"very well." king choi declared, all eyes on him once again, "you will be staying at the palace until the moon goddess had made her decision, then. meanwhile, all your majesties, if you would like leave her highnesses here with us until our moon dust could see who my son is connected to, please, feel free. we only promise the best accommodation for them and that they will be treated with the highest respect by the maids in this palace."
with that, people started pouring out of the throne room to perhaps further discuss things within their families. san's father walked out of the throne room as well, san's mother following but not before pressing a kiss on san's forehead, "talk to the boy, he'll feel out of place here." she whispered to him before going after his father.
and san had no problem with that. talk to a cute, lost boy that looks like his age? probably right up his alley, if anyone asked. so san got off his throne and slowly walked to the moon dust, taking in how absolutely gorgeous the other looked just wearing simple clothings like this.
"hey, wooyoung?" san asked, and when the boy turned towards him, he immediately bowed down. san chuckled lightly, "i admire the respect, but really, there's no need. how old are you?"
wooyoung got back up and looked at san, replying, "i'm turning 19 in a few weeks, your highness."
san scoffed, "drop the title, too. we're the same age — i turned 19 a few months ago. so you should just treat me as your equal, okay, wooyoung ssi?"
wooyoung gulped, not sure if this was the best decision for him. for all he knew, he could be beheaded for calling the prince by his first name. speaking of which — "i would if i knew your first name, your highness."
"oh," san responded, ears tinting with a bit of red upon realisation, "that is completely my fault. prince choi san." san bowed slightly only to have wooyoung placing his hands on either one of san's arms to hold him up, "now tell me. where are you from?"
wooyoung blinked at the prince, "are you sure you want to know that, your- san ssi?"
san smiled at how quickly wooyoung adapted to the first name basis, "yes. i've never talked to people outside of the palace; father thinks that not only is that a waste of time, but a waste of brain power as well." san saw the expression changed on wooyoung's face and immediately added, "i don't think like that, don't you worry. i believe that everyone should be heard and that if someone wanted to be someone else, then go for it. people should be free to choose who they want to be and not be restricted by their status or wealth."
wooyoung smiled at san's words. "that's what i've been trying to tell the moon goddess as well — that everyone should be given the freedom of who to love. i can't believe we share the same views on certain things, san ssi." wooyoung grinned cheekily at the prince. he had no idea where this surge of confidence came from. perhaps it was because he was oh-so-luckily connected to the prince by fate that now, he's gone all sassy with him.
"really? is it that unbelievable?" san questioned, a smug smirk tugging his lips as he stepped forward to invade just a teeny bit of wooyoung's personal space. he leaned down slightly to match with the other's height, grinning when he saw the surprise on wooyoung's face, "speaking of the moon goddess, do i really not have a red string? or are you just lying so you get to spend time with me?"
wooyoung rolled his eyes, "who would want to spend time with you? i'd rather spend time learning about medieval charms than spend time with you."
san raised an eyebrow, "you're a sorcerer, too?"
"indeed, i am," wooyoung replied, a grin on his face as he stood more proudly than before, "you got a problem with that?"
san shook his head, "you, jung wooyoung ssi, are avoiding the question. do i really not have a soulmate?"
wooyoung didn't know how to respond to the prince's question. what was he supposed to say? you actually do have a soulmate, but that soulmate just so happened to be me. he couldn't just say that, could he? the entire kingdom would be disappointed in the moon goddess for pairing up the prince with a moon dust, like she's favouring him and making sure he only gets the best if he were to have a soulmate at all.
"it's a bit... complicated." wooyoung finally answered, eyes lowering so he wouldn't have to meet san's questioning gaze. just as san was about to bombard the other with more questions, a "your highness! princess gao would love to speak to you!" came from the entrance of the throne room. san didn't move from his place — nose nearly touching wooyoung's and him still leaning down to match with wooyoung's height — and just took a glance at who exactly was calling him. it was madame lim. and judging by the way she was glaring at him, she wasn't impressed with how caught up he was with the moon dust.
san sighed, straightening his spine and felt the other finally taking in a deep breath like he was deprived of oxygen a few minutes ago. "i'll ask you more questions when i get back." san narrowed his eyes at wooyoung before stalking off to madame lim.
wooyoung sighed. well, there is a way to avoid questions, and that was to get away from here.
