Two Kingdoms | Park Sunghoon

34

"Incredibly." The astonished of the two said, as Aeri poured water over the fire, extinguishing its flames and smoke rising up. She signalled Sunghoon to follow her forward as they crouched down and crawled through the dusty passageway, lightly coughing as they progressed down.

"Where might we be going?" Sunghoon whispered behind the Queen.

"You'll see." She turned back and looked towards the boy with a cheeky smile.

As the tunnel came to end, there was a bright gleam of light shining in. Aeri jumped down as the other followed in her steps. Sunghoon let out a large gasp of awe upon entering the room.

A glass sunroof, snow crystals decorating the outside forming an intricately beautiful pattern on the roof. There were bookshelves filled to the brim with books both old and new and thick and thin. Each shelf had vines crawling up reaching towards the walls and even the ceilings. A circular desk spread in the middle of the room, multiple maps and scrolls scattered randomly across and in front was a board with a map of the land, arrows planted in numerous unexplainable coordinates.

"Woah... Aeri what is this magnificent place? Who knew such a beauty was right in your bedroom." He marvelled, dragging his index along the books examining the names on each.

"My place. I come here for many reasons such as solitude, concentration or just to relax. No one knows about it but I, and now you. A secret between us two." Aeri clarified, "my father, King Daesong, told me my mother loved this place with her entire heart. That she would spend most of her day in here reading or staring at the sky though the roof. He also said that he kept the kingdom accounts and secrets in here. And that is what I wish to show you today."

"Aeri there really is no need, I do not deem myself worthy enough of upholding your trust and secrets."

"Sunghoon. Look at me." The woman cupped his face in her hands, locking their eyes together. "I would infiltrate every kingdom of this universe and bring their secrets to you. So what makes you think that you're not worthy? You managed to soften my dull heart and brighten my doorstep and open me to marriage and open my heart: so tell me, what have you not done yet to earn my trust?"

"You flatter me, love."

"And since when did that become a bad thing, Prince?"

"Never was. It only makes me adore you more so."

Aeri giggled in response as she began to head towards the desk, beckoning Sunghoon towards her.

"Look at this," she pointed to a map he had never seen before, "this is called a blueprint. And this specific map shows you the structure of buildings; in this case the structure of my secret passages I have throughout the kingdom."

Sunghoon's ears sprung up once he heard the words 'secret passages' and that was his signal to push through the mission and gather crucial information.

"Over here is the community fountain. It isn't in much use nowadays, as it is winter, but the townsfolk often came to the location to admire it. Some even collected its water supply in buckets. If you go to the back of the kingdom, you will see an oddly positioned birch tree, and behind it is an array of bricks. To get in, you have to remove the bricks and the passageway is right in front of you and leads to the fountain. It makes more sense when you are there yourself."

Sunghoon payed attention to her every word, taking care not to miss any detail that might prove useful to his father.

"I would be honoured if you could show me this, so that I may understand better." He eagerly suggested.

"Oh no, unfortunately I cannot. It is far too complicated to set back into place when used once. Sorry love." She replied placing her hand on top of his, rubbing it affectionately.

"It was absurd to ask anyways, do not apologise."

The two lovebirds exchanged light smiles, hands still in tact. Their gaze truly held power despite the disloyalty in their midst. Aeri looked at him with sheer adoration and love and Sunghoon looked with love and desire.

"Uhum... I do not wish to keep you seeing as you would be busy with tomorrow's preparations. That is all I wished to show you." She broke the silence, removing her hand from his and placing it on his chest.

"Well then, I shall see you tomorrow." The Prince said, saddened by what was to come. As usual, the guilt train moved throughout his heart. The boy could not be around her without feeling like a right bastard for his betrayal that she was yet to come across. It was particularly overpowering today seeing as he could muster a single real smile, only fake forced ones.

"Are you feeling quite well Sunghoon? You seem pale."

"No of course not. I am perfectly alright thank you. I shall take my leave now." Aeri nodded as she left ahead to open the door for Sunghoon only for Sunghoon to grab her arm, catching her by surprise as he twirled her close to him, inches away.

"I love you, Aeri. Really and truly. For you are my inspiration." He confessed, tears welling in his eyes.

"Sunghoon..."

"Please. Stay safe for me. Stay alive, for me."

"And what about you? What use is it if I live and my purpose in life dies? You need to stay alive. For me." She retaliated as the boy gave a small smile, showcasing his pearly fangs as a tear fell down his cheek dripping on the floor.
Aeri grabbed his nape, pulling down his head and placed a peck onto his lips.

"Now get lost and prepare my army." The Queen cracked up.

A/N:
Thank you for reading thus far, votes would be highly appreciated on my behalf :)