Typically gossip about the doings of the upper-class had an inevitable path it followed leading down to the ears of commoners and peasants. Of course, it starts through the letters and careless word of mouth between nobles themselves. That carelessness leads to information being picked up by their surrounding maids, servants, and attendants. With the same loose lips as their masters, they send the information to their family and friends, the first landing point outside the circle of nobility. From there the gossip propagates like rabbits in heat, taking on strange and at-times humorous forms.
This process was no different for the particular tidbit of how the former prince being the mysterious new duke of the resurfaced Kaizenix Duchy.
While the nobles had their minds preoccupied with the question of how in the world Yoo Joonghyuk was able to find and restore the treasures and lands of the Kaizenix duchy right under their noses, the public were just jarred by the existence of this Kaizenix duchy to begin with, its name still a foreign word on their tongues.
The night that Joonghyuk returned to his estate after the events of the banquet, the many noble and royal family guards following his carriage didn't escape his notice. The only reason they survived to tell their masters about the duchy was because it aligned with his initial intentions.
It was now known that the manor was currently located in the depths of the forest, to everyone's astonishment. Whispers of the mythical creatures contained within it still kept the population in fear, almost no one daring to venture into the woodlands willingly.
This only added fuel to the rumor mill, which speculated that the presence of mystical creatures in the forest may have played a role in the manor's resurrection or destruction. Only a small group of people truly believed that notion, though other theories were built on similarly questionable foundations.
But with questions about the duchy's presence ever-growing with no answers in sight, coming up with increasingly strange theories was the only thing the public could do to somewhat satiate their curiosity.
Despite the prevalence of this new topic, it could not easily remove attention from the rather botched crowning of the new prince; in fact, the public seemed to be even more outraged about the tragedy of that day. Much to the public's ire, the royal family still hadn't had any major progress in finding the terrorists that attacked the empire.
No, they'd rather organize an exquisite banquet for a prince that no one had even wanted, all the while failing to provide financial support for the victims to rebuild homes or assist with funeral arrangements. All the while, the now-ousted Yoo Joonghyuk had been able to resurrect what was apparently one of the most powerful dukedoms in the Seoul Empire's history while not even relying on any of the palace's power.
That isn't to say that the public had totally forgotten about Yoo Joonghyuk's infamous temper and violent disposition. But they couldn't deny how capable he was as a leader, and how much he'd already contributed to the empire. As commoners, there was little they could do to make the palace acknowledge their outrage.
However, they couldn't help but harbor resentment towards the royal family for their perceived negligence.
Their already abundant outrage was exacerbated when just three days after the crown prince's banquet, another tragic incident unfolded. Five corpses were discovered, scattered throughout the capital. The connection between the murders was still unknown, all the victims having different backgrounds and classes.
At this point, not even the nobles could keep quiet, everyone urging the royal family to take immediate action.
The fear in the public is palpable, pensive glances over the shoulder became a commonality and now no one dared to go out during the night unless forced to. Wanting to quell the growing unrest of their citizens, the royal family swiftly convened at a meeting with their ministers and other high-ranking nobles.
It's worth noting that the influential Underworld Duke Hades was among those present. Additionally, due to the significant influence wielded by the Kaizenix Duchy, the royal family found themselves with no alternative but to summon Yoo Joonghyuk to attend the meeting as well.
Walking through the corridors of the palace, Joonghyuk found it strange. Even if it was nothing more than a glorified cage, it was still his home for the majority of his life. To know that his visit here was temporary, and that he had a new and warmer home to return to was as peculiar as it was welcomed. Turning the corner, Joonghyuk passed by some maids that he recalled had made his life hell for a bit.
They were supposed to be his personal maids when he was a teenager, but they demeaned him to his face and purposely botched their duties. There were many days where he was late to training sessions and misinformed about meetings due to them and was forced to take full blame for it. Though in a way, it was a wakeup call. It forced him to become independent, to rely only on himself for everything that he needed.
Luckily now he had people he could lean on for help; Kim Dokja, Yoo Sangah, his knights… he wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for them.
Letting out a sigh, he continued his stride, prepared to face whatever awaited him in the upcoming meeting.
Stepping into the meeting room, Joonghyuk was greeted by the intense scrutiny of numerous ministers and nobles. While Joonghyuk was generally reluctant to interact with any of the empire's ministers, there were some that were at least tolerable, none of whom were currently present. It didn't take him long to realize that those present were primarily the allies of the empress, with the exception of Duke Hades.
"I, Yoo Joonghyuk of Kaizenix Duchy, extend my greetings to His Highness, the crown prince of the Seoul Empire."
Smirks lit up on their faces, getting satisfaction from the fact he had to prostrate himself to his younger brother.
Maintaining his composure, Joonghyuk proceeded to his designated seat. He's well aware that protocol dictated he should wait for the crown prince to give him permission before doing so, but being the person he is, he has little regard for such formalities beyond the initial bow.
As Joonghyuk settled into his seat, he noticed that both the empress and the emperor were absent from the meeting. The emperor's absence didn't come as a surprise, he always delegated his duties to Joonghyuk with the excuse that it was preparing him to be the next emperor. Figures that he'd do the same to his other son. What was unexpected was the empress's absence. With how protective she is over her son, Joonghyuk would've thought she'd be here in case her son needed her.
Though he supposed that was why the Archduke was looming angrily by the prince's shoulder.
His thoughts are proven correct as the Archduke is the one to commence and take charge of the meeting, rather than the crown prince. Internally scoffing at how anyone could so vehemently support the ascension of such an incompetent prince, Joonghyuk lets his mind drift away from the discussion in favor of thinking of what he should prepare for his beloved Dokja.
He's been acting a bit strange lately, calm as a lake one moment and then silently worrying himself into a frenzy the next. Dokja had even requested him to make tomato soup the other day. Continuing to ignore the voices around him, suggesting various courses of action, Joonghyuk further contemplated what may be going on with Dokja. While he understood that individually, those actions didn't mean much and could've just been from the stress of everything changing and progressing around him, Joonghyuk just couldn't let go of the feeling that something was wrong.
There were times when Dokja would come to him with his eyes red-rimmed and puffy, but pretend that he was fine. Whenever Joonghyuk attempted to address the matter, Dokja would swiftly change the topic.
It left him uncertain what to do. He didn't want to push Dokja to talk about anything if he was uncomfortable with it, but at the same time he didn't want him to continue distressing alone about whatever was bothering him.
With Joonghyuk lost in his thoughts, Duke Hades found himself growing increasingly frustrated with the people around him. He can hardly believe the current state of affairs, and how off the rails the discussion had become already. When Joonghyuk was still crown prince, usually he would ensure that everyone stayed on track during discussions, easily silencing foolish ideas before they could be expanded upon.
But with the duty of the crown prince now passed on to the less experienced Junghun, there was a palpable lack of control and coherence among the attendees. Rather than propositions for coordinated security and methods to catch the perpetrators efficiently, the Archduke himself was encouraging sacrificial action, targeting commoners under the false belief that they may be devil worshippers or some other absurd notion.
All the while the others at the table only nodded their heads and agreed, like the good pawns they were.
It was obvious that his presence here, just like Yoo Joonghyuk's, was only out of obligation for his position as a duke of higher standing. He would be able to contribute nothing without having his ideas shot down by the rest of the table.
Letting out a sigh, Duke Hades cast a slightly envious glance at Yoo Joonghyuk, yearning to divert his own attention to something else, as he too would prefer to focus on anything other than the chaotic mess unfolding before him.
The crown prince, noticing Joonghyuk's detachment from the ongoing discussion, decided to address him.
"Your Grace, do you have any suggestions?" The room fell silent as all eyes turned towards Joonghyuk, who was oblivious to the attention he had suddenly garnered.
With Dokja's sudden craving for tomatoes, he'd need to remind the maids to get a supply of them from the market. Let's see… stuffed tomatoes, roasted tomatoes, tomato salad… he's heard that cherry tomatoes aren't bad either. Hopefully Dokja wouldn't get tired of them soon, Joonghyuk would need to take advantage of his expanded taste palate, anything to lift up his sour mood. With the other man not wanting to talk about what was bothering him, food was the only method Joonghyuk could use to comfort him for now.
"Yoo Joonghyuk!"
Joonghyuk snapped back to reality and directed his attention towards the source of the shout, which turned out to be the Archduke.
"How disrespectful of you to ignore the crown prince" the Archduke chided him sternly.
"What could be so important that it occupies your mind at a time like this, Your Grace?" one of the ministers inquired.
Joonghyuk locked eyes with the minister, momentarily unsettling him with his gaze. He tilted his head slightly before delivering a rather unsettling response. "If I told you that I was thinking about the precise technique to slice off your head, would you believe it?" Color drained from the minister's face as he gulped and sank back into his seat. Joonghyuk then turned to the Crown Prince and the Archduke.
"I apologize. It is not my intention to disregard His Highness. My mind has simply been preoccupied."
"As someone who has attended numerous meetings, you should know better than to behave in such a way," the Archduke reminded him, "Besides, I recall you being intolerant of those who were distracted in meetings before. Yet here you are, exhibiting the same behavior. What has changed, Your Grace?" the Archduke continued.
Joonghyuk stared at him before letting out a sigh. "Fine, if you really want to know the truth, this meeting is a complete waste of time," Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms defiantly across his chest. "You're all suggesting a human sacrifice. Are you all really simpleminded enough to believe in superstitions? There've already been countless lives lost. Do you want more?"
"Even if we go along with your foolish ideas, do you think the empire's citizens will take this lying down, to have the palace itself start killing off its own people? Instead, why don't we sacrifice a noble, that should satisfy whatever evil devil is haunting our empire. Would anyone here like to volunteer themselves for this valiant cause?" Joonghyuk raised an eyebrow, glancing around the table, but the others present averted their eyes from him. Just like that everyone was taken back to the days when Joonghyuk was still prince. Even when ousted from the palace, he smoothly took charge of the direction of the discussion.
"This is all nonsense. As far as I know, it is the crown prince who should be leading this meeting. Why are you constantly deferring to the Archduke for answers, Your Highness? Are you willing to relinquish your position to him?" His words strike a chord, causing the crown prince to feel a sense of shame for failing to fulfill his role and responsibilities.
"YOUR GRACE! You are being incredibly disrespectful!" the Archduke rose from his seat indignantly, slamming his palms on the table in an outburst of frustration.
"I am not being disrespectful, I'm just stating fact, Archduke," Joonghyuk asserted, his glare persisting as he met the Archduke's gaze before turning to the rest of the room.
"If you truly want to hear my suggestion, then so be it. I propose that we increase the number of guards patrolling the streets at night, along with the number of knights stationed at the empire's border routes. Individuals entering and exiting the empire will be thoroughly searched and questioned. An eight o'clock curfew should be implemented, after which doors would remain locked, only to be opened for the arrival of royal guards."
After sharing his suggestion, a heavy silence filled the room. Joonghyuk looked around, expecting someone to speak up to offer different ideas, but the room remained quiet. Even the Archduke and the crown prince offered no response.
"If everyone is in agreement, then it seems this meeting is concluded," he announced, rising from his seat. "If you'll excuse me."
With everyone's eyes fixed on him, Joonghyuk turned and walked away, leaving the room in stunned silence. Those in attendance secretly cast doubtful glances at the crown prince, unable to shake the memory of the Duke's commanding presence.
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Dokja's body convulsed with each retch, his grip on the edges of the bowl tightening as he continued to expel the contents of his stomach. The relentless waves of nausea seemed unending, leaving him exhausted and weak.
Finally, when there was nothing left to vomit, he collapsed onto the bathroom floor, his body trembling and covered in a sheen of sweat. Dokja took a deep breath, his hand instinctively resting on his stomach.
The familiar voice calling for him outside the bathroom door made his heart skip a beat. Hastily, he scrambled from the floor to open the door, revealing Asuka Ren, his trusted maid, standing there.
"Yes, I'm here," Dokja replied, his voice slightly shaky as he tried to compose himself.
Asuka Ren's eyes scanned the surroundings, her concern evident in her voice. "I heard some sounds. Are you okay, Young Master?" she asks, her gaze shifting between Dokja and the bathroom.
"I'm fine, don't worry about it." Pushing his own concerns aside, he redirects the conversation. "Did you need me for something?" he asks, attempting to shift the focus away from himself.
Asuka nodded, her expression softening. "I'm here to deliver your food, Young Master," she explained, gesturing to where the food sat waiting on the table.
Dokja's stomach churned as the smell of scrambled eggs wafted over to his extra sensitive nose, his earlier bout of morning sickness still fresh in his mind. He mustered a grateful smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you, Asuka."
Approaching the table where the food was laid out, Dokja's eyes lit up when he spotted a side of roasted tomatoes next to his eggs. Though this new craving for tomatoes had made him conflicted for a bit, Dokja supposed that he couldn't exactly deny his baby its needs.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I thought I told the chefs to keep out the tomatoes but…" Asuka Ren's voice trailed off as she observed Dokja sit down and begin eating the tomatoes with gusto, as opposed to the barely disguised disgust that she'd expected him to don.
She couldn't help but ask, "Young master?" Still eating his food, Dokja let out an inquiring noise to show he'd heard her. "I thought you hated tomatoes?"
Dokja tilted his head, humming in contemplation. "Well, preferences can change, right?"
"...Right…"
Just then, a knock interrupted their conversation, and a voice called out, "Young master, may I come in?"
Dokja glances at Asuka, then nodded in response. "Yes, go ahead."
A butler entered the room, offering a respectful bow to Dokja. "Good morning, Young Master," he retrieved an envelope from his shirt pocket and presented it to Dokja. "This was just delivered for you," he informed.
Taking a hold of the envelope, the high-quality paper felt heavy in his grasp. Turning it over, Dokja was surprised to find the seal of the royal family on the back. Confusion washed over him, wondering why he would receive correspondence from them, and if he'd done anything major recently to catch their attention. Dokja opened the envelope and took out the letter with unsteady hands. As his eyes roved over its contents, they steadily narrowed into a glare and his expression darkened into a grimace.
Asuka, noticing the change in his mood, worryingly inquired, "Young master, what's wrong?"
Dokja placed the letter on the table, his voice tinged with resignation. "Her Majesty has requested I have brunch with her."