings and made nostalgia bubble in your stomach. It took everything in you not to reach out and touch him or hold him, tell him how much you’ve missed him, how much you still love him. You didn’t need him here to make you lose your will to move on.

The fact that Yoongi was here was surreal. You’d always fantasized about him coming to find you, but you never expected it to actually happen.

“What are you doing here?” You asked as you took a step back. Your heart was racing and your palms sweaty. You flattened them on your sides to rid them of the claminess.

You always thought if you saw Yoongi again, you’d run straight into his arms and never let go. But now that he’s really here, your legs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. There was an anchor in the pit of your stomach keeping you from embracing the love of your life. You were paralyzed to your very core.

The tone in your voice made the sparkle in Yoongi’s eyes die out, and his smile disappeared without a trace. “I came to see you.”

The weak part of you melted at his words, but you quickly regained your composure. He’s married, you reminded yourself. “Does Jisoo know you’re here?”

You were so conflicted with your feelings. You wanted to be happy he was here for God knows what reason, but the practical - and slightly cynical - side of you kept screaming for you to disregard your feelings because if you don't and succumb to them, then you'll be left vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt again. Seeing him brought forth a rush of feelings that you’ve been trying to lock up for months now. The gates have opened, the dam broken, and your feelings were like a unyielding flood trying to drown you.

“No,” Yoongi sighed. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. Yoongi thought you’d be overjoyed to see him. Then again, he did show up out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. He never stopped to consider for even a second that you wouldn’t want to see him. “I… ended things with her.”

Yoongi lifted his head and searched your eyes, looking for some kind of reaction.

Your mouth fell open in shock. You wondered for a second if you heard him correctly. Did Yoongi really just say he “ended things” with the princess of a neighboring country? “Ended things” with his wife.

“What are you talking about?” You questioned. “Nothing’s as simple as ending things, Yoongi… Are you saying you got divorced?”

“Not exactly,” he responded. “I told the king about us…”

As soon as Yoongi muttered those words, it felt as if the ground that was keeping you steady suddenly crumbled from beneath you, and you were falling. The rush of adrenaline that consumed your every nerve wasn’t exhilarating in the slightest, it made your hairs stand on end and your heart clench.

“Yoongi,” you whispered. “You didn’t.”

What exactly did he tell the king? “Hey I’ve been screwing one of the maids for the past couple of years.” That’s the only way you could have imagined the scene to go down.

“I told him I love you,” he continued. “Told him I can’t be with Jisoo, and that I want to marry you.”

Before you could even digest the fact that Yoongi just said he wanted to marry you, he continued.

“He told me to never bring divorce or you up ever again, especially not in front of Jisoo, or he’d disown me. He said that this was the path chosen for me since birth, and that he’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted, and I didn’t deserve to ask for more.”

You couldn’t help but agree with what the king was saying. This was the path chosen for him. He’s a prince for goodness sake. It’s his duty to help bring our country and neighboring countries together in any way possible. Even if that meant marrying somebody he doesn’t love because someday he’s going to be king, and he needs to learn how to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of this country.

Besides, what did he think he’d get out of telling the king? Did he really think that just because he says he wants to marry you that his parents would allow him to sever ties with Jisoo so soon after their marriage? For a maid no less? Even if they were okay with him divorcing Jisoo, they wouldn’t let him do it to be with a maid. Perhaps someone of royalty, but never a maid.

That thought saddened you, but this was your reality.

“So I left,” Yoongi’s husky voice pulled you out of your reverie.

“You should go back,” you found yourself whispering in a soft voice. He can’t just leave the palace as if there won’t be any consequences. How typical of a prince to assume he can do whatever he wants. “Yoongi, this isn’t right. You were born to be king. You deserve a lavish lifestyle in the palace where you belong. You wouldn’t survive a day in a commoners shoes.”

What would happen to Jisoo? How would this affect our country's relationship with hers? Who will be king now? So many questions ran through your mind as you wondered what would happen if Yoongi did stay. Of course, Yoongi’s younger brother Jimin could always take the throne, but he was considerably younger than Yoongi. He was only sixteen years old. It’d be a long time before he could become king.

Yoongi walked towards you, his face hard. “No amount of riches could keep me away from you. I deserve to choose how I live my life, and I choose to live it with you.”

“Yoongi…” It’s not like you genuinely wanted him to go back, but you knew what was right, and him staying with you wasn’t. He has a duty to uphold.

“If I can’t be with you, then I don’t want to be with anyone.” He hesitantly reached up before slowly cupping your face in his large hands. They were warm and felt like home. He was thankful you didn’t withdraw from his touch like he thought you would. He knew how much he’s hurt you, and he was so worried the damage was irreversible.

“But you don’t get to choose.” You looked into Yoongi’s pleading eyes, they were dark and solemn. You never would have thought you’d have to reject Yoongi, but here you were, saying no to a man practically begging you take him. Oh, how you wanted to take him.

You reached up and engulfed Yoongi’s hands in yours. You gave them a light squeeze before removing them from your face, watching as his face fell with despair. You took two step backwards, bringing some distance between you two. It made it so much easier to reject him when you couldn’t feel his warmth and imagine yourself wrapped up in his arms. Tears brimmed your eyes, but you smiled at him.

“Y/N,” his voice trembled.

“Go back, Yoongi. Go back to where you belong, and live the life that you should. You could be happy with Jisoo if you tried.”

“I left everything for you.” Yoongi huffed. “Do you really think they’d take me back after what I did to be with you? I walked out on the royal family; no one even knows where I am, Y/N. They’ve probably disowned me already.”

You considered Yoongi’s words for a second. No way they’d disown him that easily. Surely they’d take him back. At least that’s what you hoped.

You opened your mouth to assure Yoongi they’d accept him without hesitation, but he cut you off.

“I won’t go back.” His voice was firm. Yoongi took a step towards you, closing the space you’d just created. “I love you, and I know you love me, too.”

Everything around you stood still. This was the first time Yoongi’s ever directly told you he loves you. He’s said he loved you, he’s said he told his father he loves you, but he’s never told you face to face, out loud, “I love you.” It nearly broke your entire resolve to send Yoongi back. You were too taken aback to retaliate, so Yoongi continued without giving you a second to completely compose yourself.

“You don’t want me to go back, and you know it. Don’t give me some bullshit lie that being a prince is what I deserve, and the palace is where I belong. We both know that’s not true; I belong with you wherever that may be.

“We could be happy together. I don’t care about this country, I don’t care about money, and I sure as hell don’t care about Jisoo or what the king and queen think. I love you Y/N, and I want to be with you. I want to live with you and wake up to you every morning and go to sleep to you every night. I want to get married and have kids with you. I’ll work day in and day out to give you everything you deserve. Stop putting me before yourself because you deserve to be happy, too, and I know that you’d be happy with me.”

I want to have kids with you. You immediately thought about the child you were carrying. If Yoongi stayed, your child wouldn’t be fatherless, and you could actually tell Yoongi that he’s going to have a kid. Of course you wanted to live with him, raise your kid with him, and you had no doubt in your mind that you’d be happy with Yoongi. The thought was so deliciously tempting that the more you entertained it, the more your resolve seemed to dissipate.

You imagined Yoongi as a dad, taking care of y’alls little baby and playing with them. You pictured yourself growing old with him and watching as that child turned into an adult and started to love like you and Yoongi did.

Instinctively, your hand rested on your belly. The tears that were welling in your eyes earlier finally spilled over. A soft sob fell past your parted lips. You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling and allowing more whimpers to escape. You looked down at your small baby bump. You gripped your dress and let the cloth bunch up in your clenched hand.

Would it be wrong of you to change your mind and ask him to stay? You wanted that - you wanted that happy ending, and by God did you deserve it. Yoongi was right, you deserve to be happy. You were hardly ever selfish or voiced your wants and needs. Would it really be so bad for you to let yourself have this one thing even if it meant getting in the way of Yoongi’s life?

Suddenly, you found yourself searching for reasons for him to stay. He wanted to be with you. You didn’t force him to come find you or leave his family behind. He did that all on his own. Who are you to say no to that? You should be grateful and accept him with open arms.

“What?” Yoongi asked when he noticed your tears and your hand on your stomach. He wondered for a second if you were in physical pain. Concern laced his words as he asked you again, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m,” you choked out, “I’m pregnant.”

A second or two passed and suddenly you were in Yoongi’s arms. He held you tight against himself. You could hear his heart hammering inside his chest. Yoongi rested his chin on your head, trying to find the right words to say.

He was so caught off guard. He didn’t want to insult you, but he had to ask. “Is it m-”

“Yes it’s yours, you idiot.” You answered without him having to finish his question. Your tears stained his shirt as you buried your face further into his chest.

Yoongi thought about the last time you two had sex. You must have been at least two months along. He immediately felt bad thinking about how scared you must have been when you found out all alone. He was a little bitter because he knew, if he’d never came to see you, he would have never known about his own child. But that wasn’t important at the moment. What was important was you were so obviously shaken, and all he wanted to do was console you.

“I can���t go now, Y/N,” Yoongi lifted his chin from your head and leaned back so he could look you in your eyes. His thumbs wiped away the tears streaming down your face. You stared into his brown eyes, they were soft and inviting. “You need me as much as I need you. I can help you raise the baby. You don’t have to do this alone. Jimin can be king, Jisoo can find some other prince from some other country, but you’ll never find another man that will love this baby as much as I would.”

With each passing word, Yoongi continued to tear your resolve to shreds. There was hardly any piece of you left that was convinced he should go back to the palace. You were overcome with a sudden desire to keep Yoongi all to yourself. Screw what was right.

“But-”

“Sh,” Yoongi silenced you. “No ‘buts’. I’ve let you go once, and I’m not doing it again.”

Yoongi leaned down and kissed you. It was a soft affectionate kiss filled with love, there was no urgency to it. You simply melted into him, and that was it. There was no turning back; he’d won you over. As Yoongi deepened the kiss, he pulled you close into a loose hug. His hands rested on your waist, intimately. You snaked your arms around his neck and clasped your hands together.

Your heart was pounding loud and clear, and you were sure Yoongi could hear it, too. After what felt like an eternity, you broke the kiss, your eyes still closed.

It still hadn’t quite registered that you and Yoongi are finally going to get your happy ending. You knew there were going to bumps and obstacles along the way, and you might have to fight to stay together, but you knew it would be worth it in the long run. Finally, all the suffering would come to an end because Yoongi was yours.

“I love you,” you whispered.

“I love you, too.”

“And then what happened Mommy?” Your daughter asked. You sat perched on a rickety old rocking chair that Yoongi tried to make for you not long before Nayeon was born. She was seated at your feet, her legs crisscrossed, her chin resting on her clasped hands, and her eyes gleaming.

You’d just finished telling Nayeon the story of how you and Yoongi got together and how Yoongi so bravely left his home and family to be with you. You weren’t afraid to mention he was the prince because you knew if Nayeon mentioned it to any other kid, they’d think it was a simple story.

In fact, your story had spread throughout the country. You were the protagonist of the great love that overcame societal differences. Your story inspired young women everywhere and helped them realize that, if meant to be, love was boundless and could overcome anything.

You picked Nayeon up and placed her on your lap, and her arms naturally wrapped tightly around your shoulders. “And then you came along,” you booped her cute button nose.

“So if daddy was a prince and soon to be king, does that make me a princess?” She inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Every six year old dreams of being a princess, but in Nayeon’s case, she was one.

You chuckled as you said, “I guess it does.”

The grin on Nayeon’s face only grew wider; she couldn’t wait to boast to her friends that she was a real life princess.

You pushed a strand of her long dark hair out of her eyes. They reminded you so much of Yoongi’s, slanted towards the end but bright and wide with wonder and so full of curiosity. She was compassionate and understanding, very intelligent, too. She took so much after her dad. Although Yoongi likes to argue she took all those traits from you.

“Then does that mean the baby inside you will be a princess, too?”

“Who knows?” You smiled. “Maybe they’ll be a prince.”

Your daughter placed a small hand on your round belly and jumped when the baby kicked. She giggled endlessly, and it was music to your ears. You gave her a tight squeeze and proceeded to smother her in kisses and tell her how much you love her.

Eventually, she asked you to continue with the story, so you did.

The world continued to turn after you and Yoongi decided to stay together. Everything really fell into place. It turns out the neighboring country was secretly planning to assassinate the entire royal family with Jisoo as their perpetrator, so she was executed, and the relationship with her country hasn’t been the same since. For awhile, we were in war with them, but once Jimin became king he put an end to it. He realized it was only wasting rations and hurting civilians who were losing loved ones in a stalemate war. If it weren’t for the war, however, you were positive the royal family would’ve sought out Yoongi and forced him back into the palace to be king.

Yoongi never went back to the palace. You two stayed at the inn for a couple of months. You were too weak to work yourself, so Yoongi took on your shifts at the pub and the inn. With a little help from Sumi, eventually you accumulated enough money to buy your own home and finally get married. It wasn’t a big wedding, but it was perfect in your book because Yoongi was the groom, and that’s all you’ve ever dreamed about.

After you moved, you still visited Sumi often, especially since she was Nayeon’s godmother, and even started working at the pub again when Nayeon turned three.

“What about the guy you were supposed to go on a date with?” Your daughter cocked her head to the side and pulled her eyebrows together, curious.

The corners of your mouth twitched up slightly. You rocked the chair back and forth and hugged Nayeon to your chest. “We became very good friends.”

You thought back to the moment Taehyung walked into the inn’s lobby, looking for you, only to find you crying in Yoongi’s arms. You were so upset that you forgot all about him and apologized profusely for having to cancel the date and any further offers he’d want to make.

Taehyung was no fool; he easily read the atmosphere and assured you he was okay. He told you he wished he’d gotten there sooner, but timing really just wasn’t right for him when it came to you. You remember the chuckle that escaped his lips as you both thought back to his incessant rambling on how he wanted to ask you out sooner.

You always wondered what would have happened if he did.

Suddenly, Yoongi walked through the front door, pulling your attention away from your thoughts. Your daughter perked up, immediately leaving your lap to hug him. She truly was a daddy’s girl, even though she claimed to love both of you equally.

“Daddy!” She squealed.

Yoongi effortlessly picked your daughter up and pulled her into to a tight hug. “Hey, Buttercup.”

He was dressed in casual work clothes, a white short sleeved shirt tucked into his pants. Ever since Yoongi started working, he’s grown more robust, his hands bared calluses from working to support your family, and he genuinely seemed happy. You never thought he’d make it this far.

“Mommy told me I’m a princess!” Nayeon smiled a toothy grin. Yoongi looked to you with a raised eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

You shrugged your shoulders and smiled slyly at him.

He turned his attention back to the squirming daughter in his arms. “That you are!”

“I’m daddy’s princess, right?” Nayeon asked in a sugary sweet voice. She wrapped her arms around Yoongi’s neck and waited for an answer.

“Sorry, Buttercup,” Yoongi smiled, setting her down onto the ground. He strode towards you and rested one of his hands on the armrest of the rocking chair and the other on your stomach. His hand caressed you as he smiled thinking about the little baby boy or girl inside that would soon be entering your lives. He leaned down till his face was merely inches from yours. “But that spot’s been reserved for your mom for a long time now.”

He kissed you, smiling against your lips. With his eyes closed he pulled away, and when he opened them, he admired you like he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. “I told you you’ll always be my princess.”

[jiminsa]

His Throne [KNJ] | 03 final

Genre: smut, angst, fluff

Word Count: 6,094

Summary:��You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible prince Kim Namjoon on his throne.

A/N: if you listen closely you can hear me ugly sobbing, it’s finally finished! Sorry it took so long, but as promised to a follower, I’m posting Namjoon first! Also sorry it’s not as fluffy/happy as y’all had hoped. I really can’t do fluff (PCs to Vikttoria16)

Parts: 01 | 02 | 03

Part 1: Hoseok | Yoongi | Taehyung | Jimin | Jungkook | Seokjin

You shuffled between tables, wiping them clean of the drunken mistakes the village’s fustian knights left behind. You were so tired of working at the local inn, but it was the only way you could afford to adequately support yourself.

It’d been two months since you left the palace to find work elsewhere, and not a day’s gone by where you haven’t thought of Namjoon. Sometimes you wish you could go back. You left behind so much more than the love of your life; you left your friends, your integrity, your home. It was hard on you having to adjust to your new environment, all alone, with no one to support you the way Namjoon always silently did.

But then you think of Namjoon with Jisoo… It just wasn’t worth it to you to stay in the palace knowing you came so close to something only to let it slip away without a fight. That constant reminder would tauntingly dangle in front of you every time you made their bed or cooked their breakfast.

You had to leave, for your sake and for his. Without saying a word to anyone, you disappeared from the palace and into the night. You figured there was no point in telling anyone; it's not like Namjoon would've stopped you if you'd said anything anyway. You weren't sure what you were going to do after you left, you just knew you couldn’t take anymore of the suffering of watching Namjoon care for someone that wasn't you.

Luckily for you, not long after you arrived at the barren town, the inn’s owner was kind enough to give you a job as a maid and server for the pub connected to the inn. She even allowed you to live in one of the inn’s old storage rooms. It wasn’t much different from the room you stayed in at the palace, so it was comforting in a sense. You could easily cry yourself to sleep on the pile of blankets you called a bed, just like in the palace. It was almost like home.

A month after arriving at the inn, you began to feel very fatigue. You brushed it off as a symptom of overworking yourself at the pub, but what could you do when it was your only source of income? So you continued working until you started feeling nauseous in the early mornings in addition to your weariness. That’s when you realized, you were pregnant. You told Sumi, the innkeeper, about your pregnancy because you felt scared and alone. How were you supposed to raise a child on your own? The worst part was your baby would grow up without ever knowing their father.

It was then that Sumi became like a mother to you. She listened to your problems, soothed your aching heart with warm hugs, and loved you like no other. You trusted her more than you've ever trusted anybody before. Not even a month after you met, you felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about your relationship with the crowned prince. You knew she'd keep your secret safe, and it felt liberating to finally be able to tell someone that you loved Kim Namjoon.

And that he loved you, too.

After you finished cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, you grabbed one of the many candles that lit the pub and disappeared behind the bar. It was around midnight, ten minutes past closing, and about time you locked up the entrance of the pub. You searched the shelves under the bar and shuffled around old rags trying to find the key. Usually it hangs on a hook under the countertop, but of course you forgot to put it there after you opened this morning.

Sumi always berated you for your carelessness - you were always misplacing things. You never did that at the palace. Then again, you were mainly in charge of cleaning and cooking, not watching over small dumb keys. The lack of light didn't help. No matter how many candles or lanterns you lit, the pub would never be bright enough for you.

Eventually you noticed the key at the back of the shelf behind a glass mug. You probably shoved it back there on accident after putting a cup back.

As you reached for the key, you heard the door of the pub open and then shut with a loud thud.

Oh, great, you thought. Probably another drunk.

There were too many occasions in which you had to chase out a drunkard - some nice, others not so much. You really hoped it was just someone asking for directions or the innkeeper coming to tell you to hurry up. You mentally prepared yourself to meet the unidentified stranger.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized as you stood up, “but we’re closed.”

The stranger jumped at your voice, his back turned to you. Finally, he turned around and faced you. You immediately recognized his face; he was one of the pub’s regulars.

He greeted you with a smile. “Uh, hi.”

By his steady voice and somewhat calm composure, you assumed he wasn't drunk. He looked like he was around your age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and laid flat against his forehead.

He scratched the back of his head and knitted his brows together as he took a step towards you. “I don't know if you remember me, but I was here earlier today…”

“Yeah,” you said. “I remember.”

The sheepish grin he bared widened. “Well, my name's Taehyung, and I was - uh - I wanted to ask you this earlier but timing wasn’t right. You were so busy getting people their orders and stuff. I didn’t wanna bother you. But I was kinda wondering if… you’d wanna go out sometime?”

You couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He came all this way, this late at night, to ask you out. His rambling gave away his nervousness which you found cute.

That thought suddenly left you as it sunk in just what he was asking. It'd only been two months since you left the palace. You weren't sure if you were ready to start seeing other people. You wanted to move on because you were so tired of crying over a married man that you'd probably never see again, but wasn't two months too soon?

When you didn't say anything, Taehyung cleared his throat. “We could just get something to eat? Doesn't have to be anything serious.” He tried to convince you to say yes.

“I don't know…” you responded.

“Just one date.” Taehyung motioned the number one with his pointer finger and took another step closer to you. “And then if you don't think we could be anything serious, we can just be friends.”

Would this be a good idea? You asked yourself. You knew you'd never get over Namjoon if you just stayed at the inn and worked, but you didn’t want to go out with this guy just to help yourself get over someone. Taehyung didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think...” your voice trailed off. You wanted to tell him no, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it. He seemed so nice; he was always smiling and laughing when he’d drink with his friends at the pub. He had a cute smile that was hard to forget.

If it weren't for Namjoon, you probably would've said okay without a second thought.

Taehyung’s smile faltered slightly, and you immediately felt bad and wanted to take back your rejection.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” his smile was back, only not as bright as before. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Taehyung turned around to leave.

Would one date really be that bad? He did say it’d be enough. Who knows, I might actually have fun. You debated with yourself some more, still unsure if you wanted to go or not.

You thought about Namjoon again. He would have wanted you to go. He would want you to move on and be happy. You could hear his voice in the back of your mind, and you could see his dimpled smile, the one you loved so much, form as he’d say, “Come on, Princess, this guy could be your new prince.” You could hear him telling you it wasn't like you to be so hesitant.

As Taehyung neared the door, you senselessly called out to him, “Wait!”

With his hand on the doorknob, Taehyung turned around to look at you. You didn't know what you wanted to say, but you knew you didn't want him to leave.

Stepping out from behind the bar, you tentatively walked towards him. Your hands were balled into fists by your sides, you clenched and unclenched them, nervously. “Uh, I change my mind. I'll take you up on that offer.” You gnawed on the inside of your cheek, hoping you weren't going to regret this decision.

That familiar smile was back again, and Taehyung's eyes lit up, “Really?”

You smiled gently and nodded your head, “Yeah, but you gotta keep your word. If I just want to be friends then we'll just be friends. Okay?”

Taehyung nodded his head vigorously, causing his hair to fall into his eyes. “Of course! Are you free later today?”

It was Sunday, so you knew the pub would be closed today. Sumi didn’t believe in drinking on the day of the lord, so that was the one day out of the week the pub didn’t open. “Yeah, I am. The pub will be closed, so I’ll be at the inn next door.”

“Okay, great!” Taehyung said, his excitement evident in his scrunched eyes and wide smile. “I’ll come pick you up around noon.” Taehyung gave you one last look before leaving you alone in the dimly lit room.

You really hoped the Namjoon in your head lead you to make the right decision.

After you locked the pub up last night, you made your way to the inn where you found Sumi, warming you up some leftover dinner. You told her about your date with Taehyung and how you'd be gone - you assumed - for most of the day.

Sumi was elated to hear you were trying to move on, but the motherly part of her was still worried you were forcing yourself too soon. She kept reminding you that you weren’t obligated to go on this date and that you could leave in the middle of it if you felt like you needed to. You wanted to be annoyed by her nagging, but all you could do was appreciate her concerns.

Once Sumi was finished nagging you, she began to ask you what Taehyung was like since she had no idea who he was. There was only so much you could say since you didn’t really know Taehyung either, but you did know he had the sweetest smile. Of course, it was nothing compared to Namjoon’s, but it did make your heart flutter just the tiniest bit. You told Sumi he was a brown eyed cutie with soft features that reminded you of a puppy dog.

The more Sumi talked about the date, the more excited and anxious you became for it. You’ve never been on a date before - never went through the process of picking out an outfit, anticipating what you're gonna do on the date, or wondered if this could be the guy. So, your nerves were kicking into high gear as the date neared.

It was almost noon, about an hour till, and you were all ready for your date. You did your hair and wore your nicest dress; it was Sumi’s dress when she was younger, and she was nice enough to give it to you since you didn't have any clothes other than the ones you wore on your back the day you two met.

As you stood in the inn’s kitchen, you kept having to drink water to calm yourself. You were getting so anxious.

What if he’s the one? The one that'll take your breath away even more than Namjoon ever could. The one you can actually grow old with. The one that'll make you forget Namjoon. Although you found that highly unlikely, you couldn't help but wonder.

What if he isn't the one? What if he just makes you miss Namjoon even more?  You've never loved anyone like you loved Namjoon.

Your thoughts were boundless and slightly irrational for just one date, but having to bounce back from a love that meant the world to you was scary. You didn't know what was scarier, the thought of never finding love again or actually moving on from the one who taught you how to love.

You were in the middle of downing your fourth glass of water, pondering if it was too late to cancel the date, when Sumi walked into the kitchen. She eyed you, admiring how beautiful you looked in her old dress. It reminded her of when she was young and lively.

Sumi smiled gently as she said, “Taehyung's here!”

“What?” You almost choked on your water. “But the date's not for another hour, I'm not prepared!” You thought back to what Taehyung said and remembered he told you around noon, not at noon. You stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen and placed your glass on it. Your grip on the cup was tight as you looked to Sumi. Nervousness settled into the creases of your furrowed brows.

Sumi chuckled. “I found him standing in front of the inn, he asked about you. He really did look like a puppy - a lost one.”

“What'd he say?” You inquired.

“Just asked if I knew ya, and I told him I did and to wait in the check-in area. You can still cancel, you know?”

You knew that, but it'd be rude to have him come all this way only to cancel last minute, right? No, it wouldn't be rude, but it wouldn't feel right. It's just one date. Just two people hanging out, getting something to eat. It's not like he was expecting you to fall in love with him today.

“No, it's fine. I'm dressed. I'll go.” You released your grip on the cup and inhaled deeply. You gave Sumi a smile and thanked her for notifying you that Taehyung was here.

He's not gonna propose for goodness sake, stop being so nervous, you told yourself.

You gathered your courage and made your way to the inn’s lobby where you saw him sitting on one of the couches, his back turned to you.

“Hey, sorry I made you wait,” you released a shaky chuckle. “I wasn't expecting you to be so early.”

When he stood up and looked at you, your heart dropped. Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat because that wasn’t Taehyung waiting for you. “Namjoon?”

He looked tired and worn out, but his eyes lit up the second they met yours. Your name dripped from his lips like honey, all sweet and loving, as he took a step towards you. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Namjoon smiled, and his oh-so-familiar dimples made your heart flip.

Namjoon wore the clothes of royalty, but they were slightly tattered and dirtied - evidence of his quest to find you.

Seeing Namjoon brought back all these painful feelings and made nostalgia bubble in your stomach. It took everything in you not to reach out and touch him or hold him, tell him how much you’ve missed him, how much you still love him. You didn’t need him here to make you lose your will to move on.

The fact that Namjoon was here was surreal. You’d always fantasized about him coming to find you, but you never expected it to actually happen.

“What are you doing here?” You asked as you took a step back. Your heart was racing and your palms sweaty. You flattened them on your sides to rid them of the claminess.  

You always thought if you saw Namjoon again, you’d run straight into his arms and never let go. But now that he’s really here, your legs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. There was an anchor in the pit of your stomach keeping you from embracing the love of your life. You were paralyzed to your very core.

The tone in your voice made the sparkle in Namjoon’s eyes die out, and his dimpled smile disappeared without a trace. “I came to see you.”

The weak part of you melted at his words, but you quickly regained your composure. He’s married, you reminded yourself. “Does Jisoo know you’re here?”

You were so conflicted with your feelings. You wanted to be happy he was here for God knows what reason, but the practical - and slightly cynical - side of you kept screaming for you to disregard your feelings because if you don't and succumb to them, then you'll be left vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt again. Seeing him brought forth a rush of feelings that you’ve been trying to lock up for months now. The gates have opened, the dam broken, and your feelings were like a unyielding flood trying to drown you.

“No,” Namjoon sighed. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. Namjoon thought you’d be overjoyed to see him. Then again, he did show up out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. He never stopped to consider for even a second that you wouldn’t want to see him. “I… ended things with her.”

Namjoon lifted his head and searched your eyes, looking for some kind of reaction.

Your mouth fell open in shock. You wondered for a second if you heard him correctly. Did Namjoon really just say he “ended things” with the princess of a neighboring country? “Ended things” with his wife.

“What are you talking about?” You questioned. “Nothing’s as simple as ending things, Namjoon… Are you saying you got divorced?”

“Not exactly,” he responded. “I told the king about us…”

As soon as Namjoon muttered those words, it felt as if the ground that was keeping you steady suddenly crumbled from beneath you, and you were falling. The rush of adrenaline that consumed your every nerve wasn’t exhilarating in the slightest, it made your hairs stand on end and your heart clench.

“Namjoon,” you whispered. “You didn’t.”

What exactly did he tell the king? “Hey I’ve been screwing one of the maids for the past couple of years.” That’s the only way you could have imagined the scene to go down.

“I told him I love you,” he continued. “Told him I can’t be with Jisoo, and that I want to marry you.”

Before you could even digest the fact that Namjoon just said he wanted to marry you, he continued.

“He told me to never bring divorce or you up ever again, especially not in front of Jisoo, or he’d disown me. He said that this was the path chosen for me since birth, and that he’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted, and I didn’t deserve to ask for more.”

You couldn’t help but agree with what the king was saying. This was the path chosen for him. He’s a prince for goodness sake. It’s his duty to help bring our country and neighboring countries together in any way possible. Even if that meant marrying somebody he doesn’t love because someday he’s going to be king, and he needs to learn how to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of this country.

Besides, what did he think he’d get out of telling the king? Did he really think that just because he says he wants to marry you that his parents would allow him to sever ties with Jisoo so soon after their marriage? For a maid no less? Even if they were okay with him divorcing Jisoo, they wouldn’t let him do it to be with a maid. Perhaps someone of royalty, but never a maid.

That thought saddened you, but this was your reality.

“So I left,” Namjoon’s husky voice pulled you out of your reverie.

“You should go back,” you found yourself whispering in a soft voice. He can’t just leave the palace as if there won’t be any consequences. How typical of a prince to assume he can do whatever he wants. “Namjoon, this isn’t right. You were born to be king. You deserve a lavish lifestyle in the palace where you belong. You wouldn’t survive a day in a commoners shoes.”

What would happen to Jisoo? How would this affect our country's relationship with hers? Who will be king now? So many questions ran through your mind as you wondered what would happen if Namjoon did stay. Of course, Namjoon’s younger brother Jimin could always take the throne, but he was considerably younger than Namjoon. He was only sixteen years old. It’d be a long time before he could become king.

Namjoon walked towards you, his face hard. “No amount of riches could keep me away from you. I deserve to choose how I live my life, and I choose to live it with you.”

“Namjoon…” It’s not like you genuinely wanted him to go back, but you knew what was right, and him staying with you wasn’t. He has a duty to uphold.

“If I can’t be with you, then I don’t want to be with anyone.” He hesitantly reached up before slowly cupping your face in his large hands. They were warm and felt like home. He was thankful you didn’t withdraw from his touch like he thought you would. He knew how much he’s hurt you, and he was so worried the damage was irreversible.

“But you don’t get to choose.” You looked into Namjoon’s pleading eyes, they were dark and solemn. You never would have thought you’d have to reject Namjoon, but here you were, saying no to a man practically begging you take him. Oh, how you wanted to take him.

You reached up and engulfed Namjoon’s hands in yours. You gave them a light squeeze before removing them from your face, watching as his face fell with despair. You took two step backwards, bringing some distance between you two. It made it so much easier to reject him when you couldn’t feel his warmth and imagine yourself wrapped up in his arms. Tears brimmed your eyes, but you smiled at him.

“Y/N,” his voice trembled.

“Go back, Namjoon. Go back to where you belong, and live the life that you should. You could be happy with Jisoo if you tried.”

“I left everything for you.” Namjoon huffed. “Do you really think they’d take me back after what I did to be with you? I walked out on the royal family; no one even knows where I am, Y/N. They’ve probably disowned me already.”

You considered Namjoon’s words for a second. No way they’d disown him that easily. Surely they’d take him back. At least that’s what you hoped.

You opened your mouth to assure Namjoon they’d accept him without hesitation, but he cut you off.

“I won’t go back.” His voice was firm. Namjoon took a step towards you, closing the space you’d just created. “I love you, and I know you love me, too.”

Everything around you stood still. This was the first time Namjoon’s ever directly told you he loves you. He’s said he loved you, he’s said he told his father he loves you, but he’s never told you face to face, out loud, “I love you.” It nearly broke your entire resolve to send Namjoon back. You were too taken aback to retaliate, so Namjoon continued without giving you a second to completely compose yourself.

“You don’t want me to go back, and you know it. Don’t give me some bullshit lie that being a prince is what I deserve, and the palace is where I belong. We both know that’s not true; I belong with you wherever that may be.

“We could be happy together. I don’t care about this country, I don’t care about money, and I sure as hell don’t care about Jisoo or what the king and queen think. I love you Y/N, and I want to be with you. I want to live with you and wake up to you every morning and go to sleep to you every night. I want to get married and have kids with you. I’ll work day in and day out to give you everything you deserve. Stop putting me before yourself because you deserve to be happy, too, and I know that you’d be happy with me.”

I want to have kids with you. You immediately thought about the child you were carrying. If Namjoon stayed, your child wouldn’t be fatherless, and you could actually tell Namjoon that he’s going to have a kid. Of course you wanted to live with him, raise your kid with him, and you had no doubt in your mind that you’d be happy with Namjoon. The thought was so deliciously tempting that the more you entertained it, the more your resolve seemed to dissipate.

You imagined Namjoon as a dad, taking care of y’alls little baby and playing with them. You pictured yourself growing old with him and watching as that child turned into an adult and started to love like you and Namjoon did.

Instinctively, your hand rested on your belly. The tears that were welling in your eyes earlier finally spilled over. A soft sob fell past your parted lips. You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling and allowing more whimpers to escape. You looked down at your small baby bump. You gripped your dress and let the cloth bunch up in your clenched hand.

Would it be wrong of you to change your mind and ask him to stay? You wanted that - you wanted that happy ending, and by God did you deserve it. Namjoon was right, you deserve to be happy. You were hardly ever selfish or voiced your wants and needs. Would it really be so bad for you to let yourself have this one thing even if it meant getting in the way of Namjoon’s life?

Suddenly, you found yourself searching for reasons for him to stay. He wanted to be with you. You didn’t force him to come find you or leave his family behind. He did that all on his own. Who are you to say no to that? You should be grateful and accept him with open arms.

“What?” Namjoon asked when he noticed your tears and your hand on your stomach. He wondered for a second if you were in physical pain. Concern laced his words as he asked you again, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m,” you choked out, “I’m pregnant.”

A second or two passed and suddenly you were in Namjoon’s arms. He held you tight against himself. You could hear his heart hammering inside his chest. Namjoon rested his chin on your head, trying to find the right words to say.

He was so caught off guard. He didn’t want to insult you, but he had to ask. “Is it m-”

“Yes it’s yours, you idiot.” You answered without him having to finish his question. Your tears stained his shirt as you buried your face further into his chest.

Namjoon thought about the last time you two had sex. You must have been at least two months along. He immediately felt bad thinking about how scared you must have been when you found out all alone. He was a little bitter because he knew, if he’d never came to see you, he would have never known about his own child. But that wasn’t important at the moment. What was important was you were so obviously shaken, and all he wanted to do was console you.

“I can’t go now, Y/N,” Namjoon lifted his chin from your head and leaned back so he could look you in your eyes. His thumbs wiped away the tears streaming down your face. You stared into his brown eyes, they were soft and inviting. “You need me as much as I need you. I can help you raise the baby. You don’t have to do this alone. Jimin can be king, Jisoo can find some other prince from some other country, but you’ll never find another man that will love this baby as much as I would.”

With each passing word, Namjoon continued to tear your resolve to shreds. There was hardly any piece of you left that was convinced he should go back to the palace. You were overcome with a sudden desire to keep Namjoon all to yourself. Screw what was right.

“But-”

“Sh,” Namjoon silenced you. “No ‘buts’. I’ve let you go once, and I’m not doing it again.”

Namjoon leaned down and kissed you. It was a soft affectionate kiss filled with love, there was no urgency to it. You simply melted into him, and that was it. There was no turning back; he’d won you over. As Namjoon deepened the kiss, he pulled you close into a loose hug. His hands rested on your waist, intimately. You snaked your arms around his neck and clasped your hands together.

Your heart was pounding loud and clear, and you were sure Namjoon could hear it, too. After what felt like an eternity, you broke the kiss, your eyes still closed.

It still hadn’t quite registered that you and Namjoon are finally going to get your happy ending. You knew there were going to bumps and obstacles along the way, and you might have to fight to stay together, but you knew it would be worth it in the long run. Finally, all the suffering would come to an end because Namjoon was yours.

“I love you,” you whispered.

“I love you, too.”

“And then what happened Mommy?” Your daughter asked. You sat perched on a rickety old rocking chair that Namjoon tried to make for you not long before Nayeon was born. She was seated at your feet, her legs crisscrossed, her chin resting on her clasped hands, and her eyes gleaming.

You’d just finished telling Nayeon the story of how you and Namjoon got together and how Namjoon so bravely left his home and family to be with you. You weren’t afraid to mention he was the prince because you knew if Nayeon mentioned it to any other kid, they’d think it was a simple story.

In fact, your story had spread throughout the country. You were the protagonist of the great love that overcame societal differences. Your story inspired young women everywhere and helped them realize that, if meant to be, love was boundless and could overcome anything.

You picked Nayeon up and placed her on your lap, and her arms naturally wrapped tightly around your shoulders. “And then you came along,” you booped her cute button nose.

“So if daddy was a prince and soon to be king, does that make me a princess?” She inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Every six year old dreams of being a princess, but in Nayeon’s case, she was one.

You chuckled as you said, “I guess it does.”

The grin on Nayeon’s face only grew wider; she couldn’t wait to boast to her friends that she was a real life princess.

You pushed a strand of her long dark hair out of her eyes. They reminded you so much of Namjoon’s, slanted towards the end but bright and wide with wonder and so full of curiosity. She was compassionate and understanding, very intelligent, too. She took so much after her dad. Although Namjoon likes to argue she took all those traits from you.

“Then does that mean the baby inside you will be a princess, too?”

“Who knows?” You smiled. “Maybe they’ll be a prince.”

Your daughter placed a small hand on your round belly and jumped when the baby kicked. She giggled endlessly, and it was music to your ears. You gave her a tight squeeze and proceeded to smother her in kisses and tell her how much you love her.

Eventually, she asked you to continue with the story, so you did.

The world continued to turn after you and Namjoon decided to stay together. Everything really fell into place. It turns out the neighboring country was secretly planning to assassinate the entire royal family with Jisoo as their perpetrator, so she was executed, and the relationship with her country hasn’t been the same since. For awhile, we were in war with them, but once Jimin became king he put an end to it. He realized it was only wasting rations and hurting civilians who were losing loved ones in a stalemate war. If it weren’t for the war, however, you were positive the royal family would’ve sought out Namjoon and forced him back into the palace to be king.

Namjoon never went back to the palace. You two stayed at the inn for a couple of months. You were too weak to work yourself, so Namjoon took on your shifts at the pub and the inn. With a little help from Sumi, eventually you accumulated enough money to buy your own home and finally get married. It wasn’t a big wedding, but it was perfect in your book because Namjoon was the groom, and that’s all you’ve ever dreamed about.

After you moved, you still visited Sumi often, especially since she was Nayeon’s godmother, and even started working at the pub again when Nayeon turned three.

“What about the guy you were supposed to go on a date with?” Your daughter cocked her head to the side and pulled her eyebrows together, curious.

The corners of your mouth twitched up slightly. You rocked the chair back and forth and hugged Nayeon to your chest. “We became very good friends.”

You thought back to the moment Taehyung walked into the inn’s lobby, looking for you, only to find you crying in Namjoon’s arms. You were so upset that you forgot all about him and apologized profusely for having to cancel the date and any further offers he’d want to make.

Taehyung was no fool; he easily read the atmosphere and assured you he was okay. He told you he wished he’d gotten there sooner, but timing really just wasn’t right for him when it came to you. You remember the chuckle that escaped his lips as you both thought back to his incessant rambling on how he wanted to ask you out sooner.

You always wondered what would have happened if he did.

Suddenly, Namjoon walked through the front door, pulling your attention away from your thoughts. Your daughter perked up, immediately leaving your lap to hug him. She truly was a daddy’s girl, even though she claimed to love both of you equally.

“Daddy!” She squealed.

Namjoon effortlessly picked your daughter up and pulled her into to a tight hug. “Hey, Buttercup.”

He was dressed in casual work clothes, a white short sleeved shirt tucked into his pants. Ever since Namjoon started working, he’s grown more robust, his hands bared calluses from working to support your family, and he genuinely seemed happy. You never thought he’d make it this far.

“Mommy told me I’m a princess!” Nayeon smiled a toothy grin. Namjoon looked to you with a raised eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

You shrugged your shoulders and smiled slyly at him.

He turned his attention back to the squirming daughter in his arms. “That you are!”

“I’m daddy’s princess, right?” Nayeon asked in a sugary sweet voice. She wrapped her arms around Namjoon’s neck and waited for an answer.

“Sorry, Buttercup,” Namjoon smiled, setting her down onto the ground. He strode towards you and rested one of his hands on the armrest of the rocking chair and the other on your stomach. His hand caressed you as he smiled thinking about the little baby boy or girl inside that would soon be entering your lives. He leaned down till his face was merely inches from yours. “But that spot’s been reserved for your mom for a long time now.”

He kissed you, smiling against your lips. With his eyes closed he pulled away, and when he opened them, he admired you like he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. “I told you you’ll always be my princess.”

[jiminsa]

His Throne [KSJ] | 03 final

Genre: smut, angst, fluff

Word Count: 6,090

Summary: You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible prince Kim Seokjin on his throne.

A/N: if you listen closely you can hear me ugly sobbing, it’s finally finished! Sorry it took so long and probably not as fluffy/happy as y’all had hoped. I really can’t do fluff (PCs to Vikttoria16)

Parts: 01 | 02 | 03

Part 1 vers: Hoseok | Yoongi | Taehyung | Namjoon | Jimin | Jungkook

You shuffled between tables, wiping them clean of the drunken mistakes the village’s fustian knights left behind. You were so tired of working at the local inn, but it was the only way you could afford to adequately support yourself.

It’d been two months since you left the palace to find work elsewhere, and not a day’s gone by where you haven’t thought of Jin. Sometimes you wish you could go back. You left behind so much more than the love of your life; you left your friends, your integrity, your home. It was hard on you having to adjust to your new environment, all alone, with no one to support you the way Jin always silently did.

But then you think of Jin with Jisoo… It just wasn’t worth it to you to stay in the palace knowing you came so close to something only to let it slip away without a fight. That constant reminder would tauntingly dangle in front of you every time you made their bed or cooked their breakfast.

You had to leave, for your sake and for his. Without saying a word to anyone, you disappeared from the palace and into the night. You figured there was no point in telling anyone; it's not like Jin would've stopped you if you'd said anything anyway. You weren't sure what you were going to do after you left, you just knew you couldn’t take anymore of the suffering of watching Jin care for someone that wasn't you.

Luckily for you, not long after you arrived at the barren town, the inn’s owner was kind enough to give you a job as a maid and server for the pub connected to the inn. She even allowed you to live in one of the inn’s old storage rooms. It wasn’t much different from the room you stayed in at the palace, so it was comforting in a sense. You could easily cry yourself to sleep on the pile of blankets you called a bed, just like in the palace. It was almost like home.

A month after arriving at the inn, you began to feel very fatigue. You brushed it off as a symptom of overworking yourself at the pub, but what could you do when it was your only source of income? So you continued working until you started feeling nauseous in the early mornings in addition to your weariness. That’s when you realized, you were pregnant. You told Sumi, the innkeeper, about your pregnancy because you felt scared and alone. How were you supposed to raise a child on your own? The worst part was your baby would grow up without ever knowing their father.

It was then that Sumi became like a mother to you. She listened to your problems, soothed your aching heart with warm hugs, and loved you like no other. You trusted her more than you've ever trusted anybody before. Not even a month after you met, you felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about your relationship with the crowned prince. You knew she'd keep your secret safe, and it felt liberating to finally be able to tell someone that you loved Kim Seokjin.

And that he loved you, too.

After you finished cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, you grabbed one of the many candles that lit the pub and disappeared behind the bar. It was around midnight, ten minutes past closing, and about time you locked up the entrance of the pub. You searched the shelves under the bar and shuffled around old rags trying to find the key. Usually it hangs on a hook under the countertop, but of course you forgot to put it there after you opened this morning.

Sumi always berated you for your carelessness - you were always misplacing things. You never did that at the palace. Then again, you were mainly in charge of cleaning and cooking, not watching over small dumb keys. The lack of light didn't help. No matter how many candles or lanterns you lit, the pub would never be bright enough for you.

Eventually you noticed the key at the back of the shelf behind a glass mug. You probably shoved it back there on accident after putting a cup back.

As you reached for the key, you heard the door of the pub open and then shut with a loud thud.

Oh, great, you thought. Probably another drunk.

There were too many occasions in which you had to chase out a drunkard - some nice, others not so much. You really hoped it was just someone asking for directions or the innkeeper coming to tell you to hurry up. You mentally prepared yourself to meet the unidentified stranger.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized as you stood up, “but we’re closed.”

The stranger jumped at your voice, his back turned to you. Finally, he turned around and faced you. You immediately recognized his face; he was one of the pub’s regulars.

He greeted you with a smile. “Uh, hi.”

By his steady voice and somewhat calm composure, you assumed he wasn't drunk. He looked like he was around your age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and laid flat against his forehead.

He scratched the back of his head and knitted his brows together as he took a step towards you. “I don't know if you remember me, but I was here earlier today…”

“Yeah,” you said. “I remember.”

The sheepish grin he bared widened. “Well, my name's Taehyung, and I was - uh - I wanted to ask you this earlier but timing wasn’t right. You were so busy getting people their orders and stuff. I didn’t wanna bother you. But I was kinda wondering if… you’d wanna go out sometime?”

You couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He came all this way, this late at night, to ask you out. His rambling gave away his nervousness which you found cute.

That thought suddenly left you as it sunk in just what he was asking. It'd only been two months since you left the palace. You weren't sure if you were ready to start seeing other people. You wanted to move on because you were so tired of crying over a married man that you'd probably never see again, but wasn't two months too soon?

When you didn't say anything, Taehyung cleared his throat. “We could just get something to eat? Doesn't have to be anything serious.” He tried to convince you to say yes.

“I don't know…” you responded.

“Just one date.” Taehyung motioned the number one with his pointer finger and took another step closer to you. “And then if you don't think we could be anything serious, we can just be friends.”

Would this be a good idea? You asked yourself. You knew you'd never get over Jin if you just stayed at the inn and worked, but you didn’t want to go out with this guy just to help yourself get over someone. Taehyung didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think...” your voice trailed off. You wanted to tell him no, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say it. He seemed so nice; he was always smiling and laughing when he’d drink with his friends at the pub. He had a cute smile that was hard to forget.

If it weren't for Jin, you probably would've said okay without a second thought.

Taehyung’s smile faltered slightly, and you immediately felt bad and wanted to take back your rejection.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” his smile was back, only not as bright as before. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Taehyung turned around to leave.

Would one date really be that bad? He did say it’d be enough. Who knows, I might actually have fun. You debated with yourself some more, still unsure if you wanted to go or not.

You thought about Jin again. He would have wanted you to go. He would want you to move on and be happy. You could hear his voice in the back of your mind, and you could see his heart shaped smile, the one you loved so much, form as he’d say, “Come on, Princess, this guy could be your new prince.” You could hear him telling you it wasn't like you to be so hesitant.

As Taehyung neared the door, you senselessly called out to him, “Wait!”

With his hand on the doorknob, Taehyung turned around to look at you. You didn't know what you wanted to say, but you knew you didn't want him to leave.

Stepping out from behind the bar, you tentatively walked towards him. Your hands were balled into fists by your sides, you clenched and unclenched them, nervously. “Uh, I change my mind. I'll take you up on that offer.” You gnawed on the inside of your cheek, hoping you weren't going to regret this decision.

That familiar smile was back again, and Taehyung's eyes lit up, “Really?”

You smiled gently and nodded your head, “Yeah, but you gotta keep your word. If I just want to be friends then we'll just be friends. Okay?”

Taehyung nodded his head vigorously, causing his hair to fall into his eyes. “Of course! Are you free later today?”

It was Sunday, so you knew the pub would be closed today. Sumi didn’t believe in drinking on the day of the lord, so that was the one day out of the week the pub didn’t open. “Yeah, I am. The pub will be closed, so I’ll be at the inn next door.”

“Okay, great!” Taehyung said, his excitement evident in his scrunched eyes and wide smile. “I’ll come pick you up around noon.” Taehyung gave you one last look before leaving you alone in the dimly lit room.

You really hoped the Jin in your head lead you to make the right decision.

After you locked the pub up last night, you made your way to the inn where you found Sumi, warming you up some leftover dinner. You told her about your date with Taehyung and how you'd be gone - you assumed - for most of the day.

Sumi was elated to hear you were trying to move on, but the motherly part of her was still worried you were forcing yourself too soon. She kept reminding you that you weren’t obligated to go on this date and that you could leave in the middle of it if you felt like you needed to. You wanted to be annoyed by her nagging, but all you could do was appreciate her concerns.

Once Sumi was finished nagging you, she began to ask you what Taehyung was like since she had no idea who he was. There was only so much you could say since you didn’t really know Taehyung either, but you did know he had the sweetest smile. Of course, it was nothing compared to Jin’s, but it did make your heart flutter just the tiniest bit. You told Sumi he was a brown eyed cutie with soft features that reminded you of a puppy dog.

The more Sumi talked about the date, the more excited and anxious you became for it. You’ve never been on a date before - never went through the process of picking out an outfit, anticipating what you're gonna do on the date, or wondered if this could be the guy. So, your nerves were kicking into high gear as the date neared.

It was almost noon, about an hour till, and you were all ready for your date. You did your hair and wore your nicest dress; it was Sumi’s dress when she was younger, and she was nice enough to give it to you since you didn't have any clothes other than the ones you wore on your back the day you two met.

As you stood in the inn’s kitchen, you kept having to drink water to calm yourself. You were getting so anxious.

What if he’s the one? The one that'll take your breath away even more than Jin ever could. The one you can actually grow old with. The one that'll make you forget Jin. Although you found that highly unlikely, you couldn't help but wonder.

What if he isn't the one? What if he just makes you miss Jin even more? You've never loved anyone like you loved Jin.

Your thoughts were boundless and slightly irrational for just one date, but having to bounce back from a love that meant the world to you was scary. You didn't know what was scarier, the thought of never finding love again or actually moving on from the one who taught you how to love.

You were in the middle of downing your fourth glass of water, pondering if it was too late to cancel the date, when Sumi walked into the kitchen. She eyed you, admiring how beautiful you looked in her old dress. It reminded her of when she was young and lively.

Sumi smiled gently as she said, “Taehyung's here!”

“What?” You almost choked on your water. “But the date's not for another hour, I'm not prepared!” You thought back to what Taehyung said and remembered he told you around noon, not at noon. You stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen and placed your glass on it. Your grip on the cup was tight as you looked to Sumi. Nervousness settled into the creases of your furrowed brows.

Sumi chuckled. “I found him standing in front of the inn, he asked about you. He really did look like a puppy - a lost one.”

“What'd he say?” You inquired.

“Just asked if I knew ya, and I told him I did and to wait in the check-in area. You can still cancel, you know?”

You knew that, but it'd be rude to have him come all this way only to cancel last minute, right? No, it wouldn't be rude, but it wouldn't feel right. It's just one date. Just two people hanging out, getting something to eat. It's not like he was expecting you to fall in love with him today.

“No, it's fine. I'm dressed. I'll go.” You released your grip on the cup and inhaled deeply. You gave Sumi a smile and thanked her for notifying you that Taehyung was here.

He's not gonna propose for goodness sake, stop being so nervous, you told yourself.

You gathered your courage and made your way to the inn’s lobby where you saw him sitting on one of the couches, his back turned to you.

“Hey, sorry I made you wait,” you released a shaky chuckle. “I wasn't expecting you to be so early.”

When he stood up and looked at you, your heart dropped. Your eyes widened and your breath caught in your throat because that wasn’t Taehyung waiting for you. “Jin?”

He looked tired and worn out, but his eyes lit up the second they met yours. Your name dripped from his lips like honey, all sweet and loving, as he took a step towards you. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Jin smiled, making your heart flip.

Jin wore the clothes of royalty, but they were slightly tattered and dirtied - evidence of his quest to find you.

Seeing Jin brought back all these painful feelings and made nostalgia bubble in your stomach. It took everything in you not to reach out and touch him or hold him, tell him how much you’ve missed him, how much you still love him. You didn’t need him here to make you lose your will to move on.

The fact that Jin was here was surreal. You’d always fantasized about him coming to find you, but you never expected it to actually happen.

“What are you doing here?” You asked as you took a step back. Your heart was racing and your palms sweaty. You flattened them on your sides to rid them of the claminess.

You always thought if you saw Jin again, you’d run straight into his arms and never let go. But now that he’s really here, your legs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. There was an anchor in the pit of your stomach keeping you from embracing the love of your life. You were paralyzed to your very core.

The tone in your voice made the sparkle in Jin’s eyes die out, and his smile disappeared without a trace. “I came to see you.”

The weak part of you melted at his words, but you quickly regained your composure. He’s married, you reminded yourself. “Does Jisoo know you’re here?”

You were so conflicted with your feelings. You wanted to be happy he was here for God knows what reason, but the practical - and slightly cynical - side of you kept screaming for you to disregard your feelings because if you don't and succumb to them, then you'll be left vulnerable and susceptible to being hurt again. Seeing him brought forth a rush of feelings that you’ve been trying to lock up for months now. The gates have opened, the dam broken, and your feelings were like a unyielding flood trying to drown you.

“No,” Jin sighed. He dropped his head and stared at his feet. Jin thought you’d be overjoyed to see him. Then again, he did show up out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. He never stopped to consider for even a second that you wouldn’t want to see him. “I… ended things with her.”

Jin lifted his head and searched your eyes, looking for some kind of reaction.

Your mouth fell open in shock. You wondered for a second if you heard him correctly. Did Jin really just say he “ended things” with the princess of a neighboring country? “Ended things” with his wife.

“What are you talking about?” You questioned. “Nothing’s as simple as ending things, Jin… Are you saying you got divorced?”

“Not exactly,” he responded. “I told the king about us…”

As soon as Jin muttered those words, it felt as if the ground that was keeping you steady suddenly crumbled from beneath you, and you were falling. The rush of adrenaline that consumed your every nerve wasn’t exhilarating in the slightest, it made your hairs stand on end and your heart clench.

“Jin,” you whispered. “You didn’t.”

What exactly did he tell the king? “Hey I’ve been screwing one of the maids for the past couple of years.” That’s the only way you could have imagined the scene to go down.

“I told him I love you,” he continued. “Told him I can’t be with Jisoo, and that I want to marry you.”

Before you could even digest the fact that Jin just said he wanted to marry you, he continued.

“He told me to never bring divorce or you up ever again, especially not in front of Jisoo, or he’d disown me. He said that this was the path chosen for me since birth, and that he’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted, and I didn’t deserve to ask for more.”

You couldn’t help but agree with what the king was saying. This was the path chosen for him. He’s a prince for goodness sake. It’s his duty to help bring our country and neighboring countries together in any way possible. Even if that meant marrying somebody he doesn’t love because someday he’s going to be king, and he needs to learn how to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of this country.

Besides, what did he think he’d get out of telling the king? Did he really think that just because he says he wants to marry you that his parents would allow him to sever ties with Jisoo so soon after their marriage? For a maid no less? Even if they were okay with him divorcing Jisoo, they wouldn’t let him do it to be with a maid. Perhaps someone of royalty, but never a maid.

That thought saddened you, but this was your reality.

“So I left,” Jin’s husky voice pulled you out of your reverie.

“You should go back,” you found yourself whispering in a soft voice. He can’t just leave the palace as if there won’t be any consequences. How typical of a prince to assume he can do whatever he wants. “Jin, this isn’t right. You were born to be king. You deserve a lavish lifestyle in the palace where you belong. You wouldn’t survive a day in a commoners shoes.”

What would happen to Jisoo? How would this affect our country's relationship with hers? Who will be king now? So many questions ran through your mind as you wondered what would happen if Jin did stay. Of course, Jin’s younger brother Jimin could always take the throne, but he was considerably younger than Jin. He was only sixteen years old. It’d be a long time before he could become king.

Jin walked towards you, his face hard. “No amount of riches could keep me away from you. I deserve to choose how I live my life, and I choose to live it with you.”

“Jin…” It’s not like you genuinely wanted him to go back, but you knew what was right, and him staying with you wasn’t. He has a duty to uphold.

“If I can’t be with you, then I don’t want to be with anyone.” He hesitantly reached up before slowly cupping your face in his large hands. They were warm and felt like home. He was thankful you didn’t withdraw from his touch like he thought you would. He knew how much he’s hurt you, and he was so worried the damage was irreversible.

“But you don’t get to choose.” You looked into Jin’s pleading eyes, they were dark and solemn. You never would have thought you’d have to reject Jin, but here you were, saying no to a man practically begging you take him. Oh, how you wanted to take him.

You reached up and engulfed Jin’s hands in yours. You gave them a light squeeze before removing them from your face, watching as his face fell with despair. You took two step backwards, bringing some distance between you two. It made it so much easier to reject him when you couldn’t feel his warmth and imagine yourself wrapped up in his arms. Tears brimmed your eyes, but you smiled at him.

“Y/N,” his voice trembled.

“Go back, Jin. Go back to where you belong, and live the life that you should. You could be happy with Jisoo if you tried.”

“I left everything for you.” Jin huffed. “Do you really think they’d take me back after what I did to be with you? I walked out on the royal family; no one even knows where I am, Y/N. They’ve probably disowned me already.”

You considered Jin’s words for a second. No way they’d disown him that easily. Surely they’d take him back. At least that’s what you hoped.

You opened your mouth to assure Jin they’d accept him without hesitation, but he cut you off.

“I won’t go back.” His voice was firm. Jin took a step towards you, closing the space you’d just created. “I love you, and I know you love me, too.”

Everything around you stood still. This was the first time Jin’s ever directly told you he loves you. He’s said he loved you, he’s said he told his father he loves you, but he’s never told you face to face, out loud, “I love you.” It nearly broke your entire resolve to send Jin back. You were too taken aback to retaliate, so Jin continued without giving you a second to completely compose yourself.

“You don’t want me to go back, and you know it. Don’t give me some bullshit lie that being a prince is what I deserve, and the palace is where I belong. We both know that’s not true; I belong with you wherever that may be.

“We could be happy together. I don’t care about this country, I don’t care about money, and I sure as hell don’t care about Jisoo or what the king and queen think. I love you Y/N, and I want to be with you. I want to live with you and wake up to you every morning and go to sleep to you every night. I want to get married and have kids with you. I’ll work day in and day out to give you everything you deserve. Stop putting me before yourself because you deserve to be happy, too, and I know that you’d be happy with me.”

I want to have kids with you. You immediately thought about the child you were carrying. If Jin stayed, your child wouldn’t be fatherless, and you could actually tell Jin that he’s going to have a kid. Of course you wanted to live with him, raise your kid with him, and you had no doubt in your mind that you’d be happy with Jin. The thought was so deliciously tempting that the more you entertained it, the more your resolve seemed to dissipate.

You imagined Jin as a dad, taking care of y’alls little baby and playing with them. You pictured yourself growing old with him and watching as that child turned into an adult and started to love like you and Jin did.

Instinctively, your hand rested on your belly. The tears that were welling in your eyes earlier finally spilled over. A soft sob fell past your parted lips. You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling and allowing more whimpers to escape. You looked down at your small baby bump. You gripped your dress and let the cloth bunch up in your clenched hand.

Would it be wrong of you to change your mind and ask him to stay? You wanted that - you wanted that happy ending, and by God did you deserve it. Jin was right, you deserve to be happy. You were hardly ever selfish or voiced your wants and needs. Would it really be so bad for you to let yourself have this one thing even if it meant getting in the way of Jin’s life?

Suddenly, you found yourself searching for reasons for him to stay. He wanted to be with you. You didn’t force him to come find you or leave his family behind. He did that all on his own. Who are you to say no to that? You should be grateful and accept him with open arms.

“What?” Jin asked when he noticed your tears and your hand on your stomach. He wondered for a second if you were in physical pain. Concern laced his words as he asked you again, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m,” you choked out, “I’m pregnant.”

A second or two passed and suddenly you were in Jin’s arms. He held you tight against himself. You could hear his heart hammering inside his chest. Jin rested his chin on your head, trying to find the right words to say.

He was so caught off guard. He didn’t want to insult you, but he had to ask. “Is it m-”

“Yes it’s yours, you idiot.” You answered without him having to finish his question. Your tears stained his shirt as you buried your face further into his chest.

Jin thought about the last time you two had sex. You must have been at least two months along. He immediately felt bad thinking about how scared you must have been when you found out all alone. He was a little bitter because he knew, if he’d never came to see you, he would have never known about his own child. But that wasn’t important at the moment. What was important was you were so obviously shaken, and all he wanted to do was console you.

“I can’t go now, Y/N,” Jin lifted his chin from your head and leaned back so he could look you in your eyes. His thumbs wiped away the tears streaming down your face. You stared into his brown eyes, they were soft and inviting. “You need me as much as I need you. I can help you raise the baby. You don’t have to do this alone. Jimin can be king, Jisoo can find some other prince from some other country, but you’ll never find another man that will love this baby as much as I would.”

With each passing word, Jin continued to tear your resolve to shreds. There was hardly any piece of you left that was convinced he should go back to the palace. You were overcome with a sudden desire to keep Jin all to yourself. Screw what was right.

“But-”

“Sh,” Jin silenced you. “No ‘buts’. I’ve let you go once, and I’m not doing it again.”

Jin leaned down and kissed you. It was a soft affectionate kiss filled with love, there was no urgency to it. You simply melted into him, and that was it. There was no turning back; he’d won you over. As Jin deepened the kiss, he pulled you close into a loose hug. His hands rested on your waist, intimately. You snaked your arms around his neck and clasped your hands together.

Your heart was pounding loud and clear, and you were sure Jin could hear it, too. After what felt like an eternity, you broke the kiss, your eyes still closed.

It still hadn’t quite registered that you and Jin are finally going to get your happy ending. You knew there were going to bumps and obstacles along the way, and you might have to fight to stay together, but you knew it would be worth it in the long run. Finally, all the suffering would come to an end because Jin was yours.

“I love you,” you whispered.

“I love you, too.”

“And then what happened Mommy?” Your daughter asked. You sat perched on a rickety old rocking chair that Jin tried to make for you not long before Nayeon was born. She was seated at your feet, her legs crisscrossed, her chin resting on her clasped hands, and her eyes gleaming.

You’d just finished telling Nayeon the story of how you and Jin got together and how Jin so bravely left his home and family to be with you. You weren’t afraid to mention he was the prince because you knew if Nayeon mentioned it to any other kid, they’d think it was a simple story.

In fact, your story had spread throughout the country. You were the protagonist of the great love that overcame societal differences. Your story inspired young women everywhere and helped them realize that, if meant to be, love was boundless and could overcome anything.

You picked Nayeon up and placed her on your lap, and her arms naturally wrapped tightly around your shoulders. “And then you came along,” you booped her cute button nose.

“So if daddy was a prince and soon to be king, does that make me a princess?” She inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Every six year old dreams of being a princess, but in Nayeon’s case, she was one.

You chuckled as you said, “I guess it does.”

The grin on Nayeon’s face only grew wider; she couldn’t wait to boast to her friends that she was a real life princess.

You pushed a strand of her long dark hair out of her eyes. They reminded you so much of Jin’s, slanted towards the end but bright and wide with wonder and so full of curiosity. She was compassionate and understanding, very intelligent, too. She took so much after her dad. Although Jin likes to argue she took all those traits from you.

“Then does that mean the baby inside you will be a princess, too?”

“Who knows?” You smiled. “Maybe they’ll be a prince.”

Your daughter placed a small hand on your round belly and jumped when the baby kicked. She giggled endlessly, and it was music to your ears. You gave her a tight squeeze and proceeded to smother her in kisses and tell her how much you love her.

Eventually, she asked you to continue with the story, so you did.

The world continued to turn after you and Jin decided to stay together. Everything really fell into place. It turns out the neighboring country was secretly planning to assassinate the entire royal family with Jisoo as their perpetrator, so she was executed, and the relationship with her country hasn’t been the same since. For awhile, we were in war with them, but once Jimin became king he put an end to it. He realized it was only wasting rations and hurting civilians who were losing loved ones in a stalemate war. If it weren’t for the war, however, you were positive the royal family would’ve sought out Jin and forced him back into the palace to be king.

Jin never went back to the palace. You two stayed at the inn for a couple of months. You were too weak to work yourself, so Jin took on your shifts at the pub and the inn. With a little help from Sumi, eventually you accumulated enough money to buy your own home and finally get married. It wasn’t a big wedding, but it was perfect in your book because Jin was the groom, and that’s all you’ve ever dreamed about.

After you moved, you still visited Sumi often, especially since she was Nayeon’s godmother, and even started working at the pub again when Nayeon turned three.

“What about the guy you were supposed to go on a date with?” Your daughter cocked her head to the side and pulled her eyebrows together, curious.

The corners of your mouth twitched up slightly. You rocked the chair back and forth and hugged Nayeon to your chest. “We became very good friends.”

You thought back to the moment Taehyung walked into the inn’s lobby, looking for you, only to find you crying in Jin’s arms. You were so upset that you forgot all about him and apologized profusely for having to cancel the date and any further offers he’d want to make.

Taehyung was no fool; he easily read the atmosphere and assured you he was okay. He told you he wished he’d gotten there sooner, but timing really just wasn’t right for him when it came to you. You remember the chuckle that escaped his lips as you both thought back to his incessant rambling on how he wanted to ask you out sooner.

You always wondered what would have happened if he did.

Suddenly, Jin walked through the front door, pulling your attention away from your thoughts. Your daughter perked up, immediately leaving your lap to hug him. She truly was a daddy’s girl, even though she claimed to love both of you equally.

“Daddy!” She squealed.

Jin effortlessly picked your daughter up and pulled her into to a tight hug. “Hey, Buttercup.”

He was dressed in casual work clothes, a white short sleeved shirt tucked into his pants. Ever since Jin started working, he’s grown more robust, his hands bared calluses from working to support your family, and he genuinely seemed happy. You never thought he’d make it this far.

“Mommy told me I’m a princess!” Nayeon smiled a toothy grin. Jin looked to you with a raised eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

You shrugged your shoulders and smiled slyly at him.

He turned his attention back to the squirming daughter in his arms. “That you are!”

“I’m daddy’s princess, right?” Nayeon asked in a sugary sweet voice. She wrapped her arms around Jin’s neck and waited for an answer.

“Sorry, Buttercup,” Jin smiled, setting her down onto the ground. He strode towards you and rested one of his hands on the armrest of the rocking chair and the other on your stomach. His hand caressed you as he smiled thinking about the little baby boy or girl inside that would soon be entering your lives. He leaned down till his face was merely inches from yours. “But that spot’s been reserved for your mom for a long time now.”

He kissed you, smiling against your lips. With his eyes closed he pulled away, and when he opened them, he admired you like he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. “I told you you’ll always be my princess.”