Seabound-SKZ

Chapter Thirty

Chan headed back to the palace, dreading the morning, but dreading seeing his mother and-oh god he would have to speak to Sunhi, who didn't want this marriage either. And her parents, and her brother, and the entire kingdom, since word had spread so fast from the mayors who had gone back into the villages and immediately told everyone what they had seen. it was an unfortunate thing, especially for the reputation of the royal families, but he knew his mother was glossing it over as best she could because god forbid she comes across as a less than perfect mother. 

He got to his room, breathing a sigh of relief when there was no one inside it waiting for him, he flopped onto his bed, a soft smile spreading across his face as he thought back to the confessions and-he kissed them, they liked him, they were something, he wasn't alone anymore, well, not completely. He ended up just laying there for a while, unable to fall asleep with the whir of emotions swirling around his head, he cuddled into a pillow, just as he was drifting off there was a knock on his door, his eyes snapping open again and Jinyoung entered as quietly as he could.

 "Sir?" He whispered, taking Chan's hand to pull him half out of bed, Chan rubbing his eyes of sleep, "Yes, Jinyuoung?" He asked, he could see the sun beginning to rise on the horizon, but it definitely wasn't late enough for Jinyuoung to be here waking him up, his advisor looked stressed as he sat on the bed next to him, "You are in danger, Chan. Your mother and the Kims' are very upset with you right now, especially the king. you tarnished our kingdoms perfect reputation, your mother is considering..." he trailed off, Chan tilted his head, "Considering what?" he asked, Jinyoung hesitated, "She told me that you fell in love with a boy, or boys' I suppose," 

Chan flinched, expecting he would get hit again but Jinyoung only smiled at him, "It's okay, Chan. but it isn't with her, you are in more danger then you think. She told the Kims' as well, and they aren't happy. they want you gone, Sir. they say if you aren't gone by tomorrow morning then they'll...take matters into their own hands..." Jinyoung frowned, trying to find words, "they say it'll be the end of peace between the two kingdoms." He placed a hand of Chan's shoulder, "You have to run, my prince. I'm sorry this has happened to you."

 Chan felt more tears pricking at his eyes, he refused to let them fall, this was his home, no matter how awful it was all he had ever known, he had always known he would be the king one day, and now that was gone, he had to leave his home for the good of his people, "I...okay, I'll leave." he whispered, not trusting his voice to speak louder. 

Jinyoung had helped him pack a bag, "You should stay for breakfast, say goodbye to Violetta. She was distraught, she had the unfortunate luck of coming into the room to find her father while they were all talking about forcing you to leave, as well as your deadline is tomorrow so you're safe for today." Chan nodded, he would love to at least say goodbye to Violetta, the little girl had somehow taken a liking to him and he would hate to leave without giving her one last hug.

"You should take your horse when you leave, it will be easier," Jinyoung said, way too casually for what was happening right now, Chan nodded again, he was at a total loss for words, never had he expected this would happen in his lifetime, having to leave the palace. he wondered what the civilians would be told, who would be the new heir? his mother had no other children, nor any close family to inherit the throne unless she was planning on giving it away outside of the family.

He wound up in the great hall, everyone in it staring him down, their ice-cold gaze making him want to shrink back, he noticed Sunhi avoiding eye contact, but as he passed her on his way to Violetta he heard her whisper an "I'm sorry," he felt sympathy for the girl, she only wanted to live her life, just as he did. 

He reached Violetta quickly, not having to stop to talk to anyone else anymore, the girl rushing into his arms, he scooped her up in a tight hug, he would miss her the most out of anyone, he had only known the little girl for a few weeks but she had quickly wriggled into his heart, with her too-big dresses and flower crowns, he would miss her bright smiles and how they would play hide-n-go-seek or tag, getting in trouble with the adults when they knocked over statues or got drenched in the fountains. 

Violetta squashed her face against his chest, he held her for a moment before releasing her, he could feel everyone's eyes still on him but frankly, he couldn't bring himself to care, he smiled at her, allowing the girl to poke his dimples before he stood and patted her head gently before he left, Violetta going to her father for comfort. 

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He headed to the stables to grab his horse, first stopping to say goodbye to Jinyoung, who looked slightly teary-eyed and red in the face, but the advisor never let his emotions breaking into his voice, still as steady as ever as he helped Chan set up his horse and pass him his bag they had packed together, a few keepsakes from his father, clothes, food, and his crown; when Chan had asked why Jinyoung had packed the crown, he was being forced to leave after all, but his advisor only smiled at him and said: "Just in case," and Chan didn't press any farther. 

Jinyoung hugged him before he left, giving him a letter and telling him to open it later when he found somewhere to stay, they had come to the decision that Chan should probably lay low for a while, just while the queen tried to smooth over the situation, making sure she always came out to be in the right, before he would try to get on a boat and get out of the kingdom, all the while keeping in touch with Jinyoung just in case he ended up in trouble. 

Chan took one more look at the palace, breathing in deeply before he turned and left the one place he had ever known behind.