≻〉 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⋆✦⋆ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 〈≺

Disclaimer,
- angst
- long ish chapter
- royalty au
- minor cursing
- mentioned character death
- 1st person (yeah i know)

≻〉 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⋆✦⋆ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 〈≺

Daewon pov.

If I could change one thing, it would be giving him that sword. As soon as his hand touched the cold metal a great curse was unleashed. I'd never seen such an evil look in someone's eyes. Had I known that Kang Taehyun was a witch I would have never let him look at the sword, no I would have never let him enter the kingdom.

"Prince Daewon! Hurry!" Beomgyu shouts running towards me. He grabs my wrist pulling me down the tunnel. We run through puddles from last night's rain, the water splashing upwards soaking my already dirty pant legs. When we get to the end, Yeonjun is already mounted on Snowflake and Fern, the Royal horses. Yeonjun reaches for my hand pulling me on the back of the horse while Beomgyu mounts onto Fern and soon the two horses are galloping down the dirt path.

"We have to cross the border into Aimeazar. They'll protect you there," Yeonjun shouts.

"Are you sure? The alliance was between my father and the Aimeazar King. Once he died it ended. How can you ensure my safety?"

"Just trust me my Prince," Yeonjun says and so I tighten my grip on his waist and decide to put all my faith in his hands because there's nothing else I can do. That witch, that little witch stole everything from me. My Kingdom, my palace, my brother. My poor baby brother. That witch will pay for what he's done.

...

It was a long trip through the Kingdom but we had to stop due to the sun disappearing. Beomgyu managed to make us a camouflage shelter allowing us to hide while Yeonjun stood guard. Despite his young age Yeonjun had proven himself to be the bravest and strongest out of all the kingdom's knights and the one I trust with my life.

"When we reach Aimeazar I'll return to the kingdom and try to gather some followers. I'll also try and get someone on the inside," Beomgyu mutters after awhile.

"A spy, good idea. The sooner we can infiltrate the palace and capture the witch the better." I say nodding my head.

"For Prince Kai," Beomgyu says, draping an arm over his chest.

"For Prince Kai" I say mimicking his posture. I will avenge you brother

"Lay, try and sleep my prince," Beomgyu says, patting his lap. I rest my head on his thighs but I couldn't sleep my mind full of the images of my brother with a spear through his chest, blood pooling from the wound.

...

Morning came all too quickly and we were once again on the horses. Yeonjun forced Snowflake to gallop as fast as she could go getting us to the border as quickly as possible. When we approached the lake we dismounted the horses.

"This is where I leave you my Prince," Beomgyu says bowing to me.

"Do your best Beomgyu. Don't get yourself killed," I says, patting the servant on his back. Beomgyu smiles, the first smile I've has seen since the beginning of this whole ordeal.

"We will get the kingdom back Prince Daewon, with you as the rightful king," Beomgyu says. He mounts on top of Fern and soon the horse is galloping away from them.

"When my father spoke of the prophecy I didn't believe it. Figured he went out into a pub and met some village loony who spewed nonsense," I say before chuckling darkly, "It was my own foolishness that got my brother killed,"

"It wasn't your fault Daewon. This will be hard to hear right now but Kai was going to die even if you never brought the witch in or not. "The king shall pay with the life of his bastard son" that was the prophecy. Kai was going to die no matter what"

"He was a kid. So bright, so happy, I swear the sun gave him a halo in the morning. It wasn't his fault our father couldn't stay faithful"

"He was a fantastic child. I loved him just like everyone else but now isn't the time to be crying. We have a job to do so let's do it,"

"For Kai. For the kingdom" I says. Yeonjun clasps me on the back before leading me to the lake. We crossed the body of water getting to the other side where a bunch of guards stood waiting.

"Prince Daewon of Vrutha"

"Show some proof," one of the guards bark. I reach inside my boot grabbing the family broach.

"Vrutha Kingdom family broach. I'm sure this is more than enough proof" I say handing it over. The guards look it over before handing it back.

"Prince Daewon," they say with a bow, "We shall take you to the prince" they say. Yeonjun and I mount onto the back of their horses and they take us to the palace. Once inside a bunch of maids grab us by the arm pulling us into wash rooms.

After I was washed and given a fresh set of clothing I stood before the crown prince.

"Prince Daewon," Sunoo, the crown prince of Aimeazar says with a small bow. I bow back to him showing my respect.

"Thank you for taking me in Prince Sunoo. I owe you a great debt," I say.

"Of course. Our kingdoms have been allies for many years. Your family means a great deal to me," the younger prince says.

"I understand that your brother was killed. My condolences. I hear he was a wonderful child," he continues. I look past the prince seeing a ray of sunlight reflecting through the glass, a single beaming strand. I can see my little brother, with his bright crooked smile, head tilted as the sun gave him a little halo above his head.

"For a bastard son he was well loved. He had that effect on people," I say now looking at the prince.

"I'll do what I can to help avenge him, and return your kingdom to you"

"Thank you Sunoo. When this is over I shall repay you greatly"

"I have a few things in mind Prince Daewon. For now join me it is breakfast time." the prince says beckoning me to follow him. With Yeonjun behind me we follow Sunoo to the dinning hall.

Seeing all the food my mouth waters as the smells filling my nose. It had been so long since I've eaten a good meal. The servants fill my plate full of various foods until every centimeter of the round plate is covered. I poke my fork through a piece of food raising to my mouth before the utensil is slapped from my hand.

"My Prince," Yeonjun says urgently, "allow me" he says.

"What, you don't trust us?" Sunoo questions swirling a glass of wine. His fox eyes gaze at the two of us questioningly.

"Can't be too careful," Yeonjun says. He takes the fork, eating the food chewing slowly before swallowing. I looks at Yeonjun expectantly waiting for something, anything but after ten minutes nothing happens.

"Well?" Sunoo questions head tilting to the side.

"You're free to eat my prince," Yeonjun says, confirming it was ok for me to eat.

"We don't mean to offend you Prince Sunoo but as you know, rules are rules. It's the way of a servant to protect the royalty," I says, finally eating. As the food touches my tongue I can't help but moan in delight.

"I understand. You've been through a lot in so little time. It's only natural that you be cautious," Sunoo says, still swirling his wine.

"Have you heard anything from the other kingdoms?" I question as I cut into the steak.

"Unfortunately no. It's been awfully quiet. I would imagine everyone is trying to play their cards right. Join the fallen prince or join the powerful witch said to bring destruction to anyone who crosses his path," Sunoo says.

"He can't be that strong. Every creature of this earth has a weakness, we just need to find it," I mutter. This witch may be strong but he has to have a weakness. Never in my life have I come across a creature so powerful that it could not be stopped. My father, though he had many flaws, taught me resilience and I will not stop until I find this creature's weakness. I want to break him down like he did my family.

"There is truth in what you speak, Prince, but how are you so sure you can find a weakness of an enemy you know nothing about?"

"We will learn something of him. There has to be som-" before I finish my sentence the sound of something falling onto the floor get's my attention. I turn to see Yeonjun splayed out on the floor, sword fallen from his hand. A sudden panic floods through my body as I realize one thing. The food must have been poisoned after all.

"What have you done?" I question standing abruptly. Sunoo smirks, finally taking a sip of his wine.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" I shout louder. Prince Sunoo chuckles before looking down at my plate of food. I should have known something was off when he didn't eat for himself. Damn it.

"You traitor!" I shout circling the table to meet the prince face to face. Before I can even lay a hand on him my body falls to the ground suddenly feeling heavy. My mind clouds even further and I can feel myself being pulled to sleep.

"I said your family means a great deal to me. When it comes down to my life or yours of course I'll choose to save myself. The legends of that witch are far too horrid for my kingdom to bare. I dare not cross such a thing" Sunoo says with a sarcastic laugh.

"But you prince, so desperate to avenge your bastard of a brother ran to the first kingdom to offer you sanctuary. You wanna know why the kingdoms have been so quiet? They all want to be pardoned from the chaos this witch will bring. You're the golden ticket to freedom"

"You bitch," I groaned with the little strength I had left. Whatever position he'd given me was strong and probably given to him by that damn witch.

"I'm sorry Daewon I really am but my people come first and if it means sacrificing you to save them and myself then so be it," Sunoo says as he motions for his guards to get Yeonjun and I.

Before I could reply back to that damn traitor my eyes fell shut, images of my little brother swirling through my mind.

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word count: 1772

A/N: i was super bored an used a opening sentence generator to write this. this has been the first and most likely last chapter i'll write in first person just cause i think they're a little cringy. let me know what you guys think and don't forget to vote/comment! love you all have a great morning/evening/night where ever you are!💙

- author bluebird