After eating their fill, Jinwoon and Sung Hoon returned back to the sitting room. Sung Joon was alone. "Where is Elder Young?" Sung Joon crossed his arms refusing to talk. 'Growl!' Sung Joon looked shocked, while Jinwoon and Sung Hoon started to laugh.
"I'll go get you something to eat." Sung Hoon rolled his eyes before going back to the kitchen. A few seconds later, he returned with two plates full of food. Sung Joon stared at the food but didn't move. "We're not going to poison you." Sung Hoon beckoned him to the table.
Sung Hoon got tired of Sung Joon's hesitation. "Stop being so stubborn." He took Sung Joon by the arm and sat him down. "Eat." They could see Sung Joon practically drooling. After a few seconds he grabbed the spoon and began inhaling the food.
"Slowly! You'll choke!" Jinwoon rushed to the kitchen to get water. Sung Hoon and Jinwoon watched Sung Joon eat all the food. "Are you full? Want some more?" Jinwoon took the plates away. Sung Joon bit his lip. Jinwoon laughed. "I'll ask for more."
Sung Hoon didn't understand Sung Joon. "Has she been starving you?" Sung Joon was staring at the spoon. "Mother makes me eat four tablespoons of food a day." Sung Hoon blinked. "What does that mean?" "I can eat four bites of food a day."
Sung Hoon looked at Sung Joon in amazement. "You've been surviving on four bites a day!" Sung Joon shook his head. "It's only when mother is there. Most of the time the sentries don't care what I eat. Mother knows straight away if I gain weight so I have to be carefull."
Sung Joon got a frown on his face. Why was he telling Sung Hoon all this? 'Mommy will punish me if she finds out!' He felt cold sweat drip down his back before another voice calmed him down. "We won't tell her. Just eat." Sung Joon looked up to see Sung Hoon smiling at him.
"Y... You do... that?" Sung Hoon scoffed. "Have you forgotten what happened?" Sung Joon shook his head. "It... Just." Sung Hoon shook his head. "What happens inside this house, stays in this house. You can do anything you want. Nobody will tell the queen."
Sung Joon was still doubtful. He had been hearing horrible stories about Sung Hoon from the queen. 'Did she really lie about everything?' He wanted to believe his mother but cracks were forming in his mind and heart.
After having two more refills Sung Joon was finally full. He had wobbled back to the sitting room and was now trying to stay awake. Jinwoon tapped Sung Hoon. "It's time for bed." Sung Hoon gently shook Sung Joon. "I'll show you're room."
Sung Hoon and Jinwoon helped Sung Joon up the stairs and into the guest room. Sung Joon dropped on the bed and was out. "He needs to change." Sung Hoon looked at Jinwoon. "It's alright. There's no clothes for him yet. Let's ask Ki Ha to get his stuff."
"What are we going to do with him?"Jinwoon looked at the sleeping boy. "Sending him back to the queen is not a good idea. Sending him back to the queen's ancestral house is too cruel. Should we just let him stay?" Jinwoon and Sung Hoon stared at Sung Hoon.
Sung Hoon suddenly pulled Jinwoon closer. "Doesn't feel like we're playing house?" Jinwoon gave him a blank stare. "No. What are you talking about!" Sung Hoon had a sly look on his face. "No? For me it feels like we're putting our son to bed."
Jinwoon's cheeks turned red. "You pervert! What a joke. Let's leave. Tomorrow we can ask Elder Young what to do. Come on." Jinwoon pulled Sung Hoon out of the room. When they closed the door. Sung Joon's eyes opened.
Everything his mother had told him about Sung Hoon felt more and more like a lie. His mother had said that he was a ruthless man. Who would beat or kill people left and right. 'Mommy didn't lie! He threw a chair at me!' Sung Joon tried to convince himself.
'But you were running at him and Jinwoon with a sword.' Sung Joon tried to sleep again but he had too much on his mind. Everything his mother had told him was repeating in his mind. But they were clashing with Sung Hoon, Young and Jinwoon's words.
The next day he woke up with bags under his eyes. Without washing himself, he went down stairs. He wanted to find his mother. He needed to talk to her. "Are you up?" Sung Joon looked up to see Jinwoon walking towards him.
"I want to see my mother." He blurted out. He looked at Jinwoon in shock. "Alright let's go... I think it's best that you wash before going." Sung Joon pouted but went up stairs again. After washing up and changing into clothes Jinwoon gave him. He went back downstairs.
He noticed that Ki Ha had joined Jinwoon. "We'll have a nice walk. Jinwoon is also new. So I'll show you both around. Let's go!" On the way to the queen residence, Ki Ha pointed at different buildings. Sung Joon was quietly listening. While Jinwoon and Ki Ha were talking.
Around thirty minutes later, they finally reached the queen's residence. Sung Joon straight away noticed the guards stationed around the compound. Inside he noticed guards at each window. When they went inside they heard the angry voice of the queen.
"Do you really think you won? You think that Sung Joon will ally with you!? Ha. I've trained him well. He will never believe anything you ever say to him. He'll be the next king, not some filth like you!" Sung Joon wanted to run to the room but Ki Ha stopped him. "Let them finish talking."
Sung Joon's face turned dark. He and the other stood outside the door waiting for Sung Hoon and the queen to finish. They could hear everything Sung Hoon and the Queen were talking about. "He can think for himself. He'll soon know that all your words were lies."
Sung Joon brows went up. "What were they talking about?' "He'll never think that! I'm his mother. I raised him." They heard Sung Hoon laugh. "You raised him? You didn't do anything. You let other people do that! He has been alone for sixteen years!"
"That is because the king didn't want him to be raised in the palace." Sung Hoon let out a deep sigh. "You know damn well why. You made him, knowing that it wouldn't be safe for him!" After a few minutes of silence Sung Hoon started to talk again.
"I don't know why you did it but you made him hate himself and you." The queen turned her chin, looking at Sung Hoon with contempt. "What are you talking about? He loves me." Sung Hoon rolled his eyes. "You know damn well what I'm talking about!"
"Sung Joon a precise copy of you meaning that he is also Intersex. What are you going to tell him in the future when he finds out?" The queen gave a smirk. "He's not. I made sure of that. He is a normal boy!" Sung Hoon frowned.
"What did you do to him?" The queen was looking very pleased with herself. "Why should I tell you?" Sung Hoon felt goosebumps all over his body. "You... You took away his womb?" The queen crossed her hands and leaned back.
"He was a boy to begin with." Sung Hoon looked shocked and sad. "Without asking him what he wants, you took away what he really is." The queen stood up. "Being Intersex is nothing to be proud of! It goes against nature!"
Sung Hoon was shaking his head. "Then why are people born like that? You of all people should know!" The queen let out a bark. "You don't know how hard it has been! The teasing, the dirty looks, the gossiping! I never wanted to be born like this!"
"The moment I was old enough. I got rid of the things that made me Intersex." Sung Hoon was confused. How did you produce Sung Joon then?" The queen didn't answer. "I can always ask Elder Young." Sung Hoon didn't look care.
Sung Joon and the others were in shock. Jinwoon had planned this but he had no idea it would work. Ki Ha had the same thought as Jinwoon. Sung Joon hands were clenched tight. His whole world had come crashing down.
"I... I don't want to talk to her anymore." Sung Joon looked at Jinwoon with tears in his eyes. "I want to go back." Jinwoon looked at him with pity. "Let go then." Jinwoon put his arms around Sung Joon. Sung Joon didn't push him away.
They walked back to Sung Hoon's residence in silence. Jinwoon took Sung Joon back to his room. "Are you alright?" Sung Joon got into bed and turned his back to Jinwoon. Jinwoon sat down. "I don't know how you're feeling."
"I tell you that it's going to be better because I don't know what you are thinking. But IF you want to talk to me or Sung Hoon, just know that we'll be there for you. Even if you don't trust us. You're not alone." He gently patted Sung Joon back before leaving the room.