San grew restless after a few days. He would pace in his room for hours, worried she would try to run away from him. One evening, he anger rose so high, he knew he needed a release.

He paid a visit to Wooyoung.

The boy was sleeping soundly, curled up on his mattress. His face looked so peaceful with his smooth skin and mouth slightly open.

San felt his gut twist and moved to kneel next to him, stroking his soft skin. Wooyoung shifted in his sleep. He let out a soft, hi-pitched moan and rolled over.

Then San felt his anger roar to life when he heard the other mutter, "Kita."

He threw himself on top of the boy, ripping off the covers and startling him away. He tried to cry out but San muffled him by slamming their lips together.

Wooyoung tried to throw him off, but San pinned his arms above his head. Then he pulled away from the kiss and started at the arm he had burned. He could feel the performer squirming underneath him. San slowly reached up and unwound the bandage, revealing his healed arm.

"When?" He hissed.

"W-when she first g-got here. When y-you came to g-get me after sh-she collapsed."

"She's never going to be mine. Not while you are still around." He looked down at the performer and watched him shrink back from his dark gaze. "This ends now."

---

Yunho and Mingi worked on unloading the ship while the prince met with the captain to go over their plan one more time.

Most of the pirates would be coming with them, as well as all of the prince's guards.

Yeosang was in Cressa purchasing other supplies needed and enough horses for them to ride and carry the supplies.

"Do you think it's going to actually work?" Yunho asked, glancing at Mingi.

The guard smiled and wrapped his arm around the other's shoulder. "Yes. I do." He moved to grab a few more bags.

Yunho followed after him with a little skip to his step.

.

.

.

.

Seonghwa sighed in relief when Yeosang walked back onto the ship. Being apart from him in a foreign placed made him anxious. When they get their greeting professional, he heard snickers coming from behind him and turned to see Yunho and Mingi duck behind a crate.

"Those two have grown close." Yeosang said, tilting his head a little.

Seonghwa hummed then turned to Hongjoong as he came to join them after addressing the few crew members who were staying behind.

"Are we ready?" The captain asked, glancing around his ship one last time.

"If you are. The horses are waiting for us at the edge of town." Yeosang said.

Hongjoong nodded once, then led the way off the ship and through Cressa.

Seonghwa was wearing a cloak to cover his features. They didn't need anyone recognizing him, especially in a town like this. There were too many unpredictable people that could cause problems for them. They couldn't afford a delay.

Thankfully, nothing happened in Cressa and they were able to mount up and leave quickly.

Since they were only on horseback, they could cut across the country and avoid the main roads. They pushed then horses as hard as they could wanting to get as far as they could the first day.

"I'm coming, Kita. Just hold on."

---

When the carriage pulled up to the palace, Jongho immediately knew something was wrong. There was a large crowd gathered in the front courtyard.

"What's going on?" Kita asked, glancing out the window.

"Stay hidden. I'm not sure what's happening." He gripped the handle of his sword.

The driver took them into the stables so they could exit. Jongho motioned for the guards to move around Kita, forming a protective circle as they made their way into the palace. He walked close to the windows, trying to figure out what was happening. Then he froze and his jaw dropped.

King San was standing in front of his people, arms held up high as he was giving a speech.

Kneeling behind him, head resting on a block with a sword hovering over his neck, was Wooyoung.

"Get the princess to her room. Now." He said, running forward to a door that would take him to the courtyard.

"Jongho, what's going on?" He heard her call. "Jongho!"

He ignored her, running through the door and stepping outside.

"... has insulted your future queen. He tried to defile her and steal her away from you!" Several 'boo's' erupted from the crowd. "As punishment, he has been sentenced to death!"

"NO!"

Jongho cringed and turned to see Kita running out the door he had stepped through.

.

.

.

.

Kita reacted in a split second, bolting forward to Wooyoung. The crown was silenced immediately as they watched her run. She shoved the man holding the sword out of the way and flung herself over Wooyoung.

The crowd gasped and turned to their king. She could see San boiling with rage.

Wooyoung was shaking beneath her.

Thinking quickly, she stood and planted herself in between Wooyoung and San. "I have chosen to forgive this man of his crimes." She said, projecting her voice for the people to hear. "There has been enough killing, enough pain." She locked eyes with San, knowing she had just humiliated him in front of his people, but she didn't care.

"Very well." San said, turning back to his people. "The mercy of your new queen!" He said, raising his hands again.

Kita shivered when she heard them cheering for her, calling out her name. Then she felt Jongho beside her.

"Princess..."

"I know. I will take what he gives. Please protect him." She whispered.

"I'll try." Jongho turned and hoisted Wooyoung off the ground, taking him back into the palace.

After San made a few more bows, he turned and stalked to Kita, turning her to place a hand on the small of her back and walking through the main doors of the palace.

As soon as the doors closed, he pushed her to the floor in front of him. "HOW. DARE. YOU." He drew his foot back and slammed it into her stomach. Kita cried out and backed away from him. Not fast enough though as she landed another kick.

"Your Majesty!" Jongho cried out, running to stand in front of Kita. "Please, stop!"

"Get out of the way, Jongho." San's eyes flashed red and his hands glowed.

"No, Sir, you can't do this. You have no idea what she just spent the last two weeks doing for your people."

San's eyes flashed to him. "What are you talking about?"

"She healed every sick person we came across. She even tried to heal the farm lands. She did everything she could to try and make Volkin a better place." Jongho's voice was shaking. Kita could tell how hard it was for him to defy his king like this.

"And then she humiliated me in front of my people."

"She made you look better in front of your people!" Jongho yelled. "Showing mercy like that goes a long way! You heard the way they cheered for her. Your people love her. You can't treat her like this anymore. I won't let you."

"Jongho, no..." Kita said as she saw San's anger rise again.

"You've been loyal to me for so long, Jongho. Are you really going to defy me now and throw away everything you've worked for?" San hissed.

"To protect my future queen? Yes."

Kita felt tears come to her eyes, but she saw San's flash. In a split second, she pushed herself off the ground and threw herself in front of the guard, turning her back to San right as his hands made contact with her back, searing a hole through her dress and burning her skin.

She bit her lip to keep from screaming. "Get out. Run. And p-please, take him with you." She whispered to him before letting her cry of pain escape her as she fell to the floor.