When the king of Levanter tries to teach his oldest son a lesson, he ends up assuming something far from the truth. Minho wishes he could correct his father's wild imagination but doing so would mean seeing Jisung's head removed from his body. Neith...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
*************
"Father, please," Minho said through the bars.
He was currently being locked up in a cell down in the dungeons. He'd only ever been on the receiving end of this kind of punishment from his father once or twice in his entire nineteen years of life. Though he found it happening more frequently now that Han Jisung was his manservant. The younger was such a troublemaker, always getting into all sorts of trouble that Minho found himself bearing the consequences of Jisung's actions.
"Please let me give the flower to Namjoon-ssi. I already got it and it's the only thing that can save Jisung."
His father grimaced. "I don't understand why you risked your life for a servant. You are a prince. Your life is worth so much more than his."
"The only reason he's dying is because he drank the poison that was meant for me."
"Just get another servant."
"I can't just get another Jisung, Father."
"I know he saved your life, Minho. Twice now. That's why I chose him as your manservant in the first place. But believe me, there are so many others who would do the same and lay down their lives to protect yours."
"It isn't just that. He's more to me than just my servant or my... protector." Minho furrowed a brow at the thought of Jisung in chainmail and swinging around a sword he had no practice with. Probably dropping it or cutting himself. "Which is a word that does not describe Jisung well at all, trust me," he added.
"You're always complaining about how he carries out his duties, so he'd easily be replaced by someone more capable."
"Jisung is plenty capable."
Lee Jiho stared his son down.
"Capable enough for what matters to me," Minho muttered, looking away.
"What exactly does this boy have over you that you overlook his ineptitude and risked your life for him?"
"Nothing. He has nothing over me. He's just... " Minho wanted to say a friend, but he knew his father too well. He would never tolerate friendship with a manservant or anyone of lower birth status than a nobleman. It would only give him another reason to want Jisung dead.
His father's jaw clenched. "I cannot ignore the fact that you chose to disobey me and risked yourself for some lowly— "
"Father!" Minho growled in protest.
His father's voice only rose to talk over him - as if he had never heard him in the first place - Minho's frustration was turning into anger. "—peasant that fails to uphold proper standards of— "
"Father, please!" Minho exclaimed.
"—Levanter's Court!" his father snapped. "I said no and you will remain in this cell for the next week. It will give you some time to sit and think about your proper duty to the crown." His father turned on his heel and began to walk away.
