I Always Love You Like This [3/5]
╔╗
The past few weeks had been busy ones for Yeseul. That refugee family had apparently brought bad news with them, troubling tales of anarchy and dissent in far off colonies they’d visited for progress reports. Between digging up information on the troublemakers who were purposely spoiling moments and Moments alike in an attempt to destroy the Empire and building her own group of loyal court members fed up with Queen Eunhye, Yeseul had had hardly a moment to stew over her husband’s continued distance. Occasionally she felt guilty for how close to treason she tread, but those feelings never lasted long, especially when she considered Gongyoo’s neglect. Even now, he was off in his quarters working on documents for the General Supreme while Yeseul forsook her first meal of the day to play disciplinarian.
She’d woken and dressed, and instead of coming out of her rooms to sit and eat she’d followed the sound of her oldest son sternly reprimanding two other boys and Chanyeol yelling.
“I understand that you weren’t raised in the castle, Jongin, but you’ve been here for two months now. It’s time you learn how to behave. Chanyeol, you have no excuse. You know better and you should be striving to teach Jongin to act with decorum, not running about like common village children.”
“You’re not the boss of me, or Nini Yifan! You can’t tell us what to do.” Five year old Chanyeol stared hard up at the ten year old in front of him, not at all phased by the height difference.
“As the Crown Prince and your older brother-”
“I’m a prince too! And you can’t call yourself my brother because you aren’t my brother by blood or by actions. Brothers are nice Yifan, and you’re not at all. You followed us around all morning, yelling when we played outside, yelling when we play inside. You just want to make Nini cry!”
Yeseul looked at the short toddler hiding behind Chanyeol, and sure enough, the little boy was glassy eyed, his lower lip stuck out in a pout.
“Chan, don’t yell. Please.” Jongin wrapped his small hand around Chanyeol’s wrist, pressing his thumb into the center of Chanyeol’s palm.
The small voice brought an instant change in the five year old’s demeanor. He turned to Jongin quickly to pet at his hair, apologizing in a whisper for getting upset. Jongin only shook his head before screwing up his face. Afraid the boy would start wailing, Yeseul stepped forward once, and then Jongin and Chanyeol were gone, snapped up in a crackle of air. Yifan sighed as if this wasn’t the first time the two had abandoned his highly important etiquette lessons and strode off to find the boys again.
The conflict finally resolved, Yeseul returned to her breakfast and made a mental note to speak to the King about Jongin and Chanyeol’s behavior. An hour later she watched as servants cleared away the last of her breakfast dishes before heading over to her husband’s personal quarters. The guard at his door saw her approaching and announced her to the King; by the time she reached the end of the hall that led to the King’s study he’d already granted her entrance, the large brown double doors swinging wide open. She found him seated at his desk, fingers stained with ink and parchments spread around him. There was nothing dignified or regal in the mess cluttered around him but the way he concentrated on the task before him and the utter focus in his eyes was without a doubt the manner of a king hard at work, and warmth bloomed in the Duchess’s chest at the thought that only she could see this. His image stayed intact at all times in public, even with the Queen and the General Supreme, but for her no aspect of Gongyoo was hidden. He finished whatever it was he was reading, adding a few extra notes to the margins before looking up at his wife with a fond smile.
“Hello, Dear. How are you this morning?”
“I’m quite well, my King, thank you. You did not come to breakfast this morning so I decided to come see that you were alright.”
“I’m fine, Yeseul,” Gongyoo grinned, “just a little busy.” He gestured at the seat across from him, in front of the desk. “Will you be staying, Darling? Have a seat.”
Yeseul declined gently.
“No, thank you. I’m headed to the royal library now.”
Gongyoo paused in his work to honestly consider his wife.
“You spend so much time in there recently. I’m glad you found something to occupy your time. Maybe I should appoint you official Historian, have the librarians all report to you with concerns about the books.”
The comment was offhanded, more to test the waters than anything else. King Gongyoo wasn’t disappointed, though; Yeseul’s reaction was every bit of what he had expected. Her eyes widened and her face opened up; her normally upright posture loosened and it only made her seem to stand taller.
“My King…”
“Historian wouldn’t be just looking after the librarians though. The scribes who write the books and the weavers who make the story telling tapestries and the visionaries who read the past and present in pools of water, all of them would be your responsibility. Would you like to try that?”
Yeseul lowered herself into a deep bow, one arm extended forward towards Gongyoo, palm down.
“I would be honored to serve the Empire in such a way.”
“Alright, then. I’ll see it done.”
Yeseul left the King’s quarters with a serene smile, greeting the guards as she left. She walked on towards the library, and as soon as they were all behind her one corner of her mouth slid down till all that was left of the sincere smile was a salacious smirk.
Yeseul stood at the head of a table sequestered away in the back of the library. She looked around the table. Lords and ladies, dukes and duchesses, military officials, and people from every rank of the royal court looked back at her. All of them brought to her table out of spite for the Queen or General Supreme, all of them permitted to stay because of their loyalty to her and the King. Their continued attendance also hinged nicely on the well-kept secrets she held over each of them. There would be no betrayal from these, her chosen.
“Good morning, my brothers, my sisters in arms. Today I’d like to introduce you to a friend.”
A man with long black hair, strong brows, and the darkest eyes the court members had ever seen came forward from the shadows. He stood directly behind Duchess Yeseul and to her left.
“This is Lee Soohyuk, head of the anarchist team that brought low that refugee family. We’re going to help him and his crew lay low during the five year investigation. In return,” Yeseul paused to look around again, mouth curling into a snarl, her pretty face deformed with malice, “he’s going to help us kill the Queen.”
╔╗
Tao woke up to clattering and shuffling. He smelled something sweet and spicy in the air and sat up. The events of the previous day came back to him and he shrugged himself out of bed, wondering what his new house guest could possibly be doing. He walked into the kitchen just in time to see Chanyeol standing in front of the stove, spooning thick oatmeal out of the pot and into a bowl. On the counter next to him sat an already filled bowl and two small plates of fruit. He smiled over his shoulder as he took both bowls of hot cereal in hand before turning to head to the table.
“Morning! Could you grab the fruit and bring it over here? Coffee’s on, if you want some later.”
If Tao had been half asleep when he shambled into the kitchen, he was fully awake now, sitting across his breakfast table from Chanyeol.
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such amazing treatment, but whatever it was, let me know so I can do it again.”
“Please,” Chanyeol laughed, “all I did was prepare some of the food you already had in the kitchen.”
“Please be my friend forever.”
“Well-”
The front door slammed open. “I smell something delicious and that is so strange.”
Chanyeol jumped up into a defensive stance immediately but relaxed when he noticed Tao hadn’t moved at all. His host only swallowed his current mouthful and reached to spoon up another while speaking to the intruder, eyes focused on his plate.
“Hi, Baekhyun.”
This Baekhyun didn’t answer Tao which Chanyeol could understand, considering the small man was busy being shocked by Chanyeol’s presence. Or maybe he was still hung up on the delicious food’s presence.
“Taozi? You are aware that there is another man at the table with you, right?”
“Yes, I am perfectly aware.” Tao tossed the last of his berries into his bowl and then finished his meal in off in about two more bites before standing and turning to face Baekhyun with a smile. “Hello, Baekhyun, thank you for barging in to see me this morning. I’d like you to meet Chanyeol; he’s the outpost student I met yesterday. He doesn’t have a place to live yet, so I let him stay over.
Chanyeol, this is my friend Baekhyun. I’ve known him since we were kids. He’s pretty terrible and really rude and, as I’m sure you noticed from his entrance, his behavior is actually trash, but he’s my favorite, terrible, rude piece of trash and a brother I love dearly. Let’s all get along, yeah?”
Baekhyun quickly relaxed and smiled brightly, waving at Chanyeol.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you! I have no idea why Tao invited you into his home for the night after knowing you for a few hours, but its morning and neither of you are dead and you cooked a beautiful breakfast, so I suppose he’s right to trust you.”
Chanyeol watched bewilderedly as Baekhyun strode across the room to fling open a living room window.
“Get up here; Taozi disappeared yesterday because of some guy, and he’s still here. Come say hi!”
“Now wait a minute,” Chanyeol wasn’t really sure what he was objecting to, but he could only stare in silent awe as the room changed. He watched blue sparks of magic flow from everything around the room towards a dark spot floating in the air in one corner. It was like a black hole for magic, some sort of gravity pulling power in till there was enough energy for the lump to expand into a silhouette.
The figure in the corner solidified, and turned to look at Chanyeol who felt his knees go weak. He lowered himself back down into his kitchen chair before his legs gave out beneath him, scared to speak. Neither Tao nor Baekhyun knew him well enough to notice his discomfort. The man in the corner looked back and forth between his two friends.
“So, is anyone gonna do introductions, or…?”
Chanyeol wanted to cry. The boy didn’t remember.
“Taozi, he’s your houseguest, you do the honors.”
“Eh-hem. Chanyeol, this is Jongin. Jongin, Chanyeol.”
Jongin nodded at Chanyeol, face bright and curious.
“Hello, Chanyeol. Nice to meet you.”
It was all Chanyeol could do to sit on his own hands and stop himself from reaching out to grab at this ghost from his dreams. His throat worked like he was trying to swallow around the thickest honey before he could answer.
“Hi, Jongin.”
╔╗
Jongin grabbed his wallet and stuffed it into the pocket of his coat. Patting himself down one final time in front of the mirror to be sure that he had everything and looked alright, he decided it was time to go. There was a cursory glance up and down the hall to be sure no one was coming before shutting and locking his bedroom door so he could teleport to the Academy Library in peace. Jongin’d agreed to meet his friends there so they could all give Chanyeol a tour of the school, opting out of meeting at Tao’s and riding over together.
He’d started to wonder if maybe the man was an Empath and manipulating his emotions; it didn’t seem like the type of thing Chanyeol would do, but he didn’t know Chanyeol well enough to say for sure.
And that’s half my problem right there, Jongin muttered under his breath before snapping into a back corner of the library, behind the manuscripts that hardly anyone ever visited.
He knew little to nothing about Chanyeol. Honestly, the man had never volunteered information about himself, only standing by while Tao spit out detail after detail about his life as a culture immersed student and occasionally corroborating the story. And yet, Chanyeol seemed to know everything about him. He guessed details about Jongin’s likes and dislikes far too easily, somehow aware of Jongin’s preference for bright clothes and open toe shoes and his hatred of overly sweet drinks. Chanyeol understood immediately that the best way to get Jongin to open up was to talk via written notes passed back and forth, and something about his presence was so comforting that just the day prior Jongin had found himself sharing all his concerns over his parents, his powers, his lack of memories.
Jongin walked through the stacks slowly, careful not to stir up the thick layer of dust on everything. Experience had taught him that breathing through decade old dirt was more work than ought to be necessary. As he got closer to the front of the library he started to pass occupied desks, individual students hard at work. Ahead he could hear the sound of familiar smothered laughing and faint shushes, and a newer, lower chuckle; it was obvious he should move faster, greet his friends and then drag them out before they disturbed anyone, but he had to pause and catch his breath when he caught a glimpse of Chanyeol’s smile through the shelves. There was something dangerous about a person who could make you feel like you’ve known them your whole life when you only met four days ago.
Guard up, Jongin stepped around the shelf into sight.
“Would you three hush? This is a library, for goodness sake; this is why we were supposed to meet on the steps outside,” he whispered good-naturedly, his tone exasperated but fond.
“Well-”
“But-”
Tao and Baekhyun started simultaneously, voices far too loud before Chanyeol cut them off with a bright smile with his large hands gently covering their mouths. Jongin felt his guard slip down a little.
“Baek figured you’d, uh, show up, here in the library in a spot no one could see so Tao suggested we wait inside for you. The weather is kinda really cold today and neither of them wanted to stay out there if they didn’t have to.”
“Well,” Jongin pulled his coat tighter at Chanyeol’s words, “I’m here now. Let’s step on out before we get kicked out.”
Their little group had been walking for a while now, most of the campus covered. Baekhyun and Tao walked at the front and competed to see who could tell the most dramatic and embellished version of each building and landmark’s history while Jongin stayed back with Chanyeol and gave correct descriptions, slightly miffed at how easily he was drawn to the taller man. His irritation struggled to hold on like a candle flame in a draft, growing smaller, almost going out, and returning only to fade before gaining strength because Chanyeol seemed to be aware of Jongin’s unease and purposely kept enough space between them to keep the atmosphere accepting and casual. Jongin grumped under his breath; he couldn’t even stay irrationally mad with Chanyeol.
“And this, my beautiful houseguest, is our most hallowed amphitheater, a place of art and beauty where young orators learn to share wisdom and council in voices soothing and strong, a home to those with silver tongues and voices of gold, Celestial Hall.”
Tao would have continued, but Baekhyun jumped in eagerly to cut him off after noticing Chanyeol’s gaze on the large frieze depicting a woman in flowing garments.
“Ah, I see you’ve noticed our magnificent stonework! See how the marble seems almost as if it were the finest of silk in her dress, and yet, also the smoothest of skin on her cheek. Yes, this is our Lady of Debate and Oratory, the great Queen Eunhye- may she reign over celestials. A fantastic speaker, a benevolent queen, and a skilled diplomat, her skills are an inspiration to all how come to these sacred walls to learn.”
Tao and Baekhyun began to talk over each other, Chanyeol forgotten as they bickered and walked up the stairs of the amphitheater. Jongin stood beside Chanyeol and stared up before talking in a soft voice.
“She does look very grand, but I like her smile the best. Even though this is only a statue, it feels like she really cares for me, like she’s smiling down at me specifically,” Jongin chuckled sheepishly and wondered why he was sharing unbidden again. “I’m sorry; that’s weird, isn’t it?”
“No.” Chanyeol pulled his gaze away from the large sculpture to look down at Jongin. “I’m positive that if there was ever a time when you and the Queen were in the same place, she would have smiled at you and your actions exactly like that.”
Chanyeol’s voice sounded strangely hoarse, and Jongin’s head snapped up immediately to stare into Chanyeol’s eyes. He almost flinched backwards at the affection he saw there, odd in its fondness and intensity. Something else about Chanyeol’s gaze tugged on his mind and he found himself stepping closer to peer into Chanyeol’s face and then look up at the Queen’s frozen visage. Jongin felt a pounding in his skull, like a battering ram behind some locked door and the longer he stared the more insistent it seemed. Right before he felt like his head was going to split open he looked back at Chanyeol only to see the taller man look away. Chanyeol stepped back from him, causing Jongin to realize he’d been holding Chanyeol’s wrist, thumb pressed into the center of Chanyeol’s palm. He let his hand fall away, but before he could say anything Chanyeol was grinning in his face again, the tension broken.
“Let’s go on in! I want to see what the acoustics here are like, and I don’t think Tao or Baekhyun have noticed our absence yet. We may be able to slip in and pretend we were listening all along so they don’t start over!”
Chanyeol bounded off, halfway up the stairs before Jongin could work his way up to a jog. The sight of Chanyeol sprinting away from him pulled a playful side he didn’t realize he had to the surface and he suddenly felt determined not to lose; it only took a second to teleport to the top of the stairs and stride through the wide double doors.
“Jongin, you cheat!”
Jongin’s foot skipped a step at Chanyeol’s whine. He’d heard that before. Not sure where though he brushed it off and only laughed over his shoulder.
“Catch me if you can!”
The two chased each other until they caught up to Baekhyun and Tao, skidding to a halt behind their friends and nodding emphatically when the two faced them with strange looks, urging them to continue their story telling. Baekhyun and Tao launched into an in-depth explanation of the symbolism in the colors of the décor and Chanyeol hip checked Jongin with a smug grin, chest heaving.
Jongin could only smile back. So much for having his guard up.
╔╗
The whole of the castle keep sat in silence. All of the servants stuck to secret passageways hidden in stone walls and underground tunnels, afraid to walk the halls lest the run into the King. Not all were so lucky. A select few had the terrible misfortune of being known to the King by name and called into his presence with increasing frequency; Jongdae found himself in this unfortunate group. Gongyoo grew angrier every day and nothing anyone said could calm him.
Yifan’s explanation that Chanyeol had accepted the engagement, but left to procure his own enchanted stone for the engagement ring according to ancient Vangelion customs, had satisfied every member of the court. The population noticed the absence of the Marksman, but rumors of him searching for his beloved’s ring stone spread throughout town and beyond. Everyone pretended to know nothing while giving each other knowing looks. Jongdae scoffed as he looked out the window overlooking the town. The people knew nothing, meanwhile every day more and more inhabitants of the castle looked to Yeseul for levelheaded guidance. Jongdae ground his back teeth at the very idea. Yeseul was not the Queen; she never had been and she never would be, no matter how much she desired or pretended otherwise.
Jongdae sighed. If there was one good thing to come out of all of this, it was the servants’ recognition of Chanyeol’s capability. Nothing had been right since Chanyeol disappeared on the wild goose chase for answers about his mother. His bright attitude, his discipline and schedule, his concern for each individual servant and their family were all what made the castle feel like home. The aura of his magic filled every nook and cranny when he was in the castle, lifting everyone’s spirits and imbuing the very stones with quiet strength. The high castle walls felt more like fences to keep everyone in than protective structures without Chanyeol within to defend them.
All gossip about the Queen’s consort and Chanyeol’s refusal to play court politics ceased, and with every day he stayed gone, the people longed more and more openly for his return. This was fantastic to Jongdae, and would be brilliant news for Chanyeol if- when he returned, but to King Gongyoo it was frustrating at best and enraging at worst. By now, he’d hoped to have Chanyeol on another planet and Yifan endeared to the public.
The enchanted bell at Jongdae’s hip began to peal obnoxiously. On the other side of the castle King Gongyoo probably sat in some chair staring at a map of the cosmos and waving a bell furiously. Jongdae knew he wouldn’t stop until Jongdae reached him, and so he took off, sprinting in hopes of cutting off the dreadful noise sooner. Even as he ran, he sighed. The King was going to ask him for news of Chanyeol again, and again Jongdae would have nothing to say. He hoped wherever his friend was, he was at least safe and happy. One of them had to be.
╔╗
Yeseul shot straight up in bed, ringing in her ears. She screamed and pressed her hands to the sides of her head, trying to block out the noise.
“Make it stop, make it stop, please- oh stars burning above, don’t let them kill me, they’re going to kill me, please-”
-crack-
Yeseul’s head whipped to the right, a red handprint across her cheek. She cut her eyes to her left side, she slowly turned her head left until she faced where she stared, her body shifted inch by inch until she faced the man at her bed side fully.
“Don’t give me that look. You were having a fit. Would you really rather I try to coax you from it gently; let you scream while I coo at you so all your servants can rush in and see me at your bedside? And with you so improperly attired?”
Yeseul huffed and kicked her blankets down before swinging her legs out of bed.
“Shut up. How dare you- don’t think you run anything here. I am the Lady of this house, I am in charge.”
She pushed through her bookshelf before moving to her end table, searching for the source of all her recent nightmares. Soohyuk stepped towards the bed between them and cocked his head incredulously, eyes darker than usual.
“Excuse me, Lady of the house, is that what you just said?”
Yeseul stopped. There it was, on the floor, the small book of poetry that had haunted her nights. Bound in a leather so black it shone purple, it was only the size of her palm. It was thin, only eighty or so pages, but she’d never read past the first poem. Yeseul cradled it in her hands; even though the poem within (the prophecy, a voice in her mind hissed) plagued her reading it after she dreamed about it gave her a macabre sort of comfort. She settled back into bed before looking to Soohyuk.
“Yes. Lady of the house. I promised you we would end the monarchy for good, and we will, but it isn’t over yet and as long as it exists I will be treated with respect.”
“You murdering, wretched woman, if you double cross me I swear-”
Yeseul smacked him square in the face with a pillow.
“Please, Soohyuk, spare me your melodramatics.”
Soohyuk could only scoff. Yeseul waved her hand in his direction while staring at the small book in her hands.
“Leave, leave, I need to read it again.”
Soohyuk headed for the secret door behind her large forest tapestry and wondered how long he should stick around. Inside the castle was the best place to dismantle the system from, but with every passing day the Duchess seemed more poised in public and more unhinged in private. It had gotten to the point that she thought a centuries-old poem that children knew and chanted for play was actually a prophecy of her death. How much help could a madwoman be?
Alone in her room again, Yeseul cracked open the little book and turned to the front page. Her fingers glided across the ink drawing of a fiery bird suspended in the sky, wings spread. A spiral of darkness pooled from where its heart should sit. She turned the next page and let her eyes follow along now familiar words, lips moving as she mouthed the lines.
The wicked fox creeped in the stead and Greater Evil leered
The fox cut off the bluebird’s head and Evil spread its fear
The fox tore out the bluebird’s heart and left its egg to fall, to crack
But the bluebird egg was a Phoenix egg, and the fire bird came back
The fire bird raged with flames the singed the fox’s soul
And the Shadow of the fire bird swallowed the wicked fox whole
The bluebird egg was a Phoenix egg, and Greater Evil weakened
The Moment turned for The Good, the world for a new season
It was a simple child’s rhyme, one she’d heard part of only once before. Years ago, she had discovered Chanyeol and Jongin in the garden passing notes as Chanyeol taught Jongin his letters. Jongin had passed Chanyeol a piece of paper and waited quietly. He had clearly expected another note in return, and jumped when Chanyeol stood up and whooped aloud.
“You did it, Nini! You wrote the whole fire bird poem!”
Jongin smiled and flopped back in the grass.
“I like that poem. It reminds me of us.”
Chanyeol dropped down into the grass next to his friend and linked their hands together.
“The Shadow of the fire bird… I am phoenix born, and awfully good at magic because of it. One day when I’m a big Marksman like my dad I’ll have fire powers, so I guess I could singe a sneaky fox. Are you gonna be my shadow, Nini, and follow me around swallowing up bad guys?”
The smaller boy just laughed and replied, “I’d rather let my shadows swallow you up!” and then he pounced on his older friend and the two disappeared, snatched off to whatever new place Jongin teleported them into to play.
Yeseul shivered as she thought of Jongin and Chanyeol. Who knows where the Phoenix born prince was at this point but as long as Jongin was alive, she was in danger. She knew it in her bones that she was the fox, and she called Soohyuk back into her room.
“Yes, my Lady?” he sneered.
Yeseul ignored the jibe.
“When I sent you after that refugee family all those years ago, you didn’t kill them, correct?”
“Of course not, we only blasted their home to scare them a bit and wiped the kid’s memory, like you ordered.”
“Go back. And this time,” Yeseul looked Soohyuk directly in the eye, “finish them.”
╔╗
Tao looked around his living room from where he reclined in an arm chair. Chanyeol was sitting at one end of the couch with Jongin’s head in his lap, absentmindedly eating purple grapes and feeding Jongin a few to Jongin. He still couldn’t believe that after years of Jongin hating every fruit Tao and Baekhyun had tried to insert into his diet, Chanyeol had found the one obscure Earth fruit Jongin liked. None of them had even seen a grape before, but apparently they were quite common on Chanyeol’s home planet and easy to buy anywhere if you knew how to ask. That was the only fact about his home Chanyeol had shared with them and they all latched on to it. Baekhyun was on the floor, flipping through a clothing catalogue with swipes of his fingers across the transparent touch screen. Tao was content. He had his friends, a fun new roommate who let him ramble about clothes for hours, and a party at the end of the week. He sat up in the chair suddenly, making the reclining back spring forward and startle the whole room.
He pointed imperiously at Chanyeol.
“You there. In five days’ time you are coming with the three of us to the Diplomatic and Intergalactic Training Academy’s annual year end graduation party. Jongin is graduating and we are all going to celebrate.”
Baekhyun sat up on the floor with wide eyes and clapped his hands together.
“That’s right, it’s party time! And I know just where you and Jongin can find two stylish and helpful people to get you all dressed up and ready to go!”
Jongin groaned and turned away from the increasingly excited and concerningly manic smiles on Tao and Baekhyun’s faces. It wasn’t till he’d rolled over that he realized his face was buried in Chanyeol’s stomach. He felt his cheeks flush red with heat, but when he peaked up he only saw Chanyeol staring at him with a bright grin. For a second his eyes seemed full of a sad longing, and then it was gone, Chanyeol laughing louder than usual.
“It seems you and I aren’t going to have a choice in this, are we Jongin?”
“No,” came his muffled answer, “no, Chanyeol, we are not.”
previous/ next
The past few weeks had been busy ones for Yeseul. That refugee family had apparently brought bad news with them, troubling tales of anarchy and dissent in far off colonies they’d visited for progress reports. Between digging up information on the troublemakers who were purposely spoiling moments and Moments alike in an attempt to destroy the Empire and building her own group of loyal court members fed up with Queen Eunhye, Yeseul had had hardly a moment to stew over her husband’s continued distance. Occasionally she felt guilty for how close to treason she tread, but those feelings never lasted long, especially when she considered Gongyoo’s neglect. Even now, he was off in his quarters working on documents for the General Supreme while Yeseul forsook her first meal of the day to play disciplinarian.
She’d woken and dressed, and instead of coming out of her rooms to sit and eat she’d followed the sound of her oldest son sternly reprimanding two other boys and Chanyeol yelling.
“I understand that you weren’t raised in the castle, Jongin, but you’ve been here for two months now. It’s time you learn how to behave. Chanyeol, you have no excuse. You know better and you should be striving to teach Jongin to act with decorum, not running about like common village children.”
“You’re not the boss of me, or Nini Yifan! You can’t tell us what to do.” Five year old Chanyeol stared hard up at the ten year old in front of him, not at all phased by the height difference.
“As the Crown Prince and your older brother-”
“I’m a prince too! And you can’t call yourself my brother because you aren’t my brother by blood or by actions. Brothers are nice Yifan, and you’re not at all. You followed us around all morning, yelling when we played outside, yelling when we play inside. You just want to make Nini cry!”
Yeseul looked at the short toddler hiding behind Chanyeol, and sure enough, the little boy was glassy eyed, his lower lip stuck out in a pout.
“Chan, don’t yell. Please.” Jongin wrapped his small hand around Chanyeol’s wrist, pressing his thumb into the center of Chanyeol’s palm.
The small voice brought an instant change in the five year old’s demeanor. He turned to Jongin quickly to pet at his hair, apologizing in a whisper for getting upset. Jongin only shook his head before screwing up his face. Afraid the boy would start wailing, Yeseul stepped forward once, and then Jongin and Chanyeol were gone, snapped up in a crackle of air. Yifan sighed as if this wasn’t the first time the two had abandoned his highly important etiquette lessons and strode off to find the boys again.
The conflict finally resolved, Yeseul returned to her breakfast and made a mental note to speak to the King about Jongin and Chanyeol’s behavior. An hour later she watched as servants cleared away the last of her breakfast dishes before heading over to her husband’s personal quarters. The guard at his door saw her approaching and announced her to the King; by the time she reached the end of the hall that led to the King’s study he’d already granted her entrance, the large brown double doors swinging wide open. She found him seated at his desk, fingers stained with ink and parchments spread around him. There was nothing dignified or regal in the mess cluttered around him but the way he concentrated on the task before him and the utter focus in his eyes was without a doubt the manner of a king hard at work, and warmth bloomed in the Duchess’s chest at the thought that only she could see this. His image stayed intact at all times in public, even with the Queen and the General Supreme, but for her no aspect of Gongyoo was hidden. He finished whatever it was he was reading, adding a few extra notes to the margins before looking up at his wife with a fond smile.
“Hello, Dear. How are you this morning?”
“I’m quite well, my King, thank you. You did not come to breakfast this morning so I decided to come see that you were alright.”
“I’m fine, Yeseul,” Gongyoo grinned, “just a little busy.” He gestured at the seat across from him, in front of the desk. “Will you be staying, Darling? Have a seat.”
Yeseul declined gently.
“No, thank you. I’m headed to the royal library now.”
Gongyoo paused in his work to honestly consider his wife.
“You spend so much time in there recently. I’m glad you found something to occupy your time. Maybe I should appoint you official Historian, have the librarians all report to you with concerns about the books.”
The comment was offhanded, more to test the waters than anything else. King Gongyoo wasn’t disappointed, though; Yeseul’s reaction was every bit of what he had expected. Her eyes widened and her face opened up; her normally upright posture loosened and it only made her seem to stand taller.
“My King…”
“Historian wouldn’t be just looking after the librarians though. The scribes who write the books and the weavers who make the story telling tapestries and the visionaries who read the past and present in pools of water, all of them would be your responsibility. Would you like to try that?”
Yeseul lowered herself into a deep bow, one arm extended forward towards Gongyoo, palm down.
“I would be honored to serve the Empire in such a way.”
“Alright, then. I’ll see it done.”
Yeseul left the King’s quarters with a serene smile, greeting the guards as she left. She walked on towards the library, and as soon as they were all behind her one corner of her mouth slid down till all that was left of the sincere smile was a salacious smirk.
Yeseul stood at the head of a table sequestered away in the back of the library. She looked around the table. Lords and ladies, dukes and duchesses, military officials, and people from every rank of the royal court looked back at her. All of them brought to her table out of spite for the Queen or General Supreme, all of them permitted to stay because of their loyalty to her and the King. Their continued attendance also hinged nicely on the well-kept secrets she held over each of them. There would be no betrayal from these, her chosen.
“Good morning, my brothers, my sisters in arms. Today I’d like to introduce you to a friend.”
A man with long black hair, strong brows, and the darkest eyes the court members had ever seen came forward from the shadows. He stood directly behind Duchess Yeseul and to her left.
“This is Lee Soohyuk, head of the anarchist team that brought low that refugee family. We’re going to help him and his crew lay low during the five year investigation. In return,” Yeseul paused to look around again, mouth curling into a snarl, her pretty face deformed with malice, “he’s going to help us kill the Queen.”
╔╗
Tao woke up to clattering and shuffling. He smelled something sweet and spicy in the air and sat up. The events of the previous day came back to him and he shrugged himself out of bed, wondering what his new house guest could possibly be doing. He walked into the kitchen just in time to see Chanyeol standing in front of the stove, spooning thick oatmeal out of the pot and into a bowl. On the counter next to him sat an already filled bowl and two small plates of fruit. He smiled over his shoulder as he took both bowls of hot cereal in hand before turning to head to the table.
“Morning! Could you grab the fruit and bring it over here? Coffee’s on, if you want some later.”
If Tao had been half asleep when he shambled into the kitchen, he was fully awake now, sitting across his breakfast table from Chanyeol.
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such amazing treatment, but whatever it was, let me know so I can do it again.”
“Please,” Chanyeol laughed, “all I did was prepare some of the food you already had in the kitchen.”
“Please be my friend forever.”
“Well-”
The front door slammed open. “I smell something delicious and that is so strange.”
Chanyeol jumped up into a defensive stance immediately but relaxed when he noticed Tao hadn’t moved at all. His host only swallowed his current mouthful and reached to spoon up another while speaking to the intruder, eyes focused on his plate.
“Hi, Baekhyun.”
This Baekhyun didn’t answer Tao which Chanyeol could understand, considering the small man was busy being shocked by Chanyeol’s presence. Or maybe he was still hung up on the delicious food’s presence.
“Taozi? You are aware that there is another man at the table with you, right?”
“Yes, I am perfectly aware.” Tao tossed the last of his berries into his bowl and then finished his meal in off in about two more bites before standing and turning to face Baekhyun with a smile. “Hello, Baekhyun, thank you for barging in to see me this morning. I’d like you to meet Chanyeol; he’s the outpost student I met yesterday. He doesn’t have a place to live yet, so I let him stay over.
Chanyeol, this is my friend Baekhyun. I’ve known him since we were kids. He’s pretty terrible and really rude and, as I’m sure you noticed from his entrance, his behavior is actually trash, but he’s my favorite, terrible, rude piece of trash and a brother I love dearly. Let’s all get along, yeah?”
Baekhyun quickly relaxed and smiled brightly, waving at Chanyeol.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you! I have no idea why Tao invited you into his home for the night after knowing you for a few hours, but its morning and neither of you are dead and you cooked a beautiful breakfast, so I suppose he’s right to trust you.”
Chanyeol watched bewilderedly as Baekhyun strode across the room to fling open a living room window.
“Get up here; Taozi disappeared yesterday because of some guy, and he’s still here. Come say hi!”
“Now wait a minute,” Chanyeol wasn’t really sure what he was objecting to, but he could only stare in silent awe as the room changed. He watched blue sparks of magic flow from everything around the room towards a dark spot floating in the air in one corner. It was like a black hole for magic, some sort of gravity pulling power in till there was enough energy for the lump to expand into a silhouette.
The figure in the corner solidified, and turned to look at Chanyeol who felt his knees go weak. He lowered himself back down into his kitchen chair before his legs gave out beneath him, scared to speak. Neither Tao nor Baekhyun knew him well enough to notice his discomfort. The man in the corner looked back and forth between his two friends.
“So, is anyone gonna do introductions, or…?”
Chanyeol wanted to cry. The boy didn’t remember.
“Taozi, he’s your houseguest, you do the honors.”
“Eh-hem. Chanyeol, this is Jongin. Jongin, Chanyeol.”
Jongin nodded at Chanyeol, face bright and curious.
“Hello, Chanyeol. Nice to meet you.”
It was all Chanyeol could do to sit on his own hands and stop himself from reaching out to grab at this ghost from his dreams. His throat worked like he was trying to swallow around the thickest honey before he could answer.
“Hi, Jongin.”
╔╗
Jongin grabbed his wallet and stuffed it into the pocket of his coat. Patting himself down one final time in front of the mirror to be sure that he had everything and looked alright, he decided it was time to go. There was a cursory glance up and down the hall to be sure no one was coming before shutting and locking his bedroom door so he could teleport to the Academy Library in peace. Jongin’d agreed to meet his friends there so they could all give Chanyeol a tour of the school, opting out of meeting at Tao’s and riding over together.
He’d started to wonder if maybe the man was an Empath and manipulating his emotions; it didn’t seem like the type of thing Chanyeol would do, but he didn’t know Chanyeol well enough to say for sure.
And that’s half my problem right there, Jongin muttered under his breath before snapping into a back corner of the library, behind the manuscripts that hardly anyone ever visited.
He knew little to nothing about Chanyeol. Honestly, the man had never volunteered information about himself, only standing by while Tao spit out detail after detail about his life as a culture immersed student and occasionally corroborating the story. And yet, Chanyeol seemed to know everything about him. He guessed details about Jongin’s likes and dislikes far too easily, somehow aware of Jongin’s preference for bright clothes and open toe shoes and his hatred of overly sweet drinks. Chanyeol understood immediately that the best way to get Jongin to open up was to talk via written notes passed back and forth, and something about his presence was so comforting that just the day prior Jongin had found himself sharing all his concerns over his parents, his powers, his lack of memories.
Jongin walked through the stacks slowly, careful not to stir up the thick layer of dust on everything. Experience had taught him that breathing through decade old dirt was more work than ought to be necessary. As he got closer to the front of the library he started to pass occupied desks, individual students hard at work. Ahead he could hear the sound of familiar smothered laughing and faint shushes, and a newer, lower chuckle; it was obvious he should move faster, greet his friends and then drag them out before they disturbed anyone, but he had to pause and catch his breath when he caught a glimpse of Chanyeol’s smile through the shelves. There was something dangerous about a person who could make you feel like you’ve known them your whole life when you only met four days ago.
Guard up, Jongin stepped around the shelf into sight.
“Would you three hush? This is a library, for goodness sake; this is why we were supposed to meet on the steps outside,” he whispered good-naturedly, his tone exasperated but fond.
“Well-”
“But-”
Tao and Baekhyun started simultaneously, voices far too loud before Chanyeol cut them off with a bright smile with his large hands gently covering their mouths. Jongin felt his guard slip down a little.
“Baek figured you’d, uh, show up, here in the library in a spot no one could see so Tao suggested we wait inside for you. The weather is kinda really cold today and neither of them wanted to stay out there if they didn’t have to.”
“Well,” Jongin pulled his coat tighter at Chanyeol’s words, “I’m here now. Let’s step on out before we get kicked out.”
Their little group had been walking for a while now, most of the campus covered. Baekhyun and Tao walked at the front and competed to see who could tell the most dramatic and embellished version of each building and landmark’s history while Jongin stayed back with Chanyeol and gave correct descriptions, slightly miffed at how easily he was drawn to the taller man. His irritation struggled to hold on like a candle flame in a draft, growing smaller, almost going out, and returning only to fade before gaining strength because Chanyeol seemed to be aware of Jongin’s unease and purposely kept enough space between them to keep the atmosphere accepting and casual. Jongin grumped under his breath; he couldn’t even stay irrationally mad with Chanyeol.
“And this, my beautiful houseguest, is our most hallowed amphitheater, a place of art and beauty where young orators learn to share wisdom and council in voices soothing and strong, a home to those with silver tongues and voices of gold, Celestial Hall.”
Tao would have continued, but Baekhyun jumped in eagerly to cut him off after noticing Chanyeol’s gaze on the large frieze depicting a woman in flowing garments.
“Ah, I see you’ve noticed our magnificent stonework! See how the marble seems almost as if it were the finest of silk in her dress, and yet, also the smoothest of skin on her cheek. Yes, this is our Lady of Debate and Oratory, the great Queen Eunhye- may she reign over celestials. A fantastic speaker, a benevolent queen, and a skilled diplomat, her skills are an inspiration to all how come to these sacred walls to learn.”
Tao and Baekhyun began to talk over each other, Chanyeol forgotten as they bickered and walked up the stairs of the amphitheater. Jongin stood beside Chanyeol and stared up before talking in a soft voice.
“She does look very grand, but I like her smile the best. Even though this is only a statue, it feels like she really cares for me, like she’s smiling down at me specifically,” Jongin chuckled sheepishly and wondered why he was sharing unbidden again. “I’m sorry; that’s weird, isn’t it?”
“No.” Chanyeol pulled his gaze away from the large sculpture to look down at Jongin. “I’m positive that if there was ever a time when you and the Queen were in the same place, she would have smiled at you and your actions exactly like that.”
Chanyeol’s voice sounded strangely hoarse, and Jongin’s head snapped up immediately to stare into Chanyeol’s eyes. He almost flinched backwards at the affection he saw there, odd in its fondness and intensity. Something else about Chanyeol’s gaze tugged on his mind and he found himself stepping closer to peer into Chanyeol’s face and then look up at the Queen’s frozen visage. Jongin felt a pounding in his skull, like a battering ram behind some locked door and the longer he stared the more insistent it seemed. Right before he felt like his head was going to split open he looked back at Chanyeol only to see the taller man look away. Chanyeol stepped back from him, causing Jongin to realize he’d been holding Chanyeol’s wrist, thumb pressed into the center of Chanyeol’s palm. He let his hand fall away, but before he could say anything Chanyeol was grinning in his face again, the tension broken.
“Let’s go on in! I want to see what the acoustics here are like, and I don’t think Tao or Baekhyun have noticed our absence yet. We may be able to slip in and pretend we were listening all along so they don’t start over!”
Chanyeol bounded off, halfway up the stairs before Jongin could work his way up to a jog. The sight of Chanyeol sprinting away from him pulled a playful side he didn’t realize he had to the surface and he suddenly felt determined not to lose; it only took a second to teleport to the top of the stairs and stride through the wide double doors.
“Jongin, you cheat!”
Jongin’s foot skipped a step at Chanyeol’s whine. He’d heard that before. Not sure where though he brushed it off and only laughed over his shoulder.
“Catch me if you can!”
The two chased each other until they caught up to Baekhyun and Tao, skidding to a halt behind their friends and nodding emphatically when the two faced them with strange looks, urging them to continue their story telling. Baekhyun and Tao launched into an in-depth explanation of the symbolism in the colors of the décor and Chanyeol hip checked Jongin with a smug grin, chest heaving.
Jongin could only smile back. So much for having his guard up.
╔╗
The whole of the castle keep sat in silence. All of the servants stuck to secret passageways hidden in stone walls and underground tunnels, afraid to walk the halls lest the run into the King. Not all were so lucky. A select few had the terrible misfortune of being known to the King by name and called into his presence with increasing frequency; Jongdae found himself in this unfortunate group. Gongyoo grew angrier every day and nothing anyone said could calm him.
Yifan’s explanation that Chanyeol had accepted the engagement, but left to procure his own enchanted stone for the engagement ring according to ancient Vangelion customs, had satisfied every member of the court. The population noticed the absence of the Marksman, but rumors of him searching for his beloved’s ring stone spread throughout town and beyond. Everyone pretended to know nothing while giving each other knowing looks. Jongdae scoffed as he looked out the window overlooking the town. The people knew nothing, meanwhile every day more and more inhabitants of the castle looked to Yeseul for levelheaded guidance. Jongdae ground his back teeth at the very idea. Yeseul was not the Queen; she never had been and she never would be, no matter how much she desired or pretended otherwise.
Jongdae sighed. If there was one good thing to come out of all of this, it was the servants’ recognition of Chanyeol’s capability. Nothing had been right since Chanyeol disappeared on the wild goose chase for answers about his mother. His bright attitude, his discipline and schedule, his concern for each individual servant and their family were all what made the castle feel like home. The aura of his magic filled every nook and cranny when he was in the castle, lifting everyone’s spirits and imbuing the very stones with quiet strength. The high castle walls felt more like fences to keep everyone in than protective structures without Chanyeol within to defend them.
All gossip about the Queen’s consort and Chanyeol’s refusal to play court politics ceased, and with every day he stayed gone, the people longed more and more openly for his return. This was fantastic to Jongdae, and would be brilliant news for Chanyeol if- when he returned, but to King Gongyoo it was frustrating at best and enraging at worst. By now, he’d hoped to have Chanyeol on another planet and Yifan endeared to the public.
The enchanted bell at Jongdae’s hip began to peal obnoxiously. On the other side of the castle King Gongyoo probably sat in some chair staring at a map of the cosmos and waving a bell furiously. Jongdae knew he wouldn’t stop until Jongdae reached him, and so he took off, sprinting in hopes of cutting off the dreadful noise sooner. Even as he ran, he sighed. The King was going to ask him for news of Chanyeol again, and again Jongdae would have nothing to say. He hoped wherever his friend was, he was at least safe and happy. One of them had to be.
╔╗
Yeseul shot straight up in bed, ringing in her ears. She screamed and pressed her hands to the sides of her head, trying to block out the noise.
“Make it stop, make it stop, please- oh stars burning above, don’t let them kill me, they’re going to kill me, please-”
-crack-
Yeseul’s head whipped to the right, a red handprint across her cheek. She cut her eyes to her left side, she slowly turned her head left until she faced where she stared, her body shifted inch by inch until she faced the man at her bed side fully.
“Don’t give me that look. You were having a fit. Would you really rather I try to coax you from it gently; let you scream while I coo at you so all your servants can rush in and see me at your bedside? And with you so improperly attired?”
Yeseul huffed and kicked her blankets down before swinging her legs out of bed.
“Shut up. How dare you- don’t think you run anything here. I am the Lady of this house, I am in charge.”
She pushed through her bookshelf before moving to her end table, searching for the source of all her recent nightmares. Soohyuk stepped towards the bed between them and cocked his head incredulously, eyes darker than usual.
“Excuse me, Lady of the house, is that what you just said?”
Yeseul stopped. There it was, on the floor, the small book of poetry that had haunted her nights. Bound in a leather so black it shone purple, it was only the size of her palm. It was thin, only eighty or so pages, but she’d never read past the first poem. Yeseul cradled it in her hands; even though the poem within (the prophecy, a voice in her mind hissed) plagued her reading it after she dreamed about it gave her a macabre sort of comfort. She settled back into bed before looking to Soohyuk.
“Yes. Lady of the house. I promised you we would end the monarchy for good, and we will, but it isn’t over yet and as long as it exists I will be treated with respect.”
“You murdering, wretched woman, if you double cross me I swear-”
Yeseul smacked him square in the face with a pillow.
“Please, Soohyuk, spare me your melodramatics.”
Soohyuk could only scoff. Yeseul waved her hand in his direction while staring at the small book in her hands.
“Leave, leave, I need to read it again.”
Soohyuk headed for the secret door behind her large forest tapestry and wondered how long he should stick around. Inside the castle was the best place to dismantle the system from, but with every passing day the Duchess seemed more poised in public and more unhinged in private. It had gotten to the point that she thought a centuries-old poem that children knew and chanted for play was actually a prophecy of her death. How much help could a madwoman be?
Alone in her room again, Yeseul cracked open the little book and turned to the front page. Her fingers glided across the ink drawing of a fiery bird suspended in the sky, wings spread. A spiral of darkness pooled from where its heart should sit. She turned the next page and let her eyes follow along now familiar words, lips moving as she mouthed the lines.
The wicked fox creeped in the stead and Greater Evil leered
The fox cut off the bluebird’s head and Evil spread its fear
The fox tore out the bluebird’s heart and left its egg to fall, to crack
But the bluebird egg was a Phoenix egg, and the fire bird came back
The fire bird raged with flames the singed the fox’s soul
And the Shadow of the fire bird swallowed the wicked fox whole
The bluebird egg was a Phoenix egg, and Greater Evil weakened
The Moment turned for The Good, the world for a new season
It was a simple child’s rhyme, one she’d heard part of only once before. Years ago, she had discovered Chanyeol and Jongin in the garden passing notes as Chanyeol taught Jongin his letters. Jongin had passed Chanyeol a piece of paper and waited quietly. He had clearly expected another note in return, and jumped when Chanyeol stood up and whooped aloud.
“You did it, Nini! You wrote the whole fire bird poem!”
Jongin smiled and flopped back in the grass.
“I like that poem. It reminds me of us.”
Chanyeol dropped down into the grass next to his friend and linked their hands together.
“The Shadow of the fire bird… I am phoenix born, and awfully good at magic because of it. One day when I’m a big Marksman like my dad I’ll have fire powers, so I guess I could singe a sneaky fox. Are you gonna be my shadow, Nini, and follow me around swallowing up bad guys?”
The smaller boy just laughed and replied, “I’d rather let my shadows swallow you up!” and then he pounced on his older friend and the two disappeared, snatched off to whatever new place Jongin teleported them into to play.
Yeseul shivered as she thought of Jongin and Chanyeol. Who knows where the Phoenix born prince was at this point but as long as Jongin was alive, she was in danger. She knew it in her bones that she was the fox, and she called Soohyuk back into her room.
“Yes, my Lady?” he sneered.
Yeseul ignored the jibe.
“When I sent you after that refugee family all those years ago, you didn’t kill them, correct?”
“Of course not, we only blasted their home to scare them a bit and wiped the kid’s memory, like you ordered.”
“Go back. And this time,” Yeseul looked Soohyuk directly in the eye, “finish them.”
╔╗
Tao looked around his living room from where he reclined in an arm chair. Chanyeol was sitting at one end of the couch with Jongin’s head in his lap, absentmindedly eating purple grapes and feeding Jongin a few to Jongin. He still couldn’t believe that after years of Jongin hating every fruit Tao and Baekhyun had tried to insert into his diet, Chanyeol had found the one obscure Earth fruit Jongin liked. None of them had even seen a grape before, but apparently they were quite common on Chanyeol’s home planet and easy to buy anywhere if you knew how to ask. That was the only fact about his home Chanyeol had shared with them and they all latched on to it. Baekhyun was on the floor, flipping through a clothing catalogue with swipes of his fingers across the transparent touch screen. Tao was content. He had his friends, a fun new roommate who let him ramble about clothes for hours, and a party at the end of the week. He sat up in the chair suddenly, making the reclining back spring forward and startle the whole room.
He pointed imperiously at Chanyeol.
“You there. In five days’ time you are coming with the three of us to the Diplomatic and Intergalactic Training Academy’s annual year end graduation party. Jongin is graduating and we are all going to celebrate.”
Baekhyun sat up on the floor with wide eyes and clapped his hands together.
“That’s right, it’s party time! And I know just where you and Jongin can find two stylish and helpful people to get you all dressed up and ready to go!”
Jongin groaned and turned away from the increasingly excited and concerningly manic smiles on Tao and Baekhyun’s faces. It wasn’t till he’d rolled over that he realized his face was buried in Chanyeol’s stomach. He felt his cheeks flush red with heat, but when he peaked up he only saw Chanyeol staring at him with a bright grin. For a second his eyes seemed full of a sad longing, and then it was gone, Chanyeol laughing louder than usual.
“It seems you and I aren’t going to have a choice in this, are we Jongin?”
“No,” came his muffled answer, “no, Chanyeol, we are not.”
previous/ next