CAPTIVATED || JEONGCHEOL

• Two •

☆ AT YOUR SERVICE ☆

IN THE YEAR OF 1881:

"Your Highness!" The head maid Marie yelled from the top of her lungs as she stood outside, knocking on the bedroom door. "The king, his majesty requests an audience with you. He's been waiting on you for 15 minutes."

To her dismay, she was delivered with a cold silence.

She sighed. "I've convinced his majesty to allow your friends to be given permission to visit the castle when they wanted, so if you could please just-"

The door immediately creaked open as a fluffy blonde haired boy peeked out. "Really Marie? You got him to say yes?" Stunned with his beauty she takes a moment and briefly pauses before continuing, "yes, young master."

Her eyes widened as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a hug. "Marieee, you're the best!" Her heart fluttered as blood rushed to her cheeks, staining them pink.

Although young, Marie was considered the most capable maid in all of the Dreantis Kingdom at the age of 26.

"Master Jeonghan, I would appreciate it if you could let go. I'm finding it quite difficult to breathe." She tapped his shoulder, signalling him to release from their embrace.

"Oh, yes. Sorry Marie. Now, where did you say my father was?" He started to walk down the long corridor to reach the stairs. "His majesty is in the study!," she called out.

"Thanks!"

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"You called for me father?" He walked in through the grand doors of the study, running his hands across the dusty books that resided on the bookshelves.

"Son, how old are you?," he asked in a serious tone. Jeonghan seemed taken aback, pain glittering in his eyes. His father was always busy and away from the palace due to him being the King of Dreantist. Being a king meant that you had to be exceptional in all areas but it seemed he lacked in his role as a father.

Jeonghan constantly felt as if he was being thrown to the side as his father saw other priorities to be far more important than that of his own son.

"I'm turning 22 next month, father." He sighed, disappointment dripping from his words as he begrudgingly lowered his head. "Oh! It's October already? I didn't even notice!" The king proudly clasped his hands together as he leaned on his desk. "I hadn't realised that you've been of age for some time now." He narrowed his eyes preparing for what he said next.

"I think it's time we find you a suitable wife, Jeonghan. What do you think?" He questioned as he held his gaze. Jeonghan's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. He couldn't get married yet, there was still so many things he wanted to do in life and marriage would do nothing but tie him down.

"W-what," he said quietly. "Father, I don't want to get married! I'm far too young and being surrounded all day by young ladies will be distracting, and not in a good way!," he spat back, refusing his father's proposal. It was true though. Jeonghan hated it when women tried hard to gain his attention. He found it annoying and desperate as they clawed at him, hoping that he'd spare them a single glance. It was pathetic.