Chapter Text
Seonghwa flinched almost imperceptibly as his father, in yet another one of his rather unkingly rages, threw his metal carved staff across the room at the form of the now trembling nobility man. He had not even really been paying close enough attention to know what it was that the other man had done to irate his father, but he was beginning to realize that it very well could have been a mistake to zone out. Particularly when he caught the rage filled eyes of his father turning towards his own bodily self. SeongHwa could practically feel himself wanting to crumble. If he had any less practice...he was quite certain that he would have. As it were, he merely deflected his gaze elsewhere from his Father's angry gaze.
"Well?" the King questioned, tilting his head idly. "That is enough for the day, I think. Get my staff, then return it to me, and you may leave. It would seem I need a more...private discussion about this matter." SeongHwa merely bowed, not wanting to anger his father further, and hurried to retrieve the staff. Passing the Nobleman he caught the pale faced man looking towards him pleading, as though Seonghwa was able to do anything. It almost made him want to laugh. He had no way to help this man, and he would not bother even if he did. Anyone who was stupid enough to be defiant in the face of his father and then regret the consequences of being forced to face his anger alone...they were a coward in Seonghwa's opinion.
Sure, he angered his father on many occasion, but he also did not bother to go sliding to the next person he saw hoping that they would get him out of his consequence for going against the King of the Land, and he dealt with his punishments that were met out without complaint. That was what happened when you angered the King. You dealt with the repercussions of it. By now, everyone knew the dangers of angering his father, and they were stupid if they thought that anyone would save them should they chose to defy or anger the King-particularly as they stood in his throne room.
Seonghwa moved back up the steps leading up to the throne and placed the staff within his father's hand. The noble seemed to shudder as he got a good look at the heavy and rather deceptively heavy bar of metal. Seonghwa wanted to sigh, but did not, keeping his gaze on the floor until the his father lifted the metal from his fingers, and dismissed him with a click of his tongue. Seonghwa rushed out of the throne room as fast as he could whilst still looking somewhat dignified. He did not pause as the guards closed the doors of the throne room behind him, instead he moved towards one of the side corridors commonly used by the servants and rushed down the stairwell. It was only once he was well hidden from his father's gaze, and any of the Royal family, that he allowed himself to collapse on the floor, sliding down the wall as he let himself break down just a bit.
He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head between them, allowing his arms to drape over his knees as he felt his heart stutter in his chest, his breathing slightly panicked as he tried to calm himself down. He did not often break down, despite the fact that his father scared him quite effectively when needed, but today he had already been quite tense with the news that his older Brother would be returning to the Palace within the next fortnight. Why his father decided to inform him of this so late when Seonghwa knew for a fact he had likely already sent out the information pamphlets.
He did not really know what to do. Not only was his older brother returning to the Palace for...who knows what reason really, but his father was clearly unhappy with something. Seonghwa would bet there there was more to it than just his brother returning, or that noble being stupid and questioning his father. There was something else, but Seonghwa would not be the idiot who asked what it was that was angering him so much lately. This was not a new matter either. Over the last week...it would seem...every time anyone came into speak with his father, they usually did not leave unscathed.
He had seen more bruises for even breathing wrong then he had in a long while. His father was tense, agitated, and on the split verge of beating the life out of someone. Seonghwa couldn't help but wince inwardly at the thought and realization. He knew his father's moods quite well, and this was not boding well for that noble. Perhaps he should have tried to help? But then again, it wasn ot his fault that the Noble had done something stupid enough to incur his father's wrath.
"Hey," The sudden sound of a human jolted Seonghwa out of his self imposed thought processing. He turned to look at the Servant who was staring at him with wide, somewhat concerned, and rather shocked eyes. Seonghwa figured it was quite the fitting response in the end. He was a Prince, using the servant's halls, and breaking down. He wanted to curse himself. He knew he should have waited to get to his rooms, but they were at least a good five to seven minute walk from where the Throne Room was located.
Seonghwa moved to stand, but his legs collapsed under him from the faint feeling. It was clear that his mental breakdown mayhaps sapped a bit more energy than he was used to this time. He took a deep breath, not hesitating to stare straight at the servant. He was certain that he looked a total mess at the moment, but that part could not be helped at the moment. He calmed his mind and addressed the servant.
"You will not breathe a word of this to the Royal Father, or the Royal mother." His words were sharp and clear. The servant nodded hastily and Seonghwa collapsed against the wall in relief. "Thank you," the words were muttered softly, but if the widened eyes of the Servant were any indication they clearly heard him.
"Are you alright, though, Your Highness?" The servant asked tentatively. Seonghwa pursed his lips, not really sure how to actually answer that without it being so obviously a lie.
"It is nothing to worry over, my father was merely in a mood, and I fear I may have slightly overreacted to the situation when presented to me." Based off the pity that glazed in the servant's eyes, Seonghwa knew that they knew of the King's temper, hell, everyone knew of the King's temper. It was also nothing new when it came to Servants finding Seonghwa hidden in various areas around the Palace that were hard to find, or commonly used only by the servant folk. It was the only places safe from the wrath of His Majesty, after all, and none of the Servants had the guts, or the will to rat Seonghwa out to his father.
"I see, perhaps you could come with me to the kitchens? I mean, I don't know much about comfort but I do know a lot about food! I can make you a pastry to try and cheer you up." Seonghwa stared at the servant in surprise. Whilst most of the servants did ask over his wellbeing, it was sort of rare to find male servants willing to do much more than ensure that he was okay, and escort him safely back to his room should he require it, it was typically the older maids and staff that liked to do that sort of thing for him.
"I...Suppose it cannot hurt." Seonghwa admitted, fully aware that he would be skipping dinner after the rather vast display of his father's anger not a few moments ago. It was the safest option.