Warm Eyes | Hyunchan ✅

XXI [The Disappearing Act]

After Julian had fallen asleep, Hyunjin returned to de Croix manor. He was unstable in his thoughts, yet he was concerned about leaving Christopher alone. Christopher was still present when he arrived.

"Did you forget about me?" Christopher was heard laughing.

"I'm sorry, I was preoccupied." As he recounted, Hyunjin stroked the back of his neck, feeling awful for leaving the elder alone for so long.

"I was getting bored."

"In this situation?" Hyunjin inquired.

Christopher laughed but didn't answer the question. "I waited for you, this might be the last time we meet." With a smile, he said.

"What do you mean?" With puzzled eyes, Hyunjin inquired.

"I'd ask you to come with me but I don't want you to suffer for my problems." Christopher replied as he drew Hyunjin in closer by the waist. "If you need me, I'll be by the bank." He stated this before kissing Hyunjin on the forehead.

"I'm confused; where is the bank, and why are you leaving? We could make plans." Slowly, Hyunjin said.

"I don't want you to get into trouble for me, also I don't think you'd run away with me." Christopher laughed.

"I-I-I can't. I've got the court and.... all the things..."

"Uh-uh." Christopher laughed. "You're probably running away from 'things' as you try to be the perfect person." He went on to say.

Christopher proceeded because there was no answer from the younger. "Well I'll have to leave before the morning arrives." He said this while hugging Hyunjin, who was taken aback but returned the hug. "Well then, take care of yourself." Christopher murmured this as he kissed Hyunjin on the lips, and before the younger could grab it, he vanished in the pitch dark wood, leaving just the lingering sensation on Hyunjin's lips.

"Can't you just stay?"

......................................

The kingdom was in chaos. Christopher, the king's trusted advisor, fled the kingdom, and it was all over news. People were anxious and rumours were flying like wildfire. The royal knights were exhausted from searching for Christopher, but he was nowhere to be found, as if he had vanished into thin air.

Hyunjin couldn't get the feeling of missing the elder out of his head as the days stretched into weeks. As much as he didn't want Christopher to be captured, the knights' remarks frightened him. There came a call from the royal knights for Hyunjin amid all the commotion and surprise. He couldn't figure out why, of all people, they'd requested him.He entered the hall room, all questions racing through his mind.

"Samuel de Croix?" Someone unidentified spoke up.

"That would be me." said Hyunjin. As he entered the room, he noticed a lot of familiar faces, but they all felt chilly to him.

"We have a few questions for you, reckon you can spare a few moments?" The individual went on.

"Yes, of course." Hyunjin concurred.

"Where were you on the royal Princess' birthday celebration?"

"I was present at the ball room."

"How about when the traitor appeared?"

"Traitor? Who?"

"Bahng Christopher."

"That's his name?"

"You are not permitted to ask any questions. "Were you there when he appeared?"

"I was still at the ball room."

"I see. We have witnesses who say you were near this person and were nowhere to be found after he escaped."

"Yes, I was close to him, but it was all because of work. As you may know, I'm still new here, and he assisted me with an array of issues, so I simply took him as my mentor."

"And about your absence?"

"That is not correct. I wasn't in the ballroom because I needed to get to my room."

"Why?"

Hyunjin was silent because he didn't have an answer; he hadn't anticipated this, so he hadn't prepared.

"I hope you choose your words wisely."

"It's true, he had to go to his place for a personal reason." He was with me that evening, along with his mage tower friend." A familiar voice called out. Hyunjin returned his gaze to Elyot, who had entered the room.

"Sir Elyot, you weren't given the permission to speak."

"Well, it is true. Sam has nothing to do with the person you're referring to. You're harassing a helpless individual."

"This is not harassment, he's only being asked a few questions."

"Well, don't do it. You have the wrong person." Elyot remarked this as he drew Hyunjin up by the arm and led him out of the room.

"You're not going to be able to do it, sir Elyot This is not the end."

"It sure is." Before closing the door behind him, Elyot said. "Let's go." Looking at Hyunjin, Elyot murmured.

"Exactly what do you think you're doing?" This isn't your problem; why don't you stay out of it?" Hyunjin became enraged.

"I'm not sure why you're upset. I just saved you from a potentially dangerous situation, and you're wondering why I did it?" Elyot stated.

"Can you please stay out of my business?!" Hyunjin yelled.

Before Elyot spoke, the passageway was deafeningly quiet. "Do you think I'm a fool?" You certainly assisted the guy's escape. What were your plans to respond to him? Why were you in your room when the traitor was fleeing, Samuel de Croix?"

"That's none of your concern." Hyunjin fists were clenched.

"This is my concern. I don't care how close you two were, but there's no need for you to be his associate right now."

"I'd rather go to jail than listen to you." Hyunjin laughed before starting to walk away, but he was seized by a strong hold on his arm.

"If that's the case, why did you come to me the last time? Why did you seek my assistance? How come you didn't just go to Christopher then?" Elyot, who appeared to be enraged, remarked.

"I was a fucking moron."

Hyunjin walked away, leaving behind him a baffled and angry Elyot. As he walked out of the main palace, a tear rolled down his cheek. He had been trying to conceal his emotions for so long that they seemed to be marching towards him like a storm. His leg gave up, and he collapsed on the pavement, sobbing.

Hyunjin skipped court for a few days and refused to meet Elyot every time the elder tried to see him. He'd scarcely leave his room in order to avoid Elyot. He didn't want to be questioned by Elyot right now, and he wasn't sure how he'd confront the elder about what he'd done. He was finally thinking of Elyot as a friend, but no one seemed to believe him or understand his worries. He was mentally distressed, but he had no one to turn to at the time.

"The bank." He pondered what it would be about that Christopher had told him about. He should have asked further while there was still time.

"Ah, I miss him." The door to Hyunjin's room burst open as he thought to himself.

"They found him!" Noel yelled.

"Found who?" Hyunjin responded, rising from his seat.

"Christopher! They're taking him into the main palace. There are bruises all over him, and he looks like a dead body with no blood." Those words struck Hyunjin like lightning.

"How could they find him, is he dead?"