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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"Jeongin."
Jeongin quickly bowed, nervous to be called in front of King Jiho so soon after he condemned Jeongin to death for suspicion of sorcery.
Sorcery wasn't something everyone feared. It wasn't something banned in every kingdom. Just here in Levanter. Everyone understood what magic was in its truest form. It was a tool. Just like a sword was the tool that a knight used in battle. Magic was the same. Not everyone who wielded a sword was a tyrant just the same as not everyone who practiced sorcery was evil.
Except King Jiho was prejudiced and narrow-minded. He'd made his mind up about magic before Minho had even been born. He was short-sighted and angered by the simple hint of anything connected to sorcery. No one could persuade him, talk sense into him, or give their honest opinion on the topic without fear of a beheading.
It was ridiculous. Utterly fucking ridiculous, but unfortunately, that was how the king of Levanter thought and because of him his subjects had to agree, leave the kingdom, or die by his hand.
Life was cruel, especially when it was ruled by Lee Jiho.
"You're friends with Prince Minho's manservant, Han Jisung. Yes?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Jeongin answered, looking at Jiho's feet instead of his face.
"Good," the king nodded. "Go and wake up Prince Minho. He missed the end of dinner last night and he needs to see our guests off before they leave this morning. He will be visiting the Bangtan Kingdom soon so I expect him to see them off and leave a good impression."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Jeongin said again.
He didn't dare to question why Lee Jiho was asking him to cover for Jisung. Did Jiho know something Jeongin didn't? Was there something wrong with Jisung? Did he have a relapse from the poison? Jeongin had seen Jisung leave with Minho last night in the middle of the banquet dinner but when Minho returned Jisung wasn't with him, and Minho looked very distracted. He didn't touch his food or engage in the ongoing conversation.
"And Yang Jeongin," Jiho said, pulling Jeongin from his thoughts. "I trust you to be discreet about whatever it is you find when you wake him."
Jeongin blinked in confusion, his head lifting but his gaze was met with narrowed eyes. The implied threat in the king's tone as well as his eyes brought back the memory of when he condemned Jeongin. Harsh and cold and without hesitation. Jeongin was sure he had post-traumatic stress from it. He quickly dropped his head again and bowed, hoping to leave as fast as possible.
"Of course, Your Majesty," he said.
"Good. You may leave," Jiho said, dismissing Jeongin with a wave of his hand.
He gladly fled from the room, holding his breath and only breathing again once the doors had closed behind him.
As he made his way through the castle toward Minho's room, Jeongin debated whether he should stop by the physician's chambers to check on Jisung. But the king had given him a direct order. To wake Minho up and be discreet about it. He couldn't afford to disappoint the king after everything that had happened. He needed to be on the man's good side for his own safety and survival in the Levanter Kingdom.
