"I would live a thousand lifetimes
If it's you I'm sent to find
If time stands still
Move I will to you
This world's filled
Somehow I see you"

Stand Still - Zayn Malik

Yeah idc that this song is used for the Silk Sheets trailer, it fits so perfectly for Solace 🫦

Spice-O-Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ kinda?
Ft. Morally gray Tae

Taehyung

It hurt, to hear her cry. And to know he was the reason for it. How could it not, when her tears fell like liquid drops of moonlight. Crystalline reminders that he had failed to treat her as he promised.

It hurt to hear her laugh. And now he was not the reason behind that bright shock of sound, like the wind sailing through the rocks or the waves crashing to the shore.

What Leila had revealed to him, destroyed him.

It confirmed to him, was that he was a failure of a prince. And a failure as a son. And a failure to Leila, who he had to break his promises to.

The prince at his study, a bottle of the darkest wine open. His hair a mess, shirt unbuttoned as he had been for hours now. Alone, and still not at ease despite giving Aera the order to kill her mate. She has wanted to for years due to how cruel he was, and Taehyung had ignored her pleas.

It is why he had been gentle, kind to her earlier. Because Aera knew the only reason he was allowing it was for Leila's sake. Not her own. And still the look in Leila's eyes as she took in their close stance haunted him. And he let it go, let her think whatever wrongness she conjured in her mind. She looked at him like he was better off dead to her. The prince felt his heart stall again, lifting the wine to his lips and taking a large sip.

Maybe he deserved it. For doing the same to her when she first arrived, without the tenderness she needed. He had ripped out the stitches of a wound she had not yet known she had. All in the name of keeping her at a distance, far away from him so she'd never reach his heart.

Pity. It hadn't worked.

The King, his father. The man he hated with his entire soul, had been kind? Had loved? The woman the prince had believed to be tortured. Taehyung had spent that fateful night, going back on every interaction they ever had. It tore into him, without mercy. Because had it been him, who pushed his father away? Who had broken their relationship beyond repair? There were brief glimpses, brief moments where he remembered his father looking at him with sorrow. Such sorrow. And Taehyung had not cared. Wanting to only deepen that feeling for a man that would keep Sorina caged.

Pushed his father away so successfully, the man never got a chance to tell him about the curse before he died.

He spent that first night away from Leila, vomiting in his bathroom. Trying, trying to find anything in his mind that felt real. Any interaction that proved what Leila said to be wrong.

Because if she was right, if Sorina's visions were true, he was more a monster to his father than his father ever could wish to be to his son.

Nauseous at every reminder that he had treated his mother, the Queen with such softness. And his father never protested, never once told him that it was she who was cruel. He had endured so much as King, and Taehyung had been too blind to see it. 

His mind was a broken thing. A web to be untangled. Because he remembered him brutalizing her in front of the entire court. Remembered how much he made Sorina cry, and beg to let her go. He saw it with his own eyes, against his will.

Nothing makes sense.

How, could that be love? How could that be anything near what he felt for-

No. Taehyung gripped the wine glass harder, shaking off the thought. He would not let himself utter the words. To even think them.

Because everyone he loved had been brutally ripped from him.

Leila thought he would have been relieved. And Taehyung wished deeply, that he could have been as happy as Leila was to find out the truth. But she wasn't there the night of the massacre. She didn't see the black walls of the castle painted in silver, gold, and red.

His stomach heaved again. His vision spotting with black, with regret. Deep, paralyzing fear that it would all happen again. That silver would line the walls, and there would be nothing he could do to stop it.

Even if they did love each other, his father and Sorina, that love killed her. The daughter of the moon died, because his father found her. Kept her. That might have been his true, and only mistake.

Leila is just as bound to the castle as Sorina was, and it is all his fault.

Taehyung had become his father, letting his feelings for someone cloud his judgement. It had gotten the love of his life killed.

The prince had not lied when he told her she wasn't worth it. But he had let her assume another meaning, to let it sever all ties to him as she once begged of him. Leila was not worth losing. She was worth too much, to let her life go to waste. For him, for this kingdom.

Taehyung had not been able to prevent tragedy from occurring before.

He took another swig of wine, hearing sounds of raucous laughter from down the hall. Swearing that a laugh floated above the rest. A warm, sensuous sound that crackled around him like a bonfire. No. She was more than likely in her rooms, with Lily. Or maybe Jimin. Down, down, down his throat the wine went. Somehow only festering the pain it was supposed to be numbing. He stared down at the red liquid he slammed on the table, only seeing a red dress. Only seeing it slink to his floor, and bronze step out.

Finding her in bed with Jimin had torn the last part of his sanity to pitiful shreds.

Her long, waved hair falling over Jimin's shoulder. His leg thrown over hers. Their hands, fair and tanned intertwined like the other would float away.

For a moment, a second, he had thought about killing his friend. Killing any man she tried to find after him. It had made his mouth water at the thought. Instead, he decided acting like the biggest prick imaginable was a much more respectable route.

Taehyung placed a hand to his chest, wondering if that hollow ache would ever go away. If that deep pit of sickness would leave his stomach when he thought of them together.

But to see his best friend, comforting her when he could not. Holding her when he shouldn't.

It made it a very real possibility that she could love Jimin one day. Someone else. Anyone else, other than him, because he had not taken her declaration to him lightly. It was a very real possibility even he had found another way for them, she would turn him away. I would deserve it. And Taehyung would have to watch, to somehow stomach it. Because that is what she deserved, if she so wished it.

And he would have to suffer, survive. Like he had earlier.

When she walked into that damn throne room wearing a red dress. Gods that dress, he groaned leaning back on his chair and rubbing his hands over his face, through his hair. Her hair falling down to her lower back, kissing the open skin and brushing along the dimples he liked to press his fingers into. He was practically falling out of his throne, as the deep color melted with her tanned softness, opened along her curves. Her dark eyes piercing him like a true queen would, her exquisite face stark and wholly confident in every bit of skin showing. She knew what she could do to him, and it only made him want her more, more, more and yet he could take nothing. But it was not only a show of her magnificent physical beauty. It was a war banner, a proclamation of her rulership, and it almost had him on his knees.

He had wanted nothing more than to send them all away. To apologize, to pledge himself to her. To peel off the red, until he made the color appear on her cheeks. Under the press of his hands. Flush every part of her body. Remind his intelligent princess, that she had not needed him to help her with anything, that she was already capable herself.

Taehyung meant it, when he told her to both ravish and kill him. She had already done so. He wanted her to do so.

The trial had become one for himself, to test his selfishness. To judge if he could hold himself back from her once again, for her own good.

Taehyung had not tied Leila's wrists, like the King had physically restrained Sorina's. The prince's chains had been harder to forge, more terrifying to break. Still very much present. He made her a prisoner to his feelings, to the emotions that soared between them.

But he would see her in his dreams. See her in his wake. He would see her if she ran far away, or if she hid amongst the hundreds in his court. Every other person had been ruined for him. He could only see her. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the thoughts about that damned dress away. About the damned woman in the dress, that would not leave his thoughts. Sobering himself, thinking of her covered in silver. Not red.

Gods strike me down if I make the same mistake again.

The deities would tonight, maybe with lightening.

Because he heard her laughter again, down the hall. Beckoning. And the wine had already invaded his veins, allowing her to flood them. Allowed the envy, the desire, the spite, the anger, the need to consume him once again.

The prince, had liked to torture himself when he hurt. And he knew as he got up, trailing after her laughter like a moth follows its demise to a flame, it would be a pain like no other to see her again.

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Leila

Convincing Lily to leave her room was easy enough. The girl had already been thoroughly flustered by their earlier talk. Leila wanted the girl to rest, and clear her mind before she took on the grueling task of translating the book.

It just so happened that Setareh stopped by around the same time, inviting both the girls to the fete of spring. Making Leila wonder why there were so many celebrations for a time of warmth when they seemed to prefer the Winter. But anyhow, Lily still excused herself and left the sisters alone to get ready in Leila's room.

It would make meddling easier if her talkative friend wasn't present as well.

Leila had already deduced from Setareh, that the nobles would be in attendance. Along with other members of the court, though they mattered to her purpose less. More than likely, Taehyung would be in his rooms. Sulking or working, Leila would not pretend to know. She didn't need him there anyways, she needed the space to talk to his friends.

Leila lined her eyes heavily with kohl, blinking when her sister spoke from beside her.

"I was worried about you earlier."

The princess laughed, rubbing her eyes to make them more smoky as she responded, "Don't be. The man who wished to harm me is now dead."

Setareh smiled back at her, using Leila's copper blusher on her cheeks. Her eyes still held their apprehension within petrified amber depths, "I hope so. I just had a dream the night before, of a man slitting your throat. I thought, I don't know what I thought. I guess it was rather silly of me."

Leila ignored the shiver that ran through at her sister's dream, which could have been a premonition. Maybe if Garnett hadn't been disposed of, it could have very well been her fate.

"Don't fret Setareh, we have more important things than saving my neck to worry about. Lily can indeed translate the ritual book." Shock colored her sister's face, but Leila did not wait for to ask questions, "I cannot tell you why she can, not at the moment. Not until I can assure her immunity. But, we very well may uncover the origin of the curse if she can. Have you tried seeing anything about her intentions? She seemed genuine enough earlier, but I still need to be careful. Sorina's warning about another person being involved can be possibly related to the fact that the curse has a sister anti-curse, a balance to what could happen. It's in the style of the deities to make everything worse."

Her sister faced her, a storm on her round and pretty face, "It's gray. A misty fog when I had tried to see her future. But I will continue to try so that we are prepared for anything. No matter what she told you, it is strange that she offered no inkling that she could help you. But did not have the foresight to not tell you the title."

Leila nodded, considering her sister's skepticism, "Right. She was taken completely off guard. But that is why I think she is telling the truth, only partially. To make up that lie with that little time, it would be difficult. I think she's lying about something else, but I will see how well she helps me with the novel."

"If she betrays you?"

Leila needed Lily, regardless of her true allegiance. Her talents, whether they came from her guardian Clarisse or not were skills needed to use. She rather create as stronger bond with Lily, tell her the truth that she knew, rather than Lily covet more information she learned while reading. Still, Leila left out some information in her explanation, just to make sure Lily would tell the whole truth as she translated.

"I will do what needs to be done. And Jimin?" Leila questioned, straightening out her red dress.

She had also asked her sister to conjure any visions she could on her second suspect.

Leila would cut no corner, leave no stone unturned. Of course, she did not want either of them to be complicit. She loved the twins, loved them enough to vet them properly before moving on to other possible betrayers. She would make either of their deaths quick. The last bit of friendship she would offer them, if they were to have anything to do with her or the prince's downfall. In Taehyung's current state, Leila wasn't sure if he would offer any sort of mercy.

Setareh adjusted her light pink dress, made with the same gauzy material as Leila's. "Nothing. Darkness. Deeper than black, darker than night. I see nothing."

Interesting. Not bad, but not good either.

Leila wrapped her arms around her sister's shoulders, hoping her movement was more natural and less stiff than before. Though physical touch with friends and family was something she would still have to get used to without feeling self conscious. Ushering them both out of her chambers, and down the hallway towards the fete rooms. To which she would tell any guard that she was not allowed in to fuck off.

"It's fine, you're doing great already. My plan is have more information by the Summer solstice, so we have a few months to try. Let's try to have fun before then."

"Leila? And fun?" Setareh teased, wrapping her arm around Leila's waist and giggling.

Leila flicked her face, rolling her eyes, "Yes, I also discovered wine here when I left home. That is Elder Fareena's biggest offense, keeping me away from it."

It only made her youngest sister laugh harder, harder yet when they arrived before closed doors and very grouchy looking guards.

Leila only stood straighter, Setareh dipping her head and covering her mouth so they wouldn't see her amusement. The princess sighed, even as they refused to open the door.

"You made me do this." She warned, before unwrapping Setareh from her.

The men stared nervously at each other, debating their orders from the prince or from her. She didn't leave them time to regret. Refracting moonlight from the window and solidifying it. Enough that when she moved her hands together, and then apart, the men were thrown into the opposite castle walls. Leila did not care to listen to the swearing, the shuffle of metal and men groaning as they attempted to right themselves.

"Listen to only the prince's orders, and I will make sure you suffer." Leila called out to both of them, to then use her powers to open the door.

Her sister followed after her sure footsteps, her mouth opened in awe. Leila had never displayed her powers so flagrantly, acted so brazenly. But she needed to be respected, feared without the constant watchful eye of the prince around. It could mean her survival.

The room before her was aglow with candle light, the entire hall of dark stone transformed. She had only caught a sliver of the room before, when she had been left in the dark about the Immortui secret. Before it had been ashen, bathed in shadow. And now it was dark, but slathered in gold. Like what Leila imagined a Fae revel would look like, the entire space was an orange and warm and filled with laughter. Ivy was hung from the iron chandeliers, gold painted leaves crawling along stone walls that spanned about half the size of the throne room. There were no windows set into the walls, only large domed openings in the vaulted, arched ceiling that were covered in a black gauzy material off set the silver of moonlight. Beings who usually moved with that immortal grace of knowing they had time, were stretched across the room in joy. The room flickering with many people of the court casually dancing, clapping to the various violin players that played velvet notes and thrummed in every chest.

And a large bonfire, set up in the center of the hall. Making the room smoky, the laughter melt in a puddle and ripple around the space.

Leila peered around the room, spotting the nobles sitting along the edge of the table to the left of the hall. Some were up and dancing with the fellow court members. Some sitting and talking loudly over the sound of the crackling fire. Jeongguk had paused his conversation, his dark eyes catching on her sister beside her.

Leila was entranced, watching the Immortui. They looked, happier. Less cold, less inhuman than they ever had. Not a soul had been drinking from humans.

And with the golden light cast onto every face, free of blood or fangs, Leila wondered if maybe they wished to feel the sun too.

And, like the last breeze of Winter, Aera. Her abnormally beautiful face was smiling wildly, dancing in a circle around the bonfire by herself. A firefly amongst the grass, swaying her long black skirts, letting her head fall back to the sky and laughing at nothing at all. Taking large sips from a large porcelain jug she gripped in her hands. No one stepped in her path.

"Setareh, I need to speak with Aera. Mind going over to the nobles for me first?" Leila waited for her sister to respond, to only be met with silence. She narrowed her eyes, turning to the girl to see her caught in trance. Her eyes wide, lips parted, cheeks red as she stared back at Jeongguk. Leila rolled her eyes, though her lips couldn't help but twitch into a smirk, "Why stare at him when you can go dance with him?"

Setareh shook her head, looking embarrassed as she finally listened to Leila, "I wasn't staring."

Leila lifted a brow, before her sister huffed off. Fussing with her dark black hair, and fighting for courage as she made her way to where the nobles were seated. Leila watched Jeongguk before she turned, entertained to see his eyes light up more as Setareh neared him.

Sweet.

Turning on her heel, she faced the newly made widow. Strutting forward and through the body of people she ruled, who she didn't know the name of. That would be another task for another day, to learn of her people. Even if they feared her, disliked her kind.

Aera seemed dizzy with exuberance, her green eyes a blaze of evergreen forest amongst the candlelight. She turned and turned, only stopping when Leila reached out a hand to grab her arm. The woman didn't even glare, so unlike herself, as her chest heaved, lips turned up.

"Princess." Aera offered politely, taking another sip of whatever was in that container she held. She raised her brows, tilting the jug towards Leila as an offering. The princess shook her head declining. Instead taking a gold colored liquid that was being held by servants as they walked around the room. Taking a sip, and then coughing as the strong honey mead slide down her throat before speaking.

"Thank you." Leila said warmly.

Aera lifted a brow, peering from side to side. Making sure not a soul was paying attention,
"I haven't the faintest idea of what you're referring to."

Her body language was still languid, unearthly. Even while exuberantly drunk.

"You know what."

"Fuck off princess. Can't you tell that I am mourning?" Her jade eyes shimmered, her expression and tone dry as bone.

Leila bit back her laugh. It was good to know even after what she had done, she kept her humor. But she knew the woman would reject any help, even if she needed it. Leila had been like that once, when her indifference was her only armor to pain.

"What happens? When your mate dies?" Leila asked more seriously. Curious, even as the thought squeezed at her chest.

Aera shrugged, betraying nothing of what she felt under the surface of her flawless skin, "Nothing. That's the terrible part for some people. You don't go with them."

Something settled in Leila's stomach. A wave of feeling, she couldn't describe as it climbed to her throat, prickled her eyes. She hadn't known, if her parents felt that way about each other. She had only encountered that devotion, between the King and Sorina.

"And for you?" Leila tried, knowing Aera could potentially bite her head off. But there was no other way to ask if she regretted what she did. Even if she hated him.

The woman moved closer, close enough to see flecks of gold hidden among the green in her eyes. Close enough to see the sincerity that was exhausted from hiding behind the surface of spikes and steal, "No one, not even the prince, knew the extent of what I endured with Garnett. As you know, I take no issue with a little cruelty. Before our bonding, that is all he was, a little cruel. He never put his hands on me, never took advantage in certain ways. But he forced the mating bond. It happened not only a week after our arranged marriage. For that short time, I thought maybe. Maybe I could move on and forget and forgive everything." Her intake of breath was shaky, as she looked at the floor to recall the memory, eyes glassy and blinking, "But he waited until I was drunk and we were physical. The man was beautiful and I had no issues fulfilling that part of our relationship. But he had tricked me into feeding from him. And I had been so inebriated that I didn't feel his fangs upon my flesh."

Leila balked, her eyes widening in horror at what the man had done. She recalled Lily's explanation, of how the Vipera Immortui tied their souls together. He had taken such a choice from her hands. And Aera had had to live with it. No wonder why the woman had been so angry at him, angry at the world. After she had been promised to be a ruler, and then to have autonomy over any other choice in her life.

Aera shook her head, her eyes meeting Leila's once again as she pushed out the words, "When I realized what occurred when I woke the next day, I vowed to him that I would never love him. Never touch him again. That he could've had me, but he lost me when he forced the ritual. That is why he paused at the trial when I spoke those similar words to him, the words that had haunted him ever since. After that, petty tricks and general disdain had turned monstrous. He couldn't take it out on me, wouldn't. So he blamed it on the prince, for having my heart before. He tried to take everyone down to the bottom with him."

"I am so sorry Aera. For judging you wrongly." Leila whispered, her jaw aching with anger. With not being more cruel to Garnett when she had the chance. For what Aera had endured, and Leila had been so quick to demonize her.

The woman rolled her eyes, so surprised that her fangs glinted, sprouting against the light. Her silky black hair falling back over one shoulder as she addressed the princess, "Don't apologize for something I had also done to you. When you first arrived, I expected you to be some entitled, prissy thing. Or worse, you would grovel to the prince. And I said some awful, awful things to you to make myself feel like I still had a chance. Because my own destiny had been ripped away from me. Like Garnett, I was looking for someone to blame."

"Did it hurt you? To do it."

Sadness flashed, for a moment in those stone-like eyes. Leila caught it like a dandelion tuft, holding it to her heart to remember. To regret.

"At first, watching him, I felt some remorse. His eyes were so blue, like a painting. Like he couldn't believe that it was me who was striking him down. But after, I just felt relieved. And I'm not sure if it makes me just as terrible as he had been at the bitter end. But you're the reason for my freedom. You're the reason why I am having my first drink in two years at the moment. I had sworn it off, after that night."

Shock prevented Leila from reassuring Aera that she wasn't a monster for feeling the way she did.

"Me?"

Aera nodded, condenscenion lifting her chin to look down at the princess. Crossing her arms, as if the princess was missing the meaning behind her words, and the woman thought her stupid for it, "I have been begging for Taehyung to let me poison him. Smother him in his sleep. Something. Have him be put in prison for terrorizing humans. Hunting off Tenebrian grounds. Anything. But Taehyung could not afford to have the noble killed, in case his wealthy family decided to retaliate. He couldn't afford it, until he saw what Garnett was thinking of doing to you. That is what we discussed after the trial. Taehyung said it was like a flash, an impression. But it was clear, that my late mate had wished to tear you apart, drink you slowly, and then hang your remains in the throne room."

The prince's eyes searching for Aera. His hand on her elbow, as they huddled closely to talk. It had not been what Leila assumed.

Oh, oh gods, "I don't know what to say—"

"Leila, as much as I respect Taehyung, I resent him. I have tried to help him, to just be shut down. I have tried to hurt him, for breaking our betrothal. We have a terrible relationship, and I am sure some days he wishes I just did not exist. For many reasons. I could tell he wanted to kill Garnett himself after he saw his intentions with you. Yet, he let me get my vengeance."

A choice he wouldn't have made, if he hadn't thought of Leila. She hated the rush she felt, at the knowing look the woman before her sent. What she meant to do, telling Leila this trickle of information about the prince.

"Aera—" Leila started to apologize. Because she never had, not once for taking the place that Aera had wanted more than the crown. The place beside the prince.

And the woman who had once hated her for it, now wished for Leila to remain there.

"I owe you my freedom Leila. I owe you everything. You can do a lot more right than you already have done, being our princess. Don't make me regret being indebted to you."

"You don't have to be."

"Take what you can get from me, it might be gone after I change my mood. And, I would rather be in servitude to you than to that prick of a prince, let me have this." Aera pleaded to Leila softly, the only begging she would ever do. A whisper of a woman wanting control over some part of her life took over, before floating away into that familiar, harsh amusement, "Now, go have fun with your sister. I want to be alone."

Leila took in a deep, grounding breath as Aera glided away from her like a naiad in water, sucked back into the throng of beings trapezing around the fire.

She knew the woman hadn't meant to offend her. Aera wanted to be alone, because being alone as a woman meant making your own choices. She hadn't been alone in a while.

Leila smiled, feeling the bloom of genuine happiness fill her chest. She downed the rest of the honey wine, letting the harsh sweetness tickle at her throat before making her way back to the table of nobles.

"Come join us Leila!" Yelled Hoseok as she neared, sloshing around a drink as he rested his leg on the wooden bench they were spread along.

Leila did her best to smile, and found herself grateful that Hoseok was the first to speak. He had been the nicest of all the nobles, even the ones she was closer to. It was time to change that. Time to break all the notions of the daughter of the moon that plagued the space between. It would not be good enough for them to just merely tolerate her, if she wanted to be taken seriously.

If she wanted their acceptance. Needed it.

If Leila could have his court wrapped around her finger, the only people who truly had enough power to pose a threat to his standing, his excuses would dwindle.

Maybe if they had all the help they could get, the curse would be much easier to break

And of course, that is how Leila planned to weed out the betrayal. They would reveal themselves with, they would not be able to hide in the shadows if there were no shadows left.

Information, that could be hiding. But tonight, tonight she would be a Queen grounded to the earth. Drinking and celebrating with her subjects who were still worried she would snap at any moment

Jin was in a heated discussion with Namjoon, both of them stood waving around their hands. Neither noticed her presence. Yoongi leaned against the wall, taking slow sips of his drink and observing the room. A nod sent in her direction as she closed in. It was surprising, considering his affinity for keeping to himself and also supporting her imprisonment. It was very possible Jeongguk had spoken to his friend and fellow delegate, who now invested himself in her sister.

Speaking of which, the youngest of them all sat towards the other end of the bench. Setareh was laughing, showing the dark haired man before her various dances from their homeland. Involving slowly swinging hips, a roll of the ribs. Jeongguk sat slack jawed as her sister danced before him, head falling back in drunken laughter.

Leila lifted her brows, swiveling lastly to her favorite advisor. The man sat on the bench, leaning far back as possible onto the table. Staring up at the ceiling with a scowl, until he felt her eyes upon him. His expression did not change, even as she gestured to his friend and her sister.

"You seem pissy." Leila announced as she sat down next to him, adjusting her skirts under the table. Hoseok delighted in her joining, his smile brimming as he filled her cup with more golden meade. Jimin grunted, ignoring her.

The other noble rolled his eyes, handing her the overfilled glass, "Oh he's very pissy. Aera made a fool out of him earlier-"

"Don't." Jimin interrupted, his eyes flashing at the other male.

Leila scoffed, taking a sip of her drink. She would have loved to see him get chewed out by the woman who always seemed to outwit him. Most times, she figured they hated each other because they competed over who could be the most brutal.

"It's fine I don't want to know. And I would more than likely take her side. So, what are we celebrating tonight?" The princess asked casually, looking around the group. Wondering if she ever could be accepted.

Even if they feared her, disliked her, they still treated her better than she had been at their village. They hadn't shunned her.

Hoseok shrugged, before Yoongi called from his place by the wall. His low and gravelly voice shocking her, since it was so rare in it's appearance, "We've lost the name over many years, but the tradition remains the same. Days before spring solstice, we celebrate the change in season with flowers and drink. The fruits of our labor."

"It is beautiful" She said thoughtfully to the quiet man, before he coughed, looking off to the side. She wondered if he actually blushed, or if it was the heat of the bonfire coloring his cheeks. She did take note that both Yoongi and Jeongguk were considerably knowledgeable about their traditions and history. Was that because their territory prided in it? Or because of family history, like Lily?

She turned back to Hoseok, who was much closer and smiling. She noticed he had very high cheekbones, that complimented the oval shape of his eyes. She smiled back.

"You know," The man started, before looking up through dark brown lashes, "Everyone knows you and Taehyung are married only for the title. We also noticed, that you seem to be avoiding each other at the moment. And I am sure no man would mind taking his place."

Ah, so our act works. They believed there were no emotions involved. Or maybe they weren't real from his end, and that is why the nobles were so easily convinced. Because they knew the prince better than she.

Leila choked on a response, Hoseok's smile widening at her shyness. He was handsome of course, but she hadn't been expecting such an open offer. Not when everyone else seemed to either be afraid of her or the prince. Jimin turned his head and glared openly at the man, though his wide open seating position did not change. Hoseok ignored him, keeping his focus on Leila and her alone.

But Leila was tired of overly territorial men. She could handle herself.

"Not going to happen." She taunted, meaning it. But also wanting to tease, to make another friend.

Jimin huffed, and neither looked over at the sound.

The man accepted it with an easy smile, leaning back, "I had to try."

"Maybe if you keep sending that delicious wine," Leila laughed, before sliding out from her position on the bench, "But I would love to dance with you."

Hoseok clapped his hands together, his green garments glittering like grass with dew. He stepped around, his eyes scanning the room absentmindedly, "Before we start, I need to give you something."

Leila waited patiently, her blood rushing in anticipation to dance once again. A luxury she had been denied before. It still felt like a dream, to just participate in a community.

"Ah," He exclaimed, snatching something off the head of another court member. They started cursing, and stopped when they turned to see who the culprit was. The noble sent them an apologetic glance, before turning and stepping closer to her.

He pulled from behind his back, a crown of flowers. Leila gasped with content, taking in the beautiful adornment. It was golden and red and bountiful with shining petals and molten leaves, a semi-circle of dusk in nature. A thing they could only hope recreate, with fire and not with the sky.

The noble gestured for her to dip her head, and Leila did so with reverence. Smiling brightly as she felt it's golden twigs snag in her hair. She knew she had brightened, the full moon when she caught the way Hoseok absorbed her smile.

Even Yoongi, as he leaned against the table drinking brandy cracked the smallest of smiles at her.

"A goddess of spring!" Hoseok said, kicking Jimin.

Leila stared, waiting for a compliment. When the brunette advisor looked up, his expression slacked. His dark eyes dipping from her dress all the way to the top of her crown.

"Do I look pretty?" She asked, the wine making the words slip out in joyous banter. Before maybe she realized it wasn't the best thing to say, especially if he had feelings for her. Especially if he knew he couldn't act on them. But he was her friend, firstly and most importantly.

And she wanted to have fun. To let go for one night, and just not care.

Leila couldn't say it didn't hurt when he shook his head, crossing his arms and turning away from the fire. His face now covered in the darkness of shadow.

"Come join us! Jin, Namjoon." Hoseok said loudly, taking her out of her head. Leila asked her cup to be filled with meade again, which the man obliged.

This drink was much stronger than wine. Leila loved it, everything becoming more beautiful and funny as she took more sips. Her chest less tight as she had to interact with the men. Less worried about what she might say, how it might be perceived.

Namjoon and Jin walked over, laughing and asking how she enjoyed the concoction. Telling her all about the time they had stolen their parents liquor, and thrown up at a ball in front of the whole court. Leila laughed, laughed and laughed until Hoseok came before them. Teaching her the steps to a dance that could be done in a group, with simple steps. Leila couldn't help but smile until it hurt, as she stepped front and back. Side to side. A twist, and then then four of them switched spots. They complimented her ability to catch on quickly.

"Leila!" Setareh exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her sister. It was easier to accept the touch in this state. Jeongguk sauntered up to them at a slower pace, eyes glassy and his hair a little messy.

Leila hadn't even noticed they had left and come back. She eyes Setareh, who gave her a secret smile that told her it would be explained in full detail later.

Hoseok groaned at newcomers, but re-explained the moves. Soon enough, the nobles and their previous adversaries were dancing in their own circle. Holding hands at certain moments, callused hands meeting softness. Claps and laughs and stomps filling the air around them. Jeongguk often messed up their circle, when he would wrap an arm around Setareh and pull her close for a beat too long. Leila loved it. She loved seeing her youngest sister happy, not a shell of her self. Hidden behind her eldest sister.

The nobles. Who Taehyung had regarded as people they needed to lie to the most, did not seem to hate her. Jeongguk had changed his mind. Who is to say they couldn't?

And now she understood the bond of the noblemen. They were all different, but complimented each other in the ways that mattered. They were patient, slowed down the steps if Leila lost count. They made countless jokes, almost making her trip as they continued to drink and pour alcohol into each other's mouths.

When they were a breathless and shiny, they even got Yoongi to join. The hard exterior cracking, as they set him up in the center. The group holding hands and swinging around him until they were dizzy. When he broke out, annoyed the nobles and the sisters laughed more. Bending, over holding onto the table for dear life.

Leila needed a break, her head and vision swimming but her heart bright. Brighter than it had been in a long time. That heaviness gone. She finally felt like she could breath, even though it was labored from dancing.

Namjoon plunked down beside her, leaning and closing his eyes as he attempted to catch his breath. When he caught her staring, he smiled, his dimple puncturing his tanned cheek.

"Do you have a partner for the solstice ball Namjoon?" Leila blurted, somehow focusing enough to remember her long list of tasks.

Jimin slammed himself up from the table, not glancing back as he walked away. The princess rolled her eyes, glad that whatever bit his ass was forcing him to go to his rooms. The rest of them were having a good time.

The man blanched, his elation fading, "Oh, as much as I am flattered princess, I already have someone in mind. Also I think Taehyung would cancel more feedings if we were to show up together, and we are already quite famished—"

Leila laughed loudly, the man flinching back from her more. She held up her hands in surrender.

"Namjoon, I meant for Lily."

"Oh." His paled face had now become flushed, his eyes not able to meet her own.

That was answer enough for Leila. Though his intentions with her friend had been obvious before. Again, luckily she had convinced the girl not to come.

"Oh, yes. I know you had her in mind. But sadly, she can't read yours. You need to ask her before someone else steals her. I know Ivan from the town she visited was also thinking about asking her."

Ivan didn't exist. But Namjoon didn't need to know that.

That shyness turned into manly determination, "Someone else?"

"She wants you to ask her." Leila emphasized, her eyes widening knowingly. Hopefully, convincing him to make the first move.

The man looked down at his lap, smiling wide. As if he couldn't believe what Leila had told him.

She was going to spend more time convincing him, when she lifted her head and peered into the hallway from the open iron doors. Something catching her eye.

A shadow, from outside the hall, peering in.

"I'll be right back." Leila said to Namjoon, anyone, before moving from her seat.

Leila walked out, some of her hair sticking to her slightly dewy skin. Her chest rising and falling rapidly to the beat of the music that still beckoned her. The coldness of the stone hallway and the distance from the fire felt too good.

She looked to her left, to her right. Sighing with frustration that there was no person outside at all.

I thought, I felt-

She had thought she smelled that faint scent of snowy pine. Of mahogany.

Her heart squeezed as she turned, close to the wall as she headed back into the fete hall. It must be the honey meade.

Leila thought, before the world turned black. She was pulled by warmth, from that open door into the darkness of an indented wall to the right. The princess barely had time to process, as she was taken into shadow, pressed harshly against someone's hot and hard front. Their bodies completely melded together, his grasp on her too tight to break out of.

Someone. Someone that smelt like pine, and mahogany. Whose familiar breath trailed along her skin as he breathed harshly from her fight down her neck. Who stood taller than her, curled around her. Whose wide hand spread from her sternum to the flat of her stomach, the other wrapped around her shoulder.

She stopped struggling when she felt cold edge of the blade kissing her neck.

"You're slacking princess." Taehyung tsked into her ear, taunting her.

Taehyung.

Leila slid her hand into the strap enveloping her leg. The trained fighter unsheathed her knife, maneuvering it so that the blade brushed against his inner thigh. The point scraping along his groin. His quick intake of breath brushed against her ear. His chest pressed into her back harder. Cherry wine, she scented. He'd been drinking a lot of it.

"I am not the only one."

The prince laughed darkly, letting his blade fall from her neck. The sound reverberated in her bones, her thighs. They hadn't been this close in days. And instead of wanting to push him away, she only wanted to sink into him.

To watch his face, as silver spread across her neck. To actually cut into his thigh, cut away the materials covering the muscles. Her body felt degrees hotter, scorched. She willed that fire, to be put towards the anger she should be feeling.

It must be the mead.

"I only allowed you to aim your knife at me, because I found pleasure in it." Taehyung stated, having to have the last word.

Leila lifted her chin, disgruntled and thrown off course from her previous celebratory mood. Caught off guard because she had not expected his presence, had not prepared for it. Had not expected him to threaten her with a blade either. The prince pushed against her back with one hand, giving him enough space to escape out from the alcove in the stone wall.

Watching as the man slowly sauntered in front of her, playing with the blade in his hand as if he didn't just threaten her with it. It flashed into her eyes with every twist, as it caught both faint moonlight and a flicker of flame from the lamps around them.

She waited, holding her breath as his dark eyes took her in through the shadow of the hallway. The prince stepped closer, eyeing her. A raven perched on a branch, from his height above her. It had been very apparent now that the man was drunk. His usually elegant movements, more lethargic. Untamed. Unruly. His raven hair slightly longer and wavy, flushed around his head. As if he'd spent hours grabbing at the tresses. His eyes underlined with a deep violet, the lashes a black line of ink. His lips were swollen and wine stained, his fangs brushing against his bottom lip with every arrogant smirk. Even his black clothes were tousled, open. The silver chain he wore glinting against the smooth expanse of his collar bones, his chest.

Her heart still throbbed in her chest from him holding her from behind. The reminder of what his flesh felt like, a ghost against her. It sputtered painfully when he spoke casually, like their wasn't so much unspoken between them, "Red at a trial...a daring choice. Was your intention to distract every cold-blooded male in the vicinity?"

So he did notice? Taehyung trailed from her face, to the dress, and then to the crown atop her head. Darkening. Yes, he did indeed.

Leila let him walk closer. Close enough to count individual lashes, to see the beauty mark on the tip of his nose. To see the blue in his dark black hair.

Leave him. Show him you do not want him.

She bit on her tongue, tasting the iron tang of blood. Wake up. Wake up. When he took his knife, pressing even closer to her. Smiled at her riled expression, at the heaving of her chest. Up and down.

Then ran the sharp point down the front of her chest, grazing skin and fabric. Purposefully brushing against one apex of her breast.

Leila's breath caught, the cold bite of it making her arch only slightly when passing the most sensitive part of her flesh. She tried her best to hide her reaction to the sensation, but anger was too close to passion to discern. Especially when his glittering, inebriated eyes were less veiled in their hunger than they had been in days. When her own vulnerability from the honey drink lay her heat bare to him, every emotion swirling in silver pools of light.

The prince missed nothing. His mouth lifted at the corner, eyes brighter. Satisfied.

But her body's reaction to him did not matter.

Was his purpose here only to toy with me? Find proof that I still desire him? Does he not care when he is drunk to stay away?

Leila gritted her teeth, staring him down and ignoring the ache within, "Did I need to be aware, when you were just going to send Aera to go kill her mate anyways?"

Aera had confirmed what she already assumed. Yet the prince revealed nothing, only taking a small step away from her. An incredulous mask now tied to his face, "Ignis, please. What you speak of is blasphemy and I would never do what you accuse me of. Taken an interest in Namjoon now that we're done, have you? Hmm, what about Hoseok? Or is it still Jimin? Garnett hadn't been wrong about that, gods rest his soul."

Leila was a flame. Blue, and hotter than the rest. They had spent days not talking, the only times had been insulting.

And this is what he decides to say? After peering at them like a sullen ghost. After choosing to keep her away, rather than to solve their problems together.

"And what about Aera?" Leila blurted, her body electrified as she did. She hadn't meant to say that, but rage had made her sloppy. Even though Aera had confirmed their talk was only of practical matters...

Leila could not forget that brush of bronze against the pale. Jade and black and dark and all things perfect and pretty. A Queen none would have objected to.

His arrogant amusement blanked. His taller body stilling, his hands tightened into firsts. Instead, an expression closer to the rage she felt within took over. A darkness that she'd rarely seen. Understated, in that he never showed it. It seeped from within him, a spill of storm cloud blotting across a midnight sky.

"Ah, let me rephrase. It's a crime as a prince to meet with one's subject for civil matters. It is entirely more righteous for a princess to end up in bed with said prince's best friend not only a day and night after they ended things. Better yet, the princess and the best friend have already kissed. Touched. Even thought you claim it is one sided, even he had comforted you to fall sleep and knew the exact moment to attach to you in your grief, and you held onto him even tighter when I arrived" Taehyung's stoic countenance broke, as he seethed the next words, embers blazing in his dark irises, "But fuck the prince, right? Who came to find him warming your bed?"

I do not want to hear this.

Leila could not take it. Her breath trembled. Hands unsteady. Heart beating like a running horse. Because yes, he did feel for her. This confession made so painfully, dreadfully undeniable. But it was not enough, not enough unless she flaunted a man before him to say anything.

What would he do? Send her away, wish her abstinent while he wallows? What the fuck did he want, if it was not her?

Leila lowered her voice, "Who the hell do you think you think you are?"

Taehyung took no pause, his lips shaping the words effortlessly. Firmly. "Your prince."

"You're nothing to me."

The prince just laughed, though it appeared as a grimace in the passing shadows of the dark hallway. Dismissing her words. Prowling before her, as he addressed her with his ingloriously unaffected tone.

"I heard the servants gossiping. Be careful with Jimin so close. He made his bite hurt you on purpose. Made you writhe with pain when he could have made it bliss."

A bit of information she already knew. A bit of information, he neglected to tell her until this very moment. Just to get under her skin.

"Mind your tongue." She bit out, a command of a princess.

Faster than she could track with her eyes, he was upon her. Pressing her flush up against the freezing wall behind her, with a controlled gentleness that only showed the beginning of his strength. Leila gasped against his mouth, his dark eyes consuming her. His hand wrapped around the ends of her long hair, pulling. Pulling so that slowly she was forced to stare up at him, her neck open and vulnerable.

"I never made it hurt for you, did I?" Taehyung spoke, a lover's inquiry. One that branded her, changed her. The prince groaned as her body flushed closer to his, using his grip on her long hair to do so. Eyes nearly black as they opened to find her own again. He whispered out a husky, desire soaked promise, "I would make it so good for you Ignis."

(A/n: I gotta stop ruining the flow...but that was the Tae line for me...outsold because he was NOT talking about biting her. He lost the plot, and made it better. It's so 🥴)

His words, his voice left her weak at the knees. Her body falling a bit, but he wrapped an arm around her. Keeping her upright against the wall.

Ignis.

Find the strength, Leila.

She was drunk. Enchanted. Lost in his passion, the feel of him against her once again. Like an answer to a prayer. Leila knew, hated, that he very well could make good on that promise. Had proven his abilities as a lover, many, many times over. The name, she had found it to be teasing before. Now it was a taunt, a declaration. A challenge.

How much she had missed it on his mouth for her, and how she wished she could swallow it from him in a kiss.

Leila pulled on every last bit of will, every last reserve.

I will not let this happen again.

I will not let him take me, just to leave me.

I will not let him come back only when he feels threatened, if it is not for good.

"You have hurt me." Leila whispered back, though not in anger.

She watched the smoldering emotions turn to ash within him. His face falling from the sky, "I know."

The man backed away, pulling his grip off of her. And if she hadn't been drinking, she would have sworn she saw deep shame on that royal face. Silence stretched between them, only the sound of their collectively harsh breathing.

It was her only chance left to reach him, without other tactics. To just talk to him. Their ending had been so abrupt. He hadn't even given her the time to talk to him, to comfort him. Even as friends would. Knowing he more than likely had been dealing with it all alone. But she knew if she tried to bring up the King and Sorina directly, and how he felt, he would run away.

He began to pace nervously before her, but she wouldn't let him escape to his mind. The princess stepped before him, forcing him to stop and look at her. Every glance at her from him seemed pained.

"Tell me why you're afraid. Tell me why you think we can't last through this together. Why we are better like this, at odds. At each other's throats." Leila questioned, begged for an answer.

The prince only furrowed his brows, taking a step away from her. "You weren't there that night. You just don't know." His skin had turned a bit green, a bit paler. And it wasn't the fault of the light from the wide windows.

She stepped forward, reaching forward to grab a limp hand that had fallen by his side. He swallowed harshly as she made contact, looking down at where they touched. Leila used her hand to lift his chin, to beckon his stare back on her own. Only to find his eyes glassy, swimming with memories she did not yet know. The same look that had shown in Jeongguk's eyes, when she asked him the same.

You are suffering.

Let me in.

"Then tell me. Make me understand. Explain everything. The massacre. Explain why you think pushing me away will somehow save me."

"I don't want to talk about it."

The harshness colored his voice. Made him pull away. He stepped back into the shadow, turned his head to the side so that she could only see his profile.

"Why?" Leila felt her chest shudder, knowing that even in this moment, he did not trust her. Not enough.

The prince let out a deep breath, his voice rising in frustration as he turned back to face her, "Because every time I do, I relive it. And who is to say I know? When I have been misled about certain parts of my life, living a lie that I full-heartedly believed. I would've sworn my life on it, on what I thought was the truth. Surely you understand that at least, Leila. I can't let what happened, happen again. Not to you."

His voice broke at the end. An emotion he had meant to hide. He was lost, because he was navigating everything by himself. Leila could help, sort out his memories with him. But he was too afraid to let her be close to him, if that meant losing her.

Leila paused, taking him in. The princess felt his grief, his mourning. Felt it as if it were her own. She clutched as her chest, wishing she could rip it out of her. That she could take what he was feeling, and will it away. Absorbing it all into herself. She just wanted to take that hurt away for him.

"It won't."

"You don't know that."

"You don't know that it will."

Taehyung worked his jaw, stalking close to her again. Peering down at her with wild eyes, his torment finally bursting forth, "Do you think this is easy for me? To choose to do what is right by you? Even when I so badly want to be wrong, to do the wrong thing to you, with you-" He shuddered, stopping the words, settling himself once again. Leila took in a deep breath unable to let it go, waiting. Watching as he let go of all pretense, his eyes softening as he revealed himself to her in a soft voice, forged from heaven instead of hell, "It's not enough. I just need you here on this earth, and that's enough for me. Whether I'm with you are not. Don't you see? You deserve to live. You deserve to feel and touch and mourn all the things you were kept from before. You deserve to cry, to feel sadness, to hate and make mistakes, and to most of all love. You and only you. And I don't care if I have to break your heart to make that possible because you will outlive me. You will experience everything you should. You're not a god, you're a woman, an amazing, intelligent, breathtaking woman who needs not to sacrifice herself to make the world better. You make the world better by just existing. And without you, this-" The prince paused, his laugh a snarky croak. Disbeleiving as he held out his arms, peering around the castle. Gesturing inside the fete hall, at his court, at his friends. Settling his gaze on her once again, his voice so quiet she had to strain to hear, "This all means nothing."

His beautiful words, the beautiful, pretty prince with his pretty, soft words. They should repair every piece of her. But they did not.

She remembered Jimin's words. Of how feelings could create, could destroy.

And she couldn't help but wonder, if she destroyed the prince.

A man who had wanted a better world. Who cared about his kingdom, his ruling. Who wanted to conquer fate with her. Who stood up to his own father, the King, no matter whether it was misplaced. Who often did things to fuck with Tenebris, a regime that could have fought them years ago and won. Who was not afraid to change history, to disobey his own court openly in order to improve their customs. To be better.

Where had this man gone?

Leila shook her head, her voice trembling as she took a step towards him, "I haven't done anything remarkable. I'm useless, compared to everyone else's powers that actually helps people. I gave up on fulfilling my end of the curse, and bringing the sun back the way it was meant to be, for you. And now for myself. We had a chance, Taehyung. We had a chance together to figure this out. To find a way to break the curse without you having to kill me. And you gave up. You have given up on everything."

Leila wasn't sure, if she wanted to live in a world without him. Without his court. Without this cold, wintery kingdom she had come to love. Even if people would view them as abominations, she did not. She saw herself as no worthy over them, over anyone else.

Why did he?

The man shook his head, more dark hair falling into his eyes. His voice shaky as he ranted, "Because together we are distracted. Too caught up in each other to realize what rival truly wishes to face us. This curse doesn't want to be broken. And it is clear to me now, if Sorina and my father—"

"Not if, were."

"Sorina and my father were in love. And maybe they had figured out a way to stay alive and help everyone else. And whoever else is involved knew that, prevented it from occurring. Or maybe the gods themselves intervened. But if I just stay away from you..."

Leila did not want to hear anything more from the prince. Because how could she tell him? That she would've rather died by his side than live without him when he did not feel the same. That it made all the sense in the world, for him to be good to her. To keep her at an arms length while they separately worked to figure out information about the curse. To come together when the time was right, whenever he regretted it too much.

Leila didn't want sense. Didn't want good. She never did when it came to him.

Fight for me, damn it.

Damn the gods.

Wait for me to have more dreams, to see if there are pieces we are missing. What if Sorina and the King had lived so long with the curse because they had each other? What if you are wrong for keeping me away?

All the thoughts swirled in her mind. Leading her to one conclusion.

He did not care enough to find out.

Leila let her voice be void of emotion, settled stone in her gaze, "You said it yourself, that I wasn't worth it. To stay together. To see if things could be different for us."

Tell me differently.

Tell me I am wrong.

"I did. I told you, I never wanted you to end up like Sorina." Taehyung said back, as if that was answer enough.

But she had, hadn't she? Falling for the man who was destined to kill her. That is what tore at the Prince. He had tried so hard, just to unknowingly end up in the same predicament.

But it wouldn't be the same. Leila would prove it to him.

"What about what I want?" She cornered him.

Taehyung took one long glance at her, his mouth settling into a stubborn line,"Do you really want me? Or does the curse will it so? Does the curse cause madness? Because that is all I can say from that night. It was pure chaos. A fucking blood bath. And love and friendship and loyalty stood no chance against what the curse, or the deities wanted. Nothing did."

"Ask yourself the same question then, Prince." Leila seethed his title, telling him this conversation was over. That her patience had thinned, the tide pulling it back.

Taehyung accepted it, though his tone remained silky as ever, "It doesn't matter. Ignis. If the sun ever shines again, I want you to see it."

That damn name.

Leila bit the inside of her cheek, causing a different type of pain. To distract from that name on his lips making her want to cry. To run into his arms, to make sure he never let go.

"Tell me why you call me Ignis. Please. I want to know." Her voice sounded much too desperate, and right as the words left her she wanted to take them all back.

He had wanted to tell her before. And she denied him. Why did I deny him? Leila couldn't help but believe if she had allowed him to, things would be different now.

But the prince of the eclipse was back under lock and key, the cherry wine doing nothing to break his icy resolve, "It doesn't matter now. Because there is no us."

Leila would've rather he slit her throat minutes ago. She took a step backward, even though she saw regret flash hot in his onyx eyes. Even as he took a step forward her, his hand outreached.

"You're right, there isn't." Leila said in a lofty manner, pausing, "Because I don't find you to be worth it either." She drilled her stare into the prince, hoping her eyes felt like every press of that knife she had once bore into his chest, "And I am better off when your weakness isn't holding me back."

The princess turned, taking every bit of wrath and love and hatred and sorrow she felt. Thinking of dancing, of her sister, of the warmth of that room. To hold it all in. To not fall apart. She adjusted the crown at the top of her head, feeling her lip begin to tremble.

The goddess of spring does not cry.

"I know." Taehyung whispered feebly, though Leila was already too far gone to hear.

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(A/N: THIS CHAPTER OOOOOOOOO so good. I am so annoying I swear I am humble I just straight up created this novel because I love reading so much, and I feel like this story is something I would personally love to read. I am lowkey jealous of you guys for not knowing what happens yet

Sorry that there was a lot of dialogue.

Only one more chapter, and then there is the ball, which is obviously a big event for the book cuz I won't literally STFU about it.

TAEHYUNHGGGGG I keep saying it but OBSESSED. Him?? THE KNIFE??? M'am. Please. I need water. I honestly thought it was funny as shit that his pov is all lovey dovey and self deprecating and he doesn't know how to deal with it so then he ends up looking like a psycho to Leila.

Next chapter...you guys are going to love it. There's this one part I can't wait to write cuz all of us are going to find it weirdly hot. Also there are going to be big reveals. Big. HUGE.

More obsessed with Leila tho hahah. I told you guys she is playing the game. She majorly suspects Lily and Jimin, and knows she can use this time away from Taehyung to discover more. She also loves them as friends, so she is hoping for the best. Like double playing them, but if they are in the clear, she doesn't want them to know they were ever suspects.

Also I really like Aera. I like to use popular tropes and turn them on their head. She was just a "jealous bitch" at first, but often it can be a misogynistic trope. I like that her story is more surrounded around Leila and herself instead of Taehyung. But will she find love?