Night Prince

Voice of Reason

"Let's bet a sack of potatoes. I bet the princess would knock Pyo Chi Su out in 30 seconds." Seri challenged the rest of the royal entourage.

It was yet another early morning, one that held an extra tinge of excitement because Pyo Chi Su had finally gotten under Seo Dan's skin. 

If Seri and Seo Dan had anything in common, it was their temper and their lack of tolerance for a certain captain. Last night, Seo Dan had challenged Pyo Chi Su to a duel when he had boasted about his fighting skills. Again.

Firstly, taking out ten trained fighters in ten seconds was humanly impossible unless those fighters were already on some drugs.

Secondly. Pyo Chi Su had grossly overestimated his skills time and time again, to the point that Seo Dan had grown tired of his nonsense.

And the best way to deal with a narcissist? You've got to use his strength to defeat him.

If Pyo Chi Su was so sure about his skills, he shouldn't have a problem taking down the princess, right?

Wrong.

Once again, everything was a gross overestimation on Pyo Chi Su's part.

Seri knew that, the royal entourage knew that, and the prince knew that. Everyone knew, except for the man himself.

"30 seconds sounds about right." Joo Myeok nodded next to Seri as the dramatic duo gave each other a high-five.

"Kwang Beom, what's your bet?" Seri asked.

"I don't do bets." The royal advisor spoke quietly, although his eyes were trained eagerly on the fight that was just about to unfold.

It was almost Deja vu to the boys who were reminded of the time Seri had challenged Pyo Chi Su to a duel. It was, after all, one of their fondest memories of their time in the forest.

"I'll root for Captain Pyo!" Eun Dong's eyes shined with unrivalled innocence as he cheered for the captain.

Seri shook her head at the young man, recognising that Eun Dong's innocence was too precious for the world.

"Poor thing, he's going to lose a sack of potatoes." Seri thought to herself.

Ri Jeong Hyeok joined the group right as the fight commenced, barely containing the amusement on his face. Seri and Jeong Hyeok's eyes met in the distance and a smile automatically formed on their faces.

There might be a war right around the corner, but they found joy in each other and the people around them. During times like these, they could be free. Free of their duties and obligations, free of their inner demons, and free of the weight of the world.

They all knew that once they arrived back at the palace, such freedom would become transient; a distant memory entrenched deep in the forest where they experienced everything together.

For now, they simply sought to cherish the time that they did have.

A series of attacks later, Seo Dan emerged victorious with a disgruntled captain. Let's face it, Pyo Chi Su was no match for Seo Dan who had trained daily the past 18 years without fail.

Just like that, Eun Dong was one bag of potatoes poorer.

"Have some water." Ri Jeong Hyeok handed a bowl of water to Seo Dan.

"Thank you, Oppa." Seo Dan spoke sweetly, the corners of her eyes crinkling up in a smile.

The smile on Seri's face grew wider when she witnessed that tender moment between the siblings. Sincerely, she was happy for them. During the past few days as they journeyed back to the palace together, Seri had been a witness of the siblings' sweetness countless times.