Princess Hours | SUKHOON | [✓]

The Throne

"What?"

"Yes, I'll step down myself. If I do that now, they'll assume that I'm acting rebellious out of immaturity. So I'll wait for a few years and anyways there's a better candidate for the crown prince already. You'll be able to have your freedom again then."

Hyunsuk stayed silent for a while as he did not know how to react to this information. It sounded a little bittersweet, that's all he could feel.

"Do you think it'll be that easy?" The confusion on his face was genuine since nothing in the palace was short of strict regulations.

"I don't know. Maybe they'll come around and if they won't then I'll just run away. But please bear with me till then."

After a slight pause Hyunsuk replied, "Can I ask you something Jihoon?"

Surprised by his grave tone, Jihoon gave a nod.

"What is your dream?"

"Dream?"

No one had ever asked Jihoon about his 'dream' before. Although he liked doing photography as a hobby, he never thought of actually pursuing it or anything else as a serious ambition, one of the reasons being that he was raised as a crown prince, trained to be the future king. He always wanted an escape, but to where, was something that he never paid mind to. And Hyunsuk's question did raise some never before occuring thoughts in his mind; afterall what purpose was he chasing being all unconventional.

He drifted into a silence, obviously unable to respond to Hyunsuk's curiosity. And his facial expression resonating nothing but dismay and loneliness, somehow always managed to create a space for sympathy in the latter's heart.

-

Sera had moved up a step in her plan as she decided to meet up with the king alone, for the first time in so many years. There were no guards around them unlike usual, as requested by her.

"Greetings, your majesty. It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has been. I am repeating this but I really commend how you have managed everything all these years by yourself."

"Do you know why I came back?" Sera took a pause and then continued,

"It's about time that you restore my late husband's honour. I'm talking about enthroning him posthumously."

"I've been thinking about it as well, ever since his demise. But it's a political matter and I don't think I can make any decisions alone..." The king turned around, ready to leave until she called out,

"Oppa, I'm sorry oppa."

The king flinched, immediately reacting to that label,

"Ser- princess Sera you shouldn't call me that." The panic was visible on his face as he confronted her.

"How much time do you think has passed since then? We were young, naive and stupid. I made many mistakes in the past, but the feelings...the feelings I had for you were real."

It was like breathing back a chapter of the past; cruel past. The king couldn't reply a fitting response and hence just took his leave, seemingly distressed by how their conversation unfolded.

Onto the next move, she decided on visiting the queen mother too,

"Halma mama I think I should stop visiting you and return to Japan."

Such an absurd proposal out of nowhere put the queen mother in confusion and distress as she anxiously replied,

"What are you saying Princess Sera, has anyone offended you?"