Hwasun One shots

Kingless

"Come now, knight. Would it kill you to relax a little?" Hyejin teased, coming to stand before her guard

Another night, another ball, another drab evening watching royals (half of which she couldn't even name) drink all of her wine and drunkenly throw themselves about. In all honesty, Hyejin couldn't even begin to bother herself with remembering which princess's birthday it was this time, or which kingdom was celebrating the birth of their newborn.

It wasn't her birthday, and she sure as hell didn't pop out a child recently, so why bother? All she needed to bother herself with was making the locals happy and that seemed to be working out just fine.

One local, however, remained as stoic and still as a statue as ever. One might not have even given her a second glance if not for the minute shuffling ever so often.

Chainmail wasn't exactly subtle.

The older woman had been in the Evil Queen's guard now for about a year. At only thirty years of age, Hyejin laughed, outright cackled in the blonde's face when the blonde demanded to become part of the Queen's army. She, like many others, were brought in originally as prisoners of war. Most were executed, others spared depending upon their skillset. When the woman muscled her way through four leather-clad guards and stood tall in the face of Queen Hwasa, Hyejin's stomach fluttered in... anticipation? Excitement? Regardless, the brunette couldn't keep the smirk from stretching across her face.

No one, no one had ever dared stand before the Queen with such defiance. No... that wasn't right. It wasn't so much defiance as it was confidence. This commoner, this plebian was demanding a spot in her guard, her personal guard.

This would prove to be interesting.

"And to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" Hyejin drawled, eyebrow lifting, the amusement clear in her voice.

The blonde stood tall. "Kim Yongsun, your majesty."

And with determination lighting the woman's eyes, who was Hyejin to deny such eagerness?

Besides, she was quite the specimen; short, black hair, all lithe and lean muscle... And if she did happen to betray her? Well, that was easily remedied with a swift swing of her blade or flick of a wrist.

Weeks had gone by and the knight proved her worth, outperforming several of the men within her rank. Those weeks of bravado turned into months of honed skill and loyalty and soon enough Yongsun had wormed her way along Hyejin'sside as a permanent fixture (as well as her front, behind, sometimes even along the walls... but I digress).

And so we find ourselves back at the ball, where the soft sound of metal clinking together draws the queen's gaze to the short haired woman beside her. With an over exaggerated sigh, Hyejin leans back further on her throne, one elbow resting on the armrest and gingerly holding a glass of wine, the other haphazardly laying over the other side of the chair.

Yongsun stilled, eyes glancing to her side where Hyejin practically lounged like a cat and as noticeably bored as one. Hyejin caught her guard's stare, a playful smirk curling her lips as she lifted her glass and took a sip of wine. Yongsun inhaled sharply as the queen, clearly putting on a show, darted her tongue out to lick the remains of her drink from glistening lips.

Yongsun swallowed. Hard.

Grin never faltering, Hyejin purred. "Mm, delicious." She sat the goblet back on the side table and stood. Bright brown eyes followed the movement but Yongsun remained at attention. So what if the hands resting on the pommel of her sword tightened to a death grip when Hyejin leisurely stretched, back arched and chest out for the whole kingdom to gawk at.

Because they're not for the kingdom to gawk at, damn it. She just had to wear that red dress...

A soft chuckle brought Yongsun's attention back to her queen's eyes giving her a knowing look, a warm blush colouring her cheeks.

Shit. Caught.

"Come now, knight. Would it kill you to relax a little?" Hyejin teased, coming to stand before her guard.

A black brow rose at the question, Yongsun's brain working to come up with some witty retort before she settled on straight up bluntness. "Probably," the guard replied. "Likely it would kill you too. That's rather the point, isn't it? I relax, some charming, baby-faced noble comes and slips something into your drink without my noticing..."

"Baby-faced noble, hm? That does sound rather tempting." Hyejin laughs at the sudden scowl marring Yongsun's face. "It was a joke," she says, holding out a hand. "I'll risk it. Dance with me."

Yongsun blinked. "Hye—" she stutters, catching herself, "your majesty?"

The brunette rolls her eyes, hands resting on top of her guard's on the sword as she leans in, lips but a breath away. "Please, Yongsun-ah. Do you honestly think I care if these peasants find out I'm bedding one of my guards?And who are you to disobey your Queen?"

The blonde's face slackens, the scent of sweet apple wine tickling her nose. "'Bedding one of your guards'? That's... that's what this—"

Hyejin lifts a finger to Yongsun's lips, silencing her. Her voice grows softer, fonder, as she speaks only for the woman before her. "No, my love. You know that's not all this is." Dark eyes flutter from Yongsun's to her parted lips and back again. "But that's what they'll see. That's all they ever see. Queen Hwasa can't love, only conquer." Hyejin puts some space between them then, jaw clenched and eyes hardening. "Because who would believe that l, Queen Hwasa capable of anything other than hatred?" She lets out a bitter laugh, mood officially soured by her melancholic thoughts.

But Yongsun knows Hyejin. Knew from the moment they met when she was given a second chance at life instead of being sent straight to the gallows that there was more to the so-called Evil Queen Hwasa than death and destruction. She knew there was something more when the queen began asking for her personally during court sessions and meetings with the nobles.

She knew when Hyejin kissed her months later under her father's apple tree, whispering sweet words against her lips about "love" and "soulmates," and Yongsun kissed her back with declarations of devotion.

And she knows now, standing before her queen who looks so defeated, so dejected by her peers that if she truly were evil, she would not look this distraught over rumors and anecdotes.

Yongsun smiles then, lifting her sword to carefully sheath it at her side. She removes her gauntlets, setting them on the table beside Hyejin's forgotten wine and takes a step forward, closing the distance between herself and the Queen. Hyejin doesn't look up until Yongsun's calloused, warm palm cups her cheek and tilts her head up ever so slightly so she can see the love and affection shining in chestnut eyes.

"I love you. I will always love you until my last breath." Yongsun ducks her head so their foreheads brush together. "And I know you love me. Damn whoever tries to say otherwise." She places a chaste kiss to the queen's lips. "Honestly, Hyejin-ah," Yongsun starts in jest, doing her best to mimic Hyejin'searlier words, "do you think I care if these peasants find out I'm bedding the so-called Queen Hwasa?"

The younger woman huffs, sounding much like a scolded child as she leans into the blonde's touch. "Are you questioning my merit, knight?" Hyejin teases. "Because you clearly have no idea what I'm capable of."

Yongsun chuckles, hands going to Hyejin'swaist as she begins to gently sway them to the tune resonating from the violin in the background. "Never, my queen."