Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

3. Croissants

Hanbin was furious. Die?? What?? How could his father organize such a competition where children's lives were about to be put at risk? As soon as Jiwoong had spoken the words he had got up from his seat, ignoring the shocked looks from Zhanghao, Ricky and Gyuvin as he stormed out of the hall. 

Steps fast and heavy, Hanbin couldn't remember the trip in between, but suddenly he was walking up the castle steps. The guards didn't say anything as he pushed his way in, walking so fast he was almost running as he entered the throne room. 

There, sitting obnoxiously on the ancient throne, was his father. Hanbin thought he could almost see a smirk on his father's face as he walked up to him, anger burning within him. 

"And what might I have the joy of hearing today, my son?" His father asked. 

"A competition? Where people die? " Hanbin burst out, "What were you thinking, father? I know you hate the common people, I do, but is this not too extreme? The blood of innocent children is about to be on your hands." Hanbin said. 

"Did I think about it?" His father repeated his question, "Well, of course I did." His father chuckled, an evil glint in his eyes. "And there's nothing you can do about it anymore, so take you ridiculous thoughts somewhere else." He waved Hanbin away. 

"You're cruel, father." Hanbin said, before storming out of the room. 

—

Zhanghao knew Gyuvin and Ricky had been just as shocked as him when the advisor had informed them of the gruesome competition to come. Yet, most shocked of all had been Hanbin, who Zhanghao had watched march out of the hall in fury. 

"You do realize we're in that age bracket, don't you." Gyuvin turned to Zhanghao and Ricky. 

"Well, I'm not stupid." Zhanghao replied. 

He didn't want to think about the idea that in a few weeks he could very well be one of the nine fighting for his life purely for the King's entertainment. They had all known the King had a specific hatred towards those of the lower classes, however he hadn't realized it would come to this extent. 

Finally, they were all dismissed from the hall and worried mumbles and whispers could be herd all around them. They were all equally scared, as any one of them could be picked out when the time came. 

Apparently, class had been dismissed for the day so Zhanghao, Gyuvin and Ricky made their way to the store to eat before heading home. 

"You don't think any of us will be picked out, do you?" Gyuvin said, and Zhanghao could hear the tremble in his voice which wasn't normal for usually loud and confident Gyuvin. 

"Stop talking about it. What happens, will happen, and that's that." Zhanghao stated. 

"Zhanghao's right." Ricky sighed, "I guess we just leave it up to fate now." 

Fallen looks on their faces, the three parted in separate ways as they went to go home. Zhanghao had reached the lake which meant he wasn't far from his house before he spotted a familiar figure in the distance, sitting on a bench which faced the water. 

His face was in his hands, elbows resting on his thighs. Zhanghao made his way over, still holding a bag of leftover pastries which him, Gyuvin and Ricky hadn't managed to finish. Their worry overcoming their appetite. 

Sitting down on the bench, Zhanghao stared out at the lake rather than at the other. 

"This is where a prince goes when he's frustrated? I'm sure the castle would have much nicer gardens than this." Zhanghao said. 

Hanbin looked up, not realizing that Zhanghao had sat down next to him. Rubbing his eyes, he turned to him, "I'm not sure I want to be in that horrid place at the moment." 

Zhanghao turned his gaze to him, "Isn't home where one should feel safest?" 

Hanbin flinched, "That's not the case for me." 

Silence drifted between the two before Zhanghao rustled in his bag and pulled out a croissant which was slightly squashed. 

"Here," He held it out to Hanbin, "I promise this is one of the best croissants you'll ever eat in your life." He grinned. 

Hanbin smiled back, "I've never had a croissant before." 

Zhanghao's face bore the look of shock, "You've never?-" He cut himself off mid-sentence to dramatically look away. "Then you have to try this." 

Hanbin took the pastry from him, taking a bite out of it. The croissant gave a satisfying crisp noise before the buttery dessert melted in his mouth, tasting slightly salty and sweet at the same time. To Zhanghao's amusement, Hanbin's eyes lit up at the new found food. 

"Thank you for this." Hanbin gazed at him. 

Zhanghao smiled, "Anytime."

After his unexpected encounter with the prince at the lakeside, Zhanghao's worries of the competition had been pushed aside, allowing him towards a soundless sleep. 

That night, he dreamt of royal balls filled with champagne and fancy fruit punch. He envisioned masked individuals who wore lovely gowns and suits of sparkling material. Soft music played as people danced around and around. He watched before a finger tapped him on the shoulder. A man in a white feathery mask depicting a swan stood behind him, the counter to his outfit which conveyed a black swan.   

"Would you like to dance?"  The man asked, holding a hand out to Zhanghao. 

Zhanghao's cheeks felt slightly hot under his own mask before he shook the blush away and took the other man's hand. "Certainly." 

The splendor and joy Zhanghao felt was unreal as he was pulled around the dance floor, eyes only on the man who held him. As he fell into the dream, Zhanghao slept with content, not a single worry in his body.