Crimson Crown

⌠85⌡

Jinyoung!" Youngjae rushed over as soon as he laid eyes on the prince, nearly knocking him and Jackson over.

The pair stood in utter shock while gawking at all the familiar faces; Jinyoung's parents along with Youngjae and Mark all in the same room as the Queen and Princess of Cornelia. This felt like some sort of practical joke. 

The guards around the room stood alert, ready to attack the pair. The nearest ones rested a hand on the hilt of their swords while quickly approaching, but they were swiftly stopped by the Queen with the slight of her hand.

Mark rushed over to grab ahold of Jackson, the latter equally as confused as Jinyoung, but simply too fatigued to try and make sense of anything. They walked over to where Jinyoung's mother and father stood before the Cornelian royals.

"Oh baby, what did they do to you!?" His mother squealed while pulling her son into her arms, examining him in his entirety.

Jinyoung shook his head as his eyes drifted over to the vampire leaning on Mark's shoulder. "I'm okay, Jackson is the one who is hurt..."

"What is the meaning of this?" Jinyoung's father bellowed after glancing at his son, ensuring he was alright. He turned his focus to the Cornelians, the anger that brimmed in him audibly in his voice. "You hold my son and his protector captive? For what purpose?"

The Cornelian Queen scoffed. "To prove how ruthless of a kingdom Alveras is. I expected you to attack, I am surprised that instead, you wanted to have a 'conversation.'"

Jinyoung was quite lost; he had no idea why his parents were here, and since they were standing before Cornelian royals, what was going on with both kingdoms? He hoped this wasn't a declaration of an all-out war; that was the last thing anyone needed right now.

"What is going on? Why are you all here?" He questioned while looking between the opposing sides.

"I was in the middle of making my requests before agreeing to peace. You rudely interrupted me." The Queen informed.

"I'm not giving over the land." Jinyoung's father grumbled.

"Your son already offered it to me, ask him."

The Alverian King turned to his son, his brows furrowed. "Jinyoung?"

The latter faltered; when he had offered that deal he was in the midst of panic, he didn't think it would come back to bite him so soon. "Well--, Father, Jackson was being dragged away and I had to do something--"

"Not another word!" The King snapped. He let out a frustrated breath, taking a minute to think over the proposition. He turned back to the Cornelian Queen, glaring up at her throne. "Is there anything else you want? If it is outrageous, then we are done here."

The latter hummed, her dainty fingers resting on her chin. 

"....A statement admitting this creature's faults." She proposed, now pointing across the room.

Jinyoung followed the end of her finger toward Jackson, his jaw falling open.

The King cocked his head in confusion. "What faults!? We've done nothing, but you do not wish to hear the truth!"

"Your prince's knight- companion- whoever he is; already admitted to being the culprit."

This time Jinyoung's mother spoke, as she couldn't possibly wrap her head around these absurd accusations. "What? He's is nothing like a vampire, we would never entrust Jinyoung to someone whose identity we do not know!"

"Then I suggest you reevaluate him." The Cornelian princess suddenly stated, also pointing at Jackson. "We saw his fangs ourselves."

Suddenly all eyes were on the vampire. The last thing Jinyoung wanted was to put Jackson on the spot; he had to protect him. He protectively stood by him, shielding the latter from the prying eyes.