My Way || Hongjoong (A Treasure Tale)

Dreams of Stardust

***WARNING: Continued instances of child neglect and a scene of physical abuse in this chapter. Please read with discretion***

Even with a gentle trail of steam from the most calming tea tickling his nose, Hongjoong was utterly impatient and ready to leave.

With the worst possible timing, a stroke of fate had kept him cooped up at the Hall when he ought to be on the beach learning how to properly fire a gun.

He sat and smiled and was the epitome of silent grace and dignity during the morning tea ceremony conducted for a guest who was staying the night, but was not excused after lunch like he hoped to be and quickly discovered that the reason was worse than he'd thought.

"Please sit still, Hongjoong," Aunt Minkyung was sighing dramatically while she signalled the servants to come in and help clean up as soon as the guest had been led to her chambers. "I need to speak with you for a moment about your living arrangements."

Hongjoong's heart leaped into his throat. Whatever news this was, it couldn't be good.

"Unfortunately, your Cousin Yujung is already experiencing complications to her pregnancy," Minkyung began to explain. "And the family physician has suggested a more specialised doctor in Doljeon, the capital."

Hongjoong's brow furrowed as everything began to make sense. The special doctor was the woman who he had so elegantly poured the tea for. And it was all well and good that she stay to keep an eye on Yujung's health, but according to her, the task was best done in Doljeon where she had easy access to her facilities, so off his cousins would travel for the winter, leaving Hongjoong to stay under Uncle Ryeowook and Aunt Minkyung's care again. That was the most unfortunate part of all.

"You have no right!" Hongjoong cried when he finally realised what was going on. The baby wasn't even here yet and already he was being passed off to someone else.

"Oh, dear Hongjoong," Aunt Minkyung sighed, for once not scolding him for raising his voice. "We have more than the right to do this, we have the responsibility."

So Hongjoong made his way down to the beach an hour late, fuming and churning up a storm inside, a storm that was only calmed when he noticed the pirate had waited for him.

Eden was sitting atop his rock again, looking through a spyglass that he pointed out at the horizon in search of other ships.

"Can I take a look?" Hongjoong asked, smiling knowingly when the pirate jumped and turned around, not having heard him approach. It was a small victory to have snuck up on a pirate.

"No, you may not," Eden told him simply. "I'm already regretting this arrangement, let's just get it over with."

Hongjoong stuck his tongue out at him and folded his arms, waiting for him to dismount the rock and bring out the gun they'd be practicing with.

Eden didn't make any comment about his uncouth facial expressions so he considered it a win.

"First, you need to understand that this is a lethal weapon and not a toy," the pirate told him sternly as he pulled one of his guns out of its holster. "Do not even pretend to threaten your schoolhouse bullies or your Aunt Whatever-her-name-is with this, understand?"

Hongjoong nodded fervently, eager to see the weapon in action and carefully observed everything— the parts of the gun, how they all worked in tandem, and how to efficiently utilise it.

He let out a cheer and danced around as Eden perfectly shot all five rum bottles off the rock in quick succession and then asked for the gun to be given to him, ready to make an attempt himself.