jung heechul sat in the throne room, his throne feeling more like a prison than a chair. jung eunbi, his wife, sat next to him, her head in her hands. inhuman noises left her lips as she breathed. the earth below them felt unstable.

"you're telling me, my son is going to die?" heechul finally spoke, reaching over to take his wife's hand in his own.

"i'm afraid so, your highness," the lady spoke, her knees nearly sticking to the floor as she knelt in front of the king. "i met him in the market just before. as i handed over his food, our hands touched and i could feel the death echoing around him. i'm terribly sorry."

"is there a way to stop this?" eunbi cleared her throat and repositioned her neck, no longer slouching as she was a moment ago.

"it would take another sightseer, but yes. if there was to be somebody willing to stay with prince hoseok at all costs, they could see his future and attempt to change it." the woman seemed to be lost in thought for a second after she spoke, her eyes closing as she did so.

"do you know of anybody who would be willing?"

"yes, my son, min yoongi. he is but a year older than your son, and is struggling for money. i can no longer accommodate him. i shall call him right away, sir."

"thank you, min hyeran. you may rise." the king spoke, and as she did so, he raised a hand. her eyes widened in fear, but the queen rest her hand on his chest. the guards did not move.

"she is a sightseer, heechul. we must trust her words." eunbi whispered into her husbands ear and forced his hand down back into his lap.

"how soon can you bring min yoongi here?" he demanded, intertwining his fingers and squeezing roughly.

"i can collect him right away, your highnesses." she didn't dare move until she was dismissed, so she kept her feet planted into the ground and held her hands by her dirty skirt.

"ok, you are dismissed. you have thirty minutes. do not be late."