⤷ king's desk

@♡ lee kiyong ᵏᶦⁿᵍ his brother’s doubt on the counsel and ministers was understandable. who knew if some of those old men were still in contact with their parents who were in exile? it was also highly likely that they were trying to get rid of him this early. a prince who was deeply loyal to the throne — to his siblings — would definitely be a thorn on their sides. more so now that he was a “prized possession” by the generals. kangjoon was an untouchable. if he had garnered the ire of some officials, he could only blame their neverending greed and desires for greater honor.

the younger male could feel his brother’s emotions seeping through the stillness of the air between them. kiyong’s gaze weighed so heavily onto kangjoon’s shoulders. the seriousness in his tone was impossible to miss. before the king could even delve deeper into such brutal thoughts, kangjoon was quick to put on a placating smile, albeit one that did not reach his ears, as he approached the table. “fret not, your majesty. i shall make sure to come home unscathed. if then, the spread of those rumors would only benefit us, should it not? my presence would make our enemies wary once i appear on their doorstep.”

as kangjoon stopped just a foot away from the furniture, his face turned somber once more. “say — how many men should i fetch for you, my king?”

@♡ lee kangjoon ᵖʳᶦⁿᶜᵉ kiyong's eyes changed to cold one after hearing the question. not that he was mad at his brother , but more like he's mad at how the rumors has started and it's escalated to another kingdom, especially to their nemesis. kiyong sighed after. "it's probably someone from our home. I think there's a backstabber within us, either royals or the ministers that spread the rumors."

kiyong looks up at his brother tho he knows how kangjoon was born with special abilities. "I will find the culprit so you don't have to worry about it, I'll find them and finish them off for you. also for that, I fear that you might have to finish the task alone. do you think you'll be okay with it ?" asked him full with concerned.

@♡ lee kiyong ᵏᶦⁿᵍ it seemed that kiyong was exasperated by the pyrolith queen's. his brother could feel the tension on his shoulders, the way he held his posture, his jaw tightening at every tirade that left his lips. the air around them prickled with the intensity of his brother's emotions and despite his efforts to temper them, his worries and opinions of the matter at hand were still palpable.

kangjoon merely stood still, his grip on his cane tightening at the weight of the man's words. a life for his presence? it was quite a preposterous idea. but alas, the prince has only ever heard of the other royalty's exploits - and it seemed that he had fallen victim to the scrutiny that was awaiting him in the other nation.

still, something nagged at him at the back of his mind. "lapdog," he repeated. the word seemed to foreign on his own lips. it was odd to call yourself out, was it not? "dare i ask how such a rumor fell unto their hands?" it was a valid question. as far as kangjoon was concerned, no one outside the military ever referred to him as such. "and. . .what should i do? is this task mine to finish alone, my king?"

@♡ lee kangjoon ᵖʳᶦⁿᶜᵉ kiyong's brow furrowed as kangjoon's direct query pierced the air. the weight of his responsibility as king bore down on him heavily, the burden of making decisions that could shape the fate of their kingdom resting squarely on his shoulders. he straightened in his seat, the gravity of the moment palpable as he considered his response.

"kangjoon," kiyong began, his voice carrying the weight of both authority and concern, "your loyalty to the crown has never faltered, and for that, i am grateful. but the task i must ask of you now is no ordinary one. i require you to journey to pyrolith, where the flames of animosity between our kingdoms burn bright."

the tension in the room seemed to thicken as kiyong spoke, his gaze unwavering as he met kangjoon's eyes. "the queen, in her insistence, has made a demand that i cannot easily dismiss. she wishes to see her lapdog, to lay eyes upon one she deems loyal. and yet, the price of this audience weighs heavily upon me."

his words hung in the air, heavy with the knowledge of the risks involved. pyrolith was not simply an adversary; it was a land teeming with hostility. sending kangjoon into such territory was not a decision to be made lightly.

"but it is not only the dangers of pyrolith that give me pause," kiyong continued, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation. "the queen's demand comes with a promise—one that binds me to an agreement i cannot easily break. in exchange for this meeting, she has pledged to return the prisoner from geonova, a promise made to the people i am sworn to protect."

kiyong sighed again. "I give you my word," he said, his voice unwavering. "you will return within ten days, or I will come for you myself. I promise to bring you back, safe and alive — whatever it takes."

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@♡ lee kiyong ᵏᶦⁿᵍ "captain, why do you think his majesty calls for you? reckon, he's needing updates for the recent raid? we did not lose lives did we. . ."

kangjoon laughed, the sound reverberating against the winding halls of the castle. he could vaguely see an image of his vice-captain to his left, his frantic silhouette matching the worry in the man's words. though, indeed, the raid was quite successful, perhaps the man just echoed the anxiety that brewed within the prince's chest. alas, his friend has bested him again. still, kangjoon has never allowed anyone to worry for him. in fact, everyone knew he detested such sentiments. as far as they are concerned, their captain was a very capable man; his sights were the only bane to his existence.

"the king has already been informed, my friend. i assure you that perhaps this is another matter." an important one maybe, he thought.

the duo crossed a short bridge connecting the main hall to kiyong's office. kangjoon could hear the sounds of spring singing through the open (glass?) windows that enclosed the area. for a moment, he smiled ruefully, thinking that it could have been a beautiful sight to see if only the images before him were as vivid as the ones in his dreams. thankfully, the sadness never got to him for his short reverie was interrupted by the guard's announcement of his arrival. kangjoon waved a hand, signaling his vice-captain to stay put. after all, he has been told that this meeting was only for his ears only.

his cane was his only companion as he entered the vast room. he had been here too many times before, an audience to his father's whims even then. however, kiyong has long since organized the place to fit his own needs and kangjoon pivoted his heel towards his right, following the heaviness of his brother's build that echoed through the pristine marbled floors. he stopped just a few meters away from kiyong's desk and stood firmly as a soldier would.

"my king, you needed me?" kangjoon's query was direct. he did not waste any time. "how may i be of service?"

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@♡ lee kangjoon ᵖʳᶦⁿᶜᵉ kiyong let out a deep, heavy sigh, his frustration palpable in the air around him. "that woman is nothing short of a lunatic," he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief and anger. "how could she so callously take the lives of my people as if it were some form of entertainment for her?"

his thoughts swirled with a mixture of anguish and fury at the mere notion of her actions. the very idea of someone reveling in the suffering of others ignited a fierce fire within him, one that threatened to consume him whole. with each passing moment, his blood boiled hotter, fueling his resolve to take action against this heinous injustice.

he couldn't simply stand idly by and watch as more innocent lives were senselessly extinguished. no, he had to do something, anything, to put an end to this madness. If she expects him to send kangjoon to save their people, then so be it. as long as she promises not to harm him or the prisoners.

if she dared to break her word, if she dared to lay a single finger on kangjoon or any of the captives, there would be consequences. consequences that he would deliver personally, consequences that would make her rue the day she ever crossed him.

"your majesty, your grace, prince kangjoon is here," the announcement got kiyong to take a deep breath. "let him in."