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[breezybangtanbebe]

대취타 :Daechwita

Chapter 2: 둘

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Yonghwan sits in his seat beside the king, slouching childishly and sipping from his chalice as they overlook the subjects of the kingdom.

The celebration is in full swing with dragon dancers, festive music, wine and food in abundance, and hundreds of happy faces filling the main common area of the kingdom.

"Son...at least act like you're enjoying the festivities." King Yongnum claps enthusiastically as he watches Yoongi and another graduate goes head to head in a battle of clean swordsmanship.

Yoongi twirls the stem of his blade effortlessly through his fingers, tossing it up in the air and catching it between his fingers.

Onlookers cheer with amazement and Namjoon bows in defeat, smiling broadly as he approached his friend with zero traces of animosity in his expression.

Yonghwan scoffs and spits a stream of wine between his teeth off to the side of his seat, not caring whether he hits anyone passing by the platform below.

The king looks over at Yonghwan with annoyance.

"Why are you pouting son?" He asks reluctantly.

"Oh? I'm surprised you noticed me, father. Seeing as how you rarely acknowledge my presence unless my mood is sour" Yonghwan blubbers childishly.

"Well, the stench of your attitude is rather pungent. I doubt anyone could go without noticing it or you." The king responds smoothly.

Anger blooms in the prince's eyes and staggers himself upright in his seat.

"Why did you end the commencement before I could challenge Yoongi? " he blurts out louder than intended.

"You already know that answer to that " King Yongnum cuts his eyes sideways in faint acknowledgment, making his son's nostrils flare in the offense.

"If you deem me so inadequate, why leave the thrown to me?" He narrows his eyes.

The King sighs in exasperation.

"I never said you were an inadequate son. You are the firstborn and my rightful heir. There is no denying that."

"You thought he would defeat me. You wanted to save me the embarrassment of being bested by my younger brother." Yonghwan snaps.

"Yonghwan.." the king mutters, a warning in his tone.

"You believe Yoongi is superior. You favor him. You always have. Ever since we were children your love shined brighter through his eyes than they ever did through mine. "

"Yonghwan......." the king mutters again, his frustration growing.

"You favor him so much that won't even tell him about what you and Han have been planning since our adolescence. You fear it will break his naive little heart to know that the woman he's so shamelessly beguiled with is owed to me..."

The king slams an angered fist down hard against the armrest of his throne, trembling the entire platform.

He turns to look at his son.

"Mind your tongue Yonghwan. Your eyes are set very low, deep within the bottom of your chalice and you're spewing nonsense. Find your wits or I'll see to it that you enjoy the remainder of the night hauling sacks of rice."

The king's less than idle threat silences Yonghwan instantly, but the prince doesn't hide his scowl of resentment as he backed down.

"...nonsense..." the prince repeats bitterly, slumping back into the cushion of his throne as he continued to scan the crowd.

His eyes set on a woman, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen as she weaved through the crowd.

Yonghwans eyes narrow when he notes her adoring gaze, following its path which led straight to Yoongi and he smirks when a sinister idea is born in his mind.

As if possessed, he's propelled from his seat and sets out to stumble down from the platform to fall into the crowd, draining his drink and tossing the chalice carelessly as he goes.

"You really are a show-off, you know that right?"

Areum approaches Yoongi with hooded eyes that scanned over the young and fit prince. He wore all black, his silken robe draped over a plain black shirt cut a few inches at the dip of the collar, giving peaks of his chiseled chest in the evening breeze. His long platinum hair pulled back from his face and falling over his sharp shoulders as he stalked in Areum's direction.

"Well, what is the point in having a specific skill set if you cant show it off from time to time?" He smirks when he reaches the princess.

The two pause when within inches of each other, both glancing around self consciously at the people surrounding them.

Yoongi longed to touch her, to reach out and pull her towards his chest and kiss her tenderly. To smell her hair and whisper forbidden thoughts in her ear.

To tell her how beautiful she looked in her thin-strapped gown the dark blue shade of the dusk.

But with so many eyes on the two royals, Yoongi knew better than to shame Areum's image.

Despite their chemistry being so potent.

"Hmmm well, humility is much more impressive in my opinion." Shes rebuttals.

"Do tell me then Princess, in what ways can I impress you?" Yoongi says lowly for only her ears, the fire in his eyes so unburdened it makes Areum squirm under his handsome gaze.

Their moment is interrupted when Yonghwan approaches the two clapping his hands obnoxiously and drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

"That was brilliant little brother. You put on quite a show. Congratulations." He remarks with a hint of sarcasm.

Areum regards him with a frown but Yoongi is unfazed by his brother's antics. He knew Yonghwan hated not being the center of attention.

"I should extend the same to you as well brother. Today is for all of us." Yoongi shrugs his shoulder.

"Perhaps... it's a shame though really. Father ending the commencement before you and I could have our bout in the square..." Yonghwan begins to circle Yoongi and Areum, widening the gap between them and the people shamelessly eavesdropping nearest to the group.

"Is it?" Yoongi quirks his brow.

Yonghwan sniffs to stifle the words he really wished to say before continuing.

"Don't you think they would have liked to see how adequate both of the King's sons have proven to be in combat?"

Yonghwan eyes Areum appreciatively as he passed her.

"I doubt anyone here would question your majesties adequacy " Areum averts her eyes, avoiding Yonghwan's completely, making him smirk with satisfaction.

Despite her affections being biased to one brother, the sheer attractiveness of his older twin was still daunting.

Yonghwan makes a full circle and stops in front of his brother who doesn't even blink or shy away from his proximity.

"Even so...I still think the people deserve a real show of royal adequacy." Yonghwan tilts his head.

"What do you suggest?" Yoongi responds, still completely unfazed.

"A friendly joust, is all." Yonghwan shrugs.

"And what will this prove?" Yoongi chuckles.

"That I'm the better of the two. " Yonghwan slurs rather loudly.

An audible gasp rippled over the crowd, the music coming to a silent halt at the bold statement.

Yoongi narrows his eyes at his brother, taking note in his glazed overexpression and swaying posture.

"I'll pass," Yoongi says, his expression hardening.

"You won't fight me? Why? Because you think you're the superior one or afraid that you actually aren't. Afraid that I'll move ranks and be the one wearing your stripe...wielding your sword." Yonghwan leans in closer as he antagonized Yoongi.

Yoongi wrinkles his nose at the strong scent of fermented elixirs wafting from his brother's mouth and takes a small step back.

"No. I won't fight you or any man who isn't in his own mind." Yoongi continues to back away.

Yonghwans' eyes widen.

"So you forfeit? You refuse my challenge?" He staggers forward.

"Whichever one brings you the most peace brother.."Yoongi shrugs as he turned to walk away.

Rage engulfs Yonghwan as he lunges for the sword dangling at Namjoons hip from where he stood nearby defensively.

He attempts to evade the prince's advance but reacts too slow and is relieved of his weapon.

Yonghwan holds the reflective blade out from his body with both hands, pointing it at his brothers back.

"Do not turn your back on me! I am the rightful heir to the Holangi throne. Your superior! And I demand that you face me!"

Yoongi stops only to speak over his shoulder.

"Perhaps when you are sober, your highness.." He says smoothly before continuing to leave.

With a loud yell of fury, Yonghwan leaps forward with his sword slicing quickly through the air and towards a seemingly defenseless Yoongi.

Areum's eyes widen with fear at the sight but are relieved shortly after when in a flash of movement quicker than the eye can see, Yoongi unsheathes his sword, whirls around and blocks Yonghwan's attack.

The clink of the blades clashing together creates a sounds so intimidating, the people looking on from nearby all take calculated steps back to widen the playing field.

With the exception of Namjoon and Areum, who watch in horror and shock at Yoongi's speed.

Yonghwan schools his features that almost portrayed his surprise as he forced his sword forward again, raining down on Yoongi with an impressive combination of attacks.

Seeming to have sobered a bit from his brother's first line of defense, Yonghwan used every bit of skill and knowledge he gained from his training as he attempted to knock the weapon from his brother's grip.

But despite his best and very skilled efforts...

He was no match for Yoongi, who swiftly blocked and evaded every swing of his brother's blade, meeting each with the sharpest edge of his own.

For a moment Yoongi actually grows bored of the situation and finally switches his tactics from defense to offense.

He forces Yonghwan back with each heavy throw of his sword down against his until he stumbles backward over his feet and hits the ground with a loud thud.

Another gasp ripples over the crowd and Yonghwan is left panting and staring at the end of Yoongis sword, as black as the night sky above them.

He looks to a spot on the ground to the left of him and notices Namjoons sword laying in the dirt.

He looks back up at Yoongi, breathing heavily and holding his brother at a point with a steady hand. His intense eyes widen slightly as he slowly lowers his sword and takes note in all of the eyes now fixed on the two of them.

One pair in particular, of which burned with anger and disappointment at the sight of what he already knew to be true.

The king sighs and stands from his throne, turning away from the scene to retire to his quarters.

Yoongi watches his father leave and wilts in sadness at the way he averted his eyes, too ashamed to have witnessed the next king being knocked on his back by his younger brother.

The realization hits Yoongi and he's instantly filled with regret.

Unbeknownst to him and everyone watching the king leave, Yonghwan takes this opportunity to glide his fingers across the dirt towards the forgotten sword.

Just as Yoongi lowers his blade all the way and is about to straighten his stance, Yonghwan grabs the sword and swipes the blade upwards.

"Ah!!!" Yoongi exclaims as he stumbles back, dropping his sword to cup his bleeding face with both hands.

Areum and Namjoon run to Yoongis side immediately as Yonghwan stumbles to his feet drunkenly with his sword still pointed toward his now wounded brother.

A drop of blood falls from the tip of the sword, making Yonghwan realize immediately what he had done.

"Are you mad???" Areum snaps at him as reaches up to caress Yoongis hand gently in an attempt to comfort him as he hissed in pain.

Yonghwan blinks in surprise, his eyes jumping from the sword to his younger brothers bloodstained hands hovering over his right eye.

He drops the sword and pants heavily as he scanned the disapproving expressions of everyone surrounding them.

Namjoon pulls Yoongis hand away from his face gently to assess the damage then looks back towards Prince Yonghwan with serious eyes.

"I think its best for his majesty to retire for the evening." Namjoon looks to two men approaching the prince from either side, Hoseok and another member of the royal guard.

"Your highness.." Hoseok says calmly.

"We will escort you..." the other says sternly, not a hinge of permission in his tone.

Yonghwan looks to both men then across the way at his younger brother with concern.

Yoongi meets his gaze and lowers his hand from his face, revealing a deep vertical gash over his eye that thankfully appeared to be superficial.

Blood ran down his face as he regarded his older brother, not with anger or vengeance, but pity.

Yonghwan was ashamed. Too ashamed to say a word. Too ashamed to apologize or plead his case.

Too ashamed to acknowledge that he was defeated and acted rashly, almost killing his twin in the process.

With regretful eyes, Yonghwan turns on his heels and stalks in the opposite direction, parting the crowd with Hoseok and the other soldier following close behind.

Yoongi is filled with sorrow and looks towards the ground.

"Yoongi..." Areum says softly.

"Come...let me tend to your wound..." she says, taking him by the hand and pulling him away, the crown parting for them to pass as well.

Namjoon stoops to pick up both swords, his and Yoongis, and turns to follow the two.