Soobin is standing nearby the window. He has this purple hair and a tall body proportion, wearing an elegant raiment with gold embroidery and special jewelry. He stands straight like he had been trained to be a good leader. At the age of nineteen, Soobin could feel the burden that can cause of his anxiety and the feeling of carrying the whole world on his shoulders while staring at the whole domain that will be inherited to him. He wakes himself from that thought and thinks positively. He keeps his head held high and realized that he needs to be sturdy as a rock to rule his kingdom and the people under his territory. This is his destiny and the reason why he was born, and he wandered:
'Do I belong in this place?'
A sudden voice of a man was heard.
"Your highness, it's time for your piano lessons." Soobin looked at him and saw a middle-aged man with broad shoulders. Tall enough to be a prim and proper butler. He wore a black suit with a black tie brushing through his neck. He has this gentle expression on his face but can feel the seriousness aura surrounding him. The older's duty is to keep Soobin's flame alive when the hurricanes came, to ward off those consumed with jealous pride. To give his life for the prince in every mortal realm is the only honor he seeks about. The man smiled a little and the comfort on his face can be seen.
Soobin smiled at him and said:
"Jin hyung, did I told you to be not so formal when it's just the two of us? Hahaha"
"You know Prince Soobin, I'm not comfortable with it. I'm just a servant and you're a crowned prince. The gap between us is so huge from each other."
The two of them walk down the hallway while talking to each other. Butler Jin said goodbye when they reached the piano room. Soobin opened the door and saw the beautiful white piano that used to be his mother's favorite thing in the palace. He sat down, and start playing the piano. The beautiful and soothing melodies, the rhythms of this music lingers into his ear. Soobin lost as his fingers flew over the keys and reminisce some of his childhood memories.
'Soobin was playing outside with his father's butler son when he heard a piece of beautiful piano music that makes him calm. He followed the music and it brought him to the piano room. Soobin saw a beautiful woman playing the white piano while her eyes were closed, he slowly approached her and gave her a back hug. Soobin's dearest mother that he loves the most. His mother stopped playing the piano and looked at his son with a sweet smile on her face, she helps Soobin to sit on her lap and said:
"Soobin-ah. What did you do earlier? I didn't see you in your room, my little prince."
"I was playing outside with Jin hyung, mother. We played hide 'n seek when I heard the piano playing." Said by the younger to his mother.
"Jin? Your father's butler son? I wish that he could be your butler in the future. I can see that you are comfortable and happy with him." She said while caressing the fluffy cheeks of his son.
"Mother, can you teach me how to play the piano? I want to play the piano too and perform in every event or party here at the palace." Soobin playfully said to his mother and the queen decided to teach his son how to play the piano every day.'
After reminiscing the moment with his deceased mother, Soobin starts to sing a beautiful song. For a moment, he feels and thinks nothing. His eyes were closed, and let his emotions guide his path. The melody carried him into a beautiful serenity but that serenity ended with the voice of a man who has many responsibilities, a plump man but elegantly dressed with a crown on his head. The current ruler of this whole domain. The burdened on his face can be seen. He was brave on the inside, willing to see his flaws and work to be a better human being, stern, and authoritarian personality. He was brave on the outside, leading from the front regardless of the personal cost. He is called King Si-Hyuk, the great ruler of Tomorrow Kingdom.
"What are you doing here, your majesty?" Soobin politely asked his father not to show the resentment feeling that he's been enduring since his mother died.
"Don't be too formal son. By the way, I'm on my way to the throne hall when I heard this familiar music that your mother used to play every day when she was alive and it turns out to be my son who's playing the masterpiece." The king proudly said but with the feeling of missing someone, he truly loves.
"You miss mother? Then what did you do that time?" Soobin can't hide the resentment towards his father and just blandly said the words.
Soobin smirked at him and tried not to be rude on his words but he can't help himself. His mother died because of an illness and his father didn't even do anything to help or cure the queen. Soobin understands that the king has many responsibilities but in his point of view, the king's responsibility is not only the kingdom but also him and his mother.
"You kno-" The younger cut the word of the king and said:
"Yes, I know you have many responsibilities, and can we not talk about it for now? I know you have something to tell me, your majesty."
"Well. You're right.. I will get straight to the point. Soobin, you need to choose now... You need to choose your partner for life because I may not live for a long time anymore. You are the crowned prince so you must find your love. I'll announce a party that everyone who has high ranks could attend to.. You have one month to choose who will be your love. But I will be glad if you choose Lady Yuna, the daughter of Duke Jinyoung."
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The day of the party finally comes, when every people with high ranks will come to the palace for the party and all of the candidates will stay there for a month so Soobin can choose wisely in them but for sure the king would tell him to choose Lady Yuna.
Soobin and Butler Jin are currently on the top of the palace where the big clock is. They are overlooking the vast lands of the kingdom.
"Jin hyung... Could you help me to escaped tonight?" Soobin asked randomly.
"Are you serious, your highness? Your father will kill me if I do that. I don't want to suffer in the cell with my beautiful and perfect face." He said confidently and the younger just laugh at his butler's narcissist personality.
"But seriously, hyung. I just want to escape and run away in this life. I want to be a normal person who could take a walk outside the palace and not locked up in here. The palace is beautiful but I want to experience the life of the people outside.." Soobin said and just stared at the townhouses. He's imagining people walking along on both sides of the street... The children playing hide 'n seek. The loud noises of the vehicles and the scene of a busy street. When could he see it?
"But joking aside Prince Soobin. You can't do that because this life is destined for you. If you would change it then maybe some accidents or problems would occur... You don't want that to happen right?" Butler Jin said and pat Soobin's shoulder. Soobin stared back at the town as the sun sets and the houses light up like fairy lights from afar.
After waiting for so many long hours finally the visitors are slowly arriving one by one. Soobin is sitting beside his father's throne, just watching them entering the palace. One at a time the visitors introduce themselves and go to their respective seats.