Between Us: A Collection of Moments
"The Royal Romance" — 2
The oppressive silence in the royal meeting hall was suddenly shattered by the distant, unmistakable sound of raised voices. Ji-Cheol's ears perked up, his body going rigid as the echoes of an argument filtered through the heavy wooden doors. The voice, clear and authoritative, carried the sharp edge of impatience and command—it was the Crown Prince Hyun-Su.
Ji-Cheol's breath caught in his throat as he listened intently, the words indistinct but the tone unmistakable. The Prince's voice was firm, cutting through the muffled responses of the royal staff, who were clearly trying to placate him. The heated exchange grew louder as they approached, each step of the royal entourage bringing them closer to the meeting hall, and closer to the confrontation Ji-Cheol had been dreading.
He tensed, every muscle in his body coiled with anxiety. The casual slouch he had been trying to maintain vanished as he straightened his back, his posture now ramrod straight. His heart began to pound in his chest, each beat resounding like a drum in the quiet that had fallen over the room once more.
His manager and assistant exchanged nervous glances, the atmosphere becoming even more charged with anticipation. Ji-Cheol could feel their anxiety feeding into his own, a shared unease that no one dared voice. The CEO, Seo Ji-Hwan, too, had gone silent, his previous conversation with the head of PR, Kang So-Ra abruptly halted as they all turned their attention to the door, waiting for the inevitable.
Ji-Cheol’s eyes flickered toward the entrance, his mind racing. What could have provoked the Crown Prince to such anger? Was it something that had happened before, or was it related to the meeting they were about to have? He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry, and forced himself to maintain a calm exterior. But inside, a storm of thoughts and emotions churned, each one vying for his attention.
The hushed murmurs of the royal staff could now be heard more clearly as they neared the door, their attempts to soothe the Crown Prince seemingly in vain. The tension in the room reached a fever pitch, and Ji-Cheol’s hands, now gripping the armrests of his chair, tightened with the effort to keep himself composed.
Seconds felt like hours as they all waited, the anticipation unbearable. Ji-Cheol steeled himself, knowing that whatever was about to happen, he would need every ounce of his composure and resolve to face it. The door would open any moment now, and when it did, there would be no turning back.
The heavy wooden doors creaked open, and the room seemed to hold its breath as the Crown Prince strode in, his regal presence immediately commanding attention. His entourage of royal staff followed in close formation, their heads bowed in deference as they silently fanned out around the perimeter of the room, their movements careful and deliberate.
Ji-Cheol, along with everyone else, rose quickly from his seat. In unison, they bowed deeply, their eyes lowered in respect as the Crown Prince crossed the threshold. His footsteps echoed sharply against the polished marble floor, his leather shoes making crisp, deliberate sounds that punctuated the stillness.
The Crown Prince gave a curt nod in acknowledgment, his expression one of cool detachment, though his brow was still creased with the remnants of whatever irritation had caused his earlier outburst. Without a word, he made his way to the head of the long, ornate table, his movements fluid but marked with the weight of someone accustomed to authority. The room seemed to revolve around him, every gaze fixed on the young royal.
As he took his seat, everyone else followed suit, lowering themselves back into their chairs, though the tension still hung thick in the air.
Ji-Cheol couldn’t help but let his eyes linger on the Crown Prince for a moment longer, his mind working to analyze the man who now sat at the head of the table.
The Prince was undeniably handsome, with sharp features and a well-defined jawline that only seemed to emphasize his natural air of command. His dark, neatly styled hair framed a face that radiated sternness, his lips pressed into a thin line that gave nothing away. He had the presence of someone born to rule—elegant, poised, and unquestionably regal.
Yet, beneath that facade of authority, Ji-Cheol could see flickers of something else. His eyes, sharp and calculating, carried a glint of youthful arrogance. There was a subtle petulance in the way his fingers tapped impatiently on the table, a hint of the spoiled brat within—the Crown Prince who had likely never been denied anything in his life, accustomed to having every whim fulfilled with a snap of his fingers.
His expression may have been one of carefully crafted composure, but Ji-Cheol could see the cracks beneath it, the traces of childishness lurking just under the surface.
Despite his stern exterior, there was an almost boyish quality to him that Ji-Cheol could not ignore. It was as though the Crown Prince was still playing at being the ruler he would one day become, wearing the mask of a monarch, but not yet fully inhabiting it.
Ji-Cheol sat up straighter, his eyes briefly meeting the Prince’s before quickly averting them, knowing better than to hold the gaze of royalty for too long. He silently observed the dynamic of the room, how even the slightest movement or sound seemed to revolve around the Crown Prince’s presence.
It was clear that, despite his youth and occasional flashes of immaturity, his authority was absolute in this space.
Ji-Cheol's heart thudded in his chest, knowing that whatever was about to unfold would depend heavily on the whims of the young Prince seated before him. He steeled himself once again, preparing for whatever the Crown Prince might say next, knowing that every word could change the course of events.
As the Crown Prince settled into his seat, the weight of the situation pressed down on Ji-Cheol like an invisible force. The murmurs of the royal staff died down, and the room was once again swallowed by a thick, suffocating silence. Ji-Cheol shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his eyes flickering toward the Prince, then toward his own CEO, who still sat tense, clasping his hands tightly together.
Ji-Cheol couldn’t shake the growing feeling of unease that had been gnawing at him since the moment they were summoned to this meeting. Something was off. The Crown Prince’s earlier outburst, the sudden rush of royal staff, the meeting’s abrupt scheduling—it all felt too orchestrated, too carefully planned.
The truth had been eluding him for days now, but he could sense it—lurking in the shadows of hushed conversations and suspicious glances. All Ji-Cheol knew for certain was that he was being pulled into a web that he didn’t fully understand, and it made his skin crawl. Whatever this meeting was really about, he knew it wasn’t going to be good.
He caught a glance from his manager, who looked equally on edge, his lips pressed into a thin line. The PR head was shifting papers in front of her, her eyes scanning them with laser focus, as if preparing for a script she was about to recite. The CEO sat unnervingly still, his eyes darting between the Crown Prince and Ji-Cheol, silently preparing himself for whatever this was.
Then the Crown Prince spoke, his voice low but firm, laced with the authoritative tone that only came from years of absolute deference.
Hyun-Su
Thank you all for coming,
He began, though his eyes never left Ji-Cheol.
Hyun-Su
We have a situation that requires… delicate handling.
Ji-Cheol’s pulse quickened. He knew that "delicate" in royal speak usually translated to "explosive." He swallowed hard, his throat dry, as the Crown Prince continued.
Hyun-Su
There are rumors, scandals, that have been circulating among the public. Unfavorable attention has been drawn to certain… affairs within the royal family and the government. As you all know, the stability of the monarchy, and by extension, the government, is paramount.
Ji-Cheol clenched his jaw, biting back the questions that threatened to spill from his lips. He knew better than to interrupt royalty. But even as the Crown Prince spoke, his words began to unravel the truth that had been carefully kept from Ji-Cheol.
This wasn’t about him. It wasn’t about some relationship. It was a ploy—a grand spectacle designed to divert the attention of the public. Something darker, something far more damaging, was brewing behind the royal curtains. The rumors about the Crown Prince’s scandalous behavior, the government’s involvement in secretive affairs—all of it was too close to the surface. They needed something bigger to distract the public, something more salacious to feast on.
Ji-Cheol, the popular actor with an untarnished reputation, was the perfect scapegoat.
The Crown Prince leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly as he zeroed in on Ji-Cheol.
Hyun-Su
There has been speculation about a romantic entanglement between yourself and my sister, a member of the royal family. Though unfounded, we believe these rumors present an opportunity.
Ji-Cheol’s stomach churned. His worst fears were being confirmed, laid bare before him. They were going to use him—his name, his image, his life—as a smokescreen to cover up the real issues plaguing the royal family and the government. He was being pushed into the fire, sacrificed to save the Crown and the politicians hiding behind it.
The Crown Prince continued, his tone smooth but unyielding,
Hyun-Su
That maintaining the public’s focus on more… palatable topics is in everyone’s best interest. We expect your cooperation.
Ji-Cheol’s blood ran cold. Cooperation? Did he even have a choice? The room felt smaller, the walls closing in as the reality of the situation sank in. He was trapped. The glimmer of youthful arrogance in the Crown Prince’s eyes was unmistakable now—this was not a request. It was an order, wrapped in polite language and veiled threats.
Ji-Cheol’s mind raced. What could he possibly say to this? They were asking him to fuel a lie, to become the face of a false romance with a member of the royal family in order to distract from whatever real scandal lay hidden. The press, the fans, the public—they would devour the story, leaving no room for the truth to surface. And in the process, Ji-Cheol’s life would become fodder for gossip and speculation, his image entangled with lies he had no hand in creating.
But he couldn’t refuse. Not when the royal family was involved. Not when the Crown Prince himself was staring him down, expecting compliance. Ji-Cheol felt the weight of the royal gaze on him, the silent demand for obedience.
The PR head interjected, her voice calm and measured,
Kang So-Ra
We’ll ensure everything is handled discreetly. The narrative will be crafted carefully—both sides will come out of this looking favorable.
Favorable. Ji-Cheol wanted to laugh, though the sound caught in his throat. Favorable for whom? Certainly not for him. He was nothing more than a pawn in this game, and the realization filled him with a sickening dread.
He took a slow, deep breath, forcing a neutral expression onto his face. He could feel his assistant’s eyes on him, the silent question hanging between them—
"What are we going to do?"
Ji-Cheol didn’t know. All he knew was that the game had already been set in motion, and now, he was standing at the edge of the fire, about to be consumed. With a single nod, he sealed his fate.
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