#risei

RAAAAAH OF COURSE! I COULD MARRY MY POOKIES!!!🗣💞🗣💞🗣💞🗣💞🎀🎀🎀 (platonically)

"Just have fun with it, Yu-kun!"

jitae never cared much for dramatics. 

sadly as the man leaned against one of the giant columns of the palace, his eyes gazing at the sea of nobles, great and small, gathering around the flames of the royal throne, he felt as though he was the only one in this nation that felt that way. 

would the theatrics bring back lady sang? jitae did not know much about interrogation but wasn’t the person who was courageous enough to poison one of the great houses skilled enough to skate past some pointed questions? the man did not understand the point of this — a scowl coming over his neutral features, this event had already delayed his return to his homeland, anymore he’s sure that the bandits would gain more ground.

and he would never admit it out loud but before the events of name day occurred, jitae did not have the slightest clue about what lady sang looked like. he’s sure his presence was not needed. sighing, the man shifts his posture, straightening up and turning towards an individual not too far from him.

reading between the lines or not, chaeyul’s always found it amusing to slip out of the elder’s grasp, the act of conformity much too stifling for someone with as much defiance in his blood as him. tonight, the defiance comes in the form of being perched near the rocks of the harbour, mind buzzing with the alcohol thrumming in his system, and he only hears the snap of a twig behind him when it’s too late.

the excuses run through his head like the evidence isn’t right there, the empty bottles precariously balanced on the rocks below him. one: maybe the wine he had was spiked to make it extra potent, or two: he’s just a lightweight. he’s not in the mood to empty his pockets to keep whoever’s found him silent, but when he squints up at the familiar figure and realises who it is, the initial relief is washed away by a consequent realisation.

he’s going to get an earful.

“oh,” he murmurs, the corners of his mouth pulled up in an abashed smile. chaeyul’s found by now that it’s much easier to apologise than it is to ask for permission, especially when you’re born with the entire nation’s eyes on you and everyone seems to know what you think before you do. “thank god it’s you, hyung. the other nobles would’ve fed me to the hippo cows if they caught me doing this again.” 

a moment of silence passes, and then, “or is it ... minister han?” chaeyul blinks up, shifting from where he’s sitting. “is it still working hours?”

though he supposes he’s always been averse to the idea of observing and playing out diplomatic niceties, even moreso at a dinner hall when his mind is less focused on sucking up to the nobles and more on guessing what dessert’s going to be brought out tonight. (he’s made a bet with sayuri, and isn’t in the mood to lose fifteen gold coins just because the head chef’s decided on tart pies instead of fire cakes.) however, his eyes flicker over to the corner of the room when he spots an unfamiliar figure slipping through the cracks of the dining hall’s fingers, her robes trailing behind her like a makeshift shadow. 

he knows more than anyone what someone sneaking away looks like, and it’s with a measly excuse he doesn’t bother quantifying to a guard that he follows after her, footsteps hushed when they’re scampering after her until she finally stops. he recognises her more when the light of the moon reflects off her face, but that doesn’t stop the scepticism from churning inside him. if anything, recognition makes him more wary.

he clears his throat. “princess saetbyul, am i correct?” even his voice is quiet against the muffled background of celebrations, the hall’s chatters turned down to a hum from where the two of them stand. he doesn’t conceal the way his gaze is dragging over her features like they’re waiting to catch her out in some poorly designed lie, him the very epitome of suspicion with his inquisitive eyes and pursed mouth.

“you’re looking lovely tonight – but i can’t help but wonder why you’re looking lovely here instead of in the hall, with everyone else.” the leaves rustle with the wind, and he smiles patiently. “even the fire nation isn’t safe for a young princess to roam about alone.”