Renjun hardly flinched when the door slammed closed behind him, but he couldn't say he was entirely used to the noise, even after years of it.

"You failed." Was the first thing out of his mother's mouth, and like the slamming door, Renjun could never get used to those words. It wasn't like he would retort against them anyways, the fear of physical pains much less than the fear of the words with them. "Why didn't you fill all the spaces?"

"I don't have a need to."

"You do have a need. You showed weakness in front of the other royal families by failing to fill every spot. Their sons are able to."

"I'd rather have people I can trust than some random person you pull off the street like I know you'll try to. If I don't accept them as a part of my party they won't be allowed in the castle."

"Do you want to play this game?" Queen Eunji asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you really want to play this game you insolent piece of shit?" Renjun stilled for a second before turning around and beginning to walk away. "I will find someone and if I have to, I will make you accept them."

"You'll do nothing of the sort in front of others." Renjun sneered before walking out the door and slamming it shut. The ornate thread on his jacket was smoldering, showing Renjun that he really needed to calm down. As he walked down the hall, a maid walked past him, and Renjun waved her down.

"Yes Your Highness?" She asked, frowning.

"Where are my chambers?"

"The western tower sir, would you like me to show you the way?"

"Yes please," Renjun replied, taking off the jacket that was now smoking. He was sure Dejun had spare thread, but luckily, his undershirt was made of heat proof cloth. He followed the woman before lingering at the door of what was obviously the training room. Haechan was casually talking to a knight, and not for the first time, Renjun marveled how seamlessly Haechan could blend himself into society.

Mentally, he noted as well that the knight he was talking to was the same man that had accompanied Prince Minhyung, but he wasn't sure who he was exactly. He would probably have to check on that, but it was for another time.

It didn't take long to get to the West Tower from the training room, and Renjun registered somewhere in his mind that it represented the fact Cidaris was the westernmost country, but currently, the heat pooling in his hands was getting dangerous. "Please open the door for me, then close it. Also, send for a bucket of ice."

"Yes Your Highness," she bowed, opening the door and closing it as soon as Renjun was inside.

Immediately, Renjun stripped down to his undergarments, turning on the cold water in the bathtub before getting completely undressed to sink into the freezing cold water. Sparks had started to fizz on his hands, so Renjun plunged those in too, submerging himself as steam rolled off the water as colder water replaced it. Just as his temperature began to regulate, gongs began to ring, signaling a royal delegation of some sort was arriving.

Renjun frowned, muttering curses as he considered his options. He could rush down there, not in royal regalia, and deal with his parents, he could stay up here and deal with his parents later, or he could just pretend he hadn't arrived yet.

The latter was the most attractive, but he couldn't handle a neo stone right now to communicate to Haechan and Dejun to not show up, so he was just going to hope that one of them could come up with an excuse that wouldn't get him in bad trouble.

He also knew how rude it was for him not to show up, but it would play into the stereotype of the Cidarians, and if it was the Aikavians, they already had a dirt poor opinion of Cidaris. Well, the Cidarian flag was raised above the West Tower, showing that someone from Cidaris was there. If it was Lelidan, they wouldn't care too much.

Whatever. The prejudices and rumoured spoiled attitude of Prince Na Jaemin was none of his concern. Yet.

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"Do you think the Cidarians actually drink the blood of their enemies?" Jisung asked as they saw the Cidarian flag raised.

"I heard it's not only enemies, but friends and family too," Sungchan replied, biting his lip. "They have to be friendly on neutral territory, right?"

"Not necessarily," Jaemin hummed. Cidaris was the only kingdom Aikavia didn't have an active trade deal or peace treaty in place, and quite frankly, Jaemin could care less about making peace for the year he was about to be trapped.

He'd heard the crown prince was cold, manipulative, and a bloodthirsty tyrant. The entire royal family sounded like a version of hell Jaemin would never be apart of, and not for the first time, thanked his lucky stars he got parents that weren't Cidarian.

"They have red eyes though, I've seen them." The final member of their party interjected. YangYang was more well travelled by land than the rest of them, Sungchan being sick by the bumps on the road for most of the trip. His father had also been an Aikavian diplomat, going to Cidaris more than once, bringing his son with him a few times. "They're a brutal people. Did you know they have death matches? They put their people against beasts and whoever survives the battle is declared the best fighter and put into the ring continuously."

"Isn't that how the current king got his throne?"

"Yes, the queen was not going to get the throne and they had a deathmatch to see who would win her hand. The ground was covered with blood." Jaemin wrinkled his nose as he said the story, but the carriage came to a halt a moment later.

"Please extend cordial greetings to the royal delegation of Aikavia." A voice said as the door opened, Jaemin stepping out first to see his mother and father waiting for him with a warm smile on both of their faces.

"It's good to see you," Queen Heeyeon said, Jaemin bowing his head as the rest of his delegation bowed deeply.

"Mother, Father."

"You returned from sea quite promptly," King Jinseok said, raising an eyebrow.

"I was already close to docking on Drumbrock, so it was just a matter of joining my delegation," Jaemin smiled. "Jisung and I sent them ahead and caught up at the border." Jaemin then directed his attention to greet the other monarchs, bowing deeply to each, but just nodding to Prince Minhyung, who looked like he'd just been dragged out of a meeting.

He also noticed that the prince wasn't there for Cidaris, but his delegates were. "I see your prince couldn't be bothered to greet me."

"Unfortunately, there was a legal matter in his duchy that had to be attended to immediately," the pale one said, his eyes flashing. "He extends a formal greeting and hopes to meet at the dinner tonight."

"And who are you to speak to me?" Jaemin scoffed.

"Lord Xiao Dejun, Lord in waiting to the Crown Prince, Prince Jaemin."

"You should refer to the crown prince as such, or Your Highness." Sungchan snapped, making Dejun roll his eyes and the boy next to him, shabbily dressed at best, scoff.

"What is that servant boy?" Jaemin asked, making the tanned boy glare at him. "I expected this from the savages of Cidaris, so I'm frankly not surprised at your disrespect."

"Your Highness," Jisung hissed. "Stop."

Jaemin huffed before turning back to his parents, walking in with them to ignore the Cidarian family. He was not looking forward to meeting the crown prince who had snubbed him.

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happy spring break everyone :)