Vampire Royalty [Season 2]
52.
I guess you could say quite a bit of time has passed since then.
Dalgak -
Taehyung set down his half-empty cup of weak coffee and let out a small sigh. A whole month had passed, and Jeonghan hadn't woken up, perhaps because of it.
The soldiers sent that day brought back Seokjin, Jeongguk, and Hoseok covered in blood, Jeonghan who had collapsed, and Namjoon who looked like he had lost his soul.
According to the explanation given to Jeong-guk, who was the most conscious, it was a one-sided suicide on Seung-woo's part. They simply took their own lives.
But the problem is that they have a limit.
Seungwoo, who never let go of Jeonghan, gave Jimin a silent order, and upon seeing the soldiers who arrived just in time, he immediately detonated what looked like a bomb. Jungkook said it was his first time seeing anything like it, so it was probably a human weapon prepared by Jimin.
Jeonghan, who had been struck right next to him, was literally covered in wounds. Still, thanks to the swift surgery, he was miraculously still breathing. However, he still hasn't regained consciousness.
"Your Majesty, I will go in."
김태형 (25)
"... who?"
Suddenly -
The door opened and Namjoon, looking much thinner than before, came in. He'd been staying by Jeonghan's side all these years, never sleeping. I wondered if he'd get into trouble before Jeonghan did.
김태형 (25)
"You didn't sleep again last night?"
김남준 (27)
"Huh? No, I slept. Don't worry."
김태형 (25)
"You don't look worried right now, do you?"
김남준 (27)
"I told you not to worry about it."
김태형 (25)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Brother... please, take care of yourself first."
김남준 (27)
"I won't bother you with that. Today is an important day."
김태형 (25)
"..."
김남준 (27)
"Everything's ready. You just have to go out there and execute it, and I'll send you off in peace. And the place where we fought a month ago is now cleaned up. It took a month because it was such a mess."
김태형 (25)
"brother."
김남준 (27)
"Jung Hoseok and Jeon Jungkook will be here soon to escort you. We'll start right away when you get down. Don't worry, I'll be by your side even if you don't know how."
김태형 (25)
"brother!"
김남준 (27)
"Why, I'm so busy. And I did get the medicine you mentioned, but I'll try it later. I'm still waiting to see how the medication reacts."
김태형 (25)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Okay, my brother is missing the funeral today."
김남준 (27)
"... what?"
김태형 (25)
"Probably everyone will attend the funeral."
김남준 (27)
"Of course, you told me to do that."
김태형 (25)
"That means there won't be anyone to properly look after the affairs of the palace for a few hours. Of course, since you are the Prime Minister, it is right for you to follow me."
김태형 (25)
"But, I think it would be better for you to first take on the role of a warm protector to Jeonghan. Please continue to stay by Jeonghan's side."
김남준 (27)
"... hey."
김태형 (25)
“Then Jeonghan will like it too?”
김남준 (27)
"Still... I don't want to miss the funeral today."
김태형 (25)
"Do you want me to order you to listen? Even if you're not here, Seokjin can take over, so there won't be any major issues. So, please go to Jeonghan's place quickly, and just keep your mind in the same space as us for a little while."
김남준 (27)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Then, think of it as a small gift I gave to Jeonghan, not for you. Then that's fine."
"Your Majesty, this is Jeongguk and Hoseok. It's time to go now."
김태형 (25)
"..."
김남준 (27)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"I'll go. See you later."
Taehyung smiled faintly and left, wearing a cloak. As he left and the door closed, the coffee left in his cup rippled slightly.
Namjoon sighed deeply, placing a few documents he was holding on Taehyung's desk. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with what Taehyung said. Everything I say is just forced.
That's right. Right now, he couldn't sleep properly, wasn't eating, and was even refusing the occasional blood intake he needed to sustain himself. All he did during that time was continue working at Jeonghan's side.
Watching Jeonghan, panting and struggling to breathe, felt like he needed to do something to calm himself down. So, in a way, the fact that I'm deliberately working more is the cause of my current physical condition.
김남준 (27)
"...I wonder if what you're doing is right, Jeonghan."
I just heard from the doctor that Jeonghan's IV fluids were being replaced with something else. I knew I needed to see him, but the thought of it made me wonder if I was okay with it.
Namjoon was there for Jeonghan, who was unable to speak, who was hiding alone while his body was in shambles, and who fought in the form of a wolf despite his condition.
But how could it not have helped even once?
If I were to extend my arms again and apologize to that little child, the angelic child would simply smile and nod as if nothing had happened. That wouldn't work.
김남준 (27)
"...Jeonghan."
김남준 (27)
"Still... I wouldn't do something like that if I had a good conscience."
김남준 (27)
"I'll try harder to be a better opponent for Jeonghan. I'll definitely do that."
He absolutely didn't want the child to be hurt again. Namjoon clenched his fists and walked away.
His Majesty had ordered me to skip an official event, and I had absolutely no desire to disobey that order and commit the act of not seeing Jeonghan.
I plan to slowly approach you again so that you can become precious to Jeonghan.
"With this, I send you to heaven."
"We beautifully burn the last of Baekhyun Byun, the last vampire of the Rahwarang tribe."
"Please, fly in peace."
"I hope you will be happy for the rest of your life."
Across a vast plain, where light snow was falling, vampires gathered, their heads bowed. At the very front of the massive procession stood Taehyung, his slightly light brown hair flowing in waves.
Taehyung, wearing a rather ornate mantle befitting his status as king, lifted his head slightly and looked up at the sky as the funeral director spoke his final words.
The atmosphere surrounding the funeral gradually calmed down, and people began to leave the venue one by one. Some even offered greetings to Taehyung.
And then, in the field where light snow was falling, only seven people were gathered together and standing.
문 빈 (23)
"Baekhyun, are you going to a good place?"
김석진 (27)
"of course."
정호석 (27)
"He must be a really good person, so he must be flying around in a bright place."
김예원 (23)
"Come to think of it, I've never seen Baekhyun really laugh. I hope he laughs a lot there."
전정국 (22)
"I miss you... Baekhyun."
Everyone was muttering a few words, but when Jungkook spoke softly, everyone shut their mouths. A tear welled up at the corner of Jungkook's eyes. "That world-class Jeon Jungkook, crying?"
문 빈 (23)
"...Jeon Jungkook, tears are flowing. Wipe them away."
전정국 (22)
"It's been a really long time since I've given my heart to someone like that."
김석진 (27)
"I know."
전정국 (22)
"Maybe, it was literally the first time for the same age."
정호석 (27)
"You must have been special to Baekhyun, too."
전정국 (22)
"..."
"I really hope so."
김태형 (25)
"I know."
전정국 (22)
"Do you feel the same way, hyung?"
김태형 (25)
"...Yeah. Me too."
김태형 (25)
"I hope Baekhyun is truly happy now."
김태형 (25)
"Thank you and I'm sorry until the end."
김석진 (27)
"You did your best."
김태형 (25)
"... huh."
김예원 (23)
"Shall we go in now?"
문 빈 (23)
"I want to go in. Kim Ye-won, are you going now?"
김예원 (23)
"Yeah, I want to go."
전정국 (22)
"If you go, I go too."
문 빈 (23)
"Hey kid, wipe your tears first. Baekhyun will be really happy if you send him off like that on his last journey, okay?"
전정국 (22)
"Okay... let's go."
정호석 (27)
"Kim Seok-jin, let's go too."
김석진 (27)
"uh?"
Hoseok gave a slight wink to Seokjin, who was wandering around. Then, as if he understood, Seokjin stood up, dusting off his pants.
김석진 (27)
"I'll go. You two, don't stay too long and come in. You'll catch a cold."
The rest of them slowly left, leaving Taehyung and Eunbi behind without even answering.
All I could hear was the rough sound of the wind. Falling snowflakes fluttered helplessly.
Seokjin's words, which had told him not to stay long, had already faded into obscurity. They both remained silent, and before they knew it, a considerable amount of time had passed.
After a few minutes of silence, Taehyung finally took off his cloak and placed it on Eunbi's shoulders, gently pulling her into his arms and speaking first.
김태형 (25)
"I'm sure he went to a good place."
황은비 (23)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"You will be happy too."
황은비 (23)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Now you can eat lots of delicious food and spread your wings and fly around freely."
김태형 (25)
"Oh, I guess you met all your old friends."
황은비 (23)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Eunbi."
황은비 (23)
"huh."
Taehyung slightly bent down and turned Eunbi, who was staring blankly ahead, to face him. Her delicate eyes were brimming with tears that threatened to spill over. How long had she been holding back tears?
김태형 (25)
"Look, Oppa. Eunbi, if you want to cry, cry."
황은비 (23)
"no."
김태형 (25)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Eunbi."
황은비 (23)
"huh?"
김태형 (25)
"Was there anything wrong with what you said?"
황은비 (23)
"...there were quite a lot."
김태형 (25)
"Forget it."
황은비 (23)
"What is that?"
김태형 (25)
"Anyway... trust what I say this time."
황은비 (23)
"I believe everything you say, oppa."
김태형 (25)
"Okay then. Eunbi, Baekhyun."
황은비 (23)
"know."
김태형 (25)
"uh?"
황은비 (23)
"..."
Eunbi, with a faint smile on her face, turned her head forward again. Perhaps because she'd been outside for quite some time, her cheeks were flushed like peaches.
Eunbi, who had been quietly watching her breath spread as she took a deep breath, soon turned back to Taehyung. Then, she nestled into his embrace and continued speaking.
황은비 (23)
"I know, I know. Baekhyun needs to be happy now. He needs to be happy no matter what."
황은비 (23)
"..."
"Whose younger sibling are you?"
My friend, who had begun to cry, looked up at me and smiled. His usually bright smile now seemed to have a touch of sadness. But I didn't feel anything strange.
김태형 (25)
"of course."
Taehyung hugged Eunbi tightly and spoke softly, slowly, and in a warm voice as if he was reading a fairy tale.
김태형 (25)
"Eunbi, you and Baekhyun, I think your smiles really look similar."
황은비 (23)
"... okay?"
김태형 (25)
"Yeah. And you just laughed, Eunbi."
황은비 (23)
"huh."
It was February, the snow that made the tips of my ears tingle. It was probably the last snow of the early winter. Taehyung gently stepped on the soft blanket beneath his feet and hugged the precious child in front of him tightly.
I've put so much stress on this situation. I feel so sorry for my lover, who must have been so troubled and confused without me knowing. While we managed to wrap things up safely, there's still a lot of heartache to be felt.
Taehyung, wrapping his arms around Eunbi tightly, leaned down and brought his mouth close to her ear. She moaned softly, "It's ticklish," but Taehyung ignored her and immediately whispered.
"You were pretty, you were pretty. Your smile was really pretty, Eunbi."
"You've worked hard. Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you for still being by my side... I love you."
"Baekhyun will definitely be watching us, so let's show him that we're doing well and looking pretty. Okay?"
"You've worked so hard. Let's be happier now."
It's not finished yet! And I really wanted to say this! The content hasn't been that great lately, but I sincerely thank all the Noel readers who continue to read... I'm sorry for being such a bad writer. ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I know all too well that I'm still lacking. I'll work hard until the very end, until the very end! Until the day we have a beautiful ending! There's not much left, so I'll do my best.
Well, thank you for reading today too. :)