Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Never rouse a dragon from its slumber. Never stray into its horde.” was a saying most famous in their land - a warning, a lesson well learned and passed down through each generation.

The entire continent knew how dangerous the dragons were. Parents scare off their children with tales of the monster; battle-hardened knights and warriors reminisce traumatic battles with the beast over ale and the burning flame; royals and nobles plan their cutthroat politics and administration so as to not rouse the creature.

Han Yoojin just thought it was quite ironic how a kingdom known for having dragons carved into their coins was also terribly scared of them. The people wished they would never have the misfortune to meet a dragon, yet sought after their images with greed and desperation known only to man.

Han Yoojin tirelessly worked odd jobs to earn money and could barely admire the proud dragon’s roar etched into the back of the coin before he had to trade it away for food or supplies. On times when his spiteful, dreadful coworkers designed to steal his tips and payment, Han Yoojin could almost mistake the shine of the coins for the dragon’s impassive, condescending laughter.

Whereas a dragon would obliterate a human to ashes just for glancing upon their horde, Han Yoojin was left powerless when humans plunder his, biting down on his tongue until he imagined metal on his tastebud and blood filling his mouth.

Han Yoojin’s pay from working at the inn was not enough to provide for himself and his brother. So, Han Yoojin would go to the forest to gather herbs and plants for the local doctor, apothecary, alchemist, and chefs. There was an official decree that inexperienced, unlicensed, and unrecognised folks must not venture far into the forest, simply because a dragon’s cave is believed to exist there. But the people’s fright was simply Han Yoojin’s fortune - as the only civilian brave enough to thread into the forest, many employed him to gather and forage, especially since his price was lower than the Adventurer Guild's.

Han Yoojin came across a dragon by accident one day on one of his forest trips.

It was unconscious, with a large hole ripped into one of its wings, and various gashes on its body. Han Yoojin remembered how his heart nearly stopped then. He shook and trembled as his mind conjured the many scenarios where things could go wrong and he’d be faced with his demise. He dropped his basket - filled to the brim with various medicinal plants and herbs - and was so sure that that would be a trigger to awaken the beast and incite the end of his life. Instead, the dragon remained still. It’s a miracle he managed to silently leave the clearing on shaking legs without alerting the unconscious dragon. 

That night, Han Yoojin came home with no money as he’d dropped his basket. But he could care less if it meant he could still keep his life and return to Han Yoohyun back home.

If Han Yoohyun found himself enveloped in a desperately tight hug by Han Yoojin, whose face was startlingly pale and heartbeat was unbelievably fast, he simply held his older brother close to calm him. He learned a long time ago that Han Yoojin would never tell him things that speak of his burdens.

But Han Yoojin was haunted by the memories of the injured dragon. It distracted him during the day and kept him up at night. A normal, sane man would’ve been eager to forget it - only recollecting it loudly in the pubs after a few drinks too many for the disbelieving crowd. Han Yoojin was never considered normal or sane.

So, on the very next day, he caved and decided to venture into the forest again. Convincing himself it was only to confirm his memory, that he hadn’t simply imagined the dragon from weakening sanity, Han Yoojin trekked the familiar paths and followed his previous trail of foraging.

Han Yoojin found the dragon - still wounded and unconscious - and decided to take care of the dragon. Working with his limited knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants, Yoojin tried to create a healing paste and slather it over the wounds. Then, Yoojin caught some fish and used its skin to cover the larger wounds.

The dragon woke when Yoojin had just finished tending to its wounds and was wondering what he should do with the pile of skinned fish he was left with. The dragon let out a weak roar, startling Yoojin and causing him to fall on his behind.

Frozen, sprawled on his back, with a dragon looming over him, Yoojin decided the best course of action was to put on a big smile - he’s not scared, he’s really not, why would he be scared? - then blindly grabbed one of the fish and offered it to the dragon. “Are you hungry?”

And that was the start of the beautiful friendship between Yoojin the Commoner and Noah the Dragon.

∞∞∞

“Hyung, you’ve been doing a lot of work in the backyard lately,” Han Yoohyun said to Han Yoojin over dinner one day. “The Adventurer Guild took notice and I don’t think they’re happy about it.”

Considering Han Yoojin’s job of foraging was technically illegal, “working in the backyard” was the term they agreed upon using when discussing it. Because Yoojin wasn’t registered as a member of the guild, but was taking their jobs, it wasn’t surprising that the Adventurer Guild wasn’t a big fan of him.

“I didn’t take more jobs than usual though…”

“I think they see you entering and leaving the forest a lot and now they’re thinking you’re working more.” Han Yoohyun frowned in worry. “Whatever it is you’re doing out there, maybe you should stop for a while. We don’t want the guild to take up a real problem with it or for the knights to notice.”

Han Yoojin hesitated before agreeing. He couldn’t exactly tell Han Yoohyun he was taking care of a dragon in his spare time. Still, he didn’t want more attention on himself. Maybe he should stock up on food and bid goodbye to Noah on his next visit. He wouldn’t want to disappear on his friend without any explanation.

Mind made up, Han Yoojin quickly made an excuse to justify his going to the forest one more time. “I already accepted the job and money from the pharmacist. I promise this will be the last job I take for a while!”

Han Yoohyun frowned. “If you haven’t used it, you can still return the money.”

“We need it to repair the roof, remember?”

Han Yoohyun frowned harder. “Then I’ll help you. It’ll be quicker with the two of us.”

Han Yoojin quickly shook his head. “I’m planning to go during the day. You have your internship with the blacksmith. You can’t just miss out on it.” Han Yoohyun wasn’t happy, but didn’t protest because he knew Yoojin was right. To appease his brother, Yoojin put on a confident, cheerful grin. “Don’t worry, Yoohyun-ah! I’ve done this a million times before! What could possibly happen?”

∞∞∞

Apparently, earning the ire of the Adventurer Guild can make the knights suspicious of you. This meant that they could decide to follow you in secret and keep tabs on you. This also meant that they could catch you hanging out with a dragon, think you were being attacked, and then try and “save” you.

“Stop moving already! Do you want to get killed?” One of these particular knights was restraining Han Yoojin, whose insistent struggle proved to be an annoyance. Fed up with his weak attempts to escape, the knight finally shoved Han Yoojin to the ground and brandished his sword in front of him.

“If you don’t want to die, just stay back and keep out of our way.”

Han Yoojin glared at the knight. He couldn’t move much when there was a blade a few centimetres away from his neck. Still, he made sure to stare the knight dead in his eyes and show him just how much the rough treatment affected him - not much.

“Why you-”

The knight didn’t have the time to finish his threat. Noah noticed their predicament and let out a mighty roar. Startled, the knight lowered his sword and staggered back. It’s enough for Yoojin to jump on his feet and scurry away to the side.

“Noah!” Yoojin called out. With a flap of his wings and a swipe of his claw, the dragon threw the knights aside. Noah turned to Yoojin and flew towards him with the speed of light. Yoojin was scooped up in Noah’s front legs and the two took off into the air before the knights could gather their bearings.

“That was close!” Yoojin yelled once they flew above the trees and into the free sky. Noah made a noise of agreement and tightened his hold around Yoojin as they flew higher. “We need to find a safer place to land-”

A rattling sound made Yoojin pause. Then, a crackle, like lightning, was heard. Han Yoojin tensed up and stopped fighting against his restraints. He looked around their empty surroundings with trepidation. Suddenly, golden chains materialised in the air, forming circles around them. Han Yoojin noticed them a second before Noah and his warning cry died before it could even leave his mouth.

The loop tightened around Noah’s body, cutting into his scales and drawing a thin circle of blood on his skin. The sudden pain earned a yelp from Noah. On reflex, the dragon loosened his grip on Han Yoojin.

Han Yoojin felt the pressure around him disappear and he seemed to hang in the air for a long, long second. Then the lack of support registered and Han Yoojin’s heart dropped to his stomach as he freely fell from the sky.

Han Yoojin couldn’t help but scream. Without anything to hold and steady him, Han Yoojin flipped several times in the sky, getting more and more disoriented as the green forest inched closer and closer.

The world seemed to slow just as his plummet was halted. He slowly opened his eyes - he didn't even realise he'd closed them - and a gasp of disbelief escaped him as he realised he was suspended mid-air by chains, the very same that had wrapped around Noah.

Han Yoojin tried to look for Noah, but the chains were moving, pulling him down towards the trees. Though they didn't hurt, they had no give when he tried to struggle past the bounds, forcing him to give up just as they finally touched the ground, arriving in a clearing.

There were four people, three of them being knights, standing behind a tall hooded man. The sunlight shone golden around his silhouette, resplendent similar to Noah's scales

“So the princess didn’t need saving from the dragon after all,” the man idly commented to the knights. “Turns out the dragon and its captive are friends.”

Han Yoojin chose to keep quiet. The man hooked his finger and the chains pulled Yoojin towards the stranger. He grew alarmed by the closing distance between him and the stranger and ended up having to crane his neck just to stare up at him, whose face was hidden under the shadows of his hood.

"Civilians shouldn't enter the forest. Didn't your monarch order it?" The man oh-so-kindly reminded. He made a move as if he was about to grab Han Yoojin's chin and he jerked away to avoid the touch.

“Where’s Noah?” Han Yoojin demanded instead of answering. “What did you do to him?”

“You even named the dragon?” the stranger sounded pleasantly surprised. “Don’t worry, he’s safe for now.”

“What do you mean ‘for now’? Hey, I’m talking to you!” Han Yoojin snapped when the stranger all but ignored him, turning around to the three knights. One of them raised his sword and threateningly pointed it towards Yoojin.

“Show some respect!”

Han Yoojin scoffed. If his hands were free, he would’ve used them to curse out the knight. Undeterred by this exchange, the stranger lifted a hand and the three knights immediately stood at attention.

“I’m going back. Bring him along with us.”

The knights bowed towards the stranger and then ran to Han Yoojin. They each grabbed a limb, and only once he was secured in their grips did the chains loosen and let go. Meanwhile, Han Yoojin’s mind was racing as he tried to figure out who this stranger was. For the knights to show this much reverence and obedience, he couldn’t be someone normal.

One of the knights pushed Yoojin from the back and the other two practically dragged him to walk. They, with the hooded stranger in front, walked through the forest until they reached another clearing where several horses and carriages were kept.

Han Yoojin tensed when he saw the royal crest and flag on the carriage. He turned his head to the hooded stranger who was walking to one of the carriages. Just as he was about to enter, he paused and pushed back his hood.

In disbelief, the first thing Han Yoojin noted was the golden hair; next the other’s handsome face, seemingly carved by the kingdom’s master sculptor. The way the sunlight hit the clearing made his eyes seem as if they were glowing.

Han Yoojin was frozen as Crown Prince Sung Hyunjae, the Shining Sun of the Kingdom, the Radiant Hope of the Land, smiled at him.

“Make sure to treat my guest well.”

∞∞∞

Han Yoojin expected many things to happen upon his capture. He expected to get thrown into the dungeon for breaking the law, exiled for challenging the monarch, and maybe arrested for consorting with a dragon.

Instead, Han Yoojin found himself healed of his wounds, bathed and dressed in clothes worth more than a year of his pay, and served delectable, mouth-watering dishes.

"More tea?" a servant offered to refill Han Yoojin's half-drunk cup, leaning down so he wouldn't have to look up from where he was sitting on the plush couch.

"Um, sure."

Han Yoojin looked to the side while the servant poured the drink. There's another servant stationed beside him, who has been waving a large fan nonstop the entire time Han Yoojin was in the room. He was completely quiet and didn't reply to any of Han Yoojin's probing questions. Aside from the tea servant, none in the room had responded to any of Han Yoojin's actions; stationary as if they were nothing more than furniture.

The quiet, peaceful situation might have successfully dissuaded Han Yoojin from making havoc at first. He felt too out of place in the posh room, but it was just maddening now.

"Why am I here?" Han Yoojin asked the servant pouring him tea. If she heard him, she didn't act on it.

Han Yoojin frowned and asked again. "How long am I supposed to wait here?"

Still not answering, she just put down the teapot and picked up the cup to hand to Han Yoojin.

"Do not worry. We've been instructed to take care of your well-being and needs by the crown prince." she finally replied, but her words did nothing to assure Han Yoojin. Han Yoojin reluctantly took the offered cup and she returned to stand silently by his side.

Han Yoojin stared at the cup in his hands for a long time. It's warm in his palms and he could still see a wisp of steam from the surface. No one was going to cave here as long as things remained normal. He raised the cup and tipped it over. The liquid was hot, but not boiling. It soaked into his clothes and got onto his skin.

That spurred the servants into action. They twitched and stared at each other, wide eyes in disbelief. Some rushed to his aid, holding napkins and fretting over him, unsure whether or not to touch him.

Han Yoojin bit back his smirk and looked at the wide-eyed servant who had answered him. "Oh, look. My well-being is at risk." He dryly said. "Better inform your master, right?"

∞∞∞

While waiting for the crown prince to arrive, a healer came to look over him. The servants left to offer privacy and Han Yoojin voluntarily opened his shirt to give the healer a view of his torso. It's barely a burn, just reddened skin that disappeared without a mark as soon as the man put a glowing green hand on his skin.

"Young master should be fine." The healer concluded his healing.

Han Yoojin was buttoning his shirt when the doors opened and Sung Hyunjae entered the room. The healer immediately stood up and bowed to the crown prince. Meanwhile, Yoojin froze for a second but then tried to feign nonchalance as he unhurriedly stood and bowed in greeting. By then, the healer had straightened up and was already dismissed.

“I have to commend you, you’re creative in requesting my presence.” There was slight amusement in Sung Hyunjae’s voice as he appraised Han Yoojin, giving him a once-over that made the latter feel like an object on display. “If you waited a bit more patiently, I would’ve come and see you in the end.”

“I’m not really a person who sticks to someone else’s schedule,” Han Yoojin said while straightening up with a smile. After a beat, the smile dropped and Yoojin sharpened his eyes, staring at Sung Hyunjae accusingly. “Especially when the person is holding me captive.”

Sung Hyunjae chuckled and walked further into the room. “If this is your definition of being held captive, you must have lived a luxurious life.”

Han Yoojin cleverly kept their distance, stepping away from the couch when Sung Hyunjae sat down – elegantly too, damn it – on it. Han Yoojin stood to the side, warily eyeing the crown prince before him. Even if he was the one on his feet and technically taller at this moment, Sung Hyunjae seemed much larger and took up the room more than Yoojin.

“You can put me in a basement prison or a fancy tearoom, and it still won’t change the fact that I’m kept here out of my will.” Han Yoojin tried not to be cowed, staying vigilant in contrast to Sung Hyunjae’s relaxed stance. “What could you possibly want to warrant capturing me?”

“Other than the fact you blatantly ignored and disobeyed the monarch’s rule by wandering into the forest?” Han Yoojin scowled to show how unimpressed he was by Sung Hyunjae’s stalling. “You befriended a dragon. A dragon who so happened to escape the troop’s capture.”

“Noah escaped?” A spark of hope lit up inside Yoojin. His eyes lit up in joy and a large smile broke out on his face. Sung Hyunjae raised an eyebrow at the blatant display of happiness and Han Yoojin remembered himself. He quickly masked his joy.

“He doesn’t wish anyone harm. As long as he’s left alone, he won’t come after the people.”

“While I believe your claim, you do understand how the scenario of a loose dragon in the kingdom upsets the King and Queen?”

Han Yoojin glared at Sung Hyunjae. “If you think I’ll help you capture Noah, then you’re greatly mistaken.”

To his surprise, Sung Hyunjae casually waved as if to physically dispel Han Yoojin’s suspicion and hostility. “I’m not interested in capturing him. I don’t think keeping an unwilling dragon captive is beneficial to the kingdom’s future.”

While Sung Hyunjae’s claim made Han Yoojin relaxed a bit, it did raise another bout of suspicion in him. Because now, Han Yoojin’s faced with another mystery to the crown prince. “Then, what do you want with me?”

As if he’s been waiting for this opening, Sung Hyunjae leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and a pleased smile on his face. Han Yoojin tried not to feel so spooked by this. “I want to see if your affinity with dragons came across to other magical creatures. I have a few living on the palace grounds, but it’s hard to take care of them when they’re so hostile to the caretakers.”

“So… you want me to befriend some creatures? Help care for them?”

“That would be your main task, yes.”

Han Yoojin stared at Sung Hyunjae for a long time. When he spoke, he couldn’t hide how baffled he was. “Why?”

“I’ve put plenty of effort in capturing those creatures alive, it’s quite a shame to have to get rid of them after all this time.” The sigh that Sung Hyunjae let out almost came off as troubled if it wasn’t so performative.

Han Yoojin cautiously observed the crown prince, eyeing his mannerisms and thinking over his words. He couldn’t help but think over their entire interactions, from the forest up to now. While he couldn’t really deduce Sung Hyunjae’s actual intentions and plans, he had a hunch about what might happen going forward.

Safe to say, the only reason Han Yoojin was not already locked up behind bars for trespassing into the woods and being so disrespectful to a member of the royal family, was because of Sung Hyunjae’s interest in his supposed ‘affinity’ – Han Yoojin wasn’t even sure it’s a real thing. But Han Yoojin was backed into a corner where he couldn’t possibly say no to the other’s offer.

Still, he couldn’t let Sung Hyunjae think he’s a pushover. So, despite his racing heart, Han Yoojin licked his lips and dared to ask, “What do I get out of this?”

Han Yoojin could clearly see the way Sung Hyunjae’s eyebrows shot up. A glint appeared on his widened eyes. Then, he started laughing in amusement – perhaps the first genuine show of emotions Yoojin had seen of the crown prince so far. After a moment, Sung Hyunjae leaned back, much more relaxed and assured.

“For one, you won’t be put in prison.” Han Yoojin gulped at the thought. “You would be formally employed by the palace. You would get lodgings, food, and pay – granted, you have to actually do your job. I also won’t go after your dragon friend.”

Sung Hyunjae paused, then tacitly added. “Not genuinely . I must show the King, the advisors, and the ministers some effort, but ultimately, they couldn’t blame me if the dragon escaped.”

What Sung Hyunjae was proposing was already several degrees better than what Han Yoojin had in mind. Not only he and Noah could evade imprisonment, Yoojin could even get a job. Granted, this job was probably a method to keep him in check, but at least he’ll be staying in the palace instead of prison. Though, this arose a new problem.

If Han Yoojin was to stay in the palace, what would be of Han Yoohyun? He’d rather his brother didn’t enter the monarch’s radar, but he didn’t want to abandon his brother without any explanation. It hasn’t been a day since he went to the forest, but knowing Han Yoohyun, he’s probably already worried himself sick over Han Yoojin’s absence.

While Han Yoojin was deep in thought, Sung Hyunjae made to rise. “If that’s everything, then I’ll have the servants introduce you to the palace and the tamers.”

“Wait!” Moving on instinct, Han Yoojin grabbed Sung Hyunjae’s arm without thinking. “Can I leave the palace?”

Sung Hyunjae paused in his tracks and stared at the hand partially wrapped around his arm. Noticing this, and finally realising his impudence, Han Yoojin quickly let Sung Hyunjae go and bowed. “Forgive me, I wanted to know about my living arrangements and if I have permission to go into the town. I… will need to gather some of my belongings if I were to live here.”

With his head down, Han Yoojin couldn’t see the other and he tensed as Sung Hyunjae clasped his shoulder lightly. Han Yoojin gulped, but Sung Hyunjae merely urged him to stand straight. The crown prince was looking at Han Yoojin with a heavy gaze. The hand still resting on his shoulder felt hot, like a brand leaving a mark on his body.

“I’ll have one of my guards escort you to your house. You can pack and say goodbye to your brother, but I expect you to return to the palace by the end of the day.” Han Yoojin flinched and glared up at Sung Hyunjae at the mention of Han Yoohyun. A crooked, almost teasing, smile returned his narrowed gaze. “As for visitations… Well, we’ll see how you fare in your new job. If you adapt well, I’ll let you go to the city every once in a while.”

Through gritted teeth, with a tone that didn’t quite match his words, Han Yoojin uttered, “I thank the Crown Prince, the Shining Sun of the Kingdom, for his generosity.”

Amused, Sung Hyunjae stared down at Han Yoojin, who’s trying not to show his animosity too visibly. Then, his eyes trailed lower and remained at Han Yoojin’s torso. Previously, Han Yoojin had forgo buttoning the top button, and sometime during their interaction, his shirt was slightly shifted down. Peeking through the top of his clothes, a person can see his reddened skin, the inflammation ending just below the delicate jut of his collar bones.

Feeling oddly vulnerable and bare, Han Yoojin pulled up his shirt with his hand, not dissimilar to a maiden who’s caught in a state of disarray. Sung Hyunjae’s eyes returned to Han Yoojin’s now flushed face and he chuckled.

Sung Hyunjae took away his hand, and without a goodbye, walked out of the room. The servants opened the door for him without question and closed it behind him with the utmost care. Once Han Yoojin was left alone in the room, he let out a huge sigh and all but crumbled to the ground, his limbs losing their energy once he affirmed he was alone.

“What did I get myself into…”

∞∞∞

The sky was dark by the time Han Yoojin left the palace. He went through the paths he knew were still lively, the boisterous street lit up by candles and colourful lights from stores and bars.

The guard that was assigned to Han Yoojin, a man named Song Taewon, was eerily quiet as he shadowed Han Yoojin’s steps. Han Yoojin could feel the towering form of the man on his back, but Song Taewon’s silence made him look back every once in a while in wariness to see if he’s still there.

Usually, Han Yoojin was an invisible, silent entity grazing through the town. Nobody bothered to take notice of him, much less greet him; all happy with letting the penniless orphan be. But with Song Taewon, every person they passed consciously kept their distance but shot him with suspicious looks. The crowd parted before him and all Han Yoojin could think about was how it’ll be nearly impossible to go back to a normal life after this.

Han Yoojin cursed Sung Hyunjae inside his mind.

Han Yoohyun was pacing inside their house when Han Yoojin opened the door. The former let out a huge, relieved sigh, and rushed to hug the latter before he could properly set food on the threshold.

“Hyung!”

“Yoohyun-ah!”

“Are you okay? What happened in the forest?” Han Yoohyun asked as he reluctantly pulled away. He looked over Han Yoojin’s form, trying to check for any wounds. “Why did you disappear today? The inn told me you never got in for your shift.”

“It’s a long story…” Han Yoojin trailed off. “I’ll tell you about it as I pack, okay?”

“Pack? What do you mean? Are we leaving?” Han Yoohyun did a double take as Han Yoojin walked past him and finally noticed the tall man standing a few feet away. “Who is that?”

“Oh, I almost forgot. Song Taewon-ssi, please come in.”

The royal guard nodded, quietly thanked Han Yoojin, and finally stepped inside the house while the brothers made their way further in. Han Yoohyun briefly glared at Song Taewon as he closed the door behind him. The next second, he was hot on Han Yoojin’s steps as he walked to his room, picking up some things along the way.

“Wait, hyung, slow down. Why is a knight in our house and why are you packing?”

“Well, where do I start?” Han Yoojin sighed. Despite having planned this conversation on the way to the house, he was still unsure how Han Yoohyun would take it, but he had to settle this matter right away - this was his only chance.

“I received a job offer to work in the palace’s stable. Do you know where my travelling satchel is?” Han Yoojin rummaged through the bottom of his wardrobe and found the dusty, large bag. He threw that on his bed and started pulling out some clothes.”I came across a spooked horse in the forest and I calmed it down. Turns out the horse belonged to a palace worker who saw what I did. One thing led to another, they thought I’d be helpful to have around. It seems they really need a worker so I was brought into the palace immediately.”

“What? That doesn’t make sense.” Han Yoohyun scrunched up his face in disbelief. Not necessarily because he had doubts in Han Yoojin’s skills - he’s seen his brother take care of the guests’ horses in the inn; he knew he was great with them - but more because it’s unthinkable to be hired for the palace so easily without any proper background checks or exams.

“I was suspicious too at first, but it really happened.” Awkwardly, Han Yoojin rubbed his neck and tried to laugh casually. “It’s an odd miracle, but I didn’t want to lose out on an opportunity just because I’m too cautious.”

“So,” Han Yoohyun actually cut himself off from disbelief. There was too much information coming in at the same time and he chose to focus on the most present matter right now. He glanced out the partially open door of the bedroom and pointedly cocked his head at Song Taewon, who was standing guard by the entrance of their house. “Why is a knight with you?”

“Ah… you need a token to get in and out of the palace. Since I was just hired, I haven’t gotten mine yet, so he’s here to make sure I can go back without any issue. I’m to stay in the palace grounds for the first few weeks of the job until everything is settled.”

Han Yoohyun went quiet for a few seconds. “This is real, then? You’re really leaving?”

“Yeah.”

Noticing Han Yoohyun’s sullen demeanour, Han Yoojin knew he had to slow down and treat the matter with more care. He sighed and stopped trying to pack - stopped trying to act like this situation didn’t hurt him. Their entire life was about to get upturned over a series of events that didn’t even last a whole day.

Stepping closer to Han Yoohyun, Han Yoojin gently caressed his brother’s hair. For a few years now, Han Yoohyun had grown taller and bigger than him. The child that would use to hug him around the waist now outgrew him to the point that Han Yoojin had to reach up to touch him.

“It’s not permanent. I can go in and out of the palace once I’m settled in. I’ll come to the city and visit you often.Besides, you can still send me letters.”

“I suppose.” Han Yoojin couldn’t help but fondly smile as Han Yoohyun grumbled.

“Don’t worry too much over me, okay? I’ll send some money over too so you can focus on your apprenticeship.”

“How long are you staying in the palace?”

“As long as I work there I think.”

“After this, when can I see you again?”

“Once I’m properly used to the living quarters and my roles, I’ll start having more free time and days-off.”

Han Yoojin was glad he managed to utter those lies without hesitation. It’s the only comfort he could think of to make Han Yoohyun let him go and not worry himself sick over Han Yoojin’s fate. After long moments of silence, Han Yoohyun finally nodded and took a long, deep breath.

“Okay, hyung.”

And then, Han Yoohyun helped Han Yoojin pack - gathering what meagre belongings he would need. When they got out, Song Taewon was still standing guard in front of the door.

“Is this everything you want to bring?” Song Taewon stared pointedly at the satchel that was admittedly much too small for a long stay. However, Han Yoojin was never the type to have too many things at once and he had no shame in it.

“Yeah.” Han Yoojin turned to Han Yoohyun, reached out one last time to squeeze his hand then nodded to Song Taewon. “I’m ready to go.”

∞∞∞

It surprised Han Yoojin how mundane working for the palace was. Of course, none of his tasks were mundane. Having to care for magical creatures was a challenging task on its own. Although he had other workers to work with, the creatures could get really hostile to the point it's a pain to have to take care of them.

Han Yooyin was almost discouraged at first. He had none of the formal training and education the other caretakers received. He wasn’t sure how Sung Hyunjae thinks he could help only based on his interaction with Noah. Still, whatever his plan was, Sung Hyunge's gamble certainly paid off.

Somehow, Han Yoojin's presence managed to still and calm the creatures.

The first time he went into the conservatory, the creatures were rioting, fighting and struggling against the caretakers as they tried to groom them. Some had managed to escape their pens and enclosure, actively banging against the conservatory's outer shields to try and escape. Some were grappling their assigned caretaker, swinging their limbs around to shake them off and possibly maim them.

It was nothing short of chaos. But the moment he stepped in, all of the creatures suddenly went docile. They went limp and when the caretakers tried approaching them again, they were pliant. Everytime any creature went restless, Han Yoojin just had to be in their vicinity for them to settle down.

Han Yoojin was as baffled as everyone, but they at least seemed to take it in a stride. They just needed to know he was personally hired by Sung Hyunjae and saw his effects on the creatures in person to welcome him in their ranks. None of the workers recognised Han Yoojin, but most prodigies and experts were recluse and preferred anonymity - so the fact that Han Yoojin was unknown just fueled the assumption that he was a genius tamer that Sung Hyunjae had found to help them out.

"I see you're settling well."

Han Yoojin, as he was in the middle of brushing a pair of twin unicorns, stopped his activity to respectfully bow to the elegantly dressed man who entered the conservatory.

"Your highness. This one is humbled by your presence today."

Sung Hyunge allowed Han Yoojin to rise. There, he saw that the prince had an inquisitive, if not somewhat weird, look on his face. "Why are you so respectful so suddenly? I quite enjoyed your brazenness before." 

"I think my hostility was quite deserving considering you kidnapped me. But since you are my employer now, I figure some respect is due." Han Yoojin shrugged.

Sung Hyunjae smiled and tilted his head to the side. "Not because I'm your prince then?"

"Respectfully, your highness, before this, you were just part of the monarch that taxed me. At least, now you pay me and give me benefits," Han Yooyin bluntly said. His polite tone just seemed to provide his words with more bite. However, that just made Sung Hyunjae laugh.

The two unicorns Han Yooyin was taking care of, Blackie and Whitey, nervously whinnied and scooted closer to Han Yoojin. They hid behind the familiar human, gazing warily at the strange golden man before them. Han Yoojin shushed them.

"I'm glad your friend's scent didn't deter the creatures from warming up to you," Sung Hyunjae commented once he was done laughing, satisfied. "From the reports I received when you first arrived, I almost feared they would be too afraid to form a bond with you."

Scent? Han Yoojin frowned, confused. “Why would the creatures be afraid of me?”

“Haven’t you noticed?” Sung Hyunjae’s tone made it as if it was obvious. “Clearly, Noah marked you with his scent. That’s why the creatures are so wary of you - you smell and seem stronger. But once they realise you yourself is weak, they must have thought you were safe and finally dared to approach you.”

“I’m not weak!” Han Yoojin bristled, irked with Sung Hyunjae’s nonchalant, blase comment of his strength. From Sung Hyunjae’s pointed, but humouring gaze, Han Yoojin knew he was facing a losing battle to change his perception of him. Instead, he decided to switch gears and nitpick the man in return to change the topic - his earlier claim of wanting to show respect quickly forgotten. “Whatever. Why are you dressed so extravagantly?”

“Is something wrong with my outfit?” Sung Hyunjae looked down at himself. When Han Yoojin first saw him in the forest, he was already dressed much nicer than anyone he’s seen in the city. After they returned to the palace, he’d changed into a nicer outfit that Han Yoojin didn’t even dare to think of its price. But the outfit he’s wearing now was much more intricate and showy of his status as the Crown Prince.

“Seems like a waste to wear such an outfit here.” Han Yoojin then motioned to his uniform and the other workers. “The rest of us are dressed normally.”

“Does Yoojin think I dress like this just to visit you?”

“... No?”

Sung Hyunjae gave him a long look, then chuckled. For some reason, Han Yoojin felt silly and embarrassed. He couldn’t help but feel like he kept making a fool of himself in front of the man. Before he could stew on it for too long, Sung Hyunjae called over a nearby caretaker.

“I’m about to head elsewhere, but it just so happens the conservatory is along the way and I figured I should see if my new hire is working properly.” To the caretaker who came running to their side in a matter of seconds, Sung Hyunjae nodded to the unicorns behind Han Yoojin. “Take over his duty and report to the supervisor in charge that Han Yoojin is summoned by me and will be unavailable for the rest of the day.”

“Of course, my prince.” The caretaker bowed deeply, then took Han Yoojin’s tools. Taken aback, Han Yoojin didn’t respond in time to stop the other worker from taking the brush from his hand. For a quick second, the two locked eyes and shared a look of confusion together - the other more so than Han Yoojin.

“ Why would I be unavailable?”

“Aren’t you curious about my state of dress? I can just show you the reason directly. Come see my performing duties for today.” Barely waiting for an answer, Sung Hyunjae splayed a hand on Han Yoojin’s back and walked him out of the conservatory. He ignored Han Yoojin’s confused “Huh?”, and settled into an unhurried pace into the parts of a palace Han Yoojin had never seen.

There were several guards following them from behind, all schooling their expression and keeping them void of emotions, but for some reason, Han Yoojin couldn’t quite shake the feeling that he was being questioned or suspected. He dared to look back once, his view partially obstructed by Sung Hyunjae’s arm and he saw that one of the guards was the same one who previously escorted him.

Coincidentally, he must have caught the guard in the one moment his mask broke away. Song Taewon stared at the hand still pressed into Han Yoojin’s back and his eyes flickered with distaste. Han Yoojin quickly turned to face the front again, only to see they had stopped before a towering, glistening pair of doors.

“Have the petitioners gathered, Evelyn?” Sung Hyunjae asked the blonde woman waiting by the side. She’s carrying several rolls of parchments. Her outfit signals to Han Yoojin that she was some sort of advisor.

“Yes. Few of the lords and more of the common people today.” The woman glanced at Han Yoojin, asking the same question as everyone that had passed during the trip. “They’re all waiting for you.”

Sung Hyunjae hummed. “Well, let’s not keep them long.” To Han Yoojin, he said while pushing him towards the direction of a nearby servant. “You can watch on the side if you promise to play nice. I’ll come to you once it’s over.”

It’s teasing, maybe coddling, maybe bargaining. Han Yoojin couldn’t help but feel like he’s a small animal being talked down to, and perhaps it’s embarrassing, to be cooed at in front of many people. But he couldn’t reply smartly in public, not to the Crown Prince Sung Hyunjae. Maybe later, once the prince was done with his job and there were none of the guards, Han Yoojin can verbally tell off Sung Hyunjae.

Now, Han Yoojin rolled his eyes and stared at Sung Hyunjae as if he’s an annoying stain that can’t be washed away from the sheets, and stepped to the side, away from the entourage.

The chamber room was large and grand, with high ceilings and a raised platform at the other side. There were two lines of people waiting in the middle, one had people of nobility and the other of commoners. Standing by the side of the room, close to the walls, were servants, guards, and other workers of the palace. Sung Hyunjae sat on the throne placed at the top of the platform, while his advisors stood on the steps leading up to it. The guards formed a barricade between the platform and the queueing people.

When the court was opened, the commoner standing at the very front, a young woman dressed neatly in worn clothes, beckoned forward. She had just stepped forward, about to plead her case to the prince when the man standing at the front of the other line, cut in.

“This humble lord praises the crown prince and would like to thank him beforehand for listening to his troubles-”

Sung Hyunjae raised a hand and the rude, tackily-dressed (at least in Han Yoojin’s opinion) noble shut his mouth. “Lord Hwang, you will have the time and opportunity to state your case at your turn.” Sung Hyunjae motioned to the woman to speak again. In her moment of hesitation, the noble tried talking again.

“Your highness, I am first in this line-”

Sung Hyunjae cut off the man before he finished speaking. “My advisors told me these people arrived earlier than you. I will hear everyone’s case, according to the order in which they came. If you want to be first, then you’re more than welcome to arrive the earliest at the next court session.”

The red-faced noble, ashamed of being reprimanded twice, finally realised it was a losing battle and willingly stepped back. The civilian woman nervously looked around before finally stating her reasoning for coming: a teacher, who wished to add more lessons to the local school’s curriculum, and thus needed more funding. The next person to come forward was a farmer from a faraway village, who came to ask for leniency in the tax and help in food as a storm had ruined a quarter of their farms.

As the line for the common people dwindled, the line for the nobles stayed the same. They fidgeted and silently grumbled as they waited painstakingly for their turn, but didn’t have the courage to protest after the way Sung Hyunjae reacted to the first noble.

Begrudgingly, Han Yoojin admitted that the display earned the crown prince some respect from him. For some reason, it didn’t naturally occur to Han Yoojin that Sung Hyunjae, as the crown prince of their empire, would have duties attending to the people. In addition, he doubted many would prioritise the common folk over the nobles, much less made a show of it in a public court.

Han Yoojin spent the rest of the court paying half-attention to the topic of discussion. He listened intently to the first few petitions, but then his mind kept on wandering over to Sung Hyunjae’s regal figure on the throne. At some point, Sung Hyunjae had shifted to a more comfortable position, resting his chin atop his palm, an elbow leaning on the arm of the seat. Han Yoojin’s mind recalled just moments ago, when that hand pressed on his lower back, nearly covering the width of his body. Heat tinged Han Yoojin’s cheeks pink and he resolutely decided to ignore Sung Hyunjae’s presence until the court finished.

“How did you find the court session?” Sung Hyunjae asked, once the guests had left.

“... Insightful.” Han Yoojin mumbled, head partially turned away to hide his flushed cheeks.

There was a short pause, then Han Yoojin heard a rustle and felt something brush against his ear. Han Yoojin jumped, instinctively covering his ear and turning to Sung Hyunjae with wide eyes. The prince has his hand outstretched mid air, his lips slightly turned up in a smile, and eyes dancing with amusement.

“W,what are you..?”

Sung Hyunjae chuckled and set down his hand. “You blush to your ears. Did you know that?”

Han Yoojin gaped. If it were possible for his eyes to widen anymore, they did. In his peripheral vision, Han Yoojin could see the equally - if not more -  shocked faces of the guards and servants still lingering around.

“Please refrain from doing this in public, your highness.” Han Yoojin tried to say calmly, hoping his show of composure would make the others think the situation as less unseemly.

“It’s okay when we’re in private, then?” Sung Hyunjae asked, in all seriousness. Han Yoojin’s already minimal attempt at trying to save face was destroyed and trampled by that one line. One servant in particular nearly tripped and dropped his tray if it wasn’t for Song Taewon’s steadying hand on his shoulder.

“Do you still need me for anything, your highness?” Han Yoojin squeaked out. “I’m afraid I still need to care for the beasts today.”

Sung Hyunjae chuckled and finally allowed Han Yoojin to go back to the conservatory. The latter gratefully did so, hiding his face from the stunned viewers still standing inside the chamber.

Han Yoojin wished he could say it was the last of it, but for the following weeks, Sung Hyunjae made it a routine to come visit him, then ask for his company as he went about his duties. Sometimes, it’s to another court session in the chamber. Sometimes, it’s an inspection to a certain part of the palace. Most of the time, it’s paperwork in the prince’s personal office. The last one Han Yoojin didn’t get the most, because the only thing he could do in that office was sit around, eat snacks, maybe read a random book, and stare at Sung Hyunjae while he worked.

It came to a point that the entire palace knew that the crown prince was sweet on the new, mysterious beast tamer. Whispers followed Han Yoojin wherever he went and really, he could only pretend to not hear it so many times before people made a new rumour that he’s hard of hearing, okay?

The only reason Han Yoojin still went along with some of Sung Hyunjae’s whims was that, occasionally, petitioners, guests, and visitors would present Sung Hyunjae with gifts. Gifts that the prince was mostly uninterested in and then gave to him. Han Yoojin’s been collecting all of these gifts, intending on pawning and selling them once he had a chance to go into the city then sending the money to Han Yoohyun.

Though, there was only so much gift Han Yoojin could squirrel and fence away before he finally got fed up with Sung Hyunjae’s presence.

“Pardon my impudence, my prince, but I believe this must be said.” Han Yoojin said through gritted teeth, taking multiple deep breaths to calm himself down. The griffin he was hand-feeding whined in discontent when the food stopped coming into his mouth. “I will not be able to do ANY work if you continue to ask for my presence in every one of your duties.”

Sung Hyunjae stood before Han Yoojin, unashamed and smiling guiltlessly. “The reports said you’ve been doing great at your job.”

“Yes, because my coworkers all picked up my slack and my supervisor doesn’t think it’s wise to reprimand me when the prince is the one calling.”

Behind Sung Hyunjae were two guards, one was Song Taewon, whose sympathetic face was getting more and more familiar to Han Yoojin every time the prince paid him a personal visit. Han Yoojin shared with him a tired, disgruntled look, and sighed.

“Can I at least finish feeding Bluey before you scurry me away somewhere?”

“Bluey?”

“The griffin.” Han Yoojin patted Bluey who was staring at the bucket he’s holding with terrible intensity. That cued him to grab the grounded meat inside the bucket and bring it up to Bluey’s beak, who happily nipped at his hand.

“You named the griffin?” Sung Hyunjae’s tone was tinged with intrigue, but he didn’t seem surprised by the deed. “I’m glad to know your penchant for naming beasts never stopped.”

Han Yoojin opened his mouth, about to defend himself, but decided otherwise at the last minute. “May I at least know where we’re going today?”

“Nowhere for today, but I’m going to require your presence for the entirety of tomorrow. Since there are more reports coming in about a dragon’s sighting, we’ll be going on an… investigation to the forests tomorrow.”

That caught Han Yoojin’s proper attention. “Oh?” Han Yoojin raised a brow and Sung Hyunjae smiled in a way that might seem harmless. They shared the same understanding of what this ‘investigation’ really entailed - a show to the people and the council that Sung Hyunjae gave a damn about catching the dragon. Already, Han Yoojin was wondering what the other had in mind to make the expedition look somewhat real. “When are we departing?”

“At the crack of dawn. The carriage will be waiting by the gate closest to the forest. I wager we won’t be back until it’s dark”

Han Yoojin nodded. Sung Hyunjae took that as a sign he understood and turned. The guards parted and let him leave first, taking position on his back as always. Hidden from Sung Hyunjae’s gaze, Song Taewon gave Han Yoojin a look that was both disapproving and pitiful. Han Yoojin raised an eyebrow, confused, when he felt a presence from behind. He turned and saw his supervisor, also sporting the same expression as Song Taewon.

“Chief, I’m sorry to have to ask you this again, but I need to request time away-”

“Yes, I heard.” The man sounded as tired as he looked. Han Yoojin felt slightly guilty, he could only imagine having a staff who keeps being away from work so often. No doubt it’s frustrating. “While we can’t dissuade the prince from summoning you, perhaps you can persuade his highness to plan your trys- meetings during off hours instead.”

More guilt struck Han Yoojin. He bowed deeply in apology. “I’ll try and talk to him about it.” Though, Han Yoojin wasn’t sure if he could really convince Sung Hyunjae to do so. Perhaps his supervisor also knew it’s a moot effort because he merely sighed and left, mumbling under his breath about how he’ll need to adjust the work schedule again.

Another caretaker approached Han Yoojin once their supervisor was out of earshot. “You’ll be gone a whole day, huh?”

“I think so. A trip to the forest.”

Han Yoojin dreaded the thought of spending hours inside a carriage. He had ridden one several times now with Sung Hyunjae and he never got used to that mode of transport. He always ended up with sore back and thighs after every trip - it’s quite embarrassing to have to step off the carriage and return to his post while walking weirdly.

“I haven’t touched my share of salve and oil, you can have them if you want. I only ask for your share of meals tomorrow, in exchange.”

The caretakers received a ration of first aid kit once in two weeks, to tend to any possible wounds from the beasts and creatures while taking care of them. The kit included salve and massage oils - two things Han Yoojin tended to exhaust because the creatures liked to snuggle him and accidentally left him a scratch or a sprain. It just so happened Han Yoojin almost ran out too, so he happily accepted the other’s offer.

“Thanks!”

His colleague hummed, a knowing look on his face. He clapped Han Yoojin’s shoulder a few times, gave him a teasing smile and left to resume his duties. Han Yoojin furrowed his brows, slightly confused, but didn’t spend too long thinking about it as he mentally planned on what to bring for tomorrow.

∞∞∞

“Ugh, what is wrong with your carriage?” Han Yoojin moaned out in pain. His head was throbbing and leaning against the carriage’s walls didn’t help as the motion further rocked him. His stomach felt queasy and he was glad he skipped breakfast earlier that day. “Everytime I get into this thing with you, it just keeps on getting worse.”

“Don’t lean on that, you’ll hurt your head.” It spoke volumes of how bad Han Yoojin was feeling that he didn’t even fight it when Sung Hyunjae guided him to lean on his side instead. Despite the prince’s gentle movements, Han Yoojin was still hit with another round of dizziness and nausea. “How is it that you can ride horses and giant beasts just fine, but carriages incapacitate you so?”

Han Yoojin would also like to know that, but there was a more pressing answer to be had. “How much longer until we arrive?”

“Not long. We’ve been moving in the forest for a while now, I suspect we’ll reach a clearing soon and we can rest for a bit.”

“Great,” Han Yoojin groaned. He adjusted his position so he was more comfortable sitting against Sung Hyunjae. His head was leaning against the other’s shoulder, and despite the firmness of the muscle, it was softer and steadier than the walls of the carriage. He closed his eyes and resigned himself to the sickness until they finally reached their destination.

Eventually the carriage stopped. He distantly heard conversations and slowly opened his eyes, having dozed off slightly. When he tried to sit up straight, his head throbbed and he winced.

“Don’t force yourself. Lie down and rest up a bit.”

There was a hand rubbing on Han Yoojin’s back. He knew without seeing it was probably Sung Hyunjae. The latter rose from the seat, providing Han Yoojin with enough space to lie down. Han Yoojin wasn’t in the condition to put up a front, so he willingly lied across the cushion, a hand pressed against his uneasy stomach and another covering his eyes.

“You can come out once you feel better. I need to go and sort things out.”

Han Yoojin tried to give a thumbs up to show he understood, but felt too tired and ended up waving Sung Hyunjae off listlessly. He heard the other chuckle, then the rustling of clothes, and felt something warm and heavy covering his body.

When Han Yoojin took a peek, he saw Sung Hyunjae’s outer jacket was spread on top of him, while the man himself was making his way out of the carriage. Through the brief crack of the opened door, Han Yoojin could see the faces of some guards peering in and their shocked, embarrassed faces.

Once the door closed and Han Yoojin was alone in the carriage, he decided to take off his outer layers. The clothes were stiff, making it uncomfortable for him to lie down, and he was feeling a bit warm under Sung Hyunjae’s coat. After he shed his clothes and found a more comfortable position, it was easy for him to nap.

Han Yoojin didn’t know long he slept, but he was roused awake when he heard several loud noises and the carriage door being opened. Someone entered and gasped, but then another person hissed at the first one to quickly get in. That clued Han Yoojin that something was wrong.

When Han Yoojin snapped his eyes open and sat up, there were two men dressed in rough clothing and face masks. Both were brandishing small knives, holding them towards him threateningly. Instinctively, Han Yoojin opened his mouth, about to yell for Sung Hyunjae, when the first man jumped and covered the lower half of his face. The second one shut the door behind him and hit the walls several time, yelling, “Fucking go!”

The carriage moved too quickly too suddenly, jolting the three people. Something heavy dropped from one of the bandits, falling on the floor. The sound made the three look down, staring at the small pouch atop Han Yoojin’s discarded clothes. Han Yoojin finally realised his dishevelled state of dress, only partially covered by Sung Hyunjae’s coat.

Vaguely and distantly, Han Yoojin could hear several shouts and gallops of horses behind the carriage, no doubt chasing them. However, it’s hard to feel relief when he saw the way the bandits’ greedy faces lit up the longer they stared at him.

“We really hit the jackpot!” The one by the door cackled. “To think we got the prince’s lover captive!”

Wait, what?

Han Yoojin scrambled to push the hand covering his mouth, immediately voicing his protest once he managed to dislodge it. “I’m not his lover! ”

The stares the two bandits gave him could only be disbelieving. They made a show of looking Han Yoojin up and down, and he tried not to blush or cover himself like a maiden.

“Now that you mention it… the prince wouldn’t bring his lover out to the forest, fucked him in the carriage, then leave him alone, right?” The one who had covered Han Yoojin’s mouth wondered. His rude words both embarrassed and annoyed Han Yoojin, who simply didn’t understand where they got that notion from.

Just the thought of it… Actually, that’s a dangerous thought that Han Yoojin should definitely not be having while he’s at knifepoint inside a hijacked carriage.

“So he’s just a toy, then?” The other bandit scoffed. He sounded annoyed. “Well, shit. We can’t use him as leverage or hostage.” He turned to his accomplice and jerked his head towards the door. “Kill him and throw him out.”

That alarmed Han Yoojin, who immediately pressed himself against the carriage’s walls, trying to stay as far away as he could from the two bandits and the steadily approaching knife. He raised both hands, trying to dissuade them. “W-wait, you don’t need to do this!”

But, the two bandits didn’t seem moved no matter how much Han Yoojin pleaded. The same hand covered Han Yoojin’s mouth again, this time using more force to pin him in place. The knife was pressed against Han Yoojin’s stomach and he panicked as he thought about how it’ll be so easy for the other to stab him.

Was this really it? Han Yoojin could survive a dragon , but perish at the hands of another human ? Inside a shitty carriage he hated, on some bullshit expedition, without the chance to say goodbye to his loved ones? He promised Han Yoohyun he’d come back - aside from their letters, he hadn’t seen his brother again. In that moment of sheer terror, Han Yoojin had Han Yoohyun’s face in mind. Then, briefly, lasting not even a microsecond, a flash of Sung Hyunjae’s face appeared.

Before Han Yoojin could understand or process his thoughts, the carriage jolted to a stop. He felt a sharp pain by his side and gasped in pain. He was momentarily distracted from the sensation when several long, glowing chains broke through the window and entered the carriage. Before any of the three could react, the chains wrapped around the bandits and pulled them out.

Han Yoojin heard the screams of the bandits, realised there were more than two of them outside, and the sounds of pure terror and destruction. The sounds still went on when a head peaked in the carriage. Han Yoojin jolted in surprise, pushing himself further against the wall and the other person immediately raised both hands to show they weren’t holding any weapons.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe,” Song Taewon said, slowly but firmly, trying to calm Han Yoojin down. He immediately calmed down and accidentally pulled on his injury as he relaxed. Han Yoojin winced, instinctively pressing a hand against his side and felt something wet and sticky. When he looked down, he saw red blooming across his clothes and hand.

Han Yoojin looked up and saw Song Taewon’s eyes locked on his wound. The latter stopped trying to calm him and moved with urgency instead, scooping him and taking him out of the carriage. Once they were out, Han Yoojin could see they were still in the forest, but many of the trees were knocked down in the carriage path or sliced cleanly in half. He could still hear disturbing sounds by the side, but Song Taewon was walking away from it, barking out orders to the other guards and calling for medical assistance.

Over Song Taewon’s shoulder, Han Yoojin caught a glimpse of the battle - no, the bloodbath - and Sung Hyunjae’s furious figure. Before Song Taewon walked away and cut off his vision of Sung Hyunjae, he thought to himself,

‘Huh, so that’s how he looked angry.’

Fortunately, they had brought a healer with them.

“He’s hurt.” Song Taewon laid Han Yoojin in front of the healer. The man voiced a quick apology, then lifted Han Yoojin’s shirt to examine the wound. There was a lot of blood that he deftly cleaned away, revealing the short gash on Han Yoojin’s right abdomen, just a few inches above his hip bone. He tried not to yell when the healer pressed around his wound experimentally.

“Thankfully it’s not a deep flesh wound. The blood just makes it seem worse.” The healer handed Han Yoojin a vial with a blue-coloured liquid that he immediately drank. Han Yoojin didn’t feel anything right away, but the next time the healer put a hand over his wound he didn’t feel anything, so it must have been some sort of pain killer.

The healer started chanting in a low voice and his hand started glowing. Having seen this before, Han Yoojin was not alarmed and let him do what must be done. It took longer than the time when he burned himself, but eventually the healer finished. When he pulled away, there was only a red line where the gash was.

“That should do it. If you still feel some pain after this, come to the infirmary and I’ll give you some potions for it.”

Han Yoojin nodded and pulled down his shirt. Song Taewon was by his side the next second, helping him to stand up and muttering, “We should give you chain link armour next time.”

“Who says there will be a next time?” Han Yoojin smiled playfully. He finally looked around, seeing that they were in a clearing, most of the knights gathered protectively around. Aside from the hijacked carriage, the other carriages and horses were all accounted for.

Suddenly, the knights all dropped to their knees. In Han Yoojin’s peripheral vision, he saw someone walking towards them. When he turned, he finally saw Sung Hyunjae. The greeting he was about to say died in his throat once he saw how the prince’s face was cold as steel. His clothes were splattered in blood and the golden chains floating around him were stained red.

Sung Hyunjae’s eyes landed on Han Yoojin instantly. He seemed to take in his entire appearance, before stopping at the red stain on his abdomen. His chains started vibrating, the clinks sounding almost angry . Unconsciously, Han Yoojin shrunk into himself and Song Taewon shifted to partially hide him.

“Who was supposed to be guarding the carriage?” Despite not yelling, Sung Hyunjae’s voice sounded so loud amidst the silence. A few seconds went by before three knights raised their hands.

Sung Hyunjae eyed them coldly then turned to Song Taewon. “Take some of the men and bring Han Yoojin back to the palace. Don’t take the carriage.”

Alarm bells rang inside Han Yoojin’s head as he stared at the knights who still had their hands raised. “Hyunjae, the cut looked worse than it is-”

“Go, Yoojin.”

Han Yoojin gulped, feeling his hackles raised at the tone and gaze Sung Hyunjae directed to him. Although he was frozen, Song Taewon was able to help him onto a horse, then hoist himself up behind him. They rode away, with the healer and some of the men, leaving Sung Hyunjae and the rest in the clearing.

∞∞∞

The rest of the entourage didn’t return until late at night. Han Yoojin was waiting for them by the gate when they appeared. He quickly did a head count and sighed in relief once he saw there was no one missing. Sung Hyunjae stepped down from the spare carriage and the knights began to lead the horses away and unpack.

Sung Hyunjae immediately went for Han Yoojin. “Why are you out here?”

“You think I can rest easy after that ?” Han Yoojin scoffed. “I have to make sure no one dies.”

“I wouldn’t kill my men. Punish them, maybe. But nothing more than they deserve.”

“It was an ambush , your highness. It wasn’t their fault.”

“And they are trained to deal with that. What happened to you was a failure on their parts.”

Han Yoojin let out a sigh of frustration and ran a hand through his hair. His eyes accidentally caught the lingering knights and servants - all of whom were not so secretly listening to them. Suddenly, Sung Hyunjae grabbed Han Yoojin’s wrist and pulled him inside the palace.

“Where are we going?”

“My room.”

They walked past more corridors than Han Yoojin could count until they arrived at an area he didn’t recognize. The entire time, Sung Hyunjae didn’t let go of his wrist, no matter who they passed.  Maybe that’s why Han Yoojin followed Sung Hyunjae as he traversed through the palace into the royal family’s wings, into his personal bedroom, the one he barely lived in, evident from how impersonal it was despite having been his for his entire life.

Han Yoojin shouldn’t be surprised that the room felt exactly like Sung Hyunjae was. Immaculate. Elegant. Untouched. Even as bare as it felt, it was still the most grandiose living quarters he’s seen. The room alone was nearly bigger than his house, decked from floor to ceiling tastefully in gold. There was a double door on the side, probably leading into the ensuite bathroom.

In the seating area, there was a bottle of wine readily set up atop the table, complete with two glasses. Han Yoojin wasn’t sure when Sung Hyunjae had ordered for that arrangement, but he was sure that it was as delicious as the room extravagant. The couch was so soft, Han Yoojin practically sunk into it as he sat. 

“I’ll clean up first.” Before Sung Hyunjae closed the doors of the bathroom before him, he turned to Han Yoojin and sternly said, “Stay.”

Han Yoojin rolled his eyes, but obliged. He could hear the distant sound of water running and decided to make himself comfortable. He eyed the bottle of wine for a moment before finally grabbing it. Sung Hyunjae wouldn’t mind if he poured a drink, after all, there were two glasses.

Han Yoojin was midway to his first glass when Sung Hyunjae walked out of the bathroom, clean of blood and dirt.

“Hope you don’t mind. I saw there were two glasses.”

Sung Hyunjae frowned and sat next to Han Yoojin. “Should you even be drinking?”

“The healer did a perfect job healing me.” Han Yoojin shrugged. Careful to keep the glass steady, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it to show his unmarred abdomen. “There’s not even a scar, see?”

Sung Hyunjae exhaled harshly and closed his eyes. “Don’t open your clothes so casually in front of me, Yoojin.”

“Why?” Han Yoojin asked, feigning innocence. “Everyone else already thinks we’re sleeping together. My coworkers, the servants, the guards, even the bandits.”

The hostility in Han Yoojin’s voice made Sung Hyunjae open his eyes. Han Yoojin’s casual countenance changed as he glared at the prince.

“I don’t peg you as someone who cares about other people’s opinion,” Sung Hyunjae said, and oh, was it the wrong thing to say.

“I do when they think I’m the crown prince’s whore ,” Han Yoojin hissed. “Did you really hire me because of my beast taming skills or because you want to fuck me?”

Sung Hyunjae turned to face Han Yoojin properly, eyes narrowed and face grave. “Who called you a whore?”

“Don’t change the subject.” Han Yoojin warned, pointing a finger at Sung Hyunjae. “You know it’s not usual for the crown prince to treat a palace worker so casually, bringing him along on his duties, rounds, expeditions .” He shook his head as he said the last part. “I thought people accepted me so easily because I was good at my job. I thought you thought I was good, but… you just wanted a pretty toy to relieve your boredom.”

There was a moment of silence. Sung Hyunjae was staring at Han Yoojin with an expression he couldn’t understand. Although he was pissed, he still waited for the other to speak.

“You’re right,” Sung Hyunjae finally started. “You caught my interest in the forest, and I was attracted to you. That’s why I hired you, instead of letting you be thrown into prison. I thought it’s a shame to have such a fiery spirit locked away. Especially one with a pretty face.”

Han Yoojin felt a pang of pain at the admission. He decided to hide the hurt on his face by raising the glass to his lips, downing the rest of the liquid, then setting it on the table. A drop of wine trickled from his lips. Before he could wipe it, Sung Hyunjae already had a thumb pressed against his skin, wiping the liquid. He used the same hand to grab Han Yoojin’s chin and turned his head to face him.

“But then I see you work with the creatures, make friends with my people, worm your way into the heart of the palace so easily . And even after seeing me in court, in power, in battle , you didn’t change your treatment of me. You weren’t afraid to make fun of me, pick at me, challenge me, treat me like another person. Do you know how rare it is for someone to see me not as the crown prince, but as Sung Hyunjae ?”

Han Yoojin was speechless, wide-eyed and silent, as Sung Hyunjae spoke. He wasn’t even sure he was breathing. The tenderness in Sung Hyunjae’s voice, the clear affection in his eyes, the gentleness of his touch, all of it made Han Yoojin freeze, unsure how to react in the face of such blatant adoration.

Before Han Yoojin could properly come to terms, Sung Hyunjae was already speaking again. “I treat you differently, yes. But how can I treat the person I love the same as others?”

There it was.

How can I treat the person I love the same as others?

The person I love.

Han Yoojin was moving on instinct as he surged forward, grabbing Sung Hyunjae by the neck and pulling him into a kiss. He felt a spark between their contact, an electrifying shudder running through his body. Sung Hyunjae froze and Han Yoojin faltered, wondering if he was ahead of himself. Before he could overthink it, a hand circled his waist and another grabbed his nape. Han Yoojin was pulled closer as Sung Hyunjae kissed him back with more intensity.

When they broke apart, it was because of Sung Hyunjae. “Yoojin.” Sung Hyunjae’s voice was firm, almost chiding, but his breath was harsh and his hands tense. He almost looked pained as he set distance between them. “I think you’re drunk.”

“Maybe. Possibly.” Han Yoojin easily agreed, already swooping forward to steal another kiss. Sung Hyunjae’s hands tightened on him, stopping him before he could move much. Yoojin huffed, but it’s more amused than annoyed. “It’s just one glass. You won’t be taking unfair advantage of me.”

Sung Hyunjae didn’t waver. “That’s still one glass too many.”

“It’s really not.” Han Yoojin tried again. Sung Hyunjae’s hand stubbornly kept him away. Frustrated, Han Yoojin decided to change tactics. He turned his head and managed to dislodge the hand on his nape to nuzzle at it like a spoiled cat. He then pressed a kiss to Sung Hyunjae’s wrist and his palm, trailing up to the tips of his fingers.

With Sung Hyunjae’s heavy eyes trained on him, Han Yoojin took a finger in his mouth. He heard Sung Hyunjae’s sharp intake of breath and focused more on the appendage resting atop his tongue. Han Yoojin could taste something almost sweet – the wine that Sung Hyunjae had oh so helpfully wiped from his chin – and absentmindedly suckled on the finger.

Sung Hyunjae groaned and pulled his hand away, only to push two fingers into Han Yoojin’s mouth. It’s perverse, the way Yoojin wantonly moaned when Sung Hyunjae pressed down on his tongue. It was messy and downright filthy, yet Yoojin only held onto Sung Hyunjae’s wrist and let himself be played.

“You’re so needy.” Sung Hyunjae’s voice sounded close, too close. Han Yoojin could feel his breath on his skin. “Only a few weeks living in the palace, and already as spoiled as a princess.”

A shudder ran up Yoojin’s back. With a surprising amount of struggle, he managed to pull away from Sung Hyunjae’s hand. A string of saliva connected the two fingers with his mouth, and it might have embarrassed him in any other circumstances, but Han Yoojin only felt a spike of desire as he stared into Sung Hyunjae’s eyes. His pupils were blown up so wide, his eyes were nearly dark. Han Yoojin dared to say he probably looked similar.

“Does my prince have any objections to that?”

This time, when Han Yoojin leaned forward for a kiss, Sung Hyunjae didn’t stop him. Whatever reservedness they had disappeared as they met halfway. There was no hesitation or mindfulness as they kissed, so deep in arousal and unquenchable wanting, it almost felt like they’re about to devour each other.

Han Yoojin alternated between pulling and pushing at Sung Hyunjae, wanting to keep him close yet also wanting to strip off his clothes. Briefly separating, Sung Hyunjae took off his top, then Yoojin’s without pause. Distantly, Han Yoojin could hear fabric being ripped and buttons popped, but they didn’t register his mind was wholly consumed by Sung Hyunjae’s touch and fervent kisses.

Sung Hyunjae pulled Han Yoojin onto his lap and his legs automatically spread next to his hips. When Sung Hyunjae stood, Han Yoojin instinctively circled his legs around his waist. Their lips were still locked as Sung Hyunjae walked them to the bed, only separating when he lowered Han Yoojin on the bed.

“Are you sure, Yoojin?” Sung Hyunjae’s voice was rough, barely a whisper. He kept himself up on his palms, careful not to crush Han Yoojin. “If you’re forcing yourself, don’t . I won’t ever let you go after this.”

Han Yoojin couldn’t help but laugh. He raised up on his elbows and pressed a short, chaste kiss on Sung Hyunjae’s mouth. “I love you, Hyunjae.”

The only way to describe Sung Hyunjae’s face after Han Yoojin said those words was giddy. He looked gobsmacked, but also so terribly happy , like a child who’d gotten a present. He kissed Han Yoojin’s chin, neck, collarbone, chest, trailing down and down . Han Yoojin laughed again, feeling ticklish, but it cut off into a moan when Sung Hyunjae pulled off his pants in one swift move, leaving him naked and bare.

Han Yoojin was hard, his member standing high and flushed red. Sung Hyunjae grabbed him, his fist enveloping the entire diameter, and took his dick inside his mouth. Han Yoojin moaned, throwing his head back. He grabbed the sheets and when that didn’t feel enough, grabbed Sung Hyunjae’s hair. He was helpless as Sung Hyunjae swallowed him whole and it didn’t take long for him to find his first release. Sung Hyunjae pulled off and covered the head of his member with his hand, just in time for him to cum.

Panting hard, Han Yoojin went limp on the bed. Sung Hyunjae let him a few minutes of rest, rubbing his thigh and shushing him, trying to calm him down. Once Han Yoojin somewhat caught his breath, Sung Hyunjae flipped him, laying him on his front. He grabbed a pillow and shoved it under Han Yoojin’s hips, helping him to raise his back.

There’s a slick finger teasing his entrance, testing its give, prodding at him, before carefully sinking in. Han Yoojin squirmed, slightly uncomfortable with the unfamiliar sensation. The finger went deeper, thrusting in and out for a few minutes before another joined in - equally slick. Han Yoojin wondered what it was, he didn’t remember Sung Hyunjae grabbing lotion or oils. He remembered belatedly that Sung Hyunjae had posed a hand above his dick when he came, almost as if he was gathering his spend.

Gods above. Sung Hyunjae was using Han Yoojin’s own release to loosen him. Han Yoojin hid his red face in the sheets, mortified and embarrassed. The two fingers turned into three, they spread inside of him, preparing his untouched hole for penetration. A loud moan escaped Han Yoojin when he felt the fingers brush against something .

“What was that?” Han Yoojin panted, looking back through teary eyes.

Sung Hyunjae had a devious smile on his face. He bent his fingers and Han Yoojin felt that spark of pleasure. He moaned again. That was the only confirmation Sung Hyunjae needed, he started focusing on that spot, ripping moans after moans and shudders after shudders from Han Yoojin.

“E-enough,” Han Yoojin pleaded. His member was hard again, pressed roughly against the pillow. “Inside, please, want you inside, Hyunjae, enough, please .”

The fingers pulled out and Han Yoojin whined, suddenly feeling empty. It didn’t last long as something thicker, hotter, pressed against his entrance. There’s a slight resistance. Sung Hyunjae grabbed his hip and pulled him back in time as he thrusted forward. The head of his cock popped in. Han Yoojin cried out as Sung Hyunjae’s cock started sinking into him.

There’s too much. It was too much. There was just so much.

It felt as if a hot knife was splitting him, spearing through his insides, yet-

It felt so good .

Han Yoojin was quiet, had burrowed his face onto the sheets as Sung Hyunjae bottomed out. “Yoojin? Are you okay?” There’s concern in his voice. Han Yoojin wasn’t sure how he could answer. Words escaped him.

A hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him up and back. Han Yoojin let himself be twisted, showing his red, ruddy cheeks, stained with tears, and his kiss-swollen, parted lips. His eyes had a faraway look, vision blurred by the tears. He lost his wits, made dumb by Sung Hyunjae’s touch.

Sung Hyunjae laughed, sounding pleased. He flipped Han Yoojin once again, without pulling out. Han Yoojin laid on his back and shoulders, with his bottom half raised from the bed, his legs spread open and hooked over Sung Hyunjae’s arms.

Experimentally, Sung Hyunjae thrusted once. Han Yoojin moaned. He thrusted again and again, slow at first, then picking up speed, until Han Yoojin was letting out constant, staccato moans. Han Yoojin fisted the sheets tightly, trying to ground himself as Sung Hyunjae played with his body, brought him pleasure to the point of tears .

“Yoojin, my Yoojin, my pretty Yoojin,” Sung Hyunjae gasped out. He let Han Yoojin’s legs fall from his arms in favour of surging forward, pressing their chests together so he could bring their faces close and press kisses all over Han Yoojin’s wet face. He whispered praises and words of devotion to Han Yoojin, sounding more and more pleased with every tear he got Han Yoojin to shed.

The thrusts quickened, harshened, until Sung Hyunjae was pounding into Han Yoojin without care. Han Yoojin felt heat gathered in his belly, accumulating until it exploded. Han Yoojin cried out and grabbed Sung Hyunjae, sinking his nails into his back as he came again.

Sung Hyunjae grunted, feeling Han Yoojin tightened around him. He started chasing after his own pleasure, using Han Yoojin’s body to reach his own climax. Han Yoojin felt his orgasm milked out, his high prolonged, with every rough, unending thrusts. He whined once the constant stream of pleasure became too much and oversensitivity kicked in, yet still Sung Hyunjae moved.

“It’s okay. I’m almost there. You can do it, can’t you, Yoojin? You can help me?”

Then, finally, finally , Sung Hyunjae’s thrusts stuttered. He pushed himself as deep as he could and stayed there, releasing spurts of cum into Han Yoojin’s insides, making it swell. Han Yoojin lost his inhibitions. He dragged red lines down Sung Hyunjae’s back, screamed out his pleasure without caring who heard.

Sung Hyunjae grinded into Han Yoojin, prolonging his own climax as long as he could. Meanwhile, Han Yoojin choked on a sob, falling limp on the sheets. The tears continued falling from his eyes as he tried to catch his breath, letting out whimpers every once in a while. Sung Hyunjae was there to ground him, wiping away his tears and pressing butterfly kisses all over his face.

“Good boy. My Yoojin is so good to me. My pretty darling.”

It would normally embarrass Han Yoojin to hear Sung Hyunjae’s endless praise and nicknames, but it felt comforting as he came down from his high. Eventually, Han Yoojin stopped crying, stopped shuddering, stopped panting. He felt light, despite the exhaustion and sleep was so tempting. Han Yoojin listened to the whispers and fell asleep in Sung Hyunjae’s arms.

∞∞∞

Han Yoojin woke up in the middle of the night. He was clean, changed into proper sleep clothes, and tucked under the blanket. Beside him, Sung Hyunjae laid on his front, fast asleep. His face was hidden by the pillow and his loose, tousled hair.

Carefully, as to not wake the other, Han Yoojin brushed away Sung Hyunjae’s hair. His lips quirked up when he saw how Sung Hyunjae’s brows were furrowed. The man looked so relaxed when awake, but oddly troubled in his sleep. Han Yoojin couldn’t imagine Sung Hyunjae with wrinkles, but he might develop them soon with his terrible sleeping habits.

Han Yoojin’s eyes trailed down to Sung Hyunjae unclothed back. Heat rose in his cheeks when he saw the red lines imprinted on them. He remembered leaving them in the throes of pleasure. Ah, how embarrassing.

Han Yoojin’s thoughts were diverted when he heard light, tapping noises from the balcony. He blinked and craned his neck, trying to look for the source of noise. His eyes widened and he slapped a hand against his mouth to cover his gasp as he saw Noah outside of the window.

Moving even more carefully now, Han Yoojin got out of bed - and almost fell as his knees buckled. He braced himself against the mattress, trying to get feelings back into his legs and back. Once sure he wouldn't fall, he gingerly walked over to the balcony. He looked back one more time to ensure Sung Hyunjae was still asleep before going out.

“Noah, what are you doing here? It’s not safe,” Han Yoojin hissed, peering over the railings, trying to see if there’s anyone below. The dragon moved closer to the balcony, then, to his shock, morphed into a human with a few sickening crunches of bones. Han Yoojin instinctively stepped back as the now human Noah stepped into the balcony.

“I smelled your blood in the forest earlier. You were hurt,” Noah was frowning in worry, grabbing Han Yoojin’s waist and turning him this way and that, looking for injuries.

Han Yoojin snapped out of his shock and pushed away Noah’s hands. “I did, but I was healed. I’m fine now.”

That seemed to depress Noah. “It’s my fault. If you hadn’t saved me, they wouldn’t have captured you. You wouldn’t have to do what they say and you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“That’s a bit far-fetched.”

Noah grabbed Han Yoojin’s hands.  “Come with me, Han Yoojin. We can escape and get away from this kingdom, you don’t have to stay under that man’s orders.”

Han Yoojin stared at the other with wide eyes, taken aback by the sudden offer. Slowly, he pulled his hands away. “That’s a gracious offer, but I can’t do that. My whole life is here. My brother lives in this kingdom. I have a great job, good friends. And the man that I love is here.”

At the end of Han Yoojin’s speech, Noah looked as if he was a kicked puppy. His concern for him was so heavy and genuine. Han Yoojin felt something warm and affectionate towards this creature (human? Seriously, what was he?) he considered a friend. “I should thank you, Noah. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now.”

“You… aren’t forced?”

Han Yoojin chuckled and shook his head. “If you, a dragon, can’t force me to do anything, what makes you think other humans can? I’m happy where I am.” Noah still looked conflicted, as if he wasn’t sure he should believe him. Han Yoojin gave him his most reassuring smile. “You should leave before someone notices. You need to go back to your own family too, right?”

A few seconds of silence passed. Slowly, Noah nodded. The hesitance in his face shifted into one of determination. He grabbed Han Yoojin’s hands again, this time pushing a medium-sized jewel into his palm. “I believe you, Yoojin. But if you ever need help, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Han Yoojin glanced at the jewel, concluding it was probably an enchanted communication device. “Likewise. Farewell, my friend.” He waited until Noah left and disappeared from his sight before he came inside. He was about to get in the bed when a hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him.

Han Yoojin yelped in shock as he found himself sprawled on his front above Sung Hyunjae. He dropped the jewel Noah gave him and Sung Hyunjae flicked it away from the bed and onto the floor. He then wrapped his arms around Han Yoojin tightly. “I’m jealous. Why are you so nice to that dragon?”

Once the shock was gone, Han Yoojin felt a bit mischievous. He propped up his chin on his hands, staring right into Sung Hyunjae’s displeased face. “So, you’re awake, hm?”

“I’m awake and upset .” Sung Hyunjae emphasised the word. “You shouldn’t leave my bed to meet other men in the middle of the night.”

Han Yoojin couldn’t help it. He laughed. “Forgive me, my prince. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

“I can think of something.” Smoothly, Sung Hyunjae flipped them around and went to show Han Yoojin just how he expected the other to appease him.

∞∞∞

“I understand telling my brother the truth about everything is an important matter - I mean, he thinks I’m hired as a stable boy after I calmed down a horse in the forest. He doesn’t know I’m friends with a dragon or work as a beast tamer . And now we’re going to tell him I’m in a relationship with the crown prince , the Shining Sun of the Kingdom, the Radiant Hope of the Land-”

“You’re rambling, Han Yoojin.”

“ I know, ” Han Yoojin snapped. “But why do we have to tell him here? ” He raised a hand and motioned to the vast, empty chamber room. It’s early morning, so the court session was not still until a few more hours, and Sung Hyunjae had everyone, sans the two of them, leave.

From his throne, Sung Hyunjae amusedly watched Han Yoojin pace around in circles. After a few minutes, he finally caved and took mercy on his poor, nervous, lover. He grabbed Han Yoojin and pulled him to sit on his lap. Han Yoojin went along, sitting astride the other.

In the early stages of their relationship, Han Yoojin would have had a heart attack at the thought of merely touching the throne. Now, he barely blinked an eye as he threw his legs over the arm of the throne and used Sung Hyunjae as a chair.

“I want to show your brother I’m serious about you. You won’t let me make a public announcement, so the grand reveal at least has to be here . This room feels far more official than, say, my office.”

“I guess that’s true.” Han Yoojin sighed. “It’s just that, this is the first time we’ll see each other after so long. I don’t know how he’ll react- wait, actually, I do. I know for sure he’s going to freak out.”

“That’s why it isn’t any good for you to be spooked too.” Sung Hyunjae ran a hand through Han Yoojin’s hair. This always calmed him down and it’s proven still successful as Han Yoojin relaxed against him. Han Yoojin even started playing with Sung Hyunjae’s free hand, cradling his palm and fidgeting with his fingers.

The hand on Han Yoojin’s hair slowly trailed down, lightly tickling his neck. To this, Han Yoojin only raised his shoulders in response. “Tickles,” He grumbled. Sung Hyunjae hummed and trailed his fingers even lower. He stopped briefly at Han Yoojin’s waist, gathering the fabric of his shirt and pulling it so it escaped the tuck of his pants. Then swiftly, he put his hand inside.

That got Han Yoojin to react. He tightened his grip on Sung Hyunjae’s hand and looked at him in warning. “What are you doing?”

“I’m keeping you occupied until your precious Han Yoohyun arrives.”

“Are you crazy ?”

“Why not? There’s no one here aside from us. The knights had just left to summon Han Yoohyun, so we still have a lot of time.”

“It’s still bright outside and-” Han Yoojin was cut off momentarily by a moan when Sung Hyunjae started kissing his neck. “This is too public.”

“Not more public than when I took you in the garden.”

Han Yoojin blushed as he remembered the time Sung Hyunjae had taken him in the gazebo on the west wing garden. It was a nice day out and the prince had fancied the thought of doing his work in the open with some refreshments. When Han Yoojin was summoned during his break to share some food, he naively thought Sung Hyunjae wanted some company while he dined.

But then the prince had ordered the other servants and guards to leave and it wasn’t long until he had Han Yoojin spread obscenely on the table. The floor was covered in shards of glass and spilled food as Sung Hyunjae had uncaringly swept the table clean to lay Han Yoojin on the surface. A heated, open mouthed kiss shared between them while Sung Hyunjae hilted himself in the warmth of Han Yoojin’s hole.

Even now he still remembered the words Sung Hyunjae had whispered to his ears.

“You’re so loud, aren’t you worried someone might come if they hear you?”

“Don’t cover your face, I want to see your pretty expressions.”

In hindsight, it didn’t surprise Han Yoojin that he would continue wanting Sung Hyunjae after their confession. But it embarrassed him sometimes how lustful he’d become in a short amount of time. It’s obscene how they couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other. They’ve desecrated both of their bedrooms, Sung Hyunjae’s personal office, the library, the cleaning closet on the west wing, the corridor leading up to the closet, and so many more.

Han Yoojin was brought out of his memory when Sung Hyunjae pulled him into a kiss. He kissed back, as he was accustomed to, and turned so he was straddling Sung Hyunjae instead of merely sitting on him. When they parted, Sung Hyunjae cradled his face as if he’s the most precious thing he’s seen, the most divine being he’s come across.

“I’m looking forward to introducing my prince consort to the world. The people will riot once they know they have a dragon tamer as their future monarch.”

Han Yoojin smiled. “One thing at a time, my prince. The people can know after my brother.” As he said this, his smile turned sly. “In the meantime, why don’t you make true on your words and keep me calm?”

Sung Hyunjae laughed and they met halfway in a passionate kiss. There were no longer words exchanged between them after that.