Zhanghao couldn't even move as he heard his name read out by Kim Jiwoong. Glued to his chair, he could feel Gyuvin, Ricky, and even Hanbin's faces of shock staring directly at him. When he continued to stay seated, eyes fading in and out, Kim Jiwoong spoke again.
"Zhanghao." He paused. "Please come to the front."
Ricky who was next to him, gave his shoulder a little nudge, causing Zhanghao to look at him. Zhanghao began to shake his head in denial, "I don't want to." He whispered, looking at Gyuvin and Ricky with fear.
"Y-you have to." Gyuvin said, eyes shaking.
Ricky pushed Zhanghao to his feet as he began to exit the row and walk to the front. He passed Hanbin, who was silent before he gave a quiet, "I'm so sorry." to Zhanghao, who gave him a look as warm as he could manage. After all, it wasn't his fault.
Zhanghao walked, one foot in front of the other, towards the front of the room, Kim Jiwoong's stern gaze on him as he made his way next to Kim Taerae who still held his head down. Once he had stood for a while, Kim Jiwoong continued,
"We have now picked our nine competitors who will compete for the King's prize. All nine of you will receive information on the first round in a few days, but before then, you may all leave the premises."
As Jiwoong spoke his last word and stepped away from the microphone, people began to talk again and Zhanghao could hear the quiet sobs which broke out next to him.
Kim Taerae looked up at him, "This was my fate?" he said, eyes weary.
"Apparently so." Zhanghao replied. He had accepted his own fate in the walk towards the front, and the only feelings he felt now was the empty hope of winning. Only then was it that he could survive.
Kim Taerae shook his head, leaving Zhanghao as Gyuvin and Ricky ran up to him, Hanbin not far behind. Gyuvin jumped on his friend, arms wrapping around him as a few drops of water fell from his eyes.
"Oh Zhanghao." He whispered, hugging him.
"It's okay. I'm going to be fine." Zhanghao said, hiding the uncertainty in his words as he patted Gyuvin on the back.
Ricky joined in on the embrace, Zhanghao feeling the urge to also cry at the sorrow his friends were feeling for him. As he continued to hug them, he looked up to see Hanbin walking up to him. As he stared at Hanbin he felt his mind finally give in and the tears began to well up in his eyes.
Gyuvin and Ricky let go, letting Hanbin join them together. Hanbin clasped Zhanghao's hands in his. "I'm so sorry, Zhanghao. I'm so sorry." He said, head bent down towards the ground.
"Stop saying that." Zhanghao told him back. "It's not your fault. You're talking as if you were the one who pulled my name out of the box, and even if you were it could've been anyone, and I guess it just had to be me."
What had been an attempt to make things better, seemed to only make it worse as Gyuvin burst into tears again, hitting Zhanghao gently,
"No, it shouldn't be you. Why was it you?" He sobbed.
—
When Hanbin returned to the castle later that day, his feet led him up to the chambers of the King's advisor. Knocking on the door firmly, he took a step back, exhaling as he waited. Opening the door slightly at first, Kim Jiwoong peered out only to open the door fully at the sight of Hanbin.
"Oh, Hanbin." He said. Jiwoong had received his job at a fairly young age, making him closer in age to Hanbin rather than the King, who he served. The two had grown rather close and Hanbin had forced Jiwoong to drop the honorific in which servants were to use, 'Prince', in front of his name.
Jiwoong let Hanbin into the room, sitting on a chair and picking up a a few papers which Hanbin assumed were from his father. Rustling through them loudly, Jiwoong didn't look at Hanbin and just waited for him to speak.
"How could you do this?" Hanbin asked, staring at Jiwoong.
"Do what? Be more specific, Hanbin." Jiwoong furrowed his brows.
"Everything. How could you be content after just picking out nine people who are about to be sent to their deaths?" Hanbin stated. He took a breath in, "How could you pick.. Zhanghao..."
Jiwoong rolled his eyes, "Oh please, you met them a day ago. And you know that if I disobeyed your father I would be," He drew a finger along his neck, "executed."
Hanbin sighed. It was everyone. And then it was his father. He couldn't stand the horror in the faces of those who had been chosen. The look on Zhanghao's face was still burned into his mind, nothing more than sheer shock and terror. Although he hid it well, Hanbin had seen the way Zhanghao had reassured his friends only to potray all of his hidden worry through his eyes.
There was no way he would be able to stop the competition. If he so much as interfered, his father would at most disown him, which would only mean that his father's rule would last even longer, inflicting pain and suffering on the innocent.
He turned on his heel and was almost out the door when Jiwoong looked up,
"Where are you going?" He said.
"To find someone smart." Hanbin replied.
He was rushing down the stairs when he saw exactly who he wanted to find walking out of the library, arms full of books.
"Matthew!" He called out, causing his friend to turn and look in his direction. Giving him a smile and a wave, Matthew waited for Hanbin at the bottom of the staircase. Matthew was a year younger than him, but he felt more like a friend than a younger brother. He was almost always in the library and passed all of their royal exams with flying colors.
"Didn't think I'd ever find you going to the library in such a rush, hyung." Matthew said.
Hanbin got straight to the point, "You've heard about the competition, haven't you?"
"Oh yeah.. It's so awful.." Matthew's smile faded.
Hanbin nodded, "Yeah, I know." He paused for a little, fidgeting, "But do you think there's any chance I could somehow stop it? Or at least interfere with it without my father knowing? Or manipulate his thoughts to somehow change?"
Matthew sucked in a breath, "I don't know hyung, manipulation.. are you talking about.. magic?"
YOU ARE READING
Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN
FanfictionIs love worth the risk even if you're about to die? Crown Prince, Hanbin, hates his father. And his hate only grows when the King orders nine competitors to fight in a competition to the death.. including Zhanghao. Will Hanbin risk it all for Zhang...