Crown of Broken Promises

Moondust Saffron

The smell of dust was the first thing he'd describe about his restless days of studying in the palace library. It seemed like this was the place he'd been spending his days and nights from his adolescence to young adulthood, the moment he learned what his duties were.

The room was a deep mahogany colour, with thousands of books towering over him. So many, in fact, that he could never read them all in his lifetime. But perhaps, if he did nothing but read nonstop for the rest of his life, it might be a possibility.

The room was so vast, and the young man sat in the middle at a wooden desk. He was trying his hardest not to hunch over as he looked down at the pages before him. His back remained straight as he focused on his work.

Occasionally, some of his blonde locks would fall into his eyes, and he would move his head slightly to push the hair out of his face.

It was times like these when the young man enjoyed complete and total privacy. Though he was working, he cherished these moments of isolation, even if sometimes he longed for more.

The young man looked up from his pages when he heard the creak of doors behind him. He turned around to see a young woman—who looked slightly older than him—standing in the doorway. "Your Highness, your father requests you."

The prince stood up, closed his books, piled them in the corner of the desk, and walked over to the young maid. "Thank you, Seoji," he said in a calm, warm tone. His voice was like honey.

She beamed at the young prince's politeness. "Of course, Prince Jimin. Your father is in his office. Would you like me to escort you?" She asked, bowing her head. Her black hair was tied into a bun that had become quite dishevelled from her hard work in the palace.

He shook his head. "I'm alright, Seoji. You're dismissed. Thank you."

The prince walked out of the library, stepping onto the tiled floors of the rest of the palace. The palace was always quite lively, with scholars walking past him and bowing their heads, each carrying at least three books.

"Good afternoon, Your Highness," said one scholar, a beautiful man with chestnut brown hair, dressed in white and blue garments.

The prince waved with a smile. "Good afternoon, Taehyung. Still busying yourself with art history?" he asked, recalling their last conversation.

The young scholar nodded. "Yes, it's quite fascinating. Do you have time to study together today, Your Highness?" To some royals, it would be almost offensive to offer the crown prince a study session with a scholar. But not to Prince Jimin.

He frowned slightly in response. "Unfortunately, I've completed most of my work for today, but we should definitely do it soon. It'd be nice to not be alone in the library for once." The prince ran his hand through his hair.

"Sounds like a date to me," Taehyung smiled. "I'll talk to you later, Your Highness."

"Of course." His smile returned. And with that, the two went their separate ways.

Jimin continued his journey to the other side of the palace where his father's office awaited him. As he walked, Jimin couldn't help but admire the many people who resided in the palace, whether apprentices, knights, or magicians. He was continually amazed by his kingdom's beauty and strength.

His father had always shown compassion for the subjects of Eidoria, and in turn, taught his son to be the same. Though Jimin would soon be their ruler and hold power over them, that never meant he should see himself as higher than even the poorest man in the kingdom.

With everything Jimin had seen his father do during his reign, Jimin felt a massive weight to live up to his rule. The court only spoke great things about his father, when Jimin was allowed out of the palace, he'd hear talk of his father, and how kindhearted he was. Jimin especially knew his father would be willing to put his life on the line for his people. It was times like these when Jimin was left alone with his thoughts where Jimin would wonder if he'd ever live up to his father.