It's been quiet without him. Like, I'm always busy, but he would always be there to talk with me. Now he's in France and it's so boring. He's coming back in three days, though. Can't wait! I hope he's ok. I'm not allowed to call him, but I've sent him pictures. I got creative today and put Benjamin in a dress. He's my queen. I've been making something for François' birthday. By the time he comes back, it'll be close enough anyway.

Other than college and being a king, I've been a bit sad lately. It could be from him not being here or me just missing my old life before, but I don't know. I've just been pretty upset. I've been smoking a lot more, almost three packs a day. White came by the other day, and he sounded really winded as he told me he's going to a doctor soon. He didn't look right either. I hope everything will be fine with him, he's one of my besties.

Anyways, guess what happened? Valentino came over this morning! I was really glad to see him. We got to play piano and sing together. And guess who came after that? My parents! They said they were unpacking boxes and found the photo album. We sat on the couch with Aunt Annie, and we looked at all the pictures. My mom was so pretty when she was younger. My dad kinda looks the same. Aunt Annie looked so beautiful when she was a teenager, and so did Martha.

Then I saw her.

"That's her!" I pointed to the woman next to my grandfather. "That's the woman I saw in my coma!"

Dad looked really uncomfortable when I said that. He said that was my grandmother, Da-Eun. She died when he was six after giving birth to my uncle. I stared at her. I knew her, and she knew me. We looked exactly the same, the only differences being that she had long black hair, naturally purple eyes, and her eyes were smaller than mine. He said that grandpa threw away all her pictures and clothes after she died, but he hid this picture from their wedding decades ago.

I was sitting in between my parents. "What was she like?"

Dad sighed. "I don't remember much, but I remember she played the harp." He stretched, his arm on the couch. "Wanna know something? When my father saw you, you were a newborn. He was one hundred and one, half-blind, had dementia, but when he saw you, he said I brought her back to him."

I tried not to smile. "I didn't know I met grandpa."

"Well, that was the only time." He smiled at my mom before he said, "Sometimes, I think she brought you here early so my dad could meet you."

"Aww, that's sweet, Beom." My mom kissed his cheek.

My dad smiles a lot, I really love his smile. We looked at more pictures. I was so cute as a baby.

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Dad got sick and had to go to bed early. I made him stay here because it was raining all day and I didn't want him getting sicker from the weather. He gets sick often, even though he's much better than before. I feel really bad about it, I know it's my fault, even if he won't admit it. Mom went to stay with him. She's a good wife. I try to be like that for François, even though I'm not a wife.

So now, it was just me and my tantine. Just like all those years ago in that little brown home, we sat by the fireplace at night. She sat on the chair, her shaky hands knitting a blanket. She's ninety now, but I would say she aged like wine. She's still sharp, very active, and doesn't look a day over seventy. The bowl of fruit was on my piano. In season right now, it was honeydew, blackberries, and watermelon.

"Mon chérie," her voice had gotten softer over the years. "play that old song again for me. I love the way you sing it."

"Bien sûr."

The intro was long. It's a 1930s song. I glanced over to see her closing her eyes and resting her tiny feet on the stool. I knew she wasn't sleeping. She sleeps with her mouth wide open. Once, when I was maybe seven or eight, I put three cookies in her mouth and was able to take them out before she woke up. She was so angry when Martha couldn't stop laughing!

"A little kiss each morning, a little kiss goodnight..."

When I finished, I looked over at her, and this time, she was asleep. I gently woke her so I could take her to her bed. I feel so at ease every time I see her new bedroom. I remember her old room. We had to share it, I would sleep on an air mattress next to her bed, which was full of springs that would hurt her back in the morning. The walls were mustard yellow and stained, the brown floor creaky. It was so small. Now, she has a nice warm bed full of wool blankets and fluffy pillows. She had windows to look at the sunset all she wanted. She even has her own bathroom.

I think of Martha and the room she would have. She would say, "Oh, Lloydie! I don't want to be a bother!" And I would say, "Not at all!" And give her the best room I could. She would have a white room with plants hanging by the window. She would have a place to put her records, and there would photographs all over the walls. I know she would have flowers. I miss her so much, but I know she's taking care of me.

I wonder what rooms my grandparents would want. I think my grandmother would want a purple room and a place to play her harp all day. She would have a closet for her hanboks. Would she have pink ones? Or blue ones? I wish I knew more about her, but my dad doesn't remember much, and my grandfather never told him anything. I think that's why they butted heads a lot. I don't think he's a bad guy, though. Despite my uncle's birth killing his wife, he loved him. Uncle Ho admits he was spoiled by his father. That's incredible, especially because he's autistic and that wasn't really understood much back then. They would be thrown in some home and be forgotten about, but grandpa adored him and educated himself to meet his needs. I think he would want a relaxing room with lots of windows to knit by.

It was quiet in the castle tonight. I took the dogs for a walk in the garden. I didn't see any flowers in the dark. All of them were running around, play fighting and wanting me to throw the ball for them in the rain. I love them so much that I'd be lost without them. Apple and Blueberry wanted to be picked up, which I didn't mind doing. Benjamin wanted it too. He thinks he's a lap dog, and I honestly don't have the heart to disappoint him. I have to sit on the ground so he can sit on my lap to lick my face. I smoked as we went back inside. They were all extra clingy and wanted to sleep in my room. I put them all the bed, Franny doesn't need to know.

I stood by the window, finishing my last cigarette for the night. I looked at the stars. I thought of the night me and François and I moved in together. I tried looking for our star, but I didn't see it. Maybe they were with him, comforting him. I really do hope he's taking this situation with his bitch mom well. I whispered to the clouds, telling them to guide my dear boy home when he's ready.

I heard movement in the bushes. I tried seeing what it was but I couldn't see it because of the rain. I think I saw something shiny, what was-

"Lloyd." I jumped. "Relax, silly, it's only mommy."

"Oh, you scared me!" I turned to her, trying to hide the cigarette behind my back.

"Smoking?"

"Yeah..." I shamefully put it in the ash tray.

"No more, it's time for bed."

"But moooom!"

"No buts, kings still listen to their mothers." She guided me to bed as if I were a child. She does that kind of stuff a lot. I don't have it in me to ask her to stop. Besides, she couldn't do it for so many years, why would I take that away from her now?

She tucked me in, the air conditioner blasting. She made sure I was snug and put my little teddy bear next to me. Apple had her head on my tummy, snoring.

"Did you have a good evening?" She asked as patted Blueberry's head.

"Yeahhh. It was fun."

I suddenly felt a sick feeling in my stomach. I don't know how to really explain it, but I felt my heart drop and my hands getting sweaty. My mom was about to leave. I grabbed her hand. The lightning lit up the room.

"Can you stay with me?" I asked her, my voice getting tired.

"Baby, I would love to, but your father needs me. What's wrong?" Thunder shook the room. "Oh, I see. Still scared of thunderstorms, just like when you were a baby."

"Not true!" I laid my head on my pillow, my eyes making a weird sound when I blinked.

She moved a little closer to me. "Well, if you do get scared, you have your little bear and dogs to protect you." She kissed my face. "And just in case that isn't enough, you could run into our bed next door like you used to do."

I felt so tired I was dizzy. "Yeahh."

I felt her kiss me one more time before I heard the door closed. I remember stroking Apple's forehead with my finger before going to sleep.

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Early in the morning, at around two, the man with the red eyes climbed ups the flower veins to the open window. He stood on the balcony, the lightning making his butcher's knife glow sliver. Slowly, like a hunter itching towards its pray, he stood over the king. The rage in his heart, the hatred in his eyes, and the cruelty of his body movements all acted at once as he ripped the blanket off the king, starling him awake.

Before the pray could process what his pets were barking out, the knife was plunged into his chest, his heart burning. He tried to scream as the knife went in and out like a sewing needle. The man stabbed two itches away from his heart before the sweet pitbull pounced on the attacker, biting his face and ear as the man yelled out in pain.

The king tried to run, but the hunter pulled him back by his legs and continued. The pug was able to alert her grandparents, both coming faster than the guards.

"Lloyd!" His mother threw herself onto him as he seized, guarding him from the knife.

Beom was bear hugging him, making sure to press on his ribs. The guards took him away and threw the attacker in his new cell.

"Do something, please!" Lloyd was now limp, being held up by his mother. "Please!"