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...
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"Hyung?" Jisung asked, whispering in Minho's ear as the man sitting beside Minho turned to start a conversation with someone else.
"What's wrong, Jisungie?" Minho asked, sipping at his wine.
"Why does your father keep scowling at me?"
Minho glanced over at his father, whose lip curled as he stared at Jisung and forgot to eat the food on his plate.
"It's more... intense than normal. I mean, he never looks happy but this is different. Isn't it? Did I do something?"
"Besides nearly dying?" Minho asked, hoping the joke would lighten the heavy reality.
Jisung frowned.
"But I did it to save your life."
"I know," Minho said, releasing a heavy sigh. He knew he had to confess. He should have had this conversation with Jisung days ago instead of waiting for half the royal court to be present for dinner. "Actually there is something you need to know."
"Will it explain how I offended the king?"
Minho picked up his glass and downed the rest of his wine.
"Come with me."
Minho pushed back his chair and left the room without looking to see if Jisung was following him. Of course, he was. There was no question about it. Although the sound of footsteps echoing off the stone floor from behind Minho did reassure him.
"Or is it actually something you did?" Jisung tried to guess. "You probably did something while I was unconscious and recovering and now he's blaming me for not keeping you in line. What point is a servant who can't do their duties, right?"
Minho scoffed.
They'd be a person, a normal fucking person!
Instead, Minho said. "You've never done your duties properly."
"I asked a question, Minho hyung. Can't you just give me a straightforward answer, please?"
"Not here. Wait until we're back inside my chambers."
"It's that bad?" Jisung asked.
Something in his tone bothered Minho and he paused to turn around and look at the younger. His friend. Jisung halted in his steps, almost tripping over himself as his gaze locked with Minho's in surprise.
"I've always been honest with you," Minho said. "So, I'm not stopping that now. He wanted to let you die. He probably still wishes he had."
Great, how fucking comforting?!!
"What?" Jisung paled and started to shake.
Minho didn't like the sight at all. Jisung was a happy person, making jokes and using sarcasm. His eyes lit up when he smiled, illuminating the brightness of the sun itself. His laugh was a melody to anyone's ears and his humor always lightened the darkest of situations. To see him like this made Minho's heart hurt. Still exhausted as his body recovered from the poison and now terrified by the revelation of what could have been.
