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It’s funny how the world can be so cruel to you. It makes your life miserable, and then take what little you had left, and snatch it away from you. But it’s the harsh reality that we all live in. And sometimes, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Even if you try to be the best person in the world, the kindest, the greatest… it’s not enough. Maybe some are luckier than others… and some are unlucky.
Jungwon was born to a mother who loved him so much, but couldn’t keep him. Hit with a terrible illness after Jungwon was born, she died when he was six years old. With no one shielding him anymore, there was no one to stop Jungwon’s so called family. And no one was brave enough to fight back to them.
It was a “tragic story”, everyone said. Just simply “devastating”, they said. Truly a disaster, they said.
So why did no one care enough to look for him?
Perhaps they were too selfish. Knowing their own lives were perfect as it is, and they didn’t want to risk losing it.
—
Jungwon was tired. There were no other words to describe it. He was just simply tired. He woke up, took the little scraps of food given, ate, and went to bed. Repeat.
It was a cycle he had grown far too used to, and like most people, he didn’t intend for it to ever change. Why would it? No one cared enough to let him out of his room or give him decent amount of food.
He had grown used to feeling numb all the time. Locked up ever since his mom died, and locked up for years (Jungwon couldn’t keep track of time, but he definitely felt much older than six years old).
Which was why he just sat on his bed, looking at the blade pointed to his throat. A tall figure stood on the other end, his hand gripping tightly on the dagger, his eyes narrow.
It occured to him that he should be more alert and panicked— there was a literal knive at his throat— but he couldn’t bring himself to care enough. His stomach hurt, he was cold, but complaining would do nothing but make it hurt even more. If his life was going to be like this, would it be so bad if he died early?
“You’re not trembling in fear, nor begging me to spare you.” The assassin said. His voice was deep and muffled by his mask, with a slight accent that Jungwon couldn’t figure out what it was.
“No.” Jungwon said simply.
“I’m going to kill you. You understand that right?”
“Okay.”
“…Okay? Just… okay?”
“Yes. You can kill me, or… whatever you’re doing.” Jungwon shrugged.
The assassin squinted his eyes. “What is wrong with you?”
Jungwon let out a sigh. “Do you usually talk with your victims like this?”
“…No, I— for the love of—”
The assassin closed his eyes, drawing back his dagger. “Don’t you know who I am?”
Jungwon thought upon that for a minute, studying the other.
Dark eyes and a pale face, with a black cloth mask over his nose and mouth. Wearing a black cloak, draped around his shoulders and falling down at his feet; an array of poisoned daggers around his waist on a belt.
“Aren’t you Konran? I think I saw a wanted paper for you.”
“Correct. If it didn’t occur to you, I’m this kingdom’s most deadliest—”
“Assassin.” Jungwon cut him off. “Yes, I know.”
Konran was silent for a moment.
“I’m the most deadliest assassin, and you’re the target. If you know that, why aren’t you afraid of me? And why are you not afraid to die?” He asked.
Jungwon furrowed his brows.
“Because… I don’t care anymore whether I die or not. I hate being alive if I’m suffering like this, so why not die early? I’ll die someday, anyway.” He answered truthfully.
He almost wanted to laugh how the first person he was spilling his worries onto was an assassin trying to kill him. How ironic. No wait, not ironic. More… More like it was humorous.
“For the love of—” Konran cut himself off and exhaled. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, and don’t laugh but… your life is precious. I might have come here to assassinate you, but… you’re the first target who wanted to be killed. And I don’t understand it. Why aren’t you like the others?”
He approched Jungwon with graceful steps, and Jungwon watched him. The assassin peered at him, his irises dark yet full of unsaid emotion.
“What have they done to you?” He whispered. “You look half dead.”
Jungwon let out a dry laugh at that.
“Do I?”
“Yes, you look…”
Konran didn’t finish his sentence, and instead frowned.
“You’re… shivering. And you haven’t eaten in days.”
Jungwon raised an eyebrow. “Well, you’re observant.”
“Comes with the job.” Konran said breezily, and took off his cloak.
Now with his cloak hood off, Jungwon could see his hair was a dirty blond, with dark tips and blond hair.
The assassin casually draped his cloak around Jungwon. It gave instant warmth to him, and Jungwon soaked in the warmth and the foresty scent that radiated from it. How nice.
“Aren’t you supposed to be killing me?” Jungwon asked, genuinely curious.
Konran barked out a laugh. “Yes, but I’m obviously not going to do it anymore.”
“Why?”
“You’re asking why?” Konran stared at him incredulously.
Jungwon nodded.
“Because it’s not worth much the money I was promised. I thought you were a dirty, arrogant, and absolutely foolish brat living with his parent’s wealth, but you’re… you seem like someone who doesn’t deserve to die.”
Konran’s eyes softened, and he drew in a deep breath.
“Don’t think about dying so soon. It’s probably not very fun.” He let out a chuckle.
Jungwon was quiet.
“Who assigned you to kill me?” He finally asked. “It’s my uncle isn’t it?”
“Your… uncle?” Konran blinked with confused eyes.
“So it’s not my uncle?”
“Who’s your uncle?”
“The king.”
“Wait, then you’re not the king’s son?!”
“Uh, no? I’m his nephew.”
“So you’re not the crown prince?”
“Do I look like the crown prince to you?”
“I don’t know what he looks like exactly! I just know he’s a prince living in the palace! You’re wearing that prince suit! And your room was under heavy guard!”
“No, it was locking me inside.”
Konran stared at him.
“If you’re not Prince Wonju, then who are you?”
“Jungwon. The forgotten prince.”
“…How long have you been forgotten?”
Jungwon shrugged. “I don’t know, I lost track. But I know I was first in here when I was six.”
“You look… around my age if not a bit younger.” Konran commented, his eyes squinted as he stared at Jungwon.
“When were you born?”
“…The last golden moon cycle.”
“And how old are you right now?”
“I’m not supposed to tell you. I’m the assassin. You can’t know things about me.”
“Well I already know when you were born. Tell me how old you are so I can calculate how old I am right now.” Jungwon rolled his eyes.
“God, okay! I’m eighteen! Happy now?”
“Yes. Okay, so if you’re born a year after me, and you’re eighteen…” Jungwon muttered, mostly to himself, “Then that means I’m nineteen now.”
Oh.
“You’ve been here for thirteen years?!” Konran hissed out.
“I guess so…” Jungwon frowned again.
A silence fell over the two.
“Riki.”
Jungwon looked up again, and met eyes with the eighteen-year-old assassin.
“What?”
“My real name. It’s Riki. Konran is just an alias I use. Promise not to tell anyone, though.”
“Okay. I won’t. But why are you telling me that? I thought you didn’t want me to know anything about you.”
“I figured you might want to use my real name. You’re coming with me. If I’m not killing you, then I might as well take you.” Riki said, his eyes crinkled up in what Jungwon thought might be a smirk— it was hard to tell with the mask on.
“To where?”
“Outside, anywhere. As long as it’s not this dusty attic you have for a room. You deserve to live like an actual person, not locked up in here.” Riki’s eyes were serious, and Jungwon felt his heart beat a little faster.
“Actually, you haven’t told me why you were locked up in here. Am I secretly with some psychopath, forgotten prince?” He joked.
Jungwon bit his bottom lip, toying with it for a moment.
“Oh? Don’t tell me you really are a psychopath—”
“I was born as an illegitimate child.” Jungwon spoke.
Riki’s eyes widened.
“My mother was the sister of the king— my uncle like I said— and she went to the village one day and met my dad, who wasn’t of royal or noble blood. And they had me. As a quick fling.” Jungwon continued. “And since I’m only half royal blood— half tainted with peasant blood, as everyone keeps saying… they locked me up so I wouldn’t be seen as the disgrace of the royal family.”
He looked up again and found that Riki’s eyes were lit with rage.
“They locked you up just because you were a fling and because you were half royal, half peasant?!” He whispered furiously.
Jungwon nodded, puzzled as to why the assassin was so mad.
Riki let out a sharp exhale. “Are you okay with Prince Wonju being killed tonight?”
“Well, I mean, I don’t really know him, but I remember he was kinda mean to me back then—”
“I’m doing what I came here to do— not for the money but because I need someone to blame, and then we’re leaving. I’ll be back in a few minutes, so be ready to go. Pack anything you might have to.” Riki said, before pulling his mask higher on his face, and then silently slipping out the window.
Ah, that’s how he got in here earlier.
Jungwon stood up, deciding if he wasn’t dying tonight, then he was going to run away with his new assassin. (Friend? Ally?)
He glanced around his room. There was nothing he really cared for— there was nothing in his room in the first place, except for the bed and a single table.
Oh, my mother’s necklace. Jungwon realized.
It was the only thing he had of his mother, and the only thing he treasured. He kept it underneath his pillow, in fear that someone would take it.
Jungwon grabbed the golden locket, with a round photo of his mother inside the middle piece. He hung it around his neck, clasping it in his hand tightly.
—
Riki— Konran— returned a short while later, with blood splatters on his cheek, his black mask in his hand and no longer covering his face.
“I’m done. Let’s go, Jungwon.” He said, with a little smirk decorating his face. “Did you pack?”
“I have nothing to pack. I’m ready to go.” Jungwon replied.
Riki raised an eyebrow. “Well, looks like we’ll have to make a quick stop to the marketplace then. You won’t get far looking like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like a pretty prince in white and silver. Even if it looks a bit small on you.” Riki laughed, and outstretched a hand.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Jungwon walked over and placed his hand on Riki’s. The younger pulled him closer and wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Hold on tight.” He whispered, before he leapt off the window ledge, Jungwon in tow. The wind rippled through his hair, sweeping him up furiously. The ground looked far.
Jungwon squeezed his eyes shut, hugging onto Riki tightly for dear life. Thrill crawled up in him, but it was met with fierce terror. Funny how he wasn’t afraid to die by the blade of Riki’s dagger, but he was terrified of dying by falling from a big height.
“I won’t let you fall and die,” Riki murmured, just as he landed on the ground, his arm still around Jungwon. His hair had become more fluffy with the whipping wind as they had fallen, and it made him look less assassin-like.
It was then that Jungwon noticed the little swirls of golden around them, making the landing impact on the hard ground, softer on their bones.
“You have magic?!” Jungwon gasped.
Riki nodded with a proud smile. “Every human born under the golden moon has a little bit of magic. Just enough to keep them alive and safe, and help with daily life.”
“Does that mean you’re immortal?” Jungwon asked curiously.
“Not exactly.” Riki answered. “I don’t bleed, for one thing. Or get physical wounds— which is extremely helpful for my job. But I still can die, from poisoning or from loss of oxygen, or something like that.” He explained.
Jungwon’s eyes were wide with excitement. “And your magic? What does it do?”
“Oh, you mean the magic that’s not part of my physical body? Well, it protects me from danger and let’s me sense incoming danger, like someone creeping on me. But it can also heal others’ wounds.” Riki said, raising his hand up and flexing his fingers.
Golden strands floated around his hand, before settling there. Then it faded away.
Jungwon watched with fascination.
“But enough talking. We’re walking to the nearby town to buy you some clothes as disguise. And preferably, I’d like to get there before sunrise.”
“But it’s so dark. How will we see anything?” Jungwon wrinkled his nose.
“My magic, of course.” Riki grinned, before lifting his arms. A golden orb flaoted up from the ground, and began to hover near Riki.
“Oh, it’s like a little lantern.” Jungwon commented. “Cool.”
“Of course it’s cool. I created it.” Riki said, tilting his head up.
Jungwon let out a small giggle.
And his stomach let out a loud grumble.
“Hungry?” Riki asked, a soft and worried look on his face. One that didn’t suit his occupation as an assassin.
Jungwon shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been hungry for days and I’ve stayed alive.”
“What do you want to eat?”
Jungwon stared at the other. “Why… are you asking?”
“So I can get you it.” Riki replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “What do you want to eat?” He repeated.
“Freshly cooked meat and… soup.” Jungwon answered. It was the first thing he could think of.
“My friends own a tavern, and they have good meat there. We’ll stop by there and eat, and then get new clothes for you.” Riki said.
“Okay.” Jungwon agreed.
—
The two walked for miles, their path lit by Riki’s lantern. Jungwon’s feet hurt at one point, and he stopped. Riki stopped too, and they stood there in silence. Then Riki offered to carry Jungwon if he was feeling tired.
Jungwon ended up on Riki’s back, in a piggyback carry. His arms loosely wrapped around Riki’s neck, with the assassin’s cloak still around him.
Riki seemed strong, as he carried Jungwon down the forest road. The trees stretched their branches over their heads and critters chriped ocassionally.
Oddly enough, Jungwon felt safe and comfortable enough to rest. His eyes closed, and he drifted off into sleep, lulled by the steady movement of Riki walking beneath him, and the quiet huffs of Riki’s breathing.
—
Jungwon woke up briefly, and found himself still on Riki’s back. His head was now tucked in the nook between Riki’s shoulder and neck, and the younger radiated warmth that Jungwon soaked in.
He had half expected Riki to just leave him on the ground by himself and run off, abandonning Jungwon once he fell asleep. But Riki was still carrying him.
It felt nice to be with another person, after so long of being in his room… cold and alone, with no words or contact from anyone else.
Riki was so warm… and soft… and he smelled like citrus fruits with an undertone of pine. It was Jungwon’s new favorite scent.
“Thank you…” Jungwon mumbled.
“Of course.” Riki said, just as soft in volume.
And then Jungwon drifted back into a deep, dreamless sleep.
—
“Hey, wake up.”
Jungwon blearily opened his eyes. He realized he was now lying on a soft mattress in a dimly lit room. Riki was standing beside the bed, his hand on Jungwon’s shoulder.
“Where are we?” Jungwon croaked out, his voice dry from not using it in a while. He sat up, and Riki leaned back to give him space.
“At my friends’ tavern. This is their guest room. We arrived a few minutes ago, and I thought I’d let you sleep for a bit.” Riki answered. “But they said that you should probably eat something now. The meat and soup you wanted are done.”
Jungwon’s stomach grumbled again, painfully reminding him he had to eat. He stood up, his legs a little shaky and numb. Riki’s hand flew out to steady him.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Riki let his arm fall back to his side, and led the way downstairs into a room with a bunch of chairs and table. There were a few people eating, but none of them glanced their way.
Jungwon sat down at the table Riki pointed to, and watched the other wave over two other young men— one with ashy, dark hair and one with orange-red hair.
“Jungwon, this is Jay and Jake hyung. My best friends.” Riki introduced.
The dark-haired nodded in greeting, as he wiped his hands on his apron. “Jay. Pleasure to meet you. Jungwon, right? I’m the cook here, and also Riki’s best friend.”
Jungwon nodded. “Nice to meet you too.”
The orange-red-haired waved his hand. “And I’m Jake, obviously! Aw, you’re adorable! So cute with those chocolate locks and round eyes! Ah, you said you wanted food, right?— I think Riki mentioned something like that when you guys came in earlier— I’ll get you that!”
Jake hurried across the room and ducked into another room, which Jungwon realized was the kitchen.
Jungwon just blinked at him, amazed by his speediness.
“Excuse my boyfriend. He’s an excitable puppy, and he loves meeting new people.” Jay laughed. “And I have to admit, I was surprised too when Riki here came in so suddenly with a boy on his back. I thought he accidentally killed someone and needed us to revive him!” He joked.
Jake came back into the room, and set down a plate of steaming meat in front of Jungwon.
“God knows how many people Riki’s killed already. Accidentally or on purpose.” He shook his head exasperatedly.
“Oh, so you know he’s an…” Jungwon trailed off.
Riki nodded. “Yeah, they both know about my profession. They actually helped me with handling knives.”
Jay shrugged. “Being a butcher and owning a tavern means you know your knives. Can’t say I regret teaching him. It was for self-defense at first— I’ll tell you that.”
Jungwon let out a hum of acknowledgment as he took a bite of the meat. It was heavenly, soft and with a slight tangy taste to it. It was amazing, compared to the little scraps of dry meat he’d gotten.
“Is it good?” Riki asked, propping his chin on his palm.
Jungwon glanced at the other boy and gave a small smile. “Yeah. Thank you.”
“Don’t keep thanking me. I’m just doing what a decent person should do.” Riki said, waving his hand.
“You seem like a nice person. Why did you become an assassin?” He asked.
Riki let out a sigh. He glanced at Jay and Jake, who exchanged glances with each other before giving Riki a nod. Jungwon watched this exchange with curiousity.
Riki opened his mouth. “I realized how messed up this world was. And that some people are very corrupted. I kill those who deserve to be killed.” He answered, fumbling with his hands.
“And…?” Jungwon pressed, sensing there was something more.
“My father accidentally killed my mom and sister with his saber. I loved them so much, and he killed them. It was an accident, but still.” Riki said softly. “And what I did is something I’ll forever regret.”
Jay put a hand on Riki’s shoulder. “You were young.”
Riki shuddered. “I murdered my father.”
“Who was technically a murderer himself.” Jake pointed out.
Riki met Jungwon’s eyes, and there was a cold sort of fire in his eyes. It was chilling, and Jungwon swallowed nervously.
“I killed my father after he killed my family. I was a killer at nine years old. And I figured that I’d already tainted myself, so why not become a killer to those who deserve to be killed.” Riki said.
“I thought… you said… no one deserved to die.” Jungwon said slowly.
“I said you didn’t deserve to die.” Riki corrected. “Not with how your uncle and relatives treated you. You aren’t evil— at least not yet— in my standerds. You haven’t done anything that merits you being killed.”
Jungwon clenched his hand into a fist.
“So… you would kill me if you had a good reason to.”
“Yes.” Riki said, a little coldly.
He had been kind and friendly, and he had cared for Jungwon when no one else ever had.
But Jungwon had forgotten that Riki was still an assassin at the end of the day. He was still a merciless killer, who killed people. Not for fun— which was a positive, meaning he wasn’t some psychopath— but he still killed. He took lives. Of humans.
Riki stood up.
“We’ll stay here for the night. Shopping for clothes can wait. Jungwon, finish your meal and come upstairs. You should be able to find the guest room you were just in. I’ll be in the room across from that one.” He said.
“You’re not eating?” Jake asked.
“No. I’m not hungry.”
With that, Riki stalked up the stairs without glancing back.
A little on edge, Jungwon ate quickly and later followed Riki up to his room.
—
Morning came with fierce sunlight pouring into the guest room.
Jungwon let out a groan, and rubbed his face on the satin pillow.
Wait, satin?
He sat up abruptly and found himself in a sun-lit room, on a soft mattress with satin pillows and soft, fluffy blankets. Then he remembered where he was.
Right, I’m not at the palace anymore. I’m at Jay and Jake’s tavern.
There was a soft knock at the door and Jake poked his head inside.
“Oh good, you’re awake now! Riki wants to go down to the marketplace, since there’s fewer people around the morning time.” He told Jungwon. “And he said he’d let you borrow his clothes, just until you get clothes of your own.”
Jake’s lips curled up. “He said he was worried your clothes were uncomfortable because they’re too small.”
Jungwon blinked. “He did?”
Jake nodded, a sly look on his face. “Just who are you, Jungwon?” He asked. “Riki never worries about anyone else.”
“No one, really.” Jungwon shrugged.
“Ay, you must be someone. Clearly Riki cares about you a lot. Now come down for breakfast. Riki’s in a hurry, and at this rate, he’ll drag you off without breakfast! And we can’t have that, can we?” Jake chuckled, before ducking out.
Then he came back with a pile of clothes.
“These are the clothes Riki gave me to give you. He’s showering right now, but he told me to give these to you as soon as I saw you, so… here.”
Jake passed the pile to Jungwon, who took it.
“You can change in here! See you downstairs! I didn’t get a chance to serve you soup last night, so I’m making it this morning!” He said, before closing the door.
Jungwon smiled.
Jake’s kind of like a mother figure. He seems really nice.
He unfolded the pile of clothes. It was a grey shirt, black trousers, and light green cloak. Jungwon quickly changed into it, and let out a sigh of relief.
If I’d known it would be this amazing to wear clothes that weren’t so small and tight on me, then I’d done something sooner.
Riki’s clothes were a little baggy on him, but it was much softer and comfortable than his prince suit— which had been okay for him a few years back, but he’d grown out of it.
Jungwon let a small grin stretch across his face as he went down the staircase. He was met with the delicious smell of creamy soup and Jake’s grinning face.
—
Breakfast went by fast, and with not much conversation. Riki and Jungwon quickly wolfed down their bowls of soup, and then bid goodbye to Jake and Jay as they headed off.
“Need me to carry you still?” Riki teased, seemingly back to his kinder self. Maybe the talk of his past had stirred something painful in him.
Of course it did, Jungwon realized. It’s probably painful to remember something like that.
Jungwon shook his head in response to Riki.
“No. After a good night’s rest, I’m full of energy.” He smiled.
They walked down the dirt road, and ended up in a place full of market stalls and fabric flying everywhere, with a few people bustling through the marketplace. Vendors shouted out things to draw in customers— some which sounded very absurd.
Jungwon found some clothes he liked, and Riki paid for them— which again was really nice of him. They also found some nice little cakes selling and bought them too.
“This is nice.” Jungwon commented, as they sat on a flat rock by the forest to relax with their little cakes.
“It is.” Riki smiled.
“Thank you for being my savior and taking me out of the room I was locked in.”
“I’d do that anyday, if it were for someone like you.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes.”
Jungwon leaned his head on Riki’s shoulder, as they watched the sun set. The day had passed by quickly, but it had been nice to spend the day with Riki.
“Who knew as assassin could become a hero?” He laughed.