𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 || SVT OT13 FF

8. For the Sake of Power

The grand hall of the century-old estate was a symphony of opulence and charm. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting a warm, inviting glow over the elegantly dressed guests. Lush arrangements of white roses and lilies adorned every corner, filling the air with their delicate fragrance. The guests murmured in excitement, their whispers mingling with the soft strains of a string quartet playing in the background.

It was perfect. How could it not be? Lisa had been up almost every day for the last week, ensuring that this wedding would be flawless. She knew it was solely for business purposes, but something inside her told her this could lead Y/n to something good-maybe even happiness, which is all she wanted for her best friend.

Growing up with Y/n, Lisa had witnessed how hardworking and selfless Y/n was. She cared for others more than herself, and it pained Lisa. Y/n deserved so much more than what she was getting. She deserved to be happy. That's why Lisa wanted this day to be memorable for her.

Despite Y/n's lack of interest in the details, preferring instead to focus on the guest list and its constant revisions until both parties were satisfied, Lisa was determined to make everything perfect. She ran around the venue, checking every detail one last time. After double-checking everything and scolding staff for any potential mishaps, she finally made her way to the bride's room.

Entering the room, she was met with an awfully silent scene. "Y/n, where-"

There she was, standing in a dress she hadn't even bothered to select herself, yet looking every bit like the queen she was. Lisa couldn't control her emotions at this point. Call it stress or the lack of sleep she'd endured over the past few days, but she found herself crying. Her best friend looked stunning-perhaps the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen.

Noticing Lisa's tears, Y/n panicked, "Lisa, you're crying for nothing. It's just another day-"

"Shut up and let me feel whatever I'm feeling right now!" Lisa interrupted, hugging her tightly. Y/n did as she was told, holding her best friend in a comforting embrace.

After a few moments of silence, Lisa whispered, "You look beautiful."

Y/n smiled, "If you say so."

Lisa pulled back and looked at her once more, "Those lucky bastards," she said, making the bride laugh.

Before they could delve deeper into the conversation, Y/n's brother, Taehyung, entered the room, looking dashing in his tuxedo. His presence filled the room with a protective aura.

He stood back, taking a moment to admire how beautiful his sister looked. He had imagined this day-the day his sister would get married. But in his mind, it was to someone she loved, someone who would give her the happiness she deserved.

It wasn't until his girlfriend gave him a little nudge that he snapped back to reality. Looking away and blinking back the tears that kept welling up, he finally spoke.

"Are you ready for this, sis?" he asked, still not looking directly at her, but the concern in his voice was unmistakable.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Y/n replied, trying to keep her tone light.

Taehyung sighed, "You know, if this gets to be too much, you can always back out."

Y/n shook her head, "No, Tae. I need to do this."

Lisa, standing beside them, smiled warmly at Taehyung. "She'll be fine, babe. We've got her back."

Taehyung nodded, wrapping an arm around Lisa's waist. "I know. I just worry."

Y/n smiled at the two of them. They were the only family she had left. That was one of the reasons Taehyung had agreed to let her marry. Although she would've gone through with it without his permission, she preferred having him there at this moment when he was the only blood relative she had left.

Lisa had also played an important role in emotionally persuading him. And his sister was stubborn; he knew she wouldn't listen. In the end, he had no choice but to surrender to what she wanted.

-

At the SVT Mansion

"Can't believe I'm getting married. I thought I'd be at least twenty-eight when I did that," complained Dino, the youngest member.

"Some of us are twenty-eight, Dino," Jeonghan replied, bitter at the mention of their age.

Half of them were already dressed in fancy, outrageously expensive tuxedos, waiting for the rest to come downstairs.

"This is crazy. Don't you think so?" Vernon asked, clearly uneasy.

The younger members struggled with the situation, while the older ones were more accustomed to the complexities of their world. Jeonghan, tired of calming the younger ones, looked to Joshua for help.

"Nothing is crazy, Vernon. We are doing this to gain more power, that's it," Joshua said, trying to reassure him.

"All ready?" came Seungcheol's voice, the leader entering the room.

"Yes, let's get married, baby!" Jun exclaimed, possibly the only one genuinely excited about the marriage. The rest were neutral, except for the three youngest, who felt their lives crumbling before their eyes.

"Yeah, let's go!" Hoshi echoed Jun's enthusiasm, earning strange looks from the others.

"Anyways, we should be leaving. Don't want to be late, especially since we're the grooms," Joshua said with a smile.

The members weren't expecting anyone to be in a good mood, but Joshua's persistent smile drew attention. Dokyeom finally pointed it out.

"You've been smiling a lot today. Are you perhaps as happy about this as Jun and Hoshi?" he asked, curious.

Taken aback, Joshua cleared his throat. "I'm just thinking about all the benefits we could get from this. Don't think too much into it."

"If you say so," mumbled Seungkwan, sitting right beside him, earning a death glare from Joshua.

The members of Seventeen arrived at the venue, being led to their respective rooms. Seungcheol was pleased with the arrangements; they were exactly as he had discussed with Y/n over the phone. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of dress Y/n would be wearing-a ball gown, a sheath, an A-line, or a mermaid wedding dress?

A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you for reading my story. I wanted to ask which days you would prefer for updates. I've been publishing chapters without a proper schedule, and some of you might miss when I publish a new chapter. So feel free to give your suggestions.

Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on the story!