Crimson Crown

⌠7⌡

"My Prince, I really don't feel comfortable taking you out at night without a guard, are you sure you don't want to call at least one-"

"Taking a guard means too many witnesses, and they may inform my parents or others of what I'm up to. My father wants the war to go on naturally and my mother wants to end the rivalry at any cost; therefore I have no choice but to take this on alone."

Jinyoung left his palace a little after midnight, recruiting BamBam to ride him to the edges of Alveras. He let no one else know he was leaving the palace, using a path out that is rarely guarded.

BamBam sounded just like Youngjae, worrying way too much about his plan. He admittedly didn't think it fully through, but exactly how far ahead could he possibly think about a plan leading him into parts of the kingdom he's never ventured before.

"What if we are ambushed?" BamBam asked as he pulled on the reins of their horses.

The steeds stopped just outside of a familiar shop, dim candles illuminating the inside of the small structure near the town's market center.

"If we are, we'll be prepared. Why do you think I'm stopping at Jaebeom's first?" The prince retorted while stepping off his carriage, fastening a jingling sack to his waist. "Wait for me here, it'll be only a few minutes."

Jinyoung walked toward the front door of Jaebeom's shop, giving the wood a few hard knocks. It only took a minute or two for the door to swing open.

Out stepped Jaebeom into the doorway, his brows lifting upon Jinyoung's presence. He smiled, mockingly bowing.

"My my, the prince finally shows up after ditching his party. What happened?"

"I had something to attend to." Jinyoung replied, gently nudging Jaebeom's arm as he stepped into the shop that doubled as the blacksmith's humble abode.

The bottom half of the building was fixtured with various tools and machinery that Jinyoung had little knowledge of, while the second floor was outfitted to be his living quarters. It was quaint and simple, but Jaebeom gets his job done, else he would have no place to dwell or such a renounced image.

"I need my sword sharpened." Jinyoung announced, turning to pull his blade out of its holder fastened around his waist.

Jaebeom hummed, staring down at the gleaming blade being presented to him. "At this late hour? You should be fucking someone not preparing for battle."

"Unlike you, I haven't met anyone who's caught my fancy yet."

Jinyoung watched as Jaebeom took the sword, swiping his finger along its edge. It was still sharp enough to cut, as Jinyoung rarely used his weapon, but he wanted it even sharper for this occasion in case thing went awry.

The blacksmith chuckled at the prince's comment, gesturing for him to follow as he walked through his workshop. "Youngjae told you huh."

"Well, he didn't say much, actually."  Jinyoung replied, leaning against a wall as Jaebeom put on a metal mask in preparation to work. "You were drooling over him all night and I can read my childhood friend's subtle signs of interest with ease."

"He is impossible to read. I only knew he was interested in me after I grabbed him by the waist and sucked his tongue." Jaebeom sat down on a small wooden stool before a machine structured with wood and holding a large circular stone. He pumped his foot onto the square wooden pedal of the contraption, the stone beginning to rotate.

"Well, you left a lot of evidence on his skin. You do know he is a royal servant, right? Such relationships in the workplace with royalty present is unprofessional."