Winter Solace II Taegyu

Chapter IV: A new friend, a potential playdate

A week passed by and Taehyun finds himself adapting to his new life quite easily now, with the help of Kai and mostly his grandfather. He has done exceedingly well with his lessons too, the tutors had praised him for his intellect and knowledge.

Some of which were backhanded compliments such as:

'You have quite an admirable mind your Highness, his Majesty the King is so generous!'

This was pretty much translates to that Taehyun is nothing if it weren't for his grandfather taking him in. (Which was actually quite true)

'Excellent your highness! I expect nothing less from perfection in dance, after all you are your mother's child.'

This was either degrading Taehyun for being born from a bar dancer or just insulting his mother all in all.

And as much as he'd love to give his teacher a piece of his mind, especially since he had subtly insulted his mother right in front of him. But that's what his teacher wanted, to make Taehyun angry, to punch him in the face. If they were in the streets, Taehyun could single-handedly beat him up into a pulp. He maybe only nine year old, but he took down three twelve year olds during his stay in the orphanage.

But he wasn't in the orphanage now, Taehyun was a prince although not exactly legitimate but still considered as royalty due to the blood of a Kang running through his veins. He had a reputation now, even if he was still yet to debut in high society. And with reputation comes with danger in all sides, and losing ones temper was one way to get into the bad side of high society.

So Taehyun guesses this is where some people in the nobility started creating facades. One for every gathering and ocassion—he also guesses that this is where those sweet insults come from. Probing and probing until someone makes a mistake which leads to a mask cracked — leaving a scarred and unclean reputation.

It is quite terrifying to say the least, one would think that being a noble was easy due to an easy access to luxurious things and whatnot. But there was an ugliness hidden beneath the luxury; spreading rumors, philandering, greed, jealousy, discrimination, extortion and corruption.

One would think being a noble was the ticket to an easy life, but there was no difference between them and the commoners.

They had the same problems.

Yet their pride and obsession of being at the top of the social economy was unfortunately too enurmous to unsee the similarities. As long as they lived a life of leasure they could care less about the other side of the population.

Quite ignorant are they not? Despite the education they learned nothing.

Such a shame.

So here was Taehyun now, reading a book about economics at the library. The young Kang decided to do some light studying before the Huenings arrived and just so he can spare more time to play with Kai just a bit longer.

The library was quiet and a soft screech off a chair getting pulled was heard. It took Taehyun out of his readings, the young boy scans the empty library until he found a mop of brown hair, slightly darker than Hyuka's.

He blinks and does a double take.

'Is that. . . a girl?'

Just ten tables away Taehyun sees a girl skimming (reading?) through a thick book from the library. She was probably around his age, a few months younger than him and Hyuka he bets. The girl looked serious as she read, posture straight and gaze unnerving. Needless to say, if elegance were a person then it would definitely be her.

She seemed familiar too, but that was impossible, Taehyun's never seen her before.

Then said brown haired girl looks up, meeting his eyes. Taehyun gulps because her gaze had this glint, as if warning him to not come close or he'll get hurt.