as the last mortal descendent of the kitsune spirits, sunoo spends his childhood hidden in the protection of the palace, where he grows up unaware of his true identity. between falling for the crown prince and honing his powers in secret at the thre...
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There is an air of unusual silence that settles into the ambience of the palace garden. The birds whistle on undisturbed and crickets still chirp from the well groomed grass, while water in the nearby pond continues to roll gently under floating lily pads. Among the glaze of finely trimmed bushes and organised rows of evergreen trees, a flash of movement catches the light.
Peeking out between a gaenari thicket is a small tuft of snowy fur, its scarlet tip waving about in heightened anticipation. The bushy white tail is attached to a small boy crouched on all fours, pressed closely to the ground and out of plain sight. He appears just like any ordinary boy, if not for the two pointed white ears that sprout from the sides of his head with its tips dipped in dark red, now laid flat and twitching sensitively at every sound.
His bright eyes gleam with amber and gold, darting between the gaps of the leaves, searching for any sign of movement. When the coast is clear, he sneaks forward, pressing small palms into the grass beneath him. He creeps forward shuffling on his knees, slowly, slowly...
"BOO!"
The little fox screams, leaping ten feet in the air.
Behind him watching his every movement is a boy in a striking imperial hanbok, who bends over in laughter at the fox's failed attempt at stealth.
"That was so easy!" He cackles, clutching his stomach. The fox turns around to muster the most menacing glare that he can up at the ten year old boy, face red with anger. He pushes himself to his feet, fresh dirt falling from his hands and knees. His tiny fists clench at his side and his bushy tail sticks straight up against his back.
"Ugh!" He stomps his feet indignantly. "It's not fair, you didn't count to twenty!"
"Yes I did," His adoptive brother replies with a smug smile, "You simply ran too far to hear me."
"That's not true, you counted quietly on purpose!" cries the fox.
He receives a shrug. "Alright, little fox, whatever you sa-ay~"
The response further infuriates the pointy-eared boy, cherubic face scrunching with displeasure. So, with his chin up and button nose in the air, he marches away to the red pavilion located in the heart of the palace garden.
The crown prince rolls his eyes. "Come on, Sunoo, I was only demonstrating to you the perfect element of surprise," He calls out from behind. His words are left unheeded as the child clambers stubbornly up the steps into the shade where their afternoon tea awaits.
"What is it now, little prince?" asks a gentle voice, welcoming the young boy into open arms.
"Jongsaengie hyungie is being mean to me," he whines. He twists in the queen's embrace, allowing her to card her hands through chestnut locks and soft furry ears. He bathes in the affection, never going without it whenever he is within her reach.
