Chapter Text
After a couple minutes of searching, Yoo Joonghyuk ended up finding Kim Dokja in the library.
“Ha,” Kim Dokja laughed without humor. “I just opened a random door and ended up here.” He looked both sad and amused about this.
Yoo Joonghyuk thought Kim Dokja had an unlucky smile.
“Why would you ask the Queen to make me heir?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked.
“Kyzanex needs an heir,” Kim Dokja said. “It would help unite the kingdom if they could all get behind a solid leader. Hades doesn’t make enough public appearances for that. It would also prevent potential disaster. If the worst were to happen, the other members of the Olympus family would be too busy fighting each other to care if we were actively being invaded.”
Yoo Joonghyuk conceded part of his point. The late Kings, Zeus and Poseidon, have far too many children and news of each kings passing lead to many more revealing themselves. It was a mess both times. That’s why the throne so far has gone from brother to brother. But this only delayed the chaos destined to fall on the kingdom. Once King Hades died, the fights would start all over again. Unless the King declared one person as his heir.
“That doesn’t explain why it has to be me,” Yoo Joonghyuk said.
“Would you trust the kingdom in the hands of Hercules? What about Dionysus? If Hades trusted any of them, he would have already declared an heir ages ago. Hades and Persephone trust you. You already know a lot about bureaucracy so you won’t need much training, you’re immune to being bribed or coerced, and you’re a strong leader. Most importantly, you actually care about the people and our survival, not just how much gold you can fit in your pockets before you die.”
Yoo Joonghyuk was baffled. Who was this man to claim to know Yoo Joonghyuk so well? To trust him to be in charge of the whole nation, of his own survival, like it was obvious.
“I thought that Persephone would agree with me,” Kim Dokja continued. “I’ll have to talk to Hades. Maybe he can be reasoned with. He has to understand that no one would agree to this. I didn't take Persephone for such a jokester.”
“I don’t think she’s joking,” Yoo Joonghyuk said.
“Of course she is,” Kim Dokja laughed. “Who would entrust the kingdom to some random nobody? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Even though Yoo Joonghyuk had said something similar earlier today, it rankled to hear Kim Dokja say it. Maybe because he considered Yoo Joonghyuk to be the only other alternative. Maybe because it felt odd to hear someone talk about themself in such a way.
“When I spoke to the King about it, he was fully on board,” Yoo Joonghyuk said.
Kim Dokja looked utterly baffled by this.
“You are the heir to Kaizanex,” Yoo Joonghyuk said. “And I have been put in charge of your protection.”
“Wait, what?” Kim Dokja looked even more upset by this than he did about being heir. “What about the wall?”
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. The fact that Kim Dokja seemed to be thinking the same thing as Yoo Joonghyuk when his own King and Queen did not should honestly concern him.
“They aren’t going to change their minds,” Yoo Joonghyuk said, eyes furrowed in frustration. “Unless you prove yourself to be a terrible heir or die before the King does.”
Kim Dokja seemed to read Yoo Joonghyuk’s frustration wrong because he took a step back and narrowed his eyes at Yoo Joonghyuk in suspicion.
“Is that it then?” Kim Dokja said. “You will kill me to prevent me from inheriting the kingdom.”
Yoo Joonghyuk was starting to get a headache. That absolutely was not what he was suggesting at all. Even if he had considered it at one point, that was before…Before he saw how much Kim Dokja absolutely did not want this. How could he have ulterior motives when he clearly was even more against this than Yoo Joonghyuk?
“I’m saying,” Yoo Joonghyuk growled out, “that we have no choice but to play along with their whims until they come to their senses on their own and pick a proper heir.”
“But we don’t have enough time!”
“What do you mean?”
Something flashed in Kim Dokja’s eyes for a moment.
“We are a nation at war,” Kim Dokja said, eyes hard. “On top of that, there are untrustworthy people constantly vying for the throne. We can’t risk the fate of the kingdom on hoping the King will change his mind.”
“Well, we don’t have the time to keep arguing either,” Yoo Joonghyuk countered. “For as long as we’ve been a monarchy, the kingdom has had to deal with the consequences of a King’s actions. The best we can do is minimize the damage. And for as much as you’ve been arguing you will make a terrible heir, you seem to care about the survival of the kingdom’s people as much as I do. Your only real excuse is that you are unknown. So we’ll use the time we have to make you known and trusted by the people until either the King dies or changes his mind.”
Kim Dokja opened his mouth then shut it. He crossed his arms.
Yoo Joonghyuk smirked. He let himself feel smug for finally getting this guy to shut up.
“Fine. We’ll do it your way,” Kim Dokja agreed.
It was good to know at least the Prince could be reasoned with.
“We should return,” Yoo Joonghyuk said. “The Queen seemed worried about you.”
“Actually, I think I’ll stay here for a while. You can just tell her where I am.” Kim Dokja waved his hand distractedly, all of his attention turning to the shelves surrounding them.
“Isn’t that a little on the nose?” Yoo Joonghyuk said as he watched Kim Dokja lovingly flip through the pages of a book. He was reminded of Beauty and the Beast, where the peasant girl turned Princess found staying locked inside the castle more bearable because there was a library in it.
“Hm?” Kim Dokja tilted his head.
“That ‘Dokja’ would love reading?”
“It was my mother’s doing.” Kim Dokja smiled that unlucky smile again. He went back to his book.
For someone who so adamantly didn’t want to be a prince, he’d already mastered the dismissiveness. Yoo Joonghyuk left him to it.
…
Kim Dokja sighed as he sank into a warm bath for the first time in ages. If he was going to live in the palace, he might as well take full advantage of it.
Unfortunately, he was not allowed to sit in silence for long.
“Wang-se-ja!” a man called out as he barged into the room, hands full of clothes.
Kim Dokja yelped and buried himself deeper into the bath, hiding himself within the bubbles.
Unperturbed, the servant continued on.
“I brought you some clean clothes, young Prince,” he said. “And I brought scissors and a brush so I can cut and style your hair, dear Prince.” he bowed.
“Uwha,” Kim Dokja said gracefully. “Um, thank you. You can just, uh. Can you- Do you mind waiting outside for me to finish?”
“Do you not need help washing, my Prince?”
“Absolutely not!” Kim Dokja’s face went hot. “I’m fine.”
“If you say so, your Highness,” he said and left.
“Leave the clothes!” Kim Dokja called after them.
So much for enjoying his warm bath. Once he finished, Kim Dokja quickly got dressed and opened the door. He was surprised to see the man still waiting outside. Now that he could finally get a good look at him, he could see the servant was tall and thin with black hair graying at the temples.
The man’s eyes roamed over Kim Dokja’s clothes with a judgemental eye before schooling his face back to politeness.
“Hopefully you don’t mind the ill fit, your Highness,” he said with a customer service smile. “Once I get your measurements, you’ll have something better to wear,” he said.
“This is fine, thank you,” Kim Dokja said. Honestly, these were the nicest clothes he’s ever worn. The cloth was soft and airy, perfect for the warm weather. The suit wasn’t tailored, but it was loose instead of tight.
“Can I cut and style your hair now, your Highness?” He held up a brush and scissors in each hand.
“Yeah, sure.” Kim Dokja rubbed a hand over his face. “But only if you stop calling me ‘Highness’ and ‘Prince’. Just my name is fine. And what do I call you?”
“My name is Han Myungoh. I am ever so happy to be of service!” His smile looked far too enthusiastic.
After the man finished pricking him with needles, cutting his hair, and powdering his face, he finally left Kim Dokja alone in blissful silence. Kim Dokja took a moment to look at himself in the mirror. He really did look a lot better. He always thought he looked average, but with his new makeover, Kim Dokja thought he could almost catch up to Yoo Joonghyuk’s princely looks.
Kim Dokja sighed at the thought of princes. He never expected the King and Queen would choose him as the heir. In favor of Yoo Joonghyuk? Are they blind?
Well, it was too late now. Kim Dokja had agreed to this farce, at least for Yoo Joonghyuk’s sake. As usual, Kim Dokja could never rely on anyone else to do his work for him. Confucius forbid he had it easy. He would have to do everything himself.