Three Months Later:

Thursday, Hyuk's bedroom, 8:30 am, Jaehwan's POV:

- "Wake up, kitten. It's time for breakfast," Hyoggi's voice said from somewhere next to you. You were covered in what felt like a mountain of blankets, and you were so warm and content that you just pulled them over your head.

- "Jaehwanie, don't hide from me. You have to get dressed now," Hyoggi's voice continued, and a hand gently pulled the blankets down again. You cracked one eye open as Hyoggi's fingers brushed your cheekbone.

- "Not hungry," you said quietly, closing your eye and snuggling against him. He was lying on top of the covers next to you, but you could feel his warmth even through the blankets.

- "I don't care if you're hungry or not. You need to eat breakfast. You can eat off my plate like you normally do if you want. Now get up," Hyoggi replied, and you sighed dramatically before kicking off the blankets and rolling away, almost toppling off the edge of the bed in the process.

- Hyoggi laughed softly, but you were now very awake, having put out a hand to catch yourself on the nightstand. You glanced back at your lord... Fiancé... Fiancé lord... king, you still thought of him as your lord in your head, and you saw that he was already dressed.

- "Hyoggi-ah, baby," you said, making your voice sound a little whiney and giving him a mischievous smile. He tilted his head as he watched you, but replied, "Yes, my lovely prince?"

- "Wear something matching with me today, please?" you asked. "I'm already dressed, you can wear something to match with me if you want," he replied. That wasn't good enough for you. Hyoggi usually liked to play with you, but this morning, you were in the mood to play with him a little.

- "I want to pick, though. Please? The people will love it," you asked, making you voice a touch whinier. Hyuk sighed impatiently, but you rolled back over and wrapped your arms around his neck, repeating, "Please?"

- Hyoggi gave you a very appraising look, but the corners of his mouth twitched up a little and he rolled his eyes as he said, "Fine. But don't make me wear anything too revealing." You grinned, surprised at how easy it was to get him to give in, and then kissed him quickly before pushing yourself up out of bed.

- Sehun's subjects had turned out to be overjoyed about their king's death, and they were just as happy with his replacement. Hyoggi's coronation had been packed, nothing like Jinnie's private, family-and-friends-only, ceremony. Every day since then, he had brought you out on the balcony after breakfast, and the two of you would smile and wave for a few minutes at the enormous cheering crowd bellow.

- The amount you enjoyed doing it surprised you. You had never really thought of yourself as a 'people person', well, you had been when you were younger, but you had been too busy the past few years to find many 'people' to 'person' at. You loved Hyoggi's subjects though, and actually started thinking of them as the new people you guarded. You had also picked up a funny little habit of making hearts at them with your fingers.

- It was no secret that you weren't noble-born, but the fact that you were a commoner seemed to make the people like you more. You knew they would love it if you and Hyoggi matched, and hoped he was planning to take you out into the city again, so you could show them properly.

- "Ah-ha! This is perfect," you exclaimed happily, pulling a light pink silk shirt out of your armoire. Spinning around, you held it up, and Hyoggi dropped his head on the pillow as he said dejectedly, "I should have guessed. The one time I let you pick my clothes, it's something pink."

- You grinned wider and grabbed a similar one for yourself before walking back to the bed and dropping the shirt on Hyoggi's head. "Don't be pouty. Your subjects will like it," you said, trying to sound serious and failing.

- Hyoggi sat up and put his hands on your hips, pulling you back onto the bed and kissing you deeply. After a moment, he gave your waist a little squeeze and began unbuttoning his shirt as he replied, "What ever the people's prince wants, he gets."

Time skip: The Dining Room, 9 am, Jin's POV:

- You stared at Yoongi's note for probably the millionth time. There was something wrong with it, but you couldn't quite put your finger on what it was.

- Yoongi had vanished the morning Jimin had come home. More precisely, he had been gone when you and Jimin went to fill him in on the plan while Monie briefed your new personal guards. This note had been on his desk, informing 'Whom it may concern' that he had gone after Jaehwan and intended to bring him home.

- That was weird enough in of its self. Your cousin wasn't the type for big, emotional gestures like storming off in the night to find his sick friend. He was the kind of person to organize a search party, delegating the task to people who were more experienced because he didn't waste talent and would understand that professionals could help more than he could alone. He was too rational for this.

- Folding the note up and slipping it back into your pocket, you turned to Hoseok who was sitting across the table, and asked, "Have you heard from either of them yet?"

- "No, nothing," Hoseok replied dejectedly. Jimin agreed with you that this note seemed fishy, and he hadn't protested when you asked him to find Yoongi. He had left that same morning, saying that he would send word to one of you when he found something. It had been months! Where the hell had they gone?!

- A whispered conversation from the door drew your attention, and one of your new guards, Hongbin, took an envelope from a messenger before walking to your side and handing it to you.

- Your fleeting hope that it might be from Jimin or Yoongi vanished, as he said quietly, "It's an invitation from King Sanghyuk, to his wedding. The messenger was instructed by the prince himself to tell you how badly he wants you to attend."

- Jimin's and Taemin's people had told you how well Jaehwan was liked by Sanghyuk's subjects. They had apparently started calling him 'The Peoples Prince'. He wasn't even crowned yet!

- The fact that he and Sanghyuk were getting married had you deeply worried. Kenjumma hadn't been himself when you saw him last, and he was clearly unstable. He shouldn't have agreed to this. He wasn't in his right mind.

- "Well, Sanghyuk did put the war on pause, and he got rid of Sehuna for us, so maybe we should go. We kind of owe him," you said tiredly as you opened the envelope. That was all true, but you actually wanted to go to try and change Kenjumma's mind. And maybe Yoongi would be there.

- "Why should we go to their wedding just because of that? There's no point. It's probably just an excuse to keep us occupied so he can pull some kind of sneak attack or something," Monie said from next to you. He had seemed even less pleased about this situation than you were.

- "Kai is going, it would look bad if our allies go and we don't," you replied evenly, scanning the dark purple lettering of the invitation.

- You heard Jaebum shift behind your chair, but you didn't bother to look at him. You didn't need too, you knew the frustrated scowl that appeared on his face every time anyone brought up Kenjumma or Sanghyukkie would be there.

- "It's not for a week, so we have time. Plus, this is good way to maintain peace. We just have to put our feelings about the whole thing aside, and act like we are supportive and friendly allies," you said firmly, dropping the invitation next to your plate and eating a bite of eggs.

Time skip: The City, 11:30 am, Baekhyun's POV:

- You were third-wheeling on Hyukkie and his awful fiancé's lunch date, and if you could, you would have screamed at the top of your lungs in frustration.

- Jaehwan didn't eat! Why would they be on a meal-themed date?! The only reason you were even here was that you were trying to irritate Hyukkie into letting you resume your assault on Jin's kingdom! He said you could lead the army, but there was nothing to do now!

- As soon as he was crowned, Hyukkie told you to pull back and only defend the border, and he wouldn't allow you to do any real fighting. Namjoon's and Kai's armies were doing the same thing, and everyone was basking in the relative peace. Everyone but you.

- "So, Bacon, why did you insist on joining us?" Hyukkie asked, giving you a lazy smile and draping an arm over Jaehwan's shoulder. Every few minutes, someone would catch a glimpse of them through the restaurant window, and they would wave as the people cheered. It was getting on your nerves.

- "I insisted on coming to try and convince you to change your mind about this ridiculous public wedding idea," you lied, glaring at Jaehwan as the people outside began calling for him again.

- Having a commoner for a fiancé had made Hyukkie very popular with his subjects. Or maybe it was because he stopped the war. It could also be that he was being uncharacteristically kind. You weren't sure, but whatever the reason, you hadn't heard a single person refer to him as 'the devil' since he assumed the throne.

- You knew something must be going on. Hyukkie wouldn't be content with this bland happiness for long. He always had plans within plans running behind the scenes. Jaehwan was oblivious. He seemed to actually enjoy being dangled in front of Hyukkie's subjects like bate, and they couldn't get enough of their 'Peoples Prince'. The whole thing was disgusting.

- "Will you give it a rest? The people want to see our wedding, so why shouldn't they?" Hyukkie replied, giving you an exasperated look. "No, I won't give it a rest. You're royalty, have a proper royal wedding! A private one!" you said firmly.

- This obviously wasn't the reason you were here, but hopefully you could pester Hyukkie enough to give you something to do so he could get rid of you. "You really don't understand how to be nice, do you?" Jaehwan asked, not even looking at you as he made a stupid heart out the window.

- The people cheering outside cut off the nasty thing you were about to say, and Hyukkie gave his fiancé a very patronizing smile as he adjusted the neckline of his awful pink shirt. You could not believe that they were wearing matching clothes now, it was absurd.

- "Our wedding will be perfect, and the appropriate number of royal guests are attending so it's fine. Nini agreed to come, I'm not really sure why since he thinks I'm quite literally the worst person in the world, but Yugyeom and Seunghyun are also coming."

- "We are just waiting for Jin and Namjoon's reply," Hyukkie said, winking at you while Jaehwan's back was turned.

- He said you could kill Jin, but you didn't think he would let you do it during his wedding to Jin's best friend. That would probably ruin the mood.

- "I told the messenger to tell Jin how much I wanted him to come, but they all hate me so I'm guessing they won't," Jaehwan said a bit sadly.

- "I thought you hated them too," you replied, but Jaehwan just shrugged and said absently, "I do, a little, but I'm trying to move on and put the past behind me. Plus, it will look good to have them there."

- Hyukkie leaned over and kissed his soon-to-be prince's cheek, making you want to gag, but the people outside just cheered louder. "I'm sure they'll come, don't worry kitten," he said soothingly, and Jaehwan smiled.

Time skip: The Library, 3pm, Jaehwan's POV:

- Hyoggi had left you in the library about half an hour ago, saying that he had to go handle something private. You were trying to focus on reading, but you mind kept wandering so that every few minutes you found yourself trying to guess what he could be up too. Maybe it was a surprise.

- The library was enormous but very chilly, and reading wasn't working for you right now, so you made up your mind to go get a jacket. Even though you still had no idea how to get around in this palace, your guard did. At least he could be useful for once.

- You did not enjoy having a personal guard. Also, you didn't need one! You were a guard! Well, an ex-guard, but still! You had tried convincing Hyoggi that you didn't need one about 600 times, but he wouldn't hear it. Having someone follow you around constantly was so irritating. How had Jinnie put up with you!?

- "I'd like to go to the king and I's room and get a jacket, take me there please," you said evenly, placing your book back on its shelf and turning to your guard. The most annoying thing about him was that he didn't talk. He did occasionally, but it was like being followed around by a statue.

- Your guard just nodded, and he turned to lead you out of the room. You huffed under your breath in irritation, and then smiled to yourself. You had sounded a little like Jinnie on accident.

- After walking down hallways and winding corridors for about five minutes, you finally reached Hyoggi's bedroom. Your guard was about to open the door for you, but you slid in front of him and opened it yourself. You didn't need a doorman.

- You hurried into the room and shut the door before he could follow you inside, pressing your back against the wall and closing your eyes. The sound of muffled voices from the next room over made you still instantly.

- Hyoggi had a small study next-door, you knew that, but he hardly ever used it. His real office was downstairs somewhere. You could make out his voice, talking to someone who sounded like Baekhyun. If he caught you eavesdropping you would be in huge trouble, but you decided to risk it.

- Trying to make your footsteps as quiet as possible, you walked up to the door connecting the bedroom to his study and pressed your ear against it.

- "The only reason I went along with your stupid plan was because you said I could keep leading the army! So, give the army something to do!" Baekhyun's voice was saying, and he sounded extremely frustrated.

- "Bacon, will you relax? The army will have plenty to do in about a week. Enjoy your free time and stop bothering me," Hyoggi's voice replied. Why would the army be busy in a week? Your wedding was in a week!

- "Then tell me what's happening so I can start planning!" Baekhyun said angrily, but Hyoggi cut in, "No. I'll tell you when the time is right. Now will you leave me alone? I have shit to do."

- "Nope! If you don't tell me, I'm going to assume you broke your promise. If that's the case, I get to kill your gutter-trash fiancé. You did swear on his life!" Baekhyun snapped, and your blood turned to ice.

- You held your breath, pressing as close to the door as you could, but the sound of something breaking made you jump. "You will not touch a hair on his head, you'll be dead before you try," Hyoggi said, sounding incredibly threatening. His voice was a little louder, maybe he was standing closer to you.

- "I promised that you could kill Seokjin and you can. Why do you think I'm letting him and Namjoon come to the wedding?" Hyoggi continued, sounding even closer. You put a hand over your mouth, trying to stifle the noise of your shallow breathing. He wouldn't have Jinnie killed at your wedding! He just wouldn't!

- The door to the hall suddenly opened, and your guard walked in. He stared at you for a few seconds, but you were so shocked by what you just heard that you still had your ear against the door and hadn't moved.

- The next second, he was holding your upper arm very tightly and knocking on the study door! If you had been alarmed before, you were absolutely panicking now! You tried to pull your arm free, but he wouldn't let go!

- "What?" Hyoggi snapped as he opened the door. His eyes narrowed, and he looked from you to your guard as he replied, "Your fiancé said he wanted to get a jacket, and I came to see what was taking so long and found him listening at your door."

- Hyoggi looked furious, but his voice was calm as he said, "Thank you for telling me. I'll handle it." Your heart was beating about a million miles an hour. You shouldn't have been eavesdropping, but Jinnie was in danger!

- Your guard nodded once before letting you go and walking back out of the room. You could see Baekhyun over Hyoggi's shoulder, sitting on the corner of the mahogany desk and grinning meanly at you. Your king snapped, "Baekhyun, get out. Now," and he laughed a little as he left the study.

- "Hyoggi-ah, I'm sorry, I," you started to say, but he pushed you back into the bedroom and slammed the study door shut. "What have I told you about spying on me? This isn't the first time."

- "I know, but you can't kill my best friend at our wedding, you just can't!" you exclaimed, anxiety making your voice go up an octave. Hyoggi tried to shove you again, but your combat training kicked in and you slapped his hand away before taking several quick steps backwards.

- He was so much faster than you. He grabbed your wrist, spinning you around and pinning your arm behind your back, before he shoved you against your armoire. "Jin isn't your best friend. He abandoned you and would have let you die here if I hadn't saved you. What happens to him is none of your concern," he said quietly.

- You tried to wriggle away, but he was too strong. "You can't murder him at our wedding! I won't let you!" you exclaimed, but he pushed you so roughly that you lost your breath.

- "Don't argue with me, and don't think you can tell me what to do," he hissed, spinning you to face him and back-handing you so hard that your eyes stung with tears.

- "This is the third time I've caught you spying on me. I should make you watch Baekhyun kill your 'best friend' for being so disobedient," he snapped, making air quotes with one hand.

- You still couldn't catch your breath, but you shook your head so fast it made you dizzy. You couldn't see Jinnie die, it would kill you!

- He slapped you again, and then grabbed a fistful of your hair and started to unbuckle your belt.

- "No, Hyoggi-ah, don't! I'm sorry!" you gasped, but his dark eyes were cold as he replied, "You broke the rules. You know you deserve to be punished."

Half an Hour Later, Baekhyun's POV:

- You had ducked into one of the secret passageways as soon as you left Hyukkie's study, hoping to overhear an entertaining fight, but you shouldn't have.

- You were still standing in the dark, and despite your best efforts, a few angry tears had escaped and dripped onto the front of your shirt. No matter how much you despised Jaehwan, you wouldn't wish what just happened on your worst enemy. You hadn't watched, but you had listened, and that had been enough. Someone needed to be here to witness Hyukkie's abuse.

- It was over, but you could still hear Jaehwan crying. You really did hate him, but he needed someone to be genuinely kind to him for a change. You peaked through the crack in the concealed door to see if he was alone. If Hyukkie had left, you would comfort him yourself.

- He wasn't alone. The soon-to-be prince had his knees against his chest, sitting in between your king's legs with his head on Hyukkie's shoulder. Your friend was