The Crown and the Sword

Long live the King

In the quiet and somber kingdom of Elidoria, a heavy cloud of mourning hung in the air following the sudden demise of the beloved king. The kingdom was aching for a new ruler to guide them out of the darkness that had settled over them. The Queen, with a heavy heart yet a steadfast determination, decided to make an announcement to the people.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the castle courtyard, the Queen stood on the grand balcony overlooking the assembled crowd. Every person in the kingdom had gathered, their eyes searching for a glimmer of hope in the Queen's words.
Clearing her throat, the Queen's voice rang out, breaking the silence that had enveloped the kingdom. "Dear citizens of Eldoria," she began, her voice steady yet laced with sorrow, "it is with a heavy heart that I must announce the successor to the throne of the Kim dynasty." The crowd held their breath, anticipation swirling around them.

With a pause that seemed to stretch for an eternity, the Queen's words echoed through the courtyard. "The next King of the Kim dynasty shall be none other than Kim Taehyung, the second son of our late King." A hushed gasp swept through the crowd, followed by a moment of stunned silence.

Kim Taehyung,stood among the crowd, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never imagined himself as the future king, always assuming that his elder brother would ascend to the throne. The weight of the crown now being placed upon his head felt heavier than he could have ever anticipated.

As the realization of his new role settled in, the crowd erupted into cheers and shouts of "Long live the King!" Taehyung looked up at the faces of his people, their hope and trust in him shining in their eyes. The Queen smiled warmly at him, her silent support giving

"Wait, Sehun! Stop!" Taehyung chased after his older brother, his voice straining as he called out. Sehun didn't slow down, his long legs eating up the distance between them. The two princes had always been close, despite their age difference, but now Taehyung couldn't help but feel a strange mix of anger and confusion. He didn't understand why Sehun was so upset.

They were running through the gardens of the palace, the flowers and trees that normally brought them joy now serving as a backdrop for their quarrel. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the neatly manicured lawns. As Taehyung finally caught up to Sehun, he grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "Sehun, please, I don't understand. What's going on?"

Sehun turned to face his younger brother, his eyes red and puffy from crying. He wiped roughly at his face, trying to compose himself. "It's not fair, Tae. You know it's not fair. I should be king. I've worked so hard for this." Taehyung felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly replaced by a growing determination.

"You are right," Taehyung said, meeting his brother's eyes. "It isn't fair. But the queen chose me, Sehun. Even I dont want to be the king. You will forever be my King Sehun. "

But Sehun loathed his brother more than ever. "It's not about what you want, Tae. It's about what's right. I deserve this throne. You're just a child. You'll ruin everything." Taehyung felt a sting in his chest. He knew his brother was hurt and angry, but he couldn't help but feel like Sehun was being selfish.

"I'm not a child, Sehun. I'm not as innocent as you think. I know what it means to be king, and I dont know if I can handle it but I don't want this to come between us. We're brothers, Sehun. We're supposed to support each other, no matter what." Taehyung placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.

Sehun shrugged off the touch, his face twisted in pain. "I can't help it, Tae. I can't be happy for you. I thought we had a deal, you know? I thought we'd always be together. But now..." His voice trailed off, and he looked away, unable to finish the thought.

Taehyung felt the weight of Sehun's words pressing down on him. He knew his brother was right; things would never be the same again. But he also knew that he couldn't let Sehun's bitterness tear them apart. "We will still be brothers, Sehun. Nothing can change that. I'll do everything I can to make sure you're always proud of me, and that we're still a family."

For a moment, Sehun looked like he might believe him. Then, with a final, bitter laugh, he turned and walked away, leaving Taehyung alone in the garden. Tears welled up in the younger prince's eyes as he watched his brother disappear around the corner. He knew things would never be the same again, but he refused to let their love for each other die.