Cut the strings and set me free

Part 3- a puppet tied to countless strings

And I fall away to the lull of low reverberations and steady steps that sweep me into the shadows.

----

I sob as my stomach spasms, heaving into the sink, body shuddering and painfully twitching with each hurl as my stomach upends and empties itself. Tears rolling down from under shut eyelids, head pounding and feeling utterly miserable as the pained jolts wrack my body.

There's a rap of knuckles at the door.

"Your Highness I'm coming in." a firm male voice calls just as I hear one of my ladies protest, but the door swings open bringing with the male, a gust of fresh cool air that brushes teasingly against my heated skin.

He makes a noise low in his throat, a sympathetic sound, as he walks over, scooping my hair back and rubbing my back as I continue to be sick, the dizziness heavy and strong as the world spins, my hands keeping me up as I grip the edge of the sink.

"This is why you don't down hard liquor. No matter how bad you're feeling." Seokie grits out, voice tight and barely restrained with protective anger.

But he continues to support me through it, even as I hear him mutter how this above his payroll, how the head guard needs a protection detail from this.

But despite all his grumbling he doesn't leave and once I feel like my stomach is empty, body drained and unable to drag myself upright, his hands tighten around my waist and he slowly draws me out, taking me not towards the space where I can flop onto a long chaise and receive attendance of whoever had been on the other side of the doors but instead draws me back to bed, lips tight as he draws the blankets over me, helping me recline against the pillows in a seated position.

"Princess you cannot even move unaided." He grits out, frowning when he notes how heavy my breathing is, taking in the sight of my clammy skin, sweat beading at my temples.

"Not now Seokie...I must go out to receive my visitors." I say, trying to tug myself out of my blankets and clutching my head when the movement sends pain jolting through my head, skull splintering.

"Not now (Y/N)." He echoes, sighing when he stands up straight, drawing a handkerchief from his lapel pocket, fully dressed and body stiff- slipping into the role of my protector, my guard- slight tenderness seeping out as he dabs at my face.

"Stay here, I shall see if their presences are mandatory." He says walking out.

I groan as I sink into the pillows, reaching out for my hand mirror, frowning at the pale clamminess to my skin, to the dark circles that are unhidden- blatant to see and my hair braided back by Seokie, a purple ribbon keeping it away.

And Hoseok frowns when he returns, jaw tight as he steps aside for Jimin and Tae to rush in, eyes wide as they take in my state and move close.

"Gods above (Y/N), what happened?" Tae exclaims without any preamble, voice low and thick with shock, clothes looking as if he's tugged them on in a haste, buttons mismatched and linen shirt billowing around him rather than its usual snug fit, tucked into his breeches.

I feel my heart shatter at the sight of them, at the concern in their gazes and words, even as I crave it, long for it.

Even as I wish that I could hold onto that comfort, that worry for my entire life.

"Nothing, I'm just feeling under the weather." I reply, trying to dismiss it, startling when Jimin frowns as his hand draws my chin towards him, to face him- from my peripheral I see Seokie step forward, hand resting on the pommel of his sword. But he doesn't intervene.

Carefully monitors the situation, body tightly coiled- a spring ready to be unleashed.

"Don't lie. You have terrible shadows under your eyes, you haven't been sleeping well." He accuses, thumb brushing under the delicate skin, a brief caress that threatens to push the cry out of my mouth, biting down on my tongue to stop the pained sound from slipping.