Crimson Crown

⌠81⌡

"They're sending troops as we speak." Youngjae stated as he swiftly marched down the palace halls that swam with staff running in all different directions amid the crisis. He glanced behind him, eyes narrowing. "Relay to me again exactly what happened."

Mark, who followed behind him, let out a breath. Hours had passed since he'd raced back to Alveras with the dreadful news that the Prince had been taken as a prisoner; he had no idea what he or Jackson could be going through at this point. They needed to move fast.

"I stayed outside of the throne room just in case, and suddenly heard yelling and commotion. I was then apprehended by Cornelian guards before I could figure out what was going on, and when I awoke, I was thrown outside the walls of the kingdom..."

The servant let out a sigh. He shook his head and continued down one of the various palace corridors. "You should've been inside that room."

"Jackson was with him--"

"But I asked you to protect him. Not Jackson, you."

Mark's eyes shifted to the floor as he followed behind the latter. "I know, but I trust him..."

"Your job is to trust no one around the Prince. You failed."

The swordsman faltered. He didn't know what to say to that.

Youngjae waved away his complaints, focusing back on what was at hand. "I am glad you came straight back. Now we can launch a full attack and save Jinyoung."

"They took Jackson too--"

"Jinyoung is the priority. We worry about extras later--" Youngjae paused as he saw a crowd of lesser servants rushing down the hall carrying various tools and items. "Get those weapons to the knights, quickly!"

The two stepped aside to let the group pass, then continued down the hall.

"Youngjae, I don't think this is how Jinyoung would want this to be resolved..." Mark mumbled.

The latter stopped in his tracks. He turned around, narrowing his eyes at the elder.

"I do not care what he wants at this point. He is in danger, and you are at fault. You both betrayed me..." He grumbled, arms folded over his chest. "I should have never trusted you..."

"Do you think I am not kicking myself in the arse about it?" Mark stepped closer as he ran a nervous hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, I just knew that Jinyoung would be difficult to stop, so I went along with him as protection instead of arguing. As far as I know, they are just being held in the barracks for now, so we still have time to come up with another plan--"

"There is no other plan! Jinyoung is in danger, he is going to be killed if we do not act now! Do you want his blood on your hands? Because as of right now, you are the one who got our prince killed!"

"Don't say that... I would protect Jinyoung with my life, this is not a mere job to me, this is a lifelong commitment--"

"Then why is he a hostage of Cornelia while you are safe in this palace?" 

Youngjae glared at Mark through his lashes, shaking his head again as the elder choked on a response. The guilt quickly darkened his expression.

 The servant clicked his tongue, body swaying in both anxciousness and agitation. "You did a poor job this time. Just stop the excuses and own it."

The elder faltered; rubbing in his fault wasn't helping, but he couldn't blame the younger for being angry. He was upset at himself, too. "...Even still. This is too dangerous of a plan, we cannot just send those troops to attack. Think about it, they're gonna use Jinyoung to bargain or something, he's their tool to get what they want from our Kingdom."

"We will not let him be used like that. We will attack first and take him safely."

"Youngjae you are not listening!" Mark's raised voice made the servant flinch; it was not often that anyone heard him yell like that. "If Alveras attacks, there is nothing that will stop the Cornelians from killing Jinyoung in an instant. Do not play into their hands, because then it will not only be me, but you who will also be responsible for Jinyoung's death."

At this oversight, Youngjae froze. He hadn't realized the possible danger that he was putting not only their own Alverian soldiers into, but Jinyoung himself into as well. Was he coming at this from a wrong angle? Besides, Mark normally had a large part in controlling the army; but the King and Queen no longer had faith in his judgement despite the situation spinning out of his control. 

Maybe he could give the elder another chance.

"...We already have the troops in motion. What do you propose me to do at this point?" Youngjae asked.

"We can bring the troops in case, but we have to persuade the King and Queen to talk things out in person. Everyone needs to stop hiding behind their armies and have a conversation. If things go wrong, then we look at our other options, but we should at least try approaching this peacefully."

"That's... a difficult task..." Youngjae sighed. Though he understood the idea, convincing others that they should try it would prove to be challenging. "...The King does not want to come off as weak. And frankly neither do I; they captured our Prince, are we supposed to roll over and surrender?"

"If we don't convince our side to try a less aggressive method, then both kingdoms will be met with more bloodshed. It will be the fall of everyone, hundreds of thousands will suffer, and we've already lost a lot of people!" Mark stepped closer, placing a hand on the latter's shoulder. "Cornelia is provoking us right now, we cannot reciprocate with violence and expect everything to be solved. It can only make things worse."

The sincerity and desperation in Mark's eyes were too much to bear. Youngjae swiftly turned his head away, letting out a huff. 

"...I will request an audience with the King and Queen. You come along too, and prove that you are to be trusted again."

Mark curtly nodded, then followed Youngjae to the throne room.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

(*sorry for the long break! so much stuff going on recently lol but I'm so happy to see all of you who are enjoying the story!*)