LOVE ME LESS ۞ taegyu

* 36

it was too bright.

soobin squinted his eyes at the harsh glare of the sun, basically pleading him to wake up. he glanced to his side and forgot that kai wasn't beside him.

it wasn't bright. it was dark. soobin doesn't like the dark, but then again, he's facing it every day.

he sighs and got up, walking to another tent to get food and check on the queen, who was already awake and eating breakfast.

“ah, soobin, you're early today,” she commented as she sips her coffee, her scarred hands showing through the holes of her long-sleeved sleeping gown.

soobin shrugs and sat in front of her, “as i should be. i have to protect you properly now that the war is underway.” he replied, grabbing an apple and eating it. yeonhee smiles softly and passes a mug to soobin with coffee that she made herself.

“you know that you don't have to go to this extent to protect me. i know how to do so.”

soobin isn't too sure of that.

“your majesty, with all due respect, you are not a moon angel and had a lover who was one. i believed that she tried to teach you, but it was too difficult.” soobin drank the bitter coffee despite dreading the said drink and put it down, “and, as far as i remember, your rapier was broken by beomgyu-ssi as a child.”

yeonhee laughs heartily at soobin's comment and smiles fondly, “ah, yes, the broken rapier.  it has indeed been a while since i've touched a weapon— unless i bless one— and have forgotten to defend myself.” she rises from her seat and brushes her hair and ties it in a low ponytail while talking, “i will let myself be trained by you and moon angels in order to defend myself and my son— only if you want to. regardless of your choice, i will fight along with you.”

soobin looks up from his mug and smiles at her rather meekly, “ah— well, about that..” he scratches his nape in nervousness, “will it really be alright to you? after all, you've seen me act rather..unkindly to the knights i've trained in the past.”

“who cares about that? your ways were effective, far more effective than a general's. i once visited albion to meet a hot-headed blond man with thick eyebrows and green eyes who constantly babbled about being late to his tea time. he has since been removed from his position by princess alice, due to the requests of lea and the people, as they were close allies with albion.”

soobin laughs at that. he remembers the tone of annoyance from lea at one of her letters when the news broke out about the general being exiled. good times.

“ah, i-is that so, your majesty? well then, i must prepare for the training,” soobin got up as well and was about to head out of the tent, and looks back at the queen, “i'll probably tell one of the knights to come to fetch you when we're ready. there are many eligible mentors who are useful assets, and i have to meet them all.”

yeonhee smiles and nodded, letting soobin on his way to wear his armor and, on the way to meet numerous moon angels, saw taehyun who was dressed rather casually, and greeted him with a nod.

“good morning to you as well, ser choi,” taehyun greets back and walks with him.

“are you coming with us to the training? it would take us all day though, if you wouldn't mind.”

taehyun considers this and nodded, humming, “ah, yes. maybe i could help. there's many rookies that we need to help for today, and maybe a few more days afterwards.”

soobin smiles widely at that, displaying his famed dimples that would have definitely contrasted with his blank, expressionless face he usually has when he's in a rather serious stance. taehyun appreciated the man's relaxation with his presence.