Update is a day late and I'm saurr sorry! Was feeling a little under the weather and had zero motivation to write 🥲 I'm better now tho. Thanks for being patient with me y'all 🙏🏾

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"Jaejoong is responsible for the massacre of your people. He's killed so many and has so much blood on his hands. He's a deranged man and will never stop killing to get what he wants... help us take him down" San's voice cuts through the air and a brief silence falls.

Junho shakes his head slowly and rises to his feet, the light from the orange flames licked his tanned skin and creating perfectly placed shadows on his face. "I'm not getting involved with any war you have brewing up. I've managed to lead a simple quiet life so far and I don't intend on changing that anytime soon"

San was disappointed but not surprised at his response. But he wasn't ready to back down so easily. "Really, and how's that going for you?" He looks around the space. It was clear he was unhappy here. "Are you just going to cave out for the rest of your life while the man responsible for destroying your life roams free and continues to destroy lives till. this. day" His voice loud. Still, Junho stays quiet.

"We have to make him pay" San says in a whisper now. "And I intend on doing that with or without your help" San turns to leave, taking Wooyoung's hands and pulling him along.

They both duck underneath the boulder at the entrance and were once again greeted with sunlight. Wooyoung was relieved San had finally decided to leave. They were a good couple steps away from the cave when they were stopped.

"Wait-" Junho calls behind them. San pauses and looks back at him, a hope bubbling in his chest that maybe he changed his mind.

"I can't help you San.. but I can give you some intel I've picked up from the wind over the past few days" He says and San's couldn't help but frown. Nonetheless he listens attentively.

"I think Jaejoong might be planning a silent raid on Lloth. He's been moving very quiet and I don't even think the rest of his confidants or the council members knows. Though I honestly can't say for sure. But with the way things are moving, Lloth is not safe"

San's eyes widen. He didn't think to start our conversation up with that? "W-wait what?" He may not have been back in Lloth for years but that was still his birthplace. His people.

Junho shakes his head disapprovingly. "I couldn't do anything to protect my people. But you have a chance to save yours"

San's eyes soften but he still held a strong expression on his face. "And despite knowing first hand how ruthless Jaejoong is you still won't help us stop him" It wasn't a question.

Junho stays quiet, his lips pressed in a line and light brown eyes appearing even lighter as the sun peaks through the tall trees and hit his face. San takes his quiet as confirmation. He sighs in disappointment, eyes shifting to the ground momentarily before he turns on his heel and walks away.

"Lets go" He mutters to Wooyoung. The prince glances at Junho then at San's retreating back then Junho once again. The man clearly had a disturbed look on his face, his eyebrows knitted together and eyes trained to the ground. "Wooyoung, c'mon" San calls out to him.

"Coming" Wooyoung responds as he turns and picks up in a jog after San.

Hongjoong sighs loudly, falling back in his chair and running a tired hand through his messy black hair. The back of his head rests on the gold rim of the cushioned chair and he stares blankly at the high ceiling of his work room. His eyes slowly fluttered shut and he sits in silence.

He'd been signing some papers and reading pages long documents, which for the past couple years, has become his norm. Being the next heir after Jaejoong came with it's responsibilities. He hardly had time for himself.

Suddenly a knock on his closed door brings him out of his restful state of mind and he abruptly sits up. "C-Come in" He stutters out and clears his throat when his voice breaks.

Nari, Jongho's maid, sticks her head into the room. Her frosty grey eyes watches him for a few seconds. "Evening Nari. Do you need something?" Hongjoong asks flippantly as he turns the page on the massive book he was annotating.

"Good evening prince Hongjoong. Your father requests your presence in the royal lounge room" She says with a bow after she steps into the room. Hongjoong shifts his gaze back up to her.

"Why?" He asks.

"I'm not sure. But he asked me to go get you" She eyes all the scattered papers on his desk and she flashes a weak sad smile. "Prince Hongjoong, I know it's not my place but... I really think you should consider taking it easy. These days you're either cooped up in your work room or training. Go on a stroll, meet people.." She looks up in thought, a slim finger on her bottom lip. "Ou, go on a date! Find a beautiful woman to settle down with" She advices and Hongjoong shoots a look, one of his brows raised in question.

"Or man.. whatever your preference is" She adds with a giggle. Hongjoong simply scoffs in amusement and begins gathering up some papers and organizing.

"Thank you for your advice Nari but I assure you, I'm alright. You let my father know I'll be with him shortly" He says dismissively, not sparing her another glance.

Nari nods and bows once again before turning to leave. Then she pauses once her hand was on the door knob. She turns back to Hongjoong. "Uhm, have you seen prince Jongho recently by any chance? He's been gone for a few days now and I know he often leaves on trips to visit friends in neighboring countries but... he left without saying a word to me which is not like him. And nobody's heard from him, I'm just a little worried is all"

Hongjoong looks up at her briefly. "I haven't. Though I'm sure he'll be back soon, wherever he is"

She nods and smiles weakly then finally leaves. Upon her absence Hongjoong drops the ink pen he was using to write and he sighs, rubbing his forehead. A bitter laugh escapes his lips as Nari's earlier words played over and over in his head and he shakes his head then pulls himself up to his feet.

A date? I don't have time for relationships or trivial things like dating. Not after the last person I showed an interest in tried to kill me and my whole family. His jaw clenches and his nostrils flares up at a particular human male comes to mind.

Hongjoong softly knocks on the large doors wooden of the royal lounge room. Gold embellishments decorated it and matched the door knob.

"Hongjoong, come in" Jaejoong's gruff voice sounds from the inside.

He goes in and immediately bows deeply as was expected from anyone  when in the presence of the king. Even the prince himself.

He was surprised to see Yubin inside as well, his step mother and current queen of Naex. He glances between Jaejoong and Yubin, eyebrows creasing in confusion once he takes in the troubled look on Yubin's face and the cold look on Jaejoong's.

"Is something wrong?"

Jaejoong takes a deep breath and pulls himself up to his feet. "You're here, so I can finally go on to inform you both of the recent events that has taken place"

Yubin looks up at him, lips in a relaxed line but Hongjoong could still see the tension on her expression. "It's regarding Jongho, and I'm honestly not sure how you both with take it-" Jaejoong continues.

"Are you going to continue stalling or will you tell me what's going on? Where's my son?" Yubin cuts, her voice sharp.

Jaejoong shuts his eyes briefly. "Jongho's been branded a traitor to Naex and I've ordered his immediate arrest"

"What?" Hongjoong spits out in disbelief. "What the hell? W-where's this coming from?"

"Surely you must be joking" Yubin says, a hint of amusement in her tone.

"He's been conspiring with werewolves and committed multiple illegal acts including the use of black magic. I've talked it over with the council and they all unanimously voted he should be killed on sight but I overruled that decision. For now he will be arrested and put on trial-"

Hongjoong could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Are you out of your mind?" Yubin shoots up to her feet, brows nearly at her hairline. "Conspiring with werewolves? Black magic? How is that possible? I know my own son and he's not capable of such atrocities"

"Why? Why would he be conspiring with werewolves? He would never betray his own family. Father, you know that as much as anyone. Someone must be trying to set him up" Hongjoong argues, his eyes blown out in complete shock.

"I'm afraid none of us knew him as well as we thought we did" Jaejoong says grimly, his ice cold eyes appearing darker. "Hongjoong... he visited a werewolf-witch in Boulia and had them do a revival spell"

"A revival spell? W-who.. I don't-" his heart was racing in his chest.

Jaejoong shoots him a knowing look. "He brought an abomination back from the dead and claims it's Wooyoung. What he's do-"

Hongjoong throat closes up, his eyes become glossy and his ears tune out everything else that goes on in the room. Wooyoung's alive..? No. Jongho brought him back. But how? How would he-

His breath hitches.

"Hongjoong.. Hongjoong!" Jaejoong calls out to him and he snaps back to attention. "Did you hear what I said?"

"U-uhm.." He whispers out shakily.

Jaejoong sighs. "Wooyoung is dead, Hongjoong. And Jongho is not well. The boy he brought back is not your brother. You have to stay focused, do you understand me?" His voice was authoritative.

"Yes" Hongjoong says while trying to steady his breathing.

"Hongjoong?" Yubin looks at him, eyes glossed with disbelief. "Do not tell me you believe any of this. You know Jongho is not behind this"

"If father says he is then he is" Hongjoong says bluntly while looking at her with a cold expression.

Jaejoong couldn't help but smile at his response. "That's my son. Smart boy"

Yubin rushes to Jaejoong's side, silent tears sliding down her cheek. "Jaejoong please, I'm speaking to you as a mother, a queen... your wife, please just listen to me. Jongho is innocent"

"Yubin.." Jaejoong says with an annoyed sigh.

Hongjoong begins zoning out once more, his brain fogging and mind numb. Wooyoung...

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Loml 🥺