Sunggyu burst through the iron gate separating his mother’s quarters from the main section of the palace

 

He very quickly jumped his way through a half open window, when he heard his mother screaming and chasing after him closely 

 

 

The young prince landed lightly on his feet crouching close to the ground out of sight from the window 

 

Sunggyu heaved a sigh of relief when his mothers shadow ghosted past him in the opposite direction towards the entrance at the far end of the castle

 

“I have around 5 minutes till Mother makes it into this part of the palace...... So whatever I plan to do I have to do it quickly” the prince thought determined 

 

Sunggyu picked himself off the ground, his little feet running towards the direction he assumed was the main foyer where his father always stayed whenever he returned from his long trips, carrying out his royal duties according to his mother

 

 His steps however faltered as he eyed the exquisite  extravagant paintings and artworks of crystals and precious stones llittered across  the long corridor he found himself in, his eyes meekly widening in wonder 

 

It was the first time sunggyu had had ever been in this part of the palace.... as his mother had always vehemently protested against him even venturing near the gate that separated the 2 wings of the palace for some unknown reason .... Making him even pinky promise 

 

So thus being the obedient loving trusting son he was he never questioned the odd command or even once tried to sneak a peek through the iron fences even though his young mind was overflowing with curiosity 

 

So when the young prince finally got a   good opportunity to finally take a nice look at the elusive main branch. Sunggyu let his small eyes rove around his surroundings to his hearts contents as he sprinted through the long hallways

 

During his observations His young innocent mind couldn’t help but wonder though, Why his and his mothers quarters were so plain and empty compared to the splendid grandeur before him? 

 

 

Pushing the feelings of uneasiness aside for the moment the young prince trudged forwards fearing his mother would catch him if he dilly dallied any further 

 

The younger ran down an unending maze of pathways and corridors..... His small body heaving with exertion and exhaustion as he kept aimlessly running in circles 

 

Sunggyu felt his eyes tearing up, he felt hopelessly lost and alone in the big castle that seemed to tower over him emmensely...... his growling tummy was not making the situation any better as well

 

The young prince however refused to give up and kept moving forwards searching for any sign of the king

 

He had come too far to give up now....... He had even disobeyed his precious mother for this.... He couldn’t give up now, not now...... 

 

Sunggyus ears perked up when he caught the distant sound of what sounded like applauses and cheering

 

“What is that?” Sunggyu mused moving towards the sound, as hope shined in his tiny eyes

 

The closer he got...... The louder the sounds got Sunggyu wanted to cry out with joy when his ears caught a muffled chorus of “ Long live the king! “ from the huge double doors ahead of him

 

Without thinking the young prince sped up an Excited “Father !” Sunggyu leaving his lips as he approached the grand hall the source of  the commotion, because even if he may have been doing this for his mother, it didn’t change the fact that he also missed his father dearly 

 

The little boy painstakingly pushed at one of the big oak doors till it gave way forming a tiny crack for the young prince to squeeze through

 

The grand foyer was filled with people dressed to perfection in riches as they cheered and clapped celebrating the safe return of their king

 

Sunggyu was once again awestruck this time by the crowd before him....... He had never seen so many people before, heck the only people he had ever seen were his mother, the maids, his adorable little step brother and  occasionally his father 

 

Speaking of which Sunggyu thought as his mind once again focused on meeting his father 

 

He stood on his tip toes trying to catch a glimpse of him..... But it didn’t help much as the people in the room were way bigger than him and also kept shoving at him with their elbows and feet ignoring the young boy in favor for a tiny glance of the king

 Sunggyu huffed in annoyance. Hopping enthusiastically on the spot hoping to catch the attention of his father. He was too shy to call out to the king with his soft voice but the prince doubted he would be heard over the uproar of people anyway

 

The people around him suddenly gave way for a few seconds but that was more than enough time for the young prince to make eye contact with the man he rarely met the man he called his father and that second was enough to Crumble his heart to pieces

 

The tiny smile on Sunggyu’s face faded away when he saw his father laughing joyfully while hugging two small kids and holding a beautiful women close to hin by her tiny delicate waist as she clung onto him sobbing softly

 

 

 

The two children the king was showering affection on would be according to the great dictionary...... what one called a half brother and sister or in other words step brother and sister.

 

 The younger fair skinny  boy was his favorite sibling sung Jong (who always snuck around to his wing to see him) and the other slightly older pretty girl seungyeon .

The beautiful sobbing women was none other than princess hyorin or as Sunggyu’s mother reminded him always the queen 

 

The picture they represented was that of a happy family which should bring out feelings of joy and love from him but for some reason  Sunggyu felt disgusted at the scene before him

 

“Mammy said Father is very busy ? But he still has time to visit mommy hyorin and my other siblings? “

 

“Sunggyu there you are !’ came a sudden distant outburst as Dongwoo stormed into the grand hall rushing towards his son

 

“Mammy?” Sunggyu whispered out turning around in shock

 

“I thought I would never fi-“ Dongwoo relieved voice trailed off as his eyes slowly fell on the scene in the middle of the hall that’s also when Sunggyu realised that the hall had gone eerily silent all pairs of eyes on the two newcomers but mostly on his mother dongwoo 

 

Sunggyu felt guilt hit him hard as he watched his mother shrink back slightly when the king and Queen landed their eyes on him he also caught glimpses of people whispering...... “what the hell is he doing here how preposterous !? How dare he even enter the east wing? Someone should teach him his place! “..... Among other rude things

 

The Queen suddenly cleared  lifting her bracelet and ring decorated hand clapping twice loudly, the sound echoed through the hall and almost immediately like ants all the attendees in the hall scurried out through the doors without uttering a single other word after bowing deeply to King 

 

Dongwoo snapped to his senses at the commotion quickly grabbing sunggyus small shoulders with one hand and silently ushering his son towards the door

 

“Stop ”A stern feminine voice behind them spoke out 

 

Dongwoo froze hoping against hope that the Queen had not meant him and was talking to someone else. After a short stifling pause the Queen spoke up again louder with a hint of arrogance

 

“Is this how you obey the Queen , Lady Dongwoo ?By not even deigning it worth your time to turn around and face me?”

 

Dongwoo spun around body bent in half his head as low to the ground as possible subtly shielding sunggyu from view by pulling him behind him

 

“I’m sorry your Highness I didn’t realise that you were speaking to me please pardon me for my insolence I am truly regretful”

 

“Excuses as usual Dongwoo-shii you have always been good with excuses” Hyorin sighed in a mocking manner a sly smile on her face “However I’ll forgive you for your disrespect today since the kingdom is in a festive mood...... as ‘MY HUSBAND’ has finally come back to ME”

 

Hyorin stressed as she turned around to drape her hands over the King’s shoulders placing her hand delicately on his chest 

 

“I’m so happy your back Howon” she said sickeningly sweetly 

“And I’m glad to be back” A deeper hesitant voice answered back

 

Sunggyu tightened his fists princess  Hyorin had always treated him and his mother badly, with unhidden malice....... She detested them so much that she even refused being present in the same room as them

 Infact sunggyu even had a big suspicion that she was the sole reason he and his mammy was forced to  live separately in the west wing

 

 

The only reason sunggyu didn’t attack the queen for insulting his beloved mother, remaining  silent and respectful even when his little body was trembling with anger, was mostly due to his mother’s wishes and definitely not because he respected or liked princess hyorin  in any way

 because that was far from the truth as he despised her, hated her for the humiliation and pain she put his mother Dongwoo through everyday

 

Sunggyu fisted his hands at the condescending way the Queen was speaking guilt eating away at his soul since he was the one who got his mother in this situation in the first place 

 

“This is my fault” he thought shrinking behind against his mother’s back remorsefully

 

“Yes your highness it truly is a joyous occasion....I welcome you back my king” Dongwoo replied softly his eyes straying longingly on the king unconsciously taking a step forward wishing for nothing more than to caress his beloveds face Atleast once 

 

“YOUR KING?! WATCH YOUR MOUTH PEASANT! HOWON IS MY HUSBAND! MY KING DON’T YOU DARE UTTER THOSE WORDS AGAIN” Hyorin screeched ruthlessly moving to stabd before the king possessively 

 

“I-mm...” Dongwoo faltered hurt, unshed tears in his eyes when Howon remained silent looking at him pitifully

 

“What did mammy say wrong ! Father is the king of the nation! He is everyone’s KING! Especially mammys, it his right as the 2nd princess ! “ Sunggyu interjected angrily unable to keep quiet any longer, reluctantly adding a forced “Your Highness” at the end when his mother gripped his hand tightly

 

“I thought isolating you from the rest of the castle would make you learn your place but I was apparently wrong.... it seems to have however made your tongues longer instead...... I should have you whipped for your insolence little prince” Hyorin hissed deadlyly icy glare directed at Sunggyu

 

“No my queen please forgive My son he is nothing but a young boy he is not yet aware of the formalities of this World..... I implore you Your Highness please forgive him” Dongwoo begged fear evident in his eyes as he knew first hand well what Hyorin was capable of doing 

 

“Oh Dongwoo-shii.... Dongwoo-shii.... how naive can you be to question the Queens decision ? I pity you so much...... This is the real world, Not some fairytale where dreams come true” Hyorin sang with a twisted smile eyes twinkling mischievously as she turned to face her husband

 

“Your Majesty send prince Sunggyu into the dungeons this instant”

 

“Nooooo !! YOU CAN’T! “ Dongwoo screamed in protest fear clutching his hear as he latched onto his only son desperately 

 

“I can’t you say...”Hyorin questioned with a raise of her eyebrows a slow hateful grin spreading across her face as she snapped her fingers in a swift motion not even waiting for the king to answer her

 

The palace guards timmediately surrounded Dongwoo and his son as they harshly pulled the young boy from his mother 

 

“Mother! !!” Sunggyu screamed in panic as the guards manhandled him ruthlessly bruising his small limbs with the unnecessary force they were using

 

“Sunggyu-ah !” Dongwoo yelled helplessly fighting against the strong holds on his arm trying to bring back his son into his arms

 

“Looks like I just did Dongwoo-shii....”Hyorin smiled maliciously gesturing wildly towards the guards

 

“Lock him up in the darkest  cellar and make sure he doesn’t get a single morsel to eat till he learns to control that nasty tongue of his and learn some respect”

 

“You can’t do this !!” Dongwoo kept screaming as fear made way to anger when he directed his betrayed gaze towards the king..... His lover

 

“Howon stop this maddness Sunggyu is your son for heaven’s sake !” Dongwoo ‘s  words however were stopped when the Queen suddenly appeared before him and slapped him across his face laughing hysterically 

 

“Mother!!!”

 

“HOW DARE YOU CALL THE KING MY HUSBAND BY HIS NAME you insolent concubine Don’t you ing forget your place !” Hyorin hissed

 

Sunggyu stopped struggling when he heard the word concubine ,he knew what the word meant he wasn’t as oblivious to his surroundings as his mother thought ,everything fiinally made sense now the franctic whispers whenever him or his mother passed through the corridors of the main castle or the sneering leacherous gestures the courts men directed towards his mother when they thought he wasn’t looking....... and the most glaring fact which he always found odd, the fact that his father, the king only came to visit them at the of midnight

 

Sunggyu caught his mother’s  sorrowful tearfilled eyes looking at him with horror and heart-rending regret as Dongwoo mumbled a broken “Sso-rry”

 

He had not wanted his son to find out about it this way

 

Sunggyu lips curled up into a big smile that stretched across his face as he looked at his mother in admiration.......It wasn’t his mammys fault none of it could ever be  his mother’s fault

He was the purest and most kindest Soul anyone could ever meet in their lives..... Someone who sacrificed every little happiness, every little thing in his life to ensure his only son grew up well without misery

 

It wasn’t Dino mammys fault that he fell in love with the wrong person

 

“I’m sorry Dino Mammy” Sunggyu whimpered big fat tears rolling down his chubby cheeks

 

“Come to think of it aren’t you equally at fault here Dongwoo-shii? If you had just followed my orders judiciously and faithfully  keeping to your section of the palace this drama would never have happened !” Hyorin spoke up frowning in a thoughtful manner,  her eyes lighting up in glee like a child who just received their Christmas gift as an idea crossed through her mind

 

“It isn’t fair that little Sunggyu is being punished alone now is it?”Queen Hyorin smirked hatred evident in her eyes 

 

“Your Majesty may I ?” The Queen curtosied before the king as she pulled out a whip which was attached to his belt

 

“My Queen aren’t you going a bit far ?”Howon asked in a timid voice unbefitting for the ruler of the ice Kingdom 

 

“Are you questioning me my lord ?”Hyorin smiled in a threatening way closing her eyelids seductively

“NOO! “ Howon denied hotly, taking deep calming breaths and once again trying to reason with the Queen

“I would never deny you anything my love but I really thin-“

 

“WELL !!!THAT’S SETTLED THEN !” Hyorin grinned turning to the guards throwing the spoked whip at tthem “Torture him....Whip him ,Burn him......do anything you want as long as it breaks him!”

 

“Do whatever you want with me but spare my son...... Pleaseee  I beg you! ” Dongwoo cried not putting up a fight against his restraont

 

“Wait!  How can you do such a thing !! MY MOTHER DID NOTHING WRONG!  If you have to punish anyone it’s me let Dino mammy go..... I’ll do anything!” Sunggyu screamed tears running down his cheeks as he tried to escape and protect his mother

 

“Prince Sunggyu...... I personally don’t really dislike you as much as your mother so I’ll let you be for now, but I can’t say the same for your mammy....... let me give you a life lesson beggars can’t be choosers.... They get what they deserve“ Hyorin smiled dismissing the guards

 

Sunggyu started struggling more as they started yanking his mother towards the dungeons of the castle, the torture room

 

The guards surrounding his mother had  creepy dark disgusting expressions on their face purposely holding and touching his mother on his exposed skin 

 

“MOTHER! NO!! MOOOOTHERRRR!!”  Sunggyu started weeping uncontrollably trying to bite his captives hands

 

“Sunggyu-ah don’t worry about me..... Mammy will be fine..... Just be safe” Dongwoo smiled weakly at his son as he was pulled away trying to mask his trembling when the guards hands touched him inappropriately 

 

“Nooooo! This is all my fault! They’re going to hurt mammy because of me!! Why didn’t I just listen to mammy! “ Sunggyu thought as he kept screaming and kicking fear gripping his heart and soul

“What if he never saw his mammy again? What if they were separated forever?? Nooooo... I wont let them take him!! I won’t let them hurt Dino mammy! Never I’ll never let them hurt him !”

 

Just as the guards reached the stairs leading down to the dungeon one of the guards kneed his mother on the stomach laughing as he weakly stumbled to the ground

 

Sunggyu froze at the sight,  eyes wide open unadulterated rage coursing through his tiny body before he started thrashing around uncontrollably 

A bizarre tempest suddenly resonated through the castle walls, an unnatural chill piercing the air as the prince’s pained wail echoed through the halls

“NOOOOOOOOOO!! “

 

 

                   

                   “Beware of a patient man’s fury"