"Queen is back!" - STYX

Author's P.O.V

It had been nearly a month since the explosive argument between Riel and In-Yeop. Riel had been ignoring In-Yeop, her silence a palpable force that left him feeling lost and alone. Meanwhile, In-Yeop was desperate to regain her forgiveness and trust, but Riel's frosty demeanor made it seem like an insurmountable task.

As Riel lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, In-Yeop's words echoed in her mind: "Because you, Riel, you're my home. And I've been lost without you." The repetition of those words was maddening, and Riel groaned in frustration. "Arhg! This is happening again!" she exclaimed, tossing aside her covers.

Riel sat up and reached for the nightstand, pulling out a packet of mysterious pills. She extracted one pill, placed it in her mouth, and washed it down with a glass of water. Just then, her phone rang, displaying the name ‘IU’ on the screen. Riel's eyes darkened as she answered the call.

"Greetings, Queen," a firm female voice said from the other end.

"What happened now?" Riel asked, her deep, cold tone a stark contrast to IU's warmth.

"Choi Do-Ha and Ashley Kim are at it again," IU replied.

Riel's expression twisted in annoyance. "Aish! They really have a wish to die early." Her voice dripped with malice. "Last time I had some mercy on them; now, I won't let them die peacefully."

IU's voice remained steady. "We're waiting for you, Queen."

Riel ended the call and rose from bed, her movements fluid and purposeful. She freshened up, donning a black jean, sleeveless t-shirt, and boyfriend jacket.

Her Outfit:

As she descended the staircase, she spotted Jin on the phone, his words catching her attention: "Queen Scarlet is coming back?!" Jin whisper-yelled. "I'll tell the boys."

Riel's eyes narrowed. "Jin hyung!" she called out, making Jin flinch.

"Riel! You okay?" Jin asked, concern etched on his face.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine," Riel replied curtly.

As they reached the downstairs area, Jin stopped Riel from leaving. "Where are you going?" he questioned, eyeing her outfit.

Riel's response was brief. "Yes."

Yoongi, who was nearby, asked, "Where are you going?"

Riel's tone was icy. "It's none of your business."

In-Yeop pouted, but Riel's expression remained unreadable, hiding the flutter in her chest.

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Time Skip

A thunderous voice boomed through the luxurious basement: "QUEEN IS BACK!" Riel strode through the hallway, her dark aura preceding her. Men bowed 90 degrees as she passed, her mask hiding half her face. She entered the meeting room, where IU, LJS, and Blackpink were discussing a matter of great importance.

Rosé noticed Riel's arrival and stood up, followed by the others. Riel gestured for them to sit, her throne-like chair commanding attention.

"You may start now, IU," Riel ordered, her deep, dark voice sending shivers down their spines.

IU began, "Queen, Ashley Kim and Choi Do-Ha were spotted at Diamond Mall last week. And yesterday, Kang Soyeon, the daughter of Kang Hyungju, was found dead in Gangnam."

LSJ continued, "As per our investigations, Ashley was with Soyeon at Lavender Nights Club the night before Soyeon was reported kidnapped."

Jen added, "The forensic report indicates Soyeon died around 30 minutes before she was found, around 5 am."

Riel's expression remained emotionless as she accepted the report and newspaper from Jen. Her eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity, a warning to those who dared cross her. The Queen had indeed returned, and justice would be served.

Riel's eyes scanned the report, her mind racing with possibilities. She could feel the anger simmering beneath her surface, waiting to be unleashed.

"When did this happen?" Riel asked, her voice low and even.

"Yesterday morning," IU replied. "We received the news earlier today."

Riel's gaze narrowed. "And what do we know about Ashley's involvement?"

LSJ spoke up, "We have eyewitnesses placing Ashley at the club with Soyeon the night before. We're still investigating, but it looks like Ashley might have been involved in Soyeon's disappearance and murder."

Riel's expression turned icy. "I want Ashley brought in. Now."

LSJ nodded, already pulling out his phone to make the call.

Riel's eyes turned to Blackpink. "I want you girls to dig up everything you can on Ashley and Choi Do-Ha. I want to know their movements, their connections, everything."

Rosé nodded, her eyes sparkling with determination. "We're on it, Queen."

Riel's gaze swept the room, her eyes lingering on each face. "We will not let this slide. We will not let Ashley and Choi Do-Ha get away with this. We will bring them to justice, no matter what it takes."

The room fell silent, the only sound the soft rustling of papers and the hum of the air conditioning. Riel's words hung in the air, a promise of vengeance and retribution.

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Riel silently sat in her study with her sharp gaze fixed on her laptop.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and In-Yeop strode in, his eyes locked on Riel. "Riel, I need to talk to you," he said, his voice urgent.

Riel's expression turned cold. "In-Yeop, this is not the time."

But In-Yeop pressed on, his eyes burning with determination. "I know what's going on, Riel. I know about Ashley and Choi Do-Ha. And I want in."

Riel's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. Could she trust In-Yeop? Or was he just trying to get back into her good books?

"Very well," Riel said finally, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You can join us. But don't think for a second that this means we're okay, In-Yeop. We're far from okay."

In-Yeop's face fell, but he nodded, his eyes never leaving Riel's face. "I understand."

Riel's gaze turned back to the group. "Let's get to work. We have a long night ahead of us."

The room erupted into a flurry of activity, phones ringing, papers shuffling, and voices murmuring. Riel watched, her eyes gleaming with intensity, as her team sprang into action.

The Queen had declared war, and nothing would ever be the same again.

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To Be Continue
Word Count: 1k

– Author Eun
– Love Ya!