황실의 사랑 이야기 (Hwangsil-ui Sarang Iyagi) - The Imperial Love Story

Chapter - 2

After Hwang In-Yeop dragged Hyunjin home, the atmosphere in their small but cozy home was thick with tension. Their father's voice echoed in Hyunjin's mind, scolding him for causing a scene with the prince. As he sat on the wooden floor of his room, he couldn't shake off the embarrassment that gnawed at him.

Hyunjin leaned against the wall, staring out the small window as the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon. The soft glow of twilight enveloped the village, casting long shadows across the ground. He felt utterly defeated, not just for angering the king but for being so easily provoked by someone he had barely known. Why did it matter? Why did it feel like he had lost something precious in that moment?

Just then, the door creaked open, and his younger brother, Hwang Nisimura-affectionately known as Riki-bounded in, followed closely by their sister, Hwang Yeji. Riki was a lively boy with tousled hair and an infectious smile that could lighten the heaviest of hearts. Yeji, on the other hand, was calm and thoughtful, with a maturity that often belied her young age.

"Hyung! Why are you sulking in the dark?" Riki asked, his voice bright and full of energy. He flopped down next to Hyunjin, nudging him playfully with his elbow. "Did you lose a fight or something?"

"It's nothing," Hyunjin muttered, refusing to meet their gazes. He felt a mixture of annoyance and affection for his siblings, but he wasn't in the mood to explain himself.

Yeji settled beside Riki, her expression a blend of concern and curiosity. "It can't be nothing if you look like that, Oppa. Did something happen at the training grounds?" she pressed gently, her tone soothing.

Hyunjin sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I just had a little run-in with the prince, okay?" he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Prince Yongbok?" Riki gasped, his eyes wide with excitement. "Did you actually talk to him? What did he say?"

"More like we yelled at each other," Hyunjin snapped, annoyance bubbling back to the surface. "He thinks he's so special just because he's royalty."

Riki leaned in closer, clearly fascinated. "What did you say? Did you call him names? You should have told him to stop looking down on you!"

"Riki, hush!" Yeji chided, glancing at Hyunjin with a worried frown. "You know it's not wise to provoke a prince, even if he is annoying. You don't want to get into more trouble, do you?"

"I don't care about that!" Hyunjin shot back, frustration lacing his voice. "He treats me like I'm beneath him just because of my family. It's infuriating!"

The room fell silent for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words. Hyunjin's heart raced as he recalled Yongbok's piercing gaze and the way he had challenged him. A strange mix of anger and something else simmered beneath the surface.

Yeji placed a comforting hand on Hyunjin's shoulder. "You know, sometimes it takes a little time to understand someone. Maybe he's not as bad as you think."

Hyunjin shook his head vigorously, dismissing her words. "He's just a spoiled prince who doesn't care about anyone but himself," he replied defiantly, though a small part of him wondered if that was true.

"But he's a prince!" Riki exclaimed, still wide-eyed with admiration. "You have to admit that's pretty cool! I'd love to be a prince. You get to wear fancy clothes and have all the best food."

Yeji chuckled softly, shaking her head at Riki's naïveté. "It's not all about fancy clothes and food, little brother. There's a lot of responsibility that comes with it."

Hyunjin looked away, still sulking. "Yeah, well, I don't want any part of it," he muttered, crossing his arms defiantly.

Riki leaned back, resting his head against the wall as he pondered. "Maybe you should challenge him again! Show him that you're not someone to mess with!"