Chapter Text
Mingi is the son of a king and his concubine, a healer who once saved his life. Not many know about the concubine's true identity, that she is a sorceress, except for the king and the captain of the royal guard.
The queen and her power hungry father plot against them when they find out the concubine is with child (the queen has been unable to bear one) and when they eventually discover her true identity.
One night they enact their plot and murder the king. The sorceress, mortally wounded, barely escapes with the help of the captain. The sorceress asks to be taken to the forest clearing where she gives birth to a boy with the same golden hair as hers. She names him Mingi.
As the sorceress is dying she asks the captain to offer his blood on the stone in the middle of the clearing. the moment his blood trickles onto the basin shaped rock, the air ripples and a tower appears before him.
The sorceress begs him to take care of Mingi and keep him in her tower hidden from the queen fearing what she might do to him if she finds out he is alive (since he is the rightful heir to the throne and because he has inherited her power to heal).
The sorceress cast a spell that only the captain's bloodline and Mingi's one true love can lift the shroud and reveal the tower through a blood offering.
Mingi grows up in the tower visited daily by the captain and his son, San, until eventually San takes his father's place and climbs Mingi's tower to visit him everyday.
San is a royal guard (he doesn't use his father's name) in order for him to know the queen's every move and keep Mingi safe.
Living in seclusion, Mingi lived and learned about the real world through the books San brings him every time he visits. He has exactly 809 books now and can't wait for the new one San will bring him.
Mingi likes reading just about anything, from pirate adventures to mermaids. He's memorized every duck species listed in the duck encyclopedia and can name of every type of plant that dots the forest from his tower.
Despite Mingi's curiosity about the world he fears to leave his tower because of the queen. San has always told him the queen is ruthless and will hunt for people with hair (and beauty) such as Mingi's. That his precious hair will be used to weave clothes and ornaments for the queen.
One day San brings Mingi new clothes, books and his favorite biscuits and jam. He tells Mingi he won't be visiting for a while because he will be going on a voyage. San makes him swear never to leave the tower and that unless he hears his voice he must never thrown down his hair.
Mingi is very sad and prays that San returns to him safely. San promises to bring him back a book for every day he is gone and seashells much to Mingi's delight. (And that he will tell Ariel that Mingi had sent his greetings.) With a kiss on his forehead, San leaves.
Only a few hours pass and Mingi sees the shroud over the tower rippling, indicating San is at the foot of the tower. Excited to show San how the new hanbok he'd brought earlier looks on him, he throws down his hair and latches it onto the sill.
Mingi returns to the mirror, quickly blotting on crushed rose petals on his cheeks (which he'd learned from the books, of course). Pleased with the blush (and excited to see San's reaction) Mingi approaches the window only to hear a different voice grunting and grumbling about the thorns. Grabbing the book nearest him (An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ducks) he prepares to acquaint the intruder with the hundreds of species.
The intruder murmurs something about seeing an angel before he finally comes to, testing the (hair) ropes that Mingi used to bind him onto a chair. Mingi demands to know who he is and how he found the tower (while holding up a much thicker book this time).
The man looks like he's swooning until Mingi calls his attention. The intruder has the audacity to confidently introduce himself as Yunho, the kingdom's most notorious thief. Yunho is offended that Mingi doesn't know him and that he should be fearing him too.
When Mingi doesnt give him any reaction as much as a raised brow, Yunho continues that he heard Mingi's humming and followed his voice, only to stumble on a rock and suddenly find the tower in front of him.
Mingi demands to know what Yunho wants from him, if the queen had sent him to take his hair. Yunho only laughs nervously replying that he would never involve himself with the queen. Yunho then starts to excuse himself pretending he's about to free himself except he's nowhere close to.
Mingi tells Yunho if he wants to leave he'll knock him out now and throw him out the window. Yunho tries to reason with him and, after scanning the tower, he tells Mingi he knows a place where Mingi can find all the books he'll ever want to read and that he'll take him there.
Mingi hesitates.
Mingi: A library...?
Yunho: Yes! The largest library in the kingdom! I will take you there!
Mingi: But San said I should never leave the tower
Yunho: We will return before nightfall. Whoever this San is, he will never know you even left.
Mingi: I don't trust you.
Yunho: Rightfully so... Take my dagger. Use it to protect yourself. But I promise you, no harm will befall on you as long as I am by your side.
Mingi paces back and forth nibbling on his nails. He's imagining an entire room full of books. A library. An actual library.
San won't know... They'll come back right away anyway. He just wants to see the library...
Beyond all reason, Mingi agrees and for the first time in his entire life he leaves his tower.
Mingi squeals when he steps foot on the grass. He wiggles his toes, giggling. He smells the flowers. Runs to the trees. And when he accidentally trips on a root, Yunho catches him before he falls. Mingi only laughs and plops onto the grass.
Mingi: Join me!
He invites Yunho, reaching for his hand and pulling him down to the grass with him. Mingi takes in the endless sky, the birds flying overhead, the prickly grass beneath him... and Yunho's hand in his.
Unbeknown to Mingi, Yunho is looking at him, observing his childlike wonder, his golden hair glimmering in the sunlight, his flushed cheeks red as roses (perhaps from heat of the sun)... and his hands intertwined with Mingi's. Yunho turns away to look up at the sky.
Yunho: Maybe it's best if you return to your tower.
Mingi: And miss out on all of this? And the library?!
Yunho: And if that San person scolds you?
Mingi: He won't find out. He's traveling the seas right now.
Yunho: Your hair will stand out too much. You might get lost.
Mingi: But you promised to protect me...
Mingi pouts at him, like a kicked puppy, and it makes Yunho's heart clench.
Yunho concedes with a sigh and gets to his feet, extending a hand to Mingi.
Yunho: Fine... Let's go princess, there's more to see out there.
Blushing furiously, Mingi takes Yunho's hand and they continue their adventure.
Yunho leaves Mingi momentarily and returns with a scarf to hide (some of) his hair and shoes for his feet. Yunho walks with Mingi through the market letting him take in the all the sight and sounds. They weave in and out of stalls, Yunho buying Mingi whatever he points at until he pulls him through a side alley and tells Mingi to be wary of his surroundings, checking for the dagger he'd tucked at Mingi's waist. They're about to enter the palace where the library is.
Mingi: But the queen!
Yunho: Don't worry the queen is on a voyage. And remember you have my dagger.
Yunho successfully sneaks Mingi into the library. And to say that Mingi is in awe is an understatement. He scans the room with wide eyes and mouth agape. He would've squealed if he didn't need to be quiet. Yunho lets Mingi browse the library as he stands guard by the entrance.
Mingi glides his fingertips over the spine of every book on the shelf wishing he can take them home. He makes a mental note of one. Maybe he can ask San for a copy when he returns.
Suddenly Mingi hears a loud thud and before he can turn to see what that noise was, his world turns black.
Mingi cries as he is dragged, his feet unable to find purchase on the polished wooden floor, unable to see with a sack over his head. He begs to be freed until he is pushed onto the floor and the sack is lifted.
He blinks away his tears, wiping his eyes with his bound hands. The first person he sees is Yunho, his hands tied in front of him, gagged and bruised, flanked by two guards. Yunho thrashes but is unable to free himself.
And then he sees San. Bruised, tied up and gagged just like Yunho. Mingi lurches towards him as does San, but they are held back by guards. Mingi's eyes wander the room trying to understand the situation they have found themselves in until he sees a woman sitting on the throne atop the dais.
It is the queen.
Queen: Song Mingi. The king's bastard. You have arrived just in time.
She coughs, chest heaving. She looks old and sickly, like she would die any time soon.
Queen: I knew I could trust you.
The queen tosses a pouch of coins in front of Yunho. Mingi turns to Yunho in disbelief. Yunho shakes his head furiously in denial.
Queen: It would've take much longer had I not pretended that I needed to travel. Of course I had to take San with me and away from you. My trustworthy royal guard WHO HAD BEEN HIDING YOU FROM ME ALL THESE YEARS. You will be hanged for treason!
Mingi cries out and begs for San's life.
The queen walks down the dais towards Mingi and grabs his chin to force him to look at her.
Queen: Heal me and I will free him.
Mingi: Heal you...? I dont know what you're talking about... I can't— I have never—
The queen grabs Mingi's hair and tells him not to lie because how does San, a royal guard, not have a single scar. The queen threatens to hurt San and if Mingi truly cannot heal then San will just have to die. Mingi begs to spare San. And San thrashes only to be kicked by the guards.
Mingi closes his eyes and breathes, his hair glows and the queen gasps. The skin on her hand holding Mingi's hair smoothens. His power makes its way slowly up her arm rejuvenating her skin.
As this is happening, Yunho overpowers the guards flanking him and he runs behind Mingi, reaching for the dagger at his waist and slashes his hair. Mingi gasps. His hair stops glowing and turns black.
The queen staggers, letting go of Mingi in shock. Her face is still old and wrinkled. She coughs up blood. She hasn't been healed yet.
Yunho raises the dagger towards the queen but an arrow rips through the air and pierces him.
Commotion ensues. The queen tries to escape, people are leaving the throne room, some surround Mingi defending him. San frees himself and fights off the remaining guards. Yunho, despite the arrow through his chest, cuts the ropes around Mingi's wrists and frees him.
Yunho then pulls out the arrow from his chest and falls in Mingi's arms.
Yunho: Mingi... I'm sorry... I didn't know this was a trap... Truly... I would've never brought you here otherwise... I'm sorry... for your hair... but you don't have to be afraid anymore... you are free...
Mingi hands tremble over Yunho's wound. He has lost his power along with his hair, there is no way he can heal Yunho now. San approaches Mingi and takes him by the arms but he shrugs him off and refuses to let go of Yunho.
Mingi: I need to heal him!
Mingi shuts his eyes tight, trying to force his now non-existent power to heal Yunho.
Mingi: Please! Please!
Mingi cries out of desperation and a single tear falls on Yunho's cheek. Yunho gasps, eyes opening wide as he is brought back to life.
Mingi and Yunho embrace each other tight and they follow San out to safety.