hi! im not sure if you will see this but i just wanted to pop in and say that i really love your writings 🥺 i discovered your hiraeth series recently and i immediately fell in love with it. your storytelling is on another level forreal. i hope that you are doing well and that you are having a good start to the new year so far! stay warm and healthy 💕 -🐰
Oml what a lovely message!! 🥺
Firstly, thank you for the very kind words, it makes me so happy to know people are still enjoying this story. Secondly, I want to apologize for responding to this so late!!
Lastly, the good news is that this story and the blog are definitely not abandoned! Between the pandemic, starting a new job, and a myriad of other IRL responsibilities, my writing time has been cut down to almost nothing. But I am still working on the next chapter and the story as a whole. I won’t make any promises I can’t keep and give a concrete date, but I hope to have it finished and released within the next few months.
As always, thank you so much for dropping by, and take care of yourself 💕
I am so glad you posted, partly because I am a selfish guzzle of your work and partly because I hope that means you're doing okay and staying healthy through all this madness. I love the latest update!!!! I'm so nervous for our girl though but I love love love it!!!!!
💖💖💖 Thank you very much for the kind words! I hope you’re keeping safe and healthy as well!! I’m so excited to be moving the story forward since this is where the fun really starts 😉
Thank you as always for reading, and take care!
When your cousin the Crown Prince calls in on a decade-old debt, you have no choice but to answer. You’re rewarded for your troubles with your nightmares finding new life, danger around every corner, and a fiendishly irritating bodyguard. As each new discovery unearths more secrets, you learn the true costs of your homecoming.
⇾ Pairing: Lee Jaehwan x Reader
⇾ Genre: Sci-Fi, Royal AU, Bodyguard AU
⇾ Word Count: 4.5k
⇾ Warnings: Mild swearing, descriptions of anxiety
He bores into your eyes with his gaze, and you think Hakyeon has more of his father in him than you remember.
The next morning finds you in yet another unfamiliar apartment. Your legs are jelly descending the stairs, and the three-inch heels on your feet aren't helping. There's a railroad spike through your brain in the form of a migraine, all the while you fight the urge to rub your eyes so you don't ruin Sora's hard work. Hakyeon is already downstairs, dressed impeccably as ever in a navy suit. He adjusts his cuffs, looking up with a frown as he takes in your stiff expression.
"Are you feeling okay? I told you to eat breakfast."
The click of your heels on the tiled floor— somehow even shinier than the one in Hakyeon's other apartment — rings out loudly as you walk over. "Hakyeon, I will throw up on this very expensive dress if you make me eat."
He purses his lips and gives you a disapproving look. "Forgive me for thinking you need a little nutrition beyond caffeine and painkillers." He runs his gaze up and down your form, inspecting Sora's work as his eyes look for even a single thread out of place.
"The third-degree is a little creepy, Hakyeon," you say in response, irritated and tired. You were dragged to this decoy apartment at an ungodly time to meet Sora. Two hours of hair, makeup, and wardrobe later, you still don't feel ready to face the public, let alone the King. You rub your temple gently as if to massage out your headache. The coffee and aspirin you'd downed first thing in the morning have not only done little to help, but also seem to have turned your stomach to molten lava.
Hakyeon has the grace to look contrite as he brushes invisible dust off your shoulder. "I hope you don't expect to speak to my father that way." There are no wrinkles or excessive folds to be found, as your new clothes have been tailored just for you, but he straightens out the sleeves anyway. You take this with all the patience of a doll, resigning yourself to only internal screaming.
"She looks fine, I did a great job," Sora says as she hauls the last of the makeup cases down the stairs. “The King isn’t going to be fixated over her outfit anyway.” She'd instructed you to bring a few of the items you bought yesterday, and had arrived this morning with her own personal trove of beauty tools. Armored in a smart blazer and a dress cut just on the edgier side of conservative, your polished attire belies the true discomfort you feel.
"I intend to speak as little as possible, actually." You swallow down the burn in your esophagus and fiddle with your sleeves as Hakyeon steps back for one last look over, making you feel very self-conscious. “I’m not good at your type of political subterfuge, you know that.”
Hakyeon nods and checks his watch. "That's probably for the best. I’ve done what I can to take the situation out of his hands." You wonder what he means by that, but no explanation comes. “Still, you must be rock-solid in your defense. Why are you here, Princess of Asadal?” He bores into your eyes with his gaze, and you think Hakyeon has more of his father in him than you remember.
“To serve the King,” you answer mechanically. Your voice is less steel and more soft than you’d like, but you force your shoulders back and face your cousin, unwavering.
Hakyeon nods again, a quick decline of his chin, and turns to the door. “Then it’s time that we left.”
The elevator ride down is too quick for your liking, and before you know it you’re standing in front of a sleek, black limo adorned with the flag of Asadal. Jaehwan, your ever-present shadow, is leaning up against the idling car, hands in pockets and looking more formal than ever in his own dark suit. Sora turns around, carefully balancing the various makeup boxes she has, and takes your hand in hers. “I have to run to a photoshoot this afternoon, but I’ll be in touch. You’re gonna kill it, don’t worry,” she says with a last squeeze of your hand.
“I’d prefer to get this over with as little violence as possible actually.” Your retort is clipped with a stiff smile.
Sora leaves, and so does your general sense of bravado. If the events of the past few days have felt strange to you so far, this situation feels positively surreal as Jaehwan opens the door to the limousine for you and Hakyeon to slide in. You're sitting sandwiched between your cousin the prince and a man you hardly know, dressed to the nines in clothes so expensive they could pay a year's rent for your apartment back home.
“This is rather ostentatious,” you mutter quietly, moving your gaze around the luxurious interior.
Hakyeon shifts over to the opposite seats to give you some more room. “The aide insisted. Our entrance won’t be subtle, to say the least.”
This is not the most comforting thing to say, as your jaw clenches once more in anticipation. Jaehwan spares you a side glance, cool as the early morning air outside in his dark suit and upswept hair.
“All right, Princess?” Jaehwan’s tone is neutral, the ubiquitous smile playing in one corner of his mouth. It only serves to irritate you further. You compulsively smooth out your dress and aim for a measured response.
“I’m excellent.” The hem of your dress has ridden up to mid-thigh over your dark tights, and though the exquisite tailoring means there’s nary a stray thread, your fingers keep rubbing the stitching. “No sleep, murderous uncle, not a problem. I am a-ok.”
Not quite.
Hakyeon places a hand over your clenched fist. Whether it's meant to be soothing or a warning, you're not sure. Nevertheless, you force yourself to take a deep breath. Your nerves are already frayed, but you can't afford to fall apart just yet. Not yet.
The ride to the king’s tower is spent in terse silence. You have been to the Assembly House over which the new administrative building was built, but so much of the city is unfamiliar to you that it may as well be an unknown route. Hakyeon's apartment is located in what seems to be a luxury residential area of the Capital, you realize, as you pass high-rise after high-rise, gleaming in the morning sun. These neighborhoods are separated from the business and administrative sectors by the Yuseong River.
The trip over the bridge does your nerves no favors. The limousine is insulated to all outside noises, but the rush of the river below sounds through your memories regardless. The western banks of the river are dotted with construction projects, workers already scrambling around the sites. It’s clear to you that these new buildings are meant to serve your uncle’s pet councilmen and others on the higher rungs of society, given how far they are from the cheaper parts of the city. Unable to sleep in your anxiety, you had done a little research on the state of the city nowadays. Street names and neighborhood designations can only tell you so much, but a quick glance at the housing markets clearly delineates the various strata of society in the Capital.
More interesting is the King's official seat as it draws nearer. In the dark of night when you first saw it, the tower looked like a single dark obelisk thrust up into the sky. Upon closer look now you can see it is actually three different towers circling each other and connected at the base, forming an elongated trident. The Assembly House had never been your favorite piece of architecture, with its dusty corners and old-fashioned facade, but you quite miss it in the face of the tower’s imposing presence.
The streets leading up to the building are lined with trees and fountains and more people than you think should be the case for an otherwise innocuous weekday. The gentle trickle of people escalates and promptly explodes into a thronging mass spilling off the sidewalks as the limousine reaches a stone slab etched with a very generic-sounding “Administration Headquarters” in gold. Your eyes widen at the crowds held at bay by metal dividers to create a path for the car. Had the citizens decided to protest after all?
You purse your lips and swallow thickly at the sight of several news vans and a thicket of flashing cameras. The crowd, initially standing around idly, is spurred into action at the arrival of the limousine, pushing against the barriers and craning over others to catch a better look. You don’t know what to make of the clamor, and Hakyeon answers your unasked questions.
“The news of your return broke early this morning.” Hakyeon looks straight ahead, hands folded in his lap and voice betraying nothing. You know your cousin has many years of playing the imperious monarch on you, but in this moment you feel the gulf in experience particularly strongly.
“The paparazzi move quick,” you say tersely, trying to hide how much your breathing has quickened.
“The paparazzi had nothing to do with it,” interjects Jaehwan suddenly with a side glance toward Hakyeon.
You’re struck with a sudden sense of alarm as your eyes snap to your cousin’s. “Did you do something?”
“You were tailed yesterday.” Hakyeon’s face is stone, as impassive and unfeeling as yours is alarmed and shaken. “The King and his administration know of your presence, and it would only be a matter of time before the news spread. At least this way we can control the narrative.”
"Of course," you mutter. The anxiety is taking over your mind, so you default to anger. "Of course we were tailed."
“The King had a man following us around to every location we hit yesterday," Jaehwan adds unhelpfully. "He stopped sometime before we got back to the apartment, but it’s likely the King knows about that location anyway.”
“You were going to tell me this when, bodyguard?”
Jaehwan shrugs. “I’m telling you now.”
"This is nothing we hadn't already anticipated," Hakyeon hastily interjects before the two of you can start arguing.
In any case, you’re halted in your thoughts as the limousine passes through the official gates to the tower grounds, cutting off the bustling crowd from the kingdom’s highest administration. You catch a glimpse of a long set of marble steps before the view outside is swallowed by the walls of the tower. It’s hard to make out much beyond the dark tinted windows, so you settle for staring at the floor and counting your breaths. The ride continues steadily over the next few minutes, during which a stifling sort of silence has fallen over the three of you inside. The darkness of the tunnel you’ve entered is punctuated by the flash of guiding lights every few seconds, ramping up your already racing heartbeat.
“Don’t start hyperventilating now,” comes from your left in Jaehwan’s smooth tenor. You shoot him a glare, but the effect is rather diminished by the lack of light.
Hakyeon's voice is quiet and steady as he says, "We're in the VIP tunnel. Flattering as the name may be, we're really just going through high levels of security. There is no access to the King's office from the public entrance."
"What kind of security?" Somehow, focusing on the details helps you ground yourself to the moment.
You hear Hakyeon shift in his seat slightly. “The usual scans, identification, some biometrics. Only the security team knows the full details, but I’ve gone through the checks several times myself.”
You suck in a deep breath and force yourself to let it out slowly. The car continues on for a minute longer before coming slowly to a stop. The door to your right opens suddenly to a man bent over in a deep bow.
"Good morning, Your Highness. I trust your trip was comfortable?"
Hakyeon steps out smoothly, buttoning his suit jacket as he stands. “Thank you, Ryu. The car was most appreciated.”
The man then extends a gloved hand to help you out of the limousine. Jaehwan hops out the other side without a glance back, and you have no choice but to take the offered hand. Gingerly you step out onto the concrete floor, balanced by the aide’s arm. The light is dim in the underground VIP garage. You make out a fleet of dark limousines very similar to the one you just exited, all adorned with the navy and gold livery of Asadal, waiting in the surrounding spots. Large vents and cold fluorescent lights are built into the ceiling high above, providing a cavernous quality to the garage. Your feet are illuminated by lights built into the concrete platform spelling out “Council Chamber and Main Royal Entrance”, with a small bay of elevators laying just beyond.
“Welcome, Princess. It’s wonderful to have you back in the kingdom.” The aide’s ear-to-ear smile makes you think the sentiment is genuine, but you can only manage a small incline of your head in response. Hakyeon strides ahead to the central elevator, which opens at his approach without prompting. You follow along less confidently with the aide at your side, trailed by Jaehwan to your back.
The elevator is large enough that the three of you can stand without touching elbows, but you still feel suffocated by the gleaming metal walls and the presence of the government official. Bespectacled and clad in a dove gray suit, he’s hardly the most intimidating man, but you are ever wary of strangers. Hakyeon absentmindedly checks his watch again while the aide fills him in on the details of the meeting.
"The King is in with Magistrate Moon currently, but he's scheduled to be done by the time we clear processing. The princess's data shouldn't take long, but it's good to be thorough."
"What do you mean, my data?" you interject.
The aide starts as if he'd forgotten you could speak. "Oh, it's just simple protocol Your Highness—" He's cut off by a ding as the elevator opens to a brightly lit lobby.
Despite being such a high-profile area, the lobby itself is fairly sparse. Hakyeon shuffles you through past a set of cushy armchairs and a table, which honestly feel like a decoy more than anything, into a blank white hallway. At the end are several full-body scanners glowing a neon green. Hakyeon strides through them proudly without pause, and you have no choice but to follow. Despite having nothing on your person to cause suspicion, some irrational part of you blanches as you walk through the scanners. Thankfully, you walk out the other side with no incident.
You let out an unnecessarily-held breath and are immediately shuffled into a side room. There's not a lot to the space save for a few monitors and seemingly medical equipment. The sting of antiseptic tickles your nose and the extreme sterility in fluorescent lighting gives you an uneasy feeling. Confused, you look to Hakyeon for guidance, only to be met with the passively smiling face of Jaehwan. Hakyeon is instead just outside the door talking to a woman in a white lab coat. If he senses your eyes on him, he gives no indication. The woman, however, turns and flashes you a smile, striding into the room with clipboard in hand.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” she chirps with a quick bow in your general direction before shuffling off to some equipment on a far counter. You shift your feet nervously, glancing again at Hakyeon. He checks his watch again and joins you inside the room, leaving the aide outside.
“This won’t take very long at all, we have the entire process streamlined,” says the woman from the counter, pulling various equipment out of shelves and inspecting them. “My name is Dr. Yang, and I will be administering your locator chip today.”
“My locator chip?” The words come out shriller than you intend, and you see Hakyeon wince out of the corner of your eye.
"It's just for security purposes," he says quickly in a low voice. "It's necessary for being in the VIP parts of the building."
"It's very small," the doctor reassures. "You won't feel a thing!"
You swallow roughly and take a few steps back. "Hakyeon, could I speak to you for a moment?" You wait for him walk closer before mouthing, "What the fuck?"
He glances at Jaehwan, who has also joined your little enclave, and crosses his arms. "I know you don't like it, but there's no other way to speak with the King."
You snort. "I didn't want to meet with him in the first place if you remember."
Hakyeon purses his lips and exhales an impatient little sigh. "I know, and I know this whole thing is a mess. There are certain concessions that just have to be made. Security is tight around here; we all have a tracker to monitor our movement around the building." To make his point clearer, he extends his thumb. Jaehwan says nothing but absently scratches his left wrist.
"This is some insane surveillance state nonsense, Hakyeon," you hiss. You weren't expecting to just prance into the King's office, but the idea of having his influence literally implanted in you? Your skin is crawling without anything even having happened. It monitors your location at that? Not to mention what else could be in there that isn’t being disclosed to the public.
“Our last royal family died,” Jaehwan chimes in an almost singsong way. You meet his eyes with a glare that does nothing to budge the pleasant look on his face. “Counter measures had to be taken.”
Somehow Jaehwan’s stern look behind his sunny smile rattles you more than Hakyeon’s impatient pushing. You hold their gazes for a beat longer before looking down and swinging back around to the doctor. We’re not done talking about this, Hakyeon.
To her credit, Dr. Yang has maintained the utmost professionalism through your little meltdown. She stands next to a leather stool holding a tablet in one hand, patting the seat gently with the other. You stride over, head held high as you can, and sit down delicately. You can just touch the floor with your toes from this height, and you grip the edges of the seat with your hands, feeling as if on the precipice of something you can’t walk away from.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” starts Dr. Yang, handing you the tablet. “The chip is microscopic and is only inserted into the topmost layer of the epidermis, so you won’t even feel the insertion. The shallow location is so that the chip can be removed through your body’s natural shedding of its skin cells, meaning there’s no hassle to dig back in there when you’re done here.”
Pain is hardly the thing you’re worried about. You swipe down through the extensive legalese on the tablet, which seems to be a permission form of sorts. There is no option not to grant it. “What’s the purpose of this chip, just to monitor my location?” you ask while signing your name with the attached stylus.
The doctor nods. “It follows your presence through the building, and only within the building. There are additional forms to detail your identity and security clearance, but of course you don’t need any sort of verification on that front, Your Highness.” She ends her sentence with a tinkle of a laugh, and you fight the urge to roll your eyes.
You hand the tablet back, wishing you could examine the system yourself. Undoubtedly it’s a database keyed to the individual chips, but you wonder what tech they’re using to detect the trackers throughout the building. And how much interference they could handle before they fry. Dr. Yang returns, having deposited the tablet on the counter, with gloved hands and a metal pen.
“Now, as I said, the chip is inserted in the first layer of skin, for which we’ll need a particularly dense area so it stays put for the time being.” She tears open a packet of antiseptic and smiles. “If you’ll please extend your index finger?” You've got half a mind to offer her your middle finger instead, but you grit your teeth and uncurl your left index finger. A quick swipe of the alcohol-soaked wipe later, she presses the pen to your finger, cold and solid.
“Wait.” You take your finger back, clenching your hand into a fist. You look up, eyes darting to Hakyeon’s. Impassive as he is, you think you see some hint of guilt in his gaze, and dark circles under his own layers of concealer. Jaehwan, for his part, simply looks on boredly.
“Is something wrong?” Dr. Yang has taken a step back and is looking at you with concern.
You swallow, throat very dry all of a sudden, and shake your head. “No, it’s fine.” You extend your finger again, the nails of your other hand digging into your palm. “Go ahead.”
The doctor clicks her tongue and opens another packet of antiseptic. “You have no idea how many people come through here with a serious fear of needles,” she says, wiping down your finger again, even more gently than the last time. “All these big Councilmen, afraid of a little poke!” She chortles to herself and presses the pen down.
True to her words, you feel nothing.
You hop off the stool as soon as she pulls the pen away. The nausea from this morning has returned with a vengeance, which it tends to do when you indulge your anxiety rather than dissipating it. The doctor bows in goodbye and before you know it, you are ushered out the door by Hakyeon.
From there it’s a short walk to another bank of elevators. “That was very quick, wasn’t it?” starts the aide. “We’re a little ahead of schedule, so I thought perhaps we could show the Princess around the Council chambers and then—”
Hakyeon cuts him off abruptly. “Thank you Ryu, but that won’t be necessary. I think we can take it from here. Please send the alert upstairs to let them know we’re coming.”
The aide blinks. “The King is likely still in his meeting, Your Highness, if you’ll—”
Hakyeon halts his speech again with a swift raise of his hand. “I’m aware of the King’s schedule. Be on your way.”
The ease and confidence with which your cousin addresses the aide is weirdly comforting. Hakyeon is Crown Prince. Hakyeon can handle this. You are just playing a part, but Hakyeon, he's the real deal.
The aide makes a quick bow and disappears down a side hallway. Hakyeon wastes no time in calling down an elevator, and before long you’re ensconced in tense silence again. You feel eyes on you, but resolutely look forward. In the shiny metal of the elevator doors you see Hakyeon’s reflection turn to face you properly.
“Doing ok?”
You flick your gaze to him for but a second. Your jaw is starting to hurt from grinding your teeth so hard, and you keep compulsively rubbing your thumb against your other fingers. “I’m—” comes out in a rasp, your throat bone-dry. You swallow and try again. “I’m fine.”
Hakyeon’s eyes don’t leave your face, and Jaehwan is now looking at you with an expression somewhere between curiosity and amusement. “I’m fine, it’s fine,” you reiterate, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. “It just—” you start, then stop. It just terrifies me. It just makes me want to rip off my own skin. “It got too real,” you say quietly. Jaehwan chuckles, a soft gust of air through his nostrils and the crinkling curl of one corner of his mouth.
Your glare at his reflection is cut short when the doors suddenly open to blinding light. This lobby is much busier than the last, with people scurrying to and fro, disappearing off into more elevators and hallways. As Hakyeon leads you into the mess, you notice several people stop right in their tracks and make very low but very quick bows in your general direction. You get a cursory glance out the glass walls to where the rest of the city sprawls before Hakyeon stops before what seems to be the main elevator, all chrome and gold leaf. A press of his palm to a nearby touchpad opens the doors to reveal elegant carpeting and crystal-studded walls. You roll your eyes at the predictable opulence.
Following Hakyeon into the elevator, you turn around only to find that Jaehwan hasn’t joined as usual. You blink. “Where are you going?”
“Shh, secret mission,” he says in a hiss. The last thing you see before the doors close is Jaehwan’s grin with a finger pressed to his lips.
What secret mission? You feel the tug of gravity as the elevator glides upward and furrow your brows. “You put Jaehwan on some other task?”
Hakyeon rolls his eyes. “He’s being dramatic. He’s just gone to talk to some old friends at my suggestion.”
You’re well aware of who Jaehwan’s old friends are. “The Swords are loyal only to the King,” you say, on edge again at the remembrance of Jaehwan’s involvement in the special forces.
Hakyeon ignores your statement in favor of some last-minute pep talk. “I know you must be feeling apprehensive, but I have full trust in your ability to sway my father. I’m positive you can assure him you’re not a threat, and it won’t be hard, since you’ve been away for so long. You’re hardly a scheming politician after all, and—”
“I get it, Hakyeon.” You cut off his rambling, nerves raw and screaming. “Play nice, or die.”
The elevator opens again to two guards — Swords, speak of the devil — and an otherwise empty hallway. They bow as Hakyeon exits, the barest hint of a frown on his face. You follow, trying your best to match his confident strides. Think simpering sycophant thoughts. Should you pretend to be happy to see your uncle? Grateful to be back in your— no, his kingdom?
The hallway turns a corner and leads to the most nondescript wooden doors you’ve ever seen. The double doors are handleless and flanked by four-foot tall ceramic vases holding each a cascade of orchids. You can’t see any physical indication as to the importance of these doors, but your heart pounds harder with every step forward. As if sensing your hesitation, Hakyeon stops just short and turns to you.
“I’m not going to lie and say this will be easy,” he starts. His gaze is too difficult to hold, so you turn your eyes to a blank spot on the wall just behind his ear. “But this has to be done, for better or worse. Are you ready?”
No, you think to yourself. In what world could you ever be ready to face the instigator of all your nightmares?
“Yes,” you say.
Hakyeon gives you a quick, terse nod and raises his hand. He raps his knuckles against the wood of the door twice, the beats ringing out in the quiet hallway.
I'm happy to see you around! Hiraeth still remains one of my favorites (I often check it once in a while to re-read or to see any updates, it's just that good) and I hope you are staying safe and healthy 🥰
Thank you for sticking around!! It’s lovely to hear that some of you are still around despite my prolonged absence 😅Chapter 8 went through some major re-writes, which isn’t the best excuse really, but it is very near completion. So hopefully you’ll see that very soon! Take care of yourself and stay safe! 💖
hope you had a great new year and may 2020 be nicer to you than in 2019 💖
Shhhhhh, pretend I am not responding to this four months late. Worst blog owner ever? ;-;Thank you very much and same to you 💗 I’m gonna try my best to be around a lot more this year! 😤
Hello dear followers, I just wanted to drop in again to say I'm alive! I hope you all are doing well, and I'm sorry we haven't seen each other in so long 😭 The past year or so has been a bit crazy for me, but that's not much of an excuse is it?
I haven't abandoned the blog! 🎉 There's this little bug going around apparently, and I'm on lockdown, so no excuses for not updating, right?
In all seriousness, please take care of yourselves (wash your hands! don't touch your face!), it's a crazy world out there. I will have something for you very soon, I love you all ❤️
Hello there anon, thank you for checking in on me 🥰 I’m doing okay, IRL has been a little crazy recently so I’ve been busy. I hope you’ve been well too!! 💖
So, I just discovered you and I've read all the parts of Hiraeth in less than 2 hours. You have an amazing gift, your writing literally transported me to a new world and I felt like I was actually experiencing the words. It's also so wonderful to feel immersed in a story with vixx - I wish there was more like this, though I don't think anything else would compare. Thank you for sharing with us! I'm eagerly awaiting more updates, whenever you get to them! Magic can't be rushed 😉 ❤
Hello!
I’m so sorry for how long it’s taken me to respond to this and for how long it’s been since an update. And thank you very much for your kind words, I appreciate them more than you can know. Truth be told I have had a bit of a rough year and have found it difficult to get into the writing/development mood. But I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the story so far, and I promise there will be more! I haven’t abandoned this blog! Right now I’m working on quite a bit of backstory, so the editing is paused, but I hope to release the next chapter within a month or so. At any rate, thank you again and again for reading, and even more so for leaving such a lovely message. 💕💖
Not to be that follower, but omfg I cannot tell you how much I love Hireath! I cannot and will not stop praising it. The characterisation is so believable. The settings feel real. I. Just. Adore. It. Your amazing and I love you and your perfect and please never change unless it's for your own good and then I will hype you to hell and back!!!! With all my adoring fangirling love, a loyal starlight dolly ⭐
Oh my goodness, what a nice message (⁄ ⁄^⁄ᗨ⁄^⁄ ⁄) Please do be that follower, it’s lovely to hear you’re enjoying it ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Pairing: Jaehwan x Reader
Genre: Sci-Fi, Royal AU
Word Count: 3.1k
Warnings: Mild cursing
“It’s nothing, thought I spotted an old friend. He’s still smiling in his usual irritating way, lips stretched wide at a joke you’re not in on.”
Sora’s declaration spurs forth a flurry of activity that results in your standing outside an elegant bistro half an hour later, feeling woefully under-dressed in your faded jeans and sweater. Judging by the trendy gaggle of diners on the outdoor patio, this restaurant is well out of your usual price range. You understandably had the space to bring only so much when fleeing Armistice, but next to Sora in her long skirt and designer boots, you feel rather inadequate. Even Jaehwan, still accompanying you on Hakyeon's orders, cleans up nicely in his dark jeans and button down.
Oblivious to your sartorial distress, Jaehwan has been staring at something behind you over your shoulder for the past five minutes. You spare a glance, somehow both bored and agitated, but it’s just another gaggle of highly fashionable pedestrians on the opposite sidewalk. It’s strange being in the throngs of normal society, people laughing and going about their day, as if you’re not acutely aware of every passing stranger and their likelihood of being under the king’s command.
Sora huffs and checks her phone. “Ugh, it is just like Sanghyuk to keep us waiting this long.”
With the thought of meeting the king still looming over everyone's heads, Hakyeon had declared you needed a new wardrobe to properly fit the part of court mascot and roped Sora into being your guide for the day. Then once Sora realized you hadn’t eaten yet, she insisted on treating you to lunch first, calling up her brother as well on the assumption he would like to see you. From what you gather though, Sanghyuk is a late sleeper, leaving the three of you to wait outside the restaurant for his arrival.
Jaehwan scoffs, hands in pockets and lips quirked in a smile. “He's probably still hungover.”
Sora rolls her eyes. “I know he's still hungover. He threw a pillow at me this morning when I tried to wake him up.”
It's strange to think of the young boy you knew at one time having anything to do with alcohol consumption, but sudden movement in the corner of your eye cuts off any further thought. A jolt of panic runs through your body, but before you can react, Jaehwan pivots to shield you and shoulder checks the encroaching figure, sending him sprawling on the sidewalk. The chatter around you pauses briefly, the diners outside startled into silence.
“What the fuck, Hyuk?” Jaehwan pulls a groaning Sanghyuk up by the hand, both annoyed and amused. “You can't just run at people.”
“Speak of the devil and he shall appear,” Sora says, glaring up at her brother.
Holding his head, Sanghyuk stands and grins sheepishly. “I just wanted to surprise the princess. I didn't think you'd go all macho-Sword-man on me.”
“Han Sanghyuk, how many times have I told you that no one likes it when you do that?” Incensed, Sora has her hands on her hips, and you're struck by how much she's channeling her grandmother right now.
Trying to calm your still racing heart, you crane your neck upwards to peer at Sanghyuk. The last time you saw him, he was about shoulder height with you, but apparently, he takes after his giant of a grandfather, considering his current condition.
“Ahh, she doesn't mind,” Sanghyuk says, giving you a proper hug in greeting. “Do you?”
“Just don't do it again,” you respond, awkwardly bent back by his embrace. “What happened to you, Hyogi? I can't ruffle your hair anymore.”
Sanghyuk releases you, grinning, and Jaehwan opens the glass door to the restaurant, ushering your group in.
“Puberty is a magical thing, I'll tell you all about it later,” Jaehwan says, deadpan and holding the door open for you to walk through.
You stick your tongue out at him childishly before you can stop yourself. “We're getting lunch and buying some clothes, why are you here exactly?” You know the answer to that, of course; Hakyeon was very clear that you are not to go anywhere in the city without your “bodyguard”, but you hate feeling babied.
“He can hold the bags for us,” Sora says soothingly. She strides forward to the maître d’ of the restaurant who is busy jotting down reservations in a large tablet.
“I'm sorry, we are booked full through today,” he says as your group approaches without even looking up. “You'll have to call ahead next time.”
Undeterred, Sora smiles. “I'll just need my usual table, Jisoo.”
The man immediately looks up from his task, eyes widening in shocked apology. “Lady Han! I am very sorry, I didn't realize it was you.” He jumps out from behind the desk, bowing a full ninety degrees. “Right this way.”
You haven’t seen this much bowing and scraping since your days at the palace, but you follow Sora and the man anyway to the back of the restaurant where there is a lovely paper screen set up for privacy. Snippets of conversation heard from diners you pass along the way only add to your confusion.
“Ohmygod, don't look now, but the Han Sora just walked in.”
“Holy shit, think we can get a picture? Who's the hottie she's with?”
“Gross, that's her brother.”
“No, the blond one! Next to that frumpy chick.”
Your cheeks heat in embarrassment and you quicken your pace, desperate to be out of view. The maître d’ eventually leads the group to an elegantly set table toward the very back, set against some more screens and bathed in sun from an overhead skylight. He pulls out a chair for Sora, and Jaehwan, to your surprise, pulls one out for you. At your questioning look, Jaehwan simply flashes a cheeky smile and seats himself to your left. On your right, Sanghyuk immediately grabs a menu to peruse.
“Would you like a wine list, my lady?” says the maître d’ to Sora, once again in a deep bow. “We recently received a shipment of excellent vintage wine from Imsal that I'm sure you would find to your taste.”
“I'll just have a bottle of that then,” Sora responds, sending the man scurrying off in haste.
“A little early for alcohol,” you say, paging through the menu. As everything since your exodus has been, the expensive choices are overwhelming.
“Never too early for alcohol,” Sanghyuk states dryly, nose still stuck in the menu.
“Maybe just a glass of milk for this one,” you say, narrowing your eyes.
“I'm lactose intolerant, actually,” he says smugly as the maître d’ returns with a bottle of wine and an ice bucket.
Uncorking the bottle, Jaehwan takes it upon himself to pour out glasses for everyone. He passes over Sanghyuk’s offered glass, eliciting a furious pout from the offended party.
“You can't be serious.”
“Shut up and drink your milk, Hyogi,” quips Jaehwan, smirking as he pours you a glass.
Sanghyuk flips Jaehwan a finger, making you snort in laughter and Sora sigh.
“Boys,” she says in exasperation. “Can we pretend to be nice and civilized for like, half an hour? That's all I ask. And are you not still hungover?” Sora glares pointedly at Sanghyuk, who has decided to take matters into his own hands by pouring himself a glass.
“Nope!” he responds, popping the ‘p’. “Didn’t even go out last night. Was up until four gaming; Changkyun set our raid real late.” A waiter comes by briefly to take orders, bowing several times in the process. Swirling the wine in his glass, Sanghyuk lays his chin on his hand boredly. “I’ll behave. Wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your adoring fans.”
Sipping your own wine slowly, you look at Sora sitting across the table. “What's this about adoring fans?”
Jaehwan lets out a laugh that he tries, and fails, to cover with a cough. “Wow, you really lived under a rock back in Armistice, huh?”
You glare at him, and Sora flushes slightly. “I didn't really have time for much outside of school and work,” you mutter.
“That's quite alright.” Sora smiles and fiddles with her hair self-consciously. “I act a bit now, that's all.”
Both the boys scoff at that. “She's the kingdom's sweetheart,” Jaehwan supplies. “Can't turn on a screen without seeing Sora.”
“Did you have to take the one voice over gig though?” Sanghyuk complains. “My friends keep trying to get me to play that game, and it looks so cool, but I refuse to play anything where I have to listen to my sister the whole time.”
Sora rolls her eyes in response. “My agent thought it'd be a good idea to engage the younger demographic. Deal with it.”
“The point is,” Jaehwan says, “she's the perfect candidate to teach you how to behave in Capital culture.”
You narrow your eyes, trying hard not to be offended. “Are you saying I don't know how to behave?”
The waiter returns with several trays, distracting Jaehwan from an answer for a moment. “You're prickly,” he responds eventually with a mouth full of pasta. “And abrasive.”
“I am not prickly.” You try not to sound defensive, but you have to admit his words have some truth to them.
“I wasn't done,” Jaehwan says holding up a finger and swallowing heavily. “You freeze in tense situations and you're so out of touch with the kingdom that you didn't realize its most famous celebrity is actually your best friend from childhood.”
He smiles widely as you grit your teeth and glare. “Am I wrong?” he asks with the quirk of an eyebrow.
You stare down at your plate, unwilling to answer. He isn't wrong. No one knows better than you that the task Hakyeon has given you is monumental. You were forced to grow into a different person after leaving the kingdom, and now you're supposed to prance back into court high society like none of it ever occurred.
Remember Hakyeon, is all you can think through your clenched jaw, clenched fists. Remember Hakyeon and remember the debt.
“You're not doing it alone,” Sora says softly from across the table. “Okay? We'll be here to prepare you for everything.”
You sigh, feeling defeated before anything has even happened. “That’s all well and nice, but I’m the one going into the lion’s den.”
“The king’s not going to murder you in broad daylight,” Jaehwan says with the slightest roll of his eyes. “He’s left you alone so far anyway. If he'd wanted to make a move, he would have already.”
This does nothing to help your fears and you glare at him again. “Do you think I would have been allowed to enter this city if the king didn't want me here?” You can't shake the feeling that you're walking right into his hands.
“Well,” Sanghyuk pipes up. “If nothing else, don't worry too much about the court and the general public. A little ass kissing here, a couple photo ops with Sora there, and they'll be eating out of the palm of your hand.”
Sora nods. “Exactly. Stick you in a designer dress and you’ll fit right in. Maybe a haircut too,” she adds as an afterthought.
“What's wrong with my hair?” you ask, frowning. You hadn't cut your hair in a while for lack of time and initiative, but you don't think you look terrible.
“Don't worry,” Sora says waving her hand dismissively. “I'll take care of everything, and when I'm done the tabloids won't know what to do with themselves.” Her grin is meant to be encouraging but it feels like an ominous portent for the rest of the day at your friend's mercy.
As it is, your instincts had the right idea to be frightened.
Shortly after lunch, Sora leads you and Jaehwan on a whirlwind of a shopping spree. Sanghyuk ditches early, citing an urgent appointment with his bed and his utter disinterest in taking part in his sister's madness as reasons.
For once you’re glad to have Hakyeon's unlimited credit line, considering the high-end boutiques and department stores you keep being pulled into. You're continuously forced into fitting rooms, arms laden with clothes Sora wants you to try, each time aided by boutique owners who inevitably end up being huge fans of your friend. Between your impromptu fashion show and the salon where your hair and skin are poked, prodded, and plucked, you feel like you’ve walked through a hurricane of perfume and finery.
Sora excuses herself to check on an order she has coming in at yet another boutique, leaving the two of you to awkwardly wait outside. Jaehwan is buried in various shopping bags, and you're leaning against the brick facade in an attempt to catch your breath. It’s a busy shopping district, pedestrians flooding in and out of the many storefronts and restaurants.
You close your eyes for a moment, head bent in a futile attempt to hide yourself under the giant ferns flanking the boutique doors. No matter how much rest you get, you can’t seem to shake this exhaustion that’s settled into your bones ever since you made the decision to leave Armistice. It’s a strange feeling to be so very tired and at the same time wary of every little bit of your surroundings. The anxiety and fatigue combine to make your insides feel inflamed.
A deep breath later you straighten up and peek up at Jaehwan on the off chance he’s also tired enough to let you leave early, but he’s all furrowed brows and tense shoulders, once again distracted by something across the street. You follow his gaze to the cafe immediately in front of you, confused by the seemingly innocuous scene. There’s a man with close-cropped hair seated outside who feels vaguely familiar, but there are millions of men with buzz cuts in the world and you’re all out of long-lost childhood friends.
“What have you been staring at all day?” It comes out snippier than you intended, and Jaehwan snaps his eyes to yours, an easy smile plastered back on.
“Hmm?”
“You’ve been staring off into space,” you say, suddenly annoyed. “All day.”
“It’s nothing, thought I spotted an old friend.” He’s still smiling in his usual irritating way, lips stretched wide at a joke you’re not in on.
“Some bodyguard,” you scoff, pushing off the wall. Instead you find a seat at a bench a little down the block, ignoring your shadow as best you can while he settles down next to you. Your position gives you an unhindered view of the riverside promenade, the gap in buildings allowing a small breeze to filter through. You absently play with your hair as the wind picks it up, now cut shoulder length and blow-dried straight.
“It looks good,” Jaehwan says suddenly, face peeking out from under the pile of boxes and bags he's holding.
“What?” His voice wrenches your gaze away from the river, where the setting sun is turning the surface of the waters to molten gold.
“Your hair,” he explains. “It looks good, don't worry.”
You blink and look at him, not quite sure how to react. “Thank you?”
Amused, Jaehwan gives you a lopsided smile and copies your tone. “You're welcome?”
You turn away quickly, trying to hide your embarrassment, and caught off guard by his friendliness. You still don't know what to make of the man who has been your constant companion for the past few days. He seems determined to get under your skin, all smiles and jokes, but then his sudden serious moments give you whiplash.
“What's that?” you ask, pointing toward several structures clustered up against the river. Some of the buildings look half-complete, with their steel skeletons stretching up to the open sky, while others look fully functional but nonetheless abandoned. The largest straddles the river, arched towers on each bank meeting in the middle elegantly.
“What’s what?” Jaehwan cranes his neck to look at where you're pointing. “That ugly thing? It was supposed to be a hotel, I think, a whole resort complex type deal. There's always some new construction project going up, but this one ran out of money and stopped building a while ago.”
You nod in understanding. “The city's expanded a lot since I was last here.”
“All the development companies are owned by the king's new magistrates,” he murmurs.
“All of them?”
“Not in name,” he amends. “But it's all the same people if you trace the contracts far back enough. Hakyeon's been trying to fight it, but it's an uphill battle.”
“How is he doing that?” you ask, genuinely curious. You have no idea what your cousin has been up to beyond court politics.
“He's been funneling money to competitors and foreign investors. A lot of business shit I don't fully understand.” Jaehwan shakes his head and grimaces a little. “He's the one that convinced TirTech to open a branch here.”
You raise an eyebrow. “And the king just lets him do it?”
Jaehwan's face grows dark for a moment, mind elsewhere. “The king is pretty busy with other things.”
You're about to ask what he thinks the king is up to when Jaehwan suddenly exclaims and shoves the bags off himself.
“Oh! Wait here a second.” He jumps up and makes to walk away, then turns back around. “Do not move, understand?” he says firmly, wagging a finger for good measure.
“Yes sir,” you mock, rolling your eyes.
You watch as he quickly jogs across the street to a food cart on the corner. You're both confused and amused by his sudden change in demeanor as he animatedly points to what you assume is a menu, glancing back every now and again to make sure you're still sitting on the bench. He jogs back a few minutes later with a paper bag in hand.
“Churros!” Jaehwan grins, pulling one out of the bag for you.
You accept the proffered fried stick of dough and take a bite, careful not to dust yourself in sugar in the process. Warm and sweet, the dessert is an immediate mood lifter.
“Did you have a sudden craving?” you ask, half joking.
Jaehwan shakes his head, mouth full of his own churro. “This is the best churro cart in the city. I remember from the last time Sora dragged Hyuk and me this way.”
“What, like you've tried all of them?” you mumble around a mouthful of churro.
“I get around,” Jaehwan says, wiggling his eyebrows at you suggestively.
It's an effort not to inhale dough as you snort in laughter, caught off guard by his silly expression. He seems rather proud of himself, smiling broadly at your laugh. You bite your lips in an attempt to keep a straight face, but your efforts are in vain. With a roll of your eyes you turn away from him, but the laughter has sunken into your face as a contented smile, the omnipresent dread on your shoulders held at bay for the moment.
Pairing: Jaehwan x Reader
Genre: Sci-Fi, Royal AU
Word Count: 2.5k
Warnings: PTSD mentions
"Hakyeon lets out a strained sigh, the air getting caught somewhere in his throat as he exhales. He has his hands in his pockets, looking older than you've ever seen him."
You roll out of bed the next day well into the afternoon. Bright sunlight filters in through the pale blue curtains as you try to get your bearings. The past few days feel like a fever dream, but the shining city outside tells you that you are indeed back in your homeland. Not that you recognize much of it, of course. Even taking into account your minimal exposure to anything beyond the palace walls before your exile, the city has spent the last ten years spreading, growing like a moss over the landscape. And off in the distance is Yuseong River, an iridescent snake splitting the city in two.
After brushing your teeth, you groggily wander downstairs, hoping Hakyeon has procured breakfast in some non-curry way. You catch the barest glimpse of a stranger sitting at the dining table before she hurtles herself toward you, embracing you tightly and obscuring your vision in a cloud of dark hair.
“I didn't believe it, but it's true!” she whispers in a rush next to your ear. The woman finally releases you and holds you at arm’s length to get a better look. Possessing a model-like grace and beauty, she looks entirely unlike anyone you normally interact with. But under her pearly white smile and perfectly sculpted eyebrows, you get the distinct feeling you’ve met before.
“Hakyeon said he found you, but I honestly didn't believe him,” she rambles. “He says a lot of crazy things and—” She breaks off, blinking and pursing her lips. “And, you don't remember me, do you?”
“Ah,” you begin awkwardly, not sure what to say. The woman seems so familiar to you, like you might have seen her in a movie or a dream, but that doesn't seem quite right. Then, at her disappointed sigh of your name, something just clicks, your eyes widening in shock and recognition.
“Sora?”
She beams, wrapping you in another fierce hug. “Oh, you do remember!”
You hear Hakyeon's chuckle off to the side somewhere. “You're crushing her, Sora.”
She releases you quickly as her grin turns sheepish. “I'm sorry. Hakyeon warned me to be gentle with you, but I got a little excited.”
“It's okay,” you say, feeling dazed.
You're back in Asadal now, of course you would run into people from your childhood. It’s just a little hard to reconcile the mental image of your old best friend, all skinned knees and frizzy hair, with the put-together beauty in front of you. If reuniting with Hakyeon was a blast from the past, Sora’s presence feels like actual time travel. “What are you doing here?”
Still smiling, Sora takes your hands and leads you to sit down at the table, now devoid of Hakyeon's various documents.
“I brought her,” Hakyeon answers, leaning against the kitchen island. He's in a fresh set of clothes and looks slightly less haggard than yesterday, though the dark circles haven't budged. “I thought we could use some help reacclimating you with the court.”
Sora nods. “When Hakyeon called me saying he'd found you and that you were back in the Capital, I thought he was making fun of me. But I had to come on the off chance it was true.” She releases your hands and clasps her expertly manicured fingers together. “Wait ‘til I tell grandma!”
You smile at the mention of your old governess. “How is she?”
Sora smiles softly. “As well as can be. She and grandpa have been living at the old house out in Minami province since—“ She pauses here with a wrinkle of her pert nose. “Well, since grandpa left the Council.”
You furrow your brows in worry. Sora's grandfather had been your father's most trusted member of the High Council. With what Hakyeon said last night, you suppose it's only natural the king would dispose of him first. You count it as a blessing that he's still alive.
“And Sanghyuk?”
Sora rolls her eyes heavily. “Still with me in the Capital, still as bratty as ever.”
You smile, glad to hear of her little brother. The image of small, waifish boy clutching at his sister fills your memory with that pronouncement. It was easy to get attached to the kid after years of being followed around on your and Sora’s adventures through the palace. You’re reminiscing when a sudden thought occurs to you, and you spin in your seat to face Hakyeon.
“What do you mean reacclimate myself to the court?”
“My father,” he starts, “has requested your presence at the tower.”
“What.” The idea is so abhorrent that you think you've misheard.
Hakyeon sighs deeply. “I received a message from one of the king's secretaries this morning. It seems he does indeed know you're here, and he wants to see you.”
“When?” you ask simply.
“Tomorrow morning.”
You nod in understanding, seemingly calm. In reality, you've gone completely numb at the thought of standing face to face with the man who murdered your family, stole your kingdom, and almost murdered you as well.
“There's no way to refuse, is there?” A statement more than a question.
Hakyeon shakes his head. “I'm not sure what he wants, but it would be unwise not to go.”
You nod again, anxiety creeping up the back of your neck through the numbness. “What do we do?”
“I have a plan.” Arms crossed, Hakyeon has a look of foreboding.
“Let's hear it.”
“You're not going to like it,” he says with a slight grimace.
“Let's hear it,” you repeat, more slowly this time.
With a sigh Hakyeon runs a hand through his hair and starts pacing. “The kingdom is under the assumption that you are dead, and they have been since your disappearance. The people were forced to accept my father as king only because there was no other choice.”
He stops in front of the window, back turned and hands clasped. “While he certainly has his supporters, the people don’t love my father. They don’t support him the way they did your parents. And with the recent civil unrest, he has never been more unpopular with the common folk.”
You furrow your brows and look to Sora for confirmation, and she nods ruefully. “It's particularly bad down south.”
“So, what am I supposed to do?” you ask.
Hakyeon turns around to face you, arms crossed again. “The king could use some support. If you can convince him you've arrived to help solidify his power, he'll be inclined to leave you alone while we work on deposing him.”
“You want me to be the king's personal cheerleader,” you say, deadpan.
He grimaces again, but nods. “For lack of better term.”
You can't help but let out a sarcastic laugh. “You were right, I don't like this plan. I hate this plan.”
“Think about it,” Hakyeon implores. “The king already knows you're here. He’ll want to know why, and knowing my father, he will feel threatened by your presence. Convince him and the rest of the kingdom you’re here for his sake and he will be forced to leave you alone.”
At your skeptical look, he continues, clearly having pre-scripted this conversation. “Plus, you'll have a great vantage point of being involved in the court. I don't have a lot of allies there, and as I told you, I need access to the king's systems.”
You roll your eyes in exasperation. “Hakyeon, this is dumb. How are we supposed to explain my miraculous reappearance? What makes you think we can convince him of anything?”
“Because he has no choice,” Hakyeon states firmly. “My father's grip on the realm has always been tenuous at best, and he knows it. He may have his sycophants now, but they will turn on him at the drop of a hat.
“As for your reappearance.” He pauses. “I think my father has always suspected you survived.”
“How do you figure?” A chill runs down your spine at the very notion. That the king knew, waited out your years in exile.
Hakyeon shakes his head. “I just know. He never relaxed after I got you out of the kingdom. I covered my tracks as best I could, but still.” He smiles suddenly. “You're his worst failure.”
“I'm glad my not drowning was such an accomplishment,” you mutter darkly.
Sora speaks up from the side where she has been listening intently to your conversation. “What happened that night?” she asks in a soft voice.
Your jaw clenches and your muscles tense, as they always do when thinking back to that time. Hakyeon, taking your silence as a concerning sign, immediately tries discouraging the topic.
“Sora, I don't think now is the time—”
“No, it's okay,” you interrupt, your voice sounding impossibly small, even to yourself. “I've had time to come to terms with it.”
Hakyeon raises an eyebrow, apparently skeptical. “Have you?”
“Somewhat,” you clarify, rather embarrassed. To say you’re over your trauma would be a blatant lie. But it had been ten years ago, and you refuse to hesitate in front of your old friend, regardless of the constant anxiety and occasional nightmares you still have.
You swallow heavily and shake your head. “What do you remember about my parents’ deaths?”
Sora looks like she slightly regrets starting this conversation, but obliges. “There was a fire.” She pauses, pursing her lips and averting her eyes. “The king and queen were called to the Assembly House. Everyone did what they could, but they couldn’t put out the fire until it was too late. Except,” she says, huffing frustratedly, “everyone knows that's a lie.”
“Do they?” You're curious as to how much of the kingdom knows the truth.
“Well, not everyone,” she admits. “Just anyone in the court at the time. Grandpa warned your parents that something was going to happen.”
This is news to you. “He did?” You wonder just how much was known, if all this could have been prevented.
Sora nods. “You were away at school, but the entire High Council and half the magistrates seemed to know something was up with your uncle.”
You look to Hakyeon who nods as well. “I tried keeping an eye on my father, but you know he's always kept me at an arm's length. There were plenty at court who warned your parents that he could strike any moment.”
You look down as your heart clenches. They knew. Your parents knew they were marked for death. “Why didn't they run?” you whisper, half to yourself.
“They didn't want to abandon the kingdom,” Sora says, looking to the floor sadly. “Grandpa ranted about it at home, about how they were too noble for their own good. Grandma at least managed to convince them to send you away.”
You suck in a deep breath to ground yourself, but your hands curl into fists, nails cutting half-moons into your palms.
There’s only so much you could have done, right, from your position as a sheltered child? Your uncle had never seemed outwardly dangerous. A little weird, a little intense, popping into the palace randomly after long periods away. Your father never had the best relationship with his estranged older brother, your uncle always a little too desperate for leverage in court. But you never thought, never dreamed that he would do anything about it. If only you had spoken up.
“So everyone knows?” you ask in a hollow voice.
“Not the citizens. But the magistrates, the council, half the court even.” Sora looks at you, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “I'm sorry.”
You attempt a smile that lands closer to a grimace and shake your head. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Sora. In fact, your grandpa saved my life. Along with Hakyeon,” you add, glancing over to your cousin.
The prince flushes slightly. “I had very little to do with it.”
“I wouldn't be here today if not for you,” you assert. “You remember the funeral?” you ask, turning back to Sora.
She nods. “I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I wanted to come see you the second you got back to the kingdom, but whenever I tried some court attendant or whoever would tell me you were busy.”
“Yeah,” you chuckle darkly. “They wanted to crown me immediately. They probably would have done it at the airport if Uncle hadn't stepped in.”
“I have a theory about that,” says Hakyeon. You raise an eyebrow and he continues. “I think my father assumed that he would be allowed to rule as regent for the time being. You were still a minor, and I think he planned to gradually take over officially.”
“But the Council had different plans,” you finish for him.
Hakyeon nods ruefully.
“I think everyone was afraid of the crown falling into your uncle's hands,” Sora adds.
“Instead they just spurred him to take drastic measures.” Hakyeon's jaw is set in anger, but you're too tired to be mad at what a group of old men did so long ago.
“He sent his men after me,” you explain, turning back to Sora and finally getting to the story. “I don't fully remember what happened, but I remember being dragged from my bed in the middle of the night.”
You squeeze your fingers, doing your best to distract yourself and keep your heart rate down, but it isn't quite working. In your mind, you’re back in a dark, stuffy van, head swimming and lungs struggling to take in air. Wake up. Wake up. Wake. UP.
“I think I may have been drugged as well,” you add quietly, arms crossed firmly in some semblance of keeping yourself together.
Sora's eyes have gone wide at the revelation.
“After what happened to the king and queen I tried to stick as close to my father as possible,” Hakyeon continues for you. “I noticed him being more secretive than usual, and I instructed your grandfather to check in at the palace,” he explains to Sora. “I'm sorry I didn't move quicker. From what I gather, there was a chase. The men tried to transport the princess out of the Capital, but were held up at the bridge crossing Yuseong River.”
He looks away, unable to face you, while you're just doing your best to keep breathing normally. In your dreams you often re-live waking up with water in your lungs, darkness all around you. The memories are just as vivid ten years later.
Hakyeon lets out a strained sigh, the air getting caught somewhere in his throat as he exhales. “Together we got her out of the country.” He has his hands in his pockets, looking older than you've ever seen him. “The few loyal members of the Council and I, I mean.”
You nod. “They set me up with an apartment and fake documents for school and a little money. And that's where I've been until now. And,” you pause for a deep breath, “now you know.”
You're enveloped in a crushing hug once again as Sora jumps out of her seat toward you. “I'm sorry,” she whispers against your ear.
You shake your head, hugging her back. “It happened, and it's over.”
Sora releases you, then stands and surprises Hakyeon with a hug of his own. “You too, you silly prince,” she says emphatically. Hakyeon awkwardly pats her on the back and you almost laugh at the sight. Sora straightens and turns to face the two of you with a determined look in her eye.
