The Crown Prince (Taegi AU)

chapter 2

"Greetings to your highness," Taehyung bowed down on his knee to show respect.

"You may stand." A deep yet soft voice came from the other side of the veil.

What Shao Lan said was indeed true, the crown prince wasn't accustomed to showing his face to anyone and there was indeed a veil attached to his headpiece, hiding away his face.

Taehyung couldn't help but glance at the crown prince every once in a while. The aura, this one man emitted was in no manner lesser than that of a king. He couldn't help but admire this crown prince.

'Impressive. Certainly very impressive.', Taehyung thought.

"I am not a man who likes to talk in circles nor am I a man with high patience." The voice resonated within the courtroom once again. "And I am certainly not a stupid fool."

"Of course your highness, This prince is well aware of his majesty's greatness."

"Then tell me, why have you come here?"

"For that question...... I have two answers, one that pleases you and one that pleases no one. Which one would you prefer, your highness?"

"What if I ask you to tell me both the answers?"

"Then I'd naturally follow your orders and answer them both," Taehyung spoke with that never-changing soft smile. "I have come to offer myself to your highness. My services, my status, my excellence, and my body, they are all yours from now on, and in exchange, I ask for nothing but peace. May your highness be merciful and spare our kingdom."

"I'm guessing, that's the answer which was supposed to please me?"

"Your speculations are correct, your majesty."

"Spill it. What's the other answer?"

"........I'm prince Taehyung, who's here under the orders of the queen. Sent as a hostage to prevent our two countries from going into war."

There was a bone-chilling silence in the whole courtroom. Fear lingering in the atmosphere. Fear-stricken Shao Lan didn't even dare to gulp down his own saliva.

"You are lucky, young prince." The crown prince spoke up, piercing through the silence. "I had planned to behead you the moment you said something unpleasant to my ears. But both your answers are honest and pleasing, one is covered with empty flattery and the other is straightforward. Congratulations."

"I'm delighted to gain your kindness, your majesty."

"Rest assured, If I haven't killed you yet, it means I have no plan of killing you even in the near future so words like hostage...... There's no need for such a title."

"Thank you." Taehyung bowed down

"But remember this. If I came to know that your mission here was to plot against me, I wouldn't blink an eye before beheading you with my own sword."

"This prince is well aware and would not even dare of thinking about such things."

"Ah! And please change the way you address yourself."

"Eh......? Sorry but I don't understand what your highness is referring to?"

"You are no longer the prince of your kingdom. Naturally, I would not make you give up your title and live an ordinary life as my citizen, that would be too disrespectful."

"Then... What is my lord suggesting?"

Only a sharp sound of a sword being unsheathed was heard before Taehyung felt something heavy being placed on his shoulders.