Sung Hoon went up stairs and walked towards Jinwoon's new room. He knocked but got no replay. "Jinwoon? I'm coming in?" He peeked around the corner and saw Jinwoon sleeping peacefully. He frowned. 'Will I finally find happiness again?'
To say that his life was dramatic would be an understatement.
When he was young he didn't even know that he was part of the royal family. He was raised by his single father in a different kingdom called Wala. His father, Min Jae, had been a great man, who loved Sung Hoon more than anything in the world.
But as a young child, seeing many of his friends having two parents, he asked his father if he also had a father or a mother, like his other friends. Instead of giving an answer, Min Jae had given him a pained look. Min Jae had promised Sung Hoon that, when he was older, he would tell him everything about his other parents.
Sung Hoon, shocked by Min Jae' s reaction, decided that he would rather not know. If it hurt Min Jae so much, it was better to not know. He didn't want to see his father looking sad and hurt ever again.
When he turned 13, Min Jae got sick. The doctors told him that there was nothing they could do for him. Min Jae didn't tell Sung Hoon about his illness. Instead did his best to prepare Sung Hoon for a life without him. He also sent a letter to Sung Hoon's father, hoping that the others would take care of him.
It was then that he finally told Sung Hoon about his other father. He didn't give him a name. He just told him that his father was a great man that lived across the Oceans. A man who was just, kind and smart. Min Jae met him when he was traveling around the world. According to Min Jae it had been love at first sight for both of them. They had promised each other the worlds.
Min Jae explained that it didn't work between them because they were just too different. After breaking up, Min Jae moved back to Wala. Two months after returning, he discovered that he was pregnant. He didn't want to make things more difficult for the man, so he didn't tell him anything and raised Sung Hoon all by himself.
Things seemed to go well but four months after Sung Hoon turned 16, Min Jae died peacefully in his sleep. Sung Hoon was heartbroken and lost but before he could really grief, a herald came to his house to announce that the king of Namgyeong wanted him to return back home.
Sung Hoon was packed and brought to Namgyeong against his will. That's when he discovered that he was the first born and only son of the King, Yi Beak. Instead of getting a warm welcome, he was straight away put under the care of scholars and trainers. He didn't see or hear from Yi Baek or anybody else from the royal family.
Sung Hoon would hear from the scholars and trainers that Yi Baek wanted him to be 'presentable' as soon as possible. He had to learn the language, the costumes and etiquette of the land and the palace. Luckily one of the scholars brought his son to help Sung Hoon adjust and that was Ki Ha. Ki Ha might be crazy and clingy but that was Sung Hoon needed, a friend who liked him for him.
On his 18th birthday, Sung Hoon was finally presented to the court, royalty and the people of the Kingdom. That was also the start of all the problems and stress. While Sung Hoon was the spitting image of his father, he was still half Wala. This made the then Queen Dowager and some of the court disgruntled.
The Queen, who wanted to be in the good books of the Queen Dowager, stood behind the Queen Dowager and made his life a nightmare. She and the Queen Dowager would find fault in everything he did or said. To please them he would try to change but he soon discovered that nothing would please them.
When the Queen Dowager died, Sung Hoon was secretly pleased. He had now one person less to reprimand him. He had noticed early on that he shouldn't expect any help for Yi Baek. The man was clearly scared of the Queen Dowager and his Queen.
The Queen didn't have as much power as the Queen Dowager, since she had produced 6 girls and wasn't from an influential background. She wasn't as cunning and smart as the Queen Dowager The court would ignore her complaints and slander. That didn't mean that she still didn't try to make his life hard. He still didn't know what possessed his father to make him the next king.
He knew that the late Queen Dowager had already chosen a 'suitable' heir. She had married the eldest girl off, to an influential familie. She wanted the husband of the eldest to be the next king. She knew that her son would follow her will but nobody knew when he had changed his will.
Sung Hoon and the rest of the court was in shock, when they heard the king's last words. His stepmother had even fainted. The eldest daughter and her husband were also in shock but nothing could be done anymore.
The will of the king couldn't be changed, especially after the elder, Young had consented to the will. Sung Hoon wasn't even crowned king yet but he knew that he was in for a long fight. He had little support among the ministers. His every word and action will be scrutinised.
That's why when Young told him about Jinwoon, Sung Hoon felt like he had nothing to lose. He was sure that he would have to travel the ends of the worlds to find him but Gods were with him. He would have enough time to make Jinwoon understand how important he is to him. He only had no idea how to do that.
He stared at Jinwoon's sleeping figure and was amazed by the other person. Jinwoon looked like Sung Hoon had imagined an angel. Jinwoon's band had come loose and his black-blueish hair was fanned across the pillow. Sung Hoon gently brushed away the hair in front of his face.
Sung Hoon stared at his sleeping face. He couldn't believe that everything about Jinwoon took his breath away. Jinwoon's long black eyelashes were fluttering while he was sleeping. His red, full lips were smiling, making Sung Hoon smile too. "What are you dreaming of?" He whispered, while brushing more hair away.
He didn't know how long he was staring at Jinwoon. He was happy just watching the other sleep. After a while Jinwoon woke up. Sung Hoon jumped away as if he was caught doing something bad. They both looked shocked. "W... What is going on."
Sung Hoon's face was red. "The elder has arrived. Dinner is also nearly ready. We're waiting for you." Jinwoon quickly got out of bed. "Sorry. Let's go." Sung Hoon shook his head. "Don't be." He turned around feeling silly.
Jinwoon followed him out of the room and down stairs. 'Was he watching me sleep?!' Jinwoon was marveled about Sung Hoon's actions. 'Is he really in love with me? We don't even know each other! Don't fool yourself. He said that the elder told him to find you. He also thinks that you're a girl.'
Many thoughts were running through his mind. He wasn't even sure if he really liked men. The memory of Jung Min cropped up. 'That wasn't love. It was friendship. ... Am I fooling myself or trying to convince myself?' Jinwoon was slowly getting a headache.
"What took you so long! The food is ready and served. Let's talk and eat." Ki Ha was glaring at Sung Hoon. Sung Hoon wanted to tell him to shut up but Ki Ha had already walked away. Sung Hoon looked around and saw that Young wasn't in the sitting room.
"Let's go. I think the elder is already in the dining room." Sung Hoon led Jinwoon to a room next to the sitting room. Again Jinwoon was amazed. The dining room was simple but still beautiful. There was a long, black wooden table with ten chairs. The black chairs were of the same wood but they had gray cushions. The room was white with pictures of forests and green landscapes.
Jinwoon thought that the room felt cozy. He spotted an old man sitting at the table watching him. He bowed. He slowly followed Sung Hoon and sat across from the old man. That's when he noticed the food on the table. It was a miracle that the table was still standing.
There were two of everything, meats, soups and different vegetables. Jinwoon could feel himself drool. "Let's begin." Young grabbed a plate and started to put food on his plate. Very soon the others followed suit.
"Jinwoon... is it?" Jinwoon nodded. "Sung Hoon needs your heart and soul?"