war-ridden | 최연준

12 | pleading.

[ ⌛️ ]

As the war continued to rage, the marriage was halted. Thankful, Akari walked to the ballroom for her ballroom dance practice with Kang Taehyun. The kingdom refused his request to fight, as he was soon to be a newly wed.

No matter how much Taehyun refused the marriage, the kingdom didn't care. His words were silenced as his steps were loud coming from up the stairs. He was met with Akari's gaze as she gave him a light smile, bowing.

She couldn't get anything off of her mind aside from the fact that her lover could be on that field right now. But would he really fight, not considering the warning she gave at all?

She shook her head to remove her thoughts as her dance partner met with her on the same level. It was just the two of them and the symphony that was practicing the waltz music.

She placed her hands on his shoulders and his on her waist. They were inches apart as she looked up to the boy who was about 3 inches taller than her.

A familiar waltz began to play. Suddenly she was flashed back to years ago when she shared her first kiss with Choi Yeonjun. Suddenly, she remembered the footsteps she took with the dance, the gaze she gave Yeonjun. She was nostalgic of it all.

"Wow, I'm impressed." Taehyun said, smiling as they continued to practice the dance.

"I'm familiar with the routine."

He smiled, as they soon took big leaps and circled the entire room, the music began to get louder and more passionate. It felt as if she was standing in front of her lover once again. She imagined Yeonjun standing in front of her, dancing alongside her.

Immediately, she went in for Taehyun's lips, inches away from laying them on top of his. He stopped dancing and she was so close to kissing him.

"You wish I was Yeonjun, don't you?" He muttered as the girl shook her head, out of her daze. She removed her hands from the boy and backed up immediately. A hand went up to her mouth, amazed at what she almost did.

"I'm so sorry, Taehyun." She began to walk out of the room in awe of her actions.

[ ⌛️ ]

"Your Royal Highness!!" Heejoon ran into Yeonjun's bedroom screaming and closing the door behind him.

"Heejoon?" Yeonjun asked from his bed, peering his eyes away from the window. "What's going on?"

"Listen, I know you said not to mention her name again. But our troops..." He panted. "T-They're planning on..."

"What?" Yeonjun stood puzzled. "They're planning on what, Heejoon?"

"They're planning on attacking the princess when she steps out of her kingdom because of her affair with you."

"WHAT?!" Yeonjun screamed, running a hand through his hair. "I should've expected this, when are they planning this?"

"I'm not sure, I overheard it just a moment ago but I think they're planning on executing the plan as soon as possible." Heejoon walked over to Yeonjun and faced him. "Look, I know you said you couldn't fight. But I know she's still important to you—"

"She is." He sighed. "I have to fight, Heejoon." The boy contemplated as he paced around his room. "When do I start?"

[ ⌛️ ]

"They're outnumbering us, Sir." A soldierfrom Chihu stood in front of the King. "I don't know if we can win this one."

The man stood tall from his throne, his cape leaving a trail behind him. He ran a finger on his chin continuously. "How much longer do you anticipate this war to last?" He muttered.

"I-I'm not sure your Highness. I am unsure if we will win against—"

"Then you will do everything in your power to win the battle." He turned and faced the young boy in the eyes. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir." The boy bowed. He began to take his leave with all of his equipment before being halted by the King himself.

"One more thing." The King of Chihu began. "Is that Choi Yeonjun fighting?"

"O-oh." The boy thought. "I believe so. He unexpectedly joined moments ago."

"Then you know exactly what to do." The King looked down sternly. "Get rid of him. For good."

[ ⌛️ ]

"I almost kissed him, Sophia." Akari laid flat on her bed, plopping out of misery. "Heavens, I'm so stupid."

"Don't say that." Sophia sat at the bed rest. "You were just caught up in the moment."

"Well, there's no time for moments right now. I need to focus on this war, our kingdom may lose this battle and many of our troops." She looked out the window.

"These battles are never that big. They're petty fights between the two old men—they act like children sometimes." Sophia joked as she stood up, about to walk out. "Oh, by the way," She stopped again, catching Akari's attention. "Is the prince fighting in this battle?"

"I don't believe so. He told me before our split that his physical condition doesn't permit him to fight in battles, so I don't see why he would." Akari said. "And I hope he doesn't. It's a rough one, unlike the other ones we've had in the past. This one makes me really scared."

"Ditto. Truthfully, I'm afraid this may turn into something bigger." Sophia said before taking her leave out of Akari's room.

"You wouldn't do that to yourself, would you, Yeonjun?" She whispered to herself, holding a painting he made her.

"Please don't fight this war."