Out Of The Castle (Soobin X Reader)

17

As the sun rose over the kingdom, the people were buzzing in confusion, tired from the celebrations from only hours earlier. The Kings men had been sent to wake all villagers for an important event. The courtyard of the castle filled with people and their chatter was broken by a fanfare.

The prince stepped in front of the people, his features blank. Anyone could tell that he wasn't himself, in a particularly bad way. The princess stood behind him to the side. She had clear sorrow on her face, eyes puffy and red. She even looked like she was going to cry again, but she held the tears in for the sake of the people. Anyone could have guessed what happened based on the current situation, the grieving faces of the castle staff who stood behind the royals.

"My father, the King of the East, has passed away. It was a peaceful passing from old age." Soobin's words were slow and enunciated and numb.

The villagers released wails of grief as the news spread. Soobin allowed this to happen, bowing his head. He took a deep breath in and used it to force down the lump in his throat. When the chatter had subsided, Soobin continued the announcement.

"His energy is still with us. He lives on. That being said, the royal coronation must take place. In a weeks time, a coronation will be held. As will the royal wedding between The Princess and I. Times are difficult. Now, more than ever we must remember that no one is ever gone forever. Please remain healthy."

Soobin's speech was met with sobs as he stepped down moving back towards the princess. He swallowed thickly, feeling as though he were about to vomit. It was strange. He could feel the urge to cry, but he simply could not. The tears wouldn't fall. Nonetheless, he was absolutely devastated. He wanted to scream and cry. He simply wished the tears would fall but they wouldn't.

The princess slowly moved her hand to Soobin's arm, gently rubbing it in an attempt to console him. She gave his forearm a gentle squeeze, her eyes remaining forward as some villagers left, others remaining in the courtyard.

The baker, Jimin was the first to step forward to the prince. He asked about why the coronation and wedding were so rushed. Soobin shook his head, just saying that they had to be. Most of the questions were similar, others just staying to give their condolences.

  Soobin felt a weight off his shoulders when he was able to return to his chambers. His eyes wanted to close but he knew he wouldn't sleep if he laid down. He would simply toss and turn and remain that way until morning.

  He fell onto his sofa when he entered his room, the princess closing the door behind him. She knelt down beside the sofa, grabbing Soobin's hand in her own.

  "Are you alright, def-idelis?" She asked gently, holding onto his hand as if it was fragile glass.

  "I do not know," he answered truthfully, sitting up on the sofa, shaking her hand away, resting his elbows on his knees and resting his forehead on his hands.

  "Speak to me. Tell me what is on your mind," she said, sitting beside him, allowing him to have space.

  "My father..." he began, trying to filter through his thoughts to grab onto the coherent ones. "I have spent nearly every moment in my life with him. He is a kind and caring man. Was... he was a kind and caring man. It seems to me that he is simply taking a nap. I cannot speak to him because he needs rest. Yet at the same time, I am not so naïve to ignore the fact that he has passed. It seemed as though he would be by my side until he died, for I lived life knowing that if I was unsure of what to do, I could ask him. I adored my mother, however, in my young age and innocence, it did not hurt as much. I simply feel as though my heart has split in two. It simply feels like everything I love is slipping between my fingers. No matter how far I reach, I cannot get it back.

  "Now I am to be king. I must rule a nation, marry a queen, and deal with a declaration of war. I am overrun by confusion and I am not sure how to handle everything. I just wish my father was here to help. I wish everything did not have to change. I wish I could just cry, but the tears do not fall. Is it because I am not sad enough? Or am I happy? I do not understand what I am feeling nor the reason I feel it. Nevertheless, the chaos that is about to rein will not be quieted, thus it reins on in my head and wages war against my thoughts. I feel burdened. Like I do not deserve happiness or love or anything in between. Like I could have done more to stop everything that has come to happen."

  His explanation was slow and thoughtful. He was analytical as he spoke, as if he thoroughly thought about every word that left his mouth, each word raising more questions than it solved.

  "My love, you have done everything you could have done, and I have faith that every decision you make will be correct. And throughout your burdens, I shall be by your side to shoulder the weight, should you let me. You are not alone." The princess had taken a moment to think about what to say, unable to address every word that left the princes mouth, she addressed the important ones.

  "How many worlds did I save in my past lives to deserve you?"

  -

  Never had a faster week passed. Soobin had sent a group of knights out to keep an eye on the West. From what he heard, they strategized, but they did not move as of yet. He felt relieved. The only weight on his shoulders was his fathers cloak, the cloak of the king, the one he would have to fill. He would be coronated and immediately, his wedding would commence, yet whilst he felt joy, being able to marry the one he had come to love, yet at the same time, he felt the burdensome weight of the world on his shoulders.

  The coronation and wedding would be held in the plaza, decorated nicely by beautiful flowers. After he was crowned king, the princess would walk down the isle, marry him, and become queen, then the two of them would bare the burdens together.

  "My lord," Kai started, his voice low. "It is time."

  The crowd was hesitant, the wounds of losing their king still fresh. Though, Soobin being there wasn't too big of a shock for them. They could not be mad with the change of king.

  The coronation carried on, a jubilant event with sad undertones, tears being shed by many of the villagers who had grown to love the king. It was a sad day, yet joyous. Bittersweet.

  Soobin gave the oath, swearing his loyalty and love to his country and whatnot. When the crown was placed atop his head, Soobin felt the weight of each and every villager, pile on top of him. It was so heavy and difficult. He wished to collapse on the ground, but he remained tall, his stature stiff.

  There was not even half a minute in between the crown being placed on his head and the princess joining him at the altar in the courtyard. He felt happy when he saw her, yet guilty because he was unsure if he was allowed to feel happy so soon after his fathers death. Happy, sad, guilty, confused. He wasn't sure what to feel, yet one emotion prevailed as he joined hands with the princess, swearing his life to her. He felt content. The dress that she had gotten was very minimal. They hadn't the time to hand make an extravagant dress. She raised no issues with that. Instead, she met him at the altar with enthusiasm. Their vows were spoken, consisting of getting along well and helping each other.

  A touching moment rushed as Soobin's chaotic mind failed to focus on the moment. Before he knew it, the princess was the queen and the courtyard was cleared. He should have been happy, overjoyed even. He just couldn't make himself feel that way.

  The two would now share a chamber and the queen, having learned Ordiant well, would be attending Soobin's meetings with him. They truly would remain by each other's side forever.

  Soobin was too tired to feel nervous about sharing a bed with his beloved. His rushing mind refused to stop which caused him grief and sapped his energy from his body.

  As he laid down in the bed beside the queen, immediately wrapping his arms around her torso for comfort, holding her hands in his, resting around her stomach. For the first time in a long while, he found peace of mind and he quickly drifted off into sleep, something he had struggled to do for the past week.

  He was glad he did not have to bare this burden alone.