The Black Prince & The White Prince

White Dinner

"It was all our fault for retreating and letting you go alone."

"Please forgive us."

Baekho was bewildered by the knights asking him for forgiveness and apologising. He thought with the month gone, they would have moved on.

"You came back for us even when backup didn't. You truly saved our lives."

"I didn't really do anything," Baekho said awkwardly, having to recall his memories of holding back an entire army but now that he thought about it, he could tell Minhyun went really easy on his people. Most of them came back alive and they didn't try to kill him either even though he was the only one there. Maybe Minhyun had already ordered them to keep bloodshed at a low level.

"That's not true!"

"We heard you were at the Pink Rabbit kingdom a few weeks back but when we went there to find you, you were gone again."

"Uh..." That's right. No one really knew he was actually stuck with the Black Fox's prince for a month. He rubbed his neck, trying to get himself out of this situation. "You went to find me?"

"Yes. A few of us did since the king and queen were too busy to gave us search orders."

He thought so. "Thank you... I didn't think anyone tried finding for me."

"That's not true! We all respect you very much and were at such a loss when we came back to an empty battlefield. We thought you were dead and tried searching for your body. Until we heard news of you at the Pink Rabbit kingdom. We were so glad to hear that you were still alive."

Baekho felt his inside twitch. He felt like a terrible person. He had thought no one bothered searching for him. There may only be a few of the knights but they still tried. He smiled widely, trying to show that he was fine. "No, really. Thank you. But I'm back now... so... That's something, right?"

They nodded and bowed. "We just wanted to thank you and apologise. If you ever need any help, please don't hesitate to find us." Baekho nodded and waved to them. He wasn't sure why he still felt a little empty despite knowing the fact that he wasn't as alone as he thought he was.

Minhyun... That's why. He only longed to see Minhyun now. Everyone else didn't seem to matter. He breathed in and tried to tell himself that that wasn't true. He did care about his people but it had just been awhile so he didn't know how to feel. He got out from his room and wondered what he could do to waste time.

He regretted exiting his room when he got caught by his tutor. Unlike his brothers who had gone pass the phase of being tutored, Baekho still had one since he wasn't good enough but this time, he tried his best to catch up on what he missed. Maybe... Maybe by proving to his parents that he could be just as good as his brothers, he would have a chance to take over the throne too.

When dinner time came, it was almost breath constricting. His parents didn't talk to him, instead they were discussing about the future of the kingdom together with his brothers. He silently ate his food, feeling awkward and left out. Even though he used to know this feeling well, he felt as though the time he spent with Minhyun were more well spent. Maybe it was their little chats or maybe just the fact that they acknowledged each other. Either ways, he wanted to just leave the table and eat in his room but he couldn't. He could still feel his brothers keeping an eye on him as though they were prohibiting him from doing something stupid again.

"Maybe we should send Baekho to a boarding school." That caught his attention as he turned his head to the brother who said that.

"Why? He has a tutor already," his mother said, finally realising that Baekho was back with them.

"But it doesn't seem like it's helping him much. He's already 25, mum. You can't keep pampering him."

"But he's not even a candidate for king."

That tipped the lid off for Baekho. "Being smart isn't the only thing needed as a king." He had stood up as well. "And don't talk about me as though I'm not here." He grumbled and stormed off to his room. Screw this. It was always the same. Them belittling him and talking as though he wasn't there. He wondered how Minhyun was. He knew Minhyun probably had it worse than him. That thought alone kept him from thrashing his room that night.

The next day wasn't any better for both males. If anything, things kept spiralling out of control. Minhyun had came out from his room to perhaps go to the library. He had come across his sister in the hallway, yelling at some maids.

"You're all useless and pathetic! I told you not to stain my clothes so many times." She lifted her hand, ready to hit them. Minhyun was shocked and his body reacted faster than his mind. The moment she brought her hand down, he stood in front of them. Her swing coming into contact with his face instead. He stumbled back a couple of steps, almost falling. The maids gasped and quickly caught him.

"And what's my pathetic excuse of a brother doing? Protecting these garbages who can't even do their job well?"

Minhyun stood up and sighed. The look on his face was just pure exhaustion since he didn't have a proper sleep from his nightmares. "You don't have to hit them just for that. Your blows are much too painful."

"So? At least they'll learn their place and probably do their job properly for once."

Minhyun glanced at the terrified maids. He was terrified too but he couldn't possibly show it. "Still, if you hurt them, they might not be able to do their work anymore."

"You're totally just asking for it, aren't you?" His sister smirked and grabbed him by his shirt. She started dragging him away. He knew what she was going to do and could only brace for it. He had to keep it in like he used to. No one could help him like he helped them. That was when he glanced back and motioned the maids to go back to their duties. The maids bowed in apology before scattering away.