Collection of Stories

☾ The Mad Prince

a fine drizzle began to decorate the tall window panes. mixed with the fog, it reflected how the prince felt inside.

he stood in front of one of the large windows in the castle foyer. unmoving, he glared at the rain outside as it gradually grew in volume.

he looked towards the dark-bottomed clouds concealing the moon and releasing their refreshing showers on to the earth. he glanced at those clouds so high in the night sky and cursed them.

he pressed his long, slender fingers against the cold, glass pane.

he shut his eyes and focused on his warm finger tips on the icy surface. when he opened his eyes, the area around his fingers were wet from the melting frost.

he smiled at this.

the prince caught a small glimpse of his sparkling smile in the window. he pulled out a long piece of silk, which he kept in his pocket, and tied back his hair which was a s dark and inky as the night sky.

he grinned at his reflection, although, he could only see part of it. his bright teeth shone in the reflection, showing off his grin.

although, this grin wasn't one of delight.

it was one that scared off his castle servants and the advisors who would often visit his home. the teachers, maids, and bottlers feared this grin. they would whisper once he passed by, unknowingly to them that every word was heard.

however, this only amused the prince. he knew they all feared him and wouldn't go against him. that's why they hadn't gotten rid of him yet after the death of his parents. they were too scared to go against the mad prince, as rumours called him, who wanted to take over the throne which had been empty for years.

he chuckled slightly to himself. perhaps, I might have gone just a tad... mad, he thought to himself as he pulled his shawl tighter against his body.

deciding he had been standing there long enough, he made his way towards the entrance at the end of the foyer.

one foot out the open castle doors, he breathed in the petrichor. he couldn't recall the last time he had gone outside.

the advisors hd forbid him from exiting the castle gates and confined him to the castle grounds, but he had rarely set foot outside.

the prince's servants and workers watched from inside, worried not that he would catch cold, but about why he was doing this.

setting another foot outside, the prince embraced the on pour of rain which he despised.

he had considered it an enemy; his opposite. but now he was encased in it.

like he was possessed, he started dancing to his own imaginary tune. one foot after the other, he followed the rhythm in his own head.

they say "keep your friends close but enemies your closer." and now the young prince was dancing with his.

he closed his eyes and danced and danced and danced, not caring that he was now soaking wet. this, oddly, delighted him.

the cold rain slid down his pale skin as he basked in its glory.

with a slight chuckle, he whispered to himself, "hwang hyunjin, perhaps they were right. you have earned the title of 'the mad prince.'"

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