Desire ◆ | Yungi

Episode 4: Wilting Rose ◆ Part 2

They finally made it to the next town by midday the following week. Yunho rolled his eyes at the distressed sounds of Mingi behind him. The redhead was sweating buckets, and his shoulders were sore from lugging around the bag.

"Your lack of stamina is incredible," Yunho said.

Trying to catch his breath, Mingi shook his head. "Your never-ending stamina is a bigger problem. How are you not tired?"

Yunho glanced at him. "The training regime in the royal military. But who said I'm not tired? I just have better endurance."

"Then, can you share some?" Mingi frowned.

Yunho ignored him. "Stay here. I'm going to see if there's somewhere we can stay, or if the military activity is too high."

"You're going to leave me here?"

"You survived the last few times," Yunho shrugged.

"But we're right next to the town! What if a patrol comes by?" Mingi worried.

The elder took the bag and hid it behind a tree, saying, "Then run. I'll be able to find you."

Before he could get away, Mingi grabbed his elbow to hold him back. His gray eyes were round with fear. He mumbled, "Promise?"

Yunho lost himself in the prince's eyes for a moment. As if he was being sucked in, he couldn't find it in him to say no. It was like guarding a child. Yunho had killed children in the past, but he suddenly felt guilty while gazing at Mingi.

His fist clenched. He disliked the remorseful tower being constructed in his heart. Breaking away from the redhead's grasp, he nodded reluctantly. "Sure. I promise."

Mingi finally let him leave, his shoulders sagging fretfully. Anxiety coursed through his veins. He had a terrible gut feeling.

He bounced on his feet, too antsy to sit still against the tree trunk. While Yunho was gone, Mingi took the time to analyze their predicament. So far, Yunho has taken care of everything. The redhead only made things worse when he tried to help.

I really am incapable, huh? No wonder everyone always called me dumb.

Based on the environment he grew up in, it had become natural for Mingi to belittle himself. If anything went wrong, it was his fault for not comprehending fast enough. He was too slow-witted to be of aid to anyone. He allowed himself to be captured by bandits, not fighting back at all.

And yet it was one of those bandits who insisted on doing the fighting for him. Yunho might be mean to him, but he wouldn't give up on him either. That made him dependable, and oh, was Mingi a dependent individual. He had already latched onto Yunho's support like an infant crying for food from his parents.

An hour passed, and the ravenette still hadn't come back. Mingi bit through his bottom lip, but he was used to the metallic taste of his own blood. It often came up his throat whenever he was whipped at home.

I want to shower... He randomly thought.

Something rustled in the forest nearby. Mingi perked up hopefully. "Yunho?"

A stranger in dirty clothes came out of the trees. Several of them did. Mingi stood up in a panic. These guys were certainly not Jeong Yunho. Palpitations crowded his heart.

"Oh? Is that His Highness? From those posters," a man inquired.

"That's right, I heard he was missing!"

"That reward money is mine!"

"As if! We're splitting it!"

One of them walked forward. "Come along, Your Highness. We won't hurt you. Let's get you to the soldiers."