Author's POV: 

"Is it good?" You asked Taehyung who nodded, eating the sandwich you made.
"I made a fruit smoothie. It'll taste good and it's nutritious too. Good move, right?" You asked, smiling. He hummed, "You're smarter than I thought." 

You watched him eat and said, "We're viral on the articles." 
He looked at you, "We are?"
"Yeah, this morning... Mina called. Before her, Jungkook called. With him was the Queen." You smiled as he tried not to chuckle, "Of course, they are always waiting for our updates."

You both finished breakfast and lay on the bed, reading a book together.
"Does this have a happy ending?" You asked as Taehyung replied, "I think so. This is a romcom, not a melodrama."
"Thank god." You sighed as his head was resting on your chest. It should've been the other way around considering he was the bigger one but you were the one playing with his hair while he held the book. 
"Hey, you know... I like the smell of your shampoo."
"Are you reading or not?"

"Uff..." You frowned as he smiled at you, looking up. 
"Do I talk a lot?" You asked out of nowhere while you both were reading as he frowned, looking at you. You shrugged, "Just a question... I thought I did." 
"No, you don't." He whispered as you asked, "Oh? Is it because you're too quiet that you think I don't?"
"That should give me more reason to think the opposite but it's not that." 

You looked at him, "Oh... it was just a question, never mind. Forget it." 
"What happens to the female here?" You asked, trying to divert the topic but he closed the book, making you frown. 
"Y/N." He got up and stared at you. You looked at him confused as he asked, "Can't you rely on me?" 
"Huh?"
He shifted closer to you, staring intensely at you, making you gulp. 
"I heard some part of your story from your friends that night. But there's more to it as I know. I'm not asking you to tell me but I'm just saying that... I don't mind anything and... even if you think that you're talkative or annoying or whatever people have told you before, you're not. You make me feel like myself, you make me happy because... you're like this... you can light up an entire room with your laugh. I just... I..." He sighed. You stared at him completely blankly.

You did not react and he was wondering if he did the right thing. Would he regret it? 

You simply smiled a little, looking down, "That's weird." 
He didn't know why your reaction felt so mixed. You looked at him, "Is it because you shared your stories with me and it feels bad if you don't hear mine?" 
He frowned, "Do you think that way?" 
You looked down, shaking your head. You didn't know why you said that but you just... felt agonized when he brought it up. 
"I'm sorry." You whispered as he caressed your cheeks.
"You don't need to share. I just needed you to know that." 

You gulped and said, "I... just..."
You took a deep breath and looked at him, wanting to share this piece of you with him. Because as full of flaws as it was, you knew he'd accept it. He wouldn't judge you and you knew that. 
"Ever since my childhood... I've felt as if I was someone who could be easily replaced. The friends I've had never really cared for me much... other than Mina. But she wasn't always there as we both went to different classes. I grew up being the clown among friend groups but at times, I felt as if people dismissed me a lot because I was talkative and too relaxed... I was too much of a joker you know... always clowning around, having fun and being friendly with people I cared for." 

You sighed as he caressed your hands, giving them a tight squeeze. 

"But... as I grew up, people who I wasn't quite friends with started saying I was too talkative. Some people joked that I was crazy but later on, it became real. Real rumours about me having mental disorders were laughing topics among students. But I wasn't one to back off. I roasted people who said to me back. But, at the end of the day, it made me insecure about myself. Maybe... if I was more quiet and elegant, I'd be loved." You held back your tears but a teardrop fell from your eyes as he wiped it, looking at you as his heart broke at every word leaving your mouth.

"I wasn't unloved. I had people who cared for me but... I couldn't help this feeling of insecurity and overthinking takeover. It made me feel worthless... because of how easily people discarded me... After years of friendship, people just got rid of me like nothing, I didn't feel as though they were suffering without me the way I was. Maybe I was just easy to forget... maybe my existence didn't mean much." 

You were crying. 

You wiped your tears and looked at Taehyung, "That's all. I didn't realize when I started changing as I grew up. And somehow, I turned into this." 
He pulled you into his chest, making you shut your eyes. Your heart ached at the feeling of warmth his body provided you with. He smoothed your back, whispering, "You went through a lot, princess. You're stronger than anyone I've seen." 
You buried your face in his chest as he hugged you tighter, placing a kiss on your head. 
"Y/N..." He whispered as you were crying. 
"I think your... t-shirt..."
"It's okay." He smiled, realizing your tears were all on his t-shirt. 
A few beats passed by as he spoke, "I don't know what your past was like... I can't feel it. But, right now, as you're here with me, I need you to know one thing." 

You frowned when you heard him take a deep breath. 
"I love you, Kim Y/N. You're my wife... and the only woman I've loved and will ever love... I love you the most." 
He felt your body freeze. You didn't look up, and neither did you blink. You were simply breathing. He gulped, feeling his heart race so hard as you looked up at him, tears falling from your eyes. 
"And yes, I would suffer without you. Anyone would, you wouldn't realize but without you, I wonder how people could even see rainbows in life. I saw none before you." 

You chuckled through your tears as he said again, "I love you."

"Stop!" You spoke, crying even harder. You cupped his cheeks, placing a kiss on his lips.
"No... that's-"
"I don't care about fever. Either way, I'm all over you." You said.
"I love you too." You completed and hugged him tightly as he said, "I know it's hard to trust but, I promise, just remember my words that I'll suffer without you." 

—Time skip 

"We're returning tomorrow. What a short trip it was, eh." You smiled as Taehyung hummed, "It was." 
"My birthday's in 2 days... maybe that's why."
You smiled a little. You had been planning this secretly for a week now, all in your head. Upon reaching the palace, you'd do something with Jungkook as planned.

You hugged Taehyung as you both were laying on the bed and said, "What do you want for your birthday?"
He thought about it for a while, "Nothing..."
"Heh? How can that be? You have to ask me for something so I can give it to you."
He smiled and said, "Cook for me."

"Oh, that's a given. Say something valid." 
"I have no idea." You sighed at his response. 

"Y/N." He suddenly spoke, earning your attention. You wondered what he wanted to say but he never did. 
"Yes?" You asked, again.
He shook his head, caressing your hair, "Goodnight." 
"You're shutting me off?" 
"No. I'm telling you to sleep." 

You frowned but let yourself fall asleep in peace as you felt him pull you closer, stroking your hair. 

—Next day

"Did you pack everything?"
"Yeah... I did. You?"
"I'm done too."

"Ah, Paris was fun!" You smiled as Taehyung hummed, looking around the suite, "Let's come here again then." 
"When?"
"I don't know." He frowned. 
"Okay. We have a lot of time left, let's come back later." You were looking pretty excited, making him confused. But he decided not to ask. 

You both left the hotel and soon reached the airport while talking and laughing, joking or just staying in silence. It was fine because, with him, everything felt just as good. Even silence felt exciting. 

As the plane boarded, you wondered if he was tired. Sometimes, when you looked at him, you felt some sort of feeling in your heart you couldn't explain. 
Knowing him better, about his past and present, made you feel differently about him. You could see through his cold face now. 

You saw him look at you, frowning in confusion and all you could do was look away with a soft smile. 

"Are you sure your fever is alright now?" You had asked him some time after the plane boarded and he nodded, "Of course, I'm fine now. Why don't you sleep?" 
"I'm not sleepy.." You had replied.

But just a few hours later, you were deep asleep on his shoulder while he watched you silently. He loved watching you. Even if you did nothing, he enjoyed the plain sight of you. 

And with every second of watching you, it was as if one more drop of love filled up his heart for you. 

—Time skip 

"Ah... we're here!" You smiled at the airport sign, "Welcome to Seoul". 
"The luggage is being stuffed in the car. Let's go." He said as you nodded. But as soon as you both exit the airport, the flashing lights of the cameras nearly blinded your eyesight. You groaned as Taehyung whispered, "Not again." 

You smiled at the cameras nevertheless and continued walking as the guards were shielding you both. A few people were almost coming too close but Taehyung had a tight grip on your arm throughout the walk and pulled you closer anything there were too many people trying to approach. You looked at him as you both got into the car and said, "Why do people always follow us?" 
He didn't seem to know the answer either.
"Maybe that's nature... whoever gains popularity is just wanted by everyone. Maybe the attention of a famous person matters that much?" 

You looked down as Taehyung ruffled your hair, "Don't think too much. Come here." 
He pulled you into his embrace as you sighed. But something in you ignited, reminding you that this was so unexpected. 
You were in his arms right now, being loved by him. Could you imagine this even half a year ago?

Life was like this. You couldn't imagine what would happen in the next year or even in the next moment. Ups and downs were inevitable in life and truly, you had experienced the bad ones, but now, this change in life with him beside you was the best one to ever happen.

—At night 

"I missed you both so much!" Jungkook said as you eyed him, "Right... I also missed seeing you around."
Taehyung sent you a side glance, wondering why your tone sounded so suspiciously strange. The way you were eyeing Jungkook as if you were boring holes in him was scary. 
Jungkook seemed a little confused but shrugged it off. 

You both greeted the Queen who started the conversation by mentioning everything about the articles... well, now everyone knew. 
She seemed so happy, you wondered how strong a woman could be. She was the definition of strong. 

The meeting with the King didn't go as well, as expected. He said things about Taehyung and you to start being responsible and avoid being exposed in front of the internet. Taehyung didn't even say anything, he just nodded and left. 
After exiting the King's chamber, Taehyung said, "Whatever he said, throw it out of the other ear." 
You smiled, "I didn't even let the words in." 
He intertwined his hands with yours as you both walked out. 

Hours passed by and it was time to eat dinner. Your rooms were shifted together as you both had heard. And you weren't as anxious as before. You were rather happy and excited to be with him. 

Your friends had called after seeing the articles and you told them you both were together. It was wholesome hearing people say that they knew you both would end up together. Somehow, it made you feel happier and more confident about your love for him. Because everything felt so perfect right now. 

"Goodnight." You whispered, placing a soft kiss on Taehyung's lips who smiled, "Goodnight." 

It was strange sleeping in his room. The scent of him was prominent everywhere. Every piece of furniture and cloth had his scent and you loved it. You loved everything. 
You felt him fall asleep and smiled, sneaking out of the room and texting Jungkook, "come out." 

You reached the dining room to see Jungkook smiling at you.
"Time to plan." 

You both figured out the theme of the birthday party and the people to be invited.
"The King will interrupt this plan and invite all political people." Jungkook rolled his eyes as you said, "In that case... we need backup plans." 
"Right. Backup plans but we need to be careful or we'll get grounded." 
"I feel like we're some undercover mafias." You chuckled as Jungkook started laughing, "I know ri-"

Both of you froze, staring at each other wide-eyed when a familiar voice echoed throughout the empty dining room.

"What are you both doing here at 2 am?"