Chapter Text
He was an heir to the Kim empire. The next in line to take the throne. His father was training him for the position his entire life. And he still did not feel ready for the position.
However he loved his kingdom and the people that inhabited it. And wanted to pay it back. He wanted to make sure he was a righteous leader and fair to his subjects. And he was going to do everything to make sure that this was the fact. And make sure every decision is carefully chosen. It was the bare minimum he could do.
So to do this he wanted to be like his father. Someone who was always righteous and understanding of the subjects. And made sure the nation was prospering to the greatest degree.
As he was getting changed into his day clothes for the meeting that he had later with his father in the position of the nation. It was the first time this was happening. The first time he was being trusted with the information on what exactly was happening in the nation.
His personal maid Seo-yoon was having a conversation with him. Seo-yoon was incredibly important to him since she looked after him since he was little- he even considered her as an extra mother to him. Every day she loved to tell him about her kids and husband and what they were doing at that current time. It was so interesting to hear what was happening outside the castle.
Today, she was just as excited as him for him finally being able to join the meeting.
"Your highness you are all grown up. I am so proud of you," she looked at him sentimentally. Even though she was so close to him she never dropped the 'your highness' no matter how much he begged her to.
"Thank you Seo-yoon. Now I am closer to taking the throne myself," he smiled.
"Yes you are your highness," she agreed with him. Fixing his collar to make sure it was straight.
"Good luck your highness," Seo-yoon smiled sending him off to the meeting.
He walked down the long corridor. Down the stairs. To the left. And down another corridor. He made sure to say hi to each of the guards as he walked passed. They were his protectors after all. They all bowed to him giving him their respects.
He opened the large tall white door and walked into the meeting. He checked the clock on the wall he was exactly on time.
"Son come sit here," his father's voice boomed throughout the room.
He walked over and sat in the place next to his father. And took the time to look around the room. The meeting was full of the kings advisors and surrounding them was the knights. There was a large map laid on the table which showed the whole of his kingdom plus the close neighbouring kingdoms. Each of the advisors looked serious.
This meeting must be a big deal.
"Today my son has joined us for the first time, so everyone be patient with him," his father gave him a quick smile.
"Okay I will start off," nodded the king.
The majority of the meeting was completely normal. Discussing the finances of the kingdom. Discussing the situation of the land. Just the general issues that the kingdom would have. What the majority of
"Okay now we must talk about the issue of war," his father stated.
War? What? The kingdom only recently just got out of a terrible war and only just won. He has heard all the problems from each of the maids how much they struggled during the war. He can't imagine how bad it would have been for the poorer population. How one of the maids even lost her son. How much deaths and suffering they went through. It was a traumatic time he thought was over and never wanted to go through again.
"Last time we went to war we came out better than when we started. We earned more money and we progressed industrially. We could use the benefits from that again," his father explained. How could he say that? How could they nod back to him? They did not come out better at all they should know that. Families were split. There were multiple famines where thousands died. And he wanted to do it again?
No.
No.
No!
Not in one thousand years.
And for selfish reasons as well. Yes we were earning more money but if the whole kingdom has to suffer because of it then no.
He stood up from his chair, "Father I cannot accept this. We cannot afford another war."
His father sighed, "don't worry son we can afford another war. We have the money"
He slammed his hand on the table, "no father I am not talking about money. I am talking about the people. Our citizens can not afford another war."
"No son. They want another war. They want to see our kingdom get more land. People are more patriotic than ever," his father gave him a devilish smile. And it scared him. The first time in his life his father scared him.
"Sorry, I can't accept this father. I can't follow under you when you say things like this. This is wrong. The people did not gain from the war like you think they did," he growled.
"THEN YOU ARE NO LONGER MY SON. I BANISH YOU," his father shouted. Banished? If that is what will change things then so be it!
"THEN YOU ARE NO LONGER MY FATHER. I WILL TAKE THE THRONE FOR MYSELF. AND BRING THE PEACE THAT THIS KINGDOM WANTS TO SEE," he screamed from his heart.
His father scoffed, "you can't. You are weak and a mistake of a child."
"I WILL PROVE YOU WRONG," he shouted.
His father looked so angry.
"AS IF. LEAVE NOW. YOU NEED TO BE GONE FROM THIS CASTLE WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. YOU ARE OFFICIALLY BANISHED," his father shouted.
"Honey you can't send him off by himself," worried his mother. His own mother did not even bother to pray for him to stay.
His father pointed at one of the knights, "you go with him and protect him for the rest of your life but this is the last thing I will ever do for you child."
"GO," his father commanded.
He stormed out of the room pushing the chairs out of his way. This was the opposite to how he thought today would go. He thought that today was his day but it wasn't. Tears filled his eyes as he went back the way he went to grab supplies. He watched as the knight his father chose followed behind him.
He rolled his eyes. How much could one meager knight do to protect him. At least it is better than no knight at all.
He opened the door to see Seo-yoon standing their.
"What's wrong your highness?" Seo-yoon worried seeing the tears in his eyes.
"I am leaving," he replied quickly grabbing anything he could find.
"What why?"
"I have been banished Yoon. I defied my father at the meeting," he was shaking.
"But... I don't understand?"
"He was not the man I thought he was," he cried. She didn't even question why he said this.
Yoon wrapped him in a hug as he cried, "I have to go. I have an hour to leave."
"Okay let me grab your bag," he could see that she teared up as she spoke.
She went to another room coming in with a bag, "I made this in case you had to leave for diplomatic visits."
"Thank you," he looked at her. He might never see her again. Yoon turned around.
"Who is that?" She looked at the knight.
"He will look after me," he sighed.
"He better. He doesn't know how precious you are," she sighed, "your highness, I know whatever reason you have for going against your father is a good one. And I will wait patiently for your return to your rightful place on the throne."
She took a breath holding both of his hands, "but for now goodbye your highness."
She leaned down and kissed his hands, "now quick leave."
He grabbed his bag and put it on his back and rushed out the room. He looked back to see her for one last time, "go," she mouthed to him. He didn't look back again after that.
He followed the knight who was guiding him to wherever they were going. They ran down the grand stairs to the knight quarters. The knight looked around and went down to the stables.
He looked as the tall knight found his horse. As the knight was checking that the horse was carrying what they needed. The knight nodded.
"Can you pass me a knife or a sword. Don't worry I will give it back," he asked.
The knight grumbled and passed him a knife. He looked at it while it gleaned in the sun.
He put it up to his hair. And made one quick slashing motion cutting off his long hair. The long hair symbolised he was part of the royal family. And he was no longer part of the royal family so the hair didn't make sense anymore. Plus he didn't want any people to recognise him as royalty.
It didn't matter to him. He didn't like long hair anyway. He always complained wanting to cut it short. Due to his hair getting in the way all the time.
He and the knight watched as his hair fell to the floor.
He looked in the knights eyes, "are we going or not?"
The knight then bent down to help him on the horse. He has never been on a horse before. This was because when he was younger he suffered from sickness which made his parents overly protective of him. He wasn't allowed anywhere near a horse. That would change now as he was helped up on the horse.
The tall knight then pulled himself onto the horse as well. He wrapped his arms around the knights armour so he would not fall. They both set off away from the castle.
They galloped away. Far, far away. He looked behind him as he left the kingdoms gates for the first time in his life. The tall grey walls of the castle lumed over them. The castle looked truly beautiful from a distance.
He hummed to himself. Turning back to look at the knight. He wonders what is this knights name? Can't go on a journey of a lifetime without knowing the name of the person he was going on the journey with.
"What is your name knight?" He asked.
The knight spoke in a deep voice, "my name is Ni-ki Nishimura your highness."
He sighed he really would not escape the 'your highness.' He took a moment to think of the name the knight just gave him. Ni-ki... He recognised that name.
Ah right. This was the knight prodigy. Known for his insane skill in swordsmanship. Ni-ki was better than some of oldest knights with years of experience. He rose up the ranks at such a young age becoming essential to the knighthood. And was extremely loyal.
However Ni-ki was disliked by many of the guards. And not just because of his young age. Mostly because of his personality. He has heard horror stories from the other guards. Ni-ki was known for being stubborn and stuck up. He was also extremely strict while training new knights. The training regime he used was seen as hell on earth. With many of the guards quitting due to how horrible it was. And that everyone complained when they stuck with him in any capacity.
They complained a lot behind Ni-ki's back but they wouldn't dare say it to his face. Since the other knights could not deny his skill or that he produced some of the best knights in the kingdom.
He was lucky to get him however he still sighed. He basically was stuck with a grumpy knight for goodness knows how long.
This is going to be fun...