ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ ᴍᴀʟɪᴄᴇ (ᴛaekook)
1.
In the dream, the sky was always the color of bruised iron.
𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧 lashed against the palace courtyard, washing rivers of blood across the stone.
The 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 of an entire noble clan condemned by the emperor.
At the center of the chaos knelt his 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬.
His omega.
Stripped of his royal robes and reduced to a thin white undergarment stained with mud and blood.
. . .
I never betrayed you.
The omega had cried once again, his voice raw from hours of pleading.
His trembling hands clutched desperately at the hem of the emperor's robes.
. . .
Your Majesty, please... look at me.
. . .
The seals were forged!
Bruises marred his pale skin. Blood stained the corners of his lips.
The head of the Seo clan.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*closed his eyes*
His judgment had already been 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐝.
By forged evidence, whispering ministers, and-
𝐀 𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 so consuming it left no room for reason.
He had stood there like a statue carved from stone.
Then the executioner's blade fell.
Somewhere in the distance, newborn cries echoed through storm.
Their children. Only days old.
For a brief moment, something flickered across the omega's face.
. . .
*𝖺 small smile appeared on his lips*
Tired. Heartbroken. Resigned.
His gaze lifted toward the throne.
Toward the man who had once promised him a lifetime.
. . .
Do you truly believe it was me?
The storm answered for him.
The omega - lowered his eyes.
. . .
Then this subject has nothing more to say.
The execution was carried out before dawn.
By sunrise, the Seo clan had fallen.
By sunset, the Empire celebrated the death of traitors.
The courtyard disappeared.
The Emperor found himself standing once more inside the Empress's pavilion
On the silk bedding where they had once shared countless nights-
Remained only a dark stain of dried blood.
Crying for a mother who would never hold them again.
The true traitors had smiled from the shadows, celebrating their victory.
while the Emperor collapsed onto the blood-soaked bedding.
realizing far too late that he had lost the one person he could never replace.
. . .
why didn't you believe me? enigma?
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*snapped awake with a sharp 𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐩*
He bolted upright, his chest rising and falling rapidly as air burned its way into his lungs.
Cold sweat soaked his night robes, and his hands trembled.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*Instinctively, reached toward the empty space beside him*
His fingers met nothing but cold silk.
The bed remained untouched.
Unoccupied. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲.
There was no rain... 𝐍𝐨 blood or desperate cries echoing through the palace.
Only the suffocating silence of the Imperial bedchamber.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*lowered his head into his hands; a rough, broken sigh escaped him*
Sleep had long since abandoned him.
Yet he could still hear it.
The chains. the crying. That voice.
Five years had passed, yet the nightmare remained unchanged.
It never faded. Never softened.
Kim Tae-hyung was an 𝐄𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚- the supreme ruler of a prosperous nation, feared and revered by millions.
But within these walls, he was nothing more than a 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 shell draped in royal silk.
Outside the chamber, the faint rustle of robes signaled the arrival of his attendants.
ᴀ ғamiliar voice followed shortly after.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
ʏour ᴍajesty?
Lady Choi Jisoo, the favored consort, stood beyond the doors.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
shall I have calming tea prepared?
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*said nothing*
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
The morning court will begin shortly.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
The princes have dismissed three breakfast trays already.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*expression didn't change*
I see.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
Your Majesty... they're only children.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
Please give them time. one can replace the late Empress in their hearts.
The late Empress remained a forbidden subject within the palace.
Yet after five years, some truths were impossible to ignore.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
*lowered her gaze*
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
They have that 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
They are my sons.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
*pressed her lips together*
This consort understands.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
Yes, Your Majesty.
2.
The Imperial dining hall was usually a place of strict etiquette and suffocating silence.
Or at least, it would have been if the two 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 were not present.
Seated upon the raised platform reserved for the emperor,
Tae-hyung watched his two sons from across the dining hall.
The intimidating aura of the Empire's Enigma Emperor.
-was completely outmatched by the two tiny critics seated across from him.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Father.
Set down his chopsticks with a sigh far too heavy for a child his age.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
The royal physicians said your energy is depleted.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Yet you 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩 your morning ginseng porridge heading straight for the spicy beef??
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
At this rate, you won't live long enough to see us take the throne.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
I am far too young to manage the tax reforms of this empire.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*paused, his spoon hovering in mid-air*
The man who could silence a room of a hundred grown ministers with a single glare quietly lowered his spoon.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
Ji-hoo, it's just beef-
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
ᴀɴᴅ, your eyes look like a pair of rotten plums.
*added honestly*
The entire dining hall froze.
seok completely oblivious, continued trying to balance a dumpling on his chopsticks.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Father?
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
you're such a big alpha.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
But your bravery disappears whenever the medicine comes.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
Seok! *warned*
The warning in his father's voice would've terrified 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 grown men.
Unfortunately, this brat was just five.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
If his majesty - behaves like a stubborn child what excuse will the children have?
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*slowly turned to look at his eldest son*
Ji-hoo.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*looked up from his bowl as though nothing had happened*
Father, you know?
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
when you make that face, you look like the villain from those scary stories.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
If I looked that grumpy all the time, uncle would make me take a nap.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*nodded in agreement*
That is true.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
You are setting a poor example.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
For what? 💢
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Everyone.
Several servants suddenly found the floor extremely fascinating.
a few shoulders trembled suspiciously.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*slowly set down his spoon sighing*
The emperor who could terrify an entire kingdom into silence... was currently being roasted by two 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 over breakfast.
as 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥, he was losing.
No one in the palace would have believed it if they hadn't witnessed it themselves.
ministers feared him. generals obeyed him... even veteran officials measured 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 word in his presence.
The princes questioned everything. 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 everything... possessed the confidence to lecture the emperor.
Taehyung 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 stopped them.
But he simply endured their relentless assaults on his 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.
The heavy silk curtains were drawn aside.
A 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 pheromone drifted into the hall.
The servants immediately bowed.
Empress 𝐤𝐢𝐦-𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐰𝐚 entered gracefully.
she was a striking 𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚 - tall, poised, and undeniably beautiful.
unlike the 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐞 late empress, whose presence had been gentle and warm.
she carried herself with quiet confidence and authority befitting the ruler of a noble house.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
Your Majesty.
*offered a respectful bow before taking her seat*
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
Then she turned toward the twins, offering them a smile.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
You both should show more respect to your father, young princes.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
Then, neither of you has greeted your mother this morning.
The twins immediately stopped eating.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*set down his chopsticks, his small face settling into a look of disapproval*
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
we only have one mother.
The dining hall fell silent.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
we were simply born too late to know him.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Though we never met him,
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
a new title cannot change that.
Beside him, Tae-seok snorted and dropped the omelet back onto his plate.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Ji-hoo is right.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Your smile looks like it was painted on by a very bad artist ʏour ᴍajesty.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
It gives me chills.
several servants nearly stopped breathing...others immediately lowered their heads.
Yet empress Jenhwa did not become angry.
Instead, the perfectly composed smile on her face - cracked into the slightest twitch.
ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴄʜᴏɪ-ᴊɪsᴏᴏ (ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ) (ᴏ̃)
*let out a muffled laugh behind her silk sleeve from the nearby table*
3.
From a nearby table, Consort Jisoo let out a muffled laugh behind her silk sleeve.
Jenhwa's eyes immediately softened when they landed on her.
Then her usual composure returned.
This title was nothing more than a political alliance forged in the aftermath of the massacre.
Taehyung gained a powerful ally to steady the throne.
Jenwha was finally free to be with the person she truly wished to spend her life with.
He neither noticed nor cared.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
*cleared her throat and straightened her posture*
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
You two are entirely too sharp for your own good.
The twins looked pleased by the compliment.
She resisted the urge to sigh.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
Now go on.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
Leave before your father remembers he is the emperor and-
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴇɴʜᴡᴀ (ᴀ̊) (ᴇᴍᴘʀᴇss)
Decides to 𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 you!!
*trying to sound stern*
The twins slowly turned toward Taehyung.
𝗄𝗂𝗆 𝖳𝖺𝖾-𝗁𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗀 (ᴇ̈)
*stared back*
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*leaned toward his brother*
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Can he do that?
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
I do not think so.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
I see.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*picked up another dumpling*
The Emperor's eye twitched.
Following the tense breakfast,
The twins were dragged to the Royal Pavilion Gardens for their daily lessons.
Etiquette.
History. Calligraphy.
Subjects deemed essential for the future rulers of the Empire.
The lessons were attended by the children of high-ranking nobles and ministers.
All seated neatly beneath the watchful eyes of strict old scholars -
who droned endlessly about duty, honor, and proper conduct.
ᴀccording to their tutors, these lessons would shape the future of the empire.
ᴀccording to tae-seok, they were elaborate forms of torture.
The younger prince lasted exactly one hour.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*one moment he was pretending to practice brush strokes*
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛᴜᴛᴏʀ
*stared at the empty cushion in disbelief*
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛᴜᴛᴏʀ
where is the second prince?
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*didn't even look up*
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
He escaped through the window.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Three minutes ago.
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛᴜᴛᴏʀ
*dropped his brush*
You didn't stop him?
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
He seemed determined.
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛᴜᴛᴏʀ
why didn't you call for someone?
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
would it have helped?
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛᴜᴛᴏʀ
*sighed*
But, if you knew he was escaping.
ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴛᴜᴛᴏʀ
why are you still sitting there?!
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*calmly dipped his brush into the ink*
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Right.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*pushing himself to his feet, dusted off his robes*
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
𝐓𝐚𝐞-𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐤!
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Come back here, you brat!
Abandoning his lessons, he hurried after his brother, leaving behind a chorus of shouting... tutors.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*ran through the palace gardens as though escaping a battlefield*
He didn't slow down until he spotted a familiar figure.
Seated in a secluded courtyard surrounded by blooming white magnolias and other flowers.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
UNCLE!
The Omega barely had time to react before the small prince launched himself directly into his arms.
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
*Staggered backward*
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
*dropped the book in his hand*
Again?
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
What have I told you about attacking innocent people?
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
You are not innocent.
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
That is true.
Tae-seok grinned triumphantly.
A moment later, Ji-hoo arrived.
Unlike certain people, he had used the designated pathways.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Brat.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*looked offended*
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Who says that?
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
I do.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
I am wounded.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
You'll survive.
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
*pinched the bridge of his nose*
You two are exhausting.
One clinging to his robes like an overexcited tiger cub.
The other standing with his hands behind his back like a miniature court official.
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
same age. same parents.
completely different results.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*gasped*
Uncle!
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
You're insulting me.
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
I wasn't talking about you.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
*noded thoughtfully*
That somehow feels worse.
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
Because normal children don't argue like old men.
Yoon-gi was the Emperor's elder Omega brother.
But the court no longer addressed him as a Prince.
Now, he existed within the palace like a beautiful ghost from a forgotten era.
Dressed in dark robes and living quietly in the shadows of the Imperial City.
Ever since the bloody night of the late Empress's execution.
Yoon-gi had utterly despised his brother.
He had watched Tae-hyung condemn his dearest friend to death.
In the chaos that followed, the Emperor's wrath had killed his own husband as well.
From that day onward,
whatever bond had once existed between them died alongside the dead.
Tae-hyung, suffocated by guilt so much, no longer had the courage to face him.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Then, which one is the better result?
*asked curiously*
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
Still undecided.
*steadied him before smoothing down the boy's messy hair*
Beside them, Ji-hoo frowned.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Tae-seok, you are far too old to be hanging from people.
ᴛᴀᴇ-sᴇᴏᴋ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
You say that every day.
ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪ-ʜᴏᴏ (ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ)
Because it remains true every day.
Despite scolding, Ji-hoo quietly moved closer.
Yoon-gi finally smiled and pulled both boys into his arms.
ᴋɪᴍ-ʏᴏᴏɴ-ɢɪ (ᴏ̈)
*His gaze softened*
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