Uk sat outside the quarters, taking a break for a while. He couldn't stop thinking about Soo Young's words that danced in his mind.
How could someone born with a poor destiny like Min Jun survive, even when he was poorly treated by his own family?
Uk couldn't help but feel sorry for the prince. He was born with a golden spoon, but even with his royal status and wealth, he was all alone in this world. Learning that his worsening condition was caused by his family's neglect, Uk couldn't help but harbor anger toward the royal family.
How could they do that to Min Jun daegun? Does he have no place in their hearts at all?Uk fumed silently.
With this new information, Uk gradually grew suspicious of the royal family regarding the attack that nearly cost Min Jun his life. Come to think of it, during his recovery, there was no word from the Emerald Dragon. No one from the royal family ever visited the Red Ruby, as if nothing had happened to them at all.
As if the royal family orchestrated the whole attack to kill Min Jun!
Should I talk about this with Dan? Or... am I rushing things? Uk carefully measured his thoughts and suspicions against the royal family. As much as he wanted to uncover the truth, he didn't want to spread false accusations that could cause serious damage to himself. The matter needed to be approached cautiously, without prejudice.
Maybe I'm still angry from the conversation I had with Soo Young...
Uk brushed his thoughts away when he saw the reading room illuminated with lights. He sighed heavily as he quickly entered the room, intending to drag the person using it at this hour back to bed.
"You should be in bed now, Daegum. You nearly died today, you know..." Uk reached out to hold Min Jun's hand, but the prince swatted his hand away.
"Daegun jaga..."
"Let me read, so I can increase my knowledge..."
"What's with the unnecessary eagerness, Daegum? Come, let's go to bed..." Uk tried his best to persuade Min Jun, but of course, the stubborn and mischievous prince wouldn't listen.
"I need to be wiser than Soo Young Agassi!"
"You don't have to be. You're a prince; just do what you do best!"
"I can't! I may be a prince, but my knowledge is poor compared to a lady like Soo Young! How can I let that pass?" Min Jun slammed the book shut. "Plus, I know being wise will add more attraction points to myself..."
"Daegum, you're an attractive man. Believe me, you are," Uk tried to calm the prince. Min Jun huffed, rose from the chair, and put the book back on the shelf.
"Not attractive enough for you, I guess..." the prince murmured to himself, but loud enough for Uk to hear.
"What's with that assumption, Daegum?" Uk asked, slowly getting closer to Min Jun, trying to read his expression.
"I can see how you're interested in Soo Young agassi. I can't blame her though, with that brain and beauty, everyone must be impressed by her!"
Hearing that from Min Jun made Uk laugh. He slowly leaned closer, towering over the prince with his height.
"What is this, Daegum? Are you jealous?" Uk asked softly.
"Yes," Min Jun's short answer made Uk chuckle. The prince always spoke straightforwardly and honestly about his feelings, which made Uk like him even more.
"Being wise and beautiful isn't enough to make me fall in love, Daegun jaga. I need someone I can love earnestly, more than just someone who learned facts from books," Uk said, his hands slowly snaking around Min Jun's waist.
"I don't feel like you love me that way!"
"How should I prove it to you then?" Uk asked. Min Jun stood there, pouting his lips like a sulking child.
"Use your intuition, Hyung-nim!" Min Jun replied in a murmur behind his sulking act. Watching the prince in a bad mood amused Uk a bit.
How can I not fall for him when he looks so cute like this? Uk whispered to himself.
With care, Uk softly pinched Min Jun's chin, lifted his face, and planted a deep kiss on the prince's lips. They locked their lips for a moment, nibbling gently with love and passion before parting with wide smiles on each other's faces.
"Enough for you, Wangjanim?" Uk asked between smiles. Min Jun nodded, looking down in shyness due to Uk's sudden kiss.
"So, are you still mad at me?" Uk asked. Min Jun slowly lifted his face and shook his head vigorously.
"Sorry for being irrational. I mean, knowing that you used to date a woman before built up insecurities in me. I really am concerned about your feelings for me, Hyung-nim! I wish you could only look at me," Min Jun voiced his concern without any filter. He wanted to be transparent so his feelings would be clear for Uk to see.
"Daegun jaga, my only concern right now is your health. My suggestion was only for your benefit. If Soo Young can do a better job than those royal physicians, why must we dismiss her? My true intention is all for you, Daegum. Nothing else lies behind it," Uk explained his intentions with care. He wanted Min Jun to have a clear picture of his decision to ask Soo Young for help.
"What if one day, my family asks me to marry Soo Young?" Min Jun was testing Uk. There was a gloom in his eyes; thinking about the matter suddenly made his heart ache.
"If it's all for your own good... I have no choice but to accept it."
"You don't love me enough, Hyung-nim!" Min Jun whined. He tried to escape from Uk, but the man softly dragged him into a warm embrace.
"Don't say that, Wangjanim... If only you knew what's in my mind right now..." Uk hugged Min Jun tightly. "I can't lose you... I'd rather die if I lose you," he whispered to Min Jun.
The two stayed entwined in the warm embrace for a while, soaking in the overwhelming feelings they had for each other. The love between them grew stronger as time passed. Many things had happened in a blink that changed the course of their hearts.
Now, separation felt like their greatest enemy.
"I love you, Wangjanim... I can't bear losing you now. I know, I asked you to court me first. But, I can't wait any longer for that..." Uk held Min Jun tightly in his embrace. The prince slowly breathed, letting a warm breath linger at Uk's neck before he pulled away slightly from the older man.
"So, you agree to date me, Hyung-nim?"
Uk nodded and smiled at the prince. Min Jun released a huge sigh of relief. He couldn't hide his happiness and pulled Uk back into his embrace, squeezing the man hard. Uk let out a grunt, suppressing the prince's excessive gestures.
"Ah... What a wonderful feeling!" Min Jun shrieked with happiness.
"I know you're happy, Daegun jaga. But we have to control ourselves in front of others as well..." Uk reminded the prince softly, patting his head with care.
"Fine... I'll try my best, though I don't know if I can. I have to work hard at it," Min Jun pinched the collar of the hanbok Uk wore.
"I know I might sound cruel, but everything I do is to protect you," Uk said. Min Jun nodded. He understood Uk's intention to protect their relationship. For them, it was pure love. But to others, it might seem bizarre.
"So... Can I have one more kiss?" Min Jun grinned widely at Uk. The man sneered, gazing at the prince sharply.
"Good things happen only once, Wangjanim..." Uk teased, lurking closer with a wicked smile. "If you want more, you have to earn it..." he said, his finger lightly bobbing the prince's nose.
"Fine! I'll flirt harder next time!" Min Jun declared, determined to win Uk's heart. The man sneered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You know... That kiss was the first one we've had..."
"I thought we already kissed?" Uk looked at Min Jun in confusion.
"Oh, you mean that night?" Min Jun asked. Uk nodded innocently.
"Well... That kiss was different from the one we just had," Min Jun explained. "This kiss was purely romantic..." the prince grinned.
"What about the other one?" Uk asked.
"The other one? Well..." Min Jun slowly leaned closer, putting his lips near Uk's ear, and whispered softly, "That kiss is the reason I want to call you Sobangnim..."
With those words, Uk blushed deeply, turning red all over his face.