Crimson Crown

⌠46⌡

Jinyoung's eyes widened as the news settled in him.

"What?" He muttered as his confused gaze fell to his lap. "B-But I'm not dead?"

"Your parents wanted to keep your condition restricted to the palace. Everyone else in the kingdom has no idea a vampire saved your life. All they know is that you got ran through with a sword..." Youngjae explained.

Jinyoung blinked, letting out a soft breath. "So... I'm dead?"

"To them. Yes."

"Which means... to Cornelia too... e-everyone thinks I'm dead..." The prince shook his head; why was he dead? He was very much alive and feeling much better than he did before, why would they lie about his condition like this? "Why!? There's still more I can do! I have to get back out there--"

"That's exactly why." Youngjae interrupted. "If you're dead, then there's nothing more you can do. You need to take this time to rest, and we will see what we do from then. The king is pondering how he will reveal you when the time comes."

Still, none of it made sense. Jinyoung didn't need rest, he needed to get up and protect the people of his kingdom; how could he do that as a dead man?

"So you all lied just so you can force me to sit on my arse and do nothing!?" He asked, shooting a glare at Youngjae who's eyes darted away. His gaze then shifted to Jackson, the vampire staring back unwavered. "And you... how could you let them!?"

"It was not my decision. I am seen as a foreigner to the palace, despite living on this land for centuries." He let out a soft sigh, slowly shrugging. "But... I agreed that you needed to be slowed down before you harm yourself to the point of no saving. So... I had no arguments..."

Jinyoung scoffed-- so apparently no one was on his side, not even Jackson. "Does no one here want what I want!? Do you not understand what I'm trying to do!?"

"Everyone here wants peace Jinyoung. Everyone. You know how much I've wanted it for so long..." Jackson urged.

"Then why are you sitting here doing nothing? You want peace, yet you want to sit here and wait for it to come to you." He shook his head, his eyes softening as Jackson kneeled beside the bed. "You of all people deserve it the most... why won't you let me do anything to help?"

The latter grabbed Jinyoung's hand, squeezing it in his own. "Because, I of all people know loss... and the feelings that tore through me when we were losing you in the infirmary... I've felt that a million times over. I cannot bear to go through that again."

Jinyoung faltered, lacking an argument to that. He had no idea how Jackson must have been feeling as a result of his foolish actions. While he was ecstatic to hear just how much he meant to the vampire, he also felt guilty for carelessly putting himself and Jackson at risk.

The silence that fell over the room was heavy, until Youngjae broke it with the clearing of his throat.

"I will go run you a bath. I'll have the water kept warm until you're ready..." He mumbled, quickly spinning to leave the room as he was clearly third-wheeling.

Jackson continued to clutch onto Jinyoung's hand, pressing his cheek to his fingers.

"You promised me you're never going to leave me." He reminded the prince, his normally fierce gaze softening into a silent plead. "Don't make me regret believing you... or else I won't have anything left to live for."

Jackson gently pressed his lips to the back of Jinyoung's hand, the prince's already flushed face shading itself pinker. He had no response, as he couldn't find one at the moment with his heart beating so fast and the odd mixture of emotions raging inside him. Not that Jackson needed a response anyway; the vampire merely released his hand and stepped out the room, leaving Jinyoung to think about the circumstances.