He Walks Alone in the Moonlight [COMPLETED]

ONE MORE TIME FOR GOOD MEASURE

"Don't move, or I'll shoot again. And this time I won't miss." A powerful female voice echoed around his room, and Jihyun turned his head to see an older woman dressed head to toe in black pointing another arrow at him.

"Wh- who?" Jihyun managed to gasp out. A part of him wanted to scream for Munyeong, but another part, a stronger part, didn't want to put her in any danger.

"That's what I should be asking you. Who are you, sneaking about the Crown Prince's palace?" The woman questioned, pulling the string of her bow taut.

"I- I'm not-" Jihyun's searched frantically around the room and through the windows, hoping for the first time to catch a glimpse of the prince, of anyone, to save him from this situation. No matter what, he couldn't stay in here with this murderous woman. Tears pricking his eyes, Jihyun worked up his courage, shifting his weight between each foot.

"Don't even think about it." Just as the words left the woman's mouth, Jihyun sprinted for the door, an arrow brushing so closely past his head that it yanked a hairpiece from Jihyun's head and sent the jewelry clattering to the floor. Just as his foot passed the threshold, the force of a body slammed into Jihyun's back, causing him to fall forward and roll down the steps with the woman latched onto him. Jihyun landed on his back, dazed as he stared up at the sky. Then the piercing eyes of his attacker covered his vision as the woman pinned him down, one knee digging painfully into his chest. With one swift movement, she flipped him onto his stomach, yanking his head back by his hair. The tears escaped freely down his cheeks now, from both pain and fear. Where was everyone? Why had they left him alone? The cool metal of a blade pressed against his throat and Jihyun whimpered. The woman pressed her lips to his ear, "Now tell me who sent you, or I will-"

"Chaesung! Get that blade away from his throat or I'll use it to skin you alive!" A deep voice boomed across the courtyard and the woman, Chaesung, was off of him in an instant. Jihyun rolled onto his side, curling into a ball and wrapping a hand around his neck. A sigh of relief left him. The prince. It was the Crown Prince. He came.

Jihyun scurried towards the prince on all fours, pebbles digging into his knees as he clawed his way to safety. The prince met him halfway, pulling Jihyun off the ground by his arm and tucking him into his chest. Jihyun wrapped himself around the prince, digging his fingernails into the fabric of the royal's clothes. The prince's large hand cupped the back of Jihyun's head, rubbing away the pain there.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry, I didn't think to tell her of your arrival, she was not supposed to be back for another week. Jihyun?" Whatever words the crown prince was saying, Jihyun wasn't listening, shaking so badly that his only focus was to remain standing, even if he had to rely on the prince to do so. The prince wrapped his other arm around Jihyun's waist, hoisting him up to straighten his legs. "You're alright, Jihyun, you're alright. Tell me, are you hurt anywhere?" The prince pulled back to inspect Jihyun, eyes raking over Jihyun's dirtied robe and bare feet. Jihyun sniffled, craning his head back to look at the prince's face. Jihyun could see anger and worry swirling in those dark eyes. Jihyun's hands traveled from the prince's back to the man's chest, his trembling fingers pressing flat. Jihyun could feel the prince's heart thumping rapidly beneath his hand.

"I'm fine." He wasn't, not really, but Jihyun felt like he needed to say those words, whether for himself or the prince, he wasn't quite sure, and that unsettled him. The prince jerked at Jihyun's response, eyes blown wide in shock. After a moment, he nodded, bringing up both hands to roughly wipe the tears from Jihyun's cheeks.

"That's good, as long as you're not hurt..." the prince trailed off, Jihyun's lack of dress registering in his mind. "Come, let's get you inside." At that moment, Munyeong came running around the corner. She skidded to a halt at the sight of the Crown Prince, her eyes flickering from the crown prince to Jihyun, to Chaesung, who was having a heated conversation with Jaeon. A glare from the prince had her ducking her head. She reached her arms forward, offering to take Jihyun from the prince. Instead, the prince yanked Jihyun back, tucking him into the crook of his arm.

"Absolutely not. Incompetent," the crown prince spit the words under his breath as he practically dragged Jihyun back inside, sitting him on the bed and disappearing behind the partition. Jihyun listened to the sound of water being poured into a bowl, then a prolonged splash as the prince wrung out a towel. The prince returned, a damp towel in hand, and crouched before Jihyun. The prince grabbed one of Jihyun's feet and the servant whipped it away.

"You can't do that!" A strangled cry left his throat. The crown prince couldn't wipe the feet of a person as lowly as himself, it was unheard of.

"I can do whatever I want. This is my palace. Now give it here." The prince grabbed Jihyun's ankle with enough force to dissuade him from pulling away again. Jihyun watched quietly as the prince worked the warm cloth along his foot, a tingling sensation working its way up his leg and to his heart. The prince's brows were furrowed in concentration, his mouth set in a hard line. A rustle at the door gave Jihyun a start, but it was just Jaeon, watching in silence as the prince cleaned Jihyun's feet.

"What is it?" the prince ground out, his hands pausing.

"I did not know how much information you wanted to divulge to Chaesung, but I informed her that he was here under your orders." Jaeon paused, eyeing Jihyun and saying no more.

"And?" The crown prince prompted his hands once again in motion.

"She said she returned early because she found something."

"Alright, we'll talk about it later. Leave." Without another word, Jaeon disappeared, closing the door firmly behind him. Many moments passed as the crown prince continued to wipe Jihyun's feet, moving up his legs and rewetting the cloth before scrubbing at his knees. Jihyun barely dared to breathe. He knew the others said the prince would not harm him, but the idea didn't really register until now, with the prince tending to him on his knees. The crown prince dragged the rag up Jihyun's thigh and the servant stiffened at the abrasion against his sensitive skin. The muscles of the crown prince's jaw twitched as he pressed his forearm between Jihyun's legs to prevent the servant's robe from slipping. The prince's unsteady breaths skirted across Jihyun's skin, causing goosebumps to rise along his leg. The prince swept the dirt off Jihyun's thighs in long and firm motions, passing each area only once. After he finished, the prince stood up with discomfort, shifting from leg to leg. Just as the prince was about to return to the water basin, Jihyun spoke.

"I- I can do the rest myself." Jihyun faced the prince's back, the prince rooted to the spot by Jihyun's words . A stiff nod and the prince set the cloth down.

"Very well, that may be for the best. I will send Munyeong in to assist you." Before Jihyun could protest, the prince fled the room.