Jimin walked down the hall cautiously, looking every which way, trying to avoid any unwanted encounters. Hoseok trailed behind him, keeping an eye on the prince, noting how stressed he looked.

“It’s okay, Jiminie. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know you won’t, Hyung. But I don’t even want to see their faces.” Hoseok nodded, understanding, and went back to silently trailing the prince, making it to the library in peace.

Jimin instantly ran to his private little alcove, picking up the current book he’d been reading and sitting by the window, opening it to the page he was on and diving into the story.

Hoseok leaned against the wall, just watching the prince.

As Jimin read, the worry seemed to wash away from his face, the pain from his eyes. His shoulders, which had been so tense ever since the arrival of his parents, seemed to relax and Hoseok let out a little smile as he saw that the prince, too, had a small smile gracing his features.

It hurt all of them to see the precious young prince of Busan suffering. He didn’t deserve any of what had happened to him, and they were all angered at the sudden arrival of the king and queen and their...wizard or sorcerer or whatever the hell he called himself.

Speak of the devil.

Hoseok stood at attention as he saw the man walk into the library, spotting him as soon as he had walked in the door.

Hoseok shot a glance at Jimin, noting that he was still immersed into his book, not noticing anything amiss. And Hoseok wanted to keep it that way. He didn’t want to see the color drain from the prince’s face, the smile fade, the fear fill his eyes. Hoseok hated that look, and it was something he never wanted to see again.

So he pushed away from the wall, waving off Jimin who had glanced up for a moment, giving a small excuse of going to find a book for himself. Hoseok then rushed through the many towering shelves filled with books as he tried to locate where the ‘wizard’ had gone.

When he found him, he didn’t even let the man speak, before slamming him against the nearest shelf, ignoring the slight rock from the sheer force of it. Hoseok channeled his anger into the move, and he felt satisfied as he watched the pained wince the other man had let off.

“Why are you here?” Hoseok demanded.

“I am here because my king and queen have requested it of me.”

“No. Why are you in the library? Why are you in the castle? Why are you even in this country? My king specifically told you and your fucking rulers that he didn’t want them here.”

“You will address the king and queen of Busan with respect.”

“I have no respect for people who sell their children off and listen to the lies of strange men.”

“The lies? You think that I speak lies?”

“I think that you spew shit out of your mouth for the sole purpose of controlling people. I think you’re a piece of shit who only wants power, and now you’re trying to take over Daegu. If you think, for even a second that you’ll fucking succeed, you have another thing coming for you.”

“Funny, coming from you, bastard son of Gwangju.” Hoseok’s eyes widened and he stumbled back as if burned by the man’s touch.

“How—“

“Yes, I know all about you. In fact, I know all about your little band of bastards, running around and ruling this country as if it is yours. Do not threaten me when you know nothing.”

“How the fuck did you find out?” Hoseok seethed.

“I am guided by the divine beings, the gods themselves. They tell me all that I need to know. And I know that you are the bastard son of the king of Gwangju, extraordinary with a sword, gifted from birth with skill, strength and speed matched by very few. Yes, I know all about you, growing up to be your brother’s servant, his dog, his soldier, war weapon, killing machine. His executioner. I know the things you’ve done, the innocents you’ve killed in your family’s name. I know all about you, so do not think that even for a second, you may threaten me.”

“You—“

“I do not know why you try. Let me get this into your head, boy.” The man spat, a cruel smirk on his features. “I know everything about you, everything about your closest friends, your family. Do not try to threaten me because I won’t ruin your life. No. I’ll ruin the lives of everyone you care about, starting with that sweet little prince and ending with the bastard son of Daegu who sits upon the throne as if it is his.”