Plop. Plop. Plop.
My wet footwear made weird sounds as I hopped through mud, hands holding my father, who was silent, as I skipped like a rabbit going back to my palace.
"Plop, plop, plop." My lips copied the sounds by slapping them together. A giggle echoed as I looked up at my father, who just looked straight to the path.
I unconsciously cuddled the rabbit in my right hand tightly as Father's grip on my left hand did the same. I slowly stopped popping my lips together and wiggled my right hand, pulling it away.
Father seemed to have realized and quickly looked down at me.
"Yun?" He whispered my name, but I simply looked away and then ran towards my palace.
My palace was loud tonight, and so many people are walking and running around. I stopped in front of the gate as the guards immediately ran towards me, shouting, "The Prince is here! Here! We found His Highness!"
They immediately kneeled and looked all over my body, not minding the rabbit in my hand. They were sweating and making many ugly faces, which made me giggle and pat their cheeks.
"Yun is fine. Fine. You are kind boys. Yun likes you." I muttered and then leaned to kiss them both, only to be pulled away.
Father held the collar of my robe tightly, and he was shivering because of the cold. I can feel him tremble, and he quickly carried me in his arms.
I stared at him, but he was just looking at the guards who immediately kneeled in front of him.
"A-Are you two alright?" He said, still shivering, so I raised my hand and patted his cheeks. His cheeks were similar to Yun's; both were pale like Mother told me.
But right now, Father's cheeks seem to become paler than mine.
"Are you cold, Father?" I asked, and without dropping the rabbit, I cupped his trembling face, blowing my breath on him.
"Yun will warm you up. Breath is warm. Hah haa~."
Father smiled at me, his eyes just as dark as the night, before he focused on the guards and repeated his question, "Do you two feel alright?"
I do not want to look at the good guards, but Father kept on asking them questions, so I looked at them and smiled.
"We are alright, Your Highness. Forgive us for not knowing our place." Both answered in unison, making me chuckle, my hands touching my lips before leaning on Father.
"Good boys. Father, they are good boys. They like Yun." I whispered to my Father who just flinched. He looked at me with his eyebrows touching one another, but I simply rubbed my face on the crook of his neck.
Warm. Yun likes warm things.
"Forgiven. However, next time, make sure to keep your distance from the Prince. Do not interact at all." Father shivered while getting mad at the guards, which made me close my mouth and hug the rabbit.
Father loves me dearly. I am happy.
"Hm~ Hm~ " I gently closed my eyes as I hum. Father's heart was beating loudly; I could hear it well. Yun has good hearing; the crying child drowning in the western Palace can be heard, too.
But only Yun can hear these sounds.
I rubbed my face again on Father; he was holding me tightly in his arms, maybe afraid I would get lost again. A giggle escaped from my lips, and then I tightened my hug on the rabbit.
The crying from afar stopped as Father's body warmed me up. Soon, Mother came running to welcome us. My servants all sighed in relief; they were all stained with red all over their bodies. Some even didn't comb their hair.
I waved my hand at Mother and then showed her my rabbit, which she immediately stopped and almost fell all over in shock. I smiled wider; she must've liked it too.
"Y-Yun... Yun, let go of that. It's dirty." She muttered gently and tried to take it away, but I shook my head, patting it gently.
"It's ugly now because Yun played with it. But Father promised he'll clean it for me." I explained and then looked at my father, who just looked away and walked past Mother.
"Take them away." Mother said to the guards as they dragged my servants away. They all screamed, which made me frown, waving bye at them.
They all screamed and called for me as they asked for forgiveness and mercy. I know what forgiveness is, but what is mercy? I looked at my Father and tugged his clothes on his chest.
"Father, give them mercy," I said, and then leaned on his chest, then shifted to look at my servants while resting my chin on Father's shoulder.
"Mother, give my servants mercy. Why are you stingy? Stingy is bad." I mumbled at Mother, who was still not giving my servants mercy.
People at the palace like asking for mercy. Now that Yun remembered, the crying child from the western palace was asking for it too.
"My son, they do not deserve it. They didn't take care of you! They deserve to be flogged to death—"
"Silence. Do not rub the child with any of your cruelty." Father was quick to silence mother. His trembling hand caressed my head, which made me look back at him, which were still holding the rabbit that somehow smelled bad, encircled his neck.
"But Your Highness! Something could've happened to our child! They deserve to die!" Mother started screaming again, making me chuckle.
I chuckled and then reached my hand to her.
"Carry Yun, then give me that mercy too. Yun wants mercy, too." I pouted, which made my Mother stop. She looked at me strangely before her raised eyebrows and frowning forehead slowly eased.
Tears fell from her eyes. Similar to Father and me, Mother is also wet. She must've secretly played under the rain too...
"My Yun... My dear Yun, how kind my dear child is." She cried loudly and then tried to take me, but Father quickly dodged her and hugged me tightly.
" Hehe hehe," I giggled, patting my Father's face.
Father and Mother love Yun dearly... always fighting for Yun.
"Your Highness? Are you really taking my child away from me even now? Yun needs his Mother." Mother complained and held up her long clothes before running after us.
Father didn't answer her and just quickened his pace, like we were playing chase. I laughed and laughed and then dropped my rabbit in glee.
Screams filled my ears, but Father and Mother didn't hear any sound. I know those voices; it was my servants still asking for mercy.
Mercy. It must be hard to give. Mercy must be pricey.
Father quickly entered my chamber and slammed the door shut, leaving Mother alone in the dark. I looked at the closed door and listened to my Mother's cries and begs to enter, but Father must have weak hearing unlike Yun, so he paid her no mind.
Father gently put me down in the chair, which I did, and started swinging my legs that were raised from the ground. The red stains on my robe were there, and it seems Father hated them very much.
He took his own clothes and rubbed them away. He rubbed. Then rubbed. My skin started hurting because Father was busy cleaning me.
Father's face was trembling as beautiful, silent tears fell from his cheeks. He was still trying to remove the red stains from me.
Father really loves me. My heart is happy. He is even crying because Yun got dirty.
"Hush, hush. Yun is fine. Just dirty." I mumbled and then patted his cheeks that were wet. He looked at me and continued rubbing, almost tickling me.
"Yun... My Yun. What do I do? Yun..." He muttered, cleaning me.
I smiled at him and then couldn't help but hug my kind father. I patted his head even though I couldn't reach much of it. Pat. Pat. Pat.
"Love Yun. Love Mother. But love Yun more. That's what Father should do." I answered his question and then kissed his cheek.
Father just went silent and looked at me. He was no longer crying, but he seemed so sad.
"...Yun." Father suddenly spoke, pulled me away from him, and then raised his hand, touching my neck. He even wrapped his fingers around my throat, which made me smile and touch his hands.
Oh. Are we going to play that game again?
"Father loves you, okay? Okay?" Father started saying the words that start our secret game.
My eyes twinkled, and then I obediently closed my eyes, letting him tighten his grip on my neck. I felt my throat itching and painful. Yun can't even breathe. Soon, my legs slowly raised as Father tightened his hold on my neck even more.
Yun doesn't like this game, but Father does. But since Yun is a good child, I always play along.
"I love you... Father loves you dearly... P-Please, just— have mercy on my son, please." Father cried.
My eyes were forced to open. Yun can't control this part of the game. Once Father tightens and cries, then beg for mercy... Yun always loses control of my body.
But if Yun stays silent...
Father suddenly let my neck go, and a sudden rush of air entered my body, forcing me to cough. I coughed and giggled at the same time, and then scratched my itchy neck.
"Haha, F-Father.. ugh.. You lost again." I mumbled.
I watched my Father cry because he lost the game, and I simply kissed his cheek while scratching my neck. Father pulled me gently and then looked at my neck while sobbing.
"I can't... I can't. This is my son. Yun is my son." He kept on mumbling, patting my itchy neck gently.
I nodded and then answered, "Yes. Yes. Yun is Father's child. Most loved child."
Father looked at me and then shook his head while crying, hugging me tightly. I just let him be. He always feels upset whenever he loses our little game.
Oh, my servants stopped screaming. Did they finally get that mercy?
I wonder when will Father gets his?
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