Mirror

Chapter 4: Fires of Restraint

In the weeks following the latest mural, Dunk's defiance had only grown. The city's unrest rippled outward, each mural a bolder declaration than the last. Joong tried to contain the outcry through palace announcements and patrols, but the city's spirit was unyielding, and the voice of its rebellion was unmistakably Dunk's.

Late one night, Joong ventured out, his footsteps uncharacteristically quiet as he arrived at the site of Dunk's newest creation. It was a mural painted on the side of a modest inn, depicting a figure standing before a dark, looming fortress, staring up with a gaze that defied any threat the walls might hold.

Joong felt an unsettling pang as he studied the work. He knew the mural was a taunt—a challenge directed squarely at him.

"Admiring your kingdom's true face?" Dunk's voice came from the shadows, cutting into Joong's thoughts like ice.

Joong turned, meeting Dunk's steely gaze. "You're reckless. Do you think a few murals will be enough to change anything? You're wasting your talent."

Dunk crossed his arms, a cold smirk tugging at his lips. "You're right. My paintings alone won't topple your palace, but they show the truth. Maybe someday, people will stop kneeling and start fighting."

Joong clenched his jaw, his calm exterior beginning to crack. "I'm not blind to the kingdom's issues, but there's a line between progress and destruction. Your actions could tear Reindale apart."

Dunk's gaze hardened, and he took a step closer. "You royals are all the same. You claim to care about change, but when it comes down to it, you're too comfortable to risk anything real. And that's why I'll keep painting, whether or not it makes you uncomfortable."

For a tense moment, they stood inches apart, eyes locked in a silent battle. Joong's usual composure faltered, and he felt something unfamiliar—an urge to bridge the gap between them, to push Dunk past this frigid, guarded distance. But Dunk's icy stare was unyielding, and Joong forced himself to take a step back, his pride prickling as he realized that no amount of reasoning could reach him.

"Do what you will, but don't forget who holds the power here," Joong replied, his voice cold.

Dunk's gaze didn't waver, his defiance as steady as ever. "Maybe it's time someone else did."

---

Meanwhile, Pond found himself lingering outside Phuwin's small shop, feeling the weight of the unspoken feelings that had simmered beneath the surface for too long. Each visit had only deepened his quiet yearning, and today, he decided he had to at least try to reach Phuwin, to express what had been left unsaid.

When he entered, Phuwin was sorting herbs, his expression as cold and detached as always. He barely looked up as he acknowledged Pond's presence.

"What do you need today, Your Highness?" Phuwin asked, his tone as clinical as the herbs he was handling.

Pond hesitated, his words catching in his throat. "Actually, I came to... talk. Not about medicine."

Phuwin's gaze flickered up, his eyes unreadable, as if the very idea was unthinkable. "I'm sure you have more pressing matters than chatting with a shopkeeper."

Pond took a shaky breath, pressing on despite Phuwin's coldness. "Phuwin, I've come here more often than necessary, not just because I need your herbs, but because... because I care about you."

Phuwin's expression remained impassive, as though the words had no effect. "That's unwise, Your Highness. Your station demands more than simple affections, especially with someone of my standing."

Pond's heart sank, but he forced himself to continue. "I know you think this is foolish, but I don't care about titles or traditions. I just want to know if... if maybe you feel the same."

Phuwin's gaze hardened, his tone clipped. "You're mistaking kindness for something it isn't. You've always been a dreamer, Pond, but dreams like this only lead to disappointment. If you value our interactions, you'll keep your emotions in check."

The words cut deeper than Pond expected, and he found himself unable to meet Phuwin's gaze. He nodded, forcing a polite smile despite the ache in his chest. "Of course. I apologize if I overstepped."

Phuwin didn't respond, already turning back to his work, and Pond left, his heart heavy with a cold finality that told him Phuwin had no intention of softening his resolve.

---

Elsewhere in the city, Fourth and Gemini shared a rare moment of laughter by the river, each finding comfort in the easy friendship that had grown between them. But as they settled into a quiet rhythm, Gemini's expression turned distant.

"Is something wrong?" Fourth asked, sensing Gemini's sudden tension.

Gemini hesitated, glancing at Fourth with an uncharacteristic seriousness. "Fourth, I need to ask... why are we friends? I mean, you're a prince. Shouldn't you be spending your time with people who... fit your world?"

Fourth frowned, surprised. "I don't think like that, Gemini. I choose my friends for who they are, not where they come from."

Gemini shook his head, a bitter smile crossing his lips. "But that's the problem, isn't it? You have the luxury of choosing. People like me don't get that choice. If anyone found out, they'd judge us, and I'm not sure it's a risk worth taking."

Fourth felt a pang of hurt, but he reached out, grabbing Gemini's arm with a gentle firmness. "I don't care what people think. Our friendship is real, and I won't let anyone take that away from us."

Gemini looked at him, the hardness in his eyes softening for just a moment before he pulled away, his voice barely above a whisper. "Then be careful, Fourth. Because sometimes, what's real isn't enough."

Gemini walked away, leaving Fourth alone with the uncertainty lingering between them like an unbreakable wall.

---

Back at the palace, Joong found himself at odds with his council. Despite his arguments for implementing new policies to support the struggling towns, the council dismissed him with calculated indifference, citing tradition over progress. Frustrated, Joong stormed out of the meeting, Dunk's words ringing in his mind. Dunk's accusations, harsh as they were, felt like a strange mirror reflecting Joong's own fears—that he was a prince bound by chains of his own making.

As he wandered the palace halls that evening, Joong returned to the mural Dunk had painted weeks ago, the one that had sparked this unrelenting tension between them. The mural depicted a figure standing firm in the face of a storm, unafraid and resolute. Joong clenched his fists, feeling Dunk's silent challenge once more, daring him to stand for something beyond duty.

---

As the days passed, Joong found himself caught between tradition and the unfamiliar pull of Dunk's defiance, while Pond silently mourned the cold distance Phuwin had placed between them. And Fourth, for all his usual confidence, was left questioning the strength of his bond with Gemini, wondering if friendship was enough to bridge the gap between their worlds.

In Reindale, the prince and the commoner, each with their guarded hearts and uncertain paths, found themselves standing on the edge of change, bound by duty and drawn by desires that threatened to unravel the delicate fabric of their lives.