war-ridden | 최연준

13 | helpless.

[ ☕️ ]

Originally, Yeonjun's hadn't planned on fighting this battle. His physical condition didn't allow for it, and frankly, neither did his mental condition. However, the second that he heard the kingdom was planning to attack Akari, he knew he had to fight to protect her. Somebody had to stop the troops from hurting her, even if he ends up hurting herself.

It had been a few days of Yeonjun fighting this war alongside his troop. He had been talking to them and asking them to prevent going through their plan to attack the princess. They had only given him horrible looks, shunning him for being with somebody from another kingdom.

However, half of them were on his side—knowing that love can't be controlled. But that didn't stop the other half that were devoted to their kingdom
and hated anything connected to Chihu in the slightest.

The battle could be heard from inside any palace walls. Although they wore helmets, it was still obvious who was who from the troop. Yeonjun was still visible—Akari would be able to see him from her window. But she was too busy with the wedding preparations everybody had been pestering her with.

The sounds of weapons against each other and groans were loud. Although Yeonjun was weaker than others, he didn't show it. He was still the strongest of the troop, the highest stamina and stability of them all.

His father wasn't very delighted to hear the news about Yeonjun fighting. He was worried to say the least about his son's condition, but nothing could stop him. Yeonjun knew what he wanted, and that was to protect his lover at all costs.

However, he was also Chihu's main target. Their main reason they were fighting the war.

[ ☕️ ]

"Here you go." Taehyun placed a tea cup directly across from his soon-to-be bride. Although this time, this wasn't a wedding preparation. This time, it was just two friends sharing tea together.

Except, they couldn't just tune out what was happening outside their kingdom. Although it was at a far distance, it felt like everything was so clear. Akari felt too privileged to be in her own kingdom when there were people dying outside, partly because of her. Or so, it felt like.

"Do you think..." She muttered, circling her teacup with her finger. "That they're fighting about me and Yeonjun?"

Taehyun let out a sigh, staring at the window next to them. "I can't say. However, I will say that both those kingdoms are always looking for a reason to battle each other. This reason might've just provoked the kings even more." He painted a small smile on his face before continuing to drink his tea.

"Yeah." She sighed, slightly placing her head down and looking outside the window at the soldiers. She was thankful—there was no sight of Yeonjun. Had he received her letter yet? Did he really listen to her words and not fight?

Taehyun looked at the worried girl. He stared at her face, studying the beauty marks that decorated her pale complexion. Her natural blush allowing for her reddened cheeks, her black hair. Everything about her was so stunningly beautiful. It hurt him that somebody as charming and gorgeous as her had been worried about anything. But he knew her heart belonged to another. Even if the two of them are destined to be married, he wanted nothing more than for her to be happy.

He sighed, dismissing the table. "I have a suit fitting soon."

"Oh," She smiled. "Yes, please, go on."

He bowed, kissing the girl's hand and bidding her farewell before he walked back upstairs.

The boy looked back at the girl who's vision was averted to the window.

"I'm falling for you more and more everyday, Akari." He muttered to himself. "I love you, eternally."

[ ☕️ ]

"Are you sure you can fight?" A soldier asked Yeonjun as he drank water from his cup back at the tent.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine."

"Let me know if you need anything." The soldier tapped the boy's shoulder out of support and retreated back to his friends. "You look quite pale these days."

To be completely transparent, Yeonjun hadn't been feeling that great. The helmet didn't help his overheating as his jet-black hair mounted onto his forehead. He was quick to get tired, overheated and overstimulated. But to him, it didn't matter—as long as Akari was safe, he felt safe.

As long as Akari was alright, he was alright.

[ ☕️ ]

"Princess, Princess!" Fiona, the woman in who Akari had been upset with, rushed into the girl's bedroom, closing the door behind her. Akari's face painted a worried expression as she looked for an answer to the old woman's stress.

"Fiona, what are you doing here—"

"It's Choi Yeonjun." She panted. "He's fighting."

Akari didn't remember how, but at an instant, she had fallen to her knees. She felt as if the world had sucked all the oxygen from the atmosphere, her lungs felt scarce of air. "What?!" She exclaimed breathlessly. "I have to stop him—" She tried to run out the room before Fiona grasped onto her.

"You can't,

the battle has begun."