A/N
Ok guys I'm so excited for this chapter because we get to see all of the members and their ~motives~ for wanting to marry you.😏😏 Also just to let you know I switch POVs in this chapter so look out for that. Enjoy!
Y/n POV
"You've slept much too long y/n!" Ida's voice awoke you from your deep slumber.
You sat up in your bed, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes. "That was the best I've slept in a long time." You yawned. It was true. You had slept long and without interruption.
"I'm glad but darling the ball is tonight you need to start getting ready!"
"I haven't even had breakfast, Ida." You whined.
"There's no time, child! There's too much to do!"
She wasn't lying, either. From the moment your feet touched the cool floor of your bedroom, you were rushed around in order to prepare for the ball. A new dress had been made just for the occasion, so you started the day by being pricked with needles as they made sure it fit perfectly. It was a breathtaking dress. It was a deep emerald color with gold etching along the torso. The sleeves were only connected to the dress under the armpits leaving your collar bones and shoulders exposed. You silently hoped it wouldn't be too cold. The sleeves were long and flared, covering your hands when your arms were by your side, and flowing behind you as you walked.
Your stomach growled as the final touches were made to the dress, but before you could even mention lunch, you were whisked away to another part of the castle for your attendants to bathe you.
3rd person POV
While y/n was washed, brushed, and powdered in every way possible, on the other side of the castle the suitors readied themselves for a competitive night of capturing the young princess's heart. The men shuffled around their respective rooms, sharing conversation with the people that accompanied them on their journeys to the castle.
The man named Kim Taehyung, who had broken the rules and engaged with the princess the night before, paced through his room, discussing his brief encounter with the princess.
"I hope I didn't startle her too much last night. I got a little excited. She was prettier than I expected her to be." He smiled slightly at the tall, skinny man standing several feet from him.
"I'm glad, maybe it'll make it easier to woo her."
Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Yeah but what I'm saying, uncle, is that I think I could actually get feelings for her."
Without warning Taehyung's uncle approached him with heavy and quick steps. The small smirk fell from Taehyung's face as his uncle raised his finger at him. "I don't care if she resembles the pig in the back of the butcher's shop!" Taehyung was taken aback by his uncle's stern words. "You know why you need to be the one to win her heart."
Taehyung looked to the floor, feeling guilty for thinking of himself. He pulled on his dress shoes, hoping that no one would notice that they were worn through to the point of almost no sole. Although Taehyung and his family boasted a picture of wealth and grace, hard times had fallen on their financial situation, and little to no money was left in the Kim name.
To be completely honest, Taehyung didn't want to come and court the princess, but his father and uncle forced him to the moment that they found out the princess would be wed soon. They needed the money, and bad. But Taehyung would never let anyone know that. He was on a mission to uphold his family's affluent reputation and win the princess's heart.
He acknowledged the fact that he had been blessed with a handsome face, but silently hoped that the princess could see past that and fall in love with his soul. Taehyung believed in true love, and despite being a lord who was expected to marry well, he had always wanted love in his future. But he knew it didn't matter. He had to be the one the princess chose. If he wasn't, it meant ruin for his family.
His uncle straightened his sleeves and pushed back any hair that came out of place in his fit of anger. "You will make the princess fall in love with you and marry you." He looked at a slightly fearful Taehyung with dark eyes. "If you fail then you will not be welcomed back at home."
While Taehyung received a reminder as to why he had come in the first place, a man named Park Jimin pulled on his expensive and lavish dress coat in chambers not too far away. "I heard she's pretty."
Sir Jimin turned to look at his older sister who sat in the corner of the room. "I heard she's beautiful." Jimin responded. "Why else do you think I would come all the way here?"
His sister stood, elegantly. She would also be attending the ball wearing a simple but gorgeous nonetheless gown. "I don't know, Jimin," his sister spoke coolly. "The rumors may be false. Why would a princess of a kingdom not be wed at age 18? Most princesses in her situation would be married at 15 or 16." Jimin scoffed at his sister's argument but let her continue. "Maybe she's ugly and that's why she's not yet wed."
Jimin straightened his coat. "No, that's just not true. I knew a nobleman who returned from the castle after trying to court her who claimed she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. The only problem was that she refused to speak to him."
"Hm." His sister hummed. "She's emotionally unavailable?"
"I can't imagine she's been treated very well by her parents because of her being the biggest disappointment in the kingdom."
"Just because she's a woman?" His sister mocked, but her tone seemed slightly offended. Jimin nodded to her. "You're probably right but that's absolute bullshit. Women can do great things too."
Jimin raised his eyebrows. "Well, she has to marry a great man now," he looked at himself in the mirror, content with his appearance. "And that great man will be me."
As Jimin and his sister continued their banter, one hall over, the youngest of the suitors spoke to his attendant.
"I'm excited." His smile was bright, and his motives were clean. Lord Jeon Jungkook was here because he wanted to fall in love. "I've never been to a ball this big, and I can't wait to see what this princess looks like."
His attendant watched him from his closet as he trifled through the different outfits Sir Jungkook had packed. "Do you remember what you've been taught?" The attendant asked.
Jungkook sighed. "I promise I won't make of a fool of myself. You and my father alike have this convoluted theory that I'm some screw up who will embarrass the family."
"Honestly, my lord, their worries do carry some weight. You're about to meet the royal family for the first time and have a chance to wed the princess. You should take this very seriously."
Jungkook flopped down on the bed, causing his attendant to make a scolding face in regard to the wrinkles it would make in his suit. Jungkook had a tendency to make a joke of his family. Whether it was forgetting proper etiquette to saying the wrong things at the wrong time, Jeon Jungkook was sent to the castle with strict orders to make the princess fond of him, and not to make a mockery of his family. Jungkook knew of his family's concern but felt that being himself would be the best way to the princess's heart. As an 18-year-old princess who had not yet married, Jungkook had the feeling she wasn't one to fall for fake personas and cheesy pick-up lines.
"What will you say to her when you are introduced?" The attendant asked as he tossed Jungkook's shoes onto the bed.
Jungkook smiled at the thought. "I don't know yet. I want it to be something that will make me stand out from the other men. Maybe something funny."
"Definitely not something funny." The attendant mumbled.
Jungkook gazed over at him in annoyance. "I'll know what to say when the time comes. I just know it."
The attendant sighed.
Meanwhile, only two rooms over, a very different conversation was happening between a man named Min Yoongi and the man who accompanied him.
"Remember why we came." The short, pale man sitting in the corner hissed. "This isn't just some vacation for you to enjoy." He spat.
Yoongi looked in the mirror with an emotionless face. "I know why I'm here you don't have to remind me." Yoongi turned around purposefully. "I'm not an imbecile."
"Don't be sour, Lord Yoongi, your father sent me, his trusted councilor, to keep you on track with your mission."
Yoongi pulled on his dress jacket and played with his hair in the mirror. "Remind me," he started. "Does father even want me to give the princess an ounce of attention?"
The councilor sat back in his seat, silently content with the fact that the boy needed his help to go over the mission. "He said he doesn't care. Keep in mind, you are not here for the girl. Just to keep surveillance on the castle before..." He trailed off looking around the room, worried about eavesdroppers.
"I understand." Yoongi didn't make him finish.
Min Yoongi was the son of the most powerful lord in the kingdom, he naturally desired more. And so did his father. He knew why he was here. He was executing a plan that was in the making for quite a while. He bit his cheeks as his mind wondered to the princess. He couldn't help but be curious about her. But that wasn't his objective. He erased her from his mind and continued to get ready. There wasn't any time for daydreaming about princesses.
While Sir Yoongi finished getting ready for the ball, in other part of the castle, Sir Kim Seokjin, or Jin as most people called him, snacked on a bowl of nuts in his chambers.
Jin had been ready for the ball for almost an hour now, and just waited for the time that the castle bells would ring, signaling for the gathering to begin. Jin had traveled to the castle alone and started to regret it. He silently wished he had brought along an attendant, or even his younger brother, but that would have meant the long carriage ride here would have been filled with the awkward small talk that Jin most despises in this world. He liked traveling alone, but now, sitting in his assigned castle chambers, teaming with anxiety, he didn't think the small talk would be so bad.
Jin had heard from castle servants when he arrived that he was the oldest suitor coming to try for the princess's hand. He was surprised at that fact because he wasn't that old but was grateful that it gave him an edge. It was something about him that would be noteworthy to the princess. He was here genuinely hoping that he would find the princess's company enjoyable and maybe be the one she picks to marry, but he dreaded the inevitable conversation regarding his past. He at least hoped not to have that conversation tonight.
While Jin stayed in his chambers, silently awaiting the beginning of the ball, Lord Kim Namjoon rushed around his room. He had gotten a late start on getting ready and was worried he'd be behind schedule.
"Have you seen my socks? I can't find them anywhere?" Namjoon threw the contents of his travel case behind him as he searched.
Namjoon's older brother, who had decided to attend the ball with him, was already busy looking for his brother's undershirt when Namjoon called this plea for help. "You packed so much stuff!" His brother retorted. "How can none of it be socks?"
"If I have to go to the ball without socks, I'll be a laughingstock."
"You'll never win the princess's heart without socks, Joon," his brother joked.
"This isn't funny," Namjoon looked through the pile again. "It would be a horrible first impression for the princess."
His brother stood, giving up on his search and falling into a chair. "I thought you didn't even care about what the princess thought. I thought you just wanted to see the castle and were perfectly fine with marrying one of the noble girls back home."
"That's where you're wrong, dear brother." Namjoon straightened his back from his hunched over position, having found his undershirt. "I've come to realize this is much more than just a sightseeing trip. If I can manage to make the princess fall in love with me, I get to be king."
"You're just realizing this now?" The brother chuckled.
"Of course, I always knew that, but seeing for myself the wealth and power the royal family possesses, I can't help but feel jealous. I want it more than I ever thought I would. To raise our family's status like this," Namjoon shook his head excitedly. "I would go down in history."
"You're sure ambitious."
Namjoon looked into the mirror making eye contact with himself. "I sure am."
"We'll see how ambitious of a suitor you are without socks." His brother mumbled.
Little did they know, down several levels of the castle in the knight's quarters, another man also stared into his own eyes in the mirror.
Hoseok stood looking at his fanciest knight's uniform, hoping it would catch y/n's eye as he accompanied her tonight. His mind wondered to the suitors. He imagined how he would compare to them. Could he beat them in a fight? Were they more handsome than him? More charming? He felt a ping of jealously but shook his head at the thought. He was just a knight, nothing more. There was nothing noble about him and therefore he could never be with the princess. He felt frustrated and angry. These men didn't even know her but now she was going to be forced to marry one of them. She had known him for years and years and she wasn't even allowed to look at him as a possible suitor.
It wasn't fair. He knew almost everything about her. Even when they were apart, he would ask the servants constantly about her. Was she doing well? Was she happy? She was his best friend. He had always known he'd loved her, but to him it was always an older brother kind of love. Now, after seeing her again and realizing she had grown into a headstrong, beautiful woman, it was hard to deny those feelings had turned romantic.
He worried about the suitor's motives. Did they only want her for her status? For her wealth? She was so much more than all those things. His mind raced with thoughts until he was interrupted by the sound everyone had been waiting for. The castle bells began to ring.
All throughout the castle, the suitor's heads turned in the direction of their chamber windows. The sound rang all through the castle grounds and seeped into the villages nearby. It sent shivers down manys backs as it was the first time in a long time those bells had rung. You heard it from your chambers and felt goosebumps run down your arms.
The suitors began to emerge from their chambers and head towards the ballroom. The castle bustled and rushed with people. Both guests attending the ball and servants working it hustled about to get to where they needed to be.
Suitor or not, everyone was excited to see the princess. She was a great mystery to most of the kingdom and caused a thick layer of excitement to coat the crowd. It didn't take too long for the grand ballroom to fill with fluttering gowns and expensive suits. The smell of food washed over the room as a table was covered with tasty and steaming food. The ballroom was grand. Just what you would expect in a royal castle. It made the shape of a long rectangle with gold chandeliers hanging, lighting up the room brightly. On one end were the doors that reached all the way up to the incredibly high celling. One wall was covered with doors that lead out to a large patio, overlooking the sea. The other wall had a small upper level to look out into the room. On the other side, parallel to the entrance, was a grand staircase. You would be standing at the top of it to meet your suitors.
As the ballroom was almost at its capacity, Sir Taehyung made eye contact with Sir Namjoon from across a few people. Taehyung could immediately tell he was another suitor and vice versa. Their looks were cold, but brief.
In a similar situation, Jungkook caught eye of Yoongi. Sir Yoongi didn't seem to see Jungkook stare at first, but Jungkook got a bad feeling from looking at the older boy. Min Yoongi didn't seem nervous or fazed at all that he was about to meet the princess. Jungkook looked him up and down and felt intimidated. Jungkook concluded that the man was either very confident in himself, or something was wrong. He decided to keep an eye on him.
The energy was high, and anticipation was higher. When would the princess show her face? The room buzzed as everyone waited for the guest of honor, you.
Y/n POV
Your blood rushed through your veins at a dangerous rate. You were dressed up like a doll and had been escorted down to the small room that lead out to the top of the grand staircase in the ballroom. The doors were closed but you could already feel the hundreds of pairs of eyes on you. You felt sick, but that may have been due to the fact that you still hadn't ate anything all day. You swallowed hard.
"Princess." A familiar voice from behind you.
You turned to see one of the only people who could settle your nerves at a time like this. "Hobi." You smiled. You were surprised at his appearance. You'd never seen him in his proper knight attire. He looked very handsome.
"Are you ready?" He asked lowly as guards rushed to ready the doors for your entrance.
The music coming from inside the room made you dizzy. "No." You almost whispered.
He let out a small laugh. "Don't worry, y/n. I'll be right by your side."
You nodded and felt the blood drain from you face as you heard the ballroom go quiet. A man's voice boomed from behind the closed doors and you tried to breath evenly. "May I present to you, Princess y/full/n!"
It was time.
A/N
I hope you liked the chapter! The next chapter is sooooo exciting because we get to officially get introduced to all the boys!!! Thanks so much for reading and if you liked it remember to comment and vote!