𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙃𝙍𝙀𝙀: 𝙐𝙉𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙂𝙀𝙏𝙏𝘼𝘽𝙇𝙀 𝙉𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏

❝No matter what happens next, I will always be glad too know there is someone like you in the world. ❞

──────.• ݁˖ ✦ ݁˖•.───────

Days turned into weeks, and the brief encounter on the balcony became a treasured memory for Yeonjun. He found himself seeking out moments of quiet during his patrols, hoping to catch another glimpse of the prince. His thoughts of Soobin grew more frequent, and he found himself wondering about the life of the man who was so different from himself, yet so similar in their shared solitude.

One fateful night, as Yeonjun made his way through the deserted corridors, he heard faint strains of music wafting from the royal wing. He recognized the melody as one of the lullabies the court musicians played for the prince when he was a child. His curiosity piqued, he approached the source, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpets underfoot.

The music grew louder, and Yeonjun's heartbeat quickened. He knew he should maintain his distance, but the haunting melody beckoned him closer.

He peered around a corner to find the prince sitting at a grand piano, his slender fingers dancing over the ivory keys with a grace that belied his royal status. The prince's eyes were closed, lost in the music, and Yeonjun felt as if he were witnessing a sacred moment, one not meant for his eyes. He hesitated, his hand hovering over the heavy velvet curtain that separated them.

Before he could retreat, Soobin's eyes snapped open, and their gazes locked once again. The prince didn't seem surprised to see him, almost as if he'd been expecting him. The music trailed off into silence, and Soobin rose from the piano bench, turning to face Yeonjun fully.

"You should not be here," the prince said, his voice a gentle reprimand, yet there was no malice in his eyes.

Yeonjun felt his face flush with a mix of embarrassment and excitement. "Forgive me, Your Highness," he stuttered, taking a step back. "The music... I didn't mean to intrude."

Soobin regarded Yeonjun for a moment, his gaze unreadable. "You speak of the night's allure," he said finally. "What is it that brings you to these hallowed halls when others sleep?"

Yeonjun swallowed hard, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. "The peace, Your Highness. It's easier to think, to feel, when the world is quiet."

The prince nodded, his expression understanding. "I, too, find solace in the night," he said, his voice a soft echo in the vast chamber. "The day is filled with expectations and duties, but at night, I am free to be whoever I wish."

Yeonjun felt a pang of longing. "Is it so very different, then, being a prince?"

Soobin sighed, his eyes searching the shadows beyond Yeonjun. "More than you could ever know," he replied. "But tonight, let us forget our titles and rank. Tell me, about yourself, what is it that you wish for?"

The question was so sudden, so intimate, that Yeonjun's mind stumbled over itself. He had never been asked such a thing before, not by a member of the royal family, not even by his closest friends. His heart raced as he searched for an answer that wasn't steeped in the confines of his duty.

"I... I wish for a life of purpose," he said finally, his voice barely a whisper. "To protect those who cannot protect themselves, and perhaps, to find someone who sees me for more than just a guard."