The palace echoed with brilliance as the lanterns lit the golden corridors and hallways, and all was peaceful in the king's residence. The tall red gates to the palace were manned by multiple guards, expecting His Majesty to return from another hopefully successful hunt. The young king needed the fresh air and time out, and everyone knew it. He had been under a lot of stress as of late, and he barely had time to do the things he loved. Today was special for him, and his nobles hoped fiercely that everything went his way.

Soon, the palanquin returned with a happy king in it.

"Your Majesty blesses us with your presence," the guards said, bowing in total and complete sync. "How was the hunt?"

"Oh, it was wonderful," he said, smiling and happily clasping his hands together. "Thank you, good men. Please announce my presence."

"At once, Your Majesty," the guard on the left said, bowing and going inside the gate. The other guard began to open the ruby colored doorway, nodding to his colleague to obey the king's request.

"His Divine Grace Kim Namjoon returns!"

Namjoon relaxed in his seat, sipping the last bit of the tea left in his jade cup before setting it back down on a small granite stand with the pitcher. Waiting for the gong to sound, he stepped out in layered white robes with blue accents on the hem and sleeves, prompting every knee of every noble in the crowd in the courtyard to drop in reverence to His Majesty.

"Greetings to Your Majesty," echoed the crowd of officials, nobles and the Hwarang. Namjoon nodded and addressed them.

"Good evening, my faithful subjects. Come, for tonight, we celebrate a successful hunt!"

At his motion, fifty servants came out, holding the carcasses of various animals -- one animal each. Ducks, pheasants, deer and large fish were among the many animals hunted. There would certainly be a feast.

"How great is our king!" a nobleman echoed.

"Great indeed," responded the crowd. Namjoon smiled and walked up the steps to his palace, greeting the nobles as he passed by.

One nobleman stood back in the crowd, however, shyly observing Namjoon.

Dressed in a pastel blue robe with a thin white layer over it held up by a navy belt, court noble Kim Seokjin stood behind everyone else as they pushed towards the front to greet Namjoon. His heart began to pump faster as he laid his eyes on His Beautiful Majesty in all his glory. He undeniably had feelings for this handsome young royal, but couldn't act on them. There were plenty of ladies in the harem already in line, and he wasn't about to compete with those snakes.

They look like flowers, but they will prick.

At that moment of admiration, Namjoon caught Seokjin's eye. His heart stopped when Namjoon looked at him, skipping beats as his mouth curled up into a smile. Seokjin gasped and immediately began to blush, covering his mouth and looking away. His heart couldn't take the sudden leap of happiness he experienced; his eyes couldn't believe the creation that was the king of his country, the king of his land, the king of his thoughts and self.

Looking back up, Namjoon had already gone back into the palace.

Trying to resist the tinge of sadness he felt -- no thanks to the gray clouds and thunder sounding from above him -- he made his way back to his chambers and wrote yet another two page essay on how beautiful the king was and how happy he made him feel.

I still cannot believe what I've seen. I believe his eyes are the stars, his face is the face of the moon, his body is the night sky, full of brilliance and wonder, and to be in his arms would rival heaven itself.

Sighing as the rain poured from his window, he slid open the mahogany door and sat on the edge of the outside pathway. Sheltered by a roof above the pathway, he watched the rain fall, allowing his bare feet to swing in the storm and get wet. A little time alone before the feast that night wouldn't hurt.

"If only I could talk to you," Seokjin whispered to himself, allowing his words to be carried on the wind and his mind to melt completely, becoming one with the rain.