The King's Obsession

24.

The door of the guest room flung open, and the King walked into the room with his commander behind him. He stopped when he saw the Prince of Busan playing chess alone.

Seungcheol: Chess is played between two, princes.

-Seokmin smiled while placing the pawn on the black square of the board.

Seokmim: Why don't you play with me, King?

Seungcheol: You seriously came here from Busan to play a chess game with me?

Seokmin let out a playful smile.

Seokmin: The discussion seems related to the chess game.

The King walked near the prince and sat opposite him.

Seokmin: Mingyu, I suggest you leave the King alone with me. We want to have a private talk.

-Mingyu looked at his King. He went outside when he got approval from Seungcheol.

The game started. Seungcheol knew that Seokmin was quite clever in this game.

Seokmin: It's been a while since we played together, Seungcheol.

Seungcheol: I suggest you address me as the King, prince.

Seokmin: Nobody's superior while playing the game, Seungcheol. The opponents should consider each other as equal.

Seungcheol: Come to the point. Why did you come here?

Seokmin: I didn't get to listen to your terms in the court mating.

Seungcheol: What's the point? Your sister already loves my brother.

Seokmin: In royal marriages, love isn't our priority.

Seungcheol: What do you mean?

Seokmin: My sister agreed to marry you, Seungcheol.

-Seokmin moved his black bishop diagonally, attacking Seungcheol's white King.

Seokmin: Check!

Seungcheol glared at the smirking Seokmin. He moved his white King away from the black bishop.

Seungcheol: Even if she agreed to the marriage, I am not marrying her.

-Seokmin's playful smile dropped when the King killed his black rook with the White Queen.

Seokmin: *smirk* I don't care about your decision, seungcheol. You have to marry my sister if you don't want to face the consequences.

He said while moving his black knight towards the seungcheol's white queen.

Seungcheol clenched his jaws and glared at Seokmin.

Seungcheol: You are threatening me in my palace, Prince?

Seokmin: Calm down, King. The game isn't over nor is our discussion. Keep your mind cool if you don't want to lose the game.

The two of them played the game in silence until Seokmin spoke.

Seokmin: You are still searching for Clara's body, aren't you?

-The king remained silent, his stares still on the game.

Seungcheol's mind messed up when he brought up Clara's topic. He controlled himself not to speak anything and to remain silent otherwise he would just detach his head from his body.

Seokmin took his silence as an advantage and spoke further.

Seokmin: What if I say she's still alive?

Seokmin let out a laugh under his breath when he saw the King's dark aura. Seokmin wasn't afraid of him as he was the strongest warrior. Seungcheol couldn't focus on the game. All he could think about was Clara. Seokmin moved his Queen towards the white King.