everything was escalating so quickly.
after the ambush just four days ago, the park kingdom officially declared war against the choi kingdom, claiming that the choi kingdom had no reason to attack the park gang as they were only "hanging out" in choi's territory. obviously, the king was not impressed, but had accepted it and the entire kingdom was now preparing for war.
townspeople were urged to go to safe places like the magic academy or any local armoury so that just in case anything happened, there would be people that are able to protect them. wooyoung had paid his family, yunho and mingi and yeosang a visit before all hell broke loose. he casted a protection charm on each of them and made yunho and mingi promise that they'll look over his family and best friend. yunho and mingi, of course, accepted it and told wooyoung not to worry at all. that they will be fine and waiting for wooyoung's return home.
san and jongho were immediately called to the war strategy room when the park kingdom declared war, and they have been in there along with san's father and all the war generals for at least twelve hours now. they were still contemplating their next action. sure, they know they were going to go against the park kingdom now, but at what cost? will they plan another ambush? or will they wait until the park kingdom takes the first move?
"we have to attack first, my king!" one of the war generals yelled, hand slapping on the wooden table as he stood up, "we cannot forever hide behind these walls, it'll only make us look cowardly, like we are just waiting to be abolished. we need to take first move so that we can show them who they're up against!"
other war generals murmured agreements, scared to be too sure before the king makes a decision. san and jongho looked at each other, realising that this whole meeting was not going anywhere. san sighed and stood up, "father."
everyone looked at him. oh gosh, he just wished wooyoung was here with him. that way, he wouldn't be so nervous and would actually be able to speak.
san swallowed the lump in his throat and continued, "we should trick them. on the surface, we'd look like we're waiting for them to strike. but in reality, we'll have spies and all sorts in enemy land, informing us of when the park kingdom plans to strike. i know we won't be able to infiltrate their kingdom completely, but a few loyal ones shall do."
the king hummed. everyone looked shocked. it was actually a very good idea, given that san was only nineteen and probably knew nothing about strategy in war until a couple of weeks ago. "good job, son." his father said, his voice a little lighter than usual and when the king looked up, he was smiling. oh, wow. this might honestly be san's first time seeing his father smile. san smiled back, head bowing a little as his father's smile widened.
"we'll follow what the prince said. find anyone that's willing to-"
"actually, uncle," jongho interrupted, "i have a few people in mind. i just need your permission and more importantly, his highness' permission."
the war generals were dismissed until only jongho, san and san's father were left in the room. "so?" the king asked, "who are your candidates in mind?"
jongho glanced at san before he started to speak, "san hyung isn't going to like it, uncle, but i strongly suggest wooyoung ssi. before you protest, san hyung, he is the perfect candidate. we can put seonghwa hyung in there, too. this way, we have a sorcerer and a fighter to spy for us. and that would be the perfect combination. someone that could source our way out of it and someone that could fight our way out of it."
san scoffed, "what? so your plan of action is to put my best friend and boyfriend in danger?"
"san hyung-"
"boyfriend?"
san froze before he realised what he just revealed. boyfriend. it was so natural to him he didn't think of censoring it before his father. he looked at jongho and jongho was wincing as well, knowing that there's no way that wooyoung couldn't be excluded from the spy duo now.
"father, please, i can explain-"
"there's nothing to explain, son." the previous smile on the king's face disappeared, "he's going on the mission. seonghwa is as well. jongho's suggestion was good. it's all-round as well. tell them to meet us here again tomorrow morning. it'll start tomorrow afternoon." with that, san's father left the room and left the two cousins in the room alone.
san groaned, plopping right down on his chair and buried his hands in his hair, "fuck! i'm such a goddamn idiot. if i just didn't mention he's my boyfriend then maybe wooyoung would've been spared. you! why the fuck did you suggest wooyoung anyway? you could've suggested hongjoong hyung and this entire thing wouldn't have happened at all!"
jongho sighed, "you think i'd want to recommend wooyoung hyung? he's so nice and he's the one that brought me to my goddamn soulmate, hyung. but we couldn't have hongjoong hyung going there. he's the royal sorcerer, for fuck's sake. everyone knows that kim hongjoong is the sorcerer under the choi kingdom. however, no one knows jung wooyoung except that he's a moon dust. so he'll be fine.
"just, i know this isn't ideal. but now that your father said he had to go, he has to go. it is sort of my fault, hyung, and i'm so sorry for that. but this is the best pairing. we both trust the two of them and we know that they won't betray us for nothing. i don't know about you, but i don't trust half of those old men in the room just now ("then why didn't you stop me from voicing out my plan?" san muttered.). so they're our best choices, hyung, and therefore, our best chances to win the fucking war." jongho finished, taking his seat opposite to san and let out a huge sigh.
"don't you wanna just go to wooyoung hyung and tell him that before the king does? you know how harsh your father would be on wooyoung hyung." jongho suggested, a small smile on his face, "i'm sorry, hyung, i really am."
san sighed, standing up and waving a dismissive hand at jongho, "i know you're sorry, you idiot. i just wished we discussed this beforehand so this mess wouldn't have happened at all. i'll go find wooyoung and you, you can go into town. he wouldn't care."
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a/n: thought of the perfect ending and HAHAHAHAHA u guys r gonna hate me even more
