The Princes Street Rat

31 - Keep your friends close, and your enemies...

𓆩♡𓆪

"Mother." Minho called by the door of the entrance to her resting area. The Queen sat at her favourite seat, in front of the Khoi fish pond. "I just returned from my trip. I wanted to speak to you first about how it went."

"Welcome then." She paused to take a sip from her cup. "Before you left I was certain I would be losing my son."

"I never took you as a pessimist. Everything went accordingly. Everyone was respectful and we're very considerate of my boundaries."

"Astonishing." Her gaze was set on the pond. A compliment but her face was unimpressed.

"Still hesititant towards the dragonfolk, I see."

"What made you think that I'd change my mind?"

"I didn't expect you to. I don't think I can ever change your mind on the situation. That's what I came to talk to you about."

"Oh?"

"Mother, you know I highly regard your advice. You're the ruler afterall, born and raised for the sole purpose of ascending the throne. I acknowledge that you have far better knowledge and you see things that I cannot even begin to comprehend due to your accumulated time on the throne."

"I feel that I need to have confidence in my choices. That's a quality I see in you and have always admired. If I am to be king, I cannot be swayed by anyone's decisions. Even if it yours."

The Queen let out a chuckle. Eyes still focused on the fish aimlessly swimming about.

"I did consider dropping this whole ordeal, trust me. It is a virture to have many different opinions. But I buckled down on my own, without the sways of you and my... affections for Jisung. And I'm really, really invested in this project. My eyes have opened to the possibility of what might be and what can be. And on my own volition, I will be working with the dragon folk."

She was stayed silent and took another sip. "You decided?"

"Yes, I… I believe I owe something to them after they agreed to give Jisung to me, without trouble."

The Queen looked at him directly for the first time since he entered the room. "Well, I support your decision. I know that you are steadfast and a smart boy. You learn fast and... you are a man, in your own right. I cannot make decisions for you, so I have no choice but to be proud that you're making a decision on your own."

"Even though it's my decision to make, I'm still glad you approve."

"Right. Who am I to deny you affection from the dragonboy? I'm sure he must be something for you to have chosen him despite his... dubious background. I cannot even be upset, I brought this up on myself, insisting you talk to him."

"You're not to blame. Fate has a strange way of operating."

"I'm not too fond of fate. It can be so cruel. Though, I suppose it has its moments. This could be one, maybe this is the doing of fate."

"You think so?"

"Yes. You really see something in that boy, don't you?"

Minho can't deny it. He saw something in him the first time he saw him cross-dressed in that, sticking out in the best way possible. He saw something in him the night he asked him to be his, when he was so daring and equally as timid. Not too desparate to catch the prince attention, but he did in such an organic way he could not even have planned himself. When it hurt the prince's pride to let him go after Jisung didn't plan to stay.

"You do make a point. I'm not even sure what I see in him, the terrifies me half the time. Being terrified is not always a bad thing. I believe his presence makes me rethink a lot of things. Especially about myself." Minho explained feeling as though that was somewhat, the truth.