【♡кιηg σғ нεαятs - ησяεηмιη♡】

⤅ 𝓕𝓲𝓿𝓮 ⬻

"Jaemin, we need to talk." Renjun sighed as he approached the man with a frown. That one line kept repeating, like a broken record, the scene vivid as if he was there all over again.

The cool grey walls of the prison, the man in the corner of his cell, clutching his daughter in his arms as he cried.

"What am I going to do?"

"Okay. Go on." Jaemin said from where he sat in his throne, his head resting in his palm as boredom filled his gaze.

"I... I took Jeno out last night...." Jaemin listened silently as Renjun described the events of the night before, explaining the story about Jeno's almost orphaned daughter and now presumably dead brother, Haechan. Jaemin didn't know why he felt pity and guilt flood him as he imagined what Renjun described to him. He nodded slowly as Renjun finished explaining and sighed, looking to the ground as he tried to come up with an answer. They already had one child roaming the palace, was it really a good idea to add another? Not that it mattered to Jaemin. After all, he barely ever saw his own son, what difference would another make to him?

Jaemin sighed when Renjun finished.

"What do you want me to do Renjun? I'm not going to let him go. Not after all the trouble he caused." Renjun gave a small huff.

"I don't know! Just... Help him somehow. Please.." Jaemin rubbed his temples and shook his head.

"What if I allowed him and his daughter to remain in the palace, only under one condition. Jeno must work as a servant under my command, doing whatever work I tell him." Renjun nodded.

"Thank you so much sir-"

"But he will still be killed." Renjun's face fell and the color drained from it. He nodded slowly and bowed, whispering a small thank you to Jaemin before heading back out of the palace, back to the prison.

"Hey, Jeno!" Renjun said excitedly as the youngers cell came into view. The smile on his face became fainter when he saw the cell. Jeno was sitting crisscross on the floor, his daughter kneeling before him with her back to him. He hummed something softly while he ran his fingers through her perfect, silky hair. He smiled distantly as he began to braid it, Renjun watching with admiration. This was his first time seeing such a tight bond between father and daughter, and it was beautiful. The humming stopped and he continued to braid her hair, not even turning to acknowledge Renjun's presence.

"Isn't my daughter beautiful Renjun?" He asked suddenly, his voice soft. Renjun nodded. "She's so beautiful and smart and kind. You know that Andy? You're so perfect.." Jeno whispered as he wrapped a small ring of cloth around the end of the braid to keep it in place. She giggled and stood up, running in circles for a second before standing in front of him with a smile.

Renjun didn't miss how Jeno's eyes sparkled with pride as he looked up at her. It was beautiful.

Andy ran back over to her father, giggling as she sat in his lap and began to mess with his hair.

"Jeno.. I have some good news for you." Renjun whispered. He hated ruining the moment but if he let Jeno out of the cell then they could probably have so many more 'moments'.

"What is it?" Jeno asked, his voice still soft. It was strange to hear him speaking like this now considering how they met, Jeno's sharp tongue firing retorts and inquiries. Now he just seemed so...

Alone.

"I-I spoke with the king about you and your daughter." He began. Jeno looked up at Renjun, his daughter still messing with the fluffy hair atop his head.

"And?"

"He said that you and Andy could be released, but only if you will finish your prison sentence working as his servant. You must do as he says no matter what and... And.." Renjun paused and looked away from the two, unable to see Andy as he uttered the next words. "He still wants you to be executed.." Jeno nodded slowly, a small smile forming on hus lips as he looked down at Andy.

"Well, at least we get out of this cell." He said. Andy giggled again and