Chapter 473: It’s something like... a coronation

The car we took wasn’t ordinary, though I doubt the other ones were ordinary cars to begin with, haha.

It was a sprawling, custom-built limousine, yet even with its large interior, the atmosphere felt cramped. Or perhaps it was just my nerves.

I sat in the center, sandwiched between Jin-Yeok and Ki-hoon, while Seo-Jun and Min-Cheol faced us from the opposite seats.

My thumbs were working overtime, circling each other frantically. I tried to focus on the passing city scenery, but my mind kept drifting.

In the original plot, this cooperation was not going to end well. Ki-hoon will get stabbed and Min-Cheol will kill someone. It’ll all fall to ruins but I can’t let that happen.

How do I save them if something like that happens? I don’t want anyone to die and the cooperation be tarnished. But I don’t want to let them get to either Ki-hoon or Min-Cheol either.

Should I get myself a stun gun? I think that should be safe enough, right?

"Jo-Pil," Ki-hoon’s voice brought me back from my thoughts and I lifted my head. He reached out and placed his hands on mine, stopping the frantic dance of my fingers as he covered them with his own. "You’re going to rub your skin raw if you keep that up."

"I can’t help it," I whispered, glancing at the others. "I feel like I’m about to sign an abolition paper or something. My heart won’t stop thumping."

Seo-Jun leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The restless energy I’d seen at the stairs was still there, flickering in his eyes mischievously.

"And where are you going to get abolition papers, babe?" He asked and my face heated up. What was with the sudden ’babe’? He laughed at my reaction and then leaned back. "Just relax. It’ll be over in a moment. You’re practically the reason it was delayed this much,"

Yeah, blame me.

"But I’m not blaming you." He continued, his red eyes fixed on mine with a muse. "It gave us enough time to prepare thoroughly so we should be thanking you."

"He’s right, Hyung," Min-Cheol added, his blue eyes soft as he watched me. He reached over and tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear, his touch lingering. "You’re basically the heart of this. Just stay behind us and look beautiful. We’ll handle the snakes."

Oh my baby, how much you’ve grown. Mph.

Jin-Yeok, who had been silent while reading a final briefing, finally looked up. He didn’t say anything at first; he just looked at me with that deep, inscrutable gaze. Then, he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box.

"I almost forgot," he murmured.

He opened the box to reveal a small brooch. It was a gold lily with a single, dark diamond at its center. He leaned in, his calming pheromone wrapping around me.

"I had this made for today," he said, pinning it carefully to my lapel, just above the gold embroidery. "The lily represents the new beginning. The diamond... well, it’s a reminder that even the most beautiful things can be unbreakable."

I looked at the brooch. I don’t know if Kyle told him about my idea but this was just... Unexpected. Still, I would cherish it.

I don’t know if Kyle tattled but I still find this present beautiful and want to treasure it.

As he finished pinning it, he didn’t pull away. He kept his face close to mine, his eyes searching my face.

"Don’t worry about the conspiracies, Jo-Pil," he whispered, loud enough for the whole car to hear but I knew he was talking to me.

Somehow, he knew what I was worried about.

"I’ve spent the last month cutting the tongues out of every mouth that dared to speak against this. Today isn’t a gamble. It’s something like... a coronation."

I gulped, my heart doing a somersault. A coronation. It felt grand and royal and... my lips curled... Quite fitting. It fit the situation just right.

"Now, will you stop worrying?" He asked. "Nothing will happen."

The way he said it—so calmly—and the look in his eyes reminded me that while these men were my lovers, they were still the most feared Alphas in the country.

"Yeah, I guess I have nothing to worry about," I said and rested my back on the chair. "What could possibly happen when the four of you are in this together?"

I couldn’t tell them that someone could go wrong, but maybe it was just because it was my deepest wish.

"That’s right," Seo-Jun said. "They wouldn’t be so bold when I’m on board."

I let out a tired sigh.

He was so full of himself. But I laughed and watched Min-Cheol scowl at him, telling him to stop trying to get the last say.

This peace... I wanted it to last for as long as possible.

My eyes held a lingering sadness, filled with worry but I masked it with my smile. I just have to do my part... Right?

The car began to slow down. Outside the tinted windows, the roar of a crowd started to bleed through the soundproofing. It was a cacophony of camera shutters, shouting reporters, and the general hum of thousands of people gathered to witness history in the making. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

I felt that sudden eerie chill again. I wasn’t sure if it was my instinct warning me of an impending danger but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my mood.

"We’re here," Ki-hoon announced, letting go of my hand to put on his sunglasses.

Gosh. I didn’t even know he put on sunglasses in public.

"Hyung, you’ll need this," Min-Cheol said, handing me a pair of sunglasses as well, and I looked at them, baffled.

They were all putting on sunglasses.

And then it dawned on me. It wasn’t for fashion. It was to keep the flashes of the camera lights from disrupting our movement.

Of course! Why didn’t I think of this before?

The door was opened from the outside by a guard in a crisp uniform. A wall of white light from the camera flashes hit us immediately.

Ah, thank God for the sunglasses.

Seo-Jun stepped out first, his presence acting like a lightning rod for the media’s attention. Then Min-Cheol, then Jin-Yeok. Finally, Ki-hoon stepped out and reached back into the car, offering me his hand.

"Ready, babe?" Seo-Jun’s voice came from outside, a challenge and a promise all at once.

I took Ki-hoon’s hand and stepped out into the light.

The crowd was already going wild. This was just giving them something more to talk about.

You know... I always suit the headlines.