Chapter Text
The ambiance inside the castle was pleasant as usual. Bustling maids scurry along the wide-open hallways with trays in their hands preparing for the royal family's breakfast.
Jisoo sighed and puffed his cheek with air as his personal dresser tightened his royal blue corset. He really doesn't want to wear this as it's so annoying and uncomfortable. But he needs to since he's the second prince of the Firen kingdom. They need to keep their appearances as royal and elegant as possible.
"Your face looks horrible." He rolled his eyes at his older twin, Jeonghan who already finished dressing up his fiery red apparel, matching his personality.
"Well excuse you, we have the same face thus we both look horrible." Jisoo spat back as his dresser finishes assisting him with his clothes. He thanked him so he bowed down and went outside the room. He went near his table and searched for his hair gel. He dipped his fingertips in the container and carefully brushed his hair upward, making his silver highlight stand out.
"Not really, I'm older so I'm more handsome." Jisoo looked back at his older twin munching his apple before eating breakfast and raised his eyebrow, walking toward his chair where his white coat is neatly hung just like how he instructed his personal designer.
"What kind of a logic is that?" Jeonghan shrugs before walking away toward the door. "Hurry up, will you? Father and mother don't have much time as you." Jisoo once again rolled his eyes to his twin brother who slammed the door on his face jokingly and ran first ahead to their dining room.
Jisoo took his time and examined their castle's interior design. The colors were mixed red and blue but white dominated the room hence their clothes hue. Some designs have the color silver and gold but not much. The king and queen of Firen kingdom don't want to exaggerate the castle's design but they want their sons to be dressed presentable and Jisoo thinks it's already too much. He just wants to wear comfortable clothes whenever. The ceilings are also high above, pillars supporting them and complimenting the colors making them more pleasing to the eyes.
He entered their dining room and the king and queen are already present as well as his older twin brother who left him. A prince he is, he bowed down to his parents as a pay of respect and greeting.
"You're late, Jisoo." his mother Kyungsoo reprimanded him gently. He glared at Jeonghan when he snickered.
"My apologies, mother. I was left behind by my own brother so I took my time going here."
"Hey, you were the one preparing so slow—"
"That's enough." The king, Jongin interrupted their argument before it escalates to something worse.
"Take a sit, Jisoo. I'm already way behind my schedule. Let's start eating." Both princes shut their mouths as Jisoo went to his seat and the maids served their food still sizzling hot, freshly made.
"Jeonghan. After you eat, rest for thirty minutes then go to the training grounds, your instructor's waiting for you there." The older nodded to the king as he continued eating with proper manners.
"What about me, father?" Jisoo asks when his name wasn't mentioned. Jongin stopped eating and eyed his second son with questioning eyes.
"What do you mean by that, Jisoo?"
"When will I get to train like our knights?" The king puts down his fork as he faced his son seriously.
"You're not going anywhere to train, young man."
"But how come Jeonghan can and I can't?! Isn't that favoritism?"
"Jisoo." the queen warned but Jongin reached to his partner's hand, squeezing it gently letting him know it was fine and he can handle it.
"Once you have your scores high as your brother's, I'll think about it." Jisoo slumped on his seat as he crosses his arms on his chest and puffed his bangs away from his face when some strands managed to get down to his forehead.
Don't get him wrong. Jisoo doesn't dislike his brother. Heck, they even get along pretty well. It's just that, he doesn't like reading at all because it's pretty boring, unlike his brother who's interested in their royal history and such. He just wanted to train his sword skills already, ready to fight any time.
"Ugh. It's so boring." Jisoo said as he slumped his head on the thick history books spread on the long table at the castle's library. Their breakfast ended early due to the king and queen's unfinished business at the castle and he had his brother assist him in their supposedly quick 'study' session.
"Suck it up, Jisoo. It's not even ten minutes yet since you started opening the books which I knew you didn't read at all." Jeonghan responded to his twin while taking down notes using his favorite red-feathered quill. Only the scratching of his writing tool and Jisoo's not-so-silent grunts can be heard inside the library. Both of them were left alone inside the big room to focus on their study, but Jisoo's mind is obviously elsewhere.
"How can I? My brain was already overloaded with this information which I knew I won't be able to benefit from. It's pretty clear you'll be taking over the throne and I am definitely not against it." he mumbled in between the books' pages, sighing once again.
"If you need motivation, remember what father has said about your sword training at the dining table earlier," Jisoo grunted again and stomped his feet underneath the table to his frustrations.
"Now that you mentioned it, why are you still here? Don't you have your training later?" Jeonghan glanced at the library's clock.
"I still have five minutes left." That's right, Jisoo started opening the books more than fifteen minutes after thinking about his decision if was it wise to go to the library to 'read'.
"Have you forgotten we're on the third floor now and the training ground's at the open field on the ground floor?"
Jeonghan just shrugs, still writing down his notes. "Will just say had to take a shit or something." Jisoo laughed at his brother's remarks, very unprince-like. Luckily, they're alone and can be themselves in each other's presence.
"When will your training end?" Jisoo asks, now closing his books as well, copying his brother. He definitely doesn't want to end up alone in this big boring library where his energy is being sucked away by those uninteresting pieces of literature.
"Maybe before mealtime? I don't know, but I guess I'll see you later?" Jisoo nods as his brother half runs in the opposite direction to do his training. Jisoo sighed, he doesn't know what to do in the meantime while waiting for his brother to finish so he went back to his room.
He walked to his wide-opened window and propped his elbow on the stool, admiring the view outside the castle. Warm but refreshing wind greets his face, swaying lightly some of his hair strands that weren't gelled.
"The forest looks so green, it's pretty pleasing and calming in the eyes." Jisoo hums as he closed his eyes, smiling at the peace he's currently feeling. Then suddenly, he widened his eyes when he thought of a wicked idea. A smirk is now slowly crawling on his face before turning around.
He quickly went to his wardrobe and searched for simple clothing for his mini abrupt adventure. He badly wants to ask advice from his personal dresser and see which simple garments would suit him and the townspeople won't be able to tell it's the second prince from the Firen kingdom. But obviously, he won't do that since he knows all information travels faster inside the castle going to the queen's keen ears.
Jisoo unconsciously puts his right hand beneath his chin, rubbing it as he thinks of his plan and how to properly execute it. He absolutely doesn't want to let his brother know about his schemes. He'll never know what he'll do to make him be punished later on.
"Going somewhere?"
Jisoo jolts up and instantly looked behind him, seeing his brother nonchalantly lean on his doorframe before walking up to him and glancing at his clothes scattered on his bed.
"N-no. Not really." he stuttered as he panicked and started gathering the scattered clothing on the bed so he could return it back to his wardrobe. He didn't know he was taking his time choosing which outfit he'd use when he goes outside later. He was immensely focused to the point he didn't hear his door opening and now he's in this situation.
"Use this. They won't be able to recognize you as the second prince with this." Jisoo's mouth gaped with Jeonghan's words as he absentmindedly accepted the top garment from him. It's a white long-sleeved shirt with short frills on the wrist part, Jeonghan then shuffled the clothes on the bed to look for plain trousers to match his twin's outfit.
"Here," he pushes the plain navy trousers he picked carefully on Jisoo's chest who only stood aghast at his brother's doing.
"What are you doing, Han?" he asked when he finally found his voice to speak up. Jeonghan just shrugged and sat at the edge of his bed while crossing his legs, and leaning his weight on his hands resting on it.
"I go out sometimes too." Jisoo's eyes enlarged as he quickly pushes the remaining fabrics onto the bed so he can have space to sit beside his brother.
"No way! Really?" He excitedly shook Jeonghan's arm and the other just looked at him smugly before nodding. Since they are very important people, they were not allowed to go outside on their own without bodyguards.
"Yes, and I believe you need to experience it on your own as well. The outside world is bigger than you would ever think, Soo." Jeonghan pats his twin's shoulder before standing up and heading to the door. He feels sticky from the training earlier thus he needs to change. After finishing his training, he immediately went to his brother's room knowing fully well about his short patience whenever he's bored.
"Clean this before one of the maids arrive for our meal with father and mother." Jisoo excitedly nodded and jumps on his feet and puts back all the clothes that were scattered on the bed in his wardrobe. He also safely tucked the long-sleeved shirt and navy trousers underneath the piling clothes so he can change stealthily after their meal. Even though the king and queen are very busy with their own businesses, they ensure they make time for the princes even though it's only during meals.
Just when Jisoo closed his wardrobe, a faint knock was heard behind his massive door. "Prince Jisoo, the meal has now been prepared for the royal family." Jisoo acknowledges his butler's words before heading outside, meeting him who's also holding a letter in both hands, offered to the prince.
"From Minghao?" Jisoo asked as he tears the pretty envelope's noble Xu's family seal and read the letter. The butler nodded behind, "Yes, prince Jisoo. Prince Jeonghan already received his' earlier." he relayed.
Jisoo nodded and finished reading the letter while heading to the dining room meeting halfway with his brother who already changed his training uniform into proper attire.
"You going?" Jisoo asked.
"Yeah. It's been a long time since the last I went to Xu's household. I missed his brewed tea, honestly. How about you, will you be able to make it? It's pretty early apparently."
"That's what I'm worried about. You know how hard it is for me to wake up early in the morning every single damn time." Jisoo rolls his eyes as both of them opened another massive door for their dining room. Both bowed down at the presence of the king and queen.
"Sit down, sons." the queen initiated and the princes did as they were told, sat down on their respective seats as their food is being served in front of them.
Their meal was very silent but not to the point where it was uncomfortable. The royal highness asked the princes how was their day so far and so on. They finished on time and their parents informed them they don't have much business for the day. Their announcement made Jisoo anxious and nervous he won't be able to go outside later. Jeonghan feeling his brother's uneasiness reached out to his hand under the table and squeezed it gently.
"Change your clothes quickly, I'll be waiting here outside your door to keep an eye on anybody near." Jisoo nodded and changed his outfit immediately from Jeonghan's picks earlier. The good thing was, they have more freedom inside their castle and can do anything they like without any bodyguards or butlers watching over them.
"Hannie, I'm done," Jisoo whispered behind the massive door loud enough for his twin to hear, he also softly knocked to let the other know he's ready.
"Jeonghannie? What are you doing there on your brother's door?" Jisoo's hand stopped midair when he was about to open the enormous door and good thing he didn't. He heard his mother queen slowly approaching his room and he panicked about what to do, silently cursing under his breath. The queen's shoes are clicking loudly on the marble floor, sounds echoing inside the quiet wide hallway making the twins' shoulders tense at the sudden visit of their mother. Queen Kyungsoo's also accompanied by his butlers on each side.
Jisoo dashed to his bed as quietly as possible and hopped on it, covering his body with his thick covers so his mother won't be able to see his ready-to-go-outside attire. He's pretending to be asleep, wordlessly hoping and pleading he won't be discovered.
"Hello, mother. I was about to go back to my own room since Jisoo said he's sleepy from all the books he read in the library earlier this morning." Jeonghan said naturally without blinking. As if he just didn't lie in front of the queen, his mother. His reason miraculously matches with Jisoo. Twins do really think alike.
"Is that so? I thought he was feeling down not being able to train like he wanted to. I think I still need to go inside to comfort him—"
"Oh, mother. You're the sweetest angel I've ever met in my entire life. But I do believe Jisoo's overused brain needs resting from all those literature books he read. He's doing fine, really. I confirmed it with my own eyes and he's not even affected by what father has said. Maybe he is disappointed. But you know him, mother. He's strong, he'll get over it and do his best to study." Kyungsoo slowly nodded, convinced by what his son told him. Jisoo almost puked at his brother's words full of fake flattery but somehow smiled a little hearing them.
"But I will still see myself if he's really sleeping." Not being told, his butlers automatically initiated and opened Jisoo's room wide to let his highness inside. The queen walked gracefully inside the room, roaming his eyes at every corner relieved to see his son laying comfortably on his bed.
Jeonghan internally sighed when he sees his twin brother pretending to be asleep, his back facing them. He compliments his brother deep down for doing his best to act in order to avoid the queen's suspicions.
"See? He's already asleep, mother. We should get going." Jeonghan headed outside first while the queen took a quick glance at his son before nodding and heading outside.
When the door was shut close, Jisoo exhaled all the air he didn't know he's been holding in. His heart was beating so loud inside his chest and gladly, the observant queen didn't notice. Jisoo waited for a couple more minutes making sure his mother is no longer in the hallway basing it on the sound of his heels clicking noisily on the floor. When the sounds are getting faint, he pulled down his covers and walked in tiny steps toward his massive door.
Peeking outside, he sighed in relief when the queen was no longer in sight as well as his brother. He tip-toed to Jeonghan's room at the end of the hallway and placed his ear on the door first to listen taking precautions if the queen's inside. When all he heard was silence, he knocked softly and glanced at his surroundings making sure no one's nearby.
Jeonghan opened his door and handed him something. A cloth. "What's this?" the older glanced in the hallways "Wear this outside, just to make sure. It's a spare worn-out cloak I bought in the nearby town. No one should be suspicious of you once you wear it. This will help you cover your aura since I tinkered on the device you made a little bit. Remember to act normal and don't do anything stupid, okay?"
Jisoo nodded as he tucks it inside his body bag. It's Jisoo's forte to invent new things and Jeonghan's the one who's upgrading it. They were one of the reasons why the Firen kingdom improved continuously and made its way to the number one spot of the kingdom's most updated technologies created.
"Go to the big tree in the royal garden. There's a hole behind it enough for you to crawl outside. It was hidden well with bushes and well-snipped grass so no one knows it beside me, well, now you too, I guess." Jisoo smiled as he lunged a brief hug to his brother.
"Now, go. Return before the sun sets, okay?"
"Thank you, Hannie! Will do. See you later."
Jisoo lets go of the hug and swiftly turns at the corner, avoiding every patrolling knight he sees hiding behind the pillars, trees, and walls as he went on his way to the exclusive royal garden. His heart beats rapidly inside his chest since this is the first time he defied his parents' order.
He fetched the worn-out cloak inside his bag and wore it. He swishes every bush and grass behind the big tree Jeonghan instructed. It was indeed hidden well given that he was having a hard time, but he found the hole his brother was referring to sooner than he expected.
Jisoo immediately crawled outside the hole and made sure he never left tracks on the grasses. He stood up and dusted off his knees.
"Finally," he whispered as his eyes roamed around. He's currently behind the castle's fortress and luckily, beyond the wall is already near the woods. If he wants to go to the nearest town, he needs to cross the woods first in order to reach it.
Jisoo cautiously went inside the woods with his goal of at least buying something from the town's market.
After a couple of minutes of walking, Jisoo then realized he was terrible with directions. "What's with these woods and why does it all look the same? Aish." He grunted as he carefully divided the bushes, checking if there was a path he wasn't able to notice.
Actually, there is one he overlooked. That's when his excitement took over his entire body and his attention span wasn't able to catch the course he was walking is already the one leading to town but he completely made his way confidently towards the opposite direction, going deeper into the forest. Now he's lost.
Even though Jisoo kept grumbling while walking, he was also sightseeing to the same extent. Capturing all the scenery he's experiencing, not sure if he'll be able to return. He realized the forest is way bigger than he think it was and was awestruck this whole time. He was mesmerized by the nature's breathtaking beauty and how he met rare bugs and animals he never read about in a book before (he can handle reading whenever there were pictures).
"At last." No, he never arrived at the town where his goal was. He just saw his possible resting place for all the walking he's been doing. He saw a small open shady space surrounded by trees and bushes. Jisoo wiped the sweat on his temple when it trickled down from his forehead as he made his way to the center, shadowed by the leaves of the big trees. He's really not used to physical exercise but he's trying to do better since of course, he wants to train just like his brother.
Jisoo placed his bag on the ground as he sat on his worn-out cloak to prevent his trousers from making it dirtier (from all the crawling). He roams his eyes around him and it's peacefully quiet and refreshing. Jisoo was exhausted from all those trudging and finding the way to the town to the point he's now yawning and positioning himself to sleep, bringing the cloak's hood down to his eyes to cover the still-blinding mighty sun rays.
He dozed off to sleep quickly with the help of the quiet whisper of the afternoon wind, the faint chirping of the birds above his head, and the low sounds from the bustling leaves and grasses as the wind hits them.
Jisoo was not aware at all. He's completely unaware that where he's currently at— the unfamiliar location, is already within the elves' territories. He's already inside the forbidden forest's borders, Galadrim, where their enemies reside.
Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, Jisoo stirred in his sleep but realized there was something heavy sitting on top of his chest. He lifted the hood lightly and blinked twice before rubbing his eyes, making sure he's seeing right. A cute black rabbit with floppy ears and red eyes is sitting on him, twitching his pink nose adorably. Jisoo cooed as he sat up, the black rabbit moved but didn't run from his lap.
"Hey, little guy. Are you also lost? Hmm?" he asked calmly and quietly, receiving an ear twitch and a nuzzle on his palm, wanting to be pet. Jisoo's heart squeezed at the sight and the cuteness of the little animal on his hold. Instead of stroking the head, he carefully lifted the rabbit up and snuggled his face into its soft fur. He still doesn't know the rabbit's gender but he's thinking it's a man based on its size compared to the regular rabbit.
His attention got snatched by the charming rabbit, focusing and entertaining the little stray that he didn't notice, there was already an arrow pointing in his direction.