A crown or this? | minsung

🌙in a bright futur

Once again, Jisung won the race and put away his horse in the stables, smirking in his own way even if he wasn't smiling, he just looked arrogent.

"How did the dust taste when I passed you?" Jisung said innocently, making Minho stick his tongue in the inside of his cheek and smile.

"How did the ground feel when I put you against it?"

"You're no fun."

"But I am a good fighter, as you are a good rider...now we should get back, wouldn't want anyone asking too many questions" he whispered the last part and headed towards the gates of the castle where they were let in immediately by a couple of guards.

Their were a bunch of servants that bowed before them and Minho frowned when he laid his eyes on some, they were only children. He tossed a few pieces of bread without the guards noticing and the children quietly ate.

"When you become king, will you free them?" Jisung asked while bitting down on an Apple.

"Every single one of them." He muttered and watched each one of their faces, one by one, he wanted to remember each one.

Their bones were barely holding still on their own, these boys and girls had been starved and used so many times that they had lost all hope.

"Why?" He didn't ask because he didn't agree, he just wanted to see why it was something so important to him. Slavery was a known thing for princes, large kingdoms often had them, but the north had not been reported to have them. "The country is in dept by millions, food, clean water. It does not grow on trees"

"I know that very well. It is not about the money or the gold...it is about doing something right. I do not want anything in return, no thanks or praise from these people...neither do I want justice, it is not my decision to make."

"Never change..."

"I'm sorry my prince...?"

"You are the only thing that can save this kingdom. It might not be yours and I know it is far from home, but you have a noble heart. People will follow you."

The wind blew in their hair as they walked up the gardens, flowing with flowers and colours Minho had never even thought of seing.

"I doubt it, a prince from a faraway land married to a noble women, which isn't even blood of the king, is supposed to rule a kingdom? To tell people they aren't allowed slaves anymore? They will want me dead. Not even a heart of gold can make things right"

"But we can." Jisung looked dead into his eyes and then sighed. "I'm good with coins, I know how to manage the banks and numbers, I know how people think and what they want..."

"So you're saying...?"

"When you become king put me as an advisor, people will be pleased that the prince is still present and I'll make them follow you...my king..." He gave him a small bow and Minho pulled him by the chin to raise his head and smiled.

"No matter what title they put on my name, we are equals you and me, and I don't expect you to act any differently."

"Tell me that again once you have a crown on your head and the power at the tip of your fingers..."

"I will, with you by my side"

"And with your...wife..."

"Yes...with her..."

Silence sat quietly between them, only the wind would make it cease.

"The kings are waiting for us..."

"Yes...they are"

"We should really go back..."

"We should..."

Jisung watched him silently and contemplated his decision.

"I'll lead the way..." he said.

"We aren't going to the council room are we?"

"No, we're heading to my favorite place..." For just a second, Minho swore he could have seen a tilt in his lips, but it faded once his eyes were off him, detaching themselves like a petal falling from a flower.

"Where is that?" Minho raised a brow.

"You'll see soon enough"

<3

They walked inside the castle and avoided as many guards as they could, running along like two kids in the gigantic walls around them.

They reached a door, large but surprisingly, it didn't stand out compared to the rest.

Jisung quietly opened it and his blond hair slipped inside, pure darkness, but Minho followed.

The light of the day had gone, so the windows were of no use, It was pitch black where they were standing, even more so when Minho closed it behind him.

He then saw a candle being lit, Jisung passing the flamme around to the other candles to light up in any way he could.

It managed to brighten a part of the room they were in, it was rather huge.

A library, that's where they were.

"I was never fond of fighting...but reading's always been my strong suit" he lit candles as they went and it seemed to never end. Rows on rows of golden shelves holding thousands of books.

Minho watched all of them, one by one and then turned his gaze back to Jisung who was already contemplating what to read.

"Have you read many?"

"I have, I've actually read the cover of most of them actually...I was rearranging all of them in alphabetical order-"

"Of course you did" Minho smiled and picked a random book from a shelf.

"Want me to recommend you one?"

"I think I'll just look around for now"

Jisung nodded and sat down on the floor, turning a page to the number he probably remembered it to be. He sat in a posture even if no one was looking, he was perfect.

Minho walked around with a candle in hand, looking through the books and sighing. He knew how to read, he had to, but he had never found a book that he found interest in.

His eyes caught a table where a single book was placed in the middle, which was odd considering that every thing else was perfectly placed. He sat down and placed a hand on it, but their was no name, no inscription.

He opened it, curious as to what it was.

He read the first page, then the second, it was quite well written, so he kept reading it. It was a smaller book, so it didn't discourage him too much.

He didn't get too far before Jisung slammed the book closed right in front of Minho's eyes.

"You can't read this one."

"What? Why? You said I could read anything-"

"Not this one."

"Why not? It's really well written..."

Jisung flushed slightly and took the book on his chest.

"You can't read it..."

"You said we were friends now, they are supposed to tell each other things, like this"

"Not this..." he replied quietly and it echoed all around them, even Minho's sigh was heard right after it.

"I won't read it, so why don't you give me something to read instead?" Minho said quite hesitantly, but was happy to see Jisung ease his body and place the book back on the table gently. He guided Minho to a section and started to talk about ten other books, but the older prince was set on that book.

Regardless, he listened to Jisung, every step of the way. He could see his eyes flash and when he spoke about books, like he couldn't get enough of them.

He wondered how long he'd know him, how long he'd stay in this burning hot country.

But he didn't feel as horrible about staying as he used to.

At least not when he was with...Him.