Chapter Text
Chapter 6
’So that damned fool was busy training…’
Yoo Joonghyuk observed from behind one of the garden’s many decorative pieces. He had come to cool off, yes, but the interaction between Dokja and Lady Sangah left an odd taste in the Prince’s mouth. He felt his annoyance start to rise again.
With long strides, Yoo Joonghyuk entered into the light, and the morning light danced across his features. If it were possible, the already handsome prince looked even more charming. He cleared his throat as he stopped a few steps away from the pair.
“Lady Sangah...Dokja… what a surprise to see you here.” Yoo Joongyuk’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he spoke, “I didn’t expect you two to have gotten acquainted so quickly…”
Yoo Joonghyuk cast a sharp look at Kim Dokja as he spoke the last sentence.
The Knight seemed to tense on the spot and fumbled a hasty bow.
“Yoo-” Kim Dokja covered up his slip-up behind a cough, “Your Highness! What do we owe the pleasure?”
Yoo Joonghyuk ignored the other male as he looked back at Yoo Sangah.
“Apologies for the interruption, Lady Sangah.” The Prince bowed, though it was rather stiff, “I do have some… matters I must discuss with Dokja, I do hope you understand.”
Yoo Sangah smiled and nodded.
“It’s not a problem, Your Highness.” She replied, looking at Yoo Joonghyuk with that same, sweet smile. “I was just about to head for some well-deserved rest.”
She bowed smoothly before turning away, the click of her heels fading into silence.
After it was clear the woman was out of earshot, Yoo Joonghyuk finally looked back at Dokja, all former traces of that smile gone.
“So you were training.” Yoo Joonghyuk said bluntly, his eyes glaring at Dokja.
The knight nodded, standing straighter.
Yoo Joonghyuk was silent again before he spoke up.
“Your posture was horrendous, and your form looked worse than that of a toddler.” He gave Kim Dokja a sharp look. “Where did you even learn to wield a sword like that?”
Dokja was taken aback by His Highness’ bluntness, but eventually replied with a simple: “I was self-taught.”
Yoo Joonghyuk felt himself get a headache. ‘ The King is really hiring anyone nowadays, huh… ’
“Self-taught…” The Prince repeated quietly. “Self-taught, and you’ve managed to lay a blow on me…”
Dokja let out a quiet sigh as he thought back to that moment. It had been a lucky hit, but a small part of him felt that Yoo Joonghyuk hadn’t put all his effort into that spar.
“So I’d assume that makes me pretty worthy of being your knight, heh?” Kim Dokja replied, trying to keep a smirk on his face (Though it was hard to when the other was glaring daggers at you).
Yoo Joonghyuk fought an eyeroll.
“If you continue training like this, you can give up on being stronger. Your skillset will get you nowhere, and only slow you down in a real fight.”
Kim Dokja’s smirk dropped at Yoo Joonghyuk’s words, as something formed in the pit of his stomach. Disappointment? Or was it annoyance? He couldn’t tell. It was a feeling that was both familiar and foreign.
Noticing Dokja’s distant look, Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed and turned away. Though before he could take more than a few steps, the other’s voice cut through the silence, quiet, but still there.
“I want to protect the people I care for.”