Take me home | Seongjoong

No Goodbyes

Seonghwa sat at the window of his chamber, watching the grey clouds roll in over the palace gardens. The weather matched his mood perfectly—a storm on the horizon, inevitable and unstoppable. His conversation with Minho the night before had ignited something within him. The flicker of hope had turned into a flame, one that now burned with resolve. He wasn't going to stay trapped in this gilded cage. He wasn't going to bow to his father's rule, no matter how hard they tried to bend him.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Before he could respond, the door creaked open and in walked Imkwan.

Seonghwa felt the air grow heavy as the older man entered the room. Imkwan was always a cold presence, his eyes sharp and calculating, his posture rigid as though he were a walking embodiment of the King's power. He carried the weight of the King's commands like a shield, and in many ways, he was as much a symbol of Seonghwa's imprisonment as the walls around him.

Imkwan closed the door behind him, the click of the lock echoing through the room. He stepped forward, his dark robes flowing behind him, the lines of his face hard as stone. Without invitation, he took a seat across from Seonghwa, his gaze never leaving the prince.

"You've been quite the disruption lately, Your Highness," Imkwan began, his tone even and measured. "I've come to speak with you about your... recent behavior."

Seonghwa's jaw tightened, but he remained silent. He knew this conversation was coming. Imkwan had always been the King's enforcer, the one who delivered his father's ultimatums with cold precision. But Seonghwa had no intention of backing down. Not anymore.

"You seem to be under the impression," Imkwan continued, his voice like ice, "that you have some choice in the matter. That you can rebel, defy the King's will, and there will be no consequences. That you can somehow... escape this."

Seonghwa's lips twitched into a smirk. "Maybe I do."

Imkwan's eyes narrowed, his hands clasping together in his lap. "You're a fool if you think that. A naive child who doesn't understand how the world works. Your actions have consequences, Seonghwa. You may not see them yet, but they are coming."

Seonghwa leaned forward, his gaze hardening. "You think I don't understand? I understand perfectly. I understand that I've been treated like a pawn my entire life—used and discarded when it suits the King. I understand that my father is a tyrant, and you are nothing more than one of his lackeys."

Imkwan's jaw tightened, his expression darkening, but Seonghwa didn't stop.

"You can give me all the warnings you want, Imkwan. But you don't scare me. I've made my decision. I'm going to leave this palace, and I'm going to get Hongjoong out of those dungeons. And when I do, we'll be back on the Black Siren, and you and my father will never see me again."

For a moment, Imkwan said nothing, his eyes scanning Seonghwa's face as though searching for any sign of weakness. But Seonghwa refused to break. He had spent too long cowering under his father's rule, too long bending to the whims of men like Imkwan. No more.

Imkwan finally sighed, though the sound was more a hiss than an expression of weariness. "You truly don't understand, do you? This kingdom—this world—does not bend to your will. You think your little rebellion matters? That you can somehow rise above the weight of the Crown? You're nothing, Seonghwa. You were born into this life, and you will die in it. Whether you like it or not."

Seonghwa felt a chill run down his spine, but his resolve remained steady. Imkwan was a cold, ruthless man, devoid of empathy, motivated only by power and the safety of his own position. Seonghwa could see it now—he was one of the people fueling the King's rage, feeding his father's worst impulses. He was the voice whispering in the King's ear, encouraging violence, fear, and control. He wasn't just an enforcer; he was part of the reason Seonghwa's father was the monster he had become.