Same Memory || Another Story

→• The New Leventis

She could not.

The guard opened the door with effortless grace and gestured silently for her to go in.

She wanted to throw up.

Inside, the room unfolded like a painting brought to life. Velvet curtains framed high windows, light catching on rows of polished armor and crest-bearing standards. The royal family was seated already-Queen, King, Crown Princess, and the princes. Their advisors flanked them in quiet attention, along with notable figures from the Chou and Kim families.

And they were all staring.

At her.

Y/N's fight-or-flight kicked in with a vengeance. Any windows? No? Back door? Hidden passageway? Trap door??

"Miss Lin," the Queen said, voice calm and crystal clear. "We're glad to finally meet you."

Yn jerked forward, bowing deep-too deep-her back cracking audibly in the silence. Fantastic. Now they all knew she lifted zero weights and probably had the spine of a sea sponge.

"The-the pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty," she managed, cheeks already burning.

"Please, no need for formalities. Take a seat," the Queen said with a kind smile.

Y/N gave a mini bow, then lowered herself into the nearest empty chair... which happened to be dead center in the horseshoe of royal gazes. She sat stiffly, trying not to look like a criminal on trial.

As she adjusted her sleeves, a sharp twinge shot up her right arm. That same weird, stinging ache again-like a wasp had chosen her nerves for target practice. She winced slightly and rubbed the spot.

The Queen noticed.

"We called you here today to discuss your journey," she began. "The Rhodon Queendom is under siege from their neighbors, the Melaina Kingdom."

At her nod, one of the advisors stood and unfurled a scroll.

"The Melaina Kingdom has begun a campaign of expansion, recklessly conquering neighboring territories. They've now declared war on Rhodon, a Queendom unequipped for prolonged defense. They lack a proper military, unlike our own or the Cleisthenes Kingdom."

Another advisor rose, voice grim. "The distance is our enemy. The nearest reinforcements would take ten days to reach Rhodon. Melaina will likely flatten the entire Queendom in two. If we underestimate their powers, which are unknown for the moment. "

Y/N's brows creased. Her concern was real-who wouldn't worry about an entire country being wiped off the map-but she didn't understand why she was in the room.

She wasn't a strategist. She wasn't even passing algebra.

Thankfully, Nayeon voiced the exact thought she was having. "But, Mom... what does any of this have to do with Y/N?"

Bless you, Nayeon, Y/N thought. Best timing ever.

The Queen's gaze sharpened. "Because the Leventis must be informed of the world's unrest."

The Leventis?

Yn scanned the room. No one looked like a god-tier chosen one.

"Didn't the last Leventis die like, recently?" Seokjin asked, raising a brow. "And the next one's supposed to be what-three years old?"

Confusion didn't even begin to cover what Y/N was feeling.

Then the double doors creaked open again.

In walked Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, the Park siblings, the Myoui twins, the Chous, Sana, Momo-and Dahyun.