𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 || minsung

twenty two

'·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳•°•═════ஓ⋅ʚ♡ɞஓ═════•°•·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳

Minho stayed close to his Mother, gripping her arm tightly as he scanned the crowd. It was filled with people of all statuses—counts, dukes, merchants, farmers—almost the whole kingdom was here.

There were chants and shouts coming from the crowd, some protesting against Jisung's execution while others in favor of it.

Minho's heart raced as the anticipation in the air grew thicker. A day ago, he had been daydreaming about a life with Jisung and now he was about to witness his end. A tear escaped Minho's eyes, he truly loved Jisung, despite the younger breaking his heart in such a cruel way.

As the appointed time drew near, a hush fell over the crowd, an eerie silence that sent shivers down Minho's spine. He held his breath, his eyes never leaving the guillotine on the platform where Jisung was to meet his fate. Soon enough, a group of palace guards walked onto the platform, dragging Jisung along.

Jisung's hands and feet were bound, his posture defeated, and his gaze fixed on the ground. His dark hair was tousled and shaggy, his eyes held a distant, almost resigned expression.He looked nothing like the charismatic and vibrant boy Minho had fallen in love with. His clothes were tattered, and there were bruises all over his face. His body was frail, even thinner than usual and that shattered Minho's heart.

The palace guards positioned Jisung beneath the looming structure of the guillotine. A sob tore from Minho's throat watching them handle Jisung so harshly. Minho felt like he was going to be sick.

"Good people of Levanter, today we have brought upon you the criminal who has been terrorizing our kingdom. He was caught a month ago and we had just recently confirmed his identity."

The official continued to recount the crimes, each word falling on the crowd like heavy stones. The list of misdeeds was long, each word riling up the angry nobles who fell victim to Jisung's crimes.

Minho couldn't take it, everything was just too much for him. The tears escaped his eyes as he fell to the ground, sobbing ever so loudly as he struggled to breath properly. His world had crumbled around him, and he felt utterly helpless as he watched Jisung standing there, moments away from facing a brutal end.

Jisung immediately looked up, recognizing Minho's sob instantly despite the commotion. He couldn't believe it. Despite everything, Minho had come. Despite breaking his heart, Minho was on the floor, crying for him.

This was not supposed to happen.No. Minho was supposed to hate Jisung. He was supposed to be glad he was dying, to be furious with Jisung, to forget him entirely. Why was he crying?

The noise of the crowd seemed to dull in Jisung's ears as he locked eyes with Minho, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. For a moment, it felt as if time itself had stopped, and all that existed were their gazes, filled with an intensity that transcended the chaos surrounding them. He never wanted to see Minho cry again. Nor did he want Minho to see him like this, broken and on the verge of death.

Jisung's chest tightened as he watched Minho's tears fall, his sobs echoing across the square. The sight was a cruel reminder of the pain he had inflicted, the shattered dreams and broken promises that completely destroyed Minho's happiness. If he knew Minho would still love him, he never would have sent that letter.

As the official's voice droned on, Jisung's gaze remained locked onto Minho's form. He felt some relief upon noticing the elder looked completely healthy, no signs of malnourishment unlike himself. As he continued to gaze at Minho, he began to notice a slight change in his appearance—more specifically, the elder's inflated stomach.

Jisung's heart immediately dropped. It couldn't be...there was no way.

He recalled Seungmin's words at the dungeons, and everything started to piece together. The realization began to sink in, causing the weight of guilt to settle deeper within him, a tear escaping his eye.

Jisung hated himself even more. He hated himself not just for breaking Minho's heart twice, but for leaving him alone at a time where the elder needed him. No wonder Minho tried to so desperately find him. No wonder Seungmin begged him to change his mind. Jisung tried to hold back tears as he imagined how Minho must have felt, all alone having to deal with the shock of discovering his rare pregnancy. It pained him to know that his Minho was carrying his child yet he couldn't be there for them. It completely shattered his heart, Minho doesn't deserve any of that.

The weight of his decisions bore down on Jisung like an unbearable burden. He wished he could turn back time, to undo the choices he had made that had caused so much pain. His heart ached for Minho, for the anguish he must have experienced, for the isolation he must have felt during this vulnerable time.

'I'm so sorry, Minho,' he whispered to himself.

The crowd's chants grew louder, a chorus of voices demanding retribution. Jisung's chest tightened even more as he felt their anger, the eyes of the kingdom fixed upon him in judgment. He tried to regulate his breathing, he refused to die amidst a panic attack.

"...therefore, we hereby announce the criminal to be guilty, his crimes will be charged with death."

The guards began to move, their hands reaching for him, and he hesitated for just a moment, his gaze still locked on Minho. He wished he could convey his regret, his apology, his love, but words were a useless tool now.

Then, just as the executioner stepped forward and the blade of the guillotine glinted menacingly in the fading sunlight, a commotion erupted from the back of the crowd.

"If you are going to punish him, you might as well punish the noblemen he stole from as well."

'·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳•°•═════ஓ⋅ʚ♡ɞஓ═════•°•·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳

a/n: every time i want to abandon this ff i remind myself there's 2 chapters left 😺