long live the king - nct, markhyuck

♕ 27 ♕

the tanned male stayed silent, following mujin outside of the dungeon back to the surface and across the familiar corridors of the royal palace. the place was plunged in darkness, making donghyuck understand that they had to be in the middle of the night, and no guards seemed to be roaming around this part of the palace.

"where are we going?" donghyuck asked in a hushed tone, looking at his surroundings to make sure no guard appeared.

"the kitchen." mujin replied first. "you need to work your magic and cook something for his highness."

the prisoner blinked in confusion. "h-his highness? you mean m-mark?"

mujin continued to lead donghyuck, turning around a few corners before reaching the doors of the kitchen.

"he has been starving himself ever since... well..." the royal guard stopped talking, giving donghyuck a quick glance, still not sure whether recalling him of the events of a few days prior would help him to think straight.

"oh..." donghyuck seemed to understand immediately. "yeah, i get it..."

"so..." mujin cleared his throat. "so, his highness has barely been eating, and i was thinking that maybe you could cook something for him and bring it to him. that would perhaps help him."

donghyuck stared at his fellow villager with a brow raised, waiting for a few seconds before actually answering.

"i'm not sure he'll be pleased to see me." the tanned male sighed, the words hurting him badly. "and even less with food considering the past they have with poisoning..."

"you're not, but i am." mujin replied immediately. "there is no other way that i could think of to make him eat."

"i don't think that- "

"donghyuck." mujin cut his words, placing both hands on the peasant's shoulders. "i find mark crying to himself in his room every night and i find him lonely and void of any emotion during the day." the guard continued. "he misses you, donghyuck. he does so bad, and that's what has been preventing him to eat."

the tanned male blinked, eyes suddenly becoming glossy and heartbeat accelerating inside his chest. he couldn't bear hearing how awful mark felt after what he had done. he couldn't leave the boy he loved like this; he couldn't let him starve himself to death when he still had so many things to accomplish.

"mark needs you, donghyuck." mujin sighed. "and more than just mark, the whole kingdom needs you. without you, there is no way to make mark feel better. and without that, there cannot be a good future for aes."

mujin must have been learning the art of persuasion in his training to become a royal guard. donghyuck couldn't understand how he had been this convincing over something that the tanned male was certain about if not.

the words from the royal guards having had their effect on the prisoner, donghyuck simply took a deep breath before pulling his sleeves up.

"so, what am i making?"

♕

standing in front of the royal's bedroom, donghyuck gulped loudly, the hand on which was placed the plate full of food shaking slightly.

"i'm not sure it's a good idea." the tanned male whisper-shouted to mujin who was standing by his side, checking the surroundings.

"i assure you it is." the royal guard answered on the same tone.