Once upon a time....there was a world that was perfect. Where people could speak with truth without having to fear the judgement of others. Where our words would hold no malice and we could show to the world our true feelings. Where the just are rewarded and the evil are punished. Where people never got hurt or died.

But such a world like this does not exist. And neither will it ever exist.

Why?

Because in every world there exist humans. And we humans are despicable people....

besides.....

A perfect world would be boring, huh?

{ Let the Games Begin }

"Sungyeol?"

"Sungyeol."

"Ya, wake up!" My partner, Hoya yelled into my ear. Jerking from the sudden burst of noise, the chair that I was sleeping in almost tipped over.

My legs were resting on a messy desk that was in front of me. Untangling my long legs from my position, I give Hoya a dazed look.

"Aish, I thought you were dead!" Hoya said amazed while waving his hand in front of my face. Annoyed, I brushed his hand aside. I feel dead.

"What do you want?" I grumbled as a slight pounding near my temples alerted me of the day ahead.

"You've been summoned."

"What does Sung-kyu want this early in the morning." I growled as I struggled to get on my feet. Our Sergeant Leader, Sung-kyu, was also in charge of us when we weren't on the field.

"It's late afternoon." Hoya frowns at me. Walking over to the only window in the dark room, Hoya opens the blinds which fills the room with the harsh evening's light.

Shielding my sensitive eyes, the sun's rays only succeed in annoying me further. Brushing through my dark brown hair with my hands, I tilt my head towards my partner.

"Anyway.." coughed Hoya, " the summons wasn't from Sungkyu."

Frowning, I wait for Hoya to continue.

"Her majesty summoned your presence."

Silence fell upon us.

Quirking a small smile, I turn my back on my partner as if to dismiss him. "It's a little early for jokes, Hoya." Finding an empty coffee cup that was on my desk, I pick it up to refill it's contents.

"I'm serious."

Dropping the coffee cup onto the ground from shock, the shattering of the glass shards reminded me of my heart the last time I was summoned by royalty. Crouching down to gather the shards together, I carefully placed them in a waste pin.

"Why are you avoidng her? She's been asking for you ever since..." My hands pause at Hoya's words.

"The Royal line has done enough damage....besides, she is only Queen in name only. The military is in charge of the Kingdom now." I whispered.

"She may be Queen in name only, but she still holds a lot of influence from the common people. Many of them still remember her when she was just a little girl..."

"She still is a little girl." I retorted.

Giving me a warning look, Hoya crosses his arms and looks down at me.

"Why are you so cold towards her? You saved her life..."

"It's none of your concern!" I yelled. Turning to Hoya with deadly eyes, I notice blood dripping from my hands from where I was cut from the shards.

Holding my gaze with a set of eyes reflecting his own anger and frustration, I finally break the eye contact in shame.

"Sorry...it's just..."

"We all know what you've gone through, Sungyeol." Hoya interrupted. "But you shouldn't let your personal feelings get in the way of orders. You're a soldier who is trained to be a killing machine, not a human who can't keep his emotions under control."

Clenching my hands into fists, I take a deep breath. I hate it when Hoya is logical.

"Let me get cleaned up and and then I will go to the palace." I muttered as I indicated my bloody hand.

Doubting my words after my outburst, Hoya hesitantly nods his head.

When he finally leaves, I begin to pace around the small room. Biting my lip in deep thought, I kick the cluttered desk over in frustration and watched as paper gently floated down to the all ready messy floor. "Soldiers are humans too."

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

The thick bloody red carpet was a stark contrast compared to the dusty boots and torn trench coat that I wore.

"Hasn't changed much since I last visited." I thought to myself as an attendant led me past the throne room and into a less formal setting.

Opening the double French doors, a soft light revealed the Queen leaning on a cream colored settee that was positioned near the window. The sunbeam's played with her thick dark hair, giving it's otherwise chocolate color some golden highlights.

Turning her face towards me, her delicate lips lilted up into a smile as her eyes gazed up at her visitor.

"So you decided to finally grace my presences after two years?" She smirked at my uncomfortability.

"Your Majesty."  I struggled to say as I bowed waist length to her reclining figure.

"Please, sit." She motioned a spot next to her.

"I would rather stand."

"Are you disobeying a direct order?" Her voice grew higher in surprise.

"I don't know, am I?" I lifted my eyebrows as if to challenge her.
That should give me a death sentence.

Motioning the assistant to give us privacy, Queen Meera waited for the clicking of the closing doors before turning to me.

Bursting into laughter, the young Queen covers her mouth as a soft giggle fills the otherwise quiet room.

Looking around her for any witnesses, she sighs in relief when she finds no one.

"Never stop being you, Yeollie." She sighed as she held her stomache from laughing so hard. "Social etiquette is such a pain!" Meera grumbled as she removed her hair pins which released her perfect hair style.

Mesmerized, I watch as her rich hair cascade down her small back and slightly bounces. I shake my head from my wandering thoughts and focus my attention on her next words.

"The reason I summoned you was so I could have a break from this "royal" thing. Everyone has been "Yes, your majesty. Whatever you wish, your majesty." Queen Meera said in frustration as she got up from her seat. Her pale soft tuled dress reminded me of the tint of pink blush on a white rose.

"Always having your way is tiring..." She stopped her pacing near the glass windows and looked tenderly at the dying sun.

"You're the only one who doesn't give me what I want. You've always treated me like....I was human. When you lived in the palace, how did you not get polluted by all of this?" She waved her arms around her.

My mouth was open the whole time she was pacing from shock. "You've changed." I managed to say before closing my mouth. Is this the same Meera that I grew up with?

"You think?" She said sarcastically as she turned to look at me more closely. Folding her arms across her chest, she unconventionally leaned against the wall and stared up at me.

"Being kidnapped from the palace, working as a slave for 3 years, and then later finding out that my whole family was murdered besides me. Yeah...that can change a person." She said drily as she dared me to answer back.

"Besides, I'm not the only who has changed..."

I grunted as I looked away. Hearing her gently footsteps approaching me, I refused to meet her eyes.

"I can't believe we didn't recognize each other when you rescued me."

That got my attention. I didn't even try to hide my fury through my eyes as I finally looked down at her. The top of her head barely made it to my chin. Tilting her head up from our height difference, I looked down at her beautiful hazel eyes as they trembled from something.

"We haven't seen each other in 12 years. We were only kids when we were separated."

Tilting her head at me, she silently observes me for a moment. "Why did you leave?"

"You really don't know?" I laughed bitterly.

"No, I don't." She frowned.

"Who do you think I am?"

"My brother."

"Well, you're wrong. I'm just a boy from the red-light district that the King and Queen decided to adopt one day. When the Royal couple gave birth to a biological heir, the previous boy was disposed of."

"Is that why you didn't say goodbye to me?" Meera whispered sadly as her eyes glistened from unshed tears.

"I had no choice." Besides...I never wanted to say goodbye to the girl that I grew up to see as my own little sister. Why did I even share all of that?

"Is that why you despise me now? Do I remind you of Mom and Dad?"

My silence answered her question which made her once beautiful smile falter. Silence covered us as I neutrally looked down at her.

"After being banished, I learned that your father was a cruel man and a horrible leader."

"But I am not my father!"

"Prove it to me then!"

Biting her lip as she delved deep into her thoughts, a small smile reapperaed once again.

"I accept your challenge!"

"What challenge?!" I frowned.

"If I can prove to you that I can be a better ruler than my father, than you must promise to forever stay by my side and keep the promise that you made to me. But, if I fail. Then I will step down as Queen." Meera promised as she extended her hand towards me.

Hesitant, I glared down at the hand that was offered.

Why would I agree to something like that? My freedom is worth a lot more than....

Seeing an all too familiar red glint, I quickly grabbed Meera and pushed her down onto the floor.

Our faces were inches apart from each other as I could feel her warm breath on my face. Her eyes searched mine in confusion before our world erupted.

The blast of a small explosion lit up the otherwise dark room as I covered her small body with my own. Shattering from impact, the window that we were talking next to suddenly explodes into a million pieces and the broken shards cover our bodies.

Panting heavily, I look down to see if Meera was okay only to see her once pale pink dress covered in fresh blood.

Is that her blood or mine?