As Joonghyuk walked out of the palace, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, a faint chill sweeping down his back. He pivoted his heel to look back, only to lock eyes with the empress, her expression unreadable as she gazed down on him from her balcony. Holding her gaze for only a second longer to return his own expressionless stare, Joonghyuk resumed his stride. If all the empress wanted to do was to stand there and glare at him while the empire was under attack, then fine, that was her decision. As long as she didn't get in their way or mess with Dokja. It'll give the citizens all the more proof about how undeserving she was of her position.
Dokja stood right by the entrance of the waiting for Hades' and Joonghyuk's return with the rest of his family, despite their insistence that he go rest back in his bedchambers. When he noticed the manor entrance crack open, the shadow of his father's large frame emerging from it, Dokja was the first to go approach him, everyone else trailing behind him. But his steps slowed in confusion by the lack of Joonghyuk's presence accompanying his father.
"What's going on, father?"
Meeting his son's gaze with a heavy sigh, Hades delivered the somber news, "The empire is under siege from foreign forces that have just barely been identified... the emperor has enlisted the assistance of the empire's dukes to lead their knights into battle against the opposing force, with Duke Joonghyuk responsible with commanding the charge."
The duke's words were met with widened eyes and apprehension.
It'd been… decades since the empire had seen a conflict escalate to this level of urgency. The empire's previous emperors had positioned it to be in a good standing in conjunction to the rest of the lands. Once the current emperor had taken the throne, he'd been at least competent enough to keep the empire in a state of prosperity for all the years that he ruled so far. Of course he was greatly aided by the efforts of Joonghyuk, who had taken on various duties that would've fallen on the emperor, alongside the multiple conquests the former prince had carried out to expand the empire's land and resources.
There was no doubting the great legacy that the Seoul Empire had been endowed with because of its various rulers, nor the strength of its armies. But the matter of experience was one to be carefully considered. With the exception of the royal guard and Duke Joonghyuk's knights, many knights of the empire's various dukes hadn't seen any actual action comparable to the situation at hand. Though trained to serve the most esteemed of the Seoul Empire's noblemen diligently, there would be no telling how the swords of untried warriors would stand up to whatever malicious forces dared to impede the empire's peace.
"When…when will you and your knights be departing?" the duchess inquired of her husband, coming over to wrap a supportive hand around his arm as she led him into the warmth of the manor.
"Tomorrow morning," he admitted before offering them a reassuring smile and laying a weary hand over his wife's. "For now, we rest. The emperor is gathering up suppliers to aid the cause as we speak, so all we can do for now is recuperate our strength for the coming fight."
Not being able to do anything about the circumstances or conjure any words in response the group looked at each other with resignation and could only murmur quiet promises of support and encouragement before retreating back to their respective areas within the manor. However, Dokja remained rooted in place.
"Father, where is Joonghyuk?"
"He has returned to the Kaizenix Duchy to make preparations, and I've sent knights to alert Knights Lee Hyunsung and Lee Jihye to do the same. But rest assured, you will be reunited with him tomorrow morning." the Duke told his son, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder and offering a warm smile.
Though Dokja wanted to question his father more about how the meeting went, he could see the fatigue from the day's happenings weighing down on his father's shoulders. So instead, he bid parents a good night. As Dokja returned to his bedchambers where the children awaited him, worry gnawed away at him for his father and Joonghyuk's safety, despite knowing their skill.
That night's sleep was an elusive being, repelled by his worries and anxieties.
----------
Somehow Dokja was able to fall asleep, but by no means was it a restful slumber. Exhaustion weighed down on his limbs when he opened his eyes to the morning sun peeking through his curtains, but he knew that any attempt to get more rest would be futile. After painstakingly unwrapping the children's limbs from his body and avoiding waking them up, he got out of bed.
Between his morning bath, getting ready for the day, and his breakfast, it almost felt like a regular morning. Unnervingly so. But there was no ignoring the heavy air that the manor bore. There was a lack of knights, most preparing for the impending departure. The house staff were tense, going about their work with the same diligence, but with a seriousness not seen in their usual day to day.
Hades donned his armor and retrieved his sword, both freshly polished and fine-tuned for combat.
He embraced Persephone first, pulling away only to press a kiss to her golden locks.
"Take care, Hades. Do what you do best; give them hell," she implored, her determined smile belying the worry that lingered in her eyes after their embrace.
"It's a shame you can't join me for this one like the old days, but I leave the Duchy and our family in your capable hands. Rest assured, my love. I promise to return unharmed, especially knowing you'll be here to do much worse to me if I do," the duke teased with a quirk of his lips, pressing one more kiss to the back of her hand before completely pulling away from her.
Turning to Kim Namwoon, the Duke enveloped him in a hug as well. "Come back safely, Father... I'm not yet ready to assume the mantle yet," Namwoon sniffed out.
The duke chuckled warmly at him. "Fear not, my son. I have every intention of returning, I still have much to teach you before that day comes," he affirmed
Finally, Hades turned to Dokja. The hug was uncomfortable. The metal of his armor was cold, it's hard edges digging into his skin. Hades wouldn't be able to feel his son's hold through the armor, how desperately his son latched onto him, as if to stop him from venturing out. "Stay safe. You must return, no matter what." Dokja's lungs tightened up from emotions, his words strained as he forced them out.
His father tightened the embrace, patting his back with his gauntlet adorned hand. "Of course, my dear son. I will return, who else will walk you down the aisle?" Doja's face was buried in his father's shoulder, but he could still imagine the face Hades was probably wearing right now.
"I'll keep you to your words."
"Absolutely, I know you can be as frightening as your mother when you want to. Besides, I must ensure Joonghyuk fulfills that duty!" Hades chimed in proudly. One arm letting go of Dokja, he gestured to his wife and younger son, offering them to join once more. And the offer they accepted without hesitation.
It was just like that that the Underworld family spent the last precious moments of their time together.
The sound of clopping horses came before the butler's announcement of Joonghyuk's arrival. By the time Dokja hurried to meet him, he was already waiting in the manor entrance hall. Just like father, Joonghyuk wore his own set of armor, helmet in his hands.
All black, of course.
Seeing Dokja approach him, he handed the helmet off to an attendant to hold before meeting Dokja halfway into an embrace, both men seeking each other's warmth. enveloped each other in their arms.
"Take care. I'll find you myself if you don't return," again, Dokja couldn't hide the tremble in his voice. Pulling back, Joonghyuk peered into Dokja's glassy eyes, swiping a thumb across his stress bitten lips before settling his warm palm in his cheek.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss our wedding for my life."
"You better. Our child can't enter this world without their father," Dokja rasped out, prompting a smile to bloom on Joonghyuk's face.
"I promise," Joonghyuk vowed.
"OPPA, don't you have anything to say to me!?"
Mia stood at the periphery of the room, her face flushed from anger and her little fists curled tightly into balls. But her distress was just as blatant as Dokja's. The rims of her eyes were red, and she was biting the inside of her cheek.
Stepping apart from Dokja, Joonghyuk gave him a glance, to which he responded with a nod, letting Joonghyuk go to his sister. He knelt down to her and gently pinched her cheek. A gesture of apology for leaving without a word the night before. Dokja had made sure to explain the situation to her, and while she seemingly took it with ease at the time, the consequences of her building emotions were showing themselves now. Dokja wasn't the only one who'd had a fitful slumber.
"I'm sorry, Mia. I didn't want anything to happen to you or Dokja, so I threw myself into preparations for the upcoming fight. I told myself the more prepared I was for the battle, the faster it could come to an end and I could return to your side. I forgot to consider how you would feel about everything," Joonghyuk clarified,
sincere in his regret for unintentionally overlooking her.
Mia's initial glare softened into a pout as she absorbed his explanation, anger simmering down into worry seething in the pit of her stomach. Unable to contain herself, Mia flung herself at her brother, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "Don't leave me behind, Oppa. You're all I have..."
Joonghyuk he held her close. "I won't, you have my word."
Placing a comforting hand on her head, Joonghyuk offered a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Hold the fort down for me, okay?" Setting a confident look on her face, Mia nodded confidently despite her water eyes. After Mia was properly assured of her brother's safety and return, Joonghyuk stood up from the ground and turned to Dokja.
"I heard from father you're leading the knights, which I suppose is to be expected given the current prince. But in the scenario that you're victorious… it would probably turn the public in your favor. It'd be a good launch point to becoming emperor… if you so choose…" Dokja trailed off.
Joonghyuk met Dokja's gaze, his expression thoughtful. "Honestly, I have reached a point where I no longer need to concern myself with that. I value the life we have now, and if the crown prince ascends to the throne, it no longer matters. The empire's fate will be a consequence of their own choices," he stated, his focus fully on Dokja as he expressed his true desire. "I simply want to live my life with you," he insisted.
A blink.
Then a smile so wide it hurt his cheeks.
Right, unlike him, Joonghyuk was a man who was confident in what he wanted. Once he made his mind about something, he'd pursue it to the ends of the universe, no matter what got in his way. A rush of warmth flooded his cheeks. His heart raced with a fervor that seemed to threaten to burst from his chest. Joonghyuk's words and the affectionate smile gracing his handsome features were too much for Dokja to bear; the thought of such adoration directed towards him felt like a dream too beautiful to be real, a sensation that left him reeling.
"GUYS!!!"
And just like that, the moment shattered.
"Um, I'm still here? Did you already forget about me, too busy being lovey-dovey?" Mia quipped, exasperated.
"Get used to it, it'll become a common sight in the near future."
"Joonghyuk!" "Oppa!"
Before Joonghyuk could soak in the embarrassed whines of Dokja and his sister, Duke Hades came through the door, seriousness plastered on his face.
"Yoo Joonghyuk, the knights have finished their preparation, and the horses are loaded with all the supplies. It's time for us to depart. " Straightening himself out, Joonghyuk nodded in acknowledgment. Taking his helmet from the attendant, Joonghyuk walked out to the manor gates where the horses were positioned to leave. He was trailed closely by Mia, Dokja, and Hades as they pushed through all the staff that had gathered in front of the manor to bid their farewells.
As the two dukes went to mount their horses, Joonghyuk paused to turn back to Dokja, one foot on the saddle's foothold.
"Please take care of Mia," he implored quietly, letting just a bit of his quiet worry slip through into his words.
"Of course, I will. You can count on me".
With a final nod from Joonghyuk, he mounted his horse and gestured to Duke Hades to begin to move out. The knights fell into formation behind them as they set off towards the horizon, everyone waving them off with cries of good luck and chants to come back. Dokja and Mia stood together, watching until Joonghyuk's figure became but a spot in the distance.
-----
Dokja's unfocused gaze drifted out the window, staring into the distance as if it'd give him the answers he wanted. A week had passed since his father and Joonghyuk's departure, and not one word had come back about their condition, nor about their progress in fighting off the enemy forces. The uncertainty of it bore down on him. Without Joonghyuk's secure presence by his side, a sense of powerlessness settled in as he grappled with what to do with himself.
"Sir Dokja?" Seolhwa's voice broke through his reverie, drawing his attention to her with a gentle inquiry. Her smile held a warmth that invited conversation. "It seems like you have a lot on your mind. Would you care to share it with me?" she offered, her presence a source of comfort in the midst of his turmoil.
In Joonghyuk's absence, Lee Seolhwa had taken it upon herself to spend most of the day by his side to carefully watch over his health. They'd engaged in hours long conversations for the past few days, occasionally joined by the others when they stopped by to check on him.
She'd been highly insistent on taking care of not only his physical health, but also his mental health, the woman offering herself to be a reliable ear for Dokja to ramble off his troubles to. At first, Dokja had been hesitant to accept her offer, having mainly relied on Han Sooyoung and most recently Yoo Joonghyuk whenever he decided to air out his grievances, if he decided to tell anyone at all.
But the physician was persistent, wanting Dokja to let her take care of him, if not as a medical professional, then as a friend.
Dokja's gaze lingered on Seolhwa, the weight of unspoken history between them, not having disappeared from his mind. Despite the complexities of their prior relationship, he found himself drawn to confide in her.
"It's just the same thing as usual... thinking of Joonghyuk and father. I know they're more than capable of handling themselves, and I don't want to doubt their abilities, but I just can't help worrying for them…" he admitted, his gaze returning to the window.
Seolhwa offered a gentle smile in response to Dokja's admission, spying his red ears. It seemed Dokja still had a bit of a difficult time talking about his troubles to her, but hopefully that would fade with time.
"Such thoughts aren't strange at all, Sir Dokja, I can empathize quite well with your unease. Before gaining approval to serve the emperor himself, my father served as physician to the royal guard, going to the forefront of their conquests to help the injured. At the time I had hoped to accompany him, but he believed I wasn't yet prepared for such a responsibility," she shared, a hint of wistfulness coloring her words as she looked back on her younger days.
"It's only natural to feel apprehension, especially for the ones you love" Seolhwa continued, "But I believe they will emerge safe. We must hold onto any hope we can during times like these, no matter how small" she offered, her smile a beacon of encouragement in his otherwise anxiety-filled haze.
Dokja took in Seolhwa's calm figure for a moment, his thoughts swirling with a mix of emotions. "Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that Joonghyuk chose me over you," he confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of insecurity. Recognizing Seolhwa's qualities—her beauty, intelligence, kindness, and sweetness—he couldn't help but feel a sense of inadequacy in comparison to her.
Seolhwa's eyes widened in surprise before a laugh escaped her lips, breaking the tension with a lightness in her tone. "Well, I'm not the one Joonghyuk loves, am I?" she remarked, a twinkle in her eyes as she refocused on Dokja. "Besides, you're beautiful, Sir Dokja, in more ways than physical. You're perfect for Joonghyuk," she continued with a nod to herself, certain in her own words. "I find it hard to believe that you would doubt yourself in that way, after how I've seen the two of you interact…"
Seolhwa's demeanor changed, shifting in her seat as she said her next words. "Actually... I was deeply in love with him before," she confessed, her admission catching Dokja off guard. Sure, she'd been deeply in love with him in the novel, but hadn't she rejected him without delay that night in the garden?
"Then... that night, at Joonghyuk's banquet, why did you say you had no interest in him?"
Seolhwa's expression gave away the smallest amount of surprise, vulnerability flickering in her eyes. "Did he tell you, or perhaps you overheard… either way, it doesn't matter I suppose…" she murmured, her gaze averted as she confronted the matter she had kept hidden.
"Well... it became known to me that he already belonged to someone else, belonged to you," she explained, her voice tinged with resignation. "And seeing you two now, I suppose things worked out how they were supposed to," she acknowledged lightly. The bittersweetness that had burrowed itself so deeply into her skin was able to wither with time, though the ghost of its stinging ache remained as a scar to her past feelings.
Dokja's heart weighed heavily with guilt as he processed Seolhwa's confession. So all this time, Lee Seolhwa had the same feelings as him. But never once was she spiteful for it. As she watched the two grow closer, she supported them both with a smile on her face.
"Lady Seolhwa... I'm so—"
"Please don't apologize, Sir Dokja," Seolhwa extended her hand towards Dokja, her eyes meeting his. "I didn't share this to burden you with guilt. I simply felt it was important to tell you. It felt wrong to hide this from you." she explained, her voice sincere as she sought to convey her intentions.
"I wanted you to know, but please, don't carry this weight on your shoulders. I'm genuinely happy for both of you, and I'll be here to support you every step of the way," she continued.
Dokja's smile bloomed in response to Seolhwa's words. "Lee Seolhwa... thank you," his hand gently clasped hers in appreciation.
Seolhwa reciprocated the gesture, her grip firm.
"But I must admit, I'll be quite upset if I'm not the auntie to your baby," she teased.
Dokja's laughter bubbled forth at Seolhwa's playful remark, the tension of their conversation easing into something lighter. With a warm smile, he reassured her, "Of course you will, though you'll have to share the title with Sangah and Sooyoung."
"It'd be my honor to."
Taking a glance at the clock, Seolhwa rose from her seat, preparing to depart. "Looks like I need to go. There's still much to attend to while my father is away," she explained, packing away her medical supplies. "I'm heading out now, Sir Dokja. Please send for me if anything feels off, or if you are in need of an ear to listen to your troubles again" she added.
With a nod of assurance from Dokja that he'd do just that, she made her way towards the door, though a thoughtful reminder crossed her mind, prompting her to turn back towards Dokja. "And please, Sir Dokja, don't stay up too late reading. The children have told me of your bad sleeping habits," she advised, her concern for his well-being evident in her words.
"Of course, I won't," he promised, though the longing look he gave the book laying on his nightstand lessened its intended effect.
With a huff, Seolhwa waved goodbye, her departure swift.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Dokja fell back with a hefty sigh back onto his pillow, the previous conversation still heavy on his mind. Seolhwa seemed to have moved on from her feelings, and he wanted to respect her wishes, but guilt still nagged at the back of his mind. Along with something else. How did Seolhwa know that Joonghyuk wouldn't end up with her?
In the midst of his turmoil, he glanced out the window at the lining of trees beckoning him to visit Biyoo and the others. He hadn't been able to spend much time with them lately, and he could use a bit of comfort right now. He could hear the voices of his family and friends advising against it, but he pushed them to the back of his mind. It'd just be a short visit; he'd be back before anyone would realize he was gone.
Invigorated with giddiness, Dokja prepared his cloak and sword before departing out the window, climbing down a long rope he'd tied to the leg of his bed.
-----
Dokja found himself in the forest, amazed at his successful escape and eager to reunite with Biyoo, Popo, and Griffin. Calling out their names, he hoped to reconnect with his cherished companions.
Not long after, Biyoo's response rang out in the forest, some leaves rustling to his side before her tiny body emerged from them, Biyoo nuzzling herself into his cheek. Dokja's heart leaped with joy at the sight of his friend. "Biyoo! I've missed you!" he exclaimed, cupping her in his palms, his relief evident in his voice. He eagerly followed Biyoo's lead as she beckoned him to follow her deeper into the forest.
After the brief journey, Dokja's eyes lit up with delight as he spotted Popo and Griffin, his two companions chasing each other in the forest clearing. "Popo! Griffin!" he called out, his smile widening as he ran to embrace them. "I've missed you all so much!"
"Popo!, Popo!" [We miss you too!]
"Purunggg! [I'm glad you're back!]
Dokja radiated warmth as he released the embrace, a sense of contentment washing over him in their presence. However, added to his joy was a touch of concern when he realized that one person was missing.
"Where's Bihyung?"
The trio exchanged glances before Biyoo spoke up, uncertainty bleeding into her cries. "Ba-at! Ba-at!" [We don't know. He left, mentioned he had to go somewhere]
"Popo! Popo!" [But he left something behind]
As Popo led him to a stack of papers resting on a rock, Dokja's curiosity piqued. He picked them up, eyeing the documents nervously before he started perusing their contents. The first few pages were just filled with accounts of monetary transactions, money moving to and from different groups.
He didn't recognize most of the names of the recipients, but it seemed like a majority of it came from one source, that being… the Royal Treasury? The spending was being authorized by the empress and Archduke themselves. Delving deeper, Dokja carefully scanned over the recipients' names once more. One title made his heart flip.
Kang.
The duchy that the archduke had originated from. Was he stealing money from the palace for himself? With shaky hands Dokja moved past the transaction history. The next few pages contained letters of correspondence, detailing some sort of product being bought and traded between the palace and the other groups.
Just from reading them, the letters were oddly careful with their wording, as if original writers were scared of being found out. Scanning over them carefully though, it looked like the main product being sold from the groups to the palace was some sort of flower.
It wasn't until the last letter that it finally dawned on him. The letter ended quite strangely.
'May the angels bless us with fortune'
'Angel blossoms', that was the name of the flower that the white kill drugs were made from.
The documents were evidence, implicating the spread of the drugs back to the empress and Archduke, with the Kang Duchy as their supplier.
As he processed the information, a wave of questions flooded his mind. Why did Bihyung possess such documents? How had he come into possession of them? He hadn't even looked through all the papers yet and there was this much information already revealed. He faintly recalled that Bihyung had been one of the antagonists in the original novel. Bihyung would've had to have power and connections to get his hand on this. Was he lying when he said he was ousted from his kingdom?
Lost in contemplation, his thoughts were abruptly shattered by a familiar voice behind him.
"Well now...looks like this is where your little creature friends are hiding, isn't it?"