Crimson Crown

⌠73⌡

As he walked down the corridor, Jinyoung glanced into the guest room where he found Jackson dusting off the nightstand beside the bed. He slowly stepped into the room, keeping quiet as to not disturb the latter.

"Hello, my prince."

Jinyoung paused, a smile creeping across his lips. He couldn't help but adore the way Jackson always knew it was him without even having to bat a lash.

"You are still busy..." Jinyoung mumbled while standing in the doorway. He took a step back, deciding maybe he should return later.

Jackson turned, glancing back at him while continuing to dust. "I always have time for you."

The prince suppressed the violent throbbing of his heart into a small smile as he stepped into the room.

He cleared his throat, darting his eyes elsewhere. "It can wait if you are truly busy-"

"Stay. I enjoy your company, and you can rest up here." The vampire gestured to the empty bed that Jinyoung had slept in the night before, freshly made with changed sheets.

Jinyoung faltered for a moment, but ultimately decided to indulge. He liked being around Jackson, and enjoyed that the vampire liked his company in return. He stepped over to the bed and sat himself on the side, watching as Jackson began dusting the nearby windowsill.

"Now, what is on your mind?" He asked.

The prince cleared his throat. He might as well get it over with fast.

"...I do not want it to spark another argument so soon after we have just settled things..."

Jackson paused, his hand holding the feather duster hovering eerily still. He hesitantly turned toward the latter, head cocked cautiously curious. "I suppose... that depends on what it is."

The simple response made Jinyoung ten times more nervous. Was it really a good time for him to be bringing up one of his questionable ideas?

"...M-Maybe I should think it out more-..."

"If you wish to tell me something important, I would rather know of it now."

Well then, he had no choice but to spit it out. And even if Jackson got angry, he would just have to work it out later; Jinyoung didn't want to hold the fate of the kingdom back in favor of one person.

"I just..." The prince began with a sigh while his fingers tugged anxiously at the fabric of his bottoms. "I feel restless again. I mean, I have felt this way for a long time but, I have been idle for long enough now... I am fully healed and of sound mind, I want to do something during this brief time of peace."

He grew quieter, awaiting Jackson's response. The latter turned back to the windowsill, slowly resuming to dust. Was he angry?

"...I see..." Jackson finally mumbled after a few long moments.

Jinyoung waited longer for any further responses, growing even more anxious by the second.

"...That is all you have to say?"

"...As you said, I wish to not argue." The vampire replied, shooting a glance at him. "I just got you back, anyway."

The latter faltered, then cleared his throat again before hesitantly continuing.

"Er, so then... I was thinking of... maybe making an informal appearance before the Cornelian Royals to speak about things in person, and maybe offer something in favor of peace-..."

Amid Jinyoung's sentence, the loud sound of the feather duster snapping in Jackson's grip made him flinch. The prince cut himself abruptly short as his jaw hung open while he stared at the duster that was now in two pieces.