Precious ◈ | Seongjoong/Yungi ✓

Episode 6: Sleeping Souls Dwell in the Deep ◈ Part 2

A couple of grueling days later, Mingi finds his clothes folded neatly in a chair by the door. The golden pendant is lying on top, perfectly intact. He blinks curiously. Who snuck into his room and put these here?

Afraid to lose them again, he tucks his pirate belongings into a corner of his closet. He hides the pendant under his current shirt, praying that his mother doesn't notice. Wearing it keeps him grounded and guards his willpower.

It's his last bit of strength.

Begrudgingly heading downstairs for breakfast, he bumps into the female attendant on her way out of the dining hall. Her face is bruised. She bows respectfully and offers him a secret smile before scurrying down the hall.

Oh. Now he knows.

Mingi watches her leave and sighs. However she retrieved his items, it came at a cost. Thank you.

He enters the dining hall, bowing his head halfheartedly toward the Queen. Then, he grabs his plate and sits as far away from her as he can. Unfortunately, it's not far enough.

During family meals in the past, before and after his father's death, he always did the same thing. That young boy was scared to sit next to his own mother. It was almost quiet, too. Nearly zero words were exchanged at mealtimes. Food prepared with the finest ingredients tasted foul.

Even now, Mingi much prefers Wooyoung's cooking. Whether in a good mood or a bad one, he puts his heart into each dish. Those same dishes are served to a table full of warm and boisterous people. People with personality. People with love.

Hajung eats like nothing is wrong with this contrasting picture. "Mingi, will you finally tell me what The Wonderland is up to? What is the captain planning?"

"No," Mingi mutters and nibbles on a few grains of rice. It's not like he knows at this point, nor will he divulge the information he does.

"I don't want to send you to the dark room again. You've visited every day since your return," Hajung threatens.

"Then, why do you do it?" the prince blurts. They both freeze, surprised by his question. Mingi looks up and gazes across the fancy table.

All of these years, and he's never asked why. The bare minimum he understands is that his grandfather supposedly did the same things to Hajung.

Did he break her that badly, or is her soul still salvageable?

She stammers, her true weak self peeking through for a moment. "B-Because... Because... Because? Your grandfather said this is how things are to be done. Yes! Everything is right and perfect. Just perfect."

Mingi knits his eyebrows. What a peculiar sight. It's as if the woman is glitching. Did his question perturb her mind to the point of dysfunction?

Hajung abruptly rises from her seat, startling him. "There's something important I must attend to. We're still in the middle of a war. Enjoy your breakfast. Ah, we'll properly resume your succession lessons this evening. I can't leave the kingdom to you in your current state."

Mingi blinks twice while she disappears. He's not sure what just happened, but it made him nosy. What was her childhood really like?

Sitting in her bedroom, Hajung is plagued by uncontainable twitches. Her body is jittering like a glitchy screen. She unfurls the curtains on her king-sized canopy bed; it gives her the illusion of inner peace, something she has never truly had all her life.

Mingi's question has seemingly disturbed her to the brink. Déjà vu hits her again, just like in Kwon Minhyuk's prison cell. However, this time it's almost uncanny how similar it feels. Perhaps it's because her son said it, and the person he reminds her of is none other than his father.