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In the land of gardenias, lies a hopeful kingdom celebrating its golden age. A faraway humble land reigned by a benevolent ruler, who filled his people with love and prosperity. The eventful day of the coronation for their crown prince was the beginning of a new era.
The crowd cheers in celebration for the young prince, riches and gold displayed in abundance, silverware decorated in the streets of the kingdom holding the finest fruits and wine for everyone. Prince Sion was said to be a handsome prodigy, blessed on the day of his coronation at the prime age of twenty-one.
“On this sacred occasion, we hereby announce Prince Oh Sion as our successor to the throne.”
Applause is heard in a crowd of his people gathered together from all social classes - noblemen, villagers, and farmers - all of them welcoming a lone man dressed in white as he adjusts his fine cravat, walking down the aisle in dignified steps, waving to his people with a beautiful smile on his face. His aura and composure exude confidence, the picture perfect image of an ideal prince.
The prince bows down before his father gracefully, closing his eyes, noted for his refined elegance.
“You have done well to have come this far, my son. I’m proud of what you have accomplished at such a young age. I know our kingdom will have a born leader in you. A bright future lies ahead, with you succeeding my reign.”
A golden-haired man was adorned with a golden crown on top of his head, glistening and shining under the sunlight. Smiling a golden smile.
The royal prince finally opens his eyes, as his voice resounds and reaches his people. Calming, dashing, and poised.
“It's an absolute honor, Father.”
—
News traveled far and wide of Prince Sion’s coronation, that their beloved prince was finally crowned as the next successor to the throne.
Yushi has heard many rumors about him, for it was the talk of the town - villagers and noblemen alike spoke highly of him, from the tales about the recently crowned prince dressed in white.
Now at the age of twenty, Yushi was ready to finally meet Prince Sion face to face, his longtime competitor.
“I expect when you meet Prince Sion that you will treat him with the utmost respect. No matter where his background may come from, we shall provide courteous hospitality to him in our kingdom,”
Yushi took a morning stroll with the queen in their rose garden, overhearing the birds chirping, the lukewarm breeze, and a nearby fountain streaming water into the riverbeds of their vast array of flowers.
The queen ruled their kingdom with an iron fist, stern and resilient. Yushi was given a hard time being raised by her but knew that she taught him everything he needed to know to become the prince he is today - talented, smart, and refined. Never an embarrassment to their family.
Gone was the spoiled and rebellious prince that he once was before, the boy who did not care about royal politics and worldly matters of the court. To survive in the world of royalty, Yushi steeled himself, learning the know-hows to become someone well-rounded and competent, developing into a fine young man.
“Yes, mother,” Yushi bowed politely in front of her, his hand raised to his chest as he leaned forward, acknowledging her presence.
“Have you met your fiancee yet?” she asked as she walked along her garden, her long red nails holding onto the rose petals. Their queen loved to raise red roses, the kind that was befitting of her regalness, confidence, and distinctness. Beautiful and carefully handcrafted.
“I will meet her in a few weeks,” he informed her, his soft voice carrying the breeze of the wind.
“Good. I'll be returning to my headquarters. I expect you to be on your best behavior when you show around Prince Sion,”
“Yes, of course,” he agreed.
“It would also be good if you learned a thing or two from him.” His mother chastised him, causing him to flinch. Throughout his life, his mother has used sharp words to make him better, often comparing him to their competing kingdom.
Selection for the best candidate within the royal families for matters of the court was a political warzone, a constant power struggle. As another prince of similar level and status to the royal heir, comparisons made between Prince Sion and him were inevitable, fueled by a long-standing rivalry between the kingdoms, from a history of bad blood that encouraged ruthless competition. Neighboring kingdoms like Yushi’s eye Sion’s with envy, waiting for the right opportunity to make their comeback.
This sometimes made Yushi harbor some lingering resentment, taking a blow on the self-confidence that he cultivated on his own from years of hard work and training, to become the perfect prince that would make his family proud - all of this only to be crushed by harsh words, undermining his efforts, making him feel the worst feeling he has ever felt: Incompetent.
Irrevocably, he was always compared back to the same person like a curse.
Prince Oh Sion can do everything, he is perfect, and he is more capable and better than you.
If he can do it, why can’t you?
Yushi bit his lip and tried to hide his facial expression, keeping a professional tone in front of the queen.
“Yes, mother.”
“Remember, don’t embarrass us.”
The queen regarded him expectantly one more time before walking back to her quarters, never looking at her only son.
Yushi clenched his fist but didn’t say anything more.
—
Yushi was told that a representative from their neighboring kingdom was headed to his land.
He prepared himself to finally meet the long awaited heir that everyone spoke highly of, his biggest competition that was the firstborn royal prince. But nothing prepared Yushi to be met with a dashing golden-haired man adorned in white silk, walking on a path of bedded daisies, gracing his features with a soft smile.
He’s never met anyone who fits the definition of prince charming more than the man in front of him, putting Yushi’s title to shame.
A handsome, breathtaking man dressed in white appears before him, a charming visitor coming from the humble land of gardenias. With the sunlight raying down upon him, he was a prince painted golden - he held himself confidently, poised, and gently, his pronounced smile was not like the leering nobles that Yushi had seen countless times within his court and his kingdom, but untainted by worldly desires and scarring blemishes. Kind.
Yushi held his breath.
His quiet heart beats to life.
Suddenly, he can understand why everyone ends up becoming enamored by a man like Oh Sion, why he has no choice but to envy, in the face of perfection.
“Pleased to meet your acquaintance. My name is Oh Sion, first prince and royal heir from the humble land of gardenias.”
The new visitor regards him, a full smile showing his dimples before raising his hand.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Prince Tokuno Yushi. I have heard a lot about you.”
Yushi had to stop himself from staring, distracted by the royal heir’s appearance. He lifted his hand to recompose himself, reaching out to shake Sion’s hand.
“Likewise, the pleasure is mine. Welcome to our kingdom, Prince Sion.”
—
After greeting and exchanging pleasantries with the queen, Yushi took time to guide Prince Sion around their palace.
Yushi showed around their palace grounds and the whimsical gardens that the servants of his kingdom tended to, showing off the fine architectural dome monuments they have prided and kept in their kingdom for generations - fine silk and embroidery, tables filled with golden carvings, and spacious walls decorated with teal velvet curtains sitting on a row of potted white lily of the valley.
“This is a beautiful kingdom,” The royal heir comments, smiling in a way that Yushi can’t help but acknowledge is flawless.
“Thank you, your Highness.”
Sion seems to look bashful at that statement, his finger scratching his cheek as he smiles humbly.
“Ah, there’s no need to call me that. Addressing me as Sion is fine,”
Yushi looked at him like he had grown two heads, raising a lean eyebrow.
“I’m not sure if I should call you that, your Highness. You see, the people here will talk,” Yushi swiftly replies, about to turn his head to lead him to the next area to show him their study room before he feels a warm hand wrap around his wrist.
Yushi stops, turning around, his cheeks reddening when he finds the royal prince’s hand touching his arm. For a second, his pulse picks up, unwarranted.
Sion seems to realize this too, looking a bit taken aback by his reaction before he briefly lets go, his ears turning the slightest tinge of pink that was hit by the sunset rays of the afternoon sun.
“My apologies, that was sudden of me,” Sion apologies, looking mildly embarrassed. “I would like us to be on cordial terms with each other. It hasn’t been long since my coronation, so I’m not really used to being called that…I was hoping we could start by calling each other by our names.”
Yushi stared at the royal prince, caught off guard. A royal heir this down to earth is shocking, equal parts admirable as is peculiar.
Nevertheless, even though it was a breath of fresh air, Yushi shakes his head.
“I’m afraid I cannot. Addressing you any differently would be out of line.”
Even if Yushi obliges with Prince Sion’s request, he is confined by the restraints of many eyes looking at him, and his mother would not be too pleased to find Yushi getting chummy with their rival kingdom’s ambassador.
Sion stared intently at him, reading between the lines. Yushi looked away to avoid looking at Sion for too long, oddly nervous.
Then, he smiles.
“How about let’s spar a little bit?”
—
From first impressions, the royal heir looked like he wouldn’t be able to hurt a fly. Prince Sion seemed like the kind of prince that was born only once in a blue moon, a boy coming from humble beginnings, the kind of benevolent man that would much rather play with animals than shed violence, the kind that would even help out poor villagers along the paths of the roadside city streets, not afraid to dirty his hands. But as it turns out, it looks like the man is filled with surprises.
Sion eyes the training rapiers used for practice in the sparring training room and picks one up, marveling at the engraving on the handle side of the sword, all bearing the mark of the crest of Yushi’s kingdom.
“I’m surprised that you suddenly wanted to spar, your Highness.” Yushi quips, choosing his rapier and swinging it a few times gracefully with ease. Yushi has accumulated years of sword training experience growing up, many said he was gifted at it because he was a fast learner, but also because he never failed in continuously honing and perfecting his craft. It was one of the few things that Yushi enjoyed, sparring made him feel at ease, it was what he grew up becoming most comfortable with and what strived him to do better.
“I heard a lot about your skills in sword combat. To be honest with you, I was curious and wanted to test out our sparring. I think it would be fun,”
“I see. If that's the case, I would gladly do the honors.”
Sion looked up at him with a cheery glint in his eyes, smiling more like a young prince around his age.
“How about this? Let’s spar, aiming for the best of three. If I win, you can remove the formalities with me.”
Yushi’s eyes widened. Was this what he was after?
“No one would be able to speak ill of you. It was part of the terms and conditions from the royal prince after all - that way, this would be a battle won fair and square, no?” He smiles knowingly as if they were sharing a hidden secret, away from the nobility’s eyes.
Traitorously, Yushi’s heart picks up.
Yushi was a bit in awe and left speechless at Sion’s persistence, a part of him wondering why the royal prince wanted to befriend him.
“And if I win?” Yushi asks instead of voicing out his true thoughts.
“That…you can decide what you want,” Sion seems to backtrack a little bit, causing Yushi to almost smile.
“Ok. If I win, I want you to tell me something that others don’t already know about you.”
Tell me why you are here.
Prince Sion willingly came to Yushi’s kingdom as a fellow ambassador. They said it was for publicity’s sake to improve amicable relations between their kingdoms, establishing a treaty of sorts, but sending their sole royal prince to the enemy territory? With barely any protection? It was no different than asking to be fed to the wolves, right into the nick of the lion’s den. An ambitious move, but only fools would come here without a game plan.
With each passing moment spent with the royal prince, Yushi feels drawn to him inexplicably, like a butterfly seeking nectar, wanting to know more about the enigmatic prince that was Prince Sion. Perhaps he’s got it all wrong - the royal prince wants other people to think he’s only a mere softie, that he’s an innocent and harmless prince, but in reality, he was actually a careful tactician who already assessed the situation at hand, playing chess as he thinks three steps ahead, hiding his claws under a cloak of diplomacy until the time is right to strike.
It was difficult to get a read on him - and even more absurdly, that's what excited Yushi the most.
“Interesting. We have ourselves an agreement then,” Sion agrees, raising his eyebrow in amusement.
Yushi shows a barely decipherable smile as he readies his stance. He’s confident in his sparring abilities and curious to see Sion’s capabilities.
“I won’t be holding back, your Highness.”
“May the best winner win.”
Yushi attacks first, spun to motion in one swift movement, his body moving to the steps of his footwork long engraved into his body like muscle memory.
Clang!
To Yushi’s surprise, Sion parries his first strike right away with ease, smiling.
Yushi doesn’t give any time for Sion to strike the next blow as he quickly recovers and attacks again, using his arm as an expansion of himself to aim for Sion’s right chest. Sion manages to parry it again instead of dodging it - Yushi registers in his head that he must be physically strong if he’s only wielding the rapier with one hand as he parries multiple times from Yushi’s quick offensive attacks. He’s fast at reading my movements.
Sion was like an impenetrable wall, his posture remarkably sturdy and stable the entire time - no matter which vital area Yushi aimed for, Sion defended head-on, never shying away from his blows.
The clashes of swords are heard with every collision, the sound of silver and metallic ringing.
Finally, Sion counters Yushi’s blows, aiming his rapier toward Yushi’s lower stomach. Yushi can sense the threat when the rapier almost hits dangerously close to his body, dodging right before it connects. He distances himself away when he realizes that Sion is going to attack next.
The royal heir swings his rapier a few times, feeling out his swings as he walks towards Yushi, ready to go on the offensive. All while retaining the same composed smile he held on before.
“-I see. So this is how you wield your sword,” Sion comments pleasantly like he’s talking about the morning songbirds. It grated on Yushi’s pride a bit, but he knew it would take more than that to take down the crown prince.
Yushi was feeling competitive now, he was getting fired up and he didn’t want to lose to Sion, royalty or not.
Sion comes in big, bold steps, his sword clanging to Yushi’s in a powerful blow. Yushi foresees it coming and manages to parry his hit with ease. Despite Yushi’s slim stature, he’s trained and fought with much more disadvantageous situations, he knows how to utilize his core strength when he’s up against someone who could be physically stronger than him. He finds himself only getting more and more focused, completely in the zone. I’ll have to be quicker, sharper, and more efficient in my movements.
Sion attacks and Yushi counters, the rounds repeat themselves as their swords continuously clash in a constant stalemate, both of them on par with the other. Sion grins widely as the sun shines on the training grounds, unfairly striking him with grace.
Yushi’s heart is pounding, but it's not because he’s nervous that he’ll lose - it's because he feels so alive.
He hasn’t had this much fun sparring with someone in years, and it must show on his face because he feels how his body thrums in excitement, an unspoken understanding that he’s finally met someone on the same level as him. Is this what they call, a match made in heaven?
“Wow. Maybe I’ve met my match,” Sion voices out his thoughts as if they were his own, and Yushi cannot help his lips turning upward at his response. Yushi felt good, he enjoyed a good sparring - he was ecstatic to know that Sion did not disappoint, bringing him a good fight, proving that he was not just a royal prince by fluke, a one-trick pony.
Their clanging of rapiers eventually shifted gears - feeling less like a stalemate between rivals trying to beat the other, and more like a dance between long time companions, playing a fierce song of tango - harmonious footwork in tune with the other, arts and technique displayed in an almost flirtatious manner, swinging and twirling slowing down to a rhythmic tempo, lunge and parry movements becoming synchronized. Two individuals that ignite chemistry, speaking only through their blades.
A twinge in Yushi’s chest blooms the longer their spar passes on - leaving only respect and admiration, an acknowledgment of competence for the other in its wake.
Yushi sees the fire in Sion’s eyes, a competitive flair, an exhilaration running in his veins, and wonders if he mirrors the same.
“I must admit, I’m impressed by your skills, your Highness. However, this sparring match will be mine,” Yushi declares right before he performs several feint moves consecutively, aiming for his true goal - Sion’s neck.
Sion isn’t looking in his direction when the blade is about to hit his skin, letting Yushi know that he’s finally won.
Right at the last second, Sion suddenly grabs Yushi’s blade with his bare hands - stopping the rapier right before it strikes his skin. Yushi's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, trying to move the blade but it wouldn't budge.
Wordlessly, Sion looks him dead in the eyes before he thrusts the blade backward to Yushi with no hesitation, taking Yushi aback. Sion uses his unorthodox move as the perfect chance to counter, leaving Yushi unable to defend on time.
Sion springs forth, agile like the wind, his arm trapping Yushi’s movement akin to an embrace, tantalizing close to his face where he can feel the soft huffs of his breath, with his blade pointing directly to his left chest, right where Yushi’s heart lies.
Up close, Yushi can see Sion's curly blonde hair, golden lashes kissing his face, his cherry lips, and his signature golden smile. Yushi can admit to himself in the deepest recesses of his mind that if he had been born a woman, perhaps he would not be strong enough to stand against a gorgeous man like Oh Sion - he would most certainly fall.
Yushi feels something stir inside him, the twinge in his chest pounding harder.
It feels like Sion has twisted the blade into his chest when he continues to stare at him, and Yushi finds himself unable to pull away, somehow feeling caught but mesmerized.
“Sorry, Yushi. This match is mine.”
Rather than feeling a sense of loss, Yushi feels something else when he realizes this is the first time that Sion has called his name.
Sion is the kind of man who won’t look away, and Yushi suddenly feels too seen, afraid that he might really fall.
Yushi is the first one to look away first, gazing downward.
“I lost.” He admits as he gradually loosens his hold on his sword. Yushi doesn’t like to admit defeat but a win is a win. He’s not brave enough to look back at the royal prince, not with barely any distance between them - the air feeling heavy and too intimate.
He has to will his beating heart to stay still.
Sion grins as he slowly retracts away from him, finally releasing his hold and putting some comfortable distance between them. Yushi was relieved - now, he could finally breathe again.
As they place their rapiers back to their original holders, Yushi is the first one to speak.
“I guess this means I lost the bet,” he mumbles to himself as he goes to check on his weapon inventory. Sion airy laughs, amused.
“Would you do the honors, then?” he egged him on, the hint of a teasing smile on his face.
Yushi properly faces Sion, looking a bit stiff. A win's a win.
“...I’ll make an effort to remove the formalities, your High-Sion.”
He couldn't help from feeling the heat rising to his cheeks at his slip up. Sion seems satisfied with his response, grinning ear to ear.
“I enjoyed our sparring match. I hope we get to spar again another time.”
Yushi couldn’t help agreeing.
“If we do, I look forward to it. I won’t lose next time.”
—
“How long are you planning to stay here?” Yushi asks, glancing in his direction as the royal prince pays a visit again, this time Yushi continues his tour of the palace, now in the study room with him.
The grand study room was built to satisfy those who held the thirst for knowledge, filled with sky high rows of ancient books, royal purple curtains draped along the wooden shelves, and antique treasures that have been kept for centuries, living to tell the tale of Yushi’s bloodline. Yushi sits opposite from Sion on cushioned chairs, with crimson red tablecloth embellished on the refectory tables.
Sion seems to ponder the thought a bit as he continues reading a book that caught his interest.
“Hm, the council has approved me for a week, but I think I might stay longer. That is, if you don’t mind. I have some business to take care of. Some good people by my side are covering for me in my absence.”
Yushi’s eyes raised at that. Sion was surprisingly…more carefree than what he expected.
It looks like the royal prince will end up overstaying his welcome as he is informed that Sion will be staying in the kingdom for an additional week. His mother was fine with the news, however.
On such short notice? I feel bad for the people who work under him, Yushi thought to himself.
As if Sion senses Yushi’s judgemental eyes on him, he looks upward with a grin on his face. After their sparring match, Yushi can sense a noticeable difference in their closeness, it somehow feels like both of them have eased up and gotten more comfortable with each other.
“If it's not too much trouble, there’s somewhere else I would like you to show me.”
Yushi was a bit intrigued when he saw the slightest hint of mischief in Sion’s eyes. On some kind of whim, he decided to entertain him.
“Was there somewhere else you would like me to take you?” Yushi has learned to avoid saying Your Highness altogether to avoid his embarrassing blunder again.
Sion smirked. He waved his hand towards him, beckoning Yushi to lean in.
“Come closer, and then I may tell you.”
Yushi furrows his brow, but he’s curious about what Sion is up to. He decides to lean in.
His face reddens when Sion also leans in without any hesitation, whispering playfully to his ear:
“-What do you think about leaving the palace grounds for a bit? Just you and I.”
Yushi retracts away from Sion like he was burned, his hand instinctively covering his ear as he gapes at him, unable to stop himself from blushing. Sion chuckles as he looks at him expectantly.
If he was being honest, he was intrigued as to why Sion wanted to leave the palace with him. It was definitely not common practice for two princes to suddenly go missing, and heaven knows once his servants find out all hell will let loose - but doing something that Yushi would normally never do excites him. A part of Yushi wants to bring trouble, tired of the mundane life, and tired of always playing the expected role of the nice, perfect prince.
He won't lie - at first, he was shocked, but now Yushi was entertaining the idea.
Meeting Sion has enabled him, and being with him has somehow made Yushi a little more impulsive - because he finds himself acquiescing without much of a second thought.
“...I know a passage we can use.”
Seeing Sion’s bright smile, with his dimples lifted in the corners of his face, somehow made his spur of the moment decision more worth it.
—
Yushi has snuck outside the palace grounds a few times as a child. He recalls the days when he felt so free sightseeing around the city streets without a care in the world, fascinated by the common folk of his kingdom living out their daily lives. But after getting scolded harshly by his father, he stopped visiting as his duties became more demanding growing up. He hasn’t done it again since.
When you live as a noble prince in a quiet and spacious palace, it is easy to forget what your kingdom is like beyond the palace walls. Now that he’s returned to the city streets after a long period of time, he is suddenly hit with a wave of nostalgia - he stares in wonder at his own kingdom, marveling.
The city folk of Yushi’s kingdom were not a glamorous bunch, but they were bustling with life. Boisterous laughter from the men nearby drinking beer, women shouting in the streets selling their fresh produce, and children laughing and running around the cobblestone streets. Overseeing the view from the palace walls was a different view from being able to firsthand see the fruits in the market, being able to touch the wooden stalls, and being able to smell the fresh waft of sweet bread in the corner stores of the city streets.
While strolling around, Yushi witnesses the royal prince of gardenias buying an apple in a nearby stall, then crouching down to give it to a young boy who wore poorly worn clothes.
“Thank you so much, mister,” the boy grabbed the apple carefully, looking guarded.
Sion smiled warmly at the stranger, ruffling his hair when the young boy grabbed the apple. “Let this mister know if you want more apples later.”
The young boy merely nods his head, before scurrying away. Something in Yushi softens when he realizes that Sion is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve - those kind, compassionate eyes are clear as day.
Sion stands back up, glancing at Yushi with a smile. Yushi continues to walk alongside him.
“Looks like the rumors about you were true after all. You really do help all kinds of people,”
Sion looks pensive at the thought. “I wish I could do more. From where I come from, we have many people that are still struggling, still starving like that young boy.”
“It was not much, but I hope I made them manage to get by another day just a little easier."
Yushi held onto his words.
The royal prince was nothing like what he anticipated. Sion was a prince wise beyond his years, not at all arrogant or spoiled. Yushi has tried to find a flaw, a fault in his personality somewhere, and ends up finding none - he really does live up to his name, as a gentle, kind soul who wants to genuinely help others.
Little by little, finding out things about Sion made his respect and admiration for him grow more and more, with each passing day.
“I also want to help people like him. If there’s any way I can help make this kingdom a better place, I will do my best.” Yushi replied.
Sion smiled mysteriously as he looked ahead at a group of children chasing around each other, laughing.
“I’m glad we share the same view. I came to this kingdom with a goal in mind - I want to help your people, if you’ll also help mine.”
Sion faces him, and the look he sends Yushi is a little different, more serious. Shedding to light conviction in his tone of voice, in his eyes.
“Now that I have just succeeded the throne, I already have enemies that want to take me down, and I will need allies - I want to have neighboring kingdoms that I can trust. I know my kingdom and yours don’t have the best sort of relations, but that was in the past. Why don’t we be the first ones to change that?”
I see. So this is the reason why he’s here.
Things are starting to add up. Why Sion asked him to come here, away from the eyes of the palace - this is what he was really after. An alliance for a joined cause, in secrecy.
However, one thing remains a question for Yushi.
“Why are you telling me all of this?”
Sion should understand that telling Yushi his real agenda could pose a big risk for him, it could even potentially backfire. How does he know if Yushi was one to be trusted, and was not one of the people planning for his demise?
Sion seemed to stall for time, pondering his words before he finally spoke up.
“Why, indeed. Doesn’t the saying go, ‘With great risk comes great reward’?’” He smiles charmingly.
“I’m not sure if you're a very brave, or very foolish man,” Yushi replies. Perhaps both.
Sion laughs heartily before he gazes at Yushi in a way that lets him know that he knows something that Yushi doesn’t.
“It was just a hunch. A hunch that I can trust you. Even before we met, I actually admired you a bit when I was younger. Meeting you in person only solidified it. I think you’re brilliant.”
Against all odds, that statement sends Yushi’s heart aflutter.
“...Is this how you win people over?” Yushi mumbles as he walks ahead, somehow feeling incredibly shy now by Sion’s unexpected response. He prays he's not blushing (but alas, he can feel his ears burning).
Deep down if he was being honest to himself, he does feel flattered and acknowledged, more than he should.
Sion laughs, catching up to Yushi like they were not two princes carrying the weight of the entire kingdom on their shoulders, but just two young boys.
“So, what do you think?”
He can hear Yushi’s soft voice in the distance as they walk alongside each other, side by side in the middle of noon when the sun shines the brightest upon the kingdom. Yushi noticed that he and Sion were of similar height, Sion was slightly taller than him, but he liked how he could see his eyes, clearer than the blue skies. Their titles seem to become more of an afterthought as they blend in with the common folk, becoming just like everyone else.
“I’ll have to think about it. But from your proposal, I think our goals can align like this, more than I imagined. I commend your bravery. You can rest assured that your secret is safe with me.”
“That sounds like a more favorable answer than what I was hoping for. I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but I’m not going down without a fight. Even if I dislike fighting,” Sion quips.
“From how you beat me before, no one could tell, your Highness.”
“I see how this is the only time that you would choose to address me,” Sion raises his eyebrow in a jestful manner, to which Yushi finally breaks into a full-blown smile, the kind that shows his pearl white teeth. Sion stops short when he realizes this is the first time he’s witnessed Yushi’s full smile.
Prince Yushi left an impression on Sion the moment he laid eyes on him - at first glance, Yushi reminded him of an ice prince, breathtakingly beautiful, but somehow cold. He was always stoic with his expression giving nothing away, his demeanor detached and distant to others, much like a lone wolf. Now, Sion’s heart skips a beat when he witnesses that smile underneath his icy exterior, revealing something precious.
What a pretty smile. He should smile more, Sion thought to himself.
It feels like they’ve created their own world as Yushi finds himself at home with the royal prince, the first signs indicating summer approaching, melting away winter.
—
It's strange how time flies.
Perhaps it was because Yushi was having fun that time seemed to fly by faster. Reality hits him hard, like a pang of fleeting happiness, when realizing a good thing that started small suddenly grew so big, that good things in life will also eventually come to an end.
Like a summer dream, a week soon turned into days, until it finally became Sion's last day before his departure back to his kingdom.
From the beginning, Sion was never going to stay in his kingdom forever, and Yushi was well aware of this. But now as Sion’s departure draws near, Yushi surprisingly feels a growing sense of emptiness, when he realizes that he’s enjoyed his time with the royal prince more so than he ever would have anticipated.
Yushi understands that with their position from their respective kingdoms, eventual separation would be inevitable, it was only a matter of time. But somewhere inside him, he knows that he’ll feel lonely once Sion leaves. Sion undeniably carved his way into his life, in an unpredictable, graceful, and gentle manner. Now, Yushi knows that he’s become someone important to him.
“There’s one place that I want to show you,” Yushi tells him one day, making up his mind.
They head outside the palace grounds late into the night like eloped lovers would, heading to Yushi’s secret place. This time, Yushi wants to show him a part of himself.
They head out further north towards the midnight meadows, where they reach the cliffside overlooking a serene ocean, where the late white moonflowers glow, blooming under the full moon. The moon shines an iridescent light on the willowing trees, the hush of the winds whispering, the fallen leaves drifting along peacefully, creating the perfect hideaway for a secret garden.
“This place is beautiful.” Sion whispers, his breath taken away.
Yushi takes a moment to look at the beautiful sight, taking in the wind that caresses his face as he crouches down, breathing in the fresh night air, watching the glittering waters as the fine waves hum a melodious tune - singing a hymn to the star maiden herself, blessing a night filled with stars.
“I first came here by chance as a child, and since then it has become my favorite place. I would come here on my own when I have a lot of thoughts in my mind. Or, when I want to self-reflect.”
There is a moment of silence before Sion sits down next to him, listening to Yushi’s words. His heart squeezes when he understands that Yushi showed him this place as a sign of trust, revealing a part of himself that no one has ever seen from the reserved prince. Almost like Yushi is telling him, This is me.
“Thank you for showing me such a wonderful place. It feels like I’ve gotten to know more about you.”
As Sion stares at him with a softness in his eyes, Yushi thinks to himself, This is the first time I have shown this place to someone.
Yushi somehow feels exposed - but Sion is always kind, always understanding, making him feel at ease to share.
“I can understand the sentiment. It can get hard for me too. I would be lying to say that it was always easy being a crown prince. Sometimes, when it gets really difficult, I want to run away, but I also know that I wouldn’t be able to let down my people. I know that I will do whatever it takes to make them happy.”
Sion’s eyes turn contemplative as he speaks, and Yushi stares in wonder, seeing the unbreakable prince finally bare his soul.
“What’s been the hardest thing for you?” he whispers, facing him like he’s seeing Sion for the first time.
There are a few seconds of silence as Sion looks like he’s contemplating telling him. Before he takes a leap of faith - rippling the still waters.
“The hardest are the rumors. People often say that I was born out of wedlock, that I’m a bastard child. But actually, they are not too far off from the truth - because it's true.”
Yushi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“It's a well kept secret. The previous king fell in love with my mother, a quaint lady who lived in a small, quiet village. That's where they had me. It was hard to separate from her when I decided to take this path on my own.”
To say Yushi was shocked would be an understatement. But finally, everything clicked in his brain, the missing puzzle piece to the mystery that was Prince Sion.
Yushi had several occasions where he wondered why the royal prince seemed too humble, why he held compassion that was seen so rarely amongst the nobility, why he often talked about poverty and struggles as if they were his own - it turns out Sion had been there, he had seen it, and somehow by a string of luck, he climbed to the top on his own.
Suddenly Yushi feels choked up - he cannot fathom the amount of pressure that Sion has been going through all this time, working off his blood, sweat, and tears to get to the point where he is now. As a prince placed under a lot of pressure himself, Yushi understands.
His heart hurts as he thinks perhaps in another life, a kind, gentle soul like Sion would enjoy a more simplistic life, a simple life alongside his mother in a small village, free from worries.
Sion smiles as he lifts his hand, carefully caressing his face, wiping away dewdrop tears. Yushi realizes that the tears belong to him.
“Why are you crying?” Sion whispers, always so kind. Always smiling.
“It must have been hard.” is all Yushi says, choked with emotion that he’s never felt before.
Perhaps they are not so different after all. Both of them understand enduring, carrying pain with their shoulders held high, showing no signs of weakness to others to become someone stronger, to become someone that others can rely on. Determined to place a high standard upon themselves to fulfill the standards and the expectations of others, so they can proudly call themselves their best. Proving that they are worthy of recognition, proving that they are worthy of love from many, proving that this is where I belong.
Without another word, it's Sion who is the one that holds him together. Who embraces him.
“It must have been hard for you too.” he says tenderly, warm arms wrapping around Yushi’s shoulders.
It hits Yushi in waves, the sobs that he’s been holding in, finally spilling from his lips, unraveling.
Their embrace feels like something more, more meaningful than just a soothing balm of comfort, a shimmering light in the darkness. Like two star-crossed lovers aligned, finally meeting.
Thank you.
—
Yushi and Sion now sit together side by side with barely any distance between them, overlooking the beautiful moonflowers in full bloom, the sparkling sea, and the midnight sky. After wiping away tears, the two of them spent hours talking under the night sky, telling each other stories of their kingdoms, their childhood, their companions, and their families in the remaining hours before Sion’s departure at dawn.
“You know, from the first time I met you, I think I knew that you were going to be different.” Sion’s tone turns low into a whisper.
“Was that a hunch, also?” Yushi asks calmly.
As time passed, their conversation was slowly sinking in the reality that Yushi wouldn't see Sion again after tomorrow. When he finally returned to his kingdom.
Sion turns to look at him, a tinge of bittersweetness in his smile.
“You were beautiful. It blew me away. The more I learned about you, the more I found myself unable to take my eyes off of you.”
Yushi's heart flutters. He thinks that he understands what Sion implies, but is hesitant to speak out the words.
However, with the moonlight kissing Sion’s features as he picks up a moonflower and smells it, closing his eyes with his lashes shining golden, holding a strong yet gentle smile, with the wind echoing a voice that whispers tell him, he thinks he can finally say it, the words that threaten to spill from his once carefully guarded heart.
“I will miss you.” Yushi confesses, the closest admission to his heart.
Sion smiles fondly, a hint of lingering yearning mixed in between.
“It's always hard to say goodbyes, isn't it? I don’t want to think of this as a goodbye for us. We’ll meet again.”
His voice sounds like an echo of a distant promise, and Yushi finds himself trusting his words.
They naturally intertwine their hands - even if it is bittersweet, Yushi decides to bare his heart to Sion without any regrets.
He lifts his face to stare into Sion’s eyes.
“I want to stay by your side.”
Sion gazes at Yushi like he hung the moon and the stars.
He doesn’t say anything. Instead, he leans in, and like a magnetic pull Yushi meets him, their foreheads touching, leaning in halfway through the enclosed space to seal their kiss.
Sion rose to the highest night skies to reach for him, only able to catch Yushi once in a blue moon. Yushi finally falls into the bottom depths of the sea, reaching into Sion’s soul, to find his long lost treasure.
What he finds is a hidden gem that was meant to be his, found in a lost sea.
—
Sion departs at dawn back to his kingdom, leaving Yushi back in the place where he was before.
But now, Yushi is a changed man, invigorated by a new goal.
We’ll meet again.
The next day, Yushi boldly told his mother that he was going to break off his engagement with his fiancee. No longer holding back, speaking up his thoughts, and becoming expressive. He got a lot of disappointment from her, but Yushi felt satisfaction more than anything, proud that he finally spoke up against his mother, resolute in his decision he was finally choosing to do something for himself.
Yushi has made up his mind. He is going to succeed to the throne and fulfill his promise to his people and Sion. The first step to a long-term alliance with Sion’s kingdom would be for Yushi to step up to the plate with his full potential, and navigate straight into the world of politics, starting with the higher court.
Yushi throws himself head first into learning all about his kingdom’s politics, of his family lineage, and building the right connections so he can form his own allies.
In a couple of years, Yushi succeeds in his goal, becoming a well-respected prince in his kingdom. But his real goal has yet to be achieved, and he finally finds the right opportunity on one fine morning with his mother, walking along her rose garden with her, before striking the perfect moment to leave her no choice but to agree to his terms.
“Mother, please keep watch of my kingdom while I’m gone.”
The pure noble bloodline undoubtedly runs in Yushi’s veins, for he is a driven prince at heart. Running straight ahead, not backing down from anyone, once he knows something is rightfully his.
To grasp the hidden gem in the palm of his hand, Yushi shows resolve, becoming mighty brave, surprising even himself to achieve what he wants - instead of waiting, he seizes it.
“I will be on an errand, to visit the land of gardenias.”
—
“Prince Sion, it appears like you have a visitor.” his faithful guard, Riku tells him.
Sion raises his eyebrow as he continues his pile of paperwork with a quill in his hand, seemingly never ending.
“A visitor? I don’t think I was expecting any today.”
Riku looks over the window and eyes what he sees curiously, with his hand on his waist.
“I’m afraid he insists on seeing you, your Highness. You should probably meet him. His name is Prince Yushi.”
Prince Yushi.
The quill altogether stops moving from Sion’s hand, with his eyes opening like saucers.
Sion suddenly stands up with a loud bang, causing Riku to flinch.
Uncharacteristic of the usually calm and composed prince, today Sion strides along in hurried steps, fumbling to get his white coat on himself, before heading straight to the door without a second notice.
In all the years that Riku has faithfully served him, he has never seen Sion like this.
“Riku! I’ll be personally greeting the guest downstairs. Thank you for letting me know.”
—
Sion rushes downstairs, to greet the man that he’s been dreaming of for years.
A certain starry-eyed prince that he longs for, unable to leave his mind.
When he finally opens the tall doors of the gate entrance, he is greeted by a sight he thought he would never see again -
A man with orange hair, dressed in fine embroidery of laced silver, holds a bouquet of gardenias, white flowers that look like roses - pure and refined, beautiful and gentle. Like an angel that came down from heaven.
“I know you said that we’ll meet again. But I couldn’t wait.”
Yushi turns to him, and it feels like deja vu when he smiles charmingly at Sion down the stairway, holding out his bouquet in front of him.
“So I came to you.”