FIRE

FIRE 07

"My King. Mother Queen."

The Mother Queen slightly shook her head from her place at the King's royal bed. "Royal Advisor Shim. I see you're back from your leave but your King still need his rest. Surely the Kingdom's business can wait for a little while."

Changmin was quick to bow. "Forgive me, Mother Queen. I brought news that the King's been waiting for."

"What-"

"Mother Queen, leave us!"

"My King!"

"Forgive me Mother Queen but please!"

Shocked at her son's plea and the sudden vigour in his eyes, the Mother Queen nodded. It seems the news that the Royal Advisor brought with him is related to the King's sudden ailment. Whatever it is, she could only pray it is good news for after losing her husband to his old age barely five full moon ago, she doubted she can handle the loss of her son as well. Most importantly, Bakura will surely crumble should anything happen to their beloved king now.

"I understand." She gracefully took her leave then, wishing the King a quick recovery.

As soon as the Mother Queen disappeared from his sight, Yunho ordered the rest of his guards out as well and hastily beckoned his Royal Advisor closer. "Tell me."

"He wore a veil to cover the lower part of his face. He's been hurt on his face bad enough to leave horrible scars or so I heard. He's also slightly limping. And I am sorry to tell you this My King but the man also wore your necklace."

Broken-hearted can't even begin to describe the look on the king's face now. It is as if his last string of hope had been cut and burnt. "You saw it?"

"Only slightly, my King. It's almost hidden in his clothes but the Crown Prince of Yani was definitely wearing the crest of Bakura on his chest."

Yunho laughed then. The sound resembling cries more than laughter as he stared unseeingly at his Royal Advisor. "My love will not part with my gift."

Though it pained him, Changmin nodded in agreement. When the news broke out that the Crown Prince of Yani survived the attack a full moon ago though with severe injuries, the King and him had been waiting with bated breaths for the confirmation. It is only a few days ago that the Crown Prince of Yani finally revealed himself to his people after having been treated and extremely guarded in the palace all this time that even the best of Bakura's spies cannot see him in person before. Thus the reason the King had personally requested him to set for Yani to see for himself.

Disguised as a commoner, he could only watch from afar yet Changmin knew it is not him even before he noticed the necklace. The man posing as the Crown Prince of Yani looks out of place there and his suspicion is confirmed the moment he saw the outline of the familiar crest. There's no way Crown Prince Jaejoong will wear it so openly. Changmin doesn't doubt the prince's love for his King but the proud Crown Prince of Yani will not let himself wear the mark of another kingdom in his own kingdom. Though he will not let it leave him, he respected his people too much to do that. That's the kind of man Crown Prince Jaejoong is. Was... To have another man owning the precious gift could only mean one thing. "Condolences, my King. I am deeply sorry for your loss."

His King straightened immediately. His fiery eyes more terrifying now than ever. "Yani will pay for this. They will pay! I will make them tremble until their very last breath as I burn that kingdom to ashes!"

"My King!"

"But Yani will be the last, Changmin." And when the King call him by name like this, Changmin knew he's expected as a friend and no longer a subject. He simply need to listen. There's nothing else he can do. "I will conquer the rest of the world as they wait for their turn in fright and horror." His voice turned cold and colder. "And when their turn come, for you know it will come one day, Yani will tremble and shake under my wrath! And his murderers will pray they never laid a hand on my love then! They will beg and beg as I personally skin them alive, Changmin. I will tear their limbs one by one and savour the sound of their sweet cries! They will suffer in my hands, I will make sure of it!"

And Changmin knew from that moment on, he'll no longer serve a human. My poor King...