That evening, Taeyong quietly retreated to his empty suite he shared with his grandfather, mother, and sister. Everyone else had gone to enjoy the ship’s entertainment and amenities, but he’d really rather seek respite on his own. It was a long day. Taeyong had been reading the book in his lap when he drifted into a deep reverie. And who could have blamed him? When outside the window was a vast ocean calling for him with her sonorous voice and coruscating crests. She was as mighty as she was magniloquent, balancing on her broad shoulders, the delicate glass of crystal blue firmament. An endless vault, the realm of gods. It’s where birds soar, and dance unfettered, where clouds drift to carry palaces of pearls and drape across the world curtains of diamonds. He knew that somewhere out there, in the charismatic unknown, was a world waiting for him. And in that Somewhere, he would gambol and jest to the merriment of the whole choir. In that Somewhere, he would sing to his heart’s content and promulgate to the citizens of the earth, his overdue joy. Succulent promises by the ocean, proffered from her ripe lips; he knew better than to be led astray by such simple flights of fancy. To court her wiles was vain, and perhaps to some, maybe even iniquitous. Because it means betraying reality in favour of costumed chimeras, to give up the role of the good man and instead knowingly play the fool to no avail – it means running away. And yet, he couldn’t help but relish in it. If dreaming was a sin, then may his fantasies of flight and freedom lead him down the road to perdition. Taeyong took a consummate breath and closed his eyes. It had been two hours since he placed himself in front of the window, and now he bathed in the scarlet light of the tired sun as it streamed through the glass. Awash in drowsy contentment, he did not care for the unturned pages of his book.

“What are you reading?”

Taeyong jumped in his seat. He spun around to find his sister leaning over him to catch a glimpse of this novel.

“Mikyung!” he cried.

“Jules Verne? Really? I would have never pegged you for the epic adventure type.”

“I thought it appropriate given the circumstances.” He glared her askance. “And I’m not dull if that’s what you’re implying.”

“No, I’m stating.” She plucked the book from his lap.

“Hey!”

“It’s not like you were actually reading it,” she rejoined as she flipped through the pages. “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea… Classic steampunk. Haven’t read it in years. The original French is better. You joining us kinsfolk for dinner or what?” Taeyong let out a sigh.

“Do I have a choice?” he asked, getting up from his seat. He snatched the book back from her hands. “And give me that.” Taeyong walked around her and started to place the novel on the coffee table next to him, when he decided otherwise and scuffled off to the bedroom instead. He laid it carefully inside the top drawer of the bedside table. When he returned Mikyung was studying him, and now it was her turn to sigh. “What?”

“You spent the afternoon in the library, and then went back to your room to read a book.” Taeyong raised a brow.

“So?”

“You need a life.”

“What’s new?” he shrugged.

“Nothing,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Let’s go.”

Three guards were stationed outside the suite, two of whom were the siblings’ personal guards. Mikyung nodded to her female guard and she moved up to the front, meanwhile Taeyong’s guard positioned himself at the rear. Taeyong thanked the man left to guard the suite and the group proceeded to make their way down the hallway at a steady pace.

As expected, Mikyung began to prattle on about her day and Taeyong let his mind drifted away again. This floor of the ship celebrated the Neoclassical period, hence the impressive regal and ostentatious décor. Paintings of royalty and glorified war covered entire sections of the walls, and intricate, emerald pilasters lined the path like colonnades. Above them, the coffered ceiling boasted sunken panels with florid designs, and below, the floor was carpeted by an empire rug of rich, Egyptian blue and patterned by flowers. Taeyong had walked these halls countless times, but every now and then, he would still jitter with delight from noticing the ingenious brush of a portrait or the expressive pose of a sculpture. Today, he spotted a familiar butterfly pattern on one of the vases.

“I didn’t just read,” he said after some time.

“Hm?” Mikyung was slightly surprised by the sudden interruption.

“I also met someone in the library.” He said it so casually that Mikyung had to think it over. He could practically see the cogs in her head churning until, at last, her face broke into her brilliant impish grin and with a slithering voice intonated,

“My little Yong met someone? Please elucidate, dear.” The way she said it and her expression made Taeyeong’s flesh crawl and every fiber of him wanted to turn around and leave. It was not like she was really expecting some sort of gossip to come out of him. In fact, it was so ingratiating because she had no expectations. Irony was one of her many talents and she made a truly amazing show of mock anticipation on her face; the very curl of her lip goaded him to speak but at the same time patronized him because they both knew Taeyong’s social life was as dry as desert. Taeyong instantly regretted opening his mouth.

“Yes,” he uttered with an exasperated breath. “A boy my age.”

“Ooh, a boy! What’s he like? Pretty eyes? Dashing nose?”

“Dashing nose?”

“Some noses are worthy of appreciation.”

“You’re talking nonsense. But I guess objectively speaking, yes, he has a pleasant face.” Taeyong might have imagined the sudden twinkle in his sister’s eyes. He kept his own trained ahead.

“And what did this pleasant faced boy do with you?” Again, her taunting intonation slid in his ears.

“We talked a bit.”

“About what?”

“Music… He heard me on the piano this morning. He knew the songs too, but he says he’s more of a blues guy and plays the saxophone.”

“Play on.”

“And then we got on talking about other subjects like art and books, which somewhat surprised me because we had so much in common. I can’t remember the last time someone read the whole of In Search of Lost Time too or said one of his favourite books was Finnegan’s Wake.” Taeyong couldn’t help but smile at remembering the quaint conversation. “We even got into a discussion about contemporary Japanese artists like Murakami Takashi or Kusama Yayoi and their impact not only in Japan, but in the West too. I think he was especially opinionated because he’s also Japanese. Which reminds me; he talked a lot about anime. I don’t watch too much television, and when I do watch movies it’s when Aunt Hyemin drags us to one of her film festivals, so I had nothing to offer in that department, but he gave me a whole slew of recommendations, and I could tell he was trying to think of ones that I’d probably enjoy, which was very nice. I have the list on my phone, but he was just so enthused when he talked that I think I’ll remember all the titles anyway. There’s this one called Death Note that sounds incredibly fascinating, and another called Your Lie in April that I’m supposed to ‘bawl my eyes out’ over. Or maybe I should ease my way into the media with a movie first, like Your Name, or Akira. Their premises sound ambitious, if not inviting. I also hear you can’t go wrong with a Ghibli film. I read The Land of Ingary Trilogy as a kid so Howl’s Moving Castle is a requisite in my list. It must be the way he sold them to me (with a full, unimpeachable smile), and I’m looking forward to watching them to be honest.” By the end, Taeyong found himself grinning, face slightly flushed, and he didn’t exactly know why. For a moment, he’d even forgotten about his sister and had been merely talking to himself. When he turned his head, he caught Mikyung watching him. “What?”

“He was the one who gave you the book.”

“Yes.”

“It wasn’t a question. I’m stating,” she said musingly. Mikyung eased her expression and gave him one of her rare, genuine smiles. “You’re talking. Like, for real.”

“So?” he asked with a slight chuckle.

“It’s new.” And then. “It’s good.”

When they reached the elevators, the guards moved in closer, which made Taeyong stiffen a little as always. He didn't have to look around to understand that he was probably being monitored from four different angles. He didn't have to ask to know that the ship was littered with security guards and agents undercover. The woman across the room may even have been hired by his family or some other high-profile guest. Or maybe she was just a rich, old retiree enjoying a luxury cruise. Who knows? The faces in the throng blurred and coalesced into shapeless things that flitted in and out of his life, never touching him. Taeyong knew the ship was rigged with security rivaling that of a federal state prison; all to keep the passengers, especially those in first circles and rarefied individuals such the members of his family, safe. It was only protocol, it was only the usual – the only normal he’s ever known. Since he was a child, Taeyong lived in a permanent state of alertness, under constant surveillance, for the sake of his reputation and safety. He’d be lying if he said it was easy, but it was just the reality of his life. (Which was purportedly worth a lot.)

“Would you be joining us for dinner again, Kuno?” His real name was probably not Kuno.

“Yes, young master,” his guard replied simply. Terse words for a brusque man.

“All our chaperones will be there,” Mikyung interposed with a wink, “it’s the Captain’s Ball tonight.”

“The dance?” Taeyong cried, “I totally forgot.”

“Oh no. How tragic! Don’t tell me. You don’t have a date?” Mikyung exclaimed in mock exasperation. Taeyong glared back at her. She knew how much he despised dancing and crowds, especially when his family would be amongst them. Like with everything he did, they had expectations and he had been dancing since he could waddle in his baby shoes. But he had been so busy because of school, he hadn’t been able to practice in over a month and the thought having to dance in front of other people made his knees weak. Just as he was thinking of turning back to do stretching exercises in his room, Mikyung cried, “Oh why can’t you just relax? It’s written all over your face! You don’t need to do anything! It’s only a formal night on a cruise ship, not a state competition or a concert.” She forcibly ruffled Taeyong’s hair, slapped his back, and pointed a condescending finger at him. “Calm thyself! You will not get in the way of my little brother’s happiness. My Taeyong is going to have fun tonight, whether he wants to or not.”

“I want to, but if I’m not prepared, I won’t.”

“You never do because you never want to!”

“That’s ridiculous! Why wouldn’t I want to?”

“You tell me!” Mikyung spun to her guard who had been politely looking away. “Tell him, Celine!” Celine, known for her cool, sharp eyes and even sharper tongue spoke blatantly,

“Your sister is right, young master. You never want to have fun.” Mikyung snickered next to him. Dubious, Taeyong retorted,

“That’s not true! Right, Kuno? Tell them they’re wrong and that I just have my own way of having fun.” Mikyung made a show of shrugging and rolling her eyes, meanwhile Celine froze and looked like she was trying to bite down a smirk. Taeyong looked up at the big man named Kuno. The sturdy, tall, athletic man had been with him since childhood and has seen Taeyong grow up. The guard always kept a wall around him, which Taeyong has always respected, but his loyalty was unquestionable and true. Even though he didn’t know very much about the good quiet man, Kuno was probably one of the few people whose company Taeyong truly appreciated. That was why, whenever he did speak, Taeyong knew it carried meaning.

“Young master,” Kuno said, voice deep and resonant, “I am not sure you know how to be happy.”

Silence.

When the elevator doors finally opened for them, Mikyung was still laughing. 

"It's not that funny- oh," Taeyong exclaimed.

"Oh? Oh what?" Mikyung asked, calming down.

"Oh hello," a voice from the elevator car sang. They were greeted by a clementine boy with a quirky and brilliant grin that made Taeyong's insides flutter. It wasn't until later when Mikyung pointed it out that Taeyong would notice himself smiling too. 

"Hello Yuuma."

"Hey, Taeyong! The Captain's Ball is tonight but I guess you knew that already since you're, you know, here. But I could be wrong because you could be going somewhere else, ah!" He rushed over to the side panel to press a button and keep the doors from closing. "Sorry, I'm all over the place right now because I'm just kind of doing this on the spur of the moment. But anyway, I'm digressing so-" He was quite adorable. Taeyong bit his lip. "You never mentioned about it earlier, so I thought I'd personally ask you to come to the Captain's Ball with me." With his free hand, he reached out and invited Taeyong to join him. "What do you say?"

"Yes!" Mikyung blurted. "Oh gods, yes!" She shoved her brother into the car and slapped Yuuma's hand away from the button. She jumped back out and just as the doors were about to close, she cried, "Make my brother happy!" And the two boys were left alone.

The boys looked at each other, speechless. Yuuma snorted first until both of them finally broke out laughing. 

"Was that your sister? She's insane!"

"I told you! My whole family's insane!"

"Ha! Amazing!" Yuuma grabbed Taeyong by his shoulders and looked at him straight in the eye. "Truly amazing." They couldn't stop smiling. 

"Thanks for thinking of inviting me."

"Thank you for probably accepting. Can you dance?"

"I'm not bad."

"Good," Yuuma winked, "because I'm going to make you dance with me whether you want to or not."

Taeyong laughed again. He knew Yuuma was only joking, so he never said it out loud. But yes, he did. Yes. Taeyong really wanted to.

The doors opened.