Precious ◈ | Seongjoong/Yungi ✓

Episode 8: Dazzling Light in the Wind ◈ Part 2

Queen Hajung thrashes about in her bedroom. Just hours ago, she was informed of the firework disturbance in the outer courtyard and the break-in of the royal garage. Mingi is gone. The soldiers claimed to see three individuals riding away on stolen motorcycles, but it was difficult to tell if one of them was the prince.

Hajung knows, though. It's obvious. Once again, The Wonderland has taken her son from her. She screams and screams and screams. Her eyes are bulging out of her skull in a hungry craze. She throws her pillows and rips clothes off their hangers. Her attendant stands at the door, frightened into a statue.

A hairbrush flies in the air and cracks the vanity mirror. Staring at her shattered reflection, Hajung swears she sees a ghostly figure behind her. She can't tell who it is, man or woman. They infuriate her all the same. Snatching a bottle of perfume from the table, she twirls around and hurls it.

"Go away!"

But it hits nothing and breaks on the floor.

She breathily giggles in staccato, her mind discombobulated into oblivion. She's just trying to make the world a perfect place like her father taught her. Nothing is going her way.

Why is she in so much pain?

"Will you tell me now why you want to keep her?"

In the guest room, Yunho and Mingi prepare for bed. Yeosang asked to sleep somewhere else so as not to third-wheel. Yunho sits up on the mattress and pouts as the prince slips on a shirt. Turning off the overhead light and leaving the lamps, Mingi climbs into bed wearing Yunho's clothes.

"Mingi," Yunho calls for a response.

Mingi purses his lips pensively. He pushes Yunho to lie down and collapses atop him. Pressing his cheek into the latter's chest, he finally admits, "I didn't want another tragedy to happen."

Yunho naturally plays with the prince's hair and inclines his head. "A tragedy?"

"My mom is the way she is because of all the insufferable and gross abuse she received from my grandfather when she was a child. I don't know anything about my grandmother, but she didn't seem to be in the picture. Mom had nobody to help her, and the abuse broke her. She's weak while pretending to be tough. Ignorant but acting intelligent.

"There was nothing parent-like about the way my grandfather treated her, and in turn, she flipped that same treatment onto her own kids. She wasn't born an awful person, she was made one. I got lucky. I didn't turn out like her. And when I saw Baram all dirty and beaten running from a person she can't even consider a father, it reminded me of my mom.

"I had this thought that saving her and giving her a lucky break like I had would, in a way, be the closest to redeeming the past. Nobody protected my mom, and I can't do anything for her. But I can do something for Baram. She won't be broken. She won't harm others as a result of being hurt herself. She'll grow up surrounded by love and proper nurturing.

"Mom spread her pain, so I'll spread my love," Mingi says.

Yunho smiles, his heart swelling with pride and admiration. Mingi has grown so much as a person despite all odds. It's fascinating and inspiring. It's impossible not to love this man. Yunho thinks he's the lucky one to get to hold such an amazing person in his arms.

He can't think of a more beautiful response to handling trauma. After hearing that explanation, Yunho is determined to help every step of the way. Mingi has already spread his love to him.

"I love you like crazy," Yunho proclaims.

Mingi laughs and snuggles into him. Someone softly knocks on the door, bringing the sweet moment to a pause. The prince rolls out of bed, not minding the stinging in his back, and waddles over.