Osan (9/?)
Title: Osan
Genre: Alternate Reality
Length: 9/?
Disclaimer: I don't own DBSK. And the plot is not purely mine. I was inspired by King of Attolia, written by Megan Whalen Turner.
Summary: Yoochun got dismissed and is sulking over it.
A/N: Osan, Busan and Naju are three different kingdoms. The king or prince of a kingdom is usually called after their kingdom’s name. However, there is a second prince in Osan. The second prince, who is now the king, is named Osanis because the first prince is still alive.
unbeta-ed
Fo lemonademelon, Advance Happy Birthday to you! ^________^
Yunho was looking outside the window, thinking about his past. “I was known as the shadow prince when I was still young. It was the nickname given to me by the people because I always followed father around wherever he went, even in trainings. I was like his shadow. But I never voiced out what I thought. I’ve built a wall to keep everything to myself.” He quietly walked back to the bed.
“Heechul taught me that the most important thing that I should learn is to never trust anyone. Not even him. For anyone can betray me anytime. It’s what he drilled in my brain every time I asked him for advice. He is the one closest to me, like Changmin is to you. I didn’t know that I’d be the king and that you, my brother, would be living here. But I want to know why, why are you here hyung?” He looked at Jaejoong who’s peacefully sleeping on the bed. “What keeps you here beside me? Can I trust you?”
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Jaejoong woke up with Yunho watching him.
“Good morning Yunho!” he greeted as he stretched his body, which is still a little bit sore.
“Tell me something hyung.” Yunho stated, as Jaejoong looked around for something.
“Hm?” Jaejoong was still digging under his bed for something he only-knows-what.
“Why are you here?” Yunho asked with a serious tone. “Did Changmin order you to stay here?”
“No!” Jaejoong shouted, rising from where he was hunched. “It was my decision to stay here.”
“Why?”
“Because... because I want to protect you. I want you to know that someone is here for you.” Jaejoong answered, sinking back on his bed as he gave up on looking.
“Why do you want to protect someone you barely know? Someone who almost cut off your hand?” asked Yunho as he nestled on the couch.
“Do you know when was the first time that I saw you?” Jaejoong inquired.
“During my coronation?” Yunho answered, unsure.
“No. When grandfather was still alive, he used to bring me here so that I could see it for myself. To verify if every secret passage that he described still exists. There was this one time when there’s a party and dancing, so the palace was full of people and guards. In every corner that I turned, someone was there so it’s really dangerous to explore the hallways and corridors. I quickly made my way to the kitchen garden to hide because it should have been empty, but once I was inside, the door opened from the flower gardens, and you came in by yourself. I watched you walking between the rows of cabbages, huffing as you sat down near the fountain. I was above you, in one of the trees. I’ve seen you lie down on the grass under the moonlight, arms becoming make-shift pillow as you close your eyes. You looked so vulnerable back then when you finally pull off your imaginary mask, all your emotions flashing through your face, sadness dominating them all. I was about to go down and hug you, comfort you, to tell you that someone’s there for you, but then, someone came to fetch you.”
“Heechul.” Yunho mumbled.
“What?”
“Heechul was the one who fetched me.” Yunho clarified.
“Ah, yes. He looked like a girl back then so I thought he was your fiancé. You both went inside and I was left there to think of you, my younger brother. I wasn’t able to talk to you that night. After that, every time I go back here to roam around, I always watch you in your room. Whenever you’re angry or frustrated, you just sit; I bet you also just sit whenever you’re happy or excited. I moved things in your room, you know. I even stole your favourite sash just so you’d notice that someone’s been in your room.” Jaejoong, by now, found what he’s looking for, his six-inch dagger.
“I remember losing my sash.” Yunho interrupted. “Why stay where it’s more dangerous?”
“Because it’s more dangerous for you than for me.” Jaejoong simply stated. “Spies of the barons that are against you surround you wherever you go. On the other hand, even the spies of Heechul couldn’t follow me. They can kill you anytime and that’s what I’ve been preventing since the day I step foot in this palace.”
“Yoochun?”
“No no no.” Jaejoong chuckled. “He’s a loyal guard. He’s just not that fond of me.”
“That’s not enough reason to punch you.” Yunho reasoned.
“I was mad at Junsu. He heard me reprimanding his captain. He just came to his aid. In the end you almost executed him.” Jaejoong recalled.
“You saved him. Even promoted him to become lieutenant. But then, you keep him by your side all the time. I really don’t understand.” Yunho shook his head.
“You’re the one who won’t let him leave my side.” Jaejoong reasoned as he stuck his tongue out at Yunho.
Yunho laughed at him. “If he won’t guard you and you won’t let me permit the Third squad to resume their work as your guards, who would stay by your side?”
“Kangdae.”
Yunho choked at his own saliva. “W-what?! The one who’s at this very moment, resides at the palace’s jail? You’ve got to be kidding me! I’d prefer Yoochun to be your guard than Kangdae. He almost killed you!”
“i’ve made my choice. Yoochun should return to the army and perform his duties as a lieutenant while Kangdae, who’s now on his way here I presume, would be my guard.” Jaejoong declared with a tone that he uses in court.
“You prefer to be with a traitor and assassin?” the king blurted out.
“Yoochun has to perform his duties.”
“And you prefer to give quick access to the traitor? How can you protect me by doing that? You’ll end up dead then I’ll be lonelier than ever.” Yunho pulled on his hair because of frustration. He can’t understand his hyung’s reasoning, always keeping by his side every traitor that hurt him.
Jaejoong stood up, tucked his dagger in its hiding place before patting Yunho on the shoulder. “Just trust me okay? I will never do anything that can hurt you.”
“Physically you mean.” Yunho scoffed.
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“You’ll be my personal guard starting today. But then, report to your leader about this. He will be glad. Think of anything that can convince him that you’re still working under him. Get as much information as you can. And also, see if you can get something from Heechul.” Jaejoong instructed Kangdae as they met near the hunting court.
“Why don’t you ask Heechul yourself, my prince?” Kangdae asked politely.
“We’d be throwing things at each other before I can ask him for information.” Jaejoong answered.
Kangdae’s puzzled look produced an amused smile on the prince.
“He hates me.” Was all Jaejoong said before leaving Kangdae to his tasks.
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Yoochun was rushing through the courtyard.
“Junsu’s right. He just played with me. I was loyal to him all throughout and he just played with me!”
A crash behind him made him halt. He turned to find broken roof tiles. He looked up but he saw nothing, so he just shrugged and continued walking.
“Even the roof is against me.” He huffed. “He just threw me away like some toy that he can dispose of when he became tired of it.”
Yoochun reported early on his duty only to find out that Jaejoong wanted him to go “do his duties” as a lieutenant. He was replaced by the soldier that was arrested yesterday for attacking him. His name is Kang something. He sighed as he reached Junsu’s office. He slowly entered, waiting for Junsu to say something but at the same time hoping that it’s not I told you so.
“Here’s your schedule Yoochun. You’re the youngest guard to become a lieutenant. Make me proud and prove to them that you’re worth it or even Osan will lose his credibility for promoting you.” Junsu stated as he handed Yoochun a piece of paper. “You’ll start tomorrow. I expect for you to rest then.”
With that, Yoochun’s free for the day.
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He went to the town’s pub and was drowning his self in alcohol.
“The prince just played with me. And now, he’s tired of me.” He thought as he finished another glass of alcohol. He can’t even remember how many glasses he had downed already.
There was this one man that was watching him since he can’t comprehend when but he was sure that he was being watched by the said man as soon as he noticed him. And now that he looked up again, the said man is approaching his table.
“What are you looking at?” He asked the man as the man came to stand right in front of him.
He didn’t expect the man to suddenly attack him. He was caught off guard and now that he’s drunk, the only way he can escape unscratched is to run away. He staggered towards the exit of the pub but noticed that the man that’s after him is not alone. There was another one, near his left. He quickly dashed off to the exit, his head light because of the alcohol. He can’t cause trouble to the town’s pub or he’ll be removed from his position. And he hasn’t even started doing his job.
He was circled by the two men. Debating if he should fight or call for help, Yoochun noticed a man, who just got off a horse, came to his aid. Yoochun just watched as the man ducked and evaded all the attacks of the two men. He can’t tell if the men were drunk or he’s the one who’s so drunk that he can’t focus on the fight. One second, the men was staring at each other, the next time, the two bad men were down. The good man even helped him to his feet before leaving him there.
Yoochun felt grateful to the man, but he would appreciate it more if he was also given a ride back to the palace. He staggered through the town. Reaching the forest, he glanced around, gulped nervously, before walking towards the palace. He’s drunk, tired and most of all, emotionally drained that he yearns for his bed. He was dragging his feet that he tripped over a root, falling face first on the ground. He got worried because right before he fell, an arrow, surely aimed at him, passed through where he was a second before he tripped. So he decided to stay down and keep still. He listened for any sound but exhaustion consumed his body that he fell asleep.
Appearing from behind the bushes, the man who saved him at the pub heaved his body and draped it over the saddle of his horse. He, then, lead the horse towards the palace.
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Yoochun woke up the next day, on his bed, with a hangover
-tbc-
Comments are <3
again, I'm sorry if you find this boring. I'll try writing more action on the next part.
Chapter 10