Archive of Our Own

Sunoo can no longer remember the last time Sunghoon wasn’t the first thing that came out of his mouth.

He just keeps talking, unable to stop himself. For a while now, he’s been telling his friend Jungwon how he made the red scarf he worked on for an entire week. Meanwhile, Jungwon has gone completely quiet. After all this is already the sixth time Sunoo has told him the same story today.

Even though Sunoo knows Jungwon isn’t listening anymore, he continues anyway. What can he do? He can’t help it. He’s so excited that he can’t keep his mouth shut even while fixing his hair.

He wants to look his best tonight. He must look good in hopes of catching Prince Sunghoon’s attention.

Why?

Because today is Prince Sunghoon’s 21st birthday, which means he needs to find a mate as soon as possible.

He's already in legal age to be the King and neither of his two fathers wants to be a King any longer. Sunghoon’s father has been very vocal about his desire to give up his position so that he can enjoy his new married life.

Because one year after Sunghoon’s alpha mother died, the King remarried again.

He married his first love, a very beautiful omega named Lee Haein. Rumor has it within the palace that the two of them were childhood friends and even back then they already had feelings for each other. However, they were separated because the King needed to marry a Female Alpha in order to produce an heir to the throne.

So when the Queen died from illness, she told the King to find his former lover so they could continue their love. And luckily for King Seoham, Haein was already a widower when he found him in a town far from the palace, living with his two children, Heeseung and Riki.

Now, the two of them act like teenagers who can’t stop their PDA even inside the palace. Many are happy for the two kings but of course, whispers and gossip are unavoidable.

Despite the fact that many people dislike them being together. Sunoo loves their story, he compares it to one of the books he used to read when he was younger.

To him, it sounds like a fairy tale.

King Seoham doesn’t mind that King Haein isn’t a member of the royal family. He also doesn’t care that King Haein is an omega, even if it means he won’t be able to continue the Royal Alpha bloodline. 

Maybe Prince Sunghoon will be like his father, someone who doesn’t care about class or rank.

"Quit dreaming, Sunoo," Jungwon said, sounding bored.

"Fuck off," Sunoo snapped as he snapped out of staring at his reflection in the mirror.

Jungwon shook his head. "Just because that happened to Sunghoon’s father doesn’t mean it’ll happen to you too."

Sunoo gasped and turned to Jungwon. He wondered how Jungwon managed to read his mind but he was also puzzled by how easily Jungwon could call the Prince by his name.

"You're so easy to read, Sunoo," he answered simply. "And I don't care if he's a Prince or an extremely dominant alpha. It’s 2026, they’re not going to cut my head off just because someone hears me calling him Sunghoon.”

Can he read minds or something? 

Sunoo shot him an annoyed look.

“Do whatever you want, Sunoo. I’ve already warned you,” Jungwon said as he stuffed chips into his mouth. “Quit dreaming,” he added again.

“There’s nothing wrong with dreaming,” Sunoo scoffed, rolling his eyes before turning back to the mirror with a smile, reapplying lip gloss to his lips.

“I know Sunoo but you’ve gone too far. You threw yourself into the palace just because you saw him in a parade when we were kids, and right then and there, you already decided he’d be the one you’d marry. If that doesn’t make you one and a half levels of crazy,” Jungwon said.

His tone was calm but Sunoo could already feel the irritation in his voice.

Jungwon had never been annoyed with him before, no matter how talkative he was, so Sunoo paused mid application of his lipgloss and turned to look at his friend. Jungwon wasn’t looking at him, his eyes were fixed on the TV but Sunoo could sense his irritation just from the sharpness of his gaze at whatever he was watching.

"Jungwon..."

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke until Jungwon let out a sigh.

“I don’t understand you, Sunoo. I thought that one day you’d realize he’ll never love you the way you want him to, and that you’d wake up to the truth that the fairytales you used to read and watch as a kid aren’t real.”

Sunoo sighed as well after hearing what his friend said. Jungwon had never commented on his feelings for Sunghoon before, he would just listen to all the stories Sunoo brought home about him whenever he returned to the apartment he shared with him and Jay.

But now that he finally said something… it hurt.

“I just like him so much,” Sunoo said softly.

“He’s the son of the head alpha, he’s the crown prince! He’s also about to turn 21, Sun. He needs to find a female royal alpha to secure their bloodline, right?” This time, Jungwon turned to face him.

“It’s the big 2026 already. The two kings aren’t that strict anymore. I don’t think it matters to them who it is, whose child they are, or whether they’re an omega, alpha, or beta. As long as he’s happy, they’d be fine with it.”

"But the people—"

“They’re just other people! They have no effect on the prince’s life. They’re not even related to him.” Sunoo was about to say more, ready to argue with Jungwon, but he chose to stay quiet instead.

“Okay, fine! He’s a prince, so of course people will have something to say but whatever.” Jungwon stood up from the couch and turned off the TV. “I just don’t want you getting your hopes up only to be disappointed. You’ve been chasing him for nearly a decade, and he’s never returned your feelings. I bet even the rats and cockroaches in the palace know you like Sunghoon, it’s impossible he doesn’t, since you say it every day.”

“But Sunoo, have you ever felt that maybe, just maybe, he likes you too? No?” Jungwon let out a sharp breath. “Then think again, Sun.”

“I love him,” Sunoo said this time, his voice firm.

Jungwon froze. Silence filled the room for a few seconds until Sunoo broke it again.

“I love him so much,” he insisted. “It may sound cliché, but I don’t know what would happen to my life without him.”

“Maybe you could just quit your job at the palace and start working in our town, pursue your dreams, do the kind of work you actually want—”

“I don’t have any other dream,” Sunoo cut him off. “That’s the problem. I don’t have any other dream except for him to be my mate.”

“I just want to be his mate, Won. I want to take care of him for the rest of my life, and of the children we’ll have together,” Sunoo looked up, trying to hold back his tears. “That’s why I applied to be his caretaker, because that’s the only job I want. Ever since I was a kid, all I wanted was to be with him. I know it sounds pathetic—”

“Hey! Don’t say that, Sunoo. It’s not pathetic,” Jungwon’s voice suddenly softened.

“No, I know it’s pathetic. Why is my dream like this? Why can’t I dream like other people? Like becoming a doctor? Or a baker? Or a cook like my dad? Why is all I want just to be his mate?” Sunoo let out a sarcastic laugh as he tried to hold back his tears. “It’s shitty. It really sucks and I know that.”

“Sun, come here…”

Sunoo didn’t move from where he stood. He just tilted his head up, fanning his tears as if that would stop them from falling. So Jungwon walked over to him instead and pulled him into a hug.

“Shh, don’t cry! You’ll smudge your make up,” Jungwon joked before pulling away. He wiped Sunoo’s tears and held his cheeks gently. “Tell that idiot how you feel tonight. If he says yes, then keep chasing your dream. If he says no, we’ll figure out what your other dreams are… aside from being his…” Jungwon cleared his throat lightly, “…mate.”

Sunoo nodded slowly, a small laugh slipping out of him.

“Can I hug you again?” Jungwon asked softly. A wide smile slowly spread across Sunoo’s lips at his friend’s question.

“Please, babe,” Sunoo replied jokingly.

“Ew,” Jungwon said, though he tightened his hug around him.

When Jungwon buried his nose into Sunoo’s neck, Sunoo smiled and let out a soft laugh. Jungwon was definitely scenting him and since Jungwon is an alpha, it calmed him down.

Hmm…

“If Prince Sunghoon says no, can I just join your relationship with Jay?”

“No.”

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Sunoo smiles at everyone in the palace.

He knows most of them and they always reciprocate his smile, but there's something unusual about the way they smile back at him this time.

Inguk, the gardener who always greets and smiles cheerfully at Sunoo, had a sad smile today which made Sunoo feel strange. Everyone is looking at him with pity or perhaps he is just overthinking because of his recent conversation with Jungwon.

“Hello, Chef Jay! I’m going to pick up food for my beloved prince,” Sunoo winked at his friend, Jungwon’s alpha boyfriend.

Jay is the Palace’s Royal Cook. Even Sunoo doesn’t know how he, just a caretaker, became friends with the Royal Cook. Maybe it’s just that Jay and Sunoo’s personalities clicked. It could also be because Sunoo is the child of the former Royal Cook.

In case someone’s wondering, Sunoo is the reason Jay and Jungwon met, probably one of Sunoo’s greatest achievements. He believes he gave his two alpha best friends a happy ending.

“Sunoo—” Jay hesitated. “I…uhm, here…”

Sunoo took Prince Sunghoon’s breakfast before smiling again at his friend.

“You don’t look okay,” Sunoo said. “Is there a problem?”

“Nothing, I just want to talk to you about the rumors spreading around the palace right now.”

“Okay, I’ll come back here after I give this breakfast to—” Sunoo leaned closer to Jay and whispered, “my future mate.”

Jay swallowed and nodded. “Please come back here as soon as possible.”

“Mhm!” Sunoo nodded and started walking but Jay called his name again, making him turn back.

"Yes?"

Jay smiled at him. “You look beautiful today.”

Sunoo’s smile widened, making him even more excited to see Prince Sunghoon, maybe he could even catch his attention too.

“Good morning, Jake!” Sunoo greeted the young man as he walked toward the Prince’s room. Jake is Prince Sunghoon’s secretary.

“Good morning,” Jake replied, though he seemed a little less enthusiastic today.

“Everyone’s so busy today, they all look so tired, even you. You should rest. The Prince doesn’t have any schedule today except for his birthday party, right?”

Jake gave a small nod. “I’m not tired, I’m just worried.”

“About what? The party?” Sunoo asked curiously. “Don’t get too worked up, everything will be fine.”

Jake smiled, and this time it was genuine. “You do realize you’re the palace’s ray of sunshine, don’t you? Everyone in this place absolutely loves you.”

Sunoo’s cheeks flushed. He didn’t know why his friends were suddenly being so sweet to him today, they weren’t like this before.

“You know what? You’re such a sweet talker!” Sunoo laughed. “Not everyone. Prince Sunghoon doesn’t love me… not yet.”

Jake’s smile faded. “You can just find another guy. I have an alpha cousin who likes you, he’s really handsome, and—”

Here we go again.

“You know that I only like Prince Sunghoon, right?”

Jake could only sigh and nod.

“Don’t worry, you’ll find the perfect mate for your cousin, and I apologize if it isn’t me,” Sunoo said shyly to Jake. “Is he awake? Prince Sunghoon?”

Jake only nodded again, clearly not in the mood.

“Good, I’ll go inside,” Sunoo said with one last smile, one that Jake couldn’t return.

Sunoo found it strange.

Jake is never in a bad mood. He’s always enthusiastic, which is exactly why the King chose him to be Sunghoon’s personal assistant and secretary, hoping his energy would rub off on his son. What could have happened to Jake to make him act like that?

Sunoo brushed his thoughts aside because he had a lot of important things to do. Besides, everyone was busy, everyone had a lot on their plates which might be the only reason they all seemed so tired.

Sunoo knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, it’s me, Sunoo.”

“Come in.”

Sunoo entered the room and was greeted by the sight of the prince without a shirt, his hair still damp. He was sitting in front of a large mirror, scrolling on his phone.

“Good morning,” Sunoo smiled at him.

Sunoo’s morning suddenly became very good.

“Morning,” the prince replied shortly, not even looking at him, his eyes still fixed on his phone.

Sunoo carefully placed Sunghoon’s food on the table but he froze when the prince suddenly spoke.

“You’re late,” he said.

“Oh I’m not, actually. I just talked to Jake about your schedule and—”

“You reek,” he cut him off again. “You smell like different alphas.”

Huh? What is he even smelling now? What kind of nose does he have?

Sunoo looked down and tried to smell himself. Sure, he smelled like Jungwon’s sandalwood scent because they hugged this morning, but he couldn’t smell anything else. Maybe a bit of Jay’s and Jake’s too since they talked outside, but that was it.

“It’s just my friend’s and Jake’s,” Sunoo explained, not knowing why he was suddenly feeling nervous.

“Just wash or whatever. I don’t like the smell of alphas in my room,” he said calmly, still not looking at Sunoo.

“O-Okay, I’m sorry,” Sunoo replied, about to leave when Sunghoon suddenly looked up at him.

“You know what, just come here. We don’t have time, you can’t shower anymore since I need to get ready,” he ordered.

“Huh? You don’t like how I smell, so I feel shy getting close to you,” Sunoo said honestly. “I promise, it’ll be quick! I’ll just wipe my scent gland with water so the scent goes away—”

Before Sunoo could finish what he was saying, the prince grabbed his hand, causing Sunoo to bend forward toward him.

He began scenting Sunoo’s neck in the most awkward, not-at-all intimate position. Sunoo looked like he was about to do a respectful hand gesture that got interrupted, while Sunghoon remained seated.

It made him look ridiculous in that position.

Nonetheless, Sunghoon brought his nose close to Sunoo’s neck to scent him.

Not exactly pressed, just almost.

Sunoo nearly rolled his eyes back from how close the prince was. He could feel the warmth of Prince Sunghoon’s breath against his skin and Sunoo was absolutely ecstatic.

This is the closest they've come in almost ten years of working at the Palace, and Sunoo is so fucking happy that he can feel tears forming in the corners of his eyes from the sudden outpouring of his emotions.

Sunoo's vanilla honey scent became sweeter because of Sunghoon’s scent.

The scents on his skin were starting to mix, but he didn’t care, it smelled sweet and Sunghoon liked that kind of scent. That’s why Sunoo was always so thankful that his own scent was naturally sweet enough to match what Sunghoon preferred.

His omega felt pleased and satisfied.

Sunoo slowly got lost in his own fantasy. He didn’t even know why he suddenly imagined hearing church bells and seeing everything light up when Sunghoon pulled him closer but he was quickly snapped back to reality when Sunghoon pulled away.

“There…”

Sunoo blinked repeatedly.

“What was that? W-Why did you—”

“So you can start working now,” Sunghoon replied shortly before returning his attention to his phone.

“O-Oh…” Sunoo couldn’t immediately process what had just happened. His heart was still racing, his cheeks flushed, and he couldn’t move.

“Why are you still standing there?” Sunghoon asked, even raising an eyebrow but Sunoo quickly smiled.

“Was that your birthday gift to me?” Sunoo joked as he straightened up. He ran his fingers through Sunghoon’s hair as he began working, while Sunghoon slowly leaned back in his chair when Sunoo started massaging his temples.

“It’s my birthday today,” Sunghoon insisted. His eyes were already closed, clearly relaxing under Sunoo’s touch.

“My birthday was six months ago, was that a late birthday gift for me?” Sunoo pushed.

“Hm.” Sunoo wasn’t sure if that was an actual answer or if Sunghoon was just too relaxed from the massage. Oh well. It’s not like he’d respond to Sunoo’s teasing anyway.

“What hairstyle do you prefer for today, Your Majesty?” Sunoo asked sweetly, deliberately using a cute tone since Sunghoon wouldn’t properly talk to him.

“Just the usual. And please, no flirting,” Sunghoon said. “It’s not in your job description.

Sunoo chuckled softly before picking up a comb. “I’ve been here for almost ten years, Your Highness, and I’m still here. I don’t think flirting with you affects my job because if it did, I would’ve been fired a long time ago.”

The prince let out a small scoff. “Tsk, there you go again, you’re flirting. When are you going to stop?”

“Never,” Sunoo’s smile widened even more. “Unless you get married to someone else who isn’t me.”

Sunghoon didn’t say anything after that, making Sunoo pout. The prince really had a habit of ending their conversations so abruptly. He simply opened his eyes and sipped his coffee while Sunoo continued fixing his hair.

“Are you sure you just want the usual? It’s your birthday, don’t you want to try something different?” Sunoo asked, but the prince only shook his head.

So Sunoo went ahead and continued styling his hair. “Isn’t today the day you’re supposed to look for a potential mate?”

Sunoo felt Sunghoon pause slightly.

“There’s no need for that anymore,” the prince said quietly but Sunoo heard him clearly.

“You’re right, because I’m already here,” he joked.

For the first time that day, he made the prince laugh. It was soft and sounded more like he was just caught off guard, but at least he smiled. Sunghoon was already used to his jokes. Most of the time he ignored them but there were moments like this when Sunoo could actually make him laugh.

“Ah! Right, my gift for you,” Sunoo suddenly stopped what he was doing.

“Wait a second…”

He quickly reached into his bag and pulled out another paper bag, this one pink. The prince frowned slightly, though Sunoo was smiling.

Every year after Sunoo started working in the Palaca, he never forgot to give Sunghoon a gift on his birthday. Even if he had to save up for a long time from his salary… even if Sunghoon could easily afford the things he gave… even if he had never once seen the prince use or wear any of his gifts, he still kept giving. Just to see that smile on Sunghoon’s face whenever he handed one over, just like now.

“Happy Birthday, Hoon!” Sunoo greeted.

Sunghoon let out a small laugh before accepting the paper bag.

“If we lived back then, your head would’ve been cut off if anyone heard you.”

“I know, baby. That’s why I’m thankful we live in this generation,” Sunoo said with a grin.

The prince froze.

“Just— don’t call me that,” Sunghoon said, his smile disappearing, making Sunoo’s chest ache a little.

“Which one? ‘Baby’ or ‘Hoon’?” he joked again.

“Both.”

Sunoo just smiled to hide the slight sadness he felt… just slight. He was used to it anyway.

He had no plans of actually stopping though. Saying he wouldn’t call the prince those names anymore was just for show. When he was with his friends, he’d definitely keep calling Sunghoon by different pet names.

“Sorry, hehe.”

Sunghoon simply nodded again before opening the paper bag. He looked at the red scarf inside. Sunoo knew it wasn’t really Sunghoon’s style, but since the prince never actually used any of his gifts anyway, he just made something that was easy to create and based on whatever yarn color was available in the market.

“It’s beautiful, thank you…” Sunghoon said as he examined it.

Sunoo’s cheeks turned crimson, even brighter than the scarf, because of the compliment. He really couldn’t control his reaction.

“Where did you get it? It’s already Winter, I should probably get something for my fathers as well.”

“Oh! Actually… I made it,” Sunoo said shyly, making Sunghoon pause and look up at him.

“You made this? By yourself?” he asked in surprise.

“Ah, yes,” Sunoo scratched his head, probably feeling shy for the first time. “I learned how to crochet for almost two months. It took me several tries to perfect that. I just realized I should probably give you something you can’t get anywhere else because you’re already rich as fuck.”

For a few seconds, Sunghoon just stared at him, a strange expression on his face that Sunoo couldn’t read, before slowly placing the scarf back inside the paper bag.

“Well, that’s… a lot. Thank you so much, Sun.” The prince smiled at him.

Sun…

He called him Sun?!

Everything inside Sunoo was going wild, his insides felt like they were tying themselves into knots from excitement but he managed to stay calm, even though he clearly wasn’t.

“You know me, I go all out for you!” Sunoo joked again before continuing to fix the prince’s hair, trying to distract his wildly beating heart. He didn’t comment anymore about Sunghoon putting the scarf back into the paper bag, even if it made his chest ache just a little. 

Just a little, he told himself.

“Just let me know if you want me to make more, okay?”

“Are you courting me, Sunoo?” the prince teased.

There it is… this is exactly what Sunoo meant when he said Sunghoon sometimes plays along with him.

“Prince Sunghoon, how have you not realized I’ve been courting you for ten years?!” Sunoo shot back, deliberately making his tone dramatic.

The prince simply smiled before placing the paper bag on the table and leaning back in his chair. Because of that, Sunoo noticed the food on the table was still untouched.

“Your Highness, you should eat your breakfast while I’m doing your hair,” Sunoo said.

“I don’t have an appetite today. I’m fine with this coffee.”

“But, Your Highness—”

“Just do your job, Sunoo,” Sunghoon said softly but firmly.

Sunoo let out a sigh.

God. Sunoo disliked their dynamic, sometimes they could joke around with each other, but at other times, Prince Sunghoon would remind him of his place.

“It’s my responsibility to look after you. So please eat your breakfast, Your Majesty, even just a little hm?” Sunoo said gently.

“Fine,” the prince replied, grabbing a spoon with slight irritation and starting to eat, even if only little by little.

Sunoo continued fixing the prince’s hair, and once he was done, he moved in front of him to do his makeup. He pulled the nearest chair so the two of them were facing each other.

"Sunoo..."

“Yes, Your Majesty?” Sunoo asked after spraying the prince with setting spray. He had studied makeup just to eventually replace the prince’s stylist. It took him nearly six years to do so.

“Are you going to be there?”

Sunoo paused for a moment before slowly nodding.

“I need to be there because you’ll be there. I need to take care of you but I’ll probably just stay with the servants on the side, in the corner. So if you need me, just look there.”

The prince didn’t respond again, and Sunoo took that as his chance.

“Your Highness…”

“Hm?”

Sunoo suddenly hesitated, his hand stopping mid-motion as he applied foundation to the prince’s face. He wasn’t sure if he was even allowed to ask Sunghoon for a favor but he gathered his courage anyway.

“Do you have to go somewhere else after the party?”

The prince paused slightly, staring straight into Sunoo’s eyes as if deep in thought.

“No. Why?”

Sunoo swallowed, trying to push down the nervousness still lingering in his body, something he didn’t expect to still feel. Their position wasn’t helping either, they were too close, and Sunghoon’s gaze was fixed on him as if he felt nothing at all, even while looking so intently into Sunoo’s eyes.

“After the party… will you come straight back to your room?”

“Just get to the point—”

“Meet me here,” Sunoo said suddenly.

That made even Sunghoon pause in surprise. Sunoo swallowed and gently resumed patting the foundation onto the prince’s face.

“I want to tell you something after the party…” Sunoo added, slowly putting the foundation down to pick up the lipstick. He was distracting himself from the sharpness of the prince’s gaze.

“Is it really necessary to say it after the party? Can’t you say it here? Right now?”

Sunoo smiled before lightly dabbing the lipstick onto Sunghoon’s lips. No matter how many times he had done this, his heart still seemed to stop whenever he looked at them.

“I could… but I choose to say it after the party…”

Sunoo stopped applying the lipstick, and when he lifted his gaze, he realized Sunghoon was still staring at him.

“Okay. I’ll meet you here later.”

Sunoo smiled at him, and once he finished getting the prince ready, he excused himself. Sunghoon simply nodded and let him leave.

Even though his heart was still pounding from what he told Sunghoon earlier, Sunoo went straight to the kitchen, he almost forgot about his talk with Jay. But when he got there, Jay was already gone, so Sunoo wandered around the palace to look for him.

He found him in the hallway, talking to some of the servants. The alpha seemed restless, and so did the two servants, so Sunoo quickly walked toward them.

They immediately stopped talking when they saw him, as if they didn’t want anyone (especially Sunoo) to hear what they were discussing.

“Hi, good morning,” Sunoo greeted.

“Sunoo…” Kai and Taehyun, two new servants in the palace, said almost at the same time. Jay didn’t say anything, he just stared at Sunoo.

Sunoo couldn’t understand why the three of them were staring at him like that. The silence between them in the hallway became unbearably awkward, and thankfully, Taehyun spoke up first.

“W-We actually have something to do, sorry— we’ll go ahead first. Come on, Kai!” Taehyun quickly pulled Kai away, as if they were avoiding Sunoo, which only made him more confused about how everyone had been acting around him since this morning.

“Sunoo,” Jay called, his eyes following the two servants.

“Hm?” Sunoo turned to him, and that’s when he noticed Jay’s gaze drop toward his neck.

“You were in Prince Sunghoon’s room for a long time. I thought you were just going to deliver his food?”

Sunoo couldn’t answer right away. It was unusual to hear a hint of annoyance in Jay’s voice. He was usually calm and always teasing him about Sunghoon but this time, he sounded frustrated.

“I put makeup on him too. ” Sunoo replied.

“I heard from Kai and Taehyun that he already had a stylist for today but the prince canceled it.”

Sunoo frowned. “Really? He didn’t tell me. He just told me to get to work, and I did what I usually—”

In the middle of Sunoo’s sentence, Jay let out a sharp breath.

“You smell like him, Sun! I can’t even smell your own scent,” Jay quickly glanced around. “You’re walking around the palace smelling like Prince Sunghoon, what the hell were you thinking?!”

Jay grabbed Sunoo’s arm tightly, and Sunoo immediately became defensive. This time, he was sure… Jay was angry. His body language and facial expression made it obvious. Wasn’t he supposed to be happy for Sunoo? He used to tease him all the time about Prince Sunghoon. So why was he getting mad now?

“I’m his caretaker, so it’s normal for his scent to rub off on me,” Sunoo lied, even though he knew exactly why Sunghoon’s scent was so strong on him.

“You smell like you just had sex with him.”

Sunoo’s whole face turned red, and he quickly shook his head. That wasn’t true! He didn’t do anything wrong! Besides, he wasn’t used to arguing with Jay about things like this, they used to just joke about topics like mating before.

Sunoo’s anxiety takes over him. He has a feeling that something is wrong, there’s something wrong in the Palace that everyone knows, except him.

"Jay, what's happening?”

Sunoo’s hands slowly began to tremble.

“W-Why are you mad at me? Why's everyone looking at me like I'm— I'm pitiful? I-I don't understand—"

Jay's face softened when he saw how confused Sunoo is.

“Sun, listen…” Jay’s grip on Sunoo’s arm slowly loosened, as if trying to calm him down. “I’m sorry for acting like this.”

“Jay… please tell me what the hell is happening…” Sunoo pleaded.

Jay averted his gaze.

“I can’t have this conversation with you right now, Sunoo. It’s already late, we still need to finish our duties, the royals from the East are arriving today, and it’s going to be a busy day.”

“Huh? We’re expecting guests for the prince’s birthday?”

“Yes, Sun. Today is special,” Jay said.

“What do you mean?”

“Today is the arrival of the prince’s future wife.”

Sunoo blinked. “His what?”

“His fiancée, Princess Wonyoung from the East.”

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Sunoo can’t breathe but he has to act like everything is fine.

Only an hour ago, after Jay mentioned Prince Sunghoon’s fiancée, he nearly had a mental breakdown right there in the palace hallway. Jay had to calm him down. They couldn’t afford to make a scene, not with everyone busy and work piling up. So Jay resorted to his last option: he pulled Sunoo into the bathroom, into one of the cubicles and scented him to help him calm down. He stayed beside him for a minute, until Sunoo finally settled.

It was embarrassing.

Sunoo hated how he cried in front of Jay but thankfully, Jay didn’t care. He didn’t judge him. In fact, he comforted him, whispering reassuring words in Sunoo’s ear while gently rubbing his back. Though none of it really registered, Sunoo’s mind was already filled with images of the Prince marrying someone else.

On the other hand, Jay had expected the worst but not that Sunoo would break down in the middle of the palace hallway where anyone could see.

And he definitely didn’t expect Sunoo to suddenly wipe his tears away and laugh afterward.

“Oh God, this is so absurd!” Sunoo exclaimed, trying to laugh but it sounded forced.

“Sun—”

“We should get back to work. I didn’t know he had a fiancée coming today. I should’ve insisted on styling his hair differently or maybe I should’ve done his makeup badly so his fiancée would back out,” he even managed to joke.

Just like that, Sunoo’s back from being himself but he noticed concerns in Jay's eyes, which bothers Sunoo.

He hates how everyone looks at him with such pity.

He despises it.

Everyone in the palace knows how much he adores the prince, but they are not in a relationship. So Sunghoon is free to marry whomever he wants and Sunoo accepts it almost immediately, that even he can't believe how quickly he accepts the news, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt.

He's doing his best to appear okay in front of everyone. He notices how other servants keep glancing at him but Sunoo just smiles at them and acts unaffected.

Even if he's on the verge of breaking.

His hands were trembling and tears were welling up in his eyes. Jungwon was right, his father was right. He should’ve stopped liking Sunghoon when he was still a child.

Then maybe things wouldn’t have ended up like this.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

The pain is unbearable.

Sunoo hopes he could scream, cry, and slap everyone in the face because fuck! Just an hour ago, he thought he might have a chance with Sunghoon, and for a brief moment, he believed they could be together, but why does reality have to get in the way?

Thank God he was good at pretending. If not, everyone in the palace would already know he was about to cry.

Sunoo is standing in the Palace's corner with other servants after the party has begun. They have a higher than usual number of guests. Sunoo looks around and notices how happy everyone is.

Today is indeed special.

"Are you okay?" Ningning asked when she saw Sunoo after she served some wine for the visitors.

"Yup," Sunoo forced a smile.

"Your mother is looking for you."

Sunoo didn’t say anything.

His mother was the palace’s head housekeeper and his father had been the former royal cook before Jay, though he had retired due to old age. Even after her husband passed away, Sunoo’s mother chose to remain in the palace.

That’s why, even as a child, Sunoo had already been in and out of the palace, both of his parents worked there. Because of that, it was also easy for him to apply for a job since their family was already known.

He knew why his mother was looking for him, she would only comfort him and pity him anyway. So as much as possible, he decided to avoid her for now.

When Sunghoon arrived at the party, it felt like everything stopped the moment he walked down the stairs. All attention immediately shifted to him and to the woman holding onto his arm.

Sunoo’s knees become weak. He wishes he could look away, but he can't.

Prince Sunghoon looked good standing beside his beautiful fiancée. She looked so delicate and sweet, nothing like what Sunoo expected an alpha to be. But knowing the royal tradition of preserving the alpha bloodline, she was surely a female alpha as well and a princess at that.

God damn it.

Just by looking at her face, Sunoo knew it wasn’t impossible for Sunghoon to fall for her. She might even be the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

Maybe he really was pathetic. Pretending he was good at hiding his feelings when, in truth, he looked like he was about to cry again.

Ningning wanted to stay by Sunoo’s side after seeing his reaction, but she couldn’t because other servants were already calling for her.

No matter how many times Sunoo saw Prince Sunghoon, he still felt the same. Maybe heavier now compared to the first time he saw him at the parade but his heart still raced just as fast.

Sunoo was only ten years old when he first saw Sunghoon.

Back then, he snuck into the palace to visit his father. He didn’t know there was a celebration going on inside. He thought he was getting lost in the crowd until he suddenly found himself in the middle of bustling workers.

And then he saw Sunghoon.

He was sitting on a beautiful moving carriage, exactly how Sunoo had imagined a prince would look.

Handsome, sophisticated, delicate… but intimidating.

At that moment, Sunoo decisively told himself that the prince he saw from afar was the one he would marry someday.

He was young and foolish back then, so he kept returning to the palace just to catch a glimpse of the prince. He knew it wasn’t right, especially if his parents found out he was only doing it because he was infatuated with the prince.

But he kept coming back anyway.

Until one day, he got tired of just visiting. He wanted to stay in the palace to see the prince every single day. So he told his parents he wanted to work there.

His father initially disagreed. He understood Sunoo’s intentions but he couldn’t say no to his little boy. Besides, he also wanted to see his son every day, and he knew this small crush on the prince made Sunoo happy.

So he did his best to convince the King to let Sunoo become both the prince’s caretaker and a playmate.

The King, being kind, accepted his father’s request but refused to give Sunoo heavy responsibilities since he was still a child and shouldn’t be working at that age. In a way, Sunoo was just there so he’d be allowed inside the palace. The King agreed because he understood how hard it was for a father who couldn’t see his child often due to his duties.

When his father explained all of that to him, Sunoo just nodded even if he didn’t fully understand. What mattered to him was simple: he would get to see the prince every day.

Sunoo used to be very young and foolish.

On his first day there, he proudly announced to everyone that he would marry Prince Sunghoon someday.

He still remembered exactly what he said.

"Hi Prince Sunghoon! I'm Kim Sunoo, I will be your caretaker from now but I will be your mate in the future."

After he said that, everyone in the room laughed, including the King, who finds it amusing how blunt he is, while his father and mother immediately covered Sunoo’s lips to stop him from speaking again.

"I apologize for my son's behavior, your highness, he's not usually like this, he's—"

"No, no, no! It's okay, it's cute, he's just a little boy, let him talk," the King said while smiling.

Even though Sunoo’s father hesitated, he still removed his hand from covering his son’s mouth. Sunoo immediately fixed his messy hair, as if trying to look good in front of the young prince.

“I have a gift for you, Your Highness,” Sunoo said as he walked closer to the young prince, showing what he was holding. “This is a flower I picked from the garden. It reminds me of you because it’s as beautiful as your eyes.”

He had memorized that line all night after finding out he would finally get to talk to the prince. For a 10 year old boy, he was incredibly determined to court him… to court an alpha… a prince…

The King cooed at Sunoo’s cuteness. Despite being only a year younger, he was much smaller than the prince, which made it even more adorable that he was the one trying to get the prince’s attention.

“Wow! That’s so nice of you Sunoo,” the King said, clearly amused by the little boy’s confidence.

Everyone in the palace laughed except for the one person Sunoo wanted to see smile the most.

Sunoo’s little crush on the Prince became a source of amusement for everyone in the Palace. Prince Sunghoon accepts Sunoo’s gifts despite his blank expression every time he tries to make a move on him. So it's all good for Sunoo.

He's just too young, dumb, and blinded by his love for the Prince to realize that the Prince isn't interested at all, he just went along because it makes the King smile.

Until now, Sunoo is still dumb and blinded by his love, the only difference is that he is no longer young. He only became aware of reality when he saw Sunghoon with his fiancée.

Of course, he would marry a Princess because that's what he deserves. He's a prince after all, he's supposed to marry someone from the royal rank.

Sunoo has no idea how he thought he'd have a chance, he's just his caretaker, their family isn't from a low rank, they're at least in the middle, but he's still not from a royal family.

Sunoo let out a sigh.

He couldn’t believe himself, why was he only realizing all of this now? Did he really need to see it right in front of him before finally waking up to the truth that he never really had a chance?

He looked at the prince again and the person beside him, and for a brief moment, his gaze met the prince’s.

They exchange glances from afar, even if it hurts, Sunoo smiles at him and he immediately looks away because he can't bear to look at the Prince.

It's killing him inside.

Sunoo’s heart is pounding and he can't take it any longer. He wants to leave the party but he has a duty to fulfill. So he stays but he plans to avoid Sunghoon’s gaze as if it were a plague until the party is over.

The King began to announce Sunghoon’s wedding.

Sunoo couldn’t take it anymore.

He knew this wasn’t the right place to walk out, and he knew he had no right to feel hurt but he did. He couldn’t help it. Still, he forced himself to endure it, standing at the side while watching Sunghoon kiss the princess’s hand, even as something inside his chest felt like it was being painfully squeezed.

Until his world completely shattered when the King spoke again.

Sunoo stormed out the moment he learned that the wedding was scheduled for the first week of February.

For fuck’s sake! They were giving him barely two months to move on.

Fuck.

He can’t do this anymore.

So he walks away.

Away from Sunghoon.

Away from the Palace.

Away from everyone.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

Sunoo decided to return to the Palace the next morning as if nothing had happened the night before.

He smiles at everyone as he always does. He greets the gardeners, servants, Jay, and Jake. They still gave him a pitiful smile but Sunoo has learned to ignore it.

"Your highness, it's me," Sunoo nearly jumps as the door opens almost immediately.

“Sunoo,” the prince called.

Sunghoon was staring straight at him, making Sunoo’s heart race all over again.

“Oh, hi! You woke up early, huh?” Sunoo said, trying to ease the tension between them.

There was clearly something heavy hanging between them, even though neither of them was saying anything.

Sunoo walked further into the room, pretending he couldn’t feel the weight of the prince’s gaze on his back. He placed the prince’s breakfast on the table despite his chest pounding wildly.

“Here’s your breakfast—”

“You didn’t come here last night,” Sunghoon cut him off.

Sunoo froze.

He had completely forgotten that they were supposed to meet in Sunghoon’s room. It slipped his mind because he nearly broke down from everything he felt last night. With everything that happened, how could he even remember?

“I—I forgot,” Sunoo admitted.

The prince let out a breath. Sunoo watched as he paced around the room, as if restless, making Sunoo bite his lip while observing him. He couldn’t understand why the prince was making such a big deal out of it.

“I’m so sorry… Did I make you wait?”

“No,” Sunghoon said firmly before sitting down on his bed, as if trying to calm himself after pacing.

“That’s good,” Sunoo replied. “I didn’t expect you to actually come here when I asked anyway. You were really busy last night, you probably forgot about it too.”

As embarrassed as he was, Sunoo knew he was gaslighting the prince but he had no choice. It was the only way he could think of to avoid being asked why he didn’t show up, when he was the one who invited him in the first place.

Sunghoon didn’t respond. Instead, he just went back to scrolling on his phone, making Sunoo sigh.

“But yeah… I need to talk to you about something,” he said softly.

Sunghoon lifted his gaze from his phone to look at Sunoo, who was standing in front of him. He didn’t say anything, but it was obvious he was waiting for Sunoo to speak, so Sunoo decided not to wait any longer either.

“I’m planning to quit.”

Silence filled the room for a few seconds, making Sunoo swallow nervously.

“I—I said I’m planning to resign—”

“Yes, I heard it correctly.”

Sunoo’s lips pressed together again when Sunghoon cut him off.

“Is that what you wanted to say yesterday?”

No.

“…Yes.”

Sunghoon stayed quiet for a moment.

“Why?”

“Huh?” Sunoo asked, startled.

“Why? Why do you want to resign?”

Sunghoon lowered his phone completely this time, giving Sunoo his full attention. And for the first time… Sunoo didn’t like it. He didn’t like Sunghoon’s attention.

It felt suffocating.

“I—I want to—” Sunoo swallowed again. “I want to get married."

"What?" Sunghoon scoffs.

Sunoo didn’t like his reaction, it was as if Sunghoon couldn’t believe that Sunoo was planning to marry someone else. Why? Did he really think Sunoo couldn’t fall for anyone else because he was too in love with him?

His temper flared. Sunoo wanted to prove him wrong.

“You heard me, Your Highness! I want to find an alpha I can spend my life with.”

Sunoo fists clenched.

“I want someone of my own to take care of— a person I can date, kiss, marry, and do everything I’ve wanted to do for so long but couldn’t because I’ve been too busy taking care of you. And— and I don’t know! Maybe build a small house for the two of us until we decide to have a child— or even just a dog! I don’t care! I want to take care of a cat too, but I can’t do that now because no one would look after the house  because I’m here in the palace, taking care of you!”

Sunghoon looked amused, clearly not expecting Sunoo’s sudden outburst.

“Are you blaming me for why you’re still single?”

“What? No!”

“Really?” Sunghoon said sarcastically, leaning back as if ready to argue. “Then why now? You’ve been working here for almost ten years, so why now?” he asked. “Is it because I’m about to get married? Are you jealous?”

Even if it was meant as a joke, it didn’t sound like one. Sunoo wished it was a joke because he was starting to get irritated.

“Yes,” Sunoo answered firmly. “I’m jealous that you’re getting married before me. We’re almost the same age, and I’ve saved enough money too. So I realized I should start looking for my own potential mate. I’m still young but I think ten years of working is enough and I already have savings. Nothing’s going to happen to me if I just stay here forever.”

Sunghoon didn’t say anything.

“And why now?” Sunoo raised a brow, clearly not done speaking. “Maybe because my job here is basically over. You’ll have a wife to take care of you, and it would be awkward for her to have me as your caretaker— especially since everyone knows I have a crush on you.”

Sunghoon frowned, which made Sunoo smile slightly. It was meant to be a joke but seeing the prince get irritated only made him want to smile more even though, in truth, he’d already been annoyed for a while.

“Can’t you just find a potential mate here in the palace?” Sunghoon asked, sounding almost pointless.

“Ew! I already know everyone here, none of them are my type except you,” Sunoo said, crossing his arms. “Plus, I want to have a normal life outside the palace.”

And maybe… he just wanted to get away from the palace because everything reminded him of the prince but he didn’t need to say that out loud.

He also didn’t know if he could handle seeing Sunghoon with his future family. Just imagining the prince holding his wife’s hand while their children ran around the palace already felt suffocating, like the world was collapsing on him.

Sunoo’s smile faded again. He let out a quiet sigh and looked straight at the prince, who once again showed no reaction.

“Please, Your Highness… this will be my first and last request,” Sunoo said, slowly bowing before him.

It seemed like he really had to swallow his pride just to be granted this.

A strange expression crossed Sunghoon’s face, but after a moment, he nodded.

“Okay,” he replied shortly, making Sunoo lift his gaze in surprise.

He hadn’t expected Sunghoon to let him go that easily. At some point, he thought the prince would throw a tantrum. After all, Sunoo had been his only caretaker, and they had practically grown up together.

Sunoo ignored the light pang in his chest. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“But I will request that you stay for at least one month until I find a new caretaker to fill your position. I also have an upcoming wedding, and I’ll be too busy to look for someone new. You know me better than anyone else, so I need your help more than anyone.”

Sunoo suddenly felt his chest grow heavy.

“But, Your Highness—”

“And that will be my last request to you, Kim Sunoo. After that, you’re free to go.”

Sunoo couldn’t say anything.

The reason he didn’t want to stay in the palace was because he didn’t want to see Sunghoon’s wedding and now he was being asked to help with it?

Damn it.

Sunoo started thinking, the last of his brain cells arguing over what the best thing to do was. Maybe he could stay while they prepared for the wedding, right? As long as he left before the actual ceremony.

Right. That’s right.

Sunoo figured he could somehow manage it, so he slowly nodded.

He knew he would regret this decision but that regret was still in the future, so he chose to let it be.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

“Sunoo, I heard you want to leave the palace. Is that true?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m so sorry for the sudden decision,” Sunoo said, bowing after refilling the king’s wine glass.

“No, no, no, it’s okay,” the king stopped him. “But please tell me, you’re not leaving the palace because of Sunghoon, are you?”

He’s exactly the reason, Your Majesty.

The prince paused from eating and looked at Sunoo after hearing the king’s words, as if also waiting for his answer.

“No, Your Majesty, he’s not the reason—” Sunoo swallowed. “Not exactly him. But after he announced his wedding, I started thinking about my future too. I want to look for my potential mate and settle down as well.”

"Don't you have any person you like here in the palace?" The other king, Haein, asked.

"I have one, your highness, but he's getting married."

The King let out a soft laugh, while his mate Haein looked confused by what Sunoo had said.

Meanwhile, Prince Sunghoon continued eating with no reaction. Prince Riki paused for a moment to smile before going back to his meal, but Prince Heeseung was a different case, he seemed genuinely interested in the conversation.

"Why don't you look for another guy then? I mean— look at you! You're beautiful, you can easily find another one here if you want to," Prince Heeseung said.

Sunoo’s cheeks turned slightly red at what the prince said. Since Prince Heeseung was still new to the palace, he probably had no idea who Sunoo was referring to.

“I—I want to go outside the palace too. That’s why I don’t want to look for my potential mate here. And I know almost everyone here and I treat them all like family. I don’t think I can marry someone I see as family,” Sunoo said with a smile, still blushing.

His face only grew hotter when his eyes briefly met Sunghoon’s but the prince quickly looked away, as if he didn’t even want to meet Sunoo’s gaze.

Prince Heeseung let out a soft “oh,” while the two kings shifted their attention back and forth between Sunoo and Heeseung.

“Well, Mr. Kim Sunoo… my Heeseung here also wants to leave the palace to study at a university. Maybe you can help him?” King Haein asked.

“Dad, he wants to go outside to look for his potential mate, not to become a caretaker for another prince,” Prince Riki said shyly. He was the youngest, yet somehow he was always the one cleaning up after his father and older brother.

“Oh, you’re right. I’m so sorry,” the king apologized.

“No, no, no, it’s okay, please don’t say sorry,” Sunoo said, getting embarrassed as well.

“Maybe I can help him instead, Riki. I know a lot more about the outside world since we practically lived there before. But Sunoo here has lived in the palace almost his whole life,” Heeseung said, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at Sunoo with a smile.

“Maybe I can make his search for his potential mate easier?"

“I—” Sunoo trailed off as he glanced at Prince Riki and then at Sunghoon, who continued eating as if nothing was happening. 

Maybe Prince Riki is the only one who knows about his feelings towards Sunghoon aside from King Seoham and the other servants who keep on looking at each other while listening to the whole conversation.

Oh great! Sunoo is definitely going to be the palace topic again. Everyone here is probably talking about him for sure!

“Also, I’m single too. I’m looking for my potential mate as well,” Prince Heeseung suddenly said, making the servants around Sunoo widen their eyes even more.

“Hyung…” Prince Riki said shyly.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Heeseung asked his brother with a teasing grin.

Because of Heeseung’s remark, King Haein chuckled, and King Seoham burst into laughter.

Prince Heeseung reminded Sunoo of himself.

That realization made his face flush even deeper.

“It looks like Sunoo has finally met his match,” King Seoham whispered to his husband.

He was likely referring to Heeseung’s bluntness. Sunoo used to be the same, especially when he was younger.

And in that moment, Sunoo realized he didn’t want to lose that part of himself, even if it no longer belonged to Sunghoon. So instead of shrinking back, he straightened up and turned to the other prince with a grin.

“I’ll consider it, Prince Heeseung,” Sunoo said lightly, even giving him a playful wink.

Heeseung immediately clutched his chest as if he had been struck straight through the heart. The two kings burst into laughter, and even Riki couldn’t help but smile at the scene.

Meanwhile, Prince Sunghoon continued eating as if nothing around him existed.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

“It doesn’t give you the right to be late every day just because you’re leaving next month.”

That was the first thing Sunghoon said as soon as Sunoo entered his room.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Sunoo replied, placing the prince’s food on the table but Sunghoon’s gaze stayed fixed on his wrist.

“What’s that?” the prince asked.

“Oh, this?” Sunoo lifted his wrist to look at it. “It’s a flower bracelet. I passed by the garden earlier and saw Prince Heeseung playing with some kids. He said sorry about his joke the other day and he gave me this.”

Sunghoon let out a sharp breath.

“Whatever. Just don’t come in here smelling like him every day. You know how much I despise it when my chamber smells like another alpha,” Sunghoon insisted.

Sunoo knew that very well. After all, he was the only one the Prince allowed inside his room. Sometimes Jake was permitted as well, but only briefly, he had to leave before his scent could linger. Sunoo, on the other hand, was allowed to stay for much longer.

“I—I don’t smell like him—”

“Say that again now that he’s courting you,” Sunghoon said.

“He’s not courting me,” Sunoo replied with a laugh.

“Mhm. If you say so,” Sunghoon answered sarcastically.

“Are you jealous, my prince?” Sunoo teased, making the prince raise an eyebrow.

“Why would I be jealous?” Sunghoon asked firmly and that made Sunoo’s chest ache a little.

He already knew that.

So why did it still hurt hearing it directly from Sunghoon?

At this point, he was the one giving himself reasons to get hurt.

So Sunoo just smiled to hide the pain.

“I don’t know~” he teased again before turning his attention to preparing everything Sunghoon would need for the day.

At three in the afternoon, Sunghoon had his snack with the King in the palace garden. Sunoo was pouring juice into Sunghoon’s glass when Heeseung suddenly came running toward them.

“Hi, King Seoham! Hi, Prince Sunghoon!” Heeseung greeted them before turning to Sunoo.

“Hi, Sunoo…” he smiled so widely his eyes nearly disappeared.

He was still catching his breath from running, so Sunoo glanced at where he came from. Heeseung had been playing with the kids in the garden, who now seemed to be messing with the flowers again.

“Come on, Heeseung, join us and eat,” the King invited.

“Thank you, but I already ate with the kids earlier,” Heeseung apologized before turning back to Sunoo.

Suddenly, he placed something on Sunoo’s head, which made both King Seoham and Prince Sunghoon look at them.

“W-What’s this?” Sunoo asked, touching it with one hand.

“A flower crown, the kids made it for you,” Heeseung said with a smile. Sunoo looked back at the children, who seemed to be watching but as soon as he faced them, they quickly scattered, pretending they weren’t.

“Aww, that’s so cute!” Sunoo’s smile widened. “Please tell them I like it,” he added.

“It suits you, you look beautiful,” Prince Heeseung said, making Sunoo feel his cheeks heat up again.

“Charmer,” Sunoo scoffed, though he was smiling. He momentarily forgot he was talking to a prince and that he was standing right in front of the King.

“Heeseung’s right, it suits you,” the King added.

Sunoo suddenly felt shy. In his panic, he bowed repeatedly to the King in gratitude for the compliment, holding onto the flower crown so it wouldn’t fall.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

When Sunoo lifted his gaze, his eyes briefly met Sunghoon’s but this time, Sunoo was the first to look away. He turned to Prince Heeseung, only to see him already running back toward the children, who looked excited to ask him about what just happened, some of them even jumping in delight.

Sunoo smiled even more before lowering his gaze back to the table.

He was about to remove the flower crown when the prince suddenly spoke.

“Don’t.”

Sunoo immediately looked at him.

“The kids are still looking,” Sunghoon said shortly. Sunoo understood right away, so he left the flower crown on.

King Seoham glanced at them for a split second before continuing his meal.

Sunoo then resumed pouring juice into Sunghoon’s glass before excusing himself to stand beside the other servants, who were all gushing over what Prince Heeseung did. They kept asking if Heeseung was courting him, but Sunoo kept denying it.

It wasn’t true, after all.

While the servants continued their teasing, Sunoo couldn’t help but glance at Sunghoon, only to find the prince already looking at him.

Sunoo’s heart skipped at the thought that Sunghoon might have been watching him for a while. He couldn’t look away, even when the prince raised an eyebrow at him. Instead, Sunoo bit his lip to stop himself from smiling.

Which only made Sunghoon smile slightly too, before returning to his meal.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

Later that day, Prince Sunghoon requested for a time alone in the library to study, only the other guards outside the library and Jake should be there with him, which means Sunoo has free time.

Yes!

Free time!

He spent his free time roaming around the Palace, but he got bored so he went to the Royal Kitchen. He's allowed to be there since he's friends with Jay and the guards know him too well, but normally, the workers aren't allowed there because of some safety reasons.

“Hi, what are you cooking?” Sunoo asked excitedly. Jay looked startled for a moment before realizing it was just him behind him.

“I’m cooking dinner for the princes,” Jay said. He was already used to Sunoo suddenly appearing out of nowhere. “The kings already had their dinner earlier, but the princes will eat in their rooms, so I need to prepare individual meals for each of them.”

“Mhm,” Sunoo nodded as he leaned in to smell what they were cooking.

“What are you doing here anyway? Why aren’t you with Prince Sunghoon?”

“He’s studying, I think it’s about how to be a good husband or something,” Sunoo replied as he grabbed a piece of bread from the side. Jay shot him a look but still let him eat.

“Who’s this for?” Sunoo asked when he noticed a complete meal set aside nearby.

“Oh, that’s for Prince Heeseung. We’re waiting for other servants, but I guess they’re busy with Prince Sunghoon’s wedding,” Jay explained.

“I’ll just deliver it. I’m not doing anything anyway,” Sunoo offered.

Jay raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on between you and Prince Heeseung?” he asked, sounding curious.

“Huh?” Sunoo frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I mean,” Jay said with a teasing grin.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Sunoo said as he picked up the prince’s meal. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

“You and him are the palace talk, Sunoo. People are talking about you two more than Prince Sunghoon’s wedding.”

“What?” Sunoo laughed.

“It’s true. Everyone’s literally saying you guys look cute—”

“I’ll go deliver this now, bye!”

Sunoo hurried out, heading toward Prince Heeseung’s room. Since he knew the palace by heart and only a few people were allowed in the area where the princes’ and king’s rooms were, it wasn’t surprising that Heeseung’s dinner was often late. He also refused to have a personal caretaker.

Sunoo knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, your dinner is here,” he said.

The door slowly opened and Heeseung peeked out. His eyes widened when he saw Sunoo, before quickly opening the door wider and pulling him inside.

Sunoo almost dropped the tray but thankfully he held onto it tightly.

“Why are you the one delivering my dinner?” Heeseung asked as he locked the door behind them.

“Well your Highness, no one was available to deliver it, so I brought it instead.”

“Oh! Thanks!” Heeseung said. “By the way, why aren’t you with Sunghoon?”

He didn’t say ‘Prince.’ Are they close enough for that? 

“He’s busy, studying,” Sunoo answered shortly as he arranged the food on the table. But he paused when he noticed the used dishes and wrappers of instant food scattered around.

“You already ate?” Sunoo asked turning to Heeseung, who was now sitting on his bed, playing on his PS5 with a slice of pizza in his mouth.

There were snacks and pizza boxes scattered all over his bed and when Sunoo glanced down, he spotted a cup of unfinished ramen sitting on the floor.

I thought his room was supposed to be clean? That’s what the other caretakers always said.

“Yeah. You can eat that instead if you want,” Heeseung replied, not taking his eyes off the screen. “I can’t finish all of that anyway. It arrived late, so I just found a way to eat on my own.”

“I don’t think I’m allowed to eat royal food,” Sunoo said as he lifted the tray from the table and placed it on a nearby chair.

“Huh? Is there even a rule like that?” Heeseung asked. “Just eat it, I’m ordering you to,” he added.

Since Sunoo wasn’t shy anyway and he was hungry so he sat down in front of the royal food that his friend Jay made.

“Okay if you say so,” Sunoo replied, making Heeseung chuckle softly.

Sunoo started eating while watching Heeseung play. From time to time, he asked questions about the game and Heeseung answered them right away. Before Sunoo even realized it, he was already sitting beside Heeseung on the bed, playing along with him.

Whenever they won, Heeseung would shake him excitedly before pulling him into a tight hug, while Sunoo just laughed, still in disbelief that he actually won.

The two of them lost track of time playing and eating all the unhealthy snacks hidden in the prince’s room.

Heeseung also shared that he’d been a bit stressed lately, which was why his room was messy. He said it wasn’t usually like that and even apologized.

When Sunoo noticed it was getting late, he said goodbye. Heeseung immediately hugged him again and asked him to come back the next day but Sunoo couldn’t promise anything, since he wasn’t sure if Sunghoon would be busy again.

For the last time, Sunoo hugged him in a super friendly way before leaving the room. He couldn’t stop smiling because of their earlier banter. He wasn’t even calling him Prince Heeseung anymore, just Heeseung or Hee, since that was Heeseung’s request after they made a bet. And since Sunoo lost, he had no choice but to follow it. 

As soon as Sunoo stepped out, Sunghoon happened to be passing by with Jake and his two guards. All of them looked at Sunoo and the door he had just come out of. 

Jake’s eyes widened, practically interrogating him without words. Sunoo couldn’t understand him, so the two of them ended up silently guessing each other’s expressions. Their little facial-expression charade only stopped when Sunghoon suddenly spoke. 

“Follow us,” Sunghoon ordered.

Sunoo slightly bowed in acknowledgment and followed.

Sunghoon started walking again, and Sunoo fell in step beside Jake, who kept nudging him repeatedly. Even the two guards glanced at Sunoo as if they had their own questions.

“Go inside,” Sunghoon instructed when they reached his room.

Sunoo obeyed and entered first.

Before he could fully close the door, he heard Sunghoon giving instructions to Jake and the guards. Jake shot him one last look, but Sunoo only grinned in return.

Sunoo had just stood inside the room waiting for Prince Sunghoon, so when Sunghoon entered, the first thing he noticed was Sunghoon's eyes searing to him as soon as he opened the door.

Sunoo started to feel nervous, wondering if he had done something wrong. Maybe Sunghoon had given him an order earlier that he failed to do because he was just hanging out in Heeseung’s room or something like that.

His thoughts were cut off when the prince spoke.

“Didn’t I already tell you that I don’t like the smell of other alphas in my room?” Sunghoon asked, irritation clear in his voice.

Sunoo frowned and instinctively tried to smell himself, but since his sense of smell wasn’t that sharp, he couldn’t pick up anything.

Is Sunghoon’s sense of smell really that strong? Sunoo could even smell the pizza he had eaten earlier more than whatever scent Sunghoon was talking about.

But he knew he couldn’t argue with the prince, so he just pretended to notice it.

“Then you shouldn’t have let me in yet so I could’ve gotten rid of it first—”

“And why? So you can go back to his room again?”

“Huh?” Sunoo looked at Sunghoon like he was crazy. “What are you even talking about?” he asked sarcastically.

Sunoo immediately took back what he said earlier.

He can argue with Sunghoon. He doesn’t care if he’s a prince, he’ll talk back because he’s starting to get annoyed too.

“And what smell are you even talking about? I can’t smell anything on me, you’re making things up!”

“Really? You smell exactly like him right now.”

“The hell? What kind of nose do you even have? Where are you even smelling that—”

Sunghoon suddenly pulled him, cutting him off. Sunoo nearly lost his balance, but he felt Sunghoon steady him, his hand gripping his waist as he slowly brought his nose close to Sunoo’s neck.

“What did you do inside his room to have his scent on your neck, Sunoo?” he whispered.

Goosebumps rose on Sunoo’s skin as Sunghoon’s warm breath brushed against his neck. For some reason, Sunoo tilted his head slightly, giving him more space.

“Mhm?” Sunoo responded, unable to follow Sunghoon’s question because he was too distracted by how close he was. He could feel Sunghoon’s smirk even without seeing his face.

Then the prince’s grip on his waist tightened even more. He pressed his body against Sunoo’s weaker frame, so close that the only thing keeping Sunoo standing was the way they held onto each other.

“Fuck,” Sunoo gasped as he felt Sunghoon’s lips brush against his skin.

“Your highness—” he was supposed to stop him, but it came out more like a soft moan instead. Instead of stopping, it sounded like a signal for Sunghoon to continue.

Sunoo began to quietly moan as Sunghoon kissed along his jaw, down to his collarbone.

He should stop—no, they should stop. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t a good decision.

Sunghoon was getting married in a few months, so Sunoo should be using the time left to distance himself! Not this! He shouldn’t let himself get intoxicated by Sunghoon’s touch.

“Y-Your highness…” Sunghoon’s hand slowly slid back down to his waist, where it had rested earlier, his fingers lightly tracing the skin there.

“Tell me if you don’t want to do this,” Sunghoon said softly into his ear. He was so close that his lips brushed against Sunoo’s neck as he spoke. “Tell me, mhm?” 

He should say no and say that he doesn't want to do this, but— fuck! When he looked up at him and their eyes met, he was already so fucking drunk in Sunghoon's eyes, it was evident on his face.

He, like Sunghoon, can't stop himself any longer.

In an instant, they're kissing again, but this time it's on the lips, sloppy, desperate, and almost as if they've been craving for a long time.

Sunghoon groped his butt, making Sunoo cling tightly to him as he moaned against his lips but Sunghoon only smirked. Sunoo didn’t even realize how they ended up on the bed. Sunghoon was now sitting at the edge while Sunoo was settled on his lap. They were still making out like there was no tomorrow. 

Sunoo doesn't seem himself, as if he's intoxicated. He knows what he's doing but can't stop himself, he feels like his skin itches when he doesn't do anything to ease his desperation.

He wants Sunghoon to kiss him, touch him, fuck him, break him, anything, fuck! Anything will do, because at this point, Sunghoon can make him cum untouched.

"You're so beautiful, Sunoo. So fucking beautiful," Sunghoon muttered, staring directly in Sunoo's eyes. Sunoo blushed but said nothing.

His mind assumed Sunghoon was being dramatic because of the heat of the situation, yet he can't help himself from feeling euphoric. 

"Fuck," Sunoo closed his eyes, realizing how embarrassing he looks right now, and he doesn't want Sunghoon to see his face when he's desperately grinding on his clothed dick.

Sunoo almost lost it as Sunghoon began touching his lips with his thumb, while his other hand was guiding Sunoo's waist. When he opened his eyes, Sunghoon slipped his thumb inside his mouth, and Sunoo just obliged to suck it.

It was too late for Sunoo to realize that he was doing all the work, that he was the one on top, frantically grinding and sloppily sucking Sunghoon's thumb, while Sunghoon was just sitting on his bed, staring at Sunoo with his dark eyes.

Fuck, it's so humiliating.

He realized he looks like a whore begging for Sunghoon's affection, but stopping now would be awkward, so he continues in a faster phase to end it immediately.

They're both fully dressed but he can feel that they're both hard. So when Sunoo felt his orgasm approaching, he hugged Sunghoon so he could move his hips faster.

"Fuck, Sunoo—" Sunghoon choked, grabbing Sunoo's waist with both hands to slow him down, but Sunoo refused to stop.

"Your highness, p-please..." Sunoo begged.

So Sunghoon let go of his waist and let him do whatever he wanted.

Sunoo knows that no matter how well-clothed they are, his slick is already wetting Sunghoon's clothes and both of their garments are already sticky, making Sunoo want to finish this right away.

"Calm down babe," Sunghoon whispered.

Sunoo wants to cry, it’s heartbreaking how sweet and innocent it sounds. He's been daydreaming about the day when Sunghoon would call him babe since God knows when, but never in his life would he picture Sunghoon calling him that while they're making out like two rabbits in heat.

Fuck it, It isn't what he wants, but it is what he gets because he knows deep down that he will never be Sunghoon's babe.

Sunoo didn't realize that he was tearing up when he fastened his phase even though it was contrary to what Sunghoon said.

"Fuck, shit, ahh," A string of sharp curses spilled from Sunoo’s lips when he realized just how close he was getting.

Sunghoon growled at Sunoo's neck, "Shit." 

He's trying to kiss Sunoo’s neck in hopes to calm him down but Sunoo was too preoccupied to notice. He was clutching Sunghoon's back as if his life depended on it.

Sunoo moaned so loudly when he cum and Sunghoon did nothing to stop him. He only watched Sunoo's face as he was biting his lips to press his moan that he failed to do so. Sunoo rode his climax for a brief time till he was overstimulated and couldn't push his hips to grind on Sunghoon's hard dick any longer.

They're both out of breath, panting, and sweaty, almost as if they're convinced that the air conditioning isn't working anymore because of the heat coming from their bodies.

Sunoo stood up immediately after gathering himself, leaving Sunghoon's hips empty.

Fuck. He despises Sunghoon's blank expression when he looks up at him.

"It's late, your highness, I'm leaving now," Sunoo said as sternly as he could. He's attempting to act as if nothing embarrassing has happened right now.

When Sunghoon did not respond, Sunoo bowed and began walking to the door, his knees wobbly, but Sunghoon called his name.

"Sunoo."

Sunoo immediately freezes.

He wants to go home now, he feels like crying since all the thoughts he suppressed earlier are flooding his mind now.

He knows how stupid this is, he has made several wrong decisions in the past, but this is the most foolish and unforgivable decision he has made.

"Can you prepare the bath for me before you go home?" Sunghoon asked.

With a trembling hand, Sunoo began closing the door he had just open. He's trying to calm down, he wants to yell at Sunghoon for being so naïve. How come he still asks Sunoo to prepare his bath after that ridiculous make out session when he can do it himself?!

Okay...

Maybe he can't because Sunoo is always the one who does it for him, but still!! Can't he just shower since he has that as well?

"All right, your highness," Sunoo began walking to the bathroom without glancing at the prince.

When Sunoo entered the bathroom, he started silently cursing Sunghoon. He almost slammed things around as he prepared the prince’s bath, but when he realized he might break something, he forced himself to calm down.

As he waited for the tub to fill, a wave of weakness slowly washed over him. He often fantasized about kissing Sunghoon, how soft his lips would feel against his, whether they would bleed if Sunoo bit them, or what they would taste like. Would it be like cherry?

But he couldn’t remember much of it. It had been their first kiss earlier, and it all happened too fast, too consumed by lust for him to fully take it in. All he could recall was how intense and amazing it felt.

And now it has already happened.

There was nothing he could do to take back his first kiss, one that had been taken by nothing but lust. He was sure Sunghoon didn’t even care that it was his first.

The bathroom door opened and Sunoo immediately knew it was Sunghoon because of his scent, he smelled like a walking forest, it was that strong. So Sunoo didn’t dare do anything and simply let him walk in.

“Is it cold?” Sunghoon asked.

The bathtub was designed like an old traditional bath, slightly modernized but still retaining its traditional style.

“Yes, Your Highness. Do you want it hot?” Sunoo murmured, turning away from him.

“No, cold is fine,” Sunghoon replied.

Sunoo just hummed and checked the temperature of the water. When he decided it was just right, he stood up and walked over to Sunghoon, who was already removing his clothes.

Sunoo helped him without meeting his eyes. It was normal for him to assist Sunghoon in removing his clothes but what wasn’t normal was the silence. No teasing, no playful remarks. Just quiet compliance. He could feel Sunghoon’s heavy gaze on him, but Sunoo was too drained to react. He just wanted to go home.

Sunoo knelt on the cold tiles to remove Sunghoon’s shoes. He shouldn’t have minded, he had done this countless times before but in his vulnerable state, it suddenly hit him how foolish he had been to ever dream of becoming Sunghoon’s mate. He was just the prince’s caretaker. Nothing more.

Then he made his second bad decision of the day… he looked up.

Sunghoon had already removed his Prince’s clothes, leaving him in only his boxers and a thin white undershirt. When Sunoo noticed the clear sign of lingering arousal, heat rushed to his cheeks.

He didn't cum earlier.

Sunoo had been so caught up in his own climax that he hadn’t noticed Sunghoon’s.

And that’s when it hit him, that’s why Sunghoon wanted the water cold.

“Stand up,” Sunghoon ordered when he realized Sunoo had already finished removing his shoes, yet was still kneeling in front of him.

Sunoo knew he shouldn’t repeat what happened earlier, but his pride wouldn’t let it go. He didn’t want Sunghoon to remember him as someone who couldn’t make him finish.

He knew it was dumb but when it came to Sunghoon, he couldn’t help being a little competitive. What if one day Sunghoon compared him to his mate? What if he praised his fiancée for being able to satisfy him instantly, while his stupid caretaker couldn’t even do that?

So childish…

But that became Sunoo’s third terrible decision of the day.

He licks his lips when he looks at Sunghoon's puzzled gaze. He was looking directly at him when he began touching Sunghoon's dick, waiting for Sunghoon to stop him before continuing.

But Sunghoon is just staring at him, as if he's waiting for whatever Sunoo’s plan is, so it's a go sign for Sunoo to remove Sunghoon's boxer. He almost gasped when he saw Sunghoon's dick, which was only half hard now but still huge, possibly twice as large as Sunoo's.

Sunoo touched the tip of it to smear the pre-cum with his thumb. 

“Sun—" Sunghoon gasped.

Sunghoon can't stop himself from grabbing Sunoo’s hair as he lick the tip.

It was suddenly too much for Sunghoon especially when Sunoo started sucking the head of his dick while pumping the bottom part of it like he was so obsessed with the idea of making him cum. Sunoo coated Sunghoon’s dick with his own saliva to make it easier for him to suck him off.

The Prince never breaks eye contact with Sunoo because he doesn't want to miss out on seeing how perfect Sunoo's plump lips are with his dick.

But as Sunoo started using his tongue, Sunghoon couldn't help but close his eyes and tilt his head back, biting his lips so hard to suppress his moan to the point that he tasted blood in his mouth.

When Sunoo fastened his rhythm while cursing himself at the back of his mind, he knew he'd regret it later.

Sunghoon's grip on his hair got so tight that he could feel some of it was pulling out of his scalp.

Sunoo froze when Sunghoon suddenly pulled his head away. Sunghoon was breathing heavily as he stared at him, his eyes filled with lust that made Sunoo want to squirm. 

Sunghoon suddenly repositions his dick in Sunoo's mouth while his other hand continues to grip his hair.

“Wider, Sunoo,” Sunghoon ordered, and Sunoo immediately obeyed. He opened his mouth wider so Sunghoon could slide it in properly. 

"I'm going to fuck your mouth, is that okay?" Sunghoon asked, and he nodded right away.

"Mhm," Sunghoon hummed as he began gently fucking Sunoo's mouth, he had his eyes closed but Sunoo's eyes were wide open, admiring how satisfied Sunghoon looked while fucking his lips.

He doesn't care how much it hurts when Sunghoon unintentionally deep throats him. 

Sunghoon began fucking his mouth relentlessly and Sunoo is just taking it all like good boy. He could feel tears welling up in his eyes, his knees trembling above the cold white tiles, and his moan growing louder despite the fact that his mouth was full of Sunghoon's dick.

"Fuck Sunoo, you're so good, so fucking good," Sunghoon said weakly while repeatedly hitting the back of Sunoo’s throat. 

He knows that Sunghoon's orgasm is taking over him, especially when Sunghoon abruptly pulls his hair to remove his mouth from his dick.

"Tongue out baby," he softly said. Sunoo was briefly confused by what he meant, but when he realized what Sunghoon was implying, he slowly stuck his tongue out. Sunghoon smirked and jerked off in front of Sunoo's tongue till the release of his cum.

And Sunoo just accepts whatever Sunghoon gives.

When Sunghoon finally came all over his face, he paused for a moment, breathless, just to admire Sunoo properly. Sunoo’s face was just as flushed and breathless as his.

“You’re so pretty, Sunoo.”

Sunoo blushed even harder at that. Does he really look pretty covered in his cum?

Maybe Jungwon was right about him being a people pleaser. Even though Sunoo didn’t like the taste, he still swallowed it all.

Sunoo’s chest ached slightly when he realized he had swallowed everything… literally and figuratively. Sunghoon gently wiped the remaining mess from the corner of Sunoo’s lips before helping him stand up.

It was awkward after that, Sunoo couldn’t bring himself to look Sunghoon in the eyes after everything that happened.

“Would you like to take a bath together?” Sunghoon asked cautiously, as if he was carefully choosing every word.

“I’ll just take a bath at home, Your Highness,” Sunoo said softly while fixing his clothes and hair.

“You’re going home looking like that?”

Like what? Like your bitch?

Sunoo looked at Sunghoon. Of course he didn’t want him going home like this, since it would be obvious they had done something if Sunoo walked out smelling like sex and Sunghoon. Because of that, all sorts of reasons started filling Sunoo’s mind. Maybe Sunghoon was ashamed of him, or maybe he cared about Sunoo the way Sunoo hoped he did, or maybe Sunghoon simply didn’t want their little secret exposed.

Fuck, what is it really?

Sunoo’s negative thoughts began clouding his mind.

“I don’t have extra clothes,” Sunoo reasoned out, though it was true anyway.

“You can borrow mine, I don’t mind,” Sunghoon said with a shrug.

“I don’t wanna wear your clothes outside. Everyone might see me wearing them,” Sunoo said firmly.

Sunghoon looked surprised by that, because surely he still remembered how desperately Sunoo used to beg for one of his clothes just so he could wear it outside and show the entire palace.

“Okay, sorry,” Sunghoon said softly. “I think I still have some extra clothes I never wore when I was fifteen. They’re a little small for me now, but I think they’ll fit your body. I-I never wore them, don’t worry,” he explained.

“Don’t wanna,” Sunoo muttered childishly while grabbing Sunghoon’s towel to arrange it beside the bathtub.

“Come on, Sunoo—”

“I said I don’t want to—”

“It’s an order,” Sunghoon said with finality.

Sunoo’s eyes widened when he turned to look at Sunghoon. He had never forced Sunoo to do something he didn’t want before.

This was the first time.

“You can use the bathtub first if you want. Just call me when you’re finished,” Sunghoon insisted before storming out of the bathroom.

This was probably the first time they had argued about something, and Sunoo could see how much their relationship had changed because of the three mistakes they made today.

Sunoo suddenly wanted to cry, but of course, he didn’t.

Instead, he stripped his clothes and went straight to the bathtub. Sunoo sat there for a few minutes, taking in the pleasant scent. Sunghoon liked pouring a lot of perfume into his bathtub. Sunoo only felt a little disappointed because the water was cold, which kept him from relaxing, he wished it were hot instead.

Sigh.

But at least his half boner after the blowjob is gone now.

After cleaning himself up, Sunoo quickly got out of the bathtub. He didn’t want to stay there any longer in case his imagination started running wild again, he might start thinking Sunghoon only did all that because he was worried about him.

“Huh, as if,” Sunoo sarcastically muttered to himself.

He stepped out and then realized he didn’t have any clothes.

Fuck.

So he grabbed his old clothes and used them to cover himself before carefully peeking outside the bathroom.

“Your Highness?” Sunoo called softly.

Sunghoon immediately turned toward him while rummaging through his cabinet.

“Sunoo—” He glanced at him. “Wait— did you see the clothes I was talking about earlier? It’s gone! I saw it here last week and—”

“I already removed it from there since you never use it anymore— oh.”

Sunoo and Sunghoon stared at each other for a few seconds, both unable to believe what they had just realized.

When he got home to his modest house beside the palace where some of the palace workers lived, the first thing Sunoo noticed was Jungwon sitting on the sofa, watching television as if he had been waiting for him.

“Oh, Sunoo, you’re home—”

Jungwon suddenly frowned.

“You’re wearing Sunghoon’s clothes,” Jungwon said softly after immediately recognizing the expensive fabric on Sunoo.

“Y-Yeah, I spilled food on myself, so he lent me some clothes for now…” Sunoo lied as he finally stepped further inside the house.

Jungwon nodded, but it was obvious from his expression that he didn’t believe a word Sunoo said. So Sunoo simply continued walking to avoid whatever Jungwon might say next, but he stopped when Jungwon spoke again.

“Sun, you know you can always talk to me, right?”

Sunoo could only lift his gaze and smile at him.

He can probably smell Sunghoon’s scent on him more strongly than ever.

The next day, Sunghoon was extremely busy preparing for his wedding because the palace’s famous tailor for his fiancée had arrived.

So Sunoo was left in the garden with Heeseung and the children playing around. Sunoo was sitting on a laid-out cloth, holding a one year old child on his lap while feeding them with a bottle of milk. Heeseung had apparently taken the child from a gardener so they wouldn’t be disturbed. Some of the other children were running around, while others were making flower crowns for Sunoo’s hair.

Heeseung was also holding a young girl, helping her make a flower bracelet for Sunoo, even though Heeseung already had flowers placed on his own head.

It was nice spending time like this, so much so that Sunoo didn’t even realize several hours had already passed. He had recently discovered that Heeseung sneaks into his room every day just to play with kids, no wonder the children liked him so much. Heeseung said it was just a pastime for him and that he enjoyed teaching them, which was why he wanted to leave the palace to study and become a teacher.

Sunoo couldn’t help but coo at Heeseung’s cuteness. His eyes would light up every time Sunoo mentioned how adorable Heeseung would be as a father, which suddenly made Heeseung say he wanted five children.

Sunoo chuckled, unable to believe Heeseung wanted FIVE, but he assured him that there was nothing wrong with that, as long as his mate also wanted five kids, since that would be a huge responsibility.

Also, Sunoo wanted seven kids anyways, so he understands him.

They continued talking about Heeseung’s dream while the other kids giggled at their conversation.

“But you, what’s your dream?”

Sunoo went silent at that.

“I-I don’t know…” Sunoo said softly.

Heeseung immediately looked up at him.

“That’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with not having a dream, you know?”

Sunoo just smiled at him before continuing to lull the child in his arms to sleep.

“So you don’t really want to find a husband?” Heeseung asked carefully, as if unsure whether it was okay to ask.

Sunoo hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.

“I don’t really know if I can marry someone at this point.”

“May I know why?”

“I’m in love with someone,” Sunoo said directly.

“And you can’t marry that someone?” Heeseung asked, confused.

“Yeah… he’s getting married,” Sunoo nodded.

“Damn, that fucking sucks, I thought you were joking back then—”

Heeseung suddenly stopped mid-sentence, and the two of them locked eyes, both wide eyed. The children were staring at them, though they seemed clueless about what had just happened, only slightly reacting to the word Heeseung had said.

Then, almost at the same time, they burst into laughter. The kids kept pestering them, asking what was so funny, but the two of them just kept laughing until it finally died down. The children eventually shifted their attention to a butterfly that landed on Sunoo’s head.

“You’re good at taking care of kids. Maybe if I build my own daycare one day, you can be the caretaker,” Heeseung whispered to him and Sunoo smiled right away.

“Maybe,” he whispered back.

They were still quietly talking when the children suddenly went silent. All of them were staring at the two of them.

Then one kid suddenly shouted that they were kissing. Well, the kid had thought they were kissing, but they’re not.

Sunoo froze, eyes wide, while Heeseung laughed. The children started squealing and Sunoo couldn’t help but feel his face heat up even more as they began chanting “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

Heeseung tried to shush the kids, still laughing, while Sunoo turned his attention back to the child in his arms, gently trying to lull them back to sleep after the noise had woken them up.

Sunoo didn’t know how it happened that his eyes met Sunghoon’s, who was standing in the garden far from where he and Heeseung were. Sunghoon looked like he was talking to important people, with a crowd gathered around him.

Sunoo hadn’t even realized Sunghoon was there, he had been too focused on the children and on Heeseung.

But even after Sunoo looked away, he could still feel Sunghoon’s heavy gaze on him. He just learned to ignore it.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

“Kim.”

Sunoo stopped walking in the garden the moment he heard Sunghoon’s voice. He was alone. No guards with him, not even Jake.

“Your Highness,” Sunoo said softly, bowing slightly. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” Sunghoon replied directly, making Sunoo feel a little embarrassed for no real reason.

“And you? What are you doing in this part of the garden? Alone?” Sunghoon asked.

Sunoo was in the middle of the maze because he was specifically looking for a flower that could only be found there.

“I’m looking for a certain flower Hee likes,” Sunoo said with a small smile as he searched among the plants.

“Hee? Interesting,” Sunghoon said flatly.

Sunoo’s cheeks immediately turned red and he quickly shook his head.

“I-I mean Prince Heeseung. I-I was—”

“You’re courting him?”

“No!” Sunoo answered quickly, sounding almost defensive.

“Mhm…” Sunghoon hummed, glancing at the flowers around them. “You two look like a married couple out there. Everyone’s been talking about how good you look together.”

“T-They were?” Sunoo didn’t know what to say. He was sure they were the same people who once talked about how Sunoo and Sunghoon looked good together before the news of the wedding came out.

“Yeah…” Sunghoon paused and looked at him, as if checking Sunoo’s reaction. “You’re blushing.”

“I am not,” Sunoo said quickly, avoiding his gaze and pretending to keep looking for the flower, even though he was clearly distracted by Sunghoon. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

“Really? Then why were you so close earlier while talking? What were you guys even talking about?”

“None of your business,” Sunoo replied with a sweet smile before walking further into the maze.

“Mhm, okay…” Sunghoon answered while following him, and Sunoo immediately felt guilty for no real reason.

“Okay, fine!” Sunoo pouted. “We were talking about building a daycare outside the palace, and we’re going to work there so we can spend time with the kids.”

“Kids?”

“Yeah, I like spending time with them.”

“You like kids?” Sunghoon raised an eyebrow.

“I— obviously, your Majesty. That’s one of the reasons I want to get married. I also want to raise my own child with my future mate,” Sunoo said, sounding almost incredulous. He had lost count of how many times he had jokingly told Sunghoon before that he wanted children with him, but Sunghoon never paid attention.

“I-I thought you were just joking before—”

“I’m not,” Sunoo cut him off immediately.

Sunoo started walking again and noticed that Sunghoon was still following him.

“Why are you looking for me exactly?” Sunoo asked.

“No reason,” Sunghoon replied briefly.

Sunoo shot him a glare but Sunghoon only raised an eyebrow in return. The two of them continued walking in silence while Sunoo searched, but it was impossible to ignore the feeling in his chest. It felt like it might burst at any moment at the thought that it was just the two of them inside the maze, surrounded by blooming flowers.

It felt like one of those fairy tales he used to read as a child, except the only difference was that Sunoo wasn’t the main character.

He was just an extra.

“Sunoo.”

Sunoo snapped back to reality when Sunghoon called him, but when he turned around, Sunghoon was suddenly very close.

Slowly, Sunghoon smiled as he gently placed a beautiful flower behind Sunoo’s ear.

Sunoo’s heart nearly stopped at how close they were and at Sunghoon’s action. For the first time, Sunoo felt what it was like to be the main character in a story.

“The flower looks good on you,” Sunghoon said softly before slowly pulling away.

Sunoo could barely catch his breath.

“D-Do you—” No, no. He shouldn’t ask something stupid like that.

“Mhm?” Sunghoon turned back to him, and Sunoo felt like he couldn’t breathe again.

“Do you know where the purple roses are?” Sunoo changed his question instead, his cheeks still red from earlier.

“No,” Sunghoon answered immediately. “I didn’t even know they existed.”

"Oh..."

"But I know where the roses are."

They looked at each other for a long moment until Sunghoon took hold of Sunoo’s wrist.

“Come with me,” he said softly before leading Sunoo toward where the roses were.

As they walked, Sunoo’s heart kept pounding. He didn’t understand why everything he had only ever dreamed of before was suddenly happening now.

He felt almost like he was floating. He wasn’t thinking about consequences anymore, and without hesitation, he slowly adjusted their hands. Instead of just Sunghoon holding his wrist, he took Sunghoon’s hand and intertwined their fingers as they walked through the maze filled with flowers.

He felt Sunghoon slightly pause at the gesture, but Sunghoon continued walking with him anyway.

“Here are the roses,” Sunghoon said, pointing to a section filled with roses.

“They’re just red, white, and pink,” Sunoo said, like it was the most obvious thing.

“I told you, there are no purple ones here.”

“I saw Hee holding one before,” Sunoo said.

“Maybe he bought it outside the palace.”

“Mhm, maybe. He likes sneaking out,” Sunoo replied before slowly letting go of Sunghoon’s hand so he could get closer to the flowers. He studied them and gently touched a few, before turning back to Sunghoon.

Only to find him already looking surprised at how suddenly he had turned.

“What’s your favorite flower, Your Highness?”

“You.”

Sunoo’s heartbeat stopped again.

His face grew warm instantly, and he awkwardly smiled, completely caught off guard. Sunghoon had never flirted with him before, it was always the other way around.

So shocked by the answer, Sunoo simply pretended he hadn’t heard it properly.

“H-Huh?”

Sunghoon let out a soft sigh and slowly stepped closer to him.

“I said you. You’re the prettiest flower here, Sunoo.”

This time, Sunoo couldn’t speak at all. He never expected Sunghoon to repeat it so seriously.

“You make all the flowers around you look so bland just by standing there.”

“Y-Your Highness,” Sunoo tried to laugh it off, thinking he might be joking but it came out awkward and forced.

“But I can’t deny that these flowers still make your beauty stand out, so I’m grateful for them.”

This time, Sunghoon was so close that their lips were almost touching, while Sunoo’s back was pressed against the flowers. The thorns pricked him slightly,  this wasn’t some fairy tale where everything would magically be safe, so he gently pushed Sunghoon away with an awkward smile.

Sunoo quickly stepped away from the flower wall and moved toward a nearby stone area where only a few plants grew, leaving Sunghoon looking confused.

“Your Highness!” Sunoo called out. “Come here!”

So even though he was confused, Sunghoon slowly walked toward him. But before he could get any closer, Sunoo quickly hooked his arm around Sunghoon’s neck and kissed him on the lips.

Sunghoon seemed surprised at first, but soon he smiled against the kiss, before gently taking control and guiding Sunoo’s lips.

He pressed Sunoo against the wall and slowly lifted him up. They kissed so passionately that they both forgot the possibility of anyone entering the maze could see them.

Sunoo let out soft whimpering sounds between their kisses. He didn’t care if anyone heard him, and for a moment, he didn’t care if anyone found out about his little affair with the Prince, even though he knew it could get him expelled from the palace if people found out.

That was exactly what he had planned anyway if he couldn’t have Sunghoon.

To leave the palace.

"Y-Your highness—" Sunoo shamelessly grinds on Sunghoon's clothed dick while they're busy kissing each other to death.

If Sunghoon was getting married next month, then Sunoo would make the most of his remaining days with him.

He had chased him for years… would it really hurt if he became selfish for just three weeks? Would it hurt anyone? Princess Wonyoung and Sunghoon weren’t even in a relationship, so was this still considered cheating? Was he a homewrecker now?

No, no, he wasn’t.

They weren’t together. Princess Wonyoung and Sunghoon weren’t together.

It wasn’t that bad.

But Sunoo was only convincing himself at this point.

Sunghoon suddenly grabbed Sunoo, making him stop mid-motion. Sunoo looked at him, startled, while Sunghoon only smirked and leaned in close to his ear.

“Turn around,” he whispered.

At his words, Sunoo hesitated for a moment before slowly obeying, like he always did when it came to Sunghoon. He turned around and placed a hand against the wall in front of him, his breathing slightly uneven.

Sunghoon stepped closer and adjusted the fabric of Sunoo’s clothing, making him shiver at the proximity. Sunoo’s heart pounded loudly in his chest, overwhelmed by how easily Sunghoon could still affect him like this.

He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself while Sunghoon stayed right behind him… too close, too real, and impossible for Sunoo to ignore.

Sunoo felt his slick leaking more when Sunghoon scissors him. Sunghoon doesn't even hesitate to push his fingers deeper, causing him to whimper like a mess. He even repeated it continuously, making Sunoo's knees jelly.

"Y-Your highness, oh my god," Sunoo’s hand clenched tightly against the wall, especially when Sunghoon pressed a soft kiss behind his ear. 

"I-I'm cumming y-your highness—"

"No, you're not," Sunghoon whispered something softly before suddenly pulling away. Sunoo immediately felt a sense of emptiness at the loss of his presence, so he turned to look at the price with wide, almost pleading eyes.

"Oh pup, don’t look at me like that,” Sunoo ignored the fact that they were only one year apart, yet Sunghoon still had the audacity to call him pup, because right now his priority is his ass feeling like it needs to be fucked until it hurts.

“P-Please, Your Highness,” Sunoo whispered as he leaned in and kissed Sunghoon again.

“Mhm… what do you want?” Sunghoon asked softly between the kiss.

“You know what I want,” Sunoo murmured, frustrated.

“I don’t,” Sunghoon teased lightly. “Tell me.”

Sunoo let out a small breath, clearly annoyed at how Sunghoon was playing with him, before pulling back just enough to meet his gaze with stubborn determination.

“You,” he admitted quietly.  "Fuck me, mhm?"

"With what? My fingers?" Sunghoon asked playfully.

And that fucking hits Sunoo, he doesn't know.

"I-no, no," Sunoo couldn’t form his words properly anymore, especially with Sunghoon staying too close, distracting him completely.

“I… I want you,” he managed to admit.

“Me?” Sunghoon asked, brushing his cheek lightly. Sunoo’s face immediately turned even redder, caught off guard by the gentleness in his voice.

“Y-Yes… I want you, Your Highness,” Sunoo whispered again, almost pleading.

“Okay,” Sunghoon said softly.

Sunoo’s heart skipped at that single word.

But the moment Sunghoon moved behind him again, everything in Sunoo’s chest tightened. His eyes fluttered shut as uncertainty slowly crept in. What they were doing felt overwhelming, too fast, too much yet Sunoo couldn’t bring himself to stop it.

Because it was with the prince.

He was doing it with Sunghoon.

But even with that thought, doubt lingered at the edge of his mind, mixing with everything he was feeling until he no longer knew what was right or wrong anymore.

Before he can even form a thought. Sunghoon is already fucking him relentlessly from the back.

Surely, he doesn’t even know that it’s Sunoo’s first time but if he did, would he care? Would he be gentle with Sunoo?

Sunoo doesn't think so, Sunghoon’s fucking him in a public area, for sure he doesn't even care about what's going on inside Sunoo's mind right know.

When Sunoo opened his eyes, he suddenly felt tears at the corners of his eyes. He couldn’t believe that another one of his dreams had shattered again. Still can't believe he lost his virginity in an open space... in a dog style.

But his heart is still desperately holding on to the idea that, at least, it’s with someone he loves.

It fucking sucks, nonetheless.

"Can I cum inside?" Sunghoon whispers.

Sunoo closed his eyes again and his tears rolled down. Since Sunghoon can't see his face, he's not aware that he's crying, so he just nodded.

Sunghoon fastened his phase and Sunoo felt his knees shaking, he’s so close.

He doesn't even hold his moan anymore because Sunghoon's scent is making him crazy. The alpha’s sandalwood scent fills the air, it is warm, deep, and faintly smoky that it is overpowering even the scent of the roses beside them.

Sunoo doesn’t even know what to hold onto. The wall he once relied on suddenly feels like something he can’t depend on anymore as Sunghoon keeps on hitting his sweet spot.

"Sunoo," Sunghoon moaned. "Fuck, Sunoo."

“Ahh! My prince…”

“Fuck!”

Sunghoon holds him tightly, the alpha’s head pressed against the back of Sunoo’s head. He can feel the prince’s hot breath on his neck, both of them relentless in the pace of Sunghoon’s movements. Sunoo also can’t ignore the fact that Sunghoon’s lips are dangerously close to his neck.

“Shit…” the prince curses.

Sunghoon is so close to him that Sunoo feels lightheaded, his thoughts suddenly drifting to the idea of Sunghoon mating him. He can’t stop himself from imagining the alpha biting his neck as his emotions threaten to overwhelm him.

Maybe it’s just the heat of the moment, maybe it’s simply instinct. After all, they are an alpha and an omega fucking in the middle of the day.

“You’re so fucking… tight…”

Sunoo’s mouth is slightly open as he stares up at the calm blue sky, feeling the prince’s breath against his ear as he fucks him to oblivion. He can feel his hole ripping apart but he also feels like he’s on the very cloud he’s staring at right now.

“I’m so close, shit…”

“Please, please, I want you so bad my prince, please…” Maybe Sunoo is delirious. He doesn’t even know what he was saying and why the fuck he was begging.

“Fuck.”

Sunghoon bites his neck when he cums inside him.

Yeah, right. Fuck.

Sunoo almost holds his breath because of what happened. For a moment, he thinks the clouds have stopped, as if this world has frozen too… until he realizes the bite wasn’t hard enough to mate with him.

It’s like a bucket of ice is poured over his entire body.

Sunghoon rides his orgasms for a short time before he hugs Sunoo from the back and kisses his cheeks again.

He can feel his slick and Sunghoon’s cum dripping down his thighs. Sunoo feels his knees about to give out if he isn’t holding onto the wall. His body feels exhausted. If the alpha weren’t holding him, he would have collapsed onto the grass by now.

"Sunoo, are you okay?" Sunghoon is breathing heavily on his neck, they're both weak at the moment.

“Yeah, yeah,” Sunoo opened his eyes and felt that some of his tears were still there, mixed with his sweat.

When he tried to move, he felt sore. He almost screamed from the pain all over his body, but he didn’t show it to Sunghoon.

He almost forgot about the pain in his body because the pain in his heart was stronger.

He can’t believe that he did this with Sunghoon.

He felt so stupid.

So… so stupid.

“Let’s go to my room, Sun.”

Sunghoon let go of the hug, but Sunoo immediately pulled up his clothes so Sunghoon wouldn’t see him.

He knows it doesn’t make sense, but still, he doesn’t want Sunghoon to see it. What if there’s blood or whatever. Fuck him. He doesn’t deserve to know that he was Sunoo’s first.

He doesn’t even know why he’s mad, maybe he’s just overwhelmed by everything that suddenly happened.

“Sunoo, let’s go.”

“I-I can’t,” Sunoo replied while unable to look at him.

“Why?” Sunghoon asked. “Baby, we need to clean up.”

“I-I need to go home, sorry.” Sunoo immediately ran out of the maze without looking at Sunghoon’s face.

But it doesn’t matter, right?

Sunghoon didn’t even look at his face when they were doing it.

“Sunoo? Sunoo!”

Sunoo snapped back to his senses and looked at Jungwon.

“The water’s overflowing!”

Sunoo quickly looked down at the table, where water was already spilling everywhere. The glass in front of him was also full.

“You look like a mess,” Jungwon said as he stepped closer, but immediately stopped and winced when he caught Sunoo’s scent.

“Why do you smell like that? You smell like a rogue alpha after they’ve been—” Jungwon’s eyes suddenly widened. “Sunoo, are you okay?!”

Jungwon quickly approached him but hesitated to touch Sunoo. He still wasn’t sure what had happened, but as an alpha, his instincts were already on edge.

What if Sunoo got assaulted by another alpha?

Even though Jungwon didn’t really believe in things like faith or prayers, he found himself silently hoping to Moon Goddess that he was wrong.

His eyes then landed on the glass on the table… and the medicine beside it. It was a Plan B pill.

His heart started pounding. Something was definitely wrong now.

Because Jungwon knew Sunoo, he would never have sex with anyone unless it was Sunghoon. He was deeply in love with that alpha, to the point that he had literally reserved himself for him.

“Sunoo, baby… what happened?” Jungwon asked softly, still too afraid to actually touch him.

“It’s nothing, Jungwon,” Sunoo whispered. His voice sounded so vulnerable.

“You know you can talk to me, right?”

Sunoo nodded. He closed his eyes and just kept nodding, again and again, until it finally broke. He started crying like a child.

Suddenly, Jungwon had a hunch about what had happened, and his expression shifted as the realization slowly settled in.

“Oh, Sunoo…” Jungwon hugged him tightly and Sunoo immediately hugged him back.

“Jungwon, I-I love him.”

Jungwon let out a heavy sigh. “I know, Sun.”

“I’m selfish. So fucking selfish. But I love him. I-I love him so much, and it hurts,” Sunoo said, gripping Jungwon’s shirt tighter.

“He’s a jerk,” Jungwon said, even though he didn’t fully know the story yet. Based on his instincts, he already assumed the prince was the problem and somehow, Jungwon’s instincts were rarely wrong.

“But so do I,” Sunoo whispered.

And that left Jungwon completely confused about what he meant.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

Sunoo came to Sunghoon’s room the next morning, holding Sunghoon’s breakfast like he usually did, but for an unknown reason, Sunghoon looked so shocked, like he had just seen a ghost pass by.

Maybe because Sunoo’s acting like nothing happened yesterday. He’s just back on his daily routine.

“S-Sunoo,” he said without thinking.

“Your Highness,” Sunoo smiled at him before placing the food on Sunghoon’s table.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Huh?” Sunoo pretended he didn’t hear it.

“L-Let’s talk please, I—”

Sunoo cut him off by placing his hand on Sunghoon’s cheek. Sunghoon immediately softened because of the gesture. He slowly held Sunoo’s hand on his cheek and leaned in so he could feel his touch better.

“Eat first,” Sunoo smiled at him.

“But—”

“No buts, my prince.” Sunoo leaned in to kiss his lips. “Eat first, okay?”

Sunghoon smiled after the kiss. He couldn’t stop himself from pulling Sunoo closer, holding his waist like he never wanted to let go. They were so close, but neither of them wanted to let go.

Sunghoon kissed him again, deep and almost longing. Sunoo smiled through the kiss because, for the first time, his heart felt warm because of it.

“You’re going to be late for your class,” Sunoo whispered to him.

"Will you wait here for me?"

Sunoo looked straight into his eyes and nodded. Sunghoon’s grip on his waist tightened, pulling him even closer.

“You’re not gonna run away again?”

Sunoo nodded again, chuckling, and Sunghoon stared into his eyes for a moment, as if searching for reassurance.

“Promise?” Sunghoon asked again, making sure.

Sunoo let out a soft laugh before leaning in once more.

“Promise,” Sunoo said quietly, his gaze dropping to Sunghoon’s lips and he kissed the crown prince again.

“Okay, wait for me here. I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere,” Sunghoon said.

Sunoo just nodded as they separated. He sat on Sunghoon’s bed while watching him get ready. Sunghoon kept glancing at him while fixing himself, probably wondering why Sunoo wasn’t helping him.

“I’ll see you later,” Sunghoon said before grabbing his bag and kissing Sunoo again, who was still sitting on the bed.

“Bye,” Sunoo said, his cheeks still flushed from Sunghoon’s kiss. 

Sunghoon only smiled again before leaving the room.

For a few seconds, Sunoo just stared at the door where Sunghoon disappeared, then he let out a soft sigh. 

The prince didn’t eat his breakfast again.

Sunoo lay down on the bed.

He had made up his mind. He would stay until Sunghoon’s marriage and he would be selfish. He would put himself first. He would prioritize what he wanted. After all, he had already sinned by being with Sunghoon, he might as well make the most of it now.

It was only an arranged marriage between Prince Sunghoon and Princess Wonyoung.

Sunoo had never even known of Princess Wonyoung’s existence until the party last week. He had been working in the palace for almost a decade, so he was certain there was nothing between the two of them.

Something would only exist between them once they became mates.

So Sunoo would enjoy this affair until that day.

Slowly, Sunoo shifts his position on Sunghoon’s bed. He almost got goosebumps when he realized how strong Sunghoon’s scent was all over it.

He started smelling Sunghoon’s pillow. It smelled so nice. He had never had the chance to lie in Sunghoon’s bed before, because he was sure Sunghoon wouldn’t like it, he was pretty sensitive with smell for some reason. But this time was different, he could do whatever he wanted in his room.

Sunoo stopped scenting the pillow when he realized something.

“Fuck, this is weird,” he told himself.

So he shifted his position again, but still didn’t know what to do. He sat up on the bed, but still didn’t know what to do again. In the end, he stood up and started touching Sunghoon’s things.

He already knew where everything was and how everything was arranged in the drawers, but he still opened them anyway, even though he already knew what was inside. Eventually he got bored, so he turned on Sunghoon’s large TV. After switching channels for a while, he turned it off again.

He glanced at the clock, only thirty minutes had passed. Oh god.

So he stood up and went to the bookshelves instead. He flipped through the books even though nothing he read really sank into his mind.

When Sunoo looked at the clock again, only ten minutes had passed but it felt like he had been reading for three hours. Still, there were only twenty minutes left before Sunghoon’s lunch schedule. That meant he was already on his way back.

But Sunoo still needed to fetch the food, so he stood up even though he was fifteen minutes early for his schedule at the royal kitchen. He’d just walk slowly, maybe.

He went straight into the kitchen. The guards didn’t even stop him anymore, they were used to him by now. But he didn’t expect to see Prince Riki there with Jay, and even more unexpected, Jay was hitting Prince Riki on the back of his neck.

When Jay saw him, his eyes immediately widened. He almost choked but Prince Riki just looked at Sunoo calmly, not panicking at all.

“There’s just a mosquito on his neck,” Jay explained.

Prince Riki glanced at him because of Jay’s sudden excuse. Sunoo just shrugged.

“Good afternoon Prince Riki,” Sunoo greeted.

“Good afternoon Kim,” he replied before continuing to eat the food Jay had prepared, which only made Jay’s expression even more annoyed.

Sunoo let out a small laugh. He didn’t know Jay and Prince Riki were this close. If this had been years ago, Jay probably would’ve been exiled for hitting a prince but thankfully it was 2026 and smacking a royal prince on the head wasn’t exactly a crime anymore.

Still, he was glad Prince Riki seemed comfortable around Jay. There were a lot of rumors that he was distant and hard to approach, so seeing him like this was nice. But Sunoo didn’t really need to get involved in that. He was just here for the food.

“Can I get Prince Sunghoon’s lunch?”

“You’re 15 minutes early,” Jay said, pointing at the food on the stove.

“Sorry,” Sunoo said awkwardly, scratching his head.

“What are you doing here, Prince Riki?”

“Oh, I was just getting my lunch,” Riki answered calmly. “And I told Chef Jay to lessen the saltiness of my soup. It tastes good but I’m not a big fan of salty food.”

“Ohhh…” Sunoo looked at Jay, who was cooking and pretending very hard not to listen to them.

“Okay, I’ll just wait here to fetch Prince Sunghoon’s lunch, then I’ll leave so you two can talk about your lunch, Prince Riki,” Sunoo said, feeling like he was interrupting something.

But Riki only looked confused while Jay shot him a sharp glare.

Sunoo noticed how quickly Jay finished preparing Sunghoon’s food, so he easily took it. He gave both of them a small smile before excusing himself and leaving.

While walking back to Sunghoon’s room, he suddenly caught Sunghoon’s scent, strong and familiar, so he knew he was already there. When he opened the door, he saw Sunghoon standing inside with his phone pressed to his ear, pacing slightly. But the moment he turned and saw Sunoo, he stopped.

Sunoo couldn’t read his expression. He didn’t know if it was worry, anger, fear, or sadness.

“Where did you go?” Sunghoon asked quickly. “Didn’t I tell you to stay here and wait for me?”

His voice was soft and gentle but there was a clear edge of frustration underneath it.

Sunoo placed the food on the table.

“Sorry, I just got your food because it’s already lunchtime. I thought you might get hungry when you come back since you didn’t eat your breakfast,” Sunoo said before turning to Sunghoon, who was now standing extremely close to him.

“Don’t do that again…” Sunghoon whispered.

“What?” Sunoo asked, confused.

Sunghoon looked stressed and Sunoo instinctively wanted to calm him down, but he felt like he had no right to do so. So he just stayed still.

“Don’t leave me,” Sunghoon said as he pressed his forehead against Sunoo’s. The closeness made Sunoo’s heart almost stop.

Sunghoon’s hand held his waist firmly like he wouldn’t let him go.

“Please,” Sunghoon whispered again, looking straight into Sunoo’s eyes. “Please say it… say you’re never going to leave me again.”

“What— what’s wrong with fetching your lunch, Your Majesty?”

Sunghoon closed his eyes and lowered his forehead onto Sunoo’s shoulder instead. They stayed like that for a few seconds until he finally pulled Sunoo into a hug, still resting his forehead against him.

“Your Highness?” Sunoo called softly.

Sunghoon lifts his head to look again at Sunoo's eyes, he has the same unreadable expression but he's staring intensely. The tension between the two of them seems suffocating for Sunoo. His heart is beating faster, he can't deny that he still likes Prince Sunghoon.

"Can I kiss you, Sunoo?" he asked.

Sunoo breathes a hitch.

"Of course, your highness."

Sunghoon didn't think twice. He kissed Sunoo firmly like he was craving him. He didn't hesitate either when he pushed his tongue inside Sunoo's. It was an open-mouthed kiss, had a lot of tongue and movements and involved a lot of saliva too.

It would be fucking disgusting if it wasn't Sunghoon he was kissing.

Sunoo whimpered when Sunghoon pressed his hard cock on Sunoo's. The prince’s kisses also moved down to his neck and Sunoo could only pray that Sunghoon wouldn’t give in to temptation. They were moving so fast, the tension was so high that Sunoo wouldn’t even be surprised if they ended up making another mistake.

The alpha was already grinding on him. Sunoo was only holding tightly onto his arm, which kept them from falling while they were standing. But Sunoo couldn’t take it anymore.

"Please fuck me, your highness," he begged.

"Shit," Sunghoon let out a sharp curse before he lifted Sunoo and laid him on the bed, both of them were moving so fast that it almost looked like he had just thrown Sunoo down onto it. 

"I want you, your highness, please," Sunoo murmured as he stubbornly pulled Sunghoon’s clothes off. Once he finally got Sunghoon’s shirt off, he immediately lay down.

Sunghoon bites his lips the moment Sunoo spreads his legs like he is inviting Sunghoon to do whatever he wants to do.

“Have I ever told you how much I like it when you tell me what you want? You’re always so sure of what you like. I admire that,” Sunghoon whispered to him.  "So what do you want me to do first?" Sunghoon asked while he was rubbing his finger on Sunoo's wet rim. He can feel his slick leaking on his hole, it’s so sticky but Sunghoon keeps playing with it, teasing him using his fingers.

"E-Eat me, w-want you to eat me," said Sunoo between his heavy breaths.

“Understood, Your Highness,” Sunghoon teasingly said before he went down to his ass.

Sunoo immediately clenched when he felt Sunghoon’s warm breath against his skin but he only froze further when a cold sensation brushed against him, sending a stronger shiver through his entire body. 

He was doing it professionally, he's trying to eat Sunoo's ass like he's worshipping it.

Sunoo’s other hand gripped the bedsheet tightly as he tried to suppress his moan. He tilted his head back and arched his body in response to what he was feeling.

"Fuck," he whispered when he felt like he was already close.  "I'm cumming, your highness."

When Sunghoon heard that, he suddenly stopped. He slowly lay down beside Sunoo, his lips now so close to Sunoo’s ear that Sunoo could feel his warm breath.

"Don't come yet, hmm," he whispered.

Sunoo felt Sunghoon's two fingers inserting in his hole, he's preping him so gently, almost as if he cares about Sunoo. But Sunoo shouldn't feel this way, but he couldn’t stop thinking like he’s taking care of him, like he cares, fuck!

No Sunoo, Sunghoon doesn't care. He just wants you and your hole, he just wants to taste you before getting married.

Sunoo swallowed those thoughts when Sunghoon kissed him so lovingly. It was slow and passionate, as if he were devouring Sunoo’s soul.

Shit, shit, shit!

Sunoo already knew deep down that there was no escaping it anymore. He was in love with Sunghoon but this time, he knew he wouldn’t be able to love anyone else.

Only Sunghoon.

He knew that he would spend his whole life loving Sunghoon, even if Sunghoon could never love him back.

"Wait, my Sunghoon…" Sunoo whispered when he felt his climax approaching again, but Sunghoon just kissed him again as if he hadn’t heard what Sunoo had just said. 

Until Sunghoon started giggling between kisses, as if something was funny which made Sunoo finally stop. Sunoo gently pushed Sunghoon away, though Sunghoon was still smiling.

“What’s so funny, Your Highness?” Sunoo frowned.

“Nothing, it’s just—” Sunghoon stopped when he saw Sunoo’s irritated face. Sunoo wasn’t aware he was pouting so cutely, which only made Sunghoon smile even more, confusing him further.

“Oh God, you’re so cute.” Sunghoon kissed him again. A blush quickly crept onto Sunoo’s cheeks after that.

“Stop. I don’t want your kisses anymore,” Sunoo insisted, even though he didn’t fully understand why he was getting irritated. “You’re just making fun of me.”

“What? No!” Sunghoon said, though he was still smiling. “I just find it funny that you’re calling me ‘my Sunghoon’ while I have my two fingers inside you .”

Sunoo’s cheeks turned even redder when he realized what he had said. It was what he usually called Sunghoon in his thoughts when no one was around, something only Jungwon knew about.

“S-So?” Sunoo quickly defended himself, even though his flushed face gave him away. “Fine! I’m not calling you anything other than Your Highness!”

“You can call me whatever you want,” Sunghoon said softly, leaning in again.

“Okay Asshole,” Sunoo muttered, still flustered.

Sunghoon laughed softly at Sunoo’s cuteness before leaning in to continue kissing him, trailing from his lips down to his collarbone. Sunoo really thinks that it is kind of disgusting, if it really weren’t Sunghoon he’s doing these freaky ass things he would probably throw up. Like, Sunghoon held his dick and jerked it while Sunoo started fingering himself. They didn’t break eye contact as Sunghoon slowly drew closer to him.

"I'll cum again inside, is that okay?" Sunghoon asked carefully.

"O-Okay," Sunoo whispered. "Why do you like cumming inside?"

"I don't know, I just like how it feels," he answered but still focused on kissing Sunoo's lips and inserting himself into the younger’s hole. As if he's distracting Sunoo to the pain. "Feels like I'm mating you, breeding you."

Sunoo's smile fades away.

He doesn't like how it sounds.

But he lets the Prince to fuck him, breed him, cum inside him...

EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

Their little affair becomes a daily routine, Sunoo doesn't even go home anymore, he sleeps at Sunghoon's bedroom everyday, and Sunghoon does fuck him everyday in every corner of the crowned prince's room.

There was even a time when he spent his heat with the prince, the first time he had ever gone through it inside the palace. Usually, he would take a leave during his heat and stay alone in the apartment he shared with Jungwon, while Jungwon would sleep at Jay’s house inside the palace. But now, Sunoo barely even left the prince’s room so when his heat came, he spent it with him.

Everyday, Sunoo's waiting for him to come back to his room like some damsel in distress. Waiting for Sunghoon to fuck him into unconsciousness. But eventually it became less frequent. Cuddling, kissing, and hugging become more of a habit than fucking.

Sometimes, when Sunoo is sleeping in his room while waiting for Sunghoon, he would feel him hugging him from behind and when Sunghoon is sleepy, Sunoo wouldn't stop himself from kissing the Prince's sleepy face.

There was a time when Sunghoon was reading a book in bed and Sunoo was bored. He went to sit next to him, lean his head on Sunghoon's shoulder and ask him. "What are you reading, your highness?"

"Romeo and Juliet," he said.

“Oh… I’ve already read that,” Sunoo smiled at him. “But I don’t like the ending.”

“Hm,” Sunghoon simply hummed, continuing to read without even looking at Sunoo.

For a moment, Sunoo felt like he was bothering him, so he slowly started to move away but Sunghoon glanced at him.

“What are you doing?” Sunghoon asked.

“Oh— I was just, just uhmm…” Sunoo struggled to find the right words.

“Come here,” Sunghoon called softly.

So Sunoo, a little shy, returned to his side. This time Sunghoon pulled him closer, an arm wrapping around him and Sunoo ended up leaning against his chest. Sunghoon went back to reading after gently pressing a kiss to Sunoo’s forehead.

Sunoo bit his lip when he felt something unfamiliar stir in his chest.

He felt loved.

Sunoo looked at Sunghoon’s calm face, silently wishing this moment would never end.

The next day after bringing Sunghoon’s breakfast while the prince was still asleep, Sunoo ran into Jake. They stood there for a brief moment, simply looking at each other. Sunoo felt his cheeks grow warm.

He knew that Jake knew his secret.

It was impossible not to, he was the one guarding Sunghoon’s room, he’s Sunghoon’s secretary! Surely, he had noticed that Sunoo never went home anymore, that he had been staying there instead.

Jake gave him a polite bow and Sunoo returned it with the same gesture of respect. Neither of them said anything after that. Sunoo quickly walked past him and into Sunghoon’s room.

It was unusual for him. Sunoo normally took his time talking to people but he couldn’t bring himself to do it this time. Not when Jake might ask questions he wouldn’t be able to answer.

He couldn’t lie, for fuck’s sake.

 ݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁

Sunoo felt heavy hearted as he arranged Sunghoon’s breakfast on the table until he felt Sunghoon’s hand around his waist.

Slowly, Sunoo melted into Sunghoon’s embrace.

“Good morning my love,” Sunghoon whispered, still sleepy and just waking up.

Sunoo smiled to himself. “Good morning, Your Highness.”

Sunghoon’s arms tightened around him from behind and he buried his face into the side of Sunoo’s neck, making the younger one let out a soft laugh.

“You look upset,” Sunghoon said.

“Nah, I just woke up in a bad mood,” Sunoo replied.

“Hm?” Sunghoon gently kissed his neck. “I don’t like it when you’re upset.”

Sunoo just laughed softly and continued preparing the food, even as Sunghoon kept showering him with small kisses.

“Here eat,” Sunoo said.

“What about you?”

“I already ate.”

“Why didn’t you wait for me again?”

“I'm hungry,” Sunoo made an excuse but he just didn’t want to eat with Sunghoon because deep down, he knew he shouldn’t be eating together with the prince.

“Why are you always hungry?” Sunghoon asked while slipping his hand under Sunoo’s shirt to hold his stomach. “Look, your tummy’s getting bigger.” Sunghoon even pinched his stomach a little. “So cute.”

“Stop,” Sunoo said with a laugh. “Stop hugging me and touching my tummy, you sound like a husband expecting a baby.”

“Am I?” Sunghoon said with a smile.

“Yes, so stop it.”

But Sunghoon just hugged him tighter and kissed his neck softly, lovingly, and passionately.

“How many babies do you want?” he asked.

Sunoo shivered at his voice. He felt that their position was too intimate for his own good. He closed his eyes, trying to stop himself from thinking with his heart again.

“I don’t know, why are you asking me that?” Sunoo bit his lip.

“You don’t know? Hm?”

Sunoo suddenly opened his eyes and gripped the tray tightly so he wouldn’t drop it and so his knees wouldn’t give out.

“One? I want one,” he answered.

Sunghoon paused from kissing him. “Just one? I thought you like kids?”

“Yeah, but…” Sunoo hesitated. He set down the last plate he was holding before continuing. “I’m not rich. I can’t raise a lot of children, so I want to focus on one child so I can give them everything I can.”

“You’re not the only one who’s going to raise the child—”

“Yeah, I know, but it’s not like I’m going to meet a prince like you,” Sunoo let out a soft laugh. “I’m sure my future mate would just be like me… a normal person outside the palace.”

Sunghoon didn’t answer but Sunoo felt his arms loosen slightly around him.

“Your High—”

“What if your future husband is a prince?” Sunghoon cut him off. “How many kids do you want?”

Sunoo felt a light pang in his chest. He used to dream about this when he was younger… about him and Sunghoon, about a future together. 

To be honest, he had even planned it out in his head before: from how they would get married to where they would go for check ups when they were old and their knees started hurting.

Sunoo took a deep breath before answering. Thankfully, Sunghoon was behind him, so he couldn’t see the tears welling up in his eyes.

"Seven."

“Seven?” Sunghoon turned to look at him, laughing softly. “You can handle that?”

“I wouldn’t say it if I couldn’t,” Sunoo replied.

“That will take years,” Sunghoon said. “You’ll be 60 and some of them will still be in high school.”

Sunoo let out a small laugh. “I don’t mind.”

“Hm,” Sunghoon said as his arms tightened around him again. “Should we start making the first one now?”

Sunoo felt Sunghoon's lips on his neck again, while his left hand went straight to Sunoo's cock. He knew he couldn’t get pregnant anyway, so he knew Sunghoon was just joking but still, he felt annoyed.

“Your Majesty— w-what are you doing?” Sunoo tried to push him away, but his resistance was weak, and Sunghoon was too focused on kissing him to notice. He might have thought Sunoo was only moving.

“We should do it as early as possible, so you wouldn’t get pregnant at forty,” Sunghoon whispered to him.

“No.” Sunoo said firmly before finally pushing him away harder.

Sunghoon clearly looked surprised when Sunoo turned to face him.

“No, Prince Sunghoon,” Sunoo insisted, looking straight into his eyes.

Sunghoon blinked repeatedly, clearly not expecting Sunoo’s sudden outburst.

“It-It was a joke,” Sunghoon said quietly. “I-I’m sorry.”

Sunoo let out a sigh. “I know. I’m sorry too,” he said softly.

“I didn’t mean to offend you—”

“I know, I know. Just eat your breakfast. I’ll prepare your bath,” Sunoo cut him off before heading straight to the corner. He grabbed his bag, not noticing that Sunghoon was watching him as he took his pills.

He swallowed them quickly but Sunghoon suddenly spoke.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Oh, just— just my birth control,” Sunoo shrugged. “You wouldn’t want me to get pregnant before you get married, would you?”

Sunoo turned to look at him, only to see Sunghoon’s face completely unreadable. He didn’t answer and simply continued eating.

Sunoo’s heart broke a little. At some point, he wanted Sunghoon to tell him that he would rather get him pregnant than marry someone who wasn’t Sunoo.

But maybe his expectations were too high again.

So Sunoo simply put his birth control back into his bag and headed into the bathroom to do what he was asked. A soft laugh escaped him once he was inside. This was what he was supposed to do, prepare a bath for his majesty.

He sat on the cold tiles while waiting for the tub to fill, occasionally testing the water with his hand to check the temperature, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

He didn’t want to cry. He knew Sunghoon was only playing with him before getting married. And yet, somewhere deep down, he still wished Sunghoon would suddenly fall in love with him and cancel the wedding.

Lost in his thoughts, Sunoo didn’t notice Sunghoon approaching the bathroom.

When the door opened, Sunoo’s first instinct was to immediately stand up and approach Sunghoon to help him take off his clothes. Sunghoon just watched him quietly as he did so.

But then Sunoo suddenly caught a shift in Sunghoon’s scent, it turned slightly sour. That made him look up.

“Are you okay?” Sunoo asked.

Sunghoon didn’t answer.

“Hey…” Sunoo gently touched Sunghoon’s cheek. “I can smell your scent, you know?”

“I can smell yours too. You smell upset,” Sunghoon said quietly, almost childishly which made Sunoo smile a little.

“You’re so cute!” Sunoo pinched his cheek.

There was something about Sunoo that always made him unable to stand seeing Sunghoon upset. No matter what, he always put Sunghoon first, maybe it was just instinct, or maybe since he was his caretaker. 

Sunghoon slowly smiled again and Sunoo felt himself soften all over once more.

“God, I love you so much,” he said without thinking.

Sunghoon clearly froze at Sunoo’s words.

“You love me?” he asked.

Sunoo had no choice but to smile and nod. “I’ve been saying that to you for ten years.”

Slowly, the strange scent from Sunghoon faded and was replaced with something lighter, happier.

“You’ve never actually said it to me,” Sunghoon said as he wrapped his arms around Sunoo’s waist.

“I love you, Sunghoon. I really do,” Sunoo said again, gently holding Sunghoon’s cheeks. “But I don’t think saying it today, or a month ago, or a year ago, or even a decade ago would make it any different.”

“It would,” Sunghoon whispered as he leaned his forehead against Sunoo’s. He closed his eyes, his breathing uneven. “You’ve never even confessed properly to me.”

“I did. I always say it—”

“You say it to other people,” Sunghoon interrupted softly. “You always tell others how you feel about me, but never directly to me.”

“I did, I really did. Remember when we first met—”

“We were kids back then,” Sunghoon cut him off.

“I was serious back then! And remember when I told you I liked you and you should marry me? That was just a month ago!” Sunoo insisted.

“You jokingly said it to me, in front of everyone,” Sunghoon insisted. “Think about it, Sunoo. You never really confessed to me. You’ve never actually told me you love me.”

Sunoo slowly realized Sunghoon was right. He always said it jokingly to Sunghoon, or if he wasn’t joking, he said it to other people instead of Sunghoon himself.

“But that still won’t change anything…” Sunoo said quietly. “You don’t like me the way I like you—”

“I do. I love you, Sunoo,” Sunghoon said, holding Sunoo’s cheeks so they were forced to meet each other’s eyes.

Sunoo let out a short, bitter laugh. This felt like a dream, an illusion, a blurry fantasy. He almost wanted to wake himself up because it was impossible that, after all this time, Sunghoon could feel the same way. That was absurd.

“Don’t play with my feelings, please…”

“I’m not—”

“Then why didn’t you? Why didn’t you confess to me? Why is it my fault that I never said what I felt? If you had feelings for me, then why didn’t you say anything either?”

“Because I’m scared!” Sunghoon said firmly. “I’m scared, Sunoo… I’m so fucking scared that if I confessed to you, you’d hate me, and you’d leave the palace— I don’t want you out of my life, Sunoo.”

Sunoo froze, speechless.

“I… I don’t want to end up like my father, who scared his lover away. And I don’t care if you’re just my caretaker forever, as long as I can see you every day…” Sunghoon said, breath shaking.

“I—”

Sunoo was cut off by a sudden knock on the door.

“Your Highness, it’s me Jake. The King ordered me to deliver a message to you.”

The two of them looked at each other before Sunghoon responded.

“Can you go back later?”

“Uhm, it’s really important.”

“Fine. Come in,” Sunghoon said, not breaking eye contact with Sunoo. But the moment Jake stepped inside the chamber, Sunoo quickly averted his gaze.

“He’s asking you to come to his office. The King from the East has arrived at the palace.”

Sunghoon was silent for a moment before he nodded. “Alright. I’ll be there shortly.”

He glanced at Sunoo again, but Sunoo was already staring down at his feet.

Jake remained quiet, observing the two of them. He could feel the heavy atmosphere hanging between them. With every passing second of silence, the air grew more awkward as neither of them spoke.

“Sunoo…” Sunghoon called softly.

“Y-Yes, Your Highness?” Sunoo replied without looking up.

“Wait for me here. I’ll come back, and then we’ll talk.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Sunghoon hesitated, unsettled by the fact that Sunoo still wouldn’t meet his eyes. But Jake was waiting, silently witnessing the tense exchange.

In the end, Sunghoon turned to him. “Let’s go.”

As soon as Sunghoon and Jake left the room, Sunoo stayed behind. He dramatically lay on the bed and stared up at the massive chandelier in the Prince’s room. He was still in shock from the alpha’s confession, his mind racing with countless thoughts.

Are they in a relationship now? Are they dating? They both feel the same way, oh gosh…

He still couldn’t fully comprehend the fact that Sunghoon liked him too.

Sunoo bit his lip to hide his smile.

He wondered when Sunghoon had started liking him. Was it since they were kids? Or did it begin when Sunoo was presented as an omega?

Hmm…

Sunghoon had actually grown cold around that time when he presented as an omega. He hadn’t spoken to him for almost a month, and Sunoo remembered crying to Jungwon every night because of it. Maybe that wasn’t the time. Why would Sunghoon avoid him if he already liked him back then?

Sunoo had even thought that Sunghoon disliked the fact that he became an omega. He had been ready to resign. He even wrote a resignation letter, thinking that maybe Sunghoon couldn’t stand his omega scent, knowing how sensitive he was to smells.

But Sunoo had also started avoiding the Prince because he thought he was bothering him with his scent.

Later, he noticed that Sunghoon slowly began talking to him again. Those were some of the most confusing days for Sunoo. Thankfully, after almost two months of awkward distance and mutual avoidance after Sunoo presented as an omega, the Prince eventually started speaking to him again so he immediately threw the resignation letter into the trash.

Maybe Sunghoon started liking him a little later. Sunoo didn’t think the Prince had liked him back then, that would be impossible. He would have noticed, wouldn’t he? If it had started that early?

But Sunghoon usually just avoided him, speaking to him only in a formal manner. There was the occasional bit of teasing but only when Sunoo teased him first. Other than that, Sunoo couldn’t recall any clear signs that Sunghoon might have actually liked him.

“Hoonie!”

Sunoo almost jumps in shock when the door bursts open and a girl excitedly walks into the room.

When he realizes who it is, he immediately stands up straight and bows to show respect to the Princess of the East, Sunghoon’s fiancée.

“Oh, where’s Sunghoon— I mean, Prince Sunghoon? Isn’t this his room?” The Princess blinks repeatedly as she looks at Sunoo.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. He’s not here. He went to the office to meet with the King and your father.”

“Oh, no worries! It’s fine! I apologize for barging in as well. Are you his secretary? Jake, was it?”

“No, Your Majesty, I’m his care—”

“Wony,” Sunoo is cut off again when Prince Sunghoon suddenly barges through the door. Now everybody likes barging in huh?

Sunghoon’s eyes immediately land on Sunoo, then on the Princess standing a little too close to him. His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly before he steps fully inside the room.

“Your Majesty,” Sunghoon greets shortly, giving the Princess a polite bow. “I didn’t know you’d arrive this early.”

The Princess beams at him instantly. “I wanted to surprise you! But I ended up surprising…” she trails off, glancing back at Sunoo with a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry again, I thought he was your secretary.”

“He’s not my secretary,” Sunghoon says flatly.

The Princess blinks. “Oh?”

For a brief second, Sunoo thinks Sunghoon would finally introduce him properly. Instead, Sunghoon walks past them and removes his gloves one finger at a time.

“He’s just someone working for the palace.”

What? What the hell?

“Ah…” The Princess smiles awkwardly, clearly sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere. “I see.”

Sunoo forces a smile onto his face even when his chest feels strangely tight.

“Would you like me to prepare tea for the two of you?” he asks softly so he can excuse himself..

Before the Princess could answer, Sunghoon speaks first.

“No need. You may leave.”

Sunoo’s fingers twitch slightly at the dismissal but he bows obediently.

“As you wish, your Highness.”

He turns around quickly before either of them could notice the way his expression falters for a split second. But just as his hand reaches the door, he hears the Princess walk toward Prince Sunghoon.

“I miss you, Hoonie!”

The nickname makes Sunoo’s heart ache, so he immediately turns his head to look at the two of them. But the moment he sees the Princess hugging Sunghoon, he immediately regrets looking. Sunoo quickly lowers his gaze, gripping the doorknob tighter as if that alone could keep his composure intact.

“Your Majesty,” Sunghoon says quietly, sounding slightly caught off guard by the sudden hug.

The Princess only laughs softly. “What? Am I not allowed to miss my own fiancé?”

Fiancé.

The word twists painfully inside Sunoo’s chest. He tells himself to leave. He should leave. There’s no reason for him to stay but for some reason, his feet refuse to move.

Then Sunghoon speaks again.

“You should let go first.”

Sunoo doesn’t know why, but his breath catches at the slight stiffness in Sunghoon’s voice. The Princess seems to notice it too because she slowly pulls away before pouting playfully.

“You’re still so cold. That’s not how you are in the letters you sent me every week.”

Letters… Were those the letters he had been writing in the library every time?

Sunoo feels like his heart is breaking apart. He can feel his breathing becoming heavier, his grip on the doorknob tightening painfully.

Fuck.

They knew each other? It wasn’t just an arranged marriage?! They were actually in a relationship? What the actual fuck?!

And all this time, he had been doing that with the Prince while he was actually engaged? While he was writing love letters to the Princess?

Sunoo suddenly feels sick.

Everything that happened over the past few weeks replayed violently inside his head. His stomach twists so hard he almost winces. For a terrifying second, Sunoo wonders if he had unknowingly become the other person in someone else’s relationship.

Before he could even break down in front of them, he immediately leaves the room.

What the fuck… what the fuck, what the fuck?!

They’re in a relationship?! Sunoo can’t comprehend it at all. He can physically feel his heart hurting, like it’s being squeezed painfully as he walks quickly through the palace hallway.

“Sunoo, have you seen Prince—”

Jake can’t even finish his sentence as Sunoo walks right past him.

Jake is left frozen in place, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as he turns his head to stare at Sunoo’s retreating figure. Sunoo’s steps are hurried, almost unsteady, his shoulders tense like he’s desperately trying to hold himself together.

“...What the hell?” Jake mutters under his breath.

He looks toward the guard standing beside Prince Heeseung’s room, silently asking what just happened, but the guard only shrugs helplessly in return.

Sunoo barely notices any of it. Everything around him feels blurry.

His mind keeps replaying the same thing over and over again.

You’re still so cold. That’s not how you are in the letters you sent me every week.

Letters… Every week… FUCK

Sunghoon wrote to her every single week.

Sunoo feels nauseous.

His chest hurts so much that breathing itself feels difficult. He presses a trembling hand against his mouth, forcing himself not to completely lose control in the middle of the palace hallway.

How stupid. How fucking stupid was he? 

His vision burns dangerously, tears threatening to spill at any second, so he walks even faster until he finally reaches the palace entrance. The cold air hits his face the moment the large doors open, but it does nothing to calm the chaos inside him.

For the last time, Sunoo leaves the palace again.

But unlike before, there’s no hesitation in his steps now.

This time, Sunoo thinks he might never come back.