The Accidental Monarch

Mourning

Tick, tick, tick.

Time is a fickle thing. It runs at different speeds for different people and runs with a wicked sense of humor. It does the exact opposite of what is required at a particular moment in time - speeding up when one wants to savor the moment and slowing down when one want things over with.

Jeong-hyeok feels every tick of the clock like a painful stab in his heart. Everything was going too well on his vacation with Seri, too well that he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. But of all the things that would serve as the exchange for his happiness, did it have to be his brother?

He lifts his eyes up from his fidgeting hands to see Seri staring out of the plane window with her thumbnail between her teeth and a piece of tissue clenched inside a tightly-curled fist. She has been crying nonstop since he broke the news, but he does not know how to comfort her since he barely knows how to deal with his own heartbreak over the tragedy.

"Your Majesty."

It takes him a minute to realize that he was the one being addressed, having been so used to his previous title. "We will be arriving shortly," Gwang-beom continues to say. "Please expect a crowd to be waiting at the airport to welcome you home, sir. There will be reporters present."

The last line comes with a warning: Yoon Seri cannot be seen with him.

The palace sent over a plane to fetch them, refusing to have him man his own aircraft home as previously planned. Onboard are three sets of clothing he can choose from: a classic suit, his military uniform, or a traditional hanbok. Because reporters will be present and will be taking pictures of the new king. As he puts on the first option, he feels suffocated by his new reality.

It dawns on him then that he is no longer the prince. He is no longer the second son, the spare who has the luxury of going on spontaneous vacations and developing romantic relationships. From that point forward, every single move he makes will be scrutinized and challenged. He needs to be careful. He needs to remain one step ahead if he wants Seri safe and protected.

"I understand," the royal answers in a voice he does not recognize. "Thank you, Gwang-beom."

In a minute, Jeong-hyeok and Seri find themselves alone once again. He finds her eyes on him and sees how she searches for any semblance of emotion, but his tears will not come. His heartbreak has grown into an impenetrable wall of stone and has left him feeling nothing at all.

For some reason, his mind cruelly reminds him of her outburst after the scandal dropped. They will only remember me as the girl in the video with the evil producer and the prince charming who came to her rescue. It will happen again if she is seen with him, and he cannot allow that.

"My staff knows how to deal with situations like these," he tells her with his voice sounding cold and distant. "Don't worry. You won't be seen with me, and the press will be none the wiser."

She stares at him with a watery glare. "Do you really think I am worried about that right now?"

"I wouldn't know," the royal finds himself saying. "We have never been in this situation before."

Her grief gives way to anger. And for that, he feels relieved because anger he can deal with. "I am worried about you," she bristles. "I am worried about what this means for you. This is not what you wanted. And the way that you are behaving right now is scaring me. Jeong-hyeok, please. If you need to cry, please cry. Don't keep your emotions hidden or it will break you. Mu-hyeok -."

"Stop," he interrupts her at the sound of his brother's name. Her stricken expression prompts him to look away from her. Her concern for him coupled with the reality of his brother gone will break him, and he cannot afford to lose his wall of composure so soon. He needs it until the whole circus is over. And so, his self-preservation forces him to push her away. "Please just stop."