A Desire for the Moon

Side 3

"No."

Namjoon was a little confused. He had made a lengthy plan of how both of them could get a week off. But Seokjin outright denied his leave application.

"I don't get it." Namjoon went around the table, "Why are you refusing this?"

Seokjin turned in his chair with a smile, "Because there is a very special ceremony next week. And a surprise for you. So, we can not go next week."

Namjoon tilted his head, "Surprise?"

Seokjin got up from the chair and shrugged. He smiled with his hands in his pockets, "Surprise."

Namjoon caressed Seokjin's cheek, "You are making me anxious."

Seokjin laughed, "There is no need." He kissed the hand on his cheek, "And I am sanctioning a holiday for the week after. Start packing."

Namjoon sighed with a smile, "Okay."

A lot was going on from the moment Yoongi had shared the news with Namjoon. Namjoon was a bit antsy. It wasn't because of the news itself but the problems that would follow. The requests stated in the official letter were ridiculous. Seokjin would have definitely accepted them all, even if it was for political reasons. He didn't want Seokjin to make a forced decision.

So, there he was, standing behind Seokjin as Seokjin greeted people at the party. Namjoon still didn't know what the event was about. All he knew was that it was something very important. It was weird that he wasn't informed about the event as the emperor's chief royal guard. Though the announcement wasn't public, Hoseok had given him the responsibilities completely and officially stepped down from the position. The event was carried out in the main ballroom. The ballroom was reserved for special occasions. The common folks were allowed in the event by selling the tickets for limited spaces. Since the prices were nominal, the lines to get tickets, both online and offline, were insane. There were occasional scuffles in the physical line, but nothing the soldiers could not handle.

The ballroom had a huge chandelier in the middle surrounded by many small ones. The pillars were draped in red silk, and huge pots planted with roses matched the red silk decor. Pearl white tablecloths sat on the tables, arranged for the guests to sit. They had vases with white roses in the centre and white plates according to the seating arrangements. The red on the pillars complemented the white tables.

"We are ready to start." Yoongi lightly whispered to Seokjin. Seokjin wore a dark red-pink three-piece suit with a dark cyan cape attached to his shoulder by a golden chain. He was wearing various rings on his fingers, along with a golden watch that matched the chain around his shoulder. To Namjoon's surprise, he was also wearing the crown. The very crown that Seokjin thought was heavy. The crown was made of pure gold, devoid of any gems or expensive stones. It was the very first crown that Seokjin wore after becoming the emperor.

Namjoon, on the other hand, wore the official uniform for the royal guards. A white shirt with a white coat. There were elaborate epaulets on his shoulder with black marks that signified that he was the chief royal guard. There was a decorative golden chain that draped across his chest and ended on the front of the jacket. A large medallion hung on his left chest featuring a light blue gemstone. A white full-length drape was fastened to his shoulder. It had a contrasting black interior, creating a shadow-like figure.

Seokjin nodded a little. He excused himself from the crowd to sit on the throne placed in the centre of the ballroom. Yoongi and Namjoon stationed themselves behind him. Yoongi wore a pitch-black three-piece suit with the empire's emblem on his left chest.

People were really confused to see Namjoon standing in place of Hoseok. The nosy ones started looking for Hoseok in the crowd and found him sitting with the ministers, who were lined up on either side of Seokjin's throne. As Seokjin nodded, Yoongi stepped forward.