Hyukjae does have many questions. For Kyuhyun. They even make Donghae confused.

“Prince Hyukjae," Kyuhyun says. "Are you saying they should go to these programs or they shouldn’t? Or are you saying we shouldn’t be offering them--?”

The prince blinks. “No, no… I’m not saying any of that. It’s just…”

Kyuhyun waits. His lips are thinned. He seems to be getting frustrated. He checks his wristwatch.

“Okay,” Hyukjae says. Sits up. “Let me ask it like this... let’s say... a kid goes to school, and everything’s great. He has all these dreams, things he wants to do in life, and plans for himself or whatever, and then somewhere through it all, he finds out that he’s got... something special he can do. So... everything changes for him?”

“Right, and he’ll have the school and the kingdom’s support to help him through that. He'll learn the best and safest ways he can use those special abilities.”

“Right, that’s great, but... what if he doesn’t want to?”

Donghae glances at Kyuhyun. The other’s startled too.

“Doesn’t want to?” Kyuhyun says. He stares silently. Then smiles. “Prince Hyukjae... it’s really not that simple. Speak to anyone who’s had to struggle with learning how to manage, and they’ll tell you, it’s extremely difficult and--” His eyes briefly flick to Donghae. “Extremely isolating, I would imagine. The kingdom, a-and our late queen, started to show all this public support so that we can encourage our citizens to help each other, and for those who are special to seek--”

“Right, I get that, Kyu,” Hyukjae says. “We want them to know they’re safe here, they’re wanted, which is great, we want them to be able to learn to control their powers, feel good about themselves, and to keep others safe, that’s also great, but... these kids or young people, they only have the kingdom’s programs for them to go to, right?”

“Right..." Kyuhyun says. He’s frowning.

“So,” Hyukjae says. “I’m trying to understand if we have any information about... how these people feel, regarding that? Like, if-if someone was having a really hard time, and then we said, hey, we can help, and here are all these ways that we can help you, and then as they go through these programs, they lead to either working for the kingdom’s rulers, or they go to the academy to then be placed into some position that is for the government again -- so technically, your path leads to... working for the kingdom... right?”

Kyuhyun tilts his head. “Right…?”

Hyukjae chews his lip. Looks up at Donghae. Back to Kyuhyun.

“I’m sorry, Prince Hyukjae..." Kyuhyun says. "I’m still not seeing your point here…”

“What’s our end goal?” Hyukjae blurts out. “I’m happy to do this -- obviously, I know Sora genuinely wanted to help and I-I know that she has done a great deal, but... why is it that... we’re getting all the citizens who are special in some way to be working for us? Like, do... do they have a choice?”

Kyuhyun’s lips turn up in a smirk. He gives Donghae a quick glance again.

"What do you mean, do they have a choice? No one is forcing them. It’s an honour, a privilege, to be working for the kingdom. They’re given the best care, salaries, and benefits -- it exceeds the average citizen’s income, by... it's triple even at the minimum, if I'm correct...?”

His gaze moves to Donghae again. Does he expect him to answer?

Hyukjae sits back. Crosses his arms. Kyuhyun purses his lips. Observes Hyukjae silently now.

“Your highness,” he then says. “I apologize if I have not answered your question.”

Hyukjae smiles. Shakes his head. “No, I’m sorry Kyuhyun, I’m not sure what I’m asking, really. Let’s go back to our lesson.”

Kyuhyun’s visibly relieved. He pulls forward the textbooks he’s brought.

---

Donghae’s left to wonder. About Hyukjae’s words. To Kyuhyun. To himself. Earlier. He just tunes in to their lesson. Perhaps he'll see... where Hyukjae’s questions come from.

---

There are seven major cities in the Sheseon Kingdom. The capital lies at the centre. Hyukjae’s from the southern part of the kingdom.

There has been a lot of research in recent years. To understand how people have heightened abilities. In some cases... they surpass those words’ definitions. It’s then referred to as a special power.

The burden of these abilities and powers is huge. Without guidance... people suffer. Many were labelled crazy in the past. Or worse. Like, cursed. They were abandoned. Attacked. Killed. Sold. It depended on where they lived. Around the kingdom.

Naturally, it led to people hiding thems