Hyunjin

Business, the throne, the crown, power—it seemed like Seungmin had it all, held it all in his hands. He could do whatever he wanted and buy whatever he wanted, those around him might think, but it wasn't as simple as it seemed. All responsibility fell on Seungmin's shoulders at the age of eighteen, and that was when his entire journey began. He calculated, thought, and tried to please the people and the courtiers. The boy's mother died when he was fifteen, and his father, grieving, passed away four years later, leaving everything to the young prince.

The guy simply didn't know how to express his emotions, so over time he stopped showing them altogether. He didn't allow himself an unnecessary word or action, always doing everything thoughtfully and calculatedly.

He also had a general at the palace, Hyunjin, a rather handsome young man who also matured early and began military training, rising to his current rank. He'd been Seungmin's lieutenant for a long time and had long since learned everything about him, learning what was and wasn't appropriate for the young king. Hyunjin wasn't hot-tempered or anything like that; he was calm, but not as emotionless as Seungmin.

Hyunjin was now heading toward the prince's office; he urgently needed to discuss a matter with him concerning a neighboring state. As he approached, he noticed the door was slightly open, and he peeked in and saw this:

The prince stood before the table, bent over, his hands resting on the wooden surface, breathing heavily. His ragged breaths sounded more like quiet sobs, and the way his shoulders moved suggested he wasn't as calm as he seemed.