Chapter Text
This world holds no meaning when he’s not around.
I’m sorry that I don’t believe you, could you please come back?.
If I kill all those pests, will you be happy?.
Will you forgive me?.
If you can’t come back then I’ll be the one who comes to you.
Even if I have to kill the gods.
Even if I have to be the greatest sinner.
I’ll burn this world and be right back at your side.
Wait for me, Kim Dokja.
The crimson sky.
A loud scream echoing whenever he goes.
Why would he care?.
None of them gave a single piece of mind when his beloved was executed.
No matter how he pleads, all of those people just cover their ears and turn a blind eye.
The injustice he suffered. He will make sure all those people paid for what they’ve done. For taking his beloved life, for all of those acquisitions, mockeries, humiliations. He will make them pay it a thousand fold.
He is here to make sure of it.
He laughed just looking at their ridiculous faces, how their expressions turn from sour to horror. How they squirm when like roaches, scrambles like ants.
He would never know that doing this is more fun than fighting those barbarians on the border. For the first time after a while he was able to laugh out loud like that. He doesn't know what kind of face he looks like right now. Now he doesn't have his beloved by his side. Why does he have to care about his appearance?. All he knew was he would soon meet his beloved again. Will he be angry? or sad even?, but at least he will give him a reaction right?. He still cares about him right?. Whatever the reaction was at least he cared enough to give him a reaction, if he doesn’t then it all would be meaningless.
Now those dirty pests have paid their debts, it's time for him to meet his beloved.
“I love you”
Yoo Joonghyuk wakes up in a tent he was familiar with.
How? Is this dream?, in his memories he was sure that the cursed empire was ruined. Is this how the after life is? repeating everything he did when he was alive?. Does it even make sense? Although he doesn't believe in the afterlife, this is absurd. He thought he would meet his beloved again after his life ended, why was he trapped in this hell of a camp again?. Yoo Joonghyuk was extremely irritated. If he had to do all this bullshit all over again he's going to make sure that he does this as fast as he can. So he can meet with his Dokja again.
Although this war has never gone easier than before, still he went through this already. He will make sure he gets home fast and freed his beloved from that annoying and disgusting cage named imperial palace.
End this war, go home with victory and ask (force) his Dokja’s moron of a father to hand him for marriage. Even if this was an afterlife or a dream, he’s going to make sure that no mistake will be made. Unlike his stupid self from the past.
It’s been more than seven years, and finally the war has ended. He can finally go home and take his Dokja home with him. There will be no more nuisance, just the two of them. Kim Dokja doesn't have to be the perfect prince any more. Yoo Joonghyuk is going to make sure that Kim Dokja will be safe and sound with him.
Though he isn’t really sure that Kim Dokja wants to go with him after all the things he did not do for him. But he will persuade Kim Dokja to mend their relationship. Better late than never.
The award ceremony went by as usual, but something was weird. His Dokja acted like nothing had happened between them. He doesn’t show any sign of resentment or anything. And all the people in the capital don't remember what he did in the past?.
…did he come back from the future? regression? really?. Isn't that only the theories in the book?.
Come to think of it, if it's just repeating the experience that he had during his life, then he can’t change anything. But he shortened the war duration, changed his strategies, and the award ceremony was more grand than he remembered. Well whatever it is as long as he can meet him, he doesn’t care. For one more chance to meet him, he will repeat this hell called life over and over.
Even if the world crumbled, burned to dust. All he cares about is his existence, if he doesn’t meet him then he will find a way to meet him. His light, his salvation, his everything, a man that is willing to sacrifice the whole world for him. His name is Kim Dokja.
His weak breathing was faintly audible, the damp room only worsened his weak condition. He doesn’t know how long he has been locked here. They never give him any proper meal, they make his body malnourished, only skin and bones remain. The said gods have long abandoned him since he was young, if not how could they make him suffer so much and never get anything for his suffering in return?. They like to play favourites, only care for those who fit their criteria. What mercy? If they really are merciful why would they make all those people suffer in favor of their favourites?. What a hypocrite.
And yet all those blind people still prayed and begged for their mercy. Fools. Pathetic.
He can’t help but want to save them, he wants them to see the cruel truth. To wake them up from their foolish fantasies. Some of them believe in him, but the others choose to condemn him for life.
It’s his fault, they said.
They blame, they curse, they choose cruel fantasies rather than the truth. Anything other than admit that they’ve been abandoned.
And those said gods? They're doing nothing but watch. As if our struggle were a fuckin soap opera.
I condemn you, ALL OF YOU!!. THOSE WHO REFUSED THE TRUTH, THOSE WHO JUST STAND BY AND WATCH. MAY DESTRUCTION BOUGHT UPON YOU!!
Loud cheers can be heard from afar. Those whose cheers were meant to celebrate for the soon to be death cursed man. The very man who said that their gods had abandoned them. Their former most brilliant man on this empire, but now his life has crumbled to dust.
When they saw the man, he stood on the stage of execution. His complexion was far from good, he looks like an undead. Lifeless eyes, sunken cheeks, thin body. But those eyes radiate an intense hatred to all the spectators. For a soon to be dead man he doesn’t seem to be scared of his life.
His defiance is admirable, if it’s not for his sins all of those spectators will stand there with and scream for his innocence.
The execution was about to begin. The man looks at the sky and whispers, “My death will be proof that this forsaken empire is nothing but a sick fantasy. All of you shall feel the despair that I've been through. May your end will comes” He smiled, the most sincere smile he ever had.
That man was right, the gods had long abandoned them. But they refused to believe it, they thought as long as they were faithful enough their gods would return to them.
That day never came. No matter how long they wait.
And now the destruction that he talked about over and over has come. That destruction was bought by the man's closest confidant.
Nobody knows how that man has the overwhelming power to destroy the whole contingent in one go. People tried to talk some sense into him but none of them worked, only making things worse. Now that man marched to another contingent, he said he is going to make sure that no one on this planet survives his wrath. Innocent or not, all of them never said a thing about his one and only man who loved him dearly.
Now the world has been destroyed.
Then it will happen over and over again.
For that one man who he loved.
This banquet was as boring as he thought it would be. So Joonghyuk tried to find Kim Dokja somewhere in the corner or maybe on the balcony. He always hates crowded places, if he had to attend this kind of event he would retreat to some corner and try to be invincible. Which is kinda impossible because he is the empire's one and only prince. But he does whatever he likes either way, as long as there is no empress in the banquet then he couldn't care less.
He searches every corner, but he doesn't find Kim Dokja. Maybe he is on the balcony, he always takes in some fresh air whenever he feels overwhelmed. Let’s hope that none of those annoying flies go anywhere near Kim Dokja. Well if there is one he could deal with them after he spends his time with Kim Dokja. Yoo Joonghyuk was a man who knew his priorities straight after all.
By the time he arrives at the balcony, there is some pest trying to grope Kim Dokja. HOW DARE HE, even Yoo Joonghyuk never does anything that Kim Dokja didn't want. Lucky him his Dokja kicked him where it should, pfftt… he does hope that man could never use that place again.
Oh… Kim Dokja ran away… how cute. For now he’ll follow him first and deal with that man later.
Kim Dokja just stood on the balcony, this banquet was not meant for him. So he feels kinda out of place. And he never really liked banquets either since he hated crowded places. But it will be rude if doesn't attend it, and he will get scolded by his mother again if he doesn't show his face. It didn't help either when his headache suddenly decided to come. The fresh air did help to ease his headache, that was that until some annoying noble decided to hit on him.
At first he just humor him by giving him a distant smile and nodded. But as time goes on that guy really gets on his nerves. He tried to hold his hand, twine his hand over his waist, and he even tried to kiss him. He always rejected it and tried to be polite about it. But suddenly this man started to whisper something incoherent in his ear. He tried to run by entering the banquet hall but this man grabbed his shoulder so hard that he started to feel pain.
Kim Dokja was done playing nice when this man tried to grope his body. He kicked the man by his 'you know what' and ran away to the garden as fast as he could get. By the time he arrived there was no one there, it's just him and his breathing noise.
He sighed, "finally some peace" he sat down on a nearby bench. He closed his eyes, trying to enjoy the peace. Until he heard footsteps grow closer to him, he wanted to leave that place. Thinking that person was still trying to annoy him. But that person reached his hand and turned him back to face them.
A familiar fragrance, earthly smell of the woods that he always missed all those years. A fragrance that always gives him a sense of safety and comfort. That fragrance only belonged to one person, his long life friend and partner Yoo Joonghyuk. His eyes started to tear up, a sob escaping from his throat. He didn't know how much he missed him until today. So Kim Dokja hugged Yoo Joonghyuk like there is no tomorrow. Tears flowed from his eyes, He thanked god that his Joonghyuk came home safe.
Joonghyuk returned his hug and wiped tears from his eyes. "Shhhh... It's okay, I'm home hyung. I'm here now you don't have to worry about me anymore. Hyung you don't have to cry for me anymore, I'm no longer a weak helpless child that you need to protect". Kim Dokja let go of his hug, and Joonghyuk looked into his eyes. "Why don't you resent me? You were sent to the border because of me. Because I am an incapable prince, I can't even protect you from my mother ". Tears continue to flow down his eyes.
Yoo Joonghyuk gave him a fond look on Kim Dokja's face. "I will never resent you. Not in this life, not in the next life. Even if I had to live in the world without you, I will continue to search for you. You are my soulmate, the only person in this entire universe that can understand me. I can't imagine my life without you". He bumps his forehead to Kim Dokja's, rubs his cheeks softly.
Yoo Joonghyuk's hand strands down to his chins. He rubs Kim Dokja's lips, eying it with a well hidden desire. "Kim Dokja will you be mine?".