Chapter Text
That was the first time Sehyoon had broken what has been ordered to him.
As Prince Byeongkwan's royal soldier and bodyguard, Sehyoon had no right to interfere in his personal business, or to exchange words with the prince unless much needed. His duty was only to protect Byeongkwan at all costs, even if the cost was his own life.
However, that afternoon he failed. After a meeting with the king, Byeongkwan left the room in which he talked with his father with his head down and visibly dejected. Sehyoon escorted him to his bedroom in silence, but not taking his eyes off the smaller one, who looked so weak and sad, his beautiful eyes gradually filling with water even though the prince tried at all costs to disguise himself.
Byeongkwan hurried into his room and closed the door, and it didn't take five minutes for Sehyoon to start hearing his prince crying. The large, stately carved double-door made of wood did not prevent the sounds of Byeongkwan's sobs and shouts from passing through, leaving Sehyoon's heart heavy and agonized. From an early age he learned that feelings such as love, compassion, and empathy would only disturb him during battle, but the soldier could not help it; He had a heart too big for his body, and good feelings that were greater than anger and hate.
He knocked on the door with his medial phalanx twice, and looked down the hallway to make sure no one would see him penetrating the room without permission, closing the door behind him as he entered the room. Byeongkwan looked up at him and let out a sound of surprise from his mouth. Embarrassed to be crying in front of a servant, he covered his face with one of his sheets to try to wipe away the tears. Sehyoon, meanwhile, had his head bowed, staring at his own feet, as if to give the prince privacy, even if he had just invaded it.
— Your Highness, forgive me for my lack of education and invasion of privacy. I know I have no right to be here without your permission, but I couldn't contain myself. It breaks my heart to see a face as beautiful as yours taken in sadness that way. — He kept his head down as he spoke, but tried to peek out of the corner of his eye if Byeongkwan pushed the sheet aside and showed some reaction. — I hope you can forgive me, and trust me to share the reason for so much pain. I thought Your Highness might need a friend.
— Go away. — He received a short reply and Byeonkwan’s voice was weak, choked, failing. Sehyoon didn't want to obey. He wanted to move closer and hug the youngest, but he couldn't.
— As you wish. Forgive me again.
With that said, Sehyoon turned to open the door, deliberately slowly just in case the prince changed his mind and accepted his company. Which happened, indeed.
— Wait. Don’t go. — He whispered, but the soldier could still hear thanks to the silence in the room. — I do need a friend.
Sehyoon smiled sadly upon hearing such a sentence. He had been following Byeongkwan's life for years since he was promoted from a simple warrior from the king's army to the prince's guardian, and in all that time he has never seen Byeongkwan interact with anyone but his own father and the servants. He wondered how lonely the prince felt.
He approached the bed where Byeongkwan slowly revealed his swollen, wet face. The already big lower lip looked even bigger because of the prince's pout, which drew a tender smile from Sehyoon. The warrior set his sheathed sword aside, and picked up the cloth lying around, using it to dry the other boy's tears.
Byeongkwan was in a defensive position, cringing and hugging his knees, but he let Sehyoon come closer. Like it or not, this was the man he trusted with his eyes closed, the one responsible for taking care of his life. Byeonkwan sniffed. Sehyoon's image seemed blurry from the recent and constant crying, but even under such circumstances, he looked handsome, affectionate. Even if they couldn't talk much, Byeongkwan had affection for the soldier. He could see in his face and actions how much the older man cared for him, strove to make the prince always comfortable, felt his affection for him. That's why he let him get so close, that’s why he knew he could open up to Sehyoon.
Taking both of them by surprise, Byeongkwan wrapped his arms around Sehyoon's neck, pulling him down and into a hug. The taller one went unresponsive for a while, but hugged him back, his hesitant hands slowly taking the liberty to rub the boy's back in a caress. Never before had he had so much contact with the prince, and he tried to avoid thinking about how good the other boy's hair smelled.
Sehyoon settled into a more comfortable position for both of them and let Byeongkwan cry on his shoulder as much as he needed. Several minutes spent that way until the prince seemed to calm down and let go of the hug, apologizing for the way he acted and for the tears in Sehyoon's clothes.
— You’re lucky. You can fall in love and marry whoever you want. Don't waste it, Sehyoon. — Byeongkwan sighted after a while of silence. He still sniffed slightly from time to time and couldn't look the soldier in the eye. At least he stopped crying, Sehyoon thought.
— There’s no reason for me to think about a wife for now. My only commitment is to you and the kingdom. — Assured, with a small smile on the lips.
— Your devotion fascinates me. — He smiled back the same way, finally having the courage to look at the soldier, who nodded at him thankfully. — But when you decide to, you’ll be able to choose the woman you want to marry and have children. Start a family. I'm not that lucky, so I ask you to enjoy it when you decide to.
Such a statement made Sehyoon understand the reason for the topic, and along with that, understand what was hurting his prince so much.
— Your Majesty wants to put you in an arranged marriage. — The sentence came out more in an affirmation than a question, and Byeongkwan nodded. — Did Your Highness express your indignation at this?
— I did, but he didn’t listen. He said it's the best for the kingdom, that I'll need a good wife to rule by my side when I take his place. At least he warned me in advance, and I can choose from a few suitors.
— You still have some right of choice. Maybe you can find true love in one of these women. — Sehyoon tried to comfort him.
— Who knows. — Byeongkwan shrugged. He couldn't see the future, but he hoped Sehyoon was right. He didn't want to marry out of obligation with someone he didn't love. Byeongkwan read too many romance books to end up like this, he didn't think it was fair.
The room was silent again for a few minutes, then Sehyoon got up and gathered his things, bowing to Byeongkwan and leaving him with a confused expression.
— I hope your Highness is feeling better. I apologize again for invading this way. I should go now.
Byeongkwan swallowed and smiled weakly. Should he? He was used to loneliness, but the soldier's company was so welcome, and he didn't want to be alone again.
— Please stay a little longer. I'll get you more comfortable clothes. — Asked, then.
Sehyoon shifted his weight from one leg to the other, considering. That would be against what he was told, but on the other hand, he had already broken several rules by being in the prince's room, talking to him and hugging him.
— If my prince is asking, who am I to deny something?
Byeongkwan flashed a big, cheerful smile. Sehyoon's heart skipped a beat in his chest, and he found himself happy because the prince looked better now.
— Sit here by my side! Let's read together! — Byeongkwan cheered, pulling a piece of blanket to indicate where Sehyoon should sit.
The soldier shook his head and set aside his belongings, removing his shoes as he climbed into the prince’s bed. The book on the table aside his bed was already halfway down, but Byeongkwan didn't seem to mind going back to the first page only for Sehyoon to follow along.
And they stayed that way until they fell asleep, the warrior's chest being used as a pillow by Byeongkwan, who was tired and heavy-eyed for crying so much that day.