The Weight Of Expectations
881 Words
Echoes of a Warning
“Don’t disappoint me.”
The words lingered in Sung’s mind long after Jiwon had walked away, leaving him standing in the snow, ribs throbbing and pride bruised.
What does that even mean?
Did Jiwon expect him to become a warrior overnight? Or was this some kind of twisted game—testing his limits before deciding whether to keep him or throw him back into the dungeons?
Sung exhaled sharply, his breath clouding in the cold air.
He needed answers.
The Duke’s Elusive Presence
Over the next few days, Sung barely saw Jiwon.
The Duke was a ghost in his own castle—vanishing into meetings, riding out at dawn, returning long after Sung had given up waiting.
But Sung refused to be ignored.
He started asking servants about Jiwon’s schedule. Lingered near the training grounds at dusk. Even tried cornering the Duke’s steward, a stern-faced man who looked at Sung like he was an unsolved riddle.
“His Grace does not take unscheduled audiences,” the steward said flatly.
Sung crossed his arms. “Then schedule me in.”
The steward’s lips thinned.“You are not a priority.”
Ouch.
But Sung wasn’t deterred.
A Chance Encounter
His persistence paid off one evening when he spotted Jiwon returning from the stables, his coat dusted with snow, his expression unreadable.
Sung didn’t hesitate. He stepped into Jiwon’s path.
“Sung.” Jiwon’s voice was cool, but his eyes flickered with something—surprise? Annoyance?
“We need to talk,” Sung said.
Jiwon didn’t stop walking. “About?”
Sung matched his stride. “About this.” He gestured between them. “You drag me out of a dungeon, give me a room, then vanish. You throw a sword at me and tell me not to disappoint you—but you won’t even tell me what you want from me.”
Jiwon slowed, then stopped. The torchlight cast sharp shadows across his face.
“What I want,” he said slowly, “is to understand what you are.”
Sung frowned. “I already told you. I’m not Kang Yohan.”
“No. You’re not.” Jiwon’s gaze bore into him. “But that doesn’t mean you’re harmless.”
Sung’s chest tightened. “You think I’m a threat?”
Jiwon stepped closer, his voice dropping to a murmur. “I think you’re a variable. And variables are dangerous.”
Sung held his ground. “Then why keep me around?”
For the first time, something flickered in Jiwon’s eyes—something raw and unguarded.
“Because,” he said, so quietly Sung almost missed it, “I want to believe you.”
Then he was gone, disappearing down the hall before Sung could respond.
The Library’s Secrets
That night, Sung couldn’t sleep.
Jiwon’s words gnawed at him. *I want to believe you.*
What did that mean? Did Jiwon *want* Sung to be different? Or was he just waiting for proof that he wasn’t?
Determined to understand, Sung slipped out of his room and into the castle’s labyrinthine halls.
He found the library by accident—a vast, hushed space filled with towering shelves and the scent of old parchment. Moonlight streamed through stained glass, painting the floor in fractured colors.
Sung ran his fingers along the spines, searching for anything about Kang Yohan—or, failing that, about the Duke himself.
Then—
“Looking for something?”
Sung spun.
Jiwon stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
Sung’s pulse jumped. “I—uh—”
Jiwon stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him. “Curious about your predecessor?”
Sung swallowed. “Yeah.”
Jiwon moved to a shelf, pulling out a leather-bound tome. He handed it to Sung.
“Kang Yohan,” he said. “Former captain of the royal guard. Traitor. Assassin.”
Sung opened the book. Inside was a detailed account of Yohan’s crimes—his betrayal, his attempted coup, his near-successful assassination of the Duke.
And his face—
Sung’s stomach twisted.
It was his face.
Jiwon watched him closely. “Now you understand why I hesitated.”
Sung looked up. “But I’m not him.”
“No.” Jiwon’s voice softened. “You’re not.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then, impulsively, Sung asked, “What happened to him?”
Jiwon’s jaw tightened. “He fled. But if he ever returns…” His hand flexed at his side. “I’ll kill him.”
Sung believed him.
A Moment of Vulnerability
Sung closed the book. “Why show me this?”
Jiwon turned away, staring out the window. “Because you deserve to know what you’re up against.”
“And what’s that?”
“Distrust. Fear. Enemies who will see his face and assume you’re the same.”
Sung exhaled. “Great.”
Jiwon glanced back at him. “But if you stay by my side, no one will touch you.”
Sung’s breath caught. “Is that an offer?”
Jiwon’s lips curved—just slightly. “A warning.”
But Sung didn’t miss the way Jiwon’s gaze lingered on him, dark and assessing.
He’s testing me again.
And this time, Sung wasn’t sure what the right answer was.
___ to be continued ___
- Writer
