Your Majesty, I love you.

01. Red Blood, Slavery

Smack-!!

“Ahhh..! P-please save me..!”

The terrifying sound of flesh being torn apart and heartbreaking screams echoed through a kingdom. Not just a single house, but a vast kingdom. This is the kingdom of ‘Rosemary,’ where slavery exists. Slaves make up 80% of the population, while nobles and royalty make up less than 2%.

김동현

You're saying slaves are human? That's complete nonsense. They're worse than animals.

The person who said this right now is the most influential person in this kingdom. Kim Dong-hyun, the one who holds all power in his hands and manipulates people as he pleases.

전 웅

...Your Majesty, who is it for today...

김동현

I told you to speak informally when it's just the two of us.

전 웅

...Donghyun. Let's stop doing this.

The person standing next to him is Donghyun's closest older brother and the commander of Rosemary's Knights. His name is Jeon Woong, and he is two years older than Donghyun.

김동현

I don't want to make you my slave. So stop saying that.

Woong really hates slavery. He hates the fact that people just like him are treated worse than animals to the point of tears and anger, and he feels so guilty that he wants to die on the spot every time he sees it.

On the contrary, Dong-hyun has not the slightest desire to abolish slavery. However, he neither likes nor dislikes it. He is simply continuing it from generation to generation.

전 웅

Doing this is really foolish. What's the problem with getting rid of just this one thing? Is it because Father told you absolutely not to get rid of it?

김동현

Brother. Stop it.

전 웅

.....

After a brief silence, a man in armor dragged a boy over. The boy was covered in blood, and his clothes were torn to the point where half of his body was visible. He glared at Donghyeon, who was sitting in a large chair, with a look of contempt. He appeared ready to pounce at any moment.

이대휘

Is it you? The one who created this shitty system.

Smack-!!

He struck the boy's back hard with a whip, but the boy remained unfazed. Only his determination to save the country burned within him. Dong-hyun watched this and smirked, as if the child knew something.

이대휘

Why do they keep doing this kind of system? You wouldn't understand how this feels. They keep doing it precisely because they don't..!

The whip struck his back once more. It was much louder than before, but the boy did not cry and looked straight at Donghyeon. The man standing nearby put a leash around the boy's neck. Then, he began to treat him worse than an animal.

전 웅

.....

Upon seeing that, Woong involuntarily frowned. It was something he saw every day, but it still ached in his heart every time he saw it. It was even sadder that he wanted to help but couldn't.

김동현

Hey, stop it.

At a single word from Dong-hyun, everyone stopped what they were doing. Dong-hyun had never once ordered anything like this to be stopped. To think he would tell them to stop. What did that kid say? Woong was just as surprised. He had thought that kid was going to get beaten to death soon, but to think he had stopped the beating.

김동현

You're audacious. To even curse at me in a place like this.

이대휘

...Damn it, if you're going to hit me, do it all the way. Kill me.

My body was battered beyond belief from the severe beating, but I spoke more confidently than anyone else, asking why I had come here.

이대휘

Why do you think I came here? I didn't want to die like this, so I came to see your face, curse at you, and then die. I came prepared to die.

김동현

Hmm, sorry, but I can't die. Little one.

이대휘

Then what do you intend to do? You evil bastard. Do you like making me a slave? Do you think you like it?!!!

김동현

Hey, drag him into my room. He's too good to just be kept as a slave.

Then, the man holding the leash dragged the boy and followed Woojin. He shouted loudly, "Let go!" but not a single person came to his aid.

이대휘

Let go of me!! I said beat him to death like before!!!

김동현

You f***ing loud. Slave, keep quiet.

이대휘

Why me? I don't want to do that to a bad guy. Just like you said, I'm just a slave, so why are you keeping me alive?

김동현

I guess you like how confident and pretty you are, or maybe I want to leave you alone for a while and then kill you with my own hands.

이대휘

...What? Huh... That's ridiculous.

김동현

If you treat me well, I can let you become royalty instead of a slave. It's been a long time since someone I like appeared.

이대휘

I don't need that. I just want slavery abolished.

김동현

Don't expect too much, little one.

이대휘

...You crazy bastard...

He muttered a curse while fiddling with the leash. Despite being a representative of a kingdom, he acted without even trembling. Donghyun sat on a chair nearby, watching the boy quietly, then pulled the leash hard. As expected, the boy coughed and clutched his neck.

이대휘

Ugh... If it was going to be like this, I should have just strangled him to death... You bad...

When the boy tried to swear again, he pulled the leash harder this time to bring him in front of his eyes. He pulled the boy closer. He tightened the leash a bit more and gently touched his neck, causing the boy to shiver as if he had goosebumps.

김동현

You have a really foul mouth, unlike how pretty you look, kid.

I tapped my lips with my finger and stared intently at the boy's eyes, nose, and lips. The double eyelid on only one side was charming, and his clear eyes were beautiful. His attire and the scars on his face were unbelievable, but his brave and burning heart shone brighter than anyone else's.

Donghyun liked that the most. He wanted to break that mindset and make it his own.

김동현

So, what's your name?

이대휘

What is the use of knowing? Isn't a slave's name the same as having no name at all?

김동현

Just answer what I asked. I get it.

이대휘

...Lee Daehwi. Why are you asking when you don't even remember? More importantly, please stop pulling on this leash.

He frowned as if feeling stifled being so close to Donghyun and fiddled with the leash. Naturally, Donghyun did not simply listen to Daehwi. Instead, he pulled him even closer, dragging him toward himself.

이대휘

My face is about to touch yours. I wonder what else you are trying to see.

They were close enough to hear each other's breathing. Daehwi, who had been holding the leash the whole time, lost his balance and grabbed Donghyun's shoulder. His hands were covered in blood, so his clothes were stained with it.

김동현

...expectation.

이대휘

What are you leaning on? Please come out...

He pulled Daehwi into his arms. The smell of blood was overwhelming, but Donghyun seemed accustomed to it and didn't seem bothered at all.

이대휘

Suddenly... why are you doing this? Blood is getting all over my clothes.

Seeing the clothes gradually turning red, I tried to quickly pull away from Donghyun's embrace, but he was gripping the leash so tightly that it was difficult to even move. I was wondering, "Why on earth is this person acting like this?"

김동현

Why don't you speak informally like you did earlier? Why are you using polite language?

이대휘

If I speak informally, you're obviously going to pull the leash again... because I hate being choked the most.

김동현

Hmm, then shall I loosen things up a little?

Seeing Daehwi frowning, he began to gently loosen the leash. Just enough to drag him around. Then Donghyun continued speaking.

김동현

From now on, if you do something wrong, I'll have to put a leash on you first, right?

이대휘

...Gasp... No, a leash is the best..!

I couldn't help but chuckle at how cute it was that he told me first without me even asking. He lifted Daehwi, who was sitting on Donghyun's lap, up, grabbed the leash, and dragged him somewhere.

As I walked down the long corridor, Daehwi's blood dripped down everywhere I went, as if painting a picture with red blood. To be precise, it wasn't dripping, but rather flowing down in streams.

김동현

...Why are you bleeding so much?

이대휘

*Cough*... It's because I got hit really hard earlier. No, can't you take the leash off? I can walk on my own two feet, and I'm not running away...

He gazed down at Daehwi, who looked as if he were about to collapse at any moment. After thinking deeply for a moment, he finally unfastened the tightly secured leash and used a handkerchief to stop the bleeding. The handkerchief was small, but it was still enough to stop the blood flow.

김동현

If it hurts a lot, I'll carry you for a moment. In my arms.

이대휘

Eh? W-wait a minute! I said I'm just walking!

He lifted Daehwi up high in a princess carry and walked confidently through the crowd. Daehwi's face was now as red as an apple, and he had his head bowed low.

Seeing the king, who represents the country, personally carry so many slaves—slaves whose clothes were half-torn and who were bleeding profusely—I couldn't help but look at him strangely.

이대휘

Oh please... please let me off...

김동현

Why? Ah, maybe it's because there are too many eyes watching.

Looking around, I saw it swarming with nobles dressed in splendid and beautiful clothes. Those nobles were staring intently at Donghyeon and Daehwi.

이대휘

Ugh... I'm so embarrassed... What will they think of me...

김동현

Just hang in there a little longer. We're almost there.

After walking for a few minutes with a flushed face, the place they arrived at shocked Daehwi. Why did this person—no, why did this Majesty—take me to a place like this?

이대휘

This isn't right, is it? Why would I...

김동현

Shh, wait here. You're a cute little kid.

이대휘

.....

Are you crazy..?

휘슬 / 로휘

Hello, I am Whistle, the writer of [ Your Majesty, I love you ] this time 👋🏻❤️

휘슬 / 로휘

This is a genre I haven't really tried writing in before, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to write it well😅 It's my first time, so I'm quite clumsy... but please bear with me🙏🏻

휘슬 / 로휘

Um, and about a third of this text is close to the truth. It also contains angry, sad, and unacceptable details about slavery that actually happened.

휘슬 / 로휘

There might be some brutal parts that are difficult to watch, but most of it is true... You know it’s actually much worse than this, right? I will tone it down so that it isn't too brutal.

휘슬 / 로휘

Thank you for reading❤️ I look forward to working with you in the future.

Thank you so much for your interest from the very beginning💜 I will work hard on my writing!

Character count: 4146 characters