The palace was terrifyingly dark and empty at this time of night. There were no servants scurrying down the corridors like there usually were in daytime, no courtiers stood chattering in the great hall, no lessons taking place in the library... No Taekwoon riding in the grounds, Wonshik thought sadly before pushing the image out of his mind. He couldn't afford to focus on that right now. 

He and the others tentatively and cautiously made their way down the hallway, eying the doors that lined it either side before they came to one that seemed to stand out from the rest. It stod opposite a large window, the moonlight streaming inwards giving the polished wood a seemingly ethereal glow. Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed the back of Wonshik's skull spitefully and he grunted, stumbling backwards into Jaewhan. 

"Your highness, are you okay?" 

It was him, stood over a tall figure slumped on the floor with their back against the door. Taekwoon. He was shaking the prince's shoulder and Wonshik gasped. It was that night, the night they... He blushed.

"What are you doing here?" Taekwoon had asked, his eyes still full of sleep and hair sticking cutely in all directions from the way he had been leaning on the door. 

"Wonshikkie?" This time it was Jaewhan's voice, dragging him by his ankles back to reality. 

He watched the image of him carrying his prince up the stairs faded slowly, dissolving into nothingness once more. He felt tears threaten to spill from his eyes but blinked them back as he turned back to his friends "It's here," he whispered "This is the King's chamber."

Sanghyuk frowned and tilted his head "Are you sure?"

He nodded silently and approached the door with long strides, confidence growing with each step he took. 

He didn't have to knock. To his surprise, the door wasn't locked and he could only assume that the other servants had left it open when they had delivered the monarch's supper earlier that evening. Strange. 

With a wide eyes glance at his companions, he drew a sharp breath and pushed the gold handle down. Sanghyuk visibly winced at the loud click emitted. With a dull creak, the door swung open. The first thing each of them heard were voices; they were hushed and gruff. 

The King... And somebody else. The group all shared a confused frown, before stepping in. The room was grand, grander than Taekwoon's was. It had two stories, separated by a gold balcony carved into antique flower designs. The drapes were a heavy, rich crimson, and all the furniture seemed to be decades old. 

Using the darkness to their advantage, the group all hid behind one of the tapestries hanging from the South wall, depicting the entire royal family. It too was not new. The princes didn't look any older than twelve in the image being depicted. 

"Are you sure they went off safely? Hongbin took his thick cape? You know how the cold weather effects him." The old man's croaking voice was laced with worry and concerns for his boys. It was somewhat strange to Wonshik, seeing as the old man had been absent since the Queen's death. "Oh, I wish I could have seen them off- I miss them." 

"I know, my lord."

Wonshik heard a muffled, strangled noise and turned to see Sanghyuk holding Jaewhan back, covering his mouth. They both knew what had made the elder so aggrivated- that was Woobin's voice. And he actually sounded like he cared! "That bastard..." Wonshik muttered, his fists clenching at his sides. 

Sanghyuk caught him. "Wonshik?" He whispered cautiously, not believing he was the one having the reign his friends in before the did sonething stupid. The tapestry wasn't a good hiding spot as it was; they didn't need anybody being drawn to it. 

"But it is best you stay in here. You are still grieving, remember?" Sanghyuk's free hand shot out to grab Wonshik before he darted out and revealed their place. He sent him a warning look but it seemed to go ignored as his friend pulled away harshly. Through the crack in the door he could just see the back of Woobin's head. "That's it, sit down, your majesty, have some tea and relax." 

"Like Hell," Wonshik hissed, throwing the tapestry aside and bursting through the door. The King let out a cry of shock as the peasant stormed up behind Woobin before the man could react, siezing the dagger from the lord's belt and holding it to his throat. "What is the meaning of this?" The old man demanded, getting to his feet and Jaewhan and Sanghyuk hurried in, eyes widening at the scene. "Ah, Mr Wonshik," Woobin groaned as he was yanked back into the younger man's chest "What a pleasant surprise!"

"Lord Woobin?" 

The King looked awful. Pale; he was skinnier than the peasants remembered him, his beard long and scraggly. He was still in his nightgown. Wonshik gulped, keeping his gaze hardened "Jaewhan, Sanghyuk, take his highness to his main bedroom and keep him there," he tugged harshly on Woobin's hair "Me and our lord are going to have a little talk." 

Sanghyuk nodded and obeyed, gently ushering the man out of another door and muttering to him that he would explain everything. Jaewhan hung back, giving Wonshik a curt nod "Don't do anything stupid." And then he left, closing the door behind him.

As soon as they were left alone, Wonshik growled and spun Woobin around, ramming him up against the wall with the dagger still at his throat. "Where are they?" He growled, his hot breath grazing the elder's cheek. But Woobin just laughed, shaking his head slowly. The blade was pressed deeper into his skin, drawing the tiniest spots of blood. "Don't make me ask twice," Wonshik spat. 

The Lord winced "You're too late." 

"What?" 

"It's already happened," Woobin muttered between clenched teeth "They're gone." The dagger was removed form his neck and suddenly a fist connected with his cheek, causing his head to snap to the side. He cried out as Wonshik grabbed his collar "What have you done to them, you bastard?" He pulled back his fist once more and landed another punch, then another, then another until Woobin finally croaked out "Ju-guem... Ledge," from his bleeding lips. His face was already beginning to blacken. 

Wonshik's jaw dropped open and he loosened his grip slightly "What?"

"My men have changed course," Woobin chuckled weakly "The brats have been put to sleep, they don't even know what's coming." He yelled sharply when Wonshik smashed him back into the wall before throwing him to the floor.

"Guys!" The young man screamed "I know where to find them!"

GO WONSHIK! HURRY! GOD SPEED!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for the wait, heh...