Yoongi hugged the man back and patted his head lovingly. Taehyung was taller than him and had to bend down in order to bury himself in Yoongi's shoulder. Anyone who witnessed the scene would be able to see the relationship shared by the two; the fondness and intimacy shared by them that was deeper than anything a word such as love could ever define. It was as if they knew everything about the other, there was a line of understanding between them that didn't need to be voiced out loud, as if they only had eachother and relied on eachother.
They stayed like that for a moment till Taehyung had calmed down and when he realized what he was doing, he let go of him in an instant, "forgive me, your highness. I seem to have been reminded of something unpleasant."
"It's okay. We all have our weakness." Yoongi reassured, "Are you that afraid of sparring?"
"How can that be called sparring? Hitting eachother with the intent to cause harm and be proclaimed strong to win? Sparring is not so dangerous!" Taehyung spoke up as he defended himself.
Yoongi chuckled, "Is that so? Then how about this; You manage to land a single strike on your opponent and I'll do anything you ask me to. Do we have a deal?"
It was plain bribery and taehyung saw through it but how could he refuse such a seductive offer? To have the crown prince do anything and everything he asked for even if it was just for once? Nobody could reject such an offer especially Taehyung who had a lot of wishes.
"Just a single strike?"
"Just one."
"No going back on your word?"
"A deal is a deal." Yoongi reassured.
Taehyung found it suspicious but how could he know what yoongi was thinking?
Just how hard would landing a single strike be?
But boy was he wrong in thinking it was going to be easy. It was anything but easy, afterall, his opponent was still the same skilled trainer who had defeated thousands of people in this exact same field. Forget about landing a strike, he couldn't even defend himself properly. Yeowool was a man who was gentle with words but not with swords. He was impartial and ruthless on the training grounds. Even if the man wanted not to offend Taehyung in any manner, he would still end up using too much force even after trying his utmost best to hold back. Each strike seemed to contain more power than the last one. Taehyung tried his best but what else could he do? Four strikes and Taehyung's wooden sword was pitiful knocked out of his hands. His hands which turned red started to itch and hurt but Taehyung didn't give up, he couldn't give up. He still went over and bent down to pick up his weapon.
Humiliation; he could feel it.
Taehyung had done many things in his life which were considered unsightly and humiliating for a prince. Heck, wasn't happily becoming a hostage for your enemy a humiliating thing? But he had never felt such humiliation simply because he didn't have anyone whom he wanted to prove his self worth to but that... That was not the case anymore.
He had a thick-skin and a seemingly hard skull but for the first time in his life he felt humiliated because up on the second floor balcony, sitting on the high seat was a man whom he wanted to please by all means. A man who inspired him and made him want to become a better person, Someone who supported him and had faith in him. This was the last thing he wanted to show that man.
Yeowool caught the look on Taehyung's face and even after knowing he was playing with fire, he still decided to add some fuel to it. This was his method of inspiring people; by adding fuel to the fire cause unless a person has a driving force that guides them to victory, they'd never be able to learn the essence of fighting. "Hahaha... To think his highness is even remotely interested in you? I expected a lot more."
Taehyung didn't seem very pleased by Yeowool's comment as he directly showed his anger by trying to hit him but Yeowool warded off the strike with ease, "Is that all you have? Certainly useless?"
Taehyung couldn't think straight. He let his emotions get the best of him as he hastily tried striking Yeowool a few more times and this time the man didn't only defend himself but also took advantage of Taehyung's carelessness as he used the hilt of the wooden sword to hit Taehyung on the stomach. Such an easy move which could have been avoided easily but wasn't. Such a simple move that wasn't supposed to hurt so much but it still hurt him to the point of crouching down on the ground. The wooden sword was once again knocked out of his hand.
Taehyung didn't want to see the look on Yoongi's face as he looked at his pitiful state, afraid to see the disappointment in his face.
"Do you think you deserve the treatment? Do you think it'll last forever?" Yeowool didn't seem to stop. He clearly saw the anger and humiliation portrayed on Taehyung's expression but he wanted to take a gamble, such a fearless man he was. He knew the consequences but at the moment he was too overtaken by his professional mode; if he could make a successful student out of Taehyung, it would all be worth it, "I've known his majesty since we were kids. I've seen him grow up so believe me when I tell you this; he's only interested in the delicious new candy he found and with time, his tastes will change and the candy would be thrown out like it was supposed to be."
It really hurt.
How could Taehyung not know that?
All his life, he had been abandoned by people whom he considered his family so how could he not consider the possibility of Yoongi abandoning him? He knew it. He considered the possibility. But he still wanted to take his chance.
And that is why it hurt so much.
Yeowool had seen through him, he had detected what other's could not, the insecurities Taehyung hid so deeply in his heart were all spread out in infront of him.
"You know it yourself. You have seen it and experienced it." Yeowool landed three consecutive strikes that had managed to once again knock out the wooden sword from Taehyung's hands.
It really hurt.
"You know it yourself; he is wasting his time on you and when he realises it himself, he'll throw you away too."
It hurt so much.
"You know deep down that anyone can replace you.... Or maybe you are a replacement, yourself." Yeowool really knew what not to say. Taehyung striked in vain again and was helplessly defeated again.
"No matter what you do, you'll never be worth it" A strike and not only was the sword knocked down but so was it's owner; Taehyung who was now lying on the dusty ground.
Yeowool prayed in his mind as he knew how offensive his next word choices would be; future empress, please forgive me for what I'm about to say next.
"Don't you think he's better off with me? Someone whom he trusts with all his heart. Someone skilled and intelligent. Someone who has loved him for the past decade and still continues to love him?"
Taehyung looked at Yoongi who could hear everything that Yeowool had said so far and yet the man hadn't moved from his seat, not even his expressions had any visible change. Taehyung didn't see this coming. He felt played. How could this happen? The crown prince had such a calm expression, didn't it mean that he already knew Yeowool loved him and if he did, How could Taehyung believe that Yoongi's heart hadn't fluttered even once?
This was the last straw.
Yeowool had really done it this time. He only wanted to ignite a fire but he ended up igniting hell fire.
When taehyung picked up his sword and glared at Yeowool; there was a feeling. A feeling that penetrated deep in Yeowool's bones. The feeling that he had only ever felt in the time of war when faced with an army of millions. This feeling was fear.
In an instant, Yeowool knew that he had finally succeeded and... Suddenly his future wasn't looking so bright anymore.
Taehyung went in for a straight slash from above but just as Yeowool was about to defend it, bam, he was hit and it wasn't the sword that hit him but the sneaky kick Taehyung landed on his stomach with such force that it made him lose balance but Yeowool didn't fall and instead calmed himself.
"Young master, well done. That kick wa-" he didn't get to finish his sentence as Taehyung was far from done. Yeowool received his second jab of pain, this time on his shoulder; back-flip kick.
Both Yeowool and Yoongi had a sudden understanding; This man might have been untrained with swords but to make up for it...
Another kick and this time it hit his calf. "Aah!" Yeowool couldn't help but fall to his knees as one his legs went numb.
Yeowool looked up only to be met with a foot. A direct face kick; Taehyung's most favourite type.
"I dare you to say that again even as a joke!" Taehyung's voice startled Yoongi.
Yeowool had really lit a huge fire this time.
Yoongi wasn't too unfamiliar with Yeowool's methods, after all, he was a victim of them as well. This man liked to force people. He'd open his mouth and attack them at their weakest points, incite them to fight and Yoongi had to admit; he had never actually managed to defeat Yeowool like this. The words were not to be taken too seriously as they were lies kneaded with the purpose of angering his opponents.
However, even if Taehyung knew this, he was still angered by the lies cause something's were not meant to be said even as a joke.
"Y-yes, young master. I would never even dream of- ahhhh!" Yeowool's hands were crushed under Taehyung's feet.
"I don't like swords! They hurt my hand!"
"..."
"..."
So that was the reason......?
Yoongi was speechless just like Yeowool who lay there tongue-tied. Both had somehow thought that this man was just a coward but to think that the reason behind him not wanting to fight was..... This?!?!
Yoongi chuckled; he had certainly not expected this.
Later that day, Yoongi and Taehyung rode back towards the palace together on the same horse they used to come here.
"Tae-kwon-do?" It was yoongi who spoke up first.
"My brother had me learn it." Taehyung pouted, visibly still angry at the man but responded due to respect.
"Your brother? Why?" Yoongi was not going to let him go so easily. He wanted to know everything there was to know about the man and if there was something he didn't know, he'll question it till he gets the whole answer.
"For... Self-protection." Taehyung half lied as he couldn't tell Yoongi the exact answer.
How could he tell the crown prince that he learned Tae-kwon-do for him? How could he tell him about his brother who warned him to be careful of the crown prince and taught him tae-kwon-do for self-defense while saying; If he ever tries to jump on you, kick that pervert on the face. No need to check if he is alive or not and keep kicking him even if he's down. Break his nose. Taehyung-ah, You must never be seduced by his fox like tricks.
Taehyung sighed, even though his brother had taught this to him ten years ago, it was still not early enough cause Taehyung had already been seduced by this fox from the very first moment he laid his eyes on him.
This cunning fox was really too lucky.