war-ridden | 최연준

6 | how the tale tells.

[ 🌧️ ]

Dashing down the stairs with his hand grazing the railing, Yeonjun entered the dining room where his father sat. It was their supper appointment since the King was finally available that day.

"My son!" The old man exclaimed, embracing Yeonjun with a pat on his back. His wrinkles were quite evident with age, but he still shared the same eyes and smile lines as his son.

"Father," Yeonjun smiled, taking a seat. "How have you been?"

"Nothing like planning balls and suit fittings for the hundreds of occasions we have here." he chuckled.

There was always so many similarities between the two kingdoms—Yeonjun could never tell if that was just how dynasties operated or if it was out of envy.

Their food had soon been served as they began to eat. Yeonjun watched as his father stuffed food in his face in a way opposite of delicately.

The two sat in silence as Yeonjun waited for his father to complete his meal. Yeonjun subconsciously stared outside the window at the far kingdom separated by distance. He knew his lover was in there, he missed her every second they were apart.

His father caught him staring, darting outside at where Yeonjun's attention was.

"You didn't hear it from me, but I heard they're crumbling." His father mumbled. "Rumor has it that that King won't be king any longer. I fear old age caught up to him." He chuckled out of hatred.

"Father, what did I tell you about gossiping—it's just wrong." Yeonjun sighed. "Besides I already knew about that, so don't spread it anymore."

"How did you hear about that?" His father furrowed his white eyebrows.

"I-I," Yeonjun stuttered, "I—rumors travel everywhere in this kingdom. Speculations, you know?" He drank his cup of water quickly out of fear.

"It seems like it's raining." The King stared at the window behind his son, hearing the soft droplets of rain hit the concrete. The sound of trees rustling in the wind as rain caught up to them. The darkening of the clouds emitted a grey hue in the sky, darkening the kingdom as well.

"If you excuse me, I have a fitting for the ball this evening." Yeonjun bowed to his father and excused himself, heading back to his bedroom.

[ 🌧️ ]

The boy sat on his bed, letting his back hit the mattress roughly. His hands flew to his face in frustration. He didn't want to be in a glistening ballroom dancing with people he barely knew.

He turned his head as his eyes glanced at the small painting that hung, displayed on his dresser. It was an oil piece of Akari with a beautiful waterfall in the back as she sat still. He reminisced on that moment—the laughter they shared as he kept asking her to remain still. The endless splashing of water onto each other, walking back into their separate kingdoms trudging wet and pretending it was just the rain.

He kept it displayed in his line of vision since nobody spent time in his bedroom, nor did they come visiting him often. It was mostly just him there.

His thoughts interrupted as a knock appeared at the door, welcoming himself in. It was Heejoon with a rack of different attire for the prince to try on for today's ball.

"Greetings, your Royal Highness." Heejoon bowed, crossing his legs decorated with black dress shoes and white pants. "I brought all of the colors you had suggested previously in titanium white, burgundy and sage green."