Chapter Text
He and his older brother had gotten into another fight. That was the reason why he was huddled in the flowers in the garden. He was looking for a place to hide, so his tears wouldn’t be seen. His father always chided him for crying. For royalty, it was a sign of weakness. He found that the flower bushes he crawled into hid him well, even though the thorns stabbed at his skin.
He had been there for an hour, crouched at his knees, and crying into his arms. Eunwoo was always bossing him around, and he was tired of it. All he had wanted to do was play knights in the king’s courtyard. He never wanted to play with him anymore, now that he was learning to become king. Of course he knew his older brother had a duty to their country, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t play together sometimes like they used to.
“Minho, you know that I can’t. Instead of messing around, why don’t you go read about our country's history in the High Tower Library?” he had suggested to him.
“But I want to play knights with you. We never play anymore.”
Eunwoo let out a frustrated sigh.
“How many times do I have to remind you that I’m busy. You should be too. You are the prince, and you should be studying well.”
Minho’s anger spiked hearing that.
“We’re always studying. Why can’t we just—”
“Enough, Minho.” He dismissed him, and he felt his lower lip wobble.
He immediately ran down the hall, and down the steps to the beautiful garden in the back of the palace. His father didn’t like him straying far from the castle or the chambers, but he couldn’t stand to be forced into studying another moment.
He was never to be king anyway, not since his older brother would take the throne. He was the second born son, and all the studying felt pointless. He hated sitting in on his brother’s classes, as he learned how to become king—the ones his father made him also attend. He stared out the window, as the bright sun sparkled across the palace gardens, the flowers taking in every ray they could devour.
One day, while the professor was dragging out a lecture that he couldn’t care less about, he had started to wish that he was a flower too, playing in the sun with all of his friends. His father kept him close to the castle, rarely allowing him to wander. The only friend he had was his older brother, and these days, Eunwoo was too busy to give him any attention. He was lonely, and he felt his heart ache as he watched the flowers dance happily together in the breeze.
Minho couldn’t stop his curiosity from bringing him to the edge of the gardens. The lush green and array of colors were enough to pull him in. He walked the twists and turns of the paths, surrounded by beautifully well kept flowers, trees and bushes. He had never realized how huge it was, and that it seemed to stretch all the way around the edges of the palace—it was rather remarkable. Every corner had different kinds of greenery and it captivated him. That bright gorgeous afternoon was the day he fell in love with the gardens. He started to visit every single day.
The flowers comforted him, like the friends he never had.
Which was why he was huddled in the bushes with beautiful red flowers.
His tears were finally subsiding, but he didn’t feel like going back to the castle yet. He was still mad at his brother, and he didn’t want to see him.
He yelped, though, when a sudden stream of water started pouring all over his head. A matching scream was let out, with the sound of metal hitting the red asphalt of the garden path. Minho crawled out, with his hair and shoulders now drenched, to see a brown haired boy with big brown eyes staring at him with panic all over his face. There was a watering can on the ground, with the liquid steadily pouring out of it.
“Your—Your Highness.” He bowed instantly. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were in there.”
Minho brushed the water droplets from his face as he watched the boy almost snap himself in half at the angle he was bent at. He felt himself flush as he made his way to his feet, knowing his white pants were now covered in mud.
“It’s okay,” he said, but the boy refused to move from the position he was in. “You can stand up.”
When he did as he was told, his eyes were pleading at him. Minho had never seen someone with such beautiful eyes before.
“I’ll get you a towel right away.”
Before Minho could tell him that it was fine, he was running down the pathway like he was participating in a race. He sat down on the edge of the garden bed, and he rubbed his eyes. He knew they were probably still red, and his face was likely blotchy from all the crying he had done. He blinked at his hands, seeing a couple of thorns stuck in them. He tried to pick them out, but it was painful. He had fallen back on his hands in shock when the water cascaded down his back. The fallen thorns that littered the dirt had stabbed into his palms and fingers.
He looked up to see the boy already running back towards him down the path at full speed. He knelt in front of him, gently handing him a cloth, outstretched with both hands. Minho took it, and the boy continued to stare at him like he was astounded.
“What is it?” Minho asked, not liking the way he was looking at him. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but was holding it back.
Minho blinked patiently at him, waiting for him to speak.
“Oh—if I may ask, Your Highness, are you okay?”
Minho blushed, averting his gaze as he patted at his face with the rag. He must have looked more pitiful than he thought. He patted his tears that were mixed in with the water that was poured on him from the watering can.
He just nodded, but the boy bit his lip. He handed the rag back to him, and his eyes went wide.
“Your hands,” he mentioned, causing Minho to look down at them. “Do they hurt?”
There were at least a dozen thorns splintered into his skin.
“A little,” he admitted. The boy held his own hand out then.
“May I?”
Minho felt his heart shimmy up his throat at his tiny smile. Minho placed his hand in his, the back of it resting against his palm. The touch of his skin was a tad rough, but Minho liked the warmth of it. His complexion was darker than his, and Minho wondered how long he had spent in the sun to get that beautiful honey look to his skin.
“It might hurt a bit, but it would be best to remove the thorns and clean the wounds or they could get infected.”
Minho winced as he squeezed at his skin, expertly removing the thorns that were lodged in his palms and his fingers. He winced as he watched a bit of his blood stain the boy's fingers. It was quiet between them as he wiped his hands clean with the rag.
“There,” he said with a bright smile, and Minho couldn’t help his shy nod as he beamed at him. “We should visit the infirmary, that way you can get those properly sanitized.”
Minho blinked at him as he shined with the rays of the sun, just like the flowers he had watched from the windows of the castle.
“What’s your name?” he asked, because he couldn’t help his curiosity.
The boy looked surprised at his question.
“My name is Jisung, Your Highness. My father is a horticulturalist that works in the gardens. I’m his son, and his apprentice. It’s my pleasure to serve you and the palace.”
Minho didn’t like the way he was bowing again.
“You don’t have to keep doing that,” he grumbled, clearly annoyed. Jisung nodded slowly, like he was confused. “Bowing. You don’t have to bow at me like that.”
Jisung blushed a little, but gave him a tiny smile.
“Oh, okay. My apologies, Your Highness.”
Minho rubbed his hands together awkwardly, wincing at the sting of his palms.
It was quiet for a moment before he spoke.
“Thank you for helping me.”
Jisung twitched, like he was about to bow again.
“Of course. Although, we should really go to the infirmary. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
Minho felt his heart race a little, seeing those round cheeks of his scrunch up with his smile.
Nothing else was said as they made their way across the palace grounds and into the infirmary. Jisung had waved at him before skipping back down the steps, and making his way back to the gardens.
He was scolded by his father when he returned to the castle, seeing the bandages wrapped around his hands. His brother shook his head in disappointment, but Minho ignored him.
He spent his evening, staring out the window, watching the moon glow over the flowers in the garden, thinking about the garden boy.
Minho was watched closely for over a week, so he couldn’t find his way out into the palace gardens. He was getting frustrated, because his brother was relentless about him attending the meetings in the war room. He couldn’t sit in another boring war meeting or else he would scream. He didn’t care about the feud between them and their rival nation, he didn’t understand any of it either. All he knew was that it was pointless, just like everything else in the palace. The only reason he attended without a fuss was because his brother promised him they could play in the king's courtyard for a bit afterwards. But, of course, Eunwoo ditched him for extra swordsman classes.
He felt that sadness well up inside him, especially when he patted him gently on the head.
“Tomorrow, Minho. I promise.”
He was lying. He never made time for him anymore. He just bit his tongue and nodded, watching as he left with his guards.
On the bright side, he was finally able to sneak out and dash down the steps into the garden as his guards and maids were distracted. He smiled, finally seeing the flowers surrounding him. He breathed in the fresh air, and he loved the smell of the purple flowers that were littered all throughout that part of the garden. Normally he would take a walk so he could look at the flowers but this time, he was searching for someone.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the garden boy from the other day. He couldn’t get his sparkling brown eyes out of his head, or the way he smiled and shined so brightly like the sun.
His father always told him to stay away from the staff, that they were working and he shouldn’t be bothering them. There were kids his age that also hung around the palace, since their parents had worked for the royal family. He was never allowed to play with them though. Their hierarchical laws forbade it.
Maybe that was another reason as to why he was searching so desperately for him. He knew his father and brother wouldn’t approve, and he was feeling a little rebellious lately. He was tired of the rules, he had enough of being told what to do, and he just wanted a friend to hang around with.
He was starting to get frustrated when he couldn’t find him. He had been searching for over an hour, since the garden was huge. He finally made his way to a greenhouse, and he could see someone inside. He hurriedly pushed past the doors, and he felt a successful smile come to his face as he saw Jisung potting plants in the middle of the glass building, with greenery hanging all around it.
He looked just as surprised as last week upon seeing him.
“Oh, Your Highness,” he greeted him instantly. His fingers were covered in dirt, and his clothes were soiled with mulch as well. He bowed again, and Minho rolled his eyes.
“I told you, you don’t have to bow.”
He just wanted to be normal for once. None of the other kids bowed to each other like that. He knew that from watching them play in the courtyard of the palace from high in the castle tower.
When Jisung stood up, Minho could see that the dirt was all over his face as well.
“Do you need something?” he asked kindly, wiping his hands on his pants.
“No,” he answered, shrugging his shoulders. Jisung nodded, but was still looking at him like he was confused as to why he was there. It was quiet between them, as Jisung clearly wasn’t sure what else to say. Minho usually only talked to his brother or the maids—the guards didn’t like to talk much—so he wasn’t confident in conversing with other people his age. At least, he thought that he was his age.
“How old are you?” he asked suddenly. Jisung still had a wide-eyed look on his face.
“I’m twelve.”
So he was two years younger than him. Minho just nodded as he touched the potted plants. He was sweating a little, since the sun was bearing down from the glass above him, and heating the room to an uncomfortable temperature.
“It’s hot in here,” he mentioned, and Jisung chuckled.
“It’s supposed to be. That’s how the flowers like it.”
It was pretty—his laugh. Minho flushed a little, feeling a stupid for saying that now. He had never been inside a greenhouse before, so he was a little mesmerized by the abundance of flowers, plants and herbs.
Jisung was still frozen in his place, with his hands clasped behind his back, like he was afraid to move. Minho didn’t like it. He made his way closer to him, looking at the flowers he had been potting before he interrupted him.
“These flowers are pretty,” he said, rubbing his thumb across the pink petals.
“Oh, those are cosmos flowers. They are rather beautiful, aren’t they?”
Minho’s heart flipped in his chest at Jisung’s bright smile, shining in his direction. He really liked the way his cheeks bunched with the upturn of his lips. He had a cute face.
He nodded, and took the pot into his hands.
“If you want, you can keep that one,” he offered, and Minho blinked up at him. “I’m sure my dad would make an exception for the prince, but we don’t have to tell him just in case.”
Jisung was kind. Although, it could be because he had to be. He knew people treated him differently, just because he was the prince.
“Is that okay?” he asked, not wanting to get him in trouble. Jisung nodded multiple times.
“Of course it is. Just make sure it has proper sunlight, and make sure to water it at least every other day,” he instructed.
Minho bit his lip. He felt a tickle inside his chest, seeing the excited expression on Jisung’s face as he told him how to properly care for the tiny flower in his hands.
“Thank you,” he spoke softly.
“You’re welcome, Your Highness.”
Minho frowned, furrowing his eyebrows a bit.
“My name is Minho,” he told him. Jisung’s smile turned into a small confused pout for just a moment, before his grin returned with a nod of his head.
“Oh—okay, Prince Minho.”
“No. Just Minho,” he corrected him, and he could see he was becoming uncomfortable. His eyes darted around for a moment, before landing on the flowers that were on the table.
“Forgive me, but I—I don’t believe that’s appropriate, Your Highness,” he blushed, and Minho tilted his head to try and catch his gaze.
“I said it’s fine though. I don’t like being addressed that way,” he told him, and Jisung bit his lip even harder, and Minho could see it turning a dark red.
“But, addressing you by just your name… I’m a royal servant of the palace, and—”
“Please?”
He didn’t mean to sound so desperate, but for once, he just wanted to make a friend. He didn’t want him to think that just because he was the prince, he had to address him in such a way. He wanted to be one of them. He wanted to be like the kids that played in the courtyard, laughing and running around with no rules or labels.
Jisung must have seen the pleading look on his face, because that uncertain frown turned into a tiny smile.
“Okay, Minho.”
Minho didn’t mean for the giant smile to break out across his lips, but it did.
Jisung had to get back to work, so Minho took his flower and left the greenhouse, allowing him to refocus on potting the plants for the garden.
He ran back to his chamber and placed the flower on his windowsill so it was properly in the sunlight. He made sure to water it, and he felt a little proud, seeing it stand tall in the afternoon sun. He felt less lonely as he watched the kids play in the courtyard that evening. He was accompanied by thoughts of Jisung, as he touched the pink flower petals, hoping he could see him again soon.
The best time to visit him was during the afternoon. It was easy to get away from the guards when they were hungry for a midday meal, and he always seemed to find Jisung near the greenhouse at that time.
He was more than shocked to see him again the next day, but Minho just gave him a small smile.
“Your High—” he stopped mid-sentence, flushing a little. “Minho, it’s good to see you again.”
“Hi, Jisung.”
He swore he saw Jisung’s blush darken, but it could have been because it was so hot in the greenhouse.
“Are you here to see the flowers again?” he asked.
Minho decided it was best to just nod, and not admit that he was there to see him and not the foliage. Jisung smiled at him, but continued to tend to the flowers as Minho watched him.
He was busy, and Minho felt a little bad for distracting him as he tried to water the plants. But he had a curious queue of questions, wanting to know what types of flowers were planted around the greenhouse. Of course, Jisung answered every time without seeming bothered, even though Minho knew he had to have been. He kept calling his name as he skipped across the rows of flowers, asking question after question.
After Jisung was done watering the plants, he made his way out into the garden, with Minho following him closely. He must have been troubling him, but Jisung continued to beam that bright smile in his direction as he trailed behind him.
He had grabbed some equipment from the shed, and Minho watched him curiously as he kneeled down near the flower beds. He began digging small holes into the dirt, and planting the flowers he had brought from the greenhouse perfectly in rows.
“Do you want some help?” he asked, and Jisung quickly shook his head.
“Oh no, it’s completely alright. It’s my job, and you shouldn’t be working in the garden.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. Just because he was the prince, didn’t mean he couldn’t do a little bit of work.
“But I’m bored, and you’re ignoring me,” he complained, and Jisung looked like he was trying to hold back a grin.
He turned to face him, and Minho could see him getting ready to bow at him.
“I’m sorry for ignoring you, Your Highness. I can take a break, if you’d like,” he offered, and Minho rolled his eyes. He pouted a little, especially since that title fell from his lips again, and he was ducking his head.
Jisung had a lot of work to do, so asking him to stop would be cruel, since he would probably have to finish his chores later. But if Minho were to give him a hand, then he would be done even earlier, and maybe they could play together.
“Can’t I just help?”
Jisung looked conflicted for a moment, but Minho must have pleaded at him well, since he eventually held out a tiny shovel and a mini looking rake. Minho grabbed them, and inspected them carefully.
“Okay, I’ll show you how, and then you can help me do the next flower bed.”
Minho smiled excitedly as he crouched down next to him. He heard Jisung’s breath hitch a little as he leaned in. To be fair, he did get unnecessarily close, but he wanted to make sure he was watching and learning properly so he could do it on his own.
“First, you rake the soil like this, just to get rid of any unwanted debris like rocks or weeds,” he showed him, and Minho nodded carefully. “Then, you dig a hole—around the size of this pot, okay?” He pointed to the pot that the flower was in, and began digging at the dirt with the shovel.
“Break up the roots at the end, but make sure you’re careful. We want to make sure they grow into the soil.” He grabbed the flower carefully out of the pot it was in, messed with the tiny roots at the bottom and placed it into the hole he had just dug. “Then you cover it, and you’re all done.”
Minho nodded, because it seemed to be easy enough.
“These are cosmos flowers,” he noted, and Jisung smiled wide.
“Yep, like the one I gave you yesterday. We plant them in the greenhouse in the spring, so they’re ready by the summer. If we planted them outside before then, they would die at night, since it gets too cold.”
Minho was impressed by how much Jisung knew about the flowers.
“Okay, I’m ready to work.”
Jisung chuckled, and Minho felt his heart flutter.
“Here.” Jisung grabbed the pad that was underneath his knees. “Use this so you’re more comfortable.”
Minho noticed he didn’t have another one.
“But what about you?”
Jisung waved him off.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Minho just nodded, and he began raking at the soil. He wasn’t sure why he thought it would be easy, because he was struggling to get the roots to detach from the bottom of the plant, and the soil kept falling back into the hole as he was digging. His knees were already hurting, even with the pad underneath him, he was covered in dirt, which somehow got into his mouth as well, and the sun was beating down on the back of his neck, making him sweat. He groaned after planting only three flowers, seeing that he didn’t even space them properly. He looked over to see that Jisung had already successfully planted triple the amount he had.
He grumbled to himself but placed his hands back down on the dirt, not even caring that his skin was going to be even more stained with mud. He let out a screech as he accidentally stabbed at his hand with the sharp edge of the shovel.
“Prince Minho, are you okay?” Jisung sounded panicked, immediately jumping up from where he was in the middle of planting a flower. Minho could see it fall to the ground as he had dropped it to make his way over to him.
He looked down, and he had a gash on his middle finger, which was bleeding steadily.
“Oh no, what happened? Are you alright?” he grabbed his hand, without asking this time. Minho flushed, seeing him brush the dirt on his finger away from the wound.
“I–I’m okay. I... accidentally stabbed myself trying to dig a stupid hole,” he said. Jisung grabbed a towel from his back pocket and gently wrapped it around his finger. Minho frowned, because he was clumsy, and instead of helping, he knew he was being a burden. “I’m sorry.”
Jisung looked up instantly, giving him that confused face again.
“You shouldn’t be sorry, Your Highness. I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t have let you help me, I am so sorry. Please, forgive me.”
Minho sighed, seeing Jisung’s worried face. It wasn’t his fault that he was unskilled in the art of shoveling a simple hole.
“It’s not like you were the one that stabbed me with the shovel. And I wanted to help,” he mumbled. Jisung grabbed his wrists and helped him to his feet. There was dirt and blood all over his pants, and Jisung looked even more panicked than before.
“We have to go to the infirmary,” he told him, and Minho shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
“Your Highness, you’re bleeding—”
“Why won’t you just call me Minho?” he interrupted him with a childish pout. Jisung’s eyes went wide, and Minho couldn’t help the sad expression on his face.
“I–I’m sorry. I was taught to address the royal family as such, so I keep forgetting.”
Minho blinked sadly down at the grass which was now stained with the droplets of his blood.
Jisung was taught to treat him kindly. He was told to be kind and respectful to the royal family. He couldn’t help the clench of his heart, knowing that Jisung was only following orders.
“I’m bothering you, aren’t I?” he asked, and Jisung’s head cocked to the side, once again, with that confused face of his.
“What?”
Minho ripped his hand away, and Jisung flinched a little.
“You’re only talking to me because you feel you have to. Because I’m the prince, and you were told to serve me.”
He felt the tears welling in his eyes, from the pain in his heart and the stinging of the wound on his finger.
Jisung slowly shook his head.
“No, Minho, that’s not true.”
He looked up at him, hearing his name. He was smiling, shining like the sun, and Minho felt a few tears drip down his cheeks. He felt himself blush as he quickly wiped them away. He could hear his fathers words in his head, scolding him for crying and showing weakness in front of a commoner.
“My finger hurts.”
He tried to make his tears look like they were from physical pain, and not from his emotions running wild inside him.
"May I?" he asked this time, gesturing to Minho's hand. He nodded slowly.
Jisung gently grabbed his unhurt hand, and Minho felt his heart flutter at the warm touch of his skin on his. Jisung always seemed to be so warm. He could feel him squeeze slightly, like he was trying to comfort him.
“Come on, let’s go to the infirmary.”
Minho felt bad that he was keeping Jisung from his work. He wanted to tell him that he could go there himself, but he didn’t want him to let go of his hand. He held on tight as he walked him across the palace, and he didn’t even care that the guards were definitely giving them strange looks.
Jisung knocked on the door of the infirmary, and he was surprised when another boy their age answered the door.
“Oh, hi, Jisung and—oh my, Your Highness,” he instantly bowed, and Minho bit his lip in irritation.
“Hi Hyunjin, is your dad here?” he asked, and when Hyunjin stood up, he was looking at Jisung like he had three heads. His gaze flicked back and forth between Jisung’s face and the grip he had on Minho’s hand.
“He is. He’s treating one of the maids for falling off a ladder,” he told him, and his eyes gazed back over to Minho.
“Is everything alright? Prince Minho, are you hurt?” Hyunjin asked. Minho slowly raised his hand that was wrapped in a towel so he could see it. The blood had started to stain through, and Hyunjin’s eyes went wide.
“Minho stabbed himself with a shovel accidentally while helping me in the garden.”
Minho didn’t miss the shock and disbelief that quickly appeared in Hyunjin’s eyes. They looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets and bounce onto the floor. His mouth even dropped open a little bit. Jisung had addressed him by his first name only, and he could see the fright and confusion on Hyunjin’s face. Minho squeezed Jisung’s hand tighter, feeling a small smile come to his lips.
“O–Okay, I’ll… I’ll grab my dad. You can come in.”
Jisung tugged him in by his hand, since Minho had refused to let go. They stood there together, maybe a little bit too close together, but Minho knew if he let Jisung’s hand go, he would leave to go back to the gardens.
Usually he would spend the entire afternoon with him, and he couldn’t stand that it was being cut short today. He knew that he would be escorted back to the castle after he were to get patched up. He couldn’t help the sullen look on his face.
“Are you okay?” Jisung asked, and Minho shrugged.
He was feeling frustrated, but he didn’t want to admit it. He was taught to keep his feelings inside his chest, something he was never really great at doing. Eunwoo always chided him for his emotions, saying that as royalty, he needed a rational clear head on his shoulders.
“Does your hand hurt that much?” Jisung sounded worried, like it was still his fault somehow.
“No, it doesn’t really hurt.”
“Then why are you upset?” he asked, concerned.
“Because…I’ll have to go back to the castle after I get my hand looked at, but I was having fun with you in the garden,” he told him shyly, and that made Jisung smile a little.
“Well, you can always come back tomorrow.”
Minho’s eyes met his, and once again he was shining bright like the sun.
“Really?”
“Of course, it is your garden, after all.”
Minho wasn’t sure if he liked that response, and Jisung could obviously tell, from the disappointed look on his face. He wanted him to invite him back. He wanted Jisung to want him there. His heart ached, feeling like he was being tolerated.
“Yeah, okay,” he pouted, and Jisung squeezed his hand again.
“And the next time you try to plant any flowers, you’re wearing gloves.”
His chuckle immediately lifted his spirits, and the words ‘next time’ had his stomach bubbling with joy.
“Prince Minho, I heard you’ve hurt your hand.”
They both jumped, hearing a voice behind them.
The head doctor at the infirmary was tall, and Minho could see that his son was definitely going to take after him. He stood behind him, with gauze in his hands.
Minho just nodded, and the man’s eyes traveled over to Jisung.
“This is the second time you’ve brought me the prince in poor condition, is there something going on that I should know about?” he asked, and Jisung looked nervous. He didn’t miss the doctor’s unapproving eyes as he glanced at their hands clasped together.
“I was playing in the gardens and I got hurt. Jisung didn’t do anything wrong.”
Jisung’s eyes slid over to him, but gave him a small grateful smile for defending him.
“I believe the king wouldn’t be too thrilled to know that you’re messing around with the prince when you should be working.”
Jisung nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
Minho didn’t like the way he was talking down to him. He also hated that Jisung had dropped his hand as soon as he said that.
He knew that there were different social classes all throughout the palace, but Minho always hated it. He could tell that he didn’t respect Jisung in the slightest, and the fact that Minho defended him must have annoyed him even more.
“Now, now. Let’s get back to our duties.”
Jisung turned towards Minho and bowed. He also didn’t like that there was no smile on his face anymore.
“Your Highness.”
Minho felt his heart ache a little.
He watched as Jisung sprinted down the steps and made his way back to the gardens. He sighed as the doctor's son, Hyunjin, cleaned his hand while he stared out the window. The doctor came by to check his work, clearing him to go back to the castle.
He left without a word, feeling frustrated and angry.
Their laws were bullshit. Keeping relationships strictly within the social classes was absurd, and Minho never understood it.
It also didn’t help that he ran into his brother on the way back to his chambers.
“Where have you been?” he asked, and he grabbed his wrist when he caught sight of the bandages. “And what happened to your hand?”
Minho rolled his eyes.
“I tripped and fell running down the stairs of the palace earlier,” he lied.
Eunwoo sighed deeply.
“You should really be more careful, Minho. What if something worse happened to you?” he sounded concerned, and that made Minho’s heart ache.
“Who cares,” he grumbled, and Eunwoo gave him a small frown.
“You should care, the people of our country care, and I care.”
He wasn’t sure why that made the pain stab at his heart even more. It had been a while since he and his brother had a civil conversation. He barely even saw him these days. He seemed exhausted though, because Minho could see the dark circles under his eyes.
It was quiet between them, as a few guards passed them to get to the war room.
Minho sighed, knowing that’s probably where his brother was headed, and likely why he was looking for him. He played with the bandage on his hand, waiting for him to drag him inside.
“Look, how about we get some tea and sit outside for a little before the sun goes down?”
Minho bit his lip, surprised to hear him say that.
“Don’t you have a meeting to attend?” he sassed, and his brother shrugged.
“I’m sure they can get through this one without me.”
Minho allowed a small smile to come to his face as Eunwoo gestured for him to follow him to the dining room.
The one thing about Eunwoo that was admirable, was that he was incredibly hospitable. Everyone loved him, and they couldn’t wait for their beloved prince to become their king one day. He treated everyone with kindness, and he really did love their country and their people. He was definitely born to be king.
Minho was grateful to him, because the thought of being king was overwhelming to him. He was too shy, and not as outgoing as his brother was. He also didn’t take responsibility well, and he winced, knowing he forgot to water the cosmos flower Jisung had given him earlier.
The only thing that he envied about his brother was his purpose. His life was mapped out, knowing he was eventually going to be king. Minho was lost, wandering the castle day by day, without knowing what meaning his life had.
His father kept him close to the castle, due to the deadly war that was going on. Apparently, it had been going on for over a decade, as the two countries fought for power and land.
He had always wondered what it would have been like to leave the castle walls.
His cousins had been traveling the mountains, exploring the countryside and searching for undiscovered medical herbs. Minho had suggested to the king that it could be a great opportunity for him to learn and see his country with his own eyes. However, he was quickly denied, saying he was too young and that it was entirely too dangerous for the prince to leave the castle during a time of war.
So, he was stuck attending lessons meant for the future king, and wasting his time in war meetings that had no meaning to him.
He would never leave the castle, and he would never have a purpose.
“How are your studies going?” his brother asked, and Minho let out a sigh.
“Fine.”
He didn’t want to talk about classes or anything pertaining to being second in line to the throne. He sipped on his blueberry tea, trying to cool it down so he wouldn’t burn his tongue.
His eyes shot up when he heard laughter in the courtyard. He could see a few boys his age hanging around by the small garden in the center. They had wooden sticks, as they pretended to sword fight. They were playing knights.
At least, that’s what Minho had named it.
He would watch them play from the window, high in his chambers, and he had asked his brother to play with him a few times, stealing their idea from them.
“Do you think… I could play with them?”
His brother’s eyes went wide.
“Of course not.” He looked at him with disbelief, and Minho winced at his critical stare.
“But you said we could play knights the other day, and we still haven’t. So, if you’re too busy, then I can just play with them,” he explained.
Eunwoo’s stern face and refusal to yield was something new. He had never been so harsh with him before he started his training to become king.
He used to be soft and sweet with him, always playing with him and giving in to whatever Minho wanted. These days, it was the exact opposite.
“I know father has explained this to you already, but I’ll remind you again. We are of the highest social class, and if we do not follow the rules of the system, then others will follow. We lead by example, Minho. We do not socialize with the common folk.”
Minho wasn’t sure why his mind immediately traveled to Jisung, but all he could see was his kind smiling face.
“But why does it have to be that way? I just want to play knights, and you never want to play with me,” he complained, and he saw his brother roll his eyes this time. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and tried not to sound annoyed.
“Minho, we aren’t kids anymore. I am to be king soon, and you have the responsibility of being the prince, to learn the duties of the king in case of my absence.”
Minho scoffed.
“And where would you go? Father has made it clear that neither of us are allowed to leave the palace. I’ll never have to be king, so why can’t I just—”
“Why must you always argue with me?” he interrupted him, clearly frustrated. “For once, can’t you just understand and accept that this is the duty you have towards your country? You have been born into the highest honor, and you can’t even respect it.”
Minho could taste another argument on the tip of his tongue, especially when he blurted out his next words.
“I hate that you’re becoming king. You’re so bossy all the time now, and you never have time for me!”
The guards and the kids that were playing in the courtyard heard him yelling, because they all stopped to look at them. Eunwoo looked shocked at his outburst, but Minho didn’t give him a chance to respond as he darted his way back up the steps and into the palace.
Someone had chided him for running in the castle halls, but he ignored them. He slammed the door of his chambers, and he felt the tears welling in his eyes.
All he wanted was to play knights. All he wanted was to have a friend to talk to and play with. He hated the way things had to be, for absolutely no reason.
He watered his cosmos flower, and his heart clenched seeing it a little bit wilted.
The next day, he couldn’t find Jisung at the greenhouse. He searched for hours, but he was nowhere to be found. He sobbed in front of the door, unable to keep his emotions back anymore.
He had been forced to attend lessons with his brother earlier that morning, and he barely even looked in Minho’s direction. Once again, their relationship was strained, and Minho wasn’t sure if they would ever be the same. Even if he wouldn’t admit it, Minho could tell that he was struggling with the responsibility of taking over the country. If he wasn’t admitting it out loud, then the tiredness on his face was a dead giveaway.
Eunwoo hated letting people down, and the fact that he could now let down an entire nation was eating at him. Minho just wished that his real smile would come back, even though he wasn’t sure it ever would.
He couldn’t stop his tears, but he felt safe in the garden, letting his emotions pour out of him. He knew neither his brother or his father were around to keep those feelings trapped inside his chest.
“Minho?”
A gentle voice made his face lift up from crying into his arms.
Jisung blinked at him, bent over with his hands on his knees.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
His eyes started roaming his body, inspecting every part of him that he could. Minho quickly shook his head and rubbed the tears from his face. He sniffled a few times, trying to stop his sobs. He didn’t answer verbally, afraid that his voice would crack.
Jisung just carefully sat down on the grass in front of him. He must have been planting in the gardens, because he was covered from head to toe in dirt.
Minho didn’t say anything as Jisung sat there in silence with him. He was feeling a little embarrassed that he was just caught crying so pathetically. He also wasn’t sure how to explain it all, knowing Jisung wouldn’t really understand the issues pertaining to his royal duties or the relationship strain between him and his brother.
After a little bit, with Minho’s cries calming down, Jisung held out his hands. Minho reached for him, and Jisung pulled him to his feet. His skin was warm, and Minho suddenly felt calmer. He tugged him along the path of red asphalt, which eventually turned into grass.
He was surprised to see these giant yellow sunflowers, blooming high above the palace garden. He stood there for a moment, admiring them.
“Aren’t they beautiful?” Jisung asked, looking over his shoulder. Minho blinked at them over and over, liking the way they were shining in the sun. “They’ll get even bigger as the summer goes on.”
Minho wiped at his cheeks, and Jisung smiled even wider at him.
“The sunflower is a symbol of happiness, and they’re supposed to emit positive energy,” he explained, and Minho felt his heart tug in his chest when Jisung brushed a tear from his cheek. “So, don’t cry anymore, okay? If the sunflowers are happy, then you should be too.”
Minho nodded, and gave him a smile. He was sweet, trying to cheer him up.
“Can I help you plant flowers today?” he asked. Jisung looked a little surprised at his question, but he instantly nodded his head.
“Of course. I have to plant marigolds today.”
Minho liked that Jisung never let go of his hand as he tugged him back towards the greenhouse. He helped him plant as many flowers as he could, and Jisung forced him to wear gloves this time, and made him promise to be careful.
When Minho was in the garden with him, smiling and laughing brightly, he could forget about the lonely pain inside his heart.
If Jisung was a flower, he would be just like the sunflowers in the garden. His smile was as bright as the yellow petals that shined with the sun, and that happiness he radiated was absolutely contagious.
Minho had been visiting Jisung in the gardens almost every single day for almost three months. Sometimes he would just watch him work, or he would help plant and water the flowers, and other times, Jisung would teach him about the different species they had around the palace. There were so many, but Minho definitely had his favorites.
He had about a dozen wilted cosmos flowers in his room. He kept picking them when Jisung wasn’t looking, not wanting to get scolded for ruining the garden, and bringing them back to his chambers. But he loved their beauty, and the pink color of their petals. And it was the first flower Jisung had taught him about.
He loved the sunflowers, because of how big they could get. Jisung let him pick one, and he was mesmerized by the seeds in the giant center. Jisung laughed as he dug them out with his fingers out of curiosity. They planted them in the garden, and Minho was excited to see them grow.
He enjoyed the peonies, liking the beautiful way they bloomed. They were unique looking, and they had captured his eye. Jisung had picked one from the shrub in the greenhouse, and tucked it behind his ear.
“Did you know that the peony is a symbol of royalty?” Jisung asked, and Minho flushed a little as he smiled at him. “It’s known as ‘The King of Flowers’ and represents power, wealth, and beauty.”
Minho’s heart was fluttering in his chest at his gentle touch. He grinned wide at him, admiring the bulb that was now resting in his hair.
“It suits you,” he said, and Minho had to look away. He didn’t know what that feeling in his chest was, but his heart was burning with a strange emotion.
He touched the petals softly, and gave him a tiny smile in return.
Jisung had a little bit of free time in the afternoon, so Minho had brought him lunch while they basked in the summer sun. Of course Minho had a hat on, covered from head-to-toe in fabrics so he wouldn’t get burned. His mother, the queen, would lose her mind if his skin looked even just a little sun-kissed.
Jisung on the other hand had shorts and a brown t-shirt on, soaking in the rays of the afternoon sun. Minho was a little jealous, since he was sweating a bit with the heat.
“Thank you for bringing me something to eat. I should be the one bringing you a meal,” he said, as they sat on the healthy grass.
“You’re the one that’s working so hard everyday, not me.” He shrugged, and Jisung chuckled. Minho really liked hearing him laugh. It brought a smile to his own face.
“I like working in the gardens. I love seeing the flowers grow, and I like taking care of them.”
Minho blinked at him gently, seeing him touch a purple flower petal behind him. They were chrysanthemums, and they had planted them together a couple of weeks ago. He blushed when he smiled wide at him, their gazes connecting.
They ate for a little longer until Jisung jumped up from his spot on the ground.
“I’m actually off this afternoon,” he said, brushing the dirt from his pants. Minho couldn’t help the small frown that came to his face. Usually he would spend all day with him, so he felt the disappointment seep in as he gathered up the gardening tools.
Jisung chuckled seeing his sudden sullen face.
“You can come with me, if you want,” he offered. Minho felt his heart swell with excitement, since Jisung was inviting him along and he didn’t have to go back to the castle.
“Where are we going?” he asked, and Jisung held his hand out for him to take.
“I’m meeting with my friends from around the palace.”
Minho bit his lip, and his gaze traveled towards the ground. He couldn’t stop thinking about his brother’s words. He knew he must have looked nervous, because Jisung gently grabbed at his hand.
“Remember Hyunjin? From the infirmary?” he asked, and Minho nodded. “He’ll be there, so you kind of know him, and my best friend Felix, who works in the kitchen, will be there too.”
Minho’s heart was pounding in his chest. He knew he shouldn’t go. He knew if his father or his brother found out that he was hanging with those of a lesser status, he would find himself with the worst punishment in the land.
“Are you worried? Or do you not want to come?”
Minho panicked and squeezed his hand.
“No, I—I want to come with you.”
Jisung beamed at him, and grabbed his other hand in his. When Minho would get anxious, or whenever he would come to the gardens crying, Jisung would hold both of his hands and just breathe with him.
After a few minutes, Jisung tried to capture his gaze that was stuck on the grass beneath their feet.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He was always so gentle, and never pushy. Minho had been getting better at sharing his feelings recently, even though he was afraid to put them out into the open.
“My father always says I can’t play with the kids that work in the castle, because of the hierarchy laws,” he explained, and Jisung frowned.
“Oh—yeah, that makes sense. I forgot about that.”
He didn’t miss the small uncomfortable frown on Jisung’s face.
“But… I don’t care. I hate those laws, that’s why I sneak out every day to come see you.” He had blurted it out, and Jisung’s surprised looking expression made him blush.
“What if you get in trouble?” he asked, sounding a little worried. He knew it wasn’t just him that would get in trouble. Jisung would definitely get punished too. He felt a little guilty, knowing that he was putting him at risk.
“I won’t. I’ll be extra careful,” he said, but he didn’t miss the way Jisung bit his lips anxiously. “Unless… you don’t want me to come anymore.”
He felt Jisung tug on his hands.
“Hey, of course I want you to come. I just don’t want you getting in trouble, that’s all.”
Minho blinked rapidly, trying to keep his tears back. The thought of Jisung not wanting him around anymore hurt him more than he thought. He nodded, and decided that he was going to go with him, even if he was terrified.
But he couldn’t get the thoughts of the kids playing in the king’s courtyard out of his head. The eagerness to join them was giving him the courage to defy those stupid rules.
“Do your friends play knights?” he asked, nervously. Jisung cocked his head at him, a little confused with a tiny smile.
“Knights?” he asked, and Minho blushed.
“Oh—well, I don’t know what it’s actually called, but I’ve seen them play from my window. They have these wooden sticks, and they sword fight and…”
He wasn’t sure why he felt so embarrassed explaining it, but he wasn’t even sure if Jisung knew what he was talking about. Honestly, he didn’t know what the objective of the game was, but it looked fun. Thankfully, Jisung started nodding his head multiple times.
“Oh, yeah. We call it combat. My friend Changbin came up with it. His dad is the master swordsman here. We can play, if you want.”
Minho felt his entire body ignite with a happiness he had never felt before. He accidentally squeezed Jisung’s hands a little too tight, because he could see him wince a bit.
“Sorry,” he apologized, loosening his grip. Jisung chuckled, and Minho felt even happier seeing his grin.
“It’s okay, come on. We always meet at the back of the chapel, because there’s a ton of space to play and the guards aren’t around to yell at us.”
Minho followed after him, once again never letting go of his hand. He was nervous, wondering just how he was going to be accepted into their group. He knew it was going to shock them when he showed up.
He wasn’t sure if they would even want to hang around him, for the same reasons he explained his own nervousness earlier. He knew the punishments were worse for those of lesser status.
He had been to the chapel many times, attending prayer with his family at least once a week. Of course, it was mandatory, since they believed the royal family were the direct descents of their gods. Minho wasn’t sure if he even believed all that, and he never listened to his cousins, who swore they saw the ghosts of their ancestors in the depths of the palace basement. It honestly scared him a little, so he tried to tell himself it wasn’t real, and he made sure to stay away from it.
When they arrived in the garden area behind the chapel, Minho felt those nerves skyrocket. He saw five others his age, running around with a ball at their feet. They were screaming and laughing, and Minho felt the excitement bubbling in his stomach, hoping to be a part of it.
“Hey guys.” Jisung interrupted their game, and a blonde haired boy stopped in his tracks with the ball at his feet. The shorter one behind him, tumbled over him, causing them both to hit the grass with a loud thud.
“Ow!” The blonde complained as he was stomach down on the ground. The shorter boy was just laughing, with half of his body draped over him.
“You’re the one who stopped running out of nowhere, so don’t even think about blaming me for that.”
The shorter boy was smacking at his arm now, trying to get his attention, but his eyes were stuck on the two that had just entered the chapel garden. Minho could already feel their eyes on him, and he held Jisung’s hand even tighter. Jisung was a little shorter than him, so it was hard to hide behind him completely.
“Your Highness.”
Minho watched as they all lined up, bowing instantly. Minho’s eyes darted away uncomfortably. He knew it would be like that, and he tried not to care so much, but he desperately wanted not to be part of the royal family, just for a single day. He wanted to play in the garden with his friends, without having to worry about status, and without having to think about the kingdom or his duties.
His heart swelled, feeling Jisung squeeze his hand again.
“You guys, this is Minho.”
A few of them froze, while the others had their mouths drop open.
“Jisung—are you out of your mind?” The one with dark brown hair asked. He could see the fear on his puppy-looking face, like he was afraid Jisung just made a fatal error. He had ignored him though, and looked over his shoulder to give Minho a soft smile.
Minho nodded, knowing Jisung wanted him to say something.
“You guys can call me Minho,” he said, and he bit his lip seeing two of them still bowing, “and you don’t have to bow anymore.”
They were all standing straight now, but they were looking at him with various expressions. Minho felt like crying, because none of them looked welcoming. Apprehension, nervousness, confusion, anger, and worry.
“Minho’s going to hang out with us today, and he wants to play combat,” he told them, and Minho could see one of them staring at him intensely.
“Jisung, he can’t play with us,” he spoke, and Minho felt his heart shatter.
“And why not, Changbin?” he asked, sounding a little irritated.
“Jisung, we could get exiled.” The blonde spoke nervously, with his fingers playing with his long blonde hair. “If they find out—”
“Jisung, this is—it’s against the law.” Changbin broke in.
“Well, that’s not fair. Because you, Jeongin, and Hyunjin are in a different class than Felix, Seungmin, and I,” he countered, and Hyunjin let out a soft sigh.
“You know it’s not the same. He’s the prince ,” he reminded him.
Minho could feel that he wasn’t going to be welcomed or accepted. He went to let go of his hand, but Jisung clasped onto it even tighter, refusing to let him leave.
“Minho and I have been hanging out for months now, and no one has been suspicious. It’ll be fine.”
Minho could see Jisung desperately trying to change their minds, but he once again had addressed him by only his first name, and a few of them started to panic.
“I promise I won’t say anything.”
Minho knew he sounded desperate, and he knew they were still staring at him with those worried faces. It was quiet, and Minho could see Jisung getting frustrated. He was about to tell him that it was okay, and that he would leave and come back to the garden tomorrow, but before he could, the blonde stepped up to him with a tiny courageous smile.
“My name is Felix, Your Highness.”
He bowed, but Minho didn’t feel like correcting him, afraid that it might make him uncomfortable, like it did to Jisung all those months ago.
“Hi Felix.” His voice was barely above a whisper, but he was nervous.
“I work in the kitchen. My father is a baker. I hope you’re eating well.”
Minho liked his kind face. It was bright, and it reminded him of the sun, just like Jisung’s. His voice was deep, and Minho wondered if his own would get that way someday.
One by one, they were introducing themselves, and Minho felt a little calmer, so he relaxed the grip he had on Jisung’s hand.
Seungmin’s father also worked in the kitchen. He was a butcher. Changbin’s father was the swordsman who taught Eunwoo. Jeongin’s father was the priest, and he was pretty sure he had seen him before during prayer. He had met Hyunjin previously, knowing his father was a doctor at the infirmary.
“So, you want to play combat?” Felix asked, beckoning him over to the swords that were laying by the bushes. Jisung finally let go of his hand, with a soft smile as he watched him follow the blonde towards the middle of the garden.
Felix was explaining the game to him, and Minho tried to listen over the sound of his wildly excited beating heart. He could see Changbin and Hyunjin talking with Jisung, and he desperately wished he knew what they were saying.
“If you get hit three times in the abdomen, then you’re out, and you have to fall to the ground—like this.”
Minho chuckled as he watched Felix fall flat on his back. He reached his hand out to help him off the grass, but Felix looked a little apprehensive again. He knew that it was forbidden to touch royalty without permission, which was likely the cause of Felix’s stuttered movements.
“You can take my hand,” he told him. He kept his hand there, and Felix eventually took it, smiling at him this time.
“Can we play?” he asked, anxiously. He had been waiting for this moment for so long, he wasn’t even sure if he could contain his emotions. Felix nodded, and grabbed a sword of his own.
He was really bad at combat, and by the fifth time he lost, he could tell Felix was going easy on him. But he didn’t mind in the slightest. He had never felt the feeling inside his body before. He couldn’t stop laughing, and he was having fun falling and hitting his back on the ground.
“Your Highness, you should be careful,” Felix giggled with him, beating him again.
“You can call me Minho,” he suggested this time, and Felix looked surprised at his words.
Felix’s hand froze mid-way to him, blinking at him with that apprehension.
“But, you are the prince, it would be disrespectful of me to address you so improperly.”
Minho just shrugged and reached out to grab his hand.
“I don’t think that way. I want you to just call me Minho,”
He sounded shy as he said it, especially with the uncertain frown on Felix’s face.
“Then I will do as you ask of me,” Felix answered, and Minho wasn’t sure if that was the response he was looking for, but he would take it for the time being.
“Want to play against me?” Minho jumped, hearing Jisung’s voice behind him. His bright smile made Minho’s own pop back onto his face.
“I’m not very good,” he told him, causing him to laugh. Minho felt his insides warm up with that sound, just like his skin would warm with the touch of his hand.
“That’s okay, neither am I.”
Minho felt his heart flutter as he grabbed at his wrist and pulled him to the center of the garden.
They played the game that Minho had desperately ached to play for years, and it was just as fun as he imagined. He no longer had to gaze in wonderment from the top of the castle towers, imagining himself playing with the friends he didn’t have. Because now, he knew it was called combat, he knew how much fun it was, and he had finally made some friends. When Jisung had stabbed him with the stick three times in the chest, he gladly tumbled back onto the grass.
He gazed up at the sky, as the sound of laughter surrounded him. He felt the tears stinging and threatening to pour over, but he held them back as Jisung stood over him and reached his hand out.
“Want to play again?” he asked, and Minho nodded eagerly.
When the sun was going down, Minho felt the sadness in his heart take over, not wanting to go back to the castle. Everyone waved goodbye to each other, and Felix even promised to see him again next time.
Jisung could definitely see the frown on his face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. Minho shrugged his shoulders, pouting a little.
“I was having fun. I don’t want to leave,” he admitted, and Jisung smiled wide at him.
“Well, we can play again next week,” he assured him, and Minho blinked at him with hopeful eyes.
“I can come with you again?”
“Of course, only if you want to.”
Minho nodded aggressively, making Jisung laugh.
“I want to.”
Jisung grabbed his hand, and Minho liked that he didn’t hesitate to touch him this time. He liked the way he reached out for him, without waiting for permission.
“Then it’s settled. But come on, let’s get you back before someone realizes you’ve been gone for too long.”
The warmth of his palm comforted him, and he wished he never had to let go.