The one you couldn't stand in the beginning.
But now, you couldn't stand to be without him.
You looked around the ballroom, into the crowd of coupled dancers swaying to and fro. You couldn't find his face anywhere. Did he leave? Where would he go to?
You suddenly knew.
You snuck out of the room, down the hall, past your room and to the library. Creaking the door open, you peaked in. Inside was Namjoon, lounging on the couch next to the fireplace and reading with those dark glasses of his. You smiled. That firelight looked so good on him.
You walked in and shut the door behind you. He didn't even look up.
"Leaving early?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same."
You sat down next to him, leaning your head over his shoulder, your chin brushing against it.
You started speaking in French. "I love your shadowy eyes, your olive skin, your tender loveliness..."*
"You like Charles Baudelaire?"
You hummed in agreement. "Yes. Some of his poems remind me of you."
Namjoon's head shot up. He closed his book. "Didn't he write erotic poetry?"
You looked to the side. "Um, well..."
He chuckled darkly, setting the book on the table next to him along with his glasses.
You swallowed. "Why are you here, anyhow?" you asked, trying to change the subject.
He leaned back on the couch. "Dances are great for a little while. After a few hours, though, I need a break from all the people."
"Ah."
"Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see you."
His eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Oh? And what for?"
"To... um... Show off my dress."
You cringed. Yeah, that was smooth. He just spent the last few hours in the same room as you. Good choice.
When he didn't reply, you decided to keep going. "It's... by that designer that you like. I didn't know... if you knew."
You mentally slapped yourself.
He smirked. "I knew. You look beautiful in it."
You turned your head to him. His eyes were sincere.
"I thought you said I wasn't pretty." you muttered.
He sat up, bringing his face in close to yours.
"I said a lot of horrible things that day." he replied, his tone low and soft. "I'm sorry. I was angry then. I don't think that way about you, [Y/N]."
"You don't? Then what do you think of me?"
He raised his hand up to your face, curling his fingers around your neck and gently stroking your jaw with his thumb.
"I think you're intelligent..."
He pecked your lips. You didn't even realize he had until he pulled away.
"I think you're impressive..."
He pecked your lips again, a little rougher.
"And..." he paused to stare deep into your eyes. "I think you're absolutely beautiful."
His other hand snaked around your waist and pulled you in for a real kiss. He opened his mouth wide and kissed you deep, stealing your breath out of your lungs. You kissed him back, letting your hands rest on his arms as he slid his hands up your back and brought you in closer. His kisses were long and sensual. After a moment, his lips left yours, but not before he pecked you one more time.
You tried to steady your breath, your eyes still closed. "Namjoon --"
"I'm crazy about you," he admitted, still holding you close. "Be with me."
You opened your eyes, staring at him. "Do you really want me?"
He nodded, his hands running up and down your back. "I wanted to touch you like this so badly, but I knew you belonged to my brother. I couldn't come near you. Seeing anyone close to you drove me insane. But I couldn't ask for you. Even though I wanted to, I couldn't."
Something about the way he held himself back all this time was alluring. He had such a quiet strength to him. You snuggled up to his shoulder.
"You're the only one I want to be close to." you said. "Don't worry, Namjoon. I'm yours."
He nestled his nose next to your ear and sighed. "Good. I intend to keep it that way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night you declared that you were taking your place as princess. Your parents were ecstatic. Namjoon couldn't hold his smile back as he applauded you, glowing with pride. Rumors about your relationship with each other started after that night, since you never left each other's side the entire night.
You forgave Jin, and the bad blood between you dissolved. Eventually, he met a royal woman that intrigued him. Thanks to you, he was more willing to open his heart up. They were married, and she showered him with love and affection on the daily basis.
Jimin and Nara married. At first, they had a rocky relationship that Jungkook constantly butted into. Jimin became competitive at Jungkook trying to take his wife, and eventually couldn't stand the thought of her with anyone else. He treated her better from then on, and they eventually fell in love completely.
While trying to sabotage Jimin, Jungkook met Nara's cousin, who kept running interference for Jimin and Nara. In the beginning, Jungkook was constantly trying to outwit her, but she outsmarted him every time. Eventually he got so determined to beat her that he got obsessive about her. After some time, that obsession turned into romantic feelings, and he ended up marrying her.
Taehyung continued to be an assistant to Jin and Jungkook, and your very dear friend. He kept in touch after you and Namjoon married and moved away to your parents' kingdom. He visited from time to time with his wife - a cook he met at the castle not long after you left.
Hoseok took the job at the private academy and ended up marrying an instructor from a rival school. You saw him occasionally for special events. He was much happier than he had been when you first met, and you could tell that he was becoming that fun character everyone had known him as.
Yoongi was cleansed of his crimes and he rejoined Hoseok. Turns out the "exciting life" he wanted was the one he already had. He loved travelling the world and torturing Hoseok. He didn't marry, but he did put Jimin to shame on the number of women he wooed in every city he visited.
Eventually, you and Namjoon married, and you both ran your parents' kingdom. They were thrilled to have such a sweet, smart man run their country and look after you. He taught you everything you needed to know, and was a great leader for both the castle and the country. But most of all, he was your best friend and the love of your life. You were happy every time he smiled, and that never faded.
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* English translation of Autumn Song by Charles Baudelaire. Translation by Laurence Lerner.