He was there. He was really there. Hajung still can't believe her son was in front of her after three years. Not only that, but he was defying her. In his eyes, is she nothing but a villain?
No, that can't be the case. Those pirates have thoroughly brainwashed him just as she has brainwashed herself. The illusion shattered into a million pieces that day, yet she insists on gluing them back together. That's what will get her through this war she is starting.
Don't let those hooligans walk all over you anymore. Strike like a venomous snake.
A soft knock on the door to her study startles her more than she wants to admit. A female attendant close to her age bows respectfully. Her silky black hair is patted back into a tight updo with a crystal brooch. "Your Majesty."
"What is it?" Hajung drawls.
Tiptoeing further into the study, the attendant relays an important message. "We've received word that the pirates of Gimpo Island are attempting to flee after several confrontations. What are your orders?"
The Queen stares straight ahead with cold, dead eyes. "Don't let them escape. Kill every single one. Let this be the first battle."
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
With a look of pity, the attendant bows once more and hurries out of the room. Like every other palace employee, this woman secretly scorns the tyrannical crown. However, nothing can be done to stop her. The servants and officials are all stuck in the routine built by fear.
Perhaps some even hope for the pirates to win this war; a fierce fight between two evils. As much sickening propaganda they hear and spread about the sea-dwellers, it's not too difficult to pick out the lesser evil.
Yunho sits at his workstation in the workshop with a pen, swiping through the projection floating in the air. Digital blueprints pass by his eyes. He scrutinizes 3D sails, wings, and oars that are up for debate between him and the chief inventor. Several other ideas that Wooyoung and he drew up are also on the table.
"Come in," he calls after hearing a knock at the door. He smiles before he can stop himself once the orange hair steps in.
Mingi quickly strides over and admires the projection computer. Sure, he saw plenty of high-tech devices in Seoul Palace, but the way the pirates have expanded on the technology never fails to amaze him. He envies how smart Wooyoung and Yunho are. Yeosang is intelligent, too, although a bit slow to pick up on situations.
The prince can at least relate to him in that way.
"What are you working on?" Mingi asks. Resting his hands on his boyfriend's shoulders from behind, he's instantly filled with comfort.
Yunho sighs while putting down his pen. "Wooyoung wants to build some upgrades for the ship. Redesign the sails, new wings to move faster... He even said something about rocket motors."
Mingi perks up excitedly. "That sounds so cool!"
"Ha, yeah, except where are we going to get the materials to build boosters like that? Doing this means we have to stop somewhere to find the stuff, which is risky considering what we're facing," the swordsman huffs. They're not bad ideas, but it's hard to go through with them.
"Well, I'm sure if you work something out with the captain, you'll find a way. Upgrades will really benefit us, won't they?"
Yunho turns his head and glances up with a small smile. "They will," he hums.
YOU ARE READING
Precious ◈ | Seongjoong/Yungi ✓
FanfictionSeonghwa has fully accepted his role as the "Pirate King's lover" and his new lifestyle aboard The Wonderland. Yunho and Mingi are finally together. However, a new label has been given to their conflict with the Tyrant Queen: war. While taking on th...
