Take me home | Seongjoong

Longing for Freedom

The sun had barely risen when Seonghwa made his move. The castle was still asleep, its towering stone walls casting long shadows over the courtyard. He slipped through the halls with practiced silence, his movements careful, deliberate. Every step felt heavy with the knowledge that once he left, there was no turning back.

Seonghwa had planned this for months. His chambers, typically adorned with the lavish comforts expected of a prince, now stood bare. A single, packed leather bag sat by the window—small enough to carry but filled with only the essentials. Gone were the royal tunics and gleaming armor that had always weighed him down, both physically and mentally. Instead, he wore a simple dark cloak, the hood pulled low over his face to hide his features. The prince's face was a striking one, known across the kingdom for its sharp beauty, but tonight, he was determined to become invisible.

Outside, a soft breeze tugged at the edges of his cloak as Seonghwa ducked into the stable. His trusted horse, Raven, whinnied softly when he approached, her dark eyes flickering in the dim light. Gently, he stroked her mane, whispering an apology. He wouldn't be able to take her with him—it would draw too much attention.

"I'll be back someday," he murmured, though he wasn't sure if that was a promise or a hope. Leaving Raven behind stung, but freedom demanded sacrifice.

By the time the castle gates came into view, Seonghwa's heart was pounding in his chest, each beat reminding him of the risks. He wasn't just fleeing the castle—he was leaving behind everything he had ever known. The rigid expectations, the suffocating traditions, the cold, distant faces of courtiers who saw him as nothing more than a pawn in their games of politics. Even his father, the king, treated him like a tool, not a son.

Seonghwa reached into the bag slung over his shoulder and felt the weight of the gold coins he had taken from the royal treasury. Just enough to survive. He knew his disappearance would be discovered by morning, but by then, he would be long gone.

The guards at the gate were half-asleep, leaning on their spears as Seonghwa passed by. His heart skipped a beat, but they didn't give him a second glance. He had spent years mastering the art of blending in, moving through his own home like a ghost when he needed to escape the suffocation of his life.

As he stepped onto the cobblestone streets of the town, Seonghwa finally allowed himself to breathe. The kingdom's capital city, Silverport, sprawled out before him, bathed in the early morning mist. The air smelled of the sea, salty and fresh, mingling with the scent of freshly baked bread from the nearby market.

For the first time in his life, Seonghwa wasn't being watched. No eyes followed him as he wandered down the narrow alleys, no whispers trailed behind him as he passed. He was just another traveler, another shadow in the bustling port town.

Freedom.

Silverport was alive with the sounds of merchants setting up their stalls, the clatter of carts, and the distant cries of seagulls circling over the docks. Seonghwa moved quickly through the streets, eyes scanning for something—anything—that could get him as far away from the kingdom as possible. He had no destination in mind, only the desire to escape the invisible chains that had bound him for so long.

He thought about what he could do in this new life. A life where he wasn't bound by royal duty or the expectations of others. Seonghwa had been trained in combat since he could hold a sword, and not just the ceremonial kind of training reserved for royals. He was deadly with a blade, an expert archer, and quick on his feet. But fighting wasn't what he wanted. He wanted peace, a place where he could simply live without the weight of the crown pressing down on his shoulders.

A fisherman? A shopkeeper? Perhaps he could find work in one of the many taverns or inns that lined the harbor. The idea of such a humble life thrilled him. He could be anyone he wanted now. No more titles, no more obligations.

Seonghwa had just turned the corner when the sight of the harbor stopped him in his tracks. The sea stretched out beyond the docks, endless and glittering under the soft light of dawn. Ships of all sizes bobbed in the water, their sails furled, waiting for the day's journey to begin.

He walked closer, drawn to the sight of the ships swaying gently on the tide. For a moment, he entertained the thought of boarding a merchant vessel and simply disappearing across the ocean. It would be the easiest way to leave without a trace. He could stow away or pay for passage if necessary, and by the time anyone realized he was gone, he would be in a new land, a new life.

But as he neared the docks, something else caught his attention. A ship—larger and more imposing than the others—loomed in the distance. Its dark hull and massive sails set it apart from the merchant vessels. A pirate ship.

Seonghwa's pulse quickened. Pirates were feared across the kingdom, outlaws who lived by their own rules, free from the constraints of kings and laws. They were everything he had always wanted to be—untethered, wild, unafraid of the consequences.

He could hardly believe the thought that crossed his mind. Could he? Would he dare? The idea of boarding a pirate ship, of leaving behind the prince's life and becoming part of something so dangerous, so completely different from anything he had ever known—it was as terrifying as it was thrilling.

He needed to know more. Seonghwa walked toward the ship, his eyes scanning the crew that milled about on the dock, loading supplies and preparing for their next voyage. They looked rough, hardened by the sea, but there was something captivating about them. They moved with a purpose, a confidence that Seonghwa envied.

He edged closer, his gaze lingering on the ship's name etched into the wood: The Black Siren. A fitting name, he thought, for a ship that would carry him far away from the life he despised.

Seonghwa stayed hidden in the shadows, watching the crew and listening to their conversations. From what he could gather, they were preparing to leave soon. His heart pounded in his chest as the realization set in—this was it. This was his chance.

He could feel the weight of the gold in his pocket, the promise of a new life just within reach. All he had to do was take the first step.

Tomorrow, he would approach the captain. Tomorrow, he would leave Silverport behind.