No Rest for the Wicked || Sungjong && Minseok
When Minseok had awoken that morning he felt off. It was possible that it was a combination of uneasy rest he had in the past week and the seasons changing, always feeling quite off when they change. He barely had time to crack open his tired eyes, glued together from sleep, when there was a gentle rap of knuckles on his door and Sungjong was coming in for morning preparation. It was always Sungjong that came for help in the morning without fail, the male servant carrying in a small tub of hot water and cloths for Minseok to wash with. They worked together efficiently; Minseok would go to wash his face first and then clean up while Sungjong would arrange his daily outfit, always choosing appropriately considering weather and his activities. Sungjong was a crucial piece to Minseok's life.
Minseok had to shake off his weariness in order to stand up straight for Sungjong to start dressing him; no matter how many times Minseok would insist that he was perfectly capable of clothing himself, Sungjong would continue on as if not hearing him. It was a struggle not to watch the other as he pulled fabric onto him piece by piece, the male was quite a distraction and Minseok had nothing else to look at in the room during. His cheeks reddend some without fail as Sungjong pulled the trousers up his legs, although he hid the colouring by turning his head completely. He knew they were both men but there was something about the position that just sparked an awkwardness in the young male that he couldn't control. Sungjong had pulled away to bring back Minseok's doublet, he stretched his arms out to fit through the sleeves. He watched the male as he moved around him, his long deft fingers doing up the jacket, they looked warm; he looked warm.
It was a habit, falling into thoughts like those-- Minseok was wholeheartedly guilty of the consuming images and ideas in his head. It took more than a shake of the head to rid them from the forefront of his mind but it was all he could do at the moment, he would have to be down in the serving room for the family's fast breaking-- something he was reluctantly invited to each morning unless nobility was a guest in the castle. He'd eat with the King, Queen, and his brother Jongdae but as soon as someone were to eat with them Minseok would be pushed aside for it was unheard of for someone like him to eat with the royal family. It would not have been so hard if he were 'allowed' to eat with the servants but because his father was king, not even that luxary was given to him; Minseok would eat alone.
Today was one of those days he was told when a servant came to him with word of a visitor in the castle. Minseok really should have learned not to be bothered by this but it was troubling when he could not even share food with his brother when the sun rose, could not make sure the other was doing well or if he slept peacefully-- he would be outcasted and ignored for however many hours the visitor chose to stay.
It was with heavy feet and eyes that Minseok made his way to the kitchens, of course no one really batted an eye at the bastard prince coming for his meal himself, this did happen frequently. He ignored any looks directed towards his way and slipped down to a corner unoccupied by kitchen traffic, silent and tight lipped; he'd eat alone once more.
