Lost ↹ Yang Jungwon

.Thirty-Six.

THE ROOM CAME into an abrupt halt as everyone froze in their tracks, eyes rounded in surprise as they shared wary glances to the person beside them. Even the knights guarding the hall looked stunned by the prince's question. On the other hand, Haeyul's face shifted into glee smile.

"He really did it." Haeyul mumbled under her breath, her smile cracking wider as she recalled her request at the campfire—the night she and Jungwon kissed.

After Haeyul's tears flowed down, the two of them sat next to each other with a comforting silence surrounding them. The girl decided to ask about his family although she soon regretted it after realizing what she had done. However, unlike what Haeyul expected, Jungwon happily began talking.

He explained how his family was loving at the start- his mother was very attentive while his father guarded them from any danger, they were happy. Their family was joyous. That was until his mother fell ill. From then on, everything started to change. His father grew colder, stricter and distant. He began to treat all seven of them as if they weren't his sons. He slowly molded them into princes who can lead their region, and if one of them dared to disobey him, everyone would get a punishment.

Jungwon didn't want to disclose what punishment it was but Haeyul guessed it was something violent.

Slowly, all seven of them stopped talking with each other. All of them were too involved in their own duties to make time for each other. This led for cracks to appear between their brotherhood. Of course, everyone noticed it. All of the staff noticed and some even tried to mend their relationship back but it all went into vain.

Everything got worse once Jungwon was appointed to be the next king because not long after, both his parents passed away.

Haeyul would be lying if she said she didn't cry when she indeed did. Her tears flowed down her face before she could realize. In the end of the heart wrenching talk, Haeyul suggested for Jungwon to start opening up again. To try retrieving his brotherhood back.

Even though he was hesitant, Jungwon nodded.
Haeyul didn't know he would do it so soon.

"Pardon...?" Prince Jay was the first to speak, breaking the awful silence.
"What did you and Niki did while all of us were gone?" Jungwon repeated, he fixated his attentions towards them, genuinely curious about their answer.

Jay swallowed the food in his mouth and answered, "We checked around the castle, did reports, checked on some files given to us and sent replies to a few invitations we received." His back was straightened and his voice was stern.

Haeyul almost mistaken him as a soldier for a moment.

Jay glanced at Niki, mouthing him to speak. "I read requests from our civilians and took actions for a some of them- the others are still work in progress." The youngest reported.

Jungwon bit the inside of his cheeks as a dry chuckle left his mouth, confusing everyone in the room. "Why are you acting so formal?" He asked, "This is a brother to brother talk."

Sunoo's eyes bulged out, not bothering to hide his surprise. What happened to his younger brother? Why was he acting so unusual?
"Uh..."

"This won't do." Jungwon spoke as he set his fork down, "We will do an activity we have long forgotten about. Horse racing." The corners of his lips pulled into a smile and the table broke into whispers of excitement.

"Are we really?"
"Wah, it has been a really long time."
"I doubt any of you can beat me."
"Hah! Last time we raced, I won."
"I have to warm up first."
"I hope my darling misses me."
Jungwon snickered at the last comment which came from none other than the eldest prince. "There should be time before the sun sleeps. Miss Kim, please arrange all of our horses right outside the gate." Jungwon told. "We will be there in no time."

Miss Kim nodded her head and curtsied, ordering a few maids to follow her, including Haeyul. The brunette saw Jungwon sent a small smile towards her right, "I'll see you soon." He mouthed before she left the room.

Warmth spread in her heart as a smile tugged on her lips. She immensely appreciated his efforts in repairing his broken relation with his brothers. It must have taken him lots of courage to utter the question out loud. It was safe to say that she was proud of him.

"Haeyul, you will be in charge of Jungwon's horse. Be gentle with her. His highness greatly cares for his horse." Miss Kim ordered to which Haeyul nodded to.
"Yes, Miss Kim."

Haeyul was met with a beautiful gray horse with long white mane that reached to its chest. "Wow.." She gasped as she took careful steps to approach the horse. Thankfully, the horse didn't show any violent reactions, making her job easier than it was before.

She softly tugged on the lead and headed to the gate, where the rest of the maids stood with the princes' horses.

Haeyul couldn't help but inhale deeply, a content smile displaying on her face. She was more than ready to see the seven brothers bond again.

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