Author's POV: 

Your veins were filled with rage as you stared at Taehyung in disbelief. What kind of a jerk would say that in public? 

Thinning his lips, he glanced at the heads turned toward him. Now he seemed awkward. But he cleared his throat, "What? I said the truth." 
Your mother let out an awkward chuckle as the Queen glared at Taehyung.
"As if he looks very extravagant himself..." You muttered, earning a slight smack from your mother. She frowned but you didn't care. He started this thing out of nowhere.

He looked at you blankly and you frowned at him. Suddenly your phone pinged with a notification as you checked it. 

"Play along." Taehyung had texted.

So, he said that to work out the plan? You almost got irritated. Well, you still were. There are so many things to point out, not something revolving around your precious beauty. You sighed as the guardians looked awkward. 
"Well, nice to know both people have similar opinions about each other," Jungkook spoke, grinning. 
"Prince Jungkook." The Queen spoke as Jungkook cleared his throat, apologizing quietly. The entire area of the restaurant was rented so no one was around and they all came in undercover so it was okay so far. 

"So, I'm thinking that we should publicize this thing. THey're to be arranged, after all." The Queen said as your father nodded, looking down. 
"No!" You said quickly as Taehyung looked at you, swallowing. You said 'no' to the queen, just like that. But when you realized whatever you did, you cleared your throat, sighing. 
"I mean... let's wait for a little more? You know, I am not ready to deal with the paparazzi..." Your voice trailed off seeing your mother glare at you in full force. Jungkook was quietly laughing while Taehyung thinned his lips. 

He raised the menu in front of his face, hiding him from others. And no one knew or saw, but he smiled. But he kept it back, turning his face back to normal. 

The Queen looked at you for a moment before smiling a little. 
"Well, I can understand. That's how I felt when I was getting married too. It's alright. Take some more time, then." You smiled at her, "Thank you. You're kind..." 

Soon, the food arrived and everyone started eating. You didn't eat much, you were about to die. This royal tension was too much to handle. Your parents were eating so gracefully, you wondered if they'd die of a heart attack when they knew you lived the total commoner's life in the US. Your uncles, though being influencers, always lived simple lives in the US. So did you. But your parents didn't know. 
You knew etiquette and manner, grace and kindness so it wasn't a problem. You lived two lives. Though you'd prefer the commoner's life more, this was fine too. Though, right now, you just wanted to stuff some buns or macaroni in your room and not sit in the middle of a quiet graceful lunch. 

"So, the engagement party shall be held on the 10th of December." The Queen stated as everyone nodded. What the hell? 
"We have to publicize the news within a week." Your father said as you gulped. One week to cancel these? You were going against the royals now. Wow. 

Maybe you should just flee the country to get married. But again, you barely knew Taehyung. How could you marry someone you didn't love? 

"Mother, are you sure this marriage will be convenient?" Taehyung asked as everyone looked at him. He needed to say something less rude to stop the marriage, At this point, his words were getting on your nerves as well. 
"What do you mean, prince?" Your mother asked as Jungkook was staring at everyone, quite confused, 
"I mean... getting married into the royal family only brings chaos. Both families already have enough power. Why get married?" Taehyung's statement made your mom gasp. The Queen kept her fork on the table with a loud thud, making you choke on your orange juice. You looked at Taehyung, "Are you saying we're getting married to get power?" 
You were quite mad now. There were many things to carry out the plan. He didn't have to say something so disrespectful.

He looked at you, analyzing your face. 
"Isn't that the point of the childhood betrothal? Both families gain from it." Taehyung muttered.
"Hyung..." Jungkook whispered to Taehyung who looked at him blankly. He seemed clueless right now, was he? Or was his face just blank as paper? 

"Prince Taehyung. You shall not continue your statement further." The Queen Consort ordered in a stern tone. She was angry, you could say. 
You looked at your parents and they looked a little... sad? You wondered why. And it made you quite angry. You looked at Taehyung and said, "I doubt my parents would marry me off to an ignorant person just for influential power. Whatever our family has is enough... unlike some over-the-top people who need to gain more power in whatever way they can." 
Taehyung raised a brow this time, eyeing you. He analyzed your words and scoffed. Exactly, this is how he scoffed. You knew it. 

From the horse riding. 

He nodded and said, "Well, then aren't the ones with less power more ambitious to get it?" 
"Y/N!"
"Prince Taehyung!" 

Both women called at the same time as you both turned your heads towards them. 
"Your Highness, mother... I genuinely apologize for this commotion but do you think we could ever get along? He thinks we're here for power, for... more gain. And that is disrespect to us and our ancestors." 
"Where did the ancestors come from?" He rolled his eyes as your father sighed. He must be hating on Taehyung so hard right now, you could guess. 
You were quite mad right now. This was supposed to be a planned enmity but after hearing his words, you were not sure if this was a planned thing anymore. This was real now. 

You were irritated and mad, at him. F-ck this royalty of his. You'd slap him across the face if you weren't in this situation. 

After some more debate and attempts by others to change the topic, the lunch was over and you all were bidding goodbyes.
"I apologize for the behaviour of my son today. I swear he's getting beaten up tonight." The Queen whispered in your mother's ears who smiled. 
"It's okay. Leave him to be. Anyone raised in the royal family is natural to have trust issues." Your mother said. The Queen Consort nodded, sighing. 

"It was nice chatting with you during the last 10 minutes when you and Hyung weren't arguing." Jungkook said as you smiled, "Me too, your Highness."
"Just call me Jungkook. I don't like this royal treatment." 
You smiled at him and nodded. He ran his hands through his chestnut hair, "See you again." 
He winked and left as you smiled a little. He was adorable. 
You noticed Taehyung staring at you both from nearby and rolled your eyes, looking away. He could've learnt some manners from his younger brother.

You all were about to get out when suddenly, a girl rushed towards you with a camera in her hands.
"Oh my god, the royals!" She squealed as some more reporters followed. The flashes of the camera, the chaotic voice of the people, everything made your eyes dance. 
What on earth was this? 

"Shit.." Jungkook whispered and wore his mask quickly. You looked behind to see Taehyung approaching you. He quickly pulled you behind him, handing a mask to you. 
"Wear this." He spoke, his voice sounding icy again. He looked at the reporters with an expression that said 'I swear I'm about to punch the sh-t out of them'. You quickly wore the mask as the guards who were near the car approached the entrance of the restaurant, shooing away people. Some more people on the streets were taking pictures from afar. 
You felt strange. This felt like being exposed. 

This was a secret outing, how did they come here?

Surely, famous people had no privacy.

The guards were getting rid of the paparazzi and dispatch while the other security guards rushed to help. You were almost hit by a woman nearby but Taehyung pulled you away, frowning at the woman. You gulped, "Hey... how are they here?" 
"I don't know. Stay close." He said, his frown not disappearing an inch. You could smell his cologne so badly. The last time you did, it make you feel strange. As if something stirred deep inside your stomach. And now, this smell was making you feel strange. You were too anxious to indulge in that. 

Soon, with the help of the guards, you all got out and entered the limo, driving away. Throughout the entire time, your hands were trembling. There would be rumours now.
"I have to take action to control the rumours." The Queen spoke, calling someone as Jungkook sighed. Taehyung was sitting across from you, his eyes darted outside the window that landed on you later on. He noticed your nervous state and looked down. 

Almost half an hour later, you all were at the Palace.
"I'll have our chauffeur drop you both home. You should come in for some tea. I'd also like to apologize for the commotion." The Queen Consort said as your mother smiled, "Just because we're friends doesn't mean you have to leave the profession. Your job right now is to handle the rumours. The King shall be furious if you don't. Go now." 
The Queen looked down, feeling guilty.
"Either way, the engagement would bring even more chaos, right?" 
"The only way to calm this commotion and avoid any unnecessary rumours is to publicize their betrothal now." Your father suggested as the Queen nodded.

"I shall talk to the King." She smiled at everyone as they got down. You were still in the limo, bidding goodbye to them politely. Taehyung looked at you again, sighing. 
He left the limo, stopping at a distance. He stared at your sad face and could guess you were overthinking. It was unnecessary for him to go inside again or anything. But something in him felt guilty. 
He said rude things today. It wasn't as though he meant them. It was part of a plan but also his own thoughts. But he didn't blame you for it. He blamed the elders. But bringing it up as an excuse to abolish this marriage might've not been the best plan he's had. Now he was regretting it. 

But he wasn't one to apologize first. He was a royal, and even if it was his fault, other people apologized. His faults weren't acknowledged. He was treated differently. So, naturally, he had a very high-class vibe and lived like that, unbothered. 
But he had a conscience. And he knew whatever he said or did today for whatever reason was wrong. 

The Queen Consort and Jungkook were standing near the Palace, ready to walk inside. But Taehyung walked back to the limo, "Y/N, come out for a minute." 
You frowned as he looked down, "I have something important to say." 
Your parents looked at each other before looking at you. You cleared your throat, getting out. 
"Yes?" You asked. He walked away from the others as you followed him, confused. 

"So... I-" He stopped, looking at the sky, then at you again. He seemed like he was wondering about something. He cleared his throat and spoke, "Well, it's cold." 
"Yes, it is." You said, thinning your lips. He blinked twice before taking out a heat pack from his pocket and handing it to you. You frowned at it as he spoke, "Heat packs are ideal for cold weather and if you're anxious." 

You stared at him for a moment before leaning closer to his face, squinting your eyes again. He frowned, backing his face as you smiled.
"Ah... so you're apologizing?" His frown deepened at your question, "Of course, not." 
"Well, if you are, then... I'm not accepting it. You should apologize properly. Even if you're not used to it. But, thanks for the heat packs. I'll use them well." You said and smiled a little, walking back to the limo. He stood there, looking at the ground. He felt exposed. 

"I read psychology too..." You whispered, smiling as you stuffed the heat packs in the pocket of your overcoat. It felt warm. You knew he carried heat packs around based on the horse-riding day but today as well? Wow...

"What did he say?" Your mom asked as you shrugged, "Nothing. Just... apologized?" 
"The prince?" Your father asked as you shrugged, smiling a little. You weren't accepting his apology but at least he knew he was wrong. You could sense he probably thought of it that way because, at some point, you did too. Anyone living in the royal palace would think that. Because that was how life worked. 
People did things, established relations and broke them, all for power, influence and wealth. That was the reality. 

As harsh as it sounded, all he did was state it. Maybe he had no idea it would sound harsh either. But still, as he was wrong, he had to apologize. And considering that he wasn't all that bad, maybe you'd forgive him too?