Everything is almost gone.

My people continue to suffer in this hellhole.

It is Dark, Cold and Evil.

They're the ones who rule over this place.

We have been ruled for far too long.

I promised that I would succeed in my mission.

No matter what it takes, if it's the last thing I do.

The Prince of Eℓyxion will be mine for the taking.

*

"My son the day is almost here!" The king yelled excitedly back at his son's reflection. Baekhyun looks at the mirror in front of him, he makes sure his eyes scan every detail, to his shiny epaulettes, to his elegant silver sash that intersects to the left and right shoulder, and the many more accessories he had on him. He never knew being king would come so fast. But, his father was of old age and would soon die leaving the only possibility the kingdom had... make him their king.

After awhile, both men staring at one another through the glass mirror. The king sets his hands on top of Baekhyun's shoulders turning his whole attention to the mirror, making full eye contact with his son. Baekhyun looks troubled, he figures. He's looking down at the floor and slowly scanning himself in the mirror. When he finishes, he meets his Father's concerned eyes, and lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Oh my boy, I know that face all too well, what's pestering you?" King Byun asked, very concerned.

"Father, I..." Baekhyun sighs, "This isn't me." It just wasn't him. "Baekhyun, we talked about this!" The king said, sternly. "You can't back out now."

"I know..." Baekhyun presses, "I have a duty to my people now."

"Correct." The King sighed, "You can't think foolishly, Baekhyun, the Masquerade Ball is almost upon us, everything has to be perfect."

As Baekhyun was about to talk, the King interrupted, "Also, I heard from some interesting sources that you almost got into a fight..?"

Baekhyun clears his throat. "No?"

"Baekhyun, we talked about this! Just simply ignore them!"

"How can I ignore the imbeciles if they won't stop bothering and harassing me?"

"And- What? They harass you?"

"Yes, Father, and I'm sick and tired of it all! I just want to go over and-"

"Okay, okay. Well, in that case..." The King hesitates, looking upon his son's growing smirk. "By no means will I be the one to permit the future king to engage in petty brawls. I repeat do not go around quarreling with those boys, they are in fact still your people. Baekhyun, you're going to be the King soon, and need to show yourself to the public as a leader, not a fighter."

"That's great." Baekhyun sighs. "I'll just send them down to our dungeon or something." He shrugs off with no care in the world.

Baekhyun could hear his father's low chuckle. It warms his heart. "We don't have a dungeon."

Baekhyun shrugs, "Then I'll order for them to make one. I want those bastards to suffer."

"Now, now, Baekhyun let's not think rash."

"I am going to be the King of Elyxion." Baekhyun says, in a matter-of-factly way, crossing his arms.

"And with it, comes great responsibility and humbleness." The King says, grabbing Baekhyun's arm closer to him, holding it against his chest, quickly dragging him after somewhere off to the corner of the room.

"Can't we just skip all of that?" Baekhyun whines, walking to wherever his father is dragging him.

"I mean, why do I have to be King?" Baekhyun turns to his father. "Can't Uncle Eunwoo do it?" The King looks back at his son, with a serious face. "Baekhyun, you know the law, the one who will succeed me has to in fact, and by law, be my son!"

"I hate that goddamn law!" Baekhyun makes a frown.

"Excuse me, language!" The King says, stopping to slightly slap against Baekhyun's cheeks. "I'm sorry. Jeez." Baekhyun says, caressing his cheeks to a normal cool. He turns his attention to his father who goes across the room to open one of his drawers, noticing that his father was having trouble with opening it due to his old age.

"Father, please-"

Baekhyun gets cut off with a hand up in the air. "It's a surprise," he sighs, "But alas, I'm of old age, could you please call for Kyungsoo?"

Baekhyun nods, walking to the door. Like magic, it's as if Kyungsoo knew he was called, and before Baekhyun could open the door, he came in worried. His whole face scrunching in pure worry for his master, his eyebrows furrowing, and mouth pursed tightly. "Your Highness, did you need me?"

"Oh, Kyungsoo, you funny lad," the King lowly chuckles. "I've always said you had a special power." He gestures Kyungsoo to come closer to him, then giving a glare back to his son. "Baekhyun, could you please step out for a while?"

Baekhyun bows respectively before leaving the rather large exquisite room.

"Kyungsoo." The king says, wobbly calling out for his well-trusted soldier, who has slowly become like his second son. Kyungsoo grabs his hands, pulling him softly to a nearby chair he had in his room. "Thank you." The King chuckles.

"It is my duty, My Lord." Kyungsoo gives him a soft smile. "Right," he pats Kyungsoo's cheeks like a loving father would do to his son. Kyungsoo presses his cheeks further to his warm hand in appreciation. "Could you please open that drawer for me?" The King tries to point at it, strolling over to it, leaving Kyungsoo to shake his head in disapproval. "No, My Lord, please describe it to me."

The King gave him a knowing look.

"Oh!" Kyungsoo comes to a realization. "The badge?" He questions, getting ready to carefully lift it from its glass cover. The King nods with a smile. "I believe that time has come Kyungsoo. Baekhyun is ready." Kyungsoo nods before walking across the room to open the door for Baekhyun outside who was already trying to eavesdrop with one ear pressed to the door, leading him to get startled from Kyungsoo's rough jerk to the door, almost falling face forward to Kyungsoo's amusement. Kyungsoo shakes his head. "You are needed with your father, Sir." He bows, then leaves.

Baekhyun enters the grand room with flushed cheeks upon getting caught. But when he sees what his Father has in hand, his eyes went wide. "Father?"

The king chuckles at his son's exaggerated voice, "Baekhyun, it's time. You're ready." Baekhyun shakes his head. "It was a special present to you from grandpa... I couldn't."

Baekhyun dreamed in having the shiny badge, that once upon a time belonged to his grandfather as the kingdom's hero. Sadly, Baekhyun's grandfather died when Baekhyun was at a very young age due to a drastic war between the "other side." The "other side" is rarely talked about with the kingdom's people. If they are heard mentioning the horrid place, usually used a lot to scare kids who would behave bad, they're strictly ordered to be examined as a possible spy sent directly from the "other side," or worse banished from Elyxion forever.

It is said they are all demons who want to destroy the utopian kingdom. The only time Baekhyun has the chance to talk about the "other side" is with his father, the king. But even so, in certain times, his father refuses about talking about "those horrible beasts". The ones who took the greatest warrior of our time and of course, his beloved father who he terribly misses.

So, now Baekhyun goes around curiously asking anyone completely random questions about his grandfather that they might have known. Some answer with exactly what he wanted or with a "No sir, I haven't met him, but I heard he was a great man."

And now that his father was giving him the one thing that was his only piece of memory with his own father was too much to bear. It was painful.

"Baekhyun, you're ready." The king repeats, placing the badge on Baekhyun's uniform. "Besides...," he stops to wipe a tear from Baekhyun's eyes, "I know he would've wanted you to have it." Baekhyun was touched. Should he accept it?

"Okay, how about this." The king said softly, placing a careful hand on Baekhyun's shoulder. "If you want, I will give you this heartfelt memoir of mine on the day of your coronation." The king smiles, in hearing his son's beautiful breathy laugh. "You just really want to see me cry, Father."

*

"My Lord, please allow me to go to Elyxion and get the prince myself. I'm strong and I know I'll succeed." Kris pleaded for his lord's permission.

"How many times, Kris?! Huh!" Chanyeol yells, "This is my duty. And I need to finish it alone." Kris cowers in fear, leading to Chanyeol to soften a bit. "I promise you that if I ever require of your assistance, I'll call you." Chanyeol sighs, crossing his legs.

"Um...I-I..." Kris stutters.

"What is it now, Kris?" Chanyeol hisses.

"I've...um...been meaning t-to ask you." Kris is internally cursing his idiotic self. Why does he have to stutter now? How embarrassing.

"Why do you insist on staying as a human form, day and night?"

"Aish, Kris...Why do you think?!" Chanyeol yelled in his deep low voice, scanning his fingernails annoyingly. "Uhh...," Kris said rubbing the back of his head, "Oh...ha. Right, I have seemed to have forgotten." Why did I come here again? Oh...right.

"I have to get used to this horrid appearance of a puny human, so I can learn how to charm the prince." Chanyeol sighs, "Seriously, Kris how could you forget?"

You make me forget everything...

Kris bows, "I am completely at fault here My Lord, and I apologize for my ignorance..." Chanyeol rolls his eyes at Kris's constant good manners. He lifts him up, with a caring hand from his chin. "Kris, you don't have to do that anymore, remember?"

Kris shyly stands upright. "I keep forgetting. I apologize." He winces when he apologizes yet again, but quickly changes his mood when he got to hear his boss's dreamy low chuckle. "Oh Kris, when will you learn?"

When I make you mine...Kris wanted to say, but instead responded with a nervous laughter.

*

"Good morning, Kyungsoo." Baekhyun greets at the kingdom's mighty soldier. "Good morning, My Lord." Kyungsoo says, bowing down respectfully. Baekhyun pauses in his steps when he hears the title that Kyungsoo just called him. "My Lord." He mutters lowly to himself.

He turns back with a smile. "Kyungsoo, you don't have to address me in that way." Kyungsoo bows in respect, yet again, "I'm sorry, My Lord, but the King has given me direct orders of addressing you in the appropriate manner and name. I can't disobey the King."

Baekhyun nods understandingly. "Well, I wouldn't want you to get in trouble, then." Baekhyun walks over to his room in the corner. Everything is going by so fast. My Lord, Your Highness, Sire.... It's too much. He's barely turning into an adult, incapable of holding those names to a high level of respect.

He hopes Sehun will be there. Sehun, his childhood friend, and his only love. The news came to him so suddenly, his heart broke into a million pieces when he received the news of Sehun's new "boyfriend." His boyfriend was of great royalty. A very classy handsome prince from the other side of their realm.

Well...I guess there is a good side to being a King. Maybe him becoming King could persuade Sehun to come back to him. He still holds on pathetically to Sehun's long ago promise. He wishes things were back to the way it was once upon a time. He wishes for Sehun to remember that promise and to come rescue him from his duties.

He remembers his sweet promise as it was yesterday.

Baekhyun just ended his etiquette classes. Ugh! They're so exhausting. He tirelessly walks up to his stairs, holding on to them for balance, if not, he would fall and probably break all his bones. He's almost to his sweet bed just waiting for him to come and succumb himself to the fresh blankets.

He finally makes it and jumps on his bed face first, he hums in pleasure. The blankets were so soft and freshly made, he could still smell the sweet scent of laundry detergent. Before he knew it, he fell into a deep sleep.

A few hours later, he feels someone start to shake him back and forth. "Yah! Baekhyun! Wake up!" Baekhyun wakes up groggily and a little dazed. He sees Sehun...?

"Sehun? What are you doing here?" Baekhyun says, rubbing his eyes. "You seriously forgot already." He deadpans.

Baekhyun realizes what Sehun just said and his eyes go wide. "I'm so sorry, Sehun," Baekhyun fists the bedsheet in anger, "I'm so stupid! I can't believe we missed our date! Uhhh— I m-mean..." Sehun chuckles at Baekhyun's stutters, "It's okay. Let's call it that."

Baekhyun felt his face flush at Sehun's words. "N-no...uhh...oh yeah, I'm so sorry Sehun!"

"Just as long as I know you didn't stand me up, I'm fine." Sehun sighs, ruffling Baekhyun's hair.

"But s-still...it was supposed to be... special."

"Anywhere is fine," Sehun slides his hands in Baekhyun's open palm, "As long as I'm with you." Baekhyun stares at their hands with a smile, then looks up to Sehun's offering sweet smile. Sehun lifts up Baekhyun's dainty hands placing a soft kiss on them. "I promise I'll never leave, eternally giving my whole love to you."

Baekhyun sighs happily hoping Sehun keeps that promise close to him.

Little did he know, that promise was limited by Sehun's father, Oh Jaehyun, the king of another kingdom, very close.

Baekhyun would give anything to have Sehun appear in his coronation ceremony. Maybe even receiving a congratulatory hug. But, more likely, his dumb boyfriend would be there, side by side with his Sehunnie. He doesn't know if he could take it. He still remembers Sehun's words...

"Baekhyun! Baekhyun!" Baekhyun could hear distant calls of his name, sounding a lot like Sehun. But, he wasn't sure if he was still dreaming.

"Baekhyun!" Sehun yells, getting interrupted by the palace guards, guarding Baekhyun's door. "Lord Byun, is still sleeping, Lord Sehun." The guard bows, not wanting to disrespect a prince in his presence. "But, it's an emergency! Please you have to let me pass!"

Sehun begs, wanting to just see a sleepy Baekhyun opening the door to his room. "Also, Prince Sehun, congratulations on your engagement—" Sehun looks up alarmed cutting him off with a wave of his hand and a finger pressed on his own lips. Sehun is extremely nice and instead hums with a low bow as a thank you.

What is he doing there? He knows it's a huge mistake, even coming here. He knows his heart will break when Baekhyun's tears come flooding down his cheeks. Why is he even in this situation? His father has always pushed him to marry someone of a great title, he figured that perfect boy was Byun Baekhyun.

But, when he heard from his father that he found someone of greater reign, Sehun froze in surprise. "But, Father I've already established with you and my future people who I want to marry. You even agreed! How is this possible? How can a king go against his promise?"

"Silence! Sehun, you will marry him and that is final."

"Excuse me, Your Highness." Sehun gritted his teeth, excusing himself politely.

And now he's here... in front of Baekhyun's room. Just as he was dozing on the recent events that happened in his kingdom, "What's with all the screaming?" Baekhyun says, rubbing his eyes. "You are excused, Kyungsoo." He waves him off, gesturing Sehun to enter.

Baekhyun closes the door staring confusedly at Sehun. "Why are you here, at this hour of the night?"

"Baekhyun, something has happened, and I needed you to be the first to hear the news." Sehun says, carefully. Baekhyun looks confused and scared. "Can you sit down?" Sehun says, grabbing Baekhyun's hands gesturing to sit on the edge of his bed. "The news came as a surprise to me, and I promise I had nothing to do with it." Baekhyun breathes heavily. "Okay, you're scaring me, Sehun. What has happened that has got you so worked up?" Baekhyun says.

Sehun begins to shed tears. "I-I'm engaged..." He whimpers grabbing Baekhyun's hands. Baekhyun is frozen, not sure if he heard right. "But, please Baekhyun, I don't love him! I hate him! Hate him for getting between us!"

"You're engaged?" Baekhyun sheds a tear. He's way beyond confused. How could this happen? King Jaehyun loves him, and if Baekhyun is wrong he remembers being in front of Sehun's people vowing their love and claiming their rights as the next successors of the kingdom.

So, what exactly is this?

Sehun confirms his nightmare with a nod. Baekhyun couldn't believe it. Without even thinking, he yanked his hand out from Sehun's grasp, yelling, and sliding down his bed with hot tears. "How could you do this?! We had everything planned! I hate you, Sehun!" He yells, crying with all his might.

Sehun knew how much this meant to Baekhyun. He's been serious since the first time he set his eyes on the blonde beauty. Same could be said for Sehun. Innocent love. Teenage love.

"Baekhyun, please, my father has demanded it. But, I told him that I love you, our love is untouchable. Please, don't shut me out." He cries, going down to comfort Baekhyun in his shaking cries. That's all he wants to do. Comfort him.

"Please let me try. Let me try to put some sense in him. I know I can." He cups Baekhyun's face, coming face-to-face with a crying Baekhyun. "I will never leave." Baekhyun cries, hugging him extra hard. "Please don't leave me, Sehun."

Sehun would not be able to keep that promise. Baekhyun knows that. The feeling in his stomach was growing, a knot that has made place in his body that wouldn't leave him alone.

Later that night, Sehun has sent Baekhyun a note with an invitation to his wedding. "Sir, you have a note from Oh Sehun." Baekhyun quickly rips it open, slowly realizing, his worst nightmare has come true. He crumpled the dreadful piece of paper and let himself fall to the ground on his knees, covering his ugly sobs that could be heard all over the palace. Sehun was forever gone, and he hasn't seen him since.

Even now as he holds his pillow close, he gets reminded of the cold nights he had to go by. The day of Sehun's big wedding did arrive and it was a rather big event, that shone with bright lights across the sky. His window was a great panorama. He clenches his jaw trying to stop his tears from coming out.

But how can he? When his best friend, soulmate, and first love was marrying off to another man. How dare you say, he can't cry? His whole world was dark and grey. Broken. Cold.

Baekhyun, however over the years, developed into a sassy, mean boy. Despite having those traits Baekhyun never was rude to his people. He always thought of his kingdom and his people. He had huge respect for his father the king. But, when it came to catcalls, his inner demon came out. He couldn't do anything about it and just spit out rude words. It didn't help either that his father was one of the sweetest rulers out there.

And now that that role will be passed down to him. He still has hopes though... that Sehun will soon return to him. However, he's not sure if he would let that happen. His heart was broken and is still in repair till now. Everyone felt bad. His father tried to give him encouraging words telling him that, "Maybe, Lord Sehun, was not the one for you, and God had sent another person to come your way." He holds on to that thought. But, he just doesn't want to get hurt again.

Baekhyun shakes the thoughts off going down to eat his dinner.

Six more days before the big day...