(A/N: this chapter is like eight thousand words...I was going to crop it into two but you know what? have fun <3)

-♤-

The aching feeling didn't leave Jeongguk's chest even the next morning. It hurts, it hurts a lot more than he thought it would. He didn't expect anything yet somehow he was still hurt by it. Jeongguk knew he needed to not think about this anymore, he has a very important day ahead of him but it's hard not to when his day revolves around the other Prince.

After putting on the bulletproof suit and some other armor, he grabbed his sword from the bunch, it was a gold plated sword that stuck out from others. Staring at it for a full second, sighing then turning around to head out.

The farewell was a bit hard. He first said farewell to his fiancé in her room. They only hugged and Jeongguk immediately left the room, he had never felt so empty. When he reached the front door, he saw his family standing there waiting for him to see him off.

His mother wouldn't stop crying, he has never seen her cry this much in his life. She has always been strong and there haven't been many instances where she let a tear roll down her eyes but this was different. Her only son was going to represent his kingdom by fighting the enemies of the land. It was a proud moment for both of the parents but a mother will always fear whether her son will come back or not.

When mothers can't protect their kids anymore, that's when the genuine fear hits. It's a strange feeling, a very unsatisfying one at that. There's nothing she can do but to let them deal with it on their own. His mother has always been important to him, she has been with him like a rock and has never once left his side. So he pressed his lips on his mother's forehead before hugging her.

"I will come back safe, I will come back to you, mother. Wait for me." Jeongguk hugged his mother one last time before turning to his father to give him a hug too.

Not many words were exchanged with his father, he didn't expect any either. The fact his father was standing here, sending him off to fight a battle in his place was more than enough. Those eyes that were scared yet honored to have a son stepping like this. It was really enough.

He did think they were being a tad bit dramatic, they were crying like he's dying as they speak, as if he won't survive. Jeongguk knows they believe in him but this feels a little overwhelming. He doesn't blame them, he too would be in a similar position if one day he has to send off Hanbin to a battle, he can't even imagine it right now as he looks at his teary eyed seven year old brother.

Jeongguk kneeled down to match the boy's height. The little boy doesn't know the depth of the situation but the way everyone around him is emotional, it has automatically made him cry. Hanbin, who has been raised with love only, is sensitive to emotions so the big teardrops are falling out of his little eyes.

"Hyungie don't go!!" Hanbin cried his eyes off, grabbing onto Jeongguk's arm so tightly he was shocked at how much strength the little guy had.

"Hanbin-ah, Hyung will come back, you don't have to worry about him." His mother came to the rescue but the younger boy wasn't listening at all.

"I don't want hyung to die! no hyungie can't go!" He was throwing a tantrum so Jeongguk just pulled the boy into his arms. Hugging him tightly.

"binnie, who said I would die? That is not going to happen. Don't you think hyung is strong?" He asked his little brother. "Hyung is the strongest!"

"Then why do you think I won't come back? I will defeat all the bad guys and be back before you can even notice that I am gone, okay? take care of mother and father for me." Jeongguk hugged him tightly, kissing his brother's head. He wiped his years away before his mother grabbed the little boy's hand and took him away.

"Your majesty, we have to leave now, if we want to get there before sundown." Jimin said to him, Jeongguk got up from the floor where he was kneeling and sighed.

He stared at his family that were staring at him, along with servants behind them and guards surrounding the royal family. His eyes scanned the entire entryway, even trying to look inside the Palace to maybe see a particular someone coming but there was no one.

Jeongguk took a deep breath before he bowed to his parents, he turned around to face Jimin who was waiting for Jeongguk to say something. "Don't look at me like that."

"We can wait another five minutes." Jimin told him,they stared at each other, speaking with their eyes.

"There's no need to,I think this is enough sign for me to…move forward. Let's go." Jeongguk walked past Jimin, going towards their carriage.

He grabbed the carriage door,opening it wide. He put one step inside the thing,before he could go inside, he heard a familiar deep voice yelling out his name. He immediately got back down, turning around to see the familiar man running towards him.

"Prince Jeongguk!! Wait!" Taehyung yelled, not caring that the royal family was right there as he ran past them to the Crown Prince.

"Taehyung…" Jeongguk said, a smile made its way to his face unknowingly.

He could see Jimin from the corner of his eyes grinning widely at the two as before they could even say any words, Taehyung engulfed him in a hug. Stumbling back and almost hitting the carriage. Even at that moment,he held Taehyung to make sure he's fine.

With his arms wrapped tightly around his waist and Taehyung's arms around his neck so tightly, he would have felt suffocated but he was too busy being overflowed with happiness to acknowledge that. They didn't care about anyone else, not the servants looking at them with their eyes wide open. Not the royal couple staring at them in confusion. None of them were important enough right now.

There were some murmurs and whispers heard around him and all of that fell silent to Taehyung's head buried into his shoulder and suddenly breathing down his neck. "I will miss you so fucking much, you better come back or I will go to this battleground myself and kill everyone else." Taehyung whispered in his ears.

"I wouldn't mind that." Jeongguk chuckled at the response.

"Jeongguk…I.."

"Son, you should leave now, we don't want anything out of schedule to happen." He heard his father calling him out, he knew interaction was strange for everyone here but he wouldn't let that stop them.

"Yes? Is there something else?"

"Yeah, I-um-here it goes…I'm sorry. I really am so sorry…for everything." Taehyung grabbed his hands tightly before letting them go, he could see Taehyung's hands shaking. Those guilty eyes and the lips that quivered.

At that time, Jeongguk wasn't sure what Taehyung was sorry for but as the time passed, it made sense. It was the final card on the house of cards.

The seconds camps were dug into the vast land of nothingness, there were loud screams of his soldiers heard from outside of his tent.

They arrived before sundown,the sun was still up and shining oh so brightly. The desert-like land with hard rock surface was empty with only a few trees on some patches on this place. The rival army hadn't arrived yet so they had time to set up their camps. The camps didn't take too much time so Jeongguk commanded the general to put everyone in their places immediately.

He wanted them to be prepared, so they had a formation they would follow. The first lane would be filled with the soldiers with finest guns, the strongest weapon on the field but it was still a new one so there weren't a lot of soldiers who could shoot with guns. It was the fastest way to take out a person so they were in the front.

The second and third lane were the regular soldiers with a shield and sword on horses. Most of his men were in that particular lane, including hundreds at least. There were mounds on the grounds and that's where the Archery soldiers were on, a higher ground which gives them a better eye to shoot the arrows at. They were wearing dark tones to match the surface so they could blend in and hide better if needed to do so.

Their General, Hoseok will be on the first lane while Jeongguk would be in the middle as that's how it is supposed to be, the leader is supposed to be in the center as no one is more important than him. So his safety is one of the main priorities. Jeongguk didn't believe in that so he went to the first lane too.

While half of them were in their positions and the other half were yet still figuring it out, that's when the screams were heard. Jeongguk who moved fast with his sword and the shield, seeing the big army from the other side coming, was already shooting with arrows and the guns they own. This is not how it is supposed to be, you have to wait for both kingdoms involved to be ready to attack.

Jeongguk was disappointed in himself to think the Xethens would follow the rules, that's stupid to even say out loud. They were playing unfair and attacked them before while they were still off guard. It wasn't gold for them but Jeongguk isn't going to let that shoot him down.

He yelled loudly for all the soldiers to immediately get ready for the battle and kill everyone who comes their way. Many of his soldiers yelled out in response, running towards the army that was reaching them fast. His own army started to shoot too, the first lanes doing their best to hold them off while everyone could reach their places.

Soon the land turned into a battlefield in just some seconds. With horrifying screams being heard from every side, The splatters of blood turning the dark land into a blood pool, bodies after bodies being laid on the ground and then being trampled over by the horses. It was traumatizing to register.

His father told him beforehand, the first battle is always the hardest. You see your people dying all around you, the one who swore to protect, the one who were once dearest to you, seeing people dying right in front of your eyes the first time is alone terrifying to see. As the leader you will be a burden on yourself that you couldn't save them but as you go to more battles it gets easier…the people still die but you learn how to look past it without breaking a sweat.

Jeongguk wouldn't lie by saying he wasn't feeling something familiar. The second his sword ran across the rival soldier's neck,slitting it so deep, his blood gushed out on Jeongguk's metal armor. He felt numb for a second, watching the body fall down in slow motion. The situation didn't dawn upon him at that moment. He was too busy to move forward and protect. Protect his people, Protect his kingdom.

More soldiers fell down and he kept moving forward. He had only one target to stop this bloodshed. The King of Xethens, Jo Dongsik also known as the Mad King. That's his enemy and he won't stop until his knife is on his throat. He doesn't care how many people he has to kill to get to him. He stood by that statement.

After killing countless soldiers,it's like Jeongguk got a hold of it. Its a fucked up thought to think but he knew he was always skilled when it came to skills, he had practiced morning,day and night for this so no he won't call it a gift, he earned these skills to take down people. His sword was filled with a dark shade of red from other people's blood. That's when his eyes fell on the Mad King, watching the moment the mad King swiftly stabs one of his soldiers on the chest.

He runs to the King and blocks his sword before it can hit any of his other soldiers. Jeongguk makes eye contact with the latter who looks amused to see him, shocked if must say so while Jeongguk stared could kill a person. The hatred was on the roof.

"I didn't expect to see the Crown Prince on the battleground. Joohwan is for sure playing a dangerous game, does he not want his kingdom to have the next king?" He laughed maniacally and it annoyed the younger man.

Their swords clashing with each other with great power, the force he felt from the hit was a type of power he hadn't experienced yet. The closest he felt like this was with Taehyung when they were in the same position only difference being Jeongguk wants Dongsik six feet under and Taehyung on top of him.

"You are a fool if you think I'm not leaving this battleground with your head in my hands." Jeongguk responded and he could see the expression shift, the face falling and a darker expression took its place on the Mad King face. That alone was satisfying to him.

The real battle started then as Their swords were finally taking real hits. The immense power that would the second the swords would collide,the loud screeching noises and Jeongguk will even stumble back a bit but immediately maintain his position against his opponent.  Everything was going faster than usual.

Anyone from outside would not be able to even track their movements from how fast this fight was escalating, their hands moving but their feet going from one place to another. He felt a sharp slit on his cheek from Dongsik's sword and the man had the nerve to smirk. The blood dripped down from his cheek but he didn't care. He decided to go faster so the latter won't be able to read his moves.

The attempt was successful when Jeongguk was able to slit against his leg, he felt it go deep inside, the flesh being cut and the pants were being stained from the blood. Dongsik let out a groan, that hit was definitely a lot deeper than it looked because Jeongguk could feel that hits were getting weaker than before. Taking advantage of it,he started towards the man making him walk backwards.

Dongsik tripped on the mound and his sword was hit out of his hands from Jeongguk at the exact moment. The horror in Dongsik's eyes was the best thing Jeongguk could witness. He raised his sword up for the final hit to end this all.

Before he could even hit Dongsik, another Xethenian soldier came in between them, blocking the Prince with his own sword. Cursing under his breath, he immediately stabbed him quickly,his body falling aside, he was going to get his focus back to the King but he was getting ambushed by more soldiers coming towards him.

With one after another, it was a never ending train of soldiers coming onto him, he didn't back down either. Slinging his sword as if they were not even a hassle for him to handle and they truly weren't. Jeongguk expected them to be stronger because of how many people talk about Xethen's Army but the only one who lived up was the King only.

He got distracted for a second when he tried to find where Dongsik went as he was just on the floor but not anymore. The little distraction cost him a knife slitting his calves. He winced at the pain,feeling the warm blood dripping out of his legs.  He stumbled ahead, The Xethens saw this opportunity to get rid of the Crown Prince for once and all,for a second even Jeongguk believed.

Seeing the sword coming onto him in slow motion as if the screams of terror were blocked out from his ears. Closing his eyes to prepare for the worst….and another few seconds when nothing came. He opened his eyes to see his general standing in front of him. A sense of relief washed over him.

Hearing Hoseok yell at their soldiers to grab the Prince and take him to safety immediately. Jeongguk was still,the blood was leaking out a lot as he was standing on a puddle of his own. Hoseok slit the neck of the soldier and suddenly Jeongguk was grabbed by his arms by two of the different soldiers,being dragged away to their camps. The voices of his soldiers were coming into ears but he wasn't able to comprehend.

A simple slit in your calf isn't something for him to feel this lightheaded from. His mind was spinning and everything around him was slowly dimming down. There has to be something else on that knife.

It was something along the lines of don't lose consciousness but Jeongguk eyes were too heavy to comply with that.

The sharp pain on his leg woke Jeongguk up from unconsciousness. Sitting up straight immediately, looming around him to see he was in one of their safety tents. There were a bunch of candles on the corner of the tent and a bunch of medicines and antidotes sitting beside him. His leg was bandaged properly.

His throat felt drier than ever. There was still pounding in his head as he groaned in pain. Besides all that, that wasn't his main focus. His main worry was his people, his army that was outside fighting or dead for all he knows as he has no idea how long he has been in here. He tried to get up from the mattress but he fell immediately because there was no power in his legs.

The noise alerted the guards that were outside. He heard voices of guards, calling for their doctors and some other people who he couldn't hear the names of properly. In some seconds the tent was being opened by the guards. Incoming one of the doctors, hurriedly walking towards the Crown Prince.

"Your majesty, Are you alright? Thank goodness you are awake. Tell me, is it hurting anywhere?" The Doctor asked him and Jeongguk stared at him in disbelief.

"My injuries are the least of my worries right now. Where is everyone? What happened? How long have I been out? I need to go out." Jeongguk tried to get up again but the doctor grabbed his arm, trying to make him stay seated.

"Your highness, your health is more important than anything else. Please don't move much as you need proper rest for you to heal. You were poisoned, the knife that stopped you was poisoned, the poison entered your blood and did a lot of damage to your right leg. Before it could spread upwards to your heart and do serious damage, we thankfully brought the antidote to eliminate it." the doctor told him, bringing him back to reality.

"I was poisoned?"

"Yes, you were, Jeongguk. That's what they do, Xethens, they put poison on all of their weapons so as long as you are hit, the damage is done." A voice came from the other side, another person entering the tent with water in his hands. He handed it to Jeongguk who drank it as if he hadn't drank in days. He signaled the doctor to leave them for a second.

"Jimin…Please tell me what's going on outside? It's killing to sit here and do nothing." Jeongguk asked him and Jimin just sighed.

"You had us all worried sick, Jeongguk. It's nice to see you worried about your army rather than you almost dying, you are still the same. The war is over, Jeongguk. Dongsik ran away the moment you last saw him. He saw how you were stabbed and to him that was victory. He ran away with some of his soldiers, while we fought with the others. It lasted two full days and today we eliminated them all. Unfortunately the 'Mad King' wasn't caught but we managed to do enough damage to his army." Jimin explained the situation to him and Jeongguk just scoffed.

"So what? that's fucking it? he just ran away like a coward because he thought he killed me? what a fucking idiot. So I was just passed for two full days? Is…everyone okay?" The question was followed by silence which made Jeongguk scared for a second. Who did they lose?

"We lost a lot of soldiers, Jeongguk. The battleground outside looks like a graveyard. We did more damage to them but in the end we weren't even able to capture the King so all those lives that were killed are for nothing. We suffered a lot of loss."

"This is all my fault. If I just managed to kill that fucking coward, we wouldn't have lost all those who fought for our Kingdom." Jeongguk looked down in disappointment. A tight feeling captured his chest as he thought about his comrades who were dead outside.

"Don't you dare blame yourself, Jeongguk. You weren't the one who got scared, you didn't show your back to your army like he did. You are so much better than him and you did more for the first day than any of the soldiers did for the last two days. If it wasn't for them playing unfair this victory would have been yours." Jimin tried to assure him that everything was alright but he knew his best friend.

He had the expression on his face that he knows far too well. It's the expression of disappointment. The same disappointment he felt when Jeongguk's father told him he lacked in many areas to be even considered a Crown Prince when he was only 10. The same disappointment when Jeongguk perfected all those areas he 'lacked' in only to be brushed off by his father with no acknowledgement of his hard work. how many nights he stayed awake just practicing and practicing only to go unnoticed.

Jeongguk felt like a disappointment all over again. Thinking of how he would be nothing to his father again. Jeongguk thought of how if his father was in his place, they would have won, they wouldn't have lost so many soldiers, he wouldn't have been knocked out on the first day, His father would have never gotten stabbed but Jeongguk did and he ruined everything.

"I'm incompetent and I always have been. I perfect all these skills only for them to have no use in real life. Only for me to fail like this. How am I supposed to face my people? how am I supposed to face those families whose children lost their lives because the Crown Prince was just…not as strong as the King. How am I supposed to face my Father, Jimin?" Jeongguk asked him, sucking in his tears. He couldn't cry, he can't show weakness right now after what he pulled.

Jimin put his arms around Jeongguk and rubbed his arms. Trying to comfort him as it was not the first time Jeongguk has felt like this. The pressure of being perfect did do a lot of damage to the teenager Prince but now that it was time to show off he wasn't able to do it properly.

"You are the Crown Prince, Jeon Jeongguk. You will face him with your head held high. You went to the War against Xethens and you fought till the end, you fought as long as you could, you came out alive. That's an achievement not many neighboring kingdoms can say out loud when they went to war against who we did today. Yes, we didn't get the Mad King but we still won, we still are the last one standing in the battleground,Prince. You proved the name of Elestial, we have never gone to war and came back in loss. You and your army made that happen."  Jimin did his best to cheer him up and He could see Jeongguk mode was lifted a little.

"Thank you,Jimin. I still don't feel as confident but that definitely helped. You are right I can't be a coward and I'll face everyone and own up to everything. I need to take responsibility for my actions. I-agh..my head." Jeongguk grabbed his head as the pain got sharper.

"Ok yeah I love the speech but we need to call back the doctor as he needs to check you up again now that you are conscious. Stay here, I will be back." Jimin got up and ran outside of the tent.

The Doctor came back inside again and started to check his health. He patched his leg up again, replacing the bandage with a newer one. He put the medicines Jeongguk needed and exited the tent while giving instructions on the safety precautions.

"I would advise you not to move. Take bed rest for at least a week. If you move you will worsen your leg and there's a risk it might not ever heal so it's a strict order to not move If you want to walk again, Your majesty. Take your medicines on time and you will be just like you were before in no time." The doctor said and Jeongguk was staring at him in shock.

Didn't he have enough problems that now he also can't walk too? it seems like everything is piling up to annoy him on purpose.

"The carriages are being prepared so we can head back and it looks like you will have to depend on me a lot more than before, Jeongguk. Don't get too tired, besides I'm pretty sure once you're back at Palace, your energy will be restored immediately. " Jimin winked at him, suggesting something else and Jeongguk just rolled his eyes.

He has no idea how he will even explain this to Taehyung.

The return to the Palace was a lot more dramatic than Jeongguk had expected it to be. From going through the kingdom with all of their people cheering them on because in a way they did win. There was music, people cheering out loud for them, there were fireworks lighting up the sky, people celebrating their victory, the news did travel fast and it was shocking to see people actually…congratulate them.

Here was Jeongguk beating himself up the entire journey back and now he is greeted with all these celebrations, he feels like he doesn't deserve this at all. In this crowd there were families of the people who lost their children for them to come back with their held high. It was a bittersweet feeling.

He gets down from his horse and decides to interact with the crowd. There were people surrounding him slowly, The Crown Prince was talking to them. He thanked everyone who came in his vision, holding their hands and thanking them for praying for their safety, that it's because of their prayers, his army is back with a victory.

There were soldiers surrounding Jeongguk, immediately separating him from the crowd as he was already not supposed to walk and what's the chance that someone in this crowd might hurt him.

So he was immediately escorted back with help to the carriage. Jimin made sure to put his legs on the seat too so they are at ease for the weight they just pulled now. Getting a little scolding from Jimin on their way back to Palace was blacked by his thoughts that weren't leaving him alone.

After the last few minutes of their journey they finally reached the Palace gates. He has been gone for three days only yet he still quite missed seeing everything. The guards guarding the gate, the high walls of the Palace, the greenery all around them. The fresh air that wasn't filled with dust and other pollutants that you find in battlegrounds.

Jeongguk stepped out of the carriage with the help of two guards who came running. Jeongguk was depending on both of them, with his arms on their shoulders as he walked a bit. Jimin walked ahead of him towards the main gate.

"Welcome back, Your majesty. Congratulations on your victory. The King and The Queen have been waiting for your arrival. Would you like to take a rest before you go to meet your royal highnesses." One of the servants that was standing in the door greeted him, along with other servants who bowed to him.

"No, I am…alright. I would like to meet my parents first, what about Taeh- I mean, Prince Taehyung where is he? Also The Princess." Jeongguk added her too, to make it seem not too strange.

"The King suggested that it just be your family waiting when you arrive, the Princess- your fiance - is with them but the Prince is in his quarters. "

Jeongguk frowned and got upset at what the servant just said. He didn't like how Taehyung disincluded from his family. He is closer to Taehyung than even his own family so seeing him being the odd one out made him upset. He didn't comment on it, just looking away in annoyance.

Jimin noticed his face fall and decided to do the talking for him. "Where are the King and Queen? We shall meet them first."

"They are in the throne room."

"Alright, Please make sure the Crown Prince room is ready for him once he comes back as he needs our proper care now as you can see. Now scram while we go and meet your majesties." Jimin said to the servant who immediately nodded and walked inside the Palace with them following behind.

The servants went to the other side towards Jeongguk's room while they turned left to go to the throne room. Jeongguk didn't know he hated being depended on someone else this much until now, just not being allowed to even walk on his own did seem extreme but it was better for his health. He has to comply if he wants to heal but it's already so hard.

He's a very independent person, a person who likes to do every single thing his way so  now giving that control to some stranger is too much for him but oh well.

They stood in front of the throne room as the guards announced their presence to the ones inside. The large doors opened up and they went inside the large lit up room. His eyes hurt a bit from the light coming from the chandeliers. He was dragged inside and he saw the three people waiting for him but now in shock when they saw him in his condition, guess they don't know.

"Jeongguk!!" The two women said out loud, running towards him in their long dresses. His mother who had a worried look seeing her son just not even able to walk and his fiancé who was confused as to why he was being dragged inside. 

The guards left his side finally as he can at least stand on his own even though it still hurt with his weight depending on his calves but Jeongguk brushed it aside, happy to see his family. What he wasn't expecting was for Iseul to hug him, in front of everyone. Especially in front of his mother who stopped in her steps.

"My Prince, I am so glad you are back alive. Oh you have no idea how much I prayed day and night for you to come back unharmed but I am glad for now you are alive!!" Iseul hugged him tightly but Jeongguk did stop listening when she called him 'My Prince'. It seemed so wrong coming from her lips when there's only one person who calls him that.

"You didn't have to worry, Princess. I am fine." Jeongguk pushed her away, giving a fake smile as he put distance between them. His mother finally walked ahead of her and gave Jeongguk a tighter hug. He could hear how fast his mother's heart was beating, she was nervous, she was scared. She has always been so strong so it was a rare sight.

"My brave son, You are back. You had me worried sick, Guk-ah. What is this? What happened? How badly are you injured? should you even be standing right now. Guards, bring the chair here for the Crown Prince to sit on!!" His mother demanded, he couldn't even stop her as the guards ran to get the chair from the other side of the room and put it beneath Jeongguk.

"I am fine,mother. I just got…stabbed. It's not too deep but I am advised not to walk or move at all if I want it to not damage my legs more and if I also want to heal quickly." Jeongguk said, taking her hands in his own, rubbing them to calm her nerves.

"My strong son, You have been making your poor mother cry a lot lately. I am so proud of you. You came back home victorious and that's more than what I asked for. Your safety is more important to me than anything else. We will make sure whoever did this to you gets punished." His mother said to him,

"Hoseok Hyung killed him so you don't have to worry about that. I am not too proud of myself either. I couldn't even kill the Mad King, how can I be victorious?" Jeongguk admitted, looking down at his lap.

"I am glad you admitted it, at least." His father finally spoke for the first time ever since he arrived. He had noticed how his father was being so quiet with a scowl on his father and it all explains why. He agrees with Jeongguk's thoughts about himself.

"Joohwan!! Your son just came back after eliminating one of the strongest armies and you are belittling him?" Right now it wasn't the Queen defending the heir against the King but a mother defending her son against her father.

"Miseon, don't speak when you don't know about the subject. What's the point of eliminating the army when their leader is still alive? You can kill the people but as long as the King is Alive, the army will live on to be the strongest. He came back as a disappointment. Wasn't losing him enough that you had to disgrace us with this injury too??" His father yelled out in anger, coming closer to his son who just stared at him.

"This is my son before he is the Crown Prince. It doesn't matter to me what subject I will speak about if you disrespect him. The whole kingdom is celebrating the win yet you are being like this. He got injured for his army not for selfish reasons. You might be the King but you are also his father so act like it." The Queen stated in anger. She was enraged by her husband's behavior.

He saw Iseul's shocked face as she was witnessing this. Her mother's strong character to others isn't that shocking but her talking back to her husband easily was because of how in this time and place it is a sin to even think for that, Especially when your husband is the King. But the way King wasn't even focusing on that showed that this was something usual for him, for his wife to talk back to him.

Jeongguk knows that his parents love each other, they have built trust around their relationship and unlike the men around them, Who would be ready to raise their hands at their wives for talking, His father on the other hand loved that about his mother. He loved that she was strong headed, that she had her own opinions and she wasn't afraid to fight for what's wrong or right. Though in moments like this, he doesn't like those traits much because he doesn't want to fight with her.

"It's okay, mother. He is right, I did get rid of most of them but The Mad King is the catalyst. As long as he's alive he will continue to be stronger than ever as he will train more and more of his people. I apologize for being a disgrace, father, I would have killed him if it wasn't for me to be overpowered by his other soldiers." Jeongguk said, getting up from the chair, looking straight at his father who looked mad.

"I am disappointed in you, Jeongguk. You have been training all your life, I made sure you were perfect at everything so where did I lack for you to slip like this?" Those words rang in Jeongguk's ear repeatedly.

For the first time in a long while, it felt like Jeongguk was a teenager again listening to his father scolding him for being a disappointment and not being enough. Not being like the sons of the neighboring kingdom who joined their fathers at the wars his father came back from just now. The immense pressure was taking a toll on him again. He wanted the answer to the question too, where did he go wrong?

He saw how mother was ready to say something but Jeongguk stopped her before she could say anything.

"I am sorry for disappointing you, father. It's not your fault, it's mine. I was the one who lacked as you have always made sure I am perfect in all areas. I will make sure that the Mad King dies from my hand, I promise you that."

"Good because I already have a plan. You should get rest and heal quickly. I don't like being harsh on you,my son. I need to go to extra measures to make sure you are ready for what this world throws at you as the more you grow up the bigger your responsibilities are going to be. You are the Crown Prince of Elestial and it's about time we make that official." His father put his hand on Jeongguk's shoulder, Patting him.

"I won't disappoint you,father."

"You better not. Take rest now, what did the doctor say?" The King asked Jimin who was standing near the doors.

"The doctor has given Jeongguk medicines to take everyday and he's advised to be on bed rest for a week to be healed properly." Jimin said quickly, not meeting the King's eyes.

"A week in bed? That's too long. You shall go by what this doctor says but I will appoint a better doctor to you soon so we can figure out how you can make up your promise to me sooner."

"Ofcourse dad."

"Let's have dinner then, your mother prepared a feast for you-"

"Ah, I am glad for that but I would just like to go to my room now if you excuse me. I am tired and Ofcourse, bed rest needs to be taken seriously." Jeongguk replied to them with a fake smile. This room feels suffocating despite how large it is.

Maybe it's the disappointing glare of his father or the pitiful gaze of his fiancé, maybe the worried eyes of his mother that's on him? He doesn't know, it might be all of them but he needs to leave and he needs to see him.

"Ofcourse, Honey. Anything you want, just say the word. I will send the food to your room so you go and take a rest, Okay? I love you, my son." His mother kissed his forehead. It felt nice to feel affection after all that.

"I love you too, mother. I will head out now." He bowed to his parents and then just nodded at Iseul who bowed at him. Turning around to exit the room with the help of the guards again. Tip toeing the ground as he walked out,stumbling a bit.

The second he was out, he faced Jimin who was following right behind him. "You should go and take a rest too, thank you for all your help, Jimin-ah. Also can you…um." Jeongguk stopped, he didn't know how to say it infront of all these guards.

"I will. Get to your room, Jeongguk. You will get everything you want." He emphasized on the word everything and winked at Jeongguk.

"Are you sure you got what I wa-"

"Yes!! Now go, you need rest, remember?" Jimin told him and Jeongguk just nodded, turning around to walk away once again.

Laying down in his bed after being in that hard mattress for the last two days felt quite comforting. He had a bath to clean all the dirt off and he never felt so clean. Feeling himself sinking inside the soft sheets, closing off the voices in his head shouting negative things. Shutting his eyes tightly so he can take a break. He has gone through…a lot.

He didn't even notice the time while laying there. He disassociated from reality, feeling his eyes begging to be shut. Jeongguk shook his head to shake the sleep away as he needed to eat before he took his medicine. There was a knock on his door. Must be the food.

"Come in, Just leave the food at the table." Jeongguk said, looking at the other side when he heard a chuckle.

"I don't think I was supposed to bring food, was I?" The familiar husky voice surrounded his room.

Jeongguk immediately sat back up on his bed, his gaze shifted towards the door to see none other than the man he had been looking forward to seeing all this time. "Taehyung!! you are here!" Jeongguk exclaimed excitedly.

He stood immediately which put a lot of pressure on his legs all at once. He winced at the sharp pain hitting him, and fell back onto the bed. Taehyung's eyes widened when he saw Jeongguk lose his balance. Running towards the Prince, putting his arms around him.

"Jeongguk!?my goodness, are you okay? What happened? what is this?" Taehyung pointed at the bandage on his legs, sitting next to him.

"Ah, don't worry, I just got stabbed in my calves, the dagger was drenched in poison so it temporarily paralyzed my legs. I am on bed rest for a week. There's nothing to worry about though." Jeongguk explained it to Taehyung too with a smile on his face so he won't be worried about him.

The color in Taehyung's eyes almost vanished. There was this darkness in Taehyung's eyes that was something Jeongguk hadn't seen before in him. The way his eyes darkened was quite a new sight for him.

"Did Dongsik do this to you?" Taehyung questioned him in his deep voice. Jeongguk felt goosebumps for a second there.

"No, it was someone else in his army." Jeongguk said to him and he saw Taehyung look away. He grabbed Taehyung's hands and put them in his lap, squeezing them to comfort him. "Hey, look at me. You don't have to worry, I am okay- Taehyung…are you crying?" Jeongguk said when he saw a tear on TV cheeks.

Grabbing his face to make him face him and he was crying. Jeongguk felt like the ground vanished from below him. He was ready to eliminate anything and everything that is the cause of the tears on the face of his lover.

"I am n-not crying"

"Sweetheart,hey what happened? why are you crying?" Jeongguk asked him,pulling him closer to him.

"Do you have any idea how w-worried I was for you? I had nightmares every night you were away about how you didn't survive, about how your dead body was the one that came back and not you. I woke up in sweat and tears, god Jeongguk you have to stop scaring me like this. I can't…live without you. That fucker will pay for what he did to you." Taehyung exclaimed, he looked at Jeongguk to see him with the biggest smile on his face.

"Even when angry, you manage to be so beautiful and so endearing, Taehyung. Oh what I would do without you. Come here, I have been aching to have you in my arms." Jeongguk opened his arms to welcome Taehyung in.

The other Prince jumped at the opportunity, immediately hugging Jeongguk. Melting into his embrace, His head resting on Jeongguk's chest and nuzzling his face on it. The familiar scent of each other were enough to calm both of their nerves. Feeling this close to Taehyung wasn't enough, he needed him closer than this, he needed for them to be one.

They stayed in that position, taking in each other's comforting presence and making the most of it. Jeongguk pressed a kiss on Taehyung's head, hearing the boy giggle. They unfortunately had to be separated as another knock was heard on the door. He raised his brow in annoyance. Saying come in.

One of the servants came inside with a tray full of different kinds of foods. There were a bunch of different dishes that his mother asked to be made for him so Jeongguk could try them but it was all a lot for one person. He saw the servant's eyes lingering at Taehyung for a second longer, wondering the same thing those guards outside in a distance from his door are probably wondering.

"Your Majesty, the food has been served. If there's anything you need please tell me." The servant asked, looking down on the floor, not making eye contact.

"Taehyungie, did you eat?"  Jeongguk asked Taehyung who stared at him for a second and then looked away.

"Y-yes, I did eat, My prince." Taehyung answered him. Jeongguk chuckled at how adorable and bad at lying he was.

"Bring some extra utensils and plates as Prince Taehyung will have dinner with me in my room. That's all, you can leave." Jeongguk said to him and the servant nodded, bowing to both of the Prince before heading out of the room.

"I ate, Jeongguk. Why did you asked him to-"

"No, you didn't, Sweetheart. You are a bad liar. Come on let's eat together, while he brings your stuff, we can share. It says sharing food brings you closer." Jeongguk grabbed Taehyung's hand as both of them got up from the bed.

Taehyung helped Jeongguk get to the sofa in the corner of his room.  They both sat down on the plush surface, facing the different dishes on the table in front of them. Jeongguk started to put food inside his plate and Taehyung just kept looking at him in endearment.

Once his plate was full with everything, he finally took the first bite and went into ecstasy. The stale instant food he had to eat now compared to these meals made by the royal chef, Jeongguk feels like he just got upgraded from Hell to Heaven. His eyebrows scrunched in an angrier expression out of habit. Moaning as he gulped down the food.

"Jin Hyung needs to get a bonus, this kimchi jjigae is a gift from God.  Here, try it." Jeongguk dipped the rice in the stew and took the spoon closer to Taehyung's mouth, who opened it out of instinct and gulped down the food. It definitely tasted amazing.

They got lost in the food. Every single dish was amazing on its own but somehow getting fed by Jeongguk made it seem even more tastier. The domesticity of this situation might have been getting to Taehyung's head because he can feel himself deeper and deeper the more he spends time with the Prince.

Even when the servant came back with a bit more food and a bunch of extra utensils for the Prince, Jeongguk still didn't stop feeding Taehyung with his own hands.

He saw the servant trying hard not to stare and judge because he doesn't want to die but it was hard not to when the Crown Prince would feed the Arothian Prince with his own hands, looking at him with love in his eyes. he's just a servant but he's well aware of the concept of love and he never saw that between Princess Iseul and Jeongguk but what these two have is something familiar to it, maybe even more deeper than that.

Taehyung suddenly remembered something he was supposed to tell Jeongguk but he got so lost in the moment and forgot about it. Now he doesn't want to ruin their dinner but he has to tell him. Once they were almost done with eating he decided to break the news.

"Jeongguk, Me and My sister are to leave tomorrow. We won't be back until the…wedding."

He saw how Jeongguk stopped in action, putting down the spoon before looking at Taehyung in shock. "What did you say?"

"We are leaving tomorrow morning."

"But why??"

"We were to leave the morning after your engagement but the threats from Xethens stopped us. Now that you have defeated them, they would be a fool to mess up with one of the Elestial Allies like that right now especially. In short words, it's safe for us to go back now so we have no other reason to stay." Taehyung told him and he saw how sad Jeongguk was looking.

"Am I not a reason enough?" Jeongguk's confidence was quite a sight to see but Taehyung had no idea how to answer that. He had no idea how to explain it to Jeongguk.

Thankfully and unfortunately at same time, the door burst open and He saw his sister walking inside in a hurry. Her eyes fell on the two boys  sitting so close having dinner together and you could see from Jeongguk's spoon in Taehyung's plate that they had been sharing too. He could see her fuming but suddenly expression changed.

The annoyed face turned into a much sweeter one. "What are you doing here so late, Iseul-sshi?" Jeongguk asked her and she grinned at him.

"Your majesty, you are done eating. I wasn't going to join you so late as you need rest but I realized as your soon to be wife, I should be tending your wounds instead of heading back to my quarters. Though it is a surprise, my brother is here too. Can you give us a moment,Oppa?" Iseul said with a fake smile on her face.

Taehyung knew her too well, he could easily assume what made her come here and it definitely wasn't her wanting to be a perfect fiancé but more of being scared of her own brother, about what he would do when alone with the Crown Prince. Her sad attempt at lying was quite hilariously upsetting at the same time. As once again, Taehyung was reminded of his place in Jeongguk's life.

"My apologies, sister. I was leaving anyway, I won't hog your fiancé anymore." Taehyung got up from the sofa, ignoring his heart screaming at him from inside his chest.

"Wait,you don't have to-" Jeongguk grabbed his wrist to stop him and Taehyung pulled his wrist out of his grip.

"I shall go, My Prince. It's late, We are to leave early in the morning so I shall sleep. Don't stay here too long Princess, we do have to leave together." Taehyung said to his sister who rolled her eyes.

"I shall stay with my fiance as long as I want. It's none of your business, Oppa." Iseul knew very well he didn't like being called that by her because she never thought of him as one so why say it?

Clicking his tongue against his cheek. He chuckled before facing Jeongguk one last time before leaving. Holding his emotions in from keeping him from falling apart. "Take care of yourself, Jeongguk.  You need rest too, don't strain yourself more. I will leave the couple alone now." Taehyung bowed to the Prince only and walked out of the door and Jeongguk didn't stop him again.

♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎
About Jeongguk's injury, he hasn't lost any strength in his leg, he can walk. It will hurt a bit but he can walk but he is advised NOT TO if he wants to heal quicker and not damage his wound more. I know the war scene was shit I don't know how to write action? scenes so🙏 my bad.
Hope everyone is streaming 'Golden' . I have never heard an album this perfect, I love it. And I'm still thinking about them.

Love yall
-K