[+..••¹⁶]

[+..••] 𝖁ᥱᥣ᥎ᥱ𝗍 𝕮һᥲіᥒs

The palace was behind them now, the golden smiles still fresh in their minds. The fake politeness, the casual dismissals, the backhanded compliments-they were all just part of the dance. But now, as the dinner ended and the night crept into its darker hours, the real game began.

12:00 AM.

They left in their separate limousines, their bodyguards trailing behind, but none of them were heading to their safe, warm homes. They were all headed to a different place-a place where masks were unnecessary, and survival was the only rule.

The underground.

⸻

Iseul stepped out of her car, her heels clicking against the pavement. The night was cool, but the anticipation in the air made her feel warmer than she had all evening. Her mind was sharp-she had been anticipating this moment all day. Family dinners were about appearances. The underground? That was where she truly belonged. Where she could be herself.

A single black SUV pulled up next to her. From inside, Seungtae leaned out the window with his trademark grin. "Ready to get your hands dirty, Queen?"

"I was born ready," Iseul replied, coolly, not missing a beat.

He chuckled, giving her a once-over. "You look too good for this. Maybe you're playing the wrong game?"

She ignored him, slipping into the shadows as they entered the building together.

⸻

In the underground arena, a hush fell over the crowd. The usual noise and banter died down as the participants began to take their places. The area was set for a new round of blood and sweat, with only the strongest walking out.

A large blackboard displayed the night's matchups, each team of fighters ready to face their opponents. There were no rules here, only money, power, and pride. Whoever could make it to the end of the night with their body intact would be the winner-if you could call it that.

Iseul's name appeared on the board, paired with Jin Hwan, a well-known ruthless player in the underground. He was filthy rich, with connections that stretched far and wide, but tonight, he was just another contender in her path.

⸻

Seungtae wasn't far behind. His opponent tonight? Lee Kyung-ho, a boy from a rival family who had been eyeing his territory for months. Kyung-ho had money, connections, and the arrogance to back it up. But Seungtae knew how to break pride-he would enjoy this.

"Are you ready to show them who the real kings are?" Iseul asked him, her voice soft, almost teasing.

He grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I've always been ready. But you?" He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to fight him?"

"I'm not afraid of anyone," she replied, her voice as cold as the steel in her eyes. "I'll handle it."

⸻

Across the room, Kyung-jun was chatting with his opponent, Choi Hyun-seok, a brash businessman's son who had been using his family's wealth to dominate the underground scene. Hyun-seok's reputation was built on his brutality, but Kyung-jun didn't look impressed. He toyed with the idea of crushing Hyun-seok, and he was determined to keep things interesting.

"You sure you want to fight me?" Kyung-jun asked, his tone light, his lips curving into a teasing smile. "I'm not really in the mood to go easy."

Hyun-seok sneered, pushing Kyung-jun with an aggressive nudge. "I don't need you to go easy. I just need you to lose."

Kyung-jun chuckled. "You're in for a rude awakening, my friend."

⸻

Finally, there was Ki-tae. The one who always operated from the shadows. He wasn't just a player in this world-he controlled it. Tonight, his opponent was Park Ji-hoon, a dangerous player who had been encroaching on Ki-tae's territory for months. He was rich, ambitious, and dangerous, but to Ki-tae? He was just another piece to move.

Ki-tae didn't need words; his eyes met Ji-hoon's, and the message was clear: "This is my game. Don't forget it."

⸻

The bell rang. The fight was on.

Iseul and Jin Hwan circled each other, eyes locked. Hwan was larger, stronger, but Iseul was quicker. She knew how to use her agility to her advantage. She feinted left, ducked under a swing, and landed a sharp kick to his side. His breath hitched, but he retaliated quickly, slashing with a knife that she barely avoided.

"I like a challenge," Hwan growled, blood dripping from his side.

"Then let me give you one," Iseul smirked, before launching herself into a spinning kick that landed square on his jaw. The crowd roared as he staggered back, his expression a mix of shock and admiration.

Meanwhile, Seungtae was in full force, his movements a blur as he fought Kyung-ho. The two exchanged heavy punches, each one a collision of force and will. Seungtae's style was messy, raw, and almost brutal in its unpredictability. Kyung-ho wasn't prepared for the chaos that was Seungtae's fighting style, and it showed. A powerful blow to the ribs had Kyung-ho gasping for air, stumbling back in pain.

"How's that feel, pretty boy?" Seungtae taunted.

Across the arena, Kyung-jun was having a much different experience. He was toying with Hyun-seok, his movements fluid, controlled, almost elegant. A jab to Hyun-seok's stomach, a roundhouse kick to his head-Kyung-jun wasn't interested in making this fight last. He wanted to end it fast.

"You're not even worth my time," Kyung-jun said with a yawn, before knocking Hyun-seok out with a swift, clean punch to the jaw.

And then, in the shadows, Ki-tae stood. His eyes scanned the arena, but he wasn't watching the fights. He was watching his opponents, every move they made, calculating the outcome before it even happened.

His fight with Ji-hoon was going according to plan, and in mere moments, Ki-tae made his move. A swift twist of Ji-hoon's arm, a sharp crack of bones breaking, and the fight was over before it had even truly begun.

⸻

One by one, the fights ended.

Iseul stood, breathless, her hands covered in blood, but her expression was cold. Jin Hwan lay unconscious on the ground. He had underestimated her, and that mistake had cost him. Seungtae wiped his hands, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of victory, while Kyung-jun stood over his defeated opponent, cracking his knuckles and smirking.

Ki-tae, as usual, didn't bother to even acknowledge his opponent's defeat. His gaze was already drifting, calculating what the next move would be. He had made sure his family's interests were protected tonight-nothing else mattered.

⸻

The underground was quiet once more.

But they all knew the truth. The night was far from over. And this was only the beginning.

The Games had truly begun.

⸻

After the chaos of the underground fights, there was an odd sense of calm that followed. The adrenaline, the blood, and the violence that had defined the night were now a distant memory. For the first time in hours, the group was free to breathe without the weight of competition and brutality hanging over their heads.

Iseul, Seungtae, Kyung-jun, and Ki-tae found themselves in a dark, neon-lit karaoke bar. The place was filled with low hums of pop songs and the chatter of drunken patrons, but for them, it felt like an oasis. It was a rare moment where they didn't have to be "the Royals" or "the Underground Champions"-they were just four people, finally able to let go.

Iseul walked in first, pulling her jacket tighter against her as the heat of the bar hit her. She wasn't used to feeling this relaxed, especially after a fight. Her mind had been racing all night, but here, now, the tension seemed to melt away with every step she took into the neon glow.

Seungtae followed, still grinning as he ran a hand through his messy hair. "Can't believe we survived tonight without killing each other," he said, flopping onto one of the plush karaoke booths with a dramatic sigh.

Kyung-jun flashed a cocky smile as he slung his arm around Iseul's shoulder. "You know, I think this place just might be the perfect cure for all that blood. A little fun, a little music... what could be better?" He winked at her, his tone playful but with a touch of something more behind it.

Iseul rolled her eyes, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. "It's not about the blood. It's about the fun, right?" she teased, and then took a seat beside him, the space between them small enough to make her aware of how close he was.

Ki-tae, ever the observant one, was already scanning the bar, his mind clearly on something else. He was the last to enter, and despite his cool, calm exterior, there was something else in his eyes. "We're here to relax, not stir up more chaos, right?" he remarked, his voice low, just the right amount of seriousness in his tone.

"Sure, sure," Seungtae said with a wide grin. "But first, we need a song. Something to get everyone in the mood." He grabbed the karaoke remote and pressed a button with enthusiasm.

The music started, and the screen flashed with the lyrics for a popular song. Kyung-jun stood up, his fingers already tapping on the table, as though he couldn't wait to get started. "I'll go first," he declared. "And I'm not holding back. This place won't know what hit it."

With a flair, Kyung-jun grabbed the mic, and despite his earlier teasing, he sang with unexpected passion, drawing the attention of the others. His voice was good, maybe even better than anyone had expected from the way he had been flippant about it. Iseul leaned back in her seat, watching him with a small smile. For a moment, she almost forgot they were all trapped in their roles. Almost.

Seungtae, never one to back down from a challenge, jumped up next, pulling Iseul into a duet. They both belted out a pop song together, laughing and teasing each other between lines. The playful energy between them was infectious, and even Ki-tae's serious demeanor softened as he cracked a rare smile. He was usually the one pulling the strings, watching everything from the shadows, but tonight he just let it all go.

Iseul caught him smiling briefly at the chaos they were all creating, and it made her feel... different. Like they weren't just cogs in a machine, but real people, with moments that didn't have to be calculated.

The room filled with songs, and as they passed the mic around, the group slowly started to find their rhythm in this new dynamic. The tension that had weighed them down during the fights, in their lives, was dissipating with each note sung. No more manipulating, no more bloodshed, no more games. For the first time in a while, they could just... be.

At one point, Seungtae threw an arm around Iseul's shoulder and grinned widely at her, a bit too close for comfort, but she didn't mind tonight. "I think you might've been holding back on us, Queen. That was... impressive," he teased, eyes glinting mischievously.

Iseul smirked and shrugged. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

Kyung-jun leaned in from the other side, nudging her lightly. "Oh, we're all full of surprises, aren't we?" His voice was teasing, but there was something different in his tone-something a little less playful and a little more serious than usual.

She turned to look at him, catching the shift in his gaze, but before she could comment, Ki-tae interjected with a sly grin. "We'll see how many surprises we can handle before the night's over."

The atmosphere in the bar was lighter than it had been in a long time. It wasn't the same as before, when everything felt like a game, a fight, or a manipulation. It was pure chaos in the best possible way-a much-needed release from the endless pressures they all faced in the underground world. And even though there were still unspoken tensions between them, there was something undeniable about these moments of pure, unfiltered fun.

As the night wore on, and their laughter filled the room, Iseul couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment she hadn't felt in ages. Maybe it was just for tonight, maybe it was fleeting, but it was something she hadn't realized she'd been craving: peace, even if only for a little while.

As the final song ended and they stood up to leave, Seungtae gave her a half-serious look. "Hey, Queen, next time we're doing this every week. Agreed?"

Iseul laughed, more genuine than she had been all night. "We'll see about that."

Kyung-jun clapped his hands and stood up, his mischievous grin returning. "Alright, enough of that. Let's go back to the real world. But for tonight? We're just four people who know how to have fun."

They all shared a look, and for the first time, Iseul felt like maybe, just maybe, they could be more than their roles in the underground. They could be more than the Royals.

Tonight, they were just friends-fighting side by side, laughing together, and forgetting about the weight of the world, even if only for a brief moment.

As the door to the karaoke bar swung shut behind them, the group walked out into the cool night air, and Iseul couldn't help but feel a small flicker of hope for what might come next.

After all, they had survived the fights, the games, and the manipulation. And maybe, just maybe, they could survive this too.