unfortunate. | 연준 √

eighteen

"Your soul is lovely."
- Finn Askew, "Roses"

Chanyeol and I get back from our small trip- and I'm going to guess it's around 4 AM. I yawn as I follow him to the palace gates, and as I narrow my eyes, I see the three younger brothers waiting. Chuckling sleepily, I nudge Chanyeol. "Daegun, you're in trouble this time." He shakes his head, rolling his eyes.

"Actually, I'd like to believe both of us will be," With a smile, it soon fades, sighing heavily. "However, we both know who will be getting greater punishment for their actions..." Inhaling with a chuckle, we both walk to the palace gates, waving at the princes. "Hi, Yeonjun-" And within a minute, Eunwoo and Yeonjun look like they're assaulting Chanyeol- because he's on the ground, and the two youngest— Yeonjun and Eunwoo— are literally whacking him with sticks.

"Why did you go without us!?" They synchronize as Seungcheol chuckles, wrapping his arm around my shoulder; then, he pinches me. Hissing, I smack him off me, crossing my arms. "Seungcheol, what was that for?!"

"You're the only one not getting a punishment for going on a short vacation without us," Seungcheol purses his lips, frowning before doing a quick eye-roll. "You're lucky they don't hurt you like we hurt each other and Seungwan. We're always slapping and punching each other. Must be because you're their love interest."

"Hey!" The three all yell, causing both Seungcheol and me to jolt back. I scratch the back of my neck, tilting my head a bit.

"L-Love interest?" I stammer, making all three crumble and stumble on each other, the boys' heukrips and gonryongpo, standing in a straight line shoulder-to-shoulder. Seungcheol stifles his laugh as he unwraps his arm around me, pointing at his brothers.

"Youra, don't believe Seungcheol hyung," Eunwoo warns me, and I can't help but smile at their sobriety.

"Yeah, Youra. He's lying to you!" Chanyeol agrees, his hands waving up in a "don't-worry-about-it" posture. I can't help but laugh.

"Yeah, it's not like that," Yeonjun smiles, hands behind his back as his eyes turn into happy moon crescents. "Besides, we all know I'd love you the best if we did. Just saying."

"What did you say?!" Chanyeol and Eunwoo synchronize, turning the youngest's way- and even better, they're wearing ugly frowns.

"We all know I could treat her the best."

"Oh nonsense, Eunwoo. I've taken her to many places. You need to know her well to understand her."

"Oh hush, Chanyeol hyung! You know nothing about women. The only woman you talk to besides Youra is Seungwan nu-i!"

"Be quiet!"

"All of you be quiet!" I yell out, the once chaotic dispute immediately ending in silence, my head shaking softly as I chuckle. "You all are so cute, but utterly a bunch of idiots."

"Idiots?!" They all synchronize, causing Seungcheol to shake his head as well. "I can't believe you all are my brothers... just so I know, 'idiot' means dumb... right Youra?" Seungcheol questions, turning his head towards me slightly. I blink a few times, swirling my head towards Seungcheol to nod softly, making him nod in return. "Okay! Yeah, you all are idiots!"

"Speak for yourself," Chanyeol shakes his head before running away from our conversation- but the two youngest didn't have enough of him yet. "Hey, Choi Chanyeol! Get back here!" Yeonjun screeches impolitely before he chases after his brother, Eunwoo following behind him in silence probably for his own delight. Seungcheol scoffs, pointing at the three's stupidity. In fact, I found it quite funny.

Seungcheol turns back to me, beckoning to the doors of the palace. "Shall we go in and relax?" I nod in agreement, the boy smiling gracefully as he skips in, causing me to chuckle under my breath watching him. He was always such a smiley prince, always so happy. He has that optimist sort of vibe... it fits him very well.

Anywho, I follow him around until he opens a door with a slam, causing not only me to jolt back, but the tens of people (who I'm assuming were historians) also flinch. Seungcheol laughs, the historians to sigh of relief and look at him with trifling annoyance. A man, who doesn't look far from his thirties, comes up to both of us, bowing.

"You must be Min Youra. Seungcheol has told us of your amazing journey. He really admires you as his friend," The historian tells me, but soon let out an 'ah.' "I'm Do-Hyeon, a second-junior- rank historian. If you ever want to help us around here, knowing we terribly need it with all the mess we create, you can visit anytime."

"We don't need help, Do-Hyeon," A man spoke, much older. His head faces the papers on the small, hardwood desk, a paintbrush with a dash of ink in his hand; I guess he was writing things before Seungcheol and I had entered. I'm guessing he was of high-status. Possibly a senior rank? "Focus on your job. The Daegun is helping us enough- I don't think he needs to help us anymore."

"Oh, hyung!" Seungcheol exclaims, giggling like a little boy as he makes his way to the eldest historian, hugging him. Everyone stifles their laugh as the cold historian tries to pry his (probably) best friend off of him, Seungcheol hugging him lovingly as he cackles from the boy's constant pushing. "Hy~ung!"

"Seungcheol, get off me!" Finally, the cold historian shoves him off, Seungcheol pouting as he stumbles back a bit. He returns to my side, beckoning towards the boy before pointing back at me. "Hyung, introduce yourself."

"Hello, Youra," The boy bows towards me, causing me to do the same. "I am Dowon, a first-rank-senior historian. Please enjoy your stay in Joseon while you're here. If you ever need our help, we'll be glad to aid you in your needs-"

"Aye, hyung~" Seungcheol intervenes, causing Dowon to roll his eyes. "That's why I'm here! I help Youra as well as the historians, right?"

"This isn't about the historians, it's about our visitor." Dowon sits back down, grabbing his paintbrush again as he commences his writing once more. "Anyway, Seungcheol, don't forget when your father comes back, you have something to discuss."

"Ah, yes, the ambushers..." He whispers- and luckily, I hear him. However, it's not my place to disrupt them, so I slowly stroll over to the female historians. "And also about Eunwoo's difficulties... thanks for reminding me, hyung."

"No problem, I probably have to supervise, anyway," Dowon responds, gazing up at me. "Youra, you got shot by an archer, correct?"

"Ah, yes..." I scratch my nape, looking at him curiously. "Why?"

"Well-"

"Hyung! It's not your place to interrogate her like this," Seungcheol sways his head, scolding him. "We will discuss it at the gathering. Just wait a few more weeks. They will be home in no time!" Seungcheol exclaims reassuringly, causing Dowon to roll his eyes and nod, not responding in an attempt to get away from him. They have a nice friendship, better than most.

Anyway, as I look around the historian room or whatever you call it because I'm highly uncultured, I see the three still running around outside- and by the three, I mean Yeonjun, Eunwoo, and Chanyeol. So, I step out of the historian room, and I meet gazes with Eunwoo.

His smile radiates such energy- but in seconds, it fades.

"What are you staring at?"

Sana.