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"Guard!" Jay called out, looking right at him. Mingyu gave him a look of pity.
"Yes, your royal highness?" Sunghoon asked bowing a little in the midst of his royal pain of a prince.
"You should taste my wine," Jay said pointing to his glass.
"Why?" Sunghoon asked, only to receive a shocked look from Mingyu for questioning the prince.
Jay however didn't seem to care as much.
"It is your job as my personal guard to keep me safe and that involves sampling all my food." Jay said
"This is from our kitchen." Sunghoon countered
"Your dismissal will get me killed," Jay shrugged
Sunghoon hesitated
"Are you going to disrespect your prince?" Jay raised an eyebrow
Sunghoon sighed and took the wine glass, taking a small sip.
Jay watched as Sunghoon gulped down the liquid and licked his lips.
"This next." Jay pointed to his dessert
"Sir I-"
"It's an order." Jay said
Sunghoon gulped and took Jay's fork, taking a small piece of Jay's strawberry cake, bringing it close to his mouth, hesitating for a moment before closing his lips around it.
Jay looked Sunghoon up and down, eyes resting on Sunghoon's lips that had some cream on them. Sunghoon licked his lip to wipe the cream, and Jay watched.
"I- it's not poisoned, sire." Sunghoon alerted Jay.
"And -"
"Don't torment the poor boy, Jayson." Jay's older brother and crown prince, Jun chided.
Sunghoon let out a sigh of relief as Jay waved his hand dismissively toward his guard.
The guard gave Jun a curt, thankful nod and went back to his position behind Jay.
Jun gave Sunghoon a smile and wink, making the younger's cheeks heat up.
Jay noticed and rolled his eyes.
"You can all leave now, my brother and I have some private issues to discuss." Jay dismissed his guards.
The two guards scurried away.
"Jay ah," Jun looked at his little brother with a playful glare. "Treat our guards with more respect."
"I was only having fun." Jay shrugged
"With intense eye contact?" Jun raised an eyebrow, "You can cut the act, little brother. I know you too well for you to get away with lying."
He took a sip of his tea.
"Nothing gets past you, huh?" Jay shook his head. "I'm having a secret love affair with my guard."
Jun choked on his beverage.
"I didn't expect you to admit it so openly." He said regaining his composure quickly.
Jay shrugged
"But take caution, brother. We are a different class from him." Jun warned
"What does that matter?" Jay asked raising an eyebrow.
Jun stayed quiet. He knew his brother knew how much it mattered.
___________
Sunghoon stood at his station by the prince's room's door smiling to himself, the sweet taste of Jay's strawberry cake lingering.
He knew Jay had only made Sunghoon 'test' his food for poison because he had an affinity for sweets. If Prince Jun hadn't stopped him, Jay would have let Sunghoon finish his dessert.
Not that Sunghoon was annoyed by the crown prince stopping him, rather he was grateful because he realised that the relationship Jay and him had was frowned upon given Sunghoon's status, he wouldn't want the young prince landing in trouble because of him.
Sunghoon stood up straight when he heard footsteps approaching.
Jay.
Sunghoon tried his hardest to school his expression lest he looked like an excited puppy waiting by the door for its owner.
There were no other guards around but Sunghoon didn't want to take any chances.
Jay gave Sunghoon a once-over and Sunghoon tried his hardest not to meet the prince's eyes. They were instructed to never look royalty in the eye unless the circumstances deemed it necessary.
The prince said nothing, simply moving past Sunghoon and into his room.
That was anti-climactic. There was no one else stationed in the hallway either. The least Jay could have done is greet his lover at least. Sunghoon pouted, no longer able to keep his emotions at bay.
Maybe he'd somehow angered Jay? Should he enter Jay's chambers and ask what was wrong or should he just retire to his sleeping quarters? His shift was almost over after all.
Before Sunghoon could make a decision, however, the door abruptly opened and the guard was pulled in.
Sunghoon could barely get a sound out before Jay pushed him against a wall.
"M-my prince!" Sunghoon said, trying not to get too excited.
"Sunghoon," Jay said, eyes hard.
"Did you enjoy dessert?" Jay asked
"The nibble I had was delectable." Sunghoon answered
"Oh?" Jay raised an eyebrow "maybe if you hadn't been ogling my brother you could have had more!"
"He is a very handsome man." Sunghoon admitted
"But you said you were mine." Jay grumbled and let go of Sunghoon, putting distance between them.
Sunghoon was amused
"Are you jealous, Jay-ah?" Sunghoon asked with a smile that only grew wider when Jay sputtered and turned away.
"You're sulking." Sunghoon pointed out when Jay didn't respond.
"Why would you blush at Jun's wink?" Jay muttered making Sunghoon want to burst out laughing. Instead, the guard muffled his laugh and sat down on Jay's large, soft bed.
"I cannot help it, your brother looks a lot like you." Sunghoon said, "only he looks more mature than you."
"I can look mature too!" Jay argued, visibly upset "if that's what you like."
"What I love," Sunghoon smiled, Jay turned to look at him "Is you, my prince. Just the way you are."
Jay looked at Sunghoon whose eyes only reflected love and truthfulness. The younger prince smiled, kneeling in front of his guard, and took his hands in his.
"You're mine." Jay said, kissing the back of Sunghoon's hands.
"I'm yours." Sunghoon confirmed eyes never leaving Jay's gaze "for eternity. In this life and in every other life."
Jay smiled cupping Sunghoon's cheek and pulling him in for a tender kiss.
"In this life and in every other life." Jay repeated.
___________
"My sons, you are to marry the princesses Liya and Laurel." The king announced to the two princes while they dined together.
Jay who was not expecting to be talking about proposals on a Wednesday evening choked on his meal. Jun looked at Jay concerned, not only because his younger brother was coughing but also because of his newfound knowledge of Jay's love life.
Sunghoon who was standing guard in the back of the room tensed at the sudden proposal, trying his hardest to keep his head bent down in fear of his face giving away his feelings on the matter.
"Father, what caused you to bring up marriage all of a sudden?" Jun asked the question on behalf of him and his little brother.
"I believe the time has come for you to wed Jun, and having an alliance with the North Kindom will do you great favours for when it's your time to rule." The king explained.
Jay's grip on his cutlery tightened.
"I understand that I must get married father, but must Jayson be wed too?" Jun asked
"It will benefit us if you both get married. The king of the North has two daughters that he wishes to marry to both of you. That was his proposal." The king said
"Jay is only twenty-one!" Jun yelled unable to stay civil any longer.
Sunghoon flinched at Jun's outburst, still refusing to look at Jay.
"Watch your tone. Jay can speak for himself if he wishes to object." The king said glaring at Jun.
"Will you stop pursuing this alliance if I object?" Jay asked
Their father stayed silent.
"That's what I thought." Jay sighed and stood up "I've lost my appetite."
The knife and fork clattered on his plate and his chair screeched as Jay walked out of the door, Jun called out his name but he wasn't listening.
Sunghoon scurried off behind Jay, trying to be void of all emotion on his face.
"My prince!" Sunghoon called out to the clearly agitated Jay.
Jay stopped at his lover's voice.
"Run away with me!" Jay turned around, tears streaming down his face, desperate. Sunghoon had never seen the prince like this.
"M- my prince..." Sunghoon said, "I don't know if we should have this conversation here-"
"Sunghoon please!" Jay was by his side in an instant, holding his hands "let's run away together. I don't want this life. I don't want you to bow to me. I don't want to marry someone I don't love."
"Jay," Sunghoon said softly, trying to wipe Jay's tears but Jay held his hands tight, unable to let go.
"Please hoon, you're all I want." Jay cried out
"Jay," Sunghoon felt tears forming in his eyes
"My prince," Sunghoon corrected himself "You and I cannot be together."
"Sunghoon-"
"I cannot run away with you, your highness. We're worlds apart and I cannot take you away from your world." The guard said, tears streaming down his face.
"Sunghoon please-"
"Your highness, you should listen to your father."
"Sunghoon, I will only love you."
"I'm not destined to be yours in this life, my prince."
"No, Sunghoon"
"We'll be together in our next life Jay, I promise."
"What are you saying?"
"Let me go!"
"Never, I won't let go!"
"Jay ah," Sunghoon said one last time "I love you. Please let me go."
Sunghoon pulled his hands away from Jay's grasp, the prince's hand tried desperately to hold on to the guard but Sunghoon put distance between them and bowed, walking away from the prince.
"Sunghoon, I command you to stop!" Jay cried out one last time, desperate.
"I apologise, your highness, for once I will not follow your order." And with that Sunghoon turned the corner out of Jay's sight.
The young prince did not follow Sunghoon, his lover had made his decision and the only thing Jay can do is accept it.
For Sunghoon, he would do anything.
___________
Since that day, Jay had let go of Sunghoon never to see him again. However, the guard never left his place in the prince's heart.
Jay had grown depressed and everyone around him had noticed. Jun in particular blamed himself for his brother's sadness. Jay's father however ignored his son's obvious refusal to marry and forward with the proposal anyway.
It all led to them having a grand banquet to celebrate the engagement of two young couples.
Jay sat beside his match, princess Laurel who tried making small talk with the prince. Jay however had no intention of responding. He stayed quiet, looking at his untouched food.
Steak. Sunghoon's favourite. If only the guard was by his side, Jay would tease him and feed him his food, claiming it was poisoned.
Jay picked up his chalice, perhaps some wine will ease his broken heart.
"Y-your highness wait!" A familiar voice yelled out
"Your highness!" A distressed-looking Sunghoon called out just as Jay brought the chalice to his lips.
Jay froze and stared at Sunghoon, eyes wide. He'd come back.
"Sunghoon?" Jun stood up at the commotion.
Jay looked at Sunghoon, he wasn't wearing his metal armour today, instead dressed like a peasant, dishevelled and teary-eyed.
Had he come for him?
"The guard boy?" The king who sat at the end of the table tilted his head in confusion.
Sunghoon scurried towards Jay, fearful.
"Y-your highness," he bowed "A- as your personal guard, I need to sample all your meals to ensure they are not poisoned." He said to Jay who blinked, barely registering that his former lover was addressing him.
"You are not my personal guard." Jay managed to croak out, unable to comprehend why Sunghoon who he'd let go was suddenly back and talking to him.
He was given the news that Sunghoon had resigned from his duties as Jay's guard. Mingyu hadn't disclosed any other information to him.
"This is my final task as your guard." Sunghoon, stubborn as ever said. Jay didn't know why he was here but there had to be a reason.
"Sunghoon," Jay warned but the guard didn't listen, pulling the chalice away from Jay's hands and downing half of it.
Jay stared, wide-eyed. A mixture of shock, concern and anger.
Jun who was sat quietly throughout the altercation bit his lip. Something was wrong.
Mingyu gulped, praying to whatever god that was up there that there was no poison in the wine for Sunghoon's sake. He didn't know why his dongsaeng was back after their teary farewell.
The king and his guests observed, confused.
A tense moment of silence followed and Sunghoon furrowed his brows. Was there truly no poison in Jay's wine?
"Why have you sipped from my chalice if-" Jay stopped mid-sentence when Sunghoon began to breathe hard, hand closing against his throat.
"Sunghoon!" Jay yelled rushing to his lover who lost his footing and fell to the floor.
Chairs screeched against the wood as all the dinner guests stood up, watching as Sunghoon fell to the ground.
"What?" Jay whispered holding the younger's face with his hands only to see foam leaking out of his mouth.
"No..." Jay whispered
"NO!" He cried out holding Sunghoon close.
Jun gasped and Mingyu rushed to Sunghoon.
"Guards!" The crown prince called out "find out who poisoned our food!"
"What is the meaning of all this?" The king said, shocked more than anything that his youngest son was holding a palace guard in his arms.
Jay however was completely oblivious to all the chaos around him, focus completely on his lover.
"My prince," Sunghoon croaked out weakly, a hand reaching for Jay's cheek to wipe away stray tears. "Don't cry."
"What is happening, Sunghoon? Please just stay alive." Jay said, "We need an apothecary!" He yelled
"Shh! It's too late now, nightflower poisoning has no antidote." Sunghoon explained "you have many enemies, my prince but I'm afraid I cannot protect you anymore. I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry? I need you! Please Sunghoon, I can't let you die like this!" Jay pleaded "there has to be some way!"
He looked at Mingyu, eyes full of tears asking his brother's guard if there was anything that can be done. Mingyu, teary-eyed himself, shook his head and held Sunghoon's other hand.
Sunghoon's eyes fluttered close.
"No Sunghoon, no!! Please don't leave me! I'm an idiot I'm an idiot! Come back to me please." Jay cried out shaking Sunghoon in his arms. "I love you and I cannot lose you!"
Sunghoon smiled sadly.
"I will keep my promise, Jay-ah" Sunghoon croaked out "we'll be together in our next life."
With that, Sunghoon's hand fell limp by his side.
"Sunghoon?" Jay asked "Sunghoon! No! No! No!"
"He's gone, sire." Mingyu said gently feeling for a non-existent pulse against Sunghoon's wrist.
"H- he's gone?" Jay whispered in disbelief, Mingyu looked down solemnly.
Jay let out a gut-wrenching scream.
"It should have been me!" He yelled, "it should have-"
Jay pressed his lips against Sunghoon's cold, lifeless ones to get some of the venom his lover had gulped down. There was nothing worth living for anymore.
Mingyu however held Jay back along with some of the guards.
Jay screamed, thrashed and ordered the guards to let go of him but they kept a death grip on him.
The last thing Jay remembered as he was knocked in the head was Sunghoon's frail voice.
"I will keep my promise Jay-ah, we'll be together in our next life."
"In this life and every other life." Jay sobbed