“Highness you need to slow down! What would your Mother say if you fell over and hurt yourself? That would make me a horrible future head of the guard!” Sungmin chases a laughing Ryeowook through the palace, long tunic trailing behind the younger boy as his newly pierced ears shine in the light.
“But it’s so exciting Min! There’s going to be new ones today!” The young prince grins as he twirls in the hall, Sungmin sighing behind him. The older boy nearly yells as Ryeowook leans precariously over the railing of the stairs.
“Ryeowook!” But his exclamation is needless as the other boy has already stopped leaning in favor of sticking his head through the bar to get a better view of the large foyer.
“Min, look!” Ryeowook’s eyes are the size of saucers as Sungmin starts to frantically try and get his head detached from between the poles. “Is that them?”
“If you’re talking about the new servants, then yes Highness.” He yanks Ryeowook’s head out from the bars and they fall back on the plush carpet with an undignified plop. “The orphanage sent over a few who were looking for some pay, I think they’re to work with the chamber maids once a week.”
Ryeowook’s gaze was glued to one particular boy though, eyes alight as he squabbled with another boy, arms gesturing wildly as a maid hushed them.
“Him.” Ryeowook points at the older boy, dark eyes glowering at the maid who scolded him and black hair being ruffled by the boy he was fighting with. “I like him, he’s cute.”
Sungmin smacks him on the head, and Ryeowook whines about this not being the proper treatment for a prince. “You dummy, you aren’t allowed to like them! They’re probably going to grow up to be filthy criminals and are not worthy of your attentions.” Sungmin gives his head a firm nod as Ryeowook glowers at him.
“That isn’t very nice Min, he’s too cute to be anyone bad!” Ryeowook continues pouting as Sungmin drags him away from the rail and toward his mother’s room where his newly born little brother is screeching constantly.
He doesn’t give another thought to the new servants until many months later.
…
Ryeowook is groggy and annoyed when he’s woken by pounding on his door. He’s alone he notes with some annoyance, Jongwoon gone to who knows where, and pulls on a robe as he makes his way toward the insistent pounding. He nearly has his hand on the handle when the door is kicked down.
“Highness, are you alright?” There’s a guard right in his face and Ryeowook feels a headache coming on, tightening the knot on his robe.
“Well I was until you found it fit to destroy the entrance to my room. Why exactly was that necessary?” Then the guard is pushed aside as Sungmin barges into his room, eyes furious and movement jerky as he inspects the room.
“Where is that scumbag? I knew he was no good, I told you Ryeowook! Now where is he?” Ryeowook rubs his temples; he’s not awake enough for whatever has decided to transpire during his small rest.
“Somehow I think you’re looking for me.” Jongwoon stands at the edge of the veranda, apparently having been out there the whole time. Ryeowook is mildly annoyed and is about to voice this when Sungmin cuts him off.
“Arrest him.” Those two words cause Ryeowook and Jongwoon’s eyebrows to hit their hairlines, as the guards advance on the black haired man.
“Don’t I have a right to know what I’m being accused of before you clap me in irons?” Jongwoon slowly moves backwards until there is nowhere else to go, cornered as Ryeowook’s eyes still remain wide.
Sungmin glances nervously at Ryeowook before speaking grimly. “Murder. The king is dead and the palace is in chaos, and seeing as you’re the only one confirmed of ill will towards the kingdom recently, you’re the prime suspect.”
“What?! My father is dead?” The prince’s mouth is slack as a million thoughts run through his mind.
“And as you can see Highness, we have reasonable cause to suspect this man of the crime.” Sungmin’s eyes cut dangerously to Jongwoon as the other man calmly raises an eyebrow.
“And I hate to break it to you, but there’s no way that I could have done anything in the past day seeing as I’ve been with His Highness here the whole time.” Jongwoon pushes aside one of the spears aimed at his throat in favor of stepping closer to Ryeowook. The whole room shifts along with him and Sungmin scoffs.
“Please, and how is anyone but you to know that? It’s a known fact that the Prince takes a private nap in his quarters at this time of day, you seem to have just come in the veranda; care to explain where you’ve been these past hours? Or do you not have any trustworthy witnesses?” Jongwoon looks about to give the head guard some choice words when Ryeowook’s voice rings out for the first time in many minutes.
“Everyone but Sungmin, Jongwoon and myself are to leave, right now. And that’s an order.” His words are soft but carry all the authority of a Prince. Some of the guards look reluctant to go until he cuts them a sharp look and looks pointedly at the doorway. He turns sharply to Sungmin the moment that everyone else has left.
“Any interest in telling me what the hell is really going on here?” Ryeowook snarls out and Jongwoon briefly thinks that he’s never seen the Prince quite this angry. Sungmin sighs and runs his hand through his hair.
“Jungsu found the King in his chambers bleeding profusely from a stomach wound about twenty minutes ago; he died within moments of any help being able to be called.” Ryeowook’s expression continually darkens as Sungmin continues. “And without any reasonable suspects to name, most of our suspicion comes to lie on your new bodyguard here. The advisors are calling for blood and need someone to put the blame on, so we’ve been charged to arrest him.”
“You will do nothing of the sort.” Ryeowook’s eyes flash rather dangerously and even Jongwoon feels afraid for a moment. “On my authority as Prince he was with me this whole time and thus incapable of any crimes against my father or this kingdom. I would like to see you try and take him away from me.”
“I will never understand you Wook, I really don’t. Why you go to such extents for him.” Sungmin shakes his head and sighs, turning slowly and walking towards the door. “Jungsu and I will try for damage control, but remember what I said. Be careful.”
“And you, watch out for him. If it really wasn’t you, then we have an assassin on our hands.” Sungmin throws one last glance at Jongwoon before leaving out the door, barking orders at the guards loitering around the hallway.
Ryeowook grimaces at the door before walking to sit on the bed, putting his head in his hands. Jongwoon frowns as he thinks about what has just transpired; it does not bode well for his future or the kingdoms.
“Well this is a fine mess we’re in. Not to sound unsympathetic, but would you mind explaining all of this to me Highness? I’m all for everyone having their secrets, but yours seem to follow my life a bit too close for ignorance.” Jongwoon walks to kneel in front of Ryeowook, eyeing the other’s strained expression hidden under his long bangs.
“Will you be quiet for five seconds?” Ryeowook looks up at him with gritted teeth, eyes narrowed and voice tight. “And you should know already, you worked here for at least five years!”
“And how would you know that? You were practically just born when I started here!” Jongwoon frowns as he wonders how exactly Ryeowook thinks he knows him, he clearly remembers the Prince as a young babe.
“I was seven you idiot, it’s my brother you’re thinking of!” Ryeowook’s eyes flash as he continues to vigorously rub at his temples. “How dense are you? Good thing you’re handsome, no one would ever talk to you otherwise.”
“I take offence to that. And how was I supposed to know? We were never formally introduced, I just remember the Queen parading the little one around and that he was a Prince, we aren’t all knowledgeable of the royal hierarchy.” Jongwoon growls out, rapidly losing sympathy as the Prince continues to snap at him, “So you stalked me until this fine opportunity dropped into your hands?”
“Yes, fine, if that’s how you want to see it then that’s your opinion!” Ryeowook throws his hands up in the air, mouth set in a snarl. “My father’s dead, the kingdom is going to be in chaos and all you care about is why I know you?”
“Well it’s the only one that directly applies to me out of those three, the slums are always in chaos, and I have no interest in the politics of it all.” Jongwoon says offhandedly as Ryeowook stands up to look him straight in the eyes.
“Unbelievable.” The prince grinds out, eyes fiery as Jongwoon shrugs at him. “Fine, but if you’re going to be of no use to anyone then distract me.” And then he pulls Jongwoon down to his level, crashing their lips together.
Jongwoon’s protests are muffled by Ryeowook’s lips, teeth banging against each other as muttered words of argument continue to pass between their lips. After a few tense moments Jongwoon decides to simply give Ryeowook the distraction he wants, worrying the Prince’s bottom lip with his teeth and rubbing small circles on his back. He feels the wetness of tears on Ryeowook’s cheeks and simply holds him as the other man cries silently, pushing the Prince’s head down to rest on his shoulder.
“And you say I’m dumb.” Jongwoon pats Ryeowook’s head as the tears subside and the other begins to pull himself together. “You will have to give me a proper explanation for whatever reason it is that you’re ‘courting’ me someday though. Not that I’m not flattered to rub up against royalty like that.”
Ryeowook smacks him on the shoulder. “Didn’t I tell you to be quiet? Now come on, I have affairs to sort if this whole ordeal is actually happening and this isn’t some kind of twisted joke. The council is bound to be in chaos fighting for the throne, I’m not going to lie back and let them take what’s mine.”
Jongwoon snorts as he follows Ryeowook out of his room, making sure to grab an extra knife from the table as he walks towards the door. He has a feeling he’s going to need it if they’re going to face the wolves waiting for them.
With every step Ryeowook takes in front of him, the shaky foundation of the kingdom and the Royalty running it crumbles a little bit more. And he has a feeling it’s going to be left to him to pick up the pieces.
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