Cinderella's Fate | 🤍 seongjoong 🤍

Chapter 49

Narrator's POV

    Jongho stepped out through the tall palace doors, ready to call for the car that would take him to the royal family's private home. He had planned to meet with the king and queen in private to discuss the situation, the entire mess that was unfolding. But before he could even take a few steps into the surrounding palace garden, he stopped.

The king and queen were already there.

    Jongho was panicking internally, of course. But after years of training in combat and palace etiquette, he was a master at maintaining a calm exterior. Although, he would admit, he'd never be as good at it as Yunho.

    The royals stood near the main gates, surrounded by several of the city's highest-ranking nobles, men and women dressed in expensive robes, dripping with jewels and pride. They stood tall, noses slightly raised, as if simply being near the palace was a favour to the crown.

    These were the same nobles who barely acknowledged the royal family unless it suited them, the same ones who constantly pushed the prince to marry someone of their choosing, hoping to gain power or change royal laws to serve their own interests. To them, titles and wealth were everything, and now, they acted as if they owned the palace.

    Jongho made his way toward Their Majesties. The king looked tired, his shoulders heavy with stress. The queen stood beside him, her hands tightly clasped and her jaw tense. She tried to appear composed, but Jongho, who had served her for years, could see the cracks in her mask.

She was clearly furious, and not just because she was a night owl.

He bowed quickly, respectfully but not too low.

"Your Majesties."

The queen didn't waste a second.

"Where is he?"

"In the east wing," Jongho replied, slightly taken aback by the sudden question. It told him just how much Their Majesties already knew. "Still unconscious, but stable."

But how had that information leaked?

    The king gave a single nod. Together with the queen and the nobles, they made their way into the palace. They headed straight to where most of the guards were gathered, outside the prince's office, standing guard so he could recover in peace.

   When they arrived, Hongjoong was resting. Still pale, a faint bruise coloured the side of his head. His body hadn't fully recovered from the sleeping herbs, and whatever else had been used on him. His parents rushed to his side immediately, while the curious eyes of the nobles dared not step into the room under the sharp glares of the guards.

Then, as if on cue, Hongjoong stirred. His eyes slowly opened.

The room tensed instantly.

    The nobles stepped forward, already whispering among themselves. Their opinions were loud even in hushed tones, full of judgment. They began commenting on the prince's appearance, dissecting the situation without knowing anything.

Hongjoong blinked, confused by the sea of eyes staring at him.

"Prince Hongjoong," said one of the older nobles, "you have much to answer for."

The queen was having none of it. She raised her hand sharply, silencing him.

"Not yet. Let him breathe."

    That quieted the snobbish man quickly, and straightened the rest of the nobles, who knew full well that provoking the royal family could lead to consequences, if not civil war.