A Kingdom Reforged (JOONGDUNK)

Chapter 13: The King's Reaction to the Pregnancy

The Grand Hallway Outside Dunk's Chambers

The chapter begins in the grand hallway just outside Dunk's chambers. The hallway is adorned with tall windows that let in the soft light of the early morning. The marble floors are polished to a high sheen, and the walls are lined with portraits of past rulers, their stern gazes following anyone who walks past. The air is thick with tension as Joong stands outside Dunk's door, reflecting on the revelation of Dunk's pregnancy from the previous chapter.

Joong's heart is filled with a mix of emotions—joy, fear, and a fierce protectiveness he's never felt before. He's known about the pregnancy for a little while now, but the weight of the situation is just starting to fully settle in. Dunk's earlier reaction to the pregnancy haunts him—fear, resentment, and accusations of control. Determined to show Dunk that his feelings are genuine, Joong takes a deep breath and pushes open the door to Dunk's chambers, ready to face whatever comes next.

Joong enters Dunk's chambers, finding Dunk standing by the window, staring out into the garden below. The soft morning light bathes Dunk in a warm glow, but Joong can see the tension in his posture, the way his shoulders are hunched, the tight grip he has on the window sill.

"Dunk," Joong says softly, his voice filled with emotion.

Dunk turns slowly, his eyes meeting Joong's. There's a moment of silence, thick with unspoken words, before Dunk finally speaks. "You've come to talk about the child."

Joong nods, taking a step closer. "Yes. But more than that, I've come to talk about us."

Dunk's expression hardens, a mix of fear and defiance in his eyes. "Us? What is there to talk about, Joong? You've already made it clear what you want. I'm carrying your child—there's no going back from that."

Joong flinches at the coldness in Dunk's voice, but he steps closer, his gaze steady on Dunk's. "I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But I want you to know that this isn't just about the child. I care about you, Dunk. I've made mistakes, but I'm trying to make things right."

Dunk turns back to the window, his voice bitter. "It's easy for you to say that now. But how can I trust that you're not just saying these things to keep me here, to keep me under your control?"

Joong moves closer, his hand reaching out to touch Dunk's shoulder, but he hesitates, unsure if the gesture will be welcomed or rejected. "I know I've hurt you, Dunk. I've done things that I regret, but I want to protect you, to protect our child. I want us to find a way forward together."

Dunk's shoulders shake slightly, and when he turns back to face Joong, there are tears in his eyes. "How can I believe you, Joong? How can I trust anything you say?"

Joong's heart aches at the sight of Dunk's tears. He steps closer, this time not hesitating as he gently takes Dunk's hands in his. "I can't undo the past, Dunk. But I can promise you this—I will do everything in my power to make the future better for you, for us, and for our child. I don't want to be your enemy anymore. I want to be your partner, your equal."

The scene shifts to later that day, in the royal council room where Joong sits alone at the head of the table. The room is grand, with high ceilings and large windows that let in the afternoon light. The walls are lined with shelves filled with books, and a large map of the kingdom hangs on one wall. Joong has just dismissed his council after a long meeting, but his thoughts are far from the matters of state. He can't stop thinking about Dunk, about their earlier conversation, and about the immense responsibility that now lies on his shoulders.

Joong leans back in his chair, rubbing his temples as he tries to sort through the myriad of emotions swirling within him. He's always been in control, always known what to do, but this situation is different. The thought of becoming a father, of building a life with Dunk, fills him with both hope and fear.

A knock on the door interrupts his thoughts, and a servant enters, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, the preparations for the nursery have begun as you requested. Is there anything else you require?"

Joong shakes his head, his mind still preoccupied. "No, that will be all," he says, dismissing the servant with a wave of his hand.

As the servant leaves, Joong stands and walks over to the map on the wall, tracing the lines of his kingdom with his fingers. He's fought so hard to secure his throne, to protect his people, but now he realizes that the most important battle he faces is not on the battlefield, but within the walls of his own palace.

He thinks about Dunk, about the fear and anger in his eyes earlier. Joong knows he has a long way to go before Dunk will trust him, but he's determined to earn that trust. He'll do whatever it takes to prove to Dunk that his love is real, that he's not just a conqueror, but a man who wants to build a life with the person he loves.

Later that evening. Dunk is sitting on the bed, his hands resting on his stomach as he stares into the fireplace. The flames flicker, casting shadows across the room, but Dunk barely notices, lost in his thoughts.

A soft knock on the door draws his attention, and he looks up as Joong enters, holding a small box. Dunk's eyes narrow with suspicion, but he doesn't say anything as Joong approaches.

Joong sits down on the edge of the bed, placing the box between them. "I brought you something," he says quietly, his voice hesitant.

Dunk raises an eyebrow, but he takes the box and opens it. Inside is a delicate necklace, the pendant shaped like a small, intricately carved bird. Dunk's breath catches as he recognizes the symbol—a phoenix, a creature that rises from the ashes, reborn and stronger.

"It's beautiful," Dunk says, his voice soft.

Joong nods, his gaze earnest. "I had it made for you. The phoenix symbolizes rebirth, renewal. I thought... I hoped it might represent a new beginning for us, a way to move forward together."

Dunk's fingers brush over the pendant, his heart clenching at the gesture. He looks up at Joong, his eyes searching his face. "You really mean it, don't you?"

Joong reaches out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind Dunk's ear. "I do, Dunk. I want this to work. I want us to be a family."

For the first time since discovering his pregnancy, Dunk feels a glimmer of hope. It's not much, and there's still a long way to go, but it's a start. He closes the box and sets it aside, then leans into Joong's touch, allowing himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, they can find a way forward together.

The chapter ends with Dunk and Joong sitting together in the quiet of the evening, the warmth of the fire filling the room as they take the first tentative steps toward healing and building a future for themselves and their child.