Into The Mirror

Chapter 12

Subin ran out of the palace and straight into Seungwoo, who was making his way into the palace, probably to see Seungsik. He was the last person he wanted to see at that moment in time, considering he would probably side with Seungsik on everything, despite their conversation that morning.

He ran past him and down the main walkway to the gates, where the usual guards were on duty. Even though they both knew he frequently left the palace, they wouldn't easily let him leave, knowing what kind of trouble he had gotten into both of the previous times. As he approached, Seungyoun seemed increasingly worried about the prince, seeing how upset he was, but also seeing how determined he looked, which confused him too.

"Prince Subin! What's wrong?"

"Please, just let me leave!" Subin slowed his running as he got to the gate, coming to a stop in front of it and resting his head on one of the metal bars, clutching at it. "I don't want to be here."

"Prince Subin, I can't do that. I'm sorry." Seungyoun felt bad not being able to help, but he knew he would get into trouble if anyone found out.

"You can! Just open the gate. Tell anyone who asks that it wasn't you, that I left another way. Please." Subin practically begged him.

Seungyoun sighed. He wanted to know what had happened to make him so worked up before he let him leave, but he knew that he probably wouldn't tell him. He had seen how precious Subin was to everyone and didn't want him to get hurt in any way.

"I don't know what happened, but please just promise you won't stay out there too long." Subin whipped his head around, almost like he didn't believe he was letting him go.

"You might be able to find Sejun. I heard he's staying around the town somewhere." Seungyoun opened the gate and let the prince slip out. The other guard on duty had decided not to get involved - knowing if anything went wrong they would both be blamed but trusting the other's decision.

"Thank you." Subin nodded, before taking off again.

~~~

People were staring at Subin. More than usual.

In that moment he didn't know why they were staring, but it was pretty obvious that it was because he was running through the town looking angry but also like he was going to cry. Nobody had ever seen him like that before, he was usually happy and bubbly, and the one trying to cheer anyone who was upset up in any way that he could.

But nobody wanted to interfere with him, fearing something bad would happen if they did. So Subin was left in the middle of the town, feeling less than okay, but not knowing what to do or where to go. There was no way he was going back to the palace, not after what happened. By now, Seungsik would have probably told Seungwoo and they would both end up telling him to stop talking to Sejun, seeing as Seungwoo was already wary of him.

Subin wasn't sure what he was expecting to happen once he left the palace, he was subconsciously hoping to run into Sejun again, so that he could talk to someone who shared his 'hatred' for the royal family (he didn't actually hate them, it was just a spur of the moment feeling). Alas, there was no sign of him, and there was no way that Subin was going to ask anyone if they had seen him after he had seen their reactions of the assassin being around last time.

It was only when the initial wave of emotions had passed that the prince actually realised what was going on and what he had done. He was in the town, by himself, only a few days after he was nearly kidnapped, without anyone else there to 'help' him this time, because he knew he wouldn't be able to get out of another one of those situations by himself. And with the amount of attention he was currently receiving, it was probably best for him to get out of there, and quickly.

Once again he found himself walking towards the forest, despite what had happened the night before, he felt safer there than in the town, and he wasn't going back yet.

It was peaceful, putting Subin's mind somewhat to rest, forcing him to focus on his surroundings rather than the argument with his brother and the possible ways of how the situation could play out. Either Seungsik would stick to his word no matter what Subin did or said, making everyone go along with that also, or he would change his mind and allow Subin to make his own decisions for once and let him do what he wanted to (which was very unlikely). He could see the older was trying to look out for him, but he just wanted to have something away from the palace, something just for him and none of the others, and Sejun was that something.

All he wanted was a friend.

The body from the night before, to the prince's surprise, was no longer there, meaning someone had moved it, but for what purpose he didn't know. He assumed someone had stumbled upon it and taken pity on the person, taking it back to the town for someone to identify and bury. Either way, it was a good thing because he didn't have to look at it again.

Subin wasn't sure why he felt almost normal after what he had seen last night. Yes, Sejun had saved him, and he was grateful, but he had killed a man right in front of him. Yet, the trust he had in him remained, and he only felt shaken because of the body he saw, but he wasn't even blaming the assassin for that.

What was wrong with him?

The prince felt stupid for trusting an assassin like that, but he was determined to prove everyone wrong about what they thought about him.

Subin's body had unconsciously made its way back to the other side of the forest, where they had sat the night before. He wasn't surprised, he always usually went there. But it felt different now.

He laid down in the grass, staring at the thankfully blue sky, before closing his eyes and feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he felt content. He was proud of himself for standing up to his brother - even if it may have just caused more problems - and he had found someone to talk to. Well, that was if Sejun actually wanted to see him again. Subin wasn't sure he would want to 'hang out' with a prince, let alone a prince from the Mirror Kingdom.

The warmth of the sun, along with the rustle of the breeze through the grass around him and the contented feeling was enough to make him feel drowsy, and so he decided it couldn't hurt to take a short nap. 

Nothing would happen, surely. 

~~~

I know this is quite a boring chapter, but its setting up for what is going to happen in the next few chapters. Please bare with it! 

How do you feel about Subin's decisions and feelings so far? 

Have a good day/night 💛