#kyungsooxreader

Chapter One

- kyungsoo x reader, royalty AU, prince!kyungsoo

warnings : swearing, mature themes, arranged marriage, i don’t know anymore at this moment

word count : 2,832

chapter two or masterlist

♔ ♔ ♔ ♔ ♔

The atmosphere of the large ballroom was nothing but joyful. There were hundreds of people inside the stunning room, all dancing or cheering for those who were dancing. Their cheers were almost deafening combined with the noisy sound of the music playing in the background. A live band played enthusiastically as their eyes flickered back and forth between their instruments and the crowd before them. It was a royal celebration, therefore everything was extravagant and significantly closer to perfection than any regular celebration. There was no one in the universe that did not wish to be attending this party - except for the two people the party was being held for.

They were dancing together. Their sweaty palms pressed together while their bodies unwillingly swayed in synchronization. Large smiles were plastered on their faces as they stared into each other's eyes. It appeared they were madly in love to the outside world, but they knew the truth. Every touch, every glance, every little whisper was nothing but one giant lie. It was all a facade to protect the truth and the truth was the prince and princess could have wanted nothing more than to be light years away from one another. It wasn't that they hated one another. In fact, their personalities meshed together perfectly and in another lifetime they could have been great friends. They couldn't stand to be near one another because it only reminded them of the cold reality that they would be stuck together for the rest of their lives. It was a choice that they had not made. Their parents had come to an agreement two weeks ago and since then they had been forced to spend every moment of their day together.

"Please don't lower your hand too much," The princess spoke quietly to the prince as she gave his shoulder a warning squeeze. She felt his breath tickle over her ear as he scoffed in disbelief.

"Don't flatter yourself. I wouldn't be touching you at all-"

"If you didn't have to. Don't worry, we're on the same page," The princess finished for the prince with a small sigh. The prince looked down at the woman with a smile that was almost sad.

"The night is almost over. You won't have to be with me much longer," he told her in a quiet voice. The princess leaned back and let her head raise so she could look him in the eyes. The prince was a handsome man and anyone who said differently was wrong. She watched his features soften as the fake smile on his face vanished gradually. His eyes were her least favorite trait of his. They were a deep, warm shade of brown that seemed like liquid gold in the right lighting - breathtaking, really - but every time she looked into them she saw the disappointment swimming within them. What she saw as disappointment due to their forced engagement was really disappointment that he could never love her. The prince wanted to, her really did, but he couldn't no matter how much he tried. He was terrified of sharing the rest of his life with someone he couldn't love and even more terrified that she would come to love him. The princess was far from worried about falling in love with the man.

It wouldn't have been such a problem. He was handsome, kind, and funny but he wasn't the man for her. He was too outgoing for her. He loved being the focus of everyone's attention. His views on the world were different from hers. They were so different that there was hardly anything for them to talk about when alone, aside from the devastating situation they had been pushed into. Most of the time they sat in silence, sharing shy glances whenever they thought the other wasn't looking.

"Prince Sehun!" Called a voice full of cheerfulness. She recognized it as that of Baekhyun. Byun Baekhyun was a close friend of the prince. Together they would practice in combat and sports, sharing whatever time they could with one another. The princess found him to be humorous but overly enthusiastic about everything. He found something to say about everything and often teased her for things no one else did. He was exciting all in all. He approached the pair with Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo was the prince's younger brother. Though their parents pretended the young prince didn't exist most of the time, all of Sehun's friends had accepted him with welcoming arms. The young prince was more reserved than most of them. He was quiet, observant, and extremely intelligent. He spent most of his time alone in the library or with his closest friend, Jongin. The princess found him to be mysterious. Unfortunately, this sparked a flame of curiosity inside of her that she wished she could put out.

A wide smile was formed on Baekhyun's face as he looked between the prince and princess. Kyungsoo stared at them with his usual blank expression. Both of the men were dressed elegantly. They wore matching suits that were colored like the deepest part of the ocean, paired perfectly with the black shoes on their feet. Prince Sehun was dressed in a royal purple and it went so well with his dark hair color. They were each overwhelmingly handsome and it wasn't hard to tell that the rest of the party thought so too. Women shared lingering stares at the men, their lips parting slightly as they danced by the men. They were all oblivious or simply ignoring the burning stares.

"Ah, Princess Grace... it's wonderful to see you, as always. You look ravishing," Baekhyun greeted the princess. He held out his hand for her to place her own in and she allowed herself to separate from Sehun so she could. He kissed her soft hands with a gentleness that she had never known men to possess. She felt her face flush as the feeling of his warm lips against her skin.

"Baekhyun," Sehun warned in a low tone. The man pulled his lips away from the princess's skin and she retracted her hand away from his hole. He raised his eyebrows at the eldest prince and released a laugh.

"Relax. I'm well aware she is all yours. It's just too fun to watch her grow flustered," Baekhyun grinned. The princess looked away from the man at his words, no longer wanting to participate in his flirtatious game.

"Brother, you look nice tonight," Sehun complimented his brother as he let his hand reach out to run along the collar of the young prince's suit. Kyungsoo smiled a small smile and nodded his head.

"You look well put together for once," Kyungsoo told his brother. It was as close to a compliment as the older sibling would get from the quiet man.

"Do you know where my father is?" The princess interrupted their conversation. She looked at Kyungsoo, growing intimidated when his stone-like eyes met hers.

"Is it wise to leave my side?" Sehun asked her before his brother could answer. She glanced up at her fiancé and sighed in annoyance. Perhaps it wasn't wise to leave his side but she was willing to gamble five minutes of her time to visit her father.

"I wouldn't let you leave my side," Baekhyun commented, laughing at his own joke once it had rolled off of his tongue completely.

"Your father was near the balcony the last time I seen him," Kyungsoo finally spoke. She found his eyes again and nodded her head at him.

"Thank you, Prince Kyungsoo," she said quietly before she turned on her heels and began to push through the sea of dancing guests. The balcony was located near the long tables of food that had been prepared for the night's guests and it wasn't hard for her to find. She pushed the doors open, welcoming the cool night air that brushed against her exposed skin. Her father stood under the moonlight with his head raised towards the dark sky. They had been staying at the northern kingdom for the past week and she knew he missed his home. She missed their home.

She approached his side quietly. He leaned against the cool, metal railing that enclosed the balcony and she copied his pose to do the same. They didn't speak when she first arrived but they didn't need to say anything. The atmosphere automatically felt far more welcoming here than it did when she was inside the ballroom.

"I was wondering if I would get to see my daughter tonight," The king finally spoke. His voice was scratchy and shaky tonight, but then again it had been the same way for the last few months. On the better days he was able to speak like he used to when he was healthy but his illness made it hard for him to do anything he used to do. He was dying. It was something that she had caught onto before he told her. When she had confronted him he had cried and told her it was true. She had never seen her father cry before. They had spent the day lying in bed together with misty eyes and broken hearts. Since then, they had come to understand that their time together was limited so they refused to spend it being heartbroken over the inevitable. It made most days easier for the princess.

"I would have caused an argument with someone if you didn't. I'm not used to being away from you this much," The princess's voice was soft as she spoke. She stared out at the bright moon with distant eyes. There was nothing she wouldn't give to return to the time when things were normal. Her father reach over and took her hand in his, causing her to look away from the moon and into her father's honey colored eyes.

"I do not like seeing you so sad. You don't smile anymore," he told her with a deep frown on his face. She felt as if she had committed a crime as she watched his eyes wash over with shame. She placed her free hand on top of his and gave it a tight squeeze.

"I'm fine dad. You shouldn't worry about me so much," she told the man with a small smile. He couldn't resist the smile that formed on his face at the sight.

"It's my job to worry about you and I will always worry about you," he told her quietly. The princess grew sad at his words. Today was not most days and it certainly wasn't easier.

"Not always," she breathed out in a shaky voice. Her father placed his unoccupied hand against her cheek. She leaned into his hand and let her eyes close. She didn't want to live in a word where she could not spend time with her father like this.

"What are you doing out here? The prince will grow lonely," a high pitched voice filled the night's air. The princess's eyes snapped open almost immediately, wishing she never had to hear the sound again. Her father's hand fell from her face and he turned to look at the moon again.

"I'm spending time with my dad. Is that a crime?" The words were falling from the princess's lips before she could stop them.

"Don't speak to your mother like that. She's right, you should head back inside," the king told his daughter. The princess wanted to argue but she didn't want her father to grow upset with her. She slipped away from his side, his hand falling away from hers. She shared a sharp look with her mother as she brushed by. Entering the ballroom after spending time on the tranquil balcony was like entering hell; hot, stuffy, and far too loud. The princess guided herself through the busy crowd until her eyes met the prince's. He was smiling brightly at something Baekhyun had said. The princess noticed Kai and Jongdae had joined the men she had left on the dance floor. When the eldest prince noticed her return, his smile faltered. As if reading his mind, his friends turned to look in her direction. She felt shy under all of their stares but she still made her way towards them.

"Hi everyone," she greeted them in a shy tone. Sehun's hand found her waist as soon as she stepped back into her place beside them. Kai and Jongdae bowed in her direction with kind smiles plastered on their faces.

"That's not necessary," she told them with a small sigh.

"Of course it is. You're our future queen after all," Jongdae replied. She smiled at him and didn't say anything else. She knew it would be an endless argument.

"How is your father?" Prince Kyungsoo spoke towards the princess. She looked at him with wide eyes, hoping she hid the surprise she felt inside. His expression was one of genuine concern. His eyes locked with hers, his stare as intimidating as ever.

"He's fine. Thank you for asking," she replied. Though she had lied, a genuine smile formed on her face for the first time that night.

"We're stealing too much of the couple's time! You guys should be dancing the night away, unless you have places to dance the night away later tonight," Baekhyun ruined the lightened atmosphere. Jongdae laughed lightly at the man while Kai and Kyungsoo shook their heads in disbelief. The princess looked up at Prince Sehun with flustered cheeks. His eyes met hers for a second and he found himself ready to escape his friend's' company with her. He bid a goodnight to the four boys and led her deeper into the crowd.

"I am sorry for Baekhyun's behavior. He makes this harder," Sehun told her once he had her in the heart of the ballroom. His left hand rest against her hip and his right hand was intertwined with hers.

"It's not his fault. I think he senses that there is something off between us and he tries to lighten the mood," The princess replied lowly.

"It would make sense. Baekhyun is a smart man, much to everyone's surprise," Sehun hummed as he spoke, almost as if he were voicing his thoughts as they came. The princess nodded in agreement. Without anything left to say, she pressed her face against the prince's chest. She could hear his racing heartbeat even through the fabric of his suit. She wished she could bring him comfort but she knew she only did the opposite.

It wasn't until around midnight that the celebration came to an end. It was one of her duties to stay until every last guest had gone home for the night. She stood beside Sehun with a smile on her face. Everyone complimented her appearance for the night and wished her with in her future marriage. They said similar things to Sehun as they went on down the line. When they had all gone, it was time for the royals to head to bed.

The prince and princess were silent as they walked up the stairs together. Sehun's hand rest against the small of her back as they walked. It wasn't much but it was enough to comfort her a little bit. She felt overwhelmed with several different emotions, something she was growing familiar with. She had been raised to become a queen but as time ticked on she felt herself doubting whether or not she was fit to be queen. The only example of a queen she had ever had was her mother and she was certain that the woman was only an example of what not to be when it came to ruling a kingdom.

"Goodnight Prince," The princess whispered when they came to a stop in front of her chamber doors. 

"Try to not dream about me too much," Prince Sehun attempted to joke with the princess but she was so emotionally drained for the night that she could only laugh half-heartedly.

"Only if you promise to do the same," she told him. He held up his pinky finger and she eyed it with disbelief. Still, she let hers wrap around his before she pulled away and entered her chamber without another word. He watched as her doors closed with a gentle thud. The guards standing at the doors wore masks but he could feel their eyes boring into his face. He turned and made his way towards his brother's room for the night.

The lights were completely off when he entered the room. Sehun checked to make sure Kyungsoo was in bed and laughed gently when he heard his young sibling curse at him for disturbing his sleep.

"The princess is okay?" Kyungsoo asked quietly as Sehun prepared to climb into bed.

"As far as I know. She's a hard one to read," The prince answered his brother. Kyungsoo hummed in response. Sehun climbed into bed with his brother and the two bid each other a goodnight.

you yelp, the sweet taste of blueberry muffin clogging your throat as you flinch in his lap. 'but i got hungry...'

despite your tiny voice, kyungsoo hears you and gives your plush ass a good squeeze. 'oh i'll give you something real proper when we're finished. now start counting.'

Pairing: Kyungsoo x Nurse!Reader

Rating: Fluff for now..

Word count: 2,174

A/N: a *cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure where they remove your gallbladder.

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Chapter Two

- kyungsoo x reader, royalty AU, prince!kyungsoo

- warnings : swearing, mature content, arranged marriage, good looking men

word count : 3,049

chapter one or chapter three or masterlist

♔ ♔ ♔ ♔ ♔

The princess watched as Prince Kyungsoo helped the stable workers readied a couple horses for their trip to the village. His brother stood by her side, correcting any mistakes he seen. Unfortunately, every correction he made was pointless as the stable workers knew exactly what they were doing. The princess assumed he had just been wanting to get under his brother skin and from the annoyed expressions that would appear on Kyungsoo's face, it had been working flawlessly.

The trip to the village had been announced a week ago. The goal of the trip was to earn the favor of the kingdom's villagers so that they trusted their future rulers with fierce loyalty and love. It was a lot of pressure and the princess's shoulders were tense from the weight she felt on them. If she failed to make a good impression she was not only letting down the princes' family but her own kingdom. The only reason she had been so compliant with this arranged marriage was because it would aid her people back home. Their kingdom was going through a rough period and if she could help ease their troubles away then she would do anything - even sign her life away.

"Should we ride on a horse together?" The princess asked the man next to her. He glanced down at her with furrowed eyebrows and shook his head gently. She watched as his raven colored hair followed the movement for a second before she looked away.

"I am their future king. Their focus will be solely on me," Sehun explained to her. I am their future queen, the princess thought to herself but she did not reply to the man. She knew it was an argument that would make her angry. She was a woman. The only purpose she served was satisfying the king and looking pretty for the rest of the kingdom. Kyungsoo approached the two with his hands wrapped around two leads. The princess looked at the horses following behind him and her eyes widened. She had seen many horses during her lifetime but she had never seen one as beautiful as the horse on his left.

"Who is this?" She questioned curiously as she stepped forward to stroke the magnificent creature's snout.

"That's Kyungsoo's horse. He's a bit dumb but with a little work he is a good horse," Sehun answered before his brother could.

"His name is Striker," Kyungsoo told the princessly quietly. She glanced at the man but let her eyes drift back to the creature her hand was petting. He was a giant horse, standing a good few inches higher than she did. His coat of fur was the same shade as her father's eyes and she fell in love with the creature immediately. He pushed his snout against the princess's hand and she smiled tenderly. The name Striker suited the horse well because he was beyond striking.

"He's beautiful," The princess told Kyungsoo. Her eyes met his and he smiled at her.

"Enough! We need to head out. Where is the third horse?" Sehun interrupted. He stood with his hands on his hips and an impatient expression on his face. The princess wondered where the man she had bid a goodnight to last night had disappeared to so quickly. She hated when the prince got in one of these moods. It was hard to even try to be his friend when he was grumpy - how could she pretend to be his wife?

"There's only two. Princess Grace will be riding with you, yes?" Kyungsoo replied to his brother calmly. The princess respected the younger prince for how he could handle his family so patiently when they were so unbecoming to him. Sure, she didn't have a great relationship with her mother or any siblings to bond with but she at least had her father. Her father treated her as if she were the sun that kept his world thriving. Kyungsoo, on the other hand, struggled to keep a good relationship with both his parents and his brother and yet he was still so kind to them.

"Of course not," Sehun muttered as if it were ridiculous to even assume such a thing. The princess released a sigh at his words. This day would be far too long.

"The village will want to see their future king and queen together. Do not let your pride ruin this trip," The prince's brother warned. His voice was still calm, but now it held a tone of scolding within it. Sehun groaned at this and decided to climb upon the other horse. He commanded the princess to join him quickly.

"Let me help you," Kyungsoo offered kindly as he noticed the princess's hesitation.

"No. Get on your horse brother. I will help my fiancée," Sehun intervened just as Kyungsoo's hand landed on the princess's back. He pulled away slowly but did as he was told and the princess felt her back grow cold. Sehun reach his hand out and the princess took it. A small yell escaped her as he pulled her onto the horse in a quick motion. She sat behind him and held onto his shoulders in a gentle grasp as they made their way towards the northern kingdom's village.

The village did not welcome them like her kingdom's village usually welcomed her when she arrived. The streets were full of busy merchants who barely spared a glance in their direction unless they were trying to sell them some of their products. The air was filled with smells of various types of foods and it made the princess regret not eating a full breakfast that morning. Children ran down the streets with loud shouts of excitement and contagious laughter. It almost reminded her of home, minus the glares they recurved as they rode through.

They came to a stop outside of a bakery. The air carried a delicious smell out into the busy streets. Prince Sehun climbed off of his horse's back and landed with a light thud. He held up his arms, helping the princess climb down after him. He placed her on the ground gently and she thanked him for his assurance quietly. He was gone before another word was shared and she watched him begin to talk to his brother with a frown on his face. He must have been confused by the welcoming he received. She was certain his ego had been damaged somewhat.

A woman in old, worn garments approach the princess freely. All of the guards were standing with the royal brothers, leaving her to stand in the open by Sehun's horse. The woman had greying hair and skin that had began to age a while ago. Still, the princess thought the woman was pretty. She smiled politely at the elderly lady as the strange woman stared up at her. It wasn't common for her to meet people who were shorter than her and she felt odd having to look down for once.

"You are the future queen?" The woman asked her with narrowed eyes. Had she not looked well enough to be a future queen? The princess's heartbeat began to race quickly.

"Yes I am," the princess answered with a sweet voice. The woman suddenly grew angry. The princess's face fell as she watched the woman's arms begin to tremble and her curious expression transform into one of rage. The woman's frail hands reach up and grabbed the princess by the fabric of her dress. The princess gasped as the woman began to jerk at the fabric forcefully. She yelled profanities at the princess as she did so and the princess let her take all of her rage out on her. A guard appeared before long and removed the violent woman from the princess. The woman spit on the princess once she realized she could not reach her again. Sehun appeared by her side and began to lead her inside the bakery with his brother following them close behind.

"What will they do to her?" The princess asked frantically. She had asked three times now and the prince had yet to answer her. She finally pushed his hand off of her arm and stopped walking into the bakery. He froze in his place, looking down at the princess with anger.

"I asked you a question!" The princess exclaimed feverishly. Her narrowed his eyes as he stared down at her. Normally a look like that would have sent shivers down her spine but today she could only feel the fire of adrenaline washing through her veins.

"If she is lucky, they will lock her away in prison. If not, then she will be executed for attacking a member of the royal family," he finally explained to her. She felt as if she were going to throw up right on the prince. She turned and went to exit the bakery but her arm was caught by the prince. She turned to look at him with a scowl on her face.

"Do not intervene. Her fate has already been decided and it will not change no matter what you say," he told her. He released his hold on her arm. She watched as he turned on his heels and approached the counter of the bakery.

"Are you alright?" Kyungsoo asked her as he stepped up by her side. She glanced at him with wide eyes. A woman was going to die today because of her. How could she possibly be alright?

"You look as if you're about to faint. Let's find a seat," he added when she didn't answer him. He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to a seat in the corner of the bakery. She hadn't noticed how erratic her breathing was until they were sitting across from one another. Kyungsoo pulled a small rag from his pocket and swiped it across her shoulder where the woman's spit had landed. She flushed at the thought of the prince helping her clean up.

"Thank you," she whispered quietly, not looking up to meet his eyes.

"Yah! Get your hands off of her," Sehun's voice filled her ears. She felt Kyungsoo remove the cloth from her shoulder quickly. Sehun took a seat at the table and placed a tray of baked goods down in front of them. The princess was not hungry anymore. The sight of the food only made her stomach twist more.

"Eat up. I have more coming soon. This is the best food you will ever taste, Princess," Sehun told her as he held up a small cake for her to take. Without wanting to cause a bigger scene, she took the baked good from his fingers and took a small bite. It was delicious - beyond delicious - but she knew she would pay for it later.

"Brother?" Sehun called as he held a similar looking cake up for his brother to take. Kyungsoo copied the princess's actions but he seemed to eat quicker after the first bite. They sat in silence while they ate on the baked goods. The princess wondered how the princes stayed healthy if they ate like this all the time. It was fascinating to see how quickly they could finish one baked good before they moved onto the next.

The princess was startled when a young man approached their table with a small box in his hands. He was handsome, like most of the men in the northern kingdom, and a small smile rested on his face as he came to a stop in front of the eldest prince. Sehun looked up at him and a wide grin formed on his face, causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle. The princess had never seen the man look so joyful.

"Junmyeon!" The prince called out with excitement. The stranger bowed politely but the smile on his face grew quickly. Sehun stood from his seat and rounded the table until he was standing directly in front of the man. He wrapped his arms around Junmyeon's shoulders, an action that the man returned.

"I thought you were out for the day for a moment," Sehun told the man as he pulled away. His hands still held onto the man's upper arms. The smile on his face didn't falter for a second.

"I was in the back training a new baker when I was told you were here. You have to meet him. Chanyeol!" Junmyeon called as he looked over his shoulder expectantly. Within a few seconds, a tall man with hair that was almost white exited the kitchen and entered the front of the bakery. He approached the group in a hurry, accidentally crashing into a chair along the way. The princess almost laughed at the sight but she only sent a sympathetic smile his way. He didn't notice. All of his attention was on her future husband.

"Gosh, it's Prince Sehun! I've heard so much about you," was how the clumsy newcomer greeted the prince. He bowed repeatedly as a dimpled smile shined on his golden skin. The princess glanced over at Kyungsoo, who was simply ignoring the scene before him entirely. He stared down at the cake he was eating with an intense gaze. Sehun had warned her before that the man got preoccupied with all things cooking related and she realized adoring food must have been on of them.

"Which is your favorite?" She asked him, blocking out the men beside her. He looked up at the princess with wide eyes. She was amused by the surprise she saw swimming in his eyes. Kyungsoo's eyes were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, excluding her father's. They were big, dark, and if you looked closely you could see small specks of gold floating in them.

"This one. It's delicious. I wished I had the recipe for it," Kyungsoo told her quietly. Though his voice was soft, she could still hear the passion in it. She pointed at the small baked good and asked if she could try it. The man nodded quickly and encouraged her to try it. He watched with an intense stare as she brought the treat up to her lips. She ate quietly, but her eyes grew two sizes bigger at the taste that exploded on her tongue.

"That's the best thing I've ever tasted," she breathed out. He laughed lightly at her reaction.

"Princess!" Sehun called out, gaining her attention.

"Stand up. I have to introduce you," he instructed her when he knew he had all of her attention. She pushed out of her seat and straightened her shoulders as the two new men eyed her.

"This is Princess Grace. She is to be my wife soon," The prince introduced her. She forced a smile on her face as she looked between the two men. She noticed Junmyeon's face fall at prince's words. It was a subtle expression that she noticed despite the fact that his smile grew again within a few seconds. They bowed in respect, to which she felt her face grow warm. She hated when people bowed for her. It was a similar feeling to the feeling she felt when her father would sing happy birthday to her.

"Have we met before?" The princess couldn't help but ask as she looked into the eyes of Chanyeol.

"No, I don't think we have," he replied with a tone of disappointment. She nodded at his words but didn't comment further. There was something about him that felt strangely familiar. She wondered if he felt the same way.

They spent a few more minutes bonding with the men in the bakery before Kyungsoo announced that it was time to explore the village. The prince guided the princess out of the bakery after sharing a goodbye with the two workers and they made their way back out into the street. The princess couldn't help but feel nervous. She didn't want another scene to occur like the one that had earlier. The princes stayed closer to her as they explored the village. She enjoyed herself, for the most part, and loved learning about the people of the northern kingdom. The kids played with her when they realized she would interact with them and she found herself trying out new games that she had never heard of back home. She played until Sehun grew impatient with her.

They visited several shops throughout the village. The princess fell in love with a little shop located near the center of the clustered area. It was an artistry shop with various types of handcrafts and arts for sale. She couldn't take her eyes off of one artwork. It was beautifully painted, with all of its brushstrokes combing together to create the delicate form of a woman. The colors were cleverly picked to resemble the color pallet of the evening sky. Delicate purples and pinks swirled around one another, blending into perfection. Kyungsoo walked up beside her and eyed the painted canvas. He found the piece to be fantastic. It was understandable why the princess was staring at it as if it were the most magnificent thing she had ever seen.

"Do you think my father would like this?" She asked Sehun, who stood on her other side. He watched as she let her fingertips skim across the surface of the canvas lightly. His eyes focused on the ring sitting on her left hand. For a moment he had forgotten she had asked him a question.

"It's too feminine. What about this one?" Sehun finally found his tongue again. He pointed to the piece next to it. It was a simple landscape of a late autumn day. The colors were warm, and while still inviting, didn't get the same reaction from the woman as the first piece had. She let her hands fall away from the first piece and grabbed the second one with a small nod.

"Thanks for your help," The princess told Sehun. She sent a small smile in his direction before she turned on her heels and approached the merchant selling the pieces.

"It's nice to see you two get along," Kyungsoo told his brother. Sehun looked away from the princess and met his brother's stare.

"Don't get sappy on me," Sehun teased.

Chapter Five

- kyungsoo x reader, royalty AU, prince!kyungsoo

- warnings : swearing, mature content, arranged marriage, good looking men

- word count : 3,257

chapter four or chapter six or masterlist

♔ ♔ ♔ ♔ ♔

The prince and princess found themselves wasting the remainder of the day in the water. Even thought they were hungry and slowly growing tired, they did not want to accept their fates back at the castle yet. They shared stories from their childhoods, both the sad and happy. They shared secrets that they had only told close friends. They shared several kisses - kisses that they knew they shouldn’t share but couldn’t care to remind themselves until after they happened. In result, they both grew more attached to one another than they had wanted to.

“Princess, come out of the water. We need to go!” Kyungsoo called out to the young woman as she floated leisurely in the water. The sun was starting to set in the distance and he knew it wouldn’t be long until they were navigating their way back to the castle in the dark. She sighed at his words and submerged under the water one last time. She had planned to exited the water soon after but her attention was snagged by the sight of an opening in the water. Was it perhaps a cave?

She lifted her head above the surface of the water to get a quick breath and just as the prince called out for her again she ducked back under. This time, she kicked her legs and swam in the direction of the opening. It was so camouflaged by it’s surroundings that she was surprised she had noticed it. It wasn’t that big, but it was big enough for her to push herself through it. For a moment, she was afraid. What if she ended up getting stuck and drowning? She was glad when she ended up popping back up from under the water and inhaled a deep breath of air. Her eyes scanned the new environment slowly. She wanted to make sure she didn’t miss anything. Near the back of the small cave was a black box that looked like a hidden treasure. Her father had told her stories about pirates who would hide their belongings in the most random places. Could this be on of them?

She almost laughed at the thought as she pushed herself out of the water. The sound of the water leaking off of her soaking figure and returning to the water below her echoed in the small cave. It was almost soothing. She grabbed the box and shook it to see if she could hear it’s contents. She was met with a thud. Happy with her findings, she quickly entered the water again and swam through the opening to return to the prince.

When her heard emerged from the water, she was met with the back of Kyungsoo’s wet head. He was looking in the water frantically. She tapped his shoulder gently and he turned in the water quickly, creating a small wave as he did so. She had never seen someone so relieved to see her face. He pulled her in his arms almost immediately, whispering about how scared he was into the shell of her ear as he held her.

“Are you okay? Where did you go?” He asked as he leaned back to examine her for any signs of a struggle. He caught sight of the box she cradled in her arms and met her eyes with furrowed eyebrows.

“I found an opening under the water. It leads to a tiny cave. I found this box in there and I thought maybe it was something interesting,” she explained to him with excitement written on her face. His hands left her skin and traced along the edges of the box curiously. There was something strange about this box.

“I think I’ve seen this box before,” he thought to himself.

“Really?” The princess’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He averted his eyes away from the box and met her wide eyes.

“Let’s get you out of the water before you get sick. It’s starting to cool off,” he told her gently. They exited the water together this time. Prince Kyungsoo had entered the water in his clothes the second time around and the princess felt herself flushed. She hadn’t thought about how worried he would have been. She sat the box down on the ground next to Strike’s feet and allowed the prince to help her put her gown back on.

“What do you think is in it?” She asked as she picked it back up, officially ready to return to the castle.

“I’m not sure. Let’s open it back at the castle,” The prince told her.

“What if it’s gold?” She wondered aloud. He smiled slightly at her inquisitive nature.

“Then perhaps we shouldn’t tell anyone about the box,” he said with amusement in his voice. She laughed lightly but agreed with a small nod of her head. She rode in behind Kyungsoo on the way back to the castle. While she hadn’t been nervous when leaving earlier, she definitely felt nervous about returning. The two of them had been gone for majority of the day and the guards had witnessed them leave together. Her eyes closed as she held onto Kyungsoo tightly, afraid that he would be kept away from her when they returned.

The stables were empty when they arrived. The princess cradled the box in her arms as she watched the prince return all of his riding equipment back to it’s rightful place. When he finished, he turned to her with a small smile.

“I guess things return back to normal now,” The princess commented with a sad voice. The prince’s smile fell at her words but he knew exactly what she meant. Everything that had happened that day was forbidden at the castle. The princess was back to being the kingdom’s future queen and the prince was back to be his brother’s shadow. He swallowed his anger, and looked down at the box in the woman’s hands.

“Will you still open it with me?” He questioned lightly.

“You thought I would open it without you?” She replied. He shrugged, his cheeks growing warm at her words. She laughed lightly and turned on her heels to exit the stables. He watched as she disappeared, knowing he would have to wait to make his way back into the castle.

When he arrived back in his room that evening, his brother was waiting on his bed with a gold coin in his hands. He was tossing it into the air and catching it as it returned back to him. His eyes flickered over at his brother, who had mysteriously disappeared throughout the day.

“Where have you been? The moon is out,” Sehun questioned his brother as he sat up straight.

“I went to the village to visit Xiumin. He was showing me a new type of ink he’s trying out. It’s fascinating, really,” Kyungsoo lied to his brother. Sehun scoffed and for a second the prince thought his brother had caught his bluff.

“You two are so boring,” he teased. Kyungsoo laughed a small, fake laugh and shook his head.

“I’ve been waiting all day. I don’t know how to apologize to the princess. Will you do it for me?” Sehun added a moment later, standing up to approach his brother.

“Just invite her to participate in archery again and include her this time,” Kyungsoo told him. Sehun furrowed his eyebrows as he thought about his brother’s suggestion.

“Do I have to say I’m sorry if I do that?” He questioned as he pointed a finger lazily at his brother.

“No, she’ll understand,” his brother assured him. He hummed as he thought it over and then a smile formed on his face.

“You’re so good with girls, brother. If you weren’t so shy and scary you’d be covered in them,” Sehun joked, slinging his arms around the man’s shoulders. Kyungsoo rolled his eyes in response. If only he knew.

Prince Sehun found the princess just as she left her room the next morning. She was surprised to find him walking towards her chambers with a confident stride. As she looked at him, she couldn’t help but feel guilty. All she could think was his brother’s perfect lips and how happy she had been spending time in solitude with the young prince yesterday.

“Good morning, Princess,” Sehun greeted politely.

“Good morning,” she breathed out a reply. He smiled at her, causing a small smile to form on her face out of instinct.

“I was wondering if, perhaps, you’d like to join me and the rest of the guys in some archery later today?” The prince offered. She was surprised for the second time in a mere two minute span.

“Did someone write that sentence for you to study?” She asked with amusement in her voice. The prince laughed nervously but shook his head in denial.

“I’d like that,” she told him. She went to walk away from him but was stopped by his hand grasping her forearm loosely. She met his eyes again and he narrowed his at her.

“I just remembered that you disappeared yesterday. I looked all over for you and I could not find you anywhere,” he thought aloud. The princess raised her eyebrows in surprise. Had she been caught?

“Did you check inside my chambers?” She replied. Her sassy tone hid her fear well. The prince scoffed in disbelief. He released her arm and ran his hand through his hair with frustration.

“No, I forgot. I should have got one of the servants around here to check for me,” he whined under his breath. The princess laughed with relief. The prince turned and looked at her with wide eyes.

“You’re laughing?” He asked. His voice was loud and his lips were parted in shock.

“I apologize, it was just too funny to me,” the young woman replied through her laughter as she covered her mouth. She turned to leave again, and this time Sehun followed after her instead of stopping her. He went on and on about how she never laughed and if she was laughing at him, then he had to be the funniest person in the entire kingdom. His logic only made her laugh more and they entered the dining hall for breakfast together laughing loudly. The noise gathered the attention of several people but the prince and princess only continued to laugh together.

“Isn’t that lovely?” The northern queen asked as she watched her son enjoy himself with his fiancée. Her husband stared at them for a moment before he began to nod.

“They’re good together,” the king commented with satisfaction in his eyes. Prince Kyungsoo looked down at his plate and gripped his utensils tighter at both the sight of his brother with the princess and his parents’ conversation. Perhaps he had been blind this entire time and his brother truly would win the princess over. It didn’t make the lingering feeling of her lips pressed against his vanish instantly, though, and the more he thought about yesterday was the more he grew confused.

“Good morning family,” Prince Sehun greeted his parents and brother. The princess bowed slightly from beside him, but she did not speak. She felt her breath leave her lungs quickly as she sat next to Prince Kyungsoo. She had prepared herself all night to be careful around the prince but he wouldn’t even glance in her direction this morning. Had he regretted yesterday? There was an overwhelming feeling of panic at the mere thought of the prince regretting yesterday. It had been such a special day for her and she had hoped it had been for him, too.

“Eat quickly. You have a lot of duties to attend to today,” The king told Sehun as he watched his son take his first bite of food.

“Excuse me,” Prince Kyungsoo spoke suddenly. The princess watched as he placed his eating utensils against the surface of the table with a little more force than needed. He pushed his chair back and stood quickly, leaving before anyone could ask him if he were alright.

“That boy is growing moodier by the day,” the king said with a bitterness as he watched his son exit the dining hall.

“Ah, just like his father,” The queen teased.

The princess found herself hiding away in her chambers throughout the day. She wanted to go to the library, but she was afraid Kyungsoo would be there. She wanted to go to the stables, but she was, again, afraid the prince would be there. The village was an option, but she knew she would not be able to go without a guard after the incident during her first trip there. So, she sat in front of a wide window and wrote a letter to her father expressing how much she missed his company. Never in her life had she been away from him for so long. It was hard, but she knew it was something she would have to grow used to.

She had just finished her letter when a knock echoed against the stone walls of her room. She left the parchment sitting in it’s place as she went to swing the door open. Sehun stood before her, with a grinning Baekhyun right beside him. It was the first time that the sight of the pair together didn’t make her want to slam the door in their faces.

“Is it time for our game of archery?” She asked with a small smile.

“Yes,” was Sehun’s simple answer. She joined them in the hall a second later and they began to make their way towards the fitness hall. Sehun’s hand found hers after Baekhyun had teased them for hiding their love because of his presence and she felt her shoulders stiffen. Baekhyun gaped at her when she took his soft hand into her free hand.

“You weren’t lying when you said she was in a good mood today,” Baekhyun told the princess.

“I never lie,” Sehun replied smugly. The three were met with the remainder of their friends when they strolled towards the archery area. All eyes were on the three’s connected hands that the princess had been swinging happily.

“Ah, what is this?” Jongdae asked. There was amusement swimming in his eyes as he looked at the three.

“The princess has finally accepted that she loves me,” Baekhyun announced dramatically as he held their intertwined hands up proudly. She scoffed and freed both of her hands quickly.

“I was afraid they would get lost if I didn’t lead them here,” she answered Jongdae.

“Everyone you passed will already be spreading the rumor around that the three of you are involved in scandalous behavior,” Kai told them.

“If it wasn’t that then it would be some other ridiculous rumor,” Sehun responded. He paused when his eyes scanned the frowning face of his brother.

“Are you feeling bad today, brother?” He asked curiously. The princess looked at him but he still refused to even glance at her.

“I’m alright,” Kyungsoo answered quietly. The brothers shared a look and Sehun nodded. Jongdae placed his hand on the young prince’s shoulder before instructing everyone to get moving. Everyone took turns shooting. The princess was particularly impressed by the skills of Jongdae, who managed to shoot just as well as she had yesterday. Baekhyun did better today than he had previously and the victorious grin on his face was a constant reminder. No matter how well anyone did, it was Prince Kyungsoo that had earned her full attention when he went to shoot. His stance was so stiff, yet so loose at the same time. Those big of eyes of his decreased in size as he narrowed them in attempts to see the target better. Even the small movement of his fingers pulling at the bow’s string had her complete attention. He released his arrow after what seemed like an eternity to the princess and it landed perfectly in the center of the target. His friends applauded for him, offering him nothing but praise as he returned to his place. It was because of this that a smile formed on his face. Though it was only a tiny smile, it was still a smile.

“Think you can do that, princess?” Jongin questioned as he handed the woman a bow. She took it politely and shared a smile with the man.

“You know I can,” she replied confidentially. They all knew she could after what they had witnessed yesterday. She was nervous today, though. She knew Prince Kyungsoo would be watching her every move and that had started an internal war with herself. Every insecurity she had decided to creep up on her. She released the arrow with a shaky breath, grimacing when it landed a few centimeters away from the center of the target.

“I thought you were feeling good today?” Baekhyun asked her as she returned to the group.

“I don’t feel so good anymore,” she confessed as she met his eyes.

“That’s alright. You don’t have to prove yourself to us. We know you’re the best shot here,” Jongdae assured her with a warm smile.

“And second prettiest,” Baekhyun added, wrapping his arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

“Am I the first?” Sehun asked playfully.

“No, I am,” Baekhyun told him with a smirk on his face.

The group decided to call it a day after another few rounds. They all went their separate ways, probably heading to bed for the night. It was late, after all. Sehun had been away for majority of the day to attend to his royal duties, causing a delay for their plans. The princess usually didn’t mind being out so late, but today she wanted nothing more than to disappear back to her chambers. That’s where she immediately started off too when she left the fitness hall. Her footsteps were slow and her mind was racing with worries after Prince Kyungsoo’s strange behavior that day.

Just as she made it onto the stairwell, she was stopped by someone’s hand grasping her shoulder. She turned around quickly with surprise on her face. Her eyes only grew wider when she saw Kyungsoo’s big eyes staring up at her. He seemed to have done it on impulse, as his hand retracted from her exposed skin as soon as she had turn to look at him.

“What-“ she was interrupted by the prince placing his finger against her lips. She heard voice in the hallway she had come from and instantly went silent. Once they faded away, the prince lowered his hand away from her face.

“I need to speak with you,” he told her quietly.

“You’ve been avoiding me all day,” she told him as if she thought he were lying.

“I know, and I’ll explain, but please-“

“Okay. Come to my room,” she rushed out.

“The guards will see me,” he shook his head.

“I’ll cause a diversion,” she informed him.

“Sehun will be expecting me. I told him I was preparing a snack for us,” he shook his head again. She sighed in frustration and frowned.

“Was he suspicious of you yesterday?” She asked. He nodded, a frown of his own frowning on his face.

“He was of me too,” she admitted lowly.

“The library. That’s where we’ll meet. Tonight, okay?” Kyungsoo finally suggested. It was like music to her ears. She nodded quickly and he smiled.

“I have to go before I kiss you,” she breathed out. She turned on her heels and dashed up the stairs, leaving Kyungsoo to watch her with amusement on his face.

Chapter Six

- kyungsoo x reader, royalty AU, prince!kyungsoo

- warnings : swearing, mature content, arranged marriage, good looking men

- word count : 2,705

chapter five or chapter seven or masterlist

♔ ♔ ♔ ♔ ♔

The princess had went straight to her chambers after her talk with Kyungsoo. She had gotten dressed as if she were going to bed before she had poked her head outside her door and handed her letter to her father to the guards. ‘Deliver this to one of the handmaidens to send off.’ She had shut the door before they could argue that it wasn’t their job to do that. She leaned her ear against the thick wood and tried to listen to their conversation through the door after that. After a few minutes of arguing with one another, the guards agreed to go together to find one of the handmaidens. She smiled in triumph at the sound of their fading footsteps. Anxious to see the prince, she grabbed the box they had discovered yesterday and raced out of the room.

The library was empty just like it had been the first time she had come alone. The princess wasn’t sure what time Kyungsoo would show up, nor was she sure if he would come with good news. Still, she read a book to try and tame her mind as she waited for his arrival. It was an hour and a half later when he bursted through the doors of the library. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on her and she smiled assuringly. He had assumed she wouldn’t come. His relief was visible as his shoulders slackened and his jaw loosened.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long,” he said quietly as he made his way to where she sat. It was the same chair she had fallen asleep on nights ago. She shut her book, shaking her head as she did so. Before she could stand up from her seat, the prince knelt down in front of her. His hands were placed on the armrests of the chair and his eyes were locked with hers.

“I need to apologize for avoiding you today. I was scared,” he apologized in a voice so soft that the princess almost missed his words. She sat up straighter, with a confused frown on her face.

“Why would you be scared?” She questioned.

“When you walked in with Sehun... the two of you were laughing and enjoying each other’s company. I suppose it was just jealousy but how could I not be jealous when fate has already promised him a marriage to you?” He spoke quicker than she had ever heard him speak before. She understood his fear now. She reach out, hesitantly, and rested the palm of her hand against his soft face. He leaned into her touch and let his eyes close for a moment.

“I thought you regretted yesterday when you wouldn’t look at me,” she confessed in shame. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment at not recognizing his true frustrations right away.

“No, never,” he told her with a small smile. She laughed quietly and he leaned up so that their lips could meet. She melted into him immediately, letting her hands run down the smooth skin of his neck until she was gripping at his shirt-cladded chest. With a few seconds, she was running her tongue across his plump, bottom lip. Prince Kyungsoo tasted like fresh fruit mixed with the sweet taste of chocolate. She could only guess what snack he had prepared earlier. Whatever it was, she couldn’t get enough. The prince was the first to pull away. He pressed his forehead against hers and breathed in small pants. She could feel every breath rake across her lips. It was intoxicating and she had to stop herself from pulling him back against her lips again so soon.

“What is it you want me to do?” She asked lowly as her eyes searched his. He was silent for a moment and then he muttered one word that she wished he hadn’t. ‘Run.’ She released a shaky breath at his request, knowing it was the one thing she couldn’t give him.

“My kingdom is depending on me. Without me, they may all starve,” she reminded him. Her voice trembled as she spoke, as she knew her words would only disappoint him.

“You’re willing to sacrifice your entire life for your kingdom?” He asked in astonishment. She nodded against his head in response. It was the complete truth. Even if Prince Sehun had turned out to be the worst person to ever exist, she would have still went through with the marriage so that the northern kingdom would help with food supplies.

“You’re going to be an incredible queen,” he mumbled, his voice distant but his words genuine.

“Would you sacrifice your happiness for your kingdom?” The princess couldn’t help but ask.

“If they needed me, yes, but my kingdom is thriving already and they do not need me. They have my brother, after all,” he answered, pulling away from the princess so that he could look down at his hands. She hummed as she considered his words. Even though she knew that Kyungsoo was almost invisible compared to his brother, she found herself wishing she had a brother she could depend on to keep her kingdom alive.

“You brought the box,” he commented in surprise when he seen the black container sitting in the floor next to the chair. He reach out and grabbed it quickly, letting his fingers trace over it like he had yesterday. He had thought about it all night long - it seemed too familiar to him and he didn’t like that. The box gave him an uneasy feeling.

“I told you we would open it together,” The princess told him.

“Here?” He looked up at here with raised eyebrows. She nodded and he looked back down at the box with a frown.

There was a large lock in the middle of it. How could he get this thing open? The princess slipped a few pins from her hair and let it completely fall down against her shoulders. She handed Kyungsoo the pins as if he would know what to do with them, but he only looked at them in confusion. She took the box from him a few seconds later and began to work on picking the lock.

“Where did you learn to pick a lock?” He asked in bewilderment. She glanced up and caught his surprised gaze. A small smile formed on her face.

“There was a man in my village back home that was sent to the dungeons for stealing food. It turns out that he was a master lock picker. I would bring him food, paper, and a pen everyday and he would unlock his cell to draw me a picture while he ate. One day, he taught me how to do it myself,” she told him as her fingers struggled to get the pins to work in their favor.

“Did he know you were the princess?” The prince couldn’t help but ask.

“I told him, but he didn’t believe me. He said that a princess wouldn’t bring a prisoner food,” she answered quietly.

“Most wouldn’t,” the prince agreed. The lock clicked just as he finished speaking. She grinned in delight and shook her head.

“It would appear being different has its benefits then, huh?” She asked playfully, but as he caught her eye he knew she had an underlying meaning to her words. He was different and she thought it was a good thing. He smiled shyly at her before he took the box back and placed it into his lap. She watched as he opened the box, frowning when she saw a bunch of old pieces of parchment. They must’ve been a little over twenty years old from the appearance of them. Kyungsoo took them out and let his eyes skim over them slowly. There were several expressions that formed on his face over the course of a few seconds. He went from joy, to curiosity, to sadness, and then he settled on anger. He tossed the first piece of parchment to the side before he dug through the rest of the box. He felt sick to his stomach as he continued to read them. When it became too much for him to handle, he placed the box in the princess’s lap and stood up from his place on the floor.

The princess watched as he held the back of his hand against his mouth, as if he were anticipating for himself to throw up at any second. She looked down at the pieces of parchment with furrowed eyebrows. What could he possibly have read to react in such a way? Her fingers held the paper up so that she could read it’s contents and quickly they began to tremble. In her hands, she held a birth record that belonged to one very special person: Prince Kyungsoo.

“Oh my god,” she whispered frantically as she continued to skim over the contents of the box. Everything in the box revealed a lie that had been obviously been hidden from everyone in the kingdom. How could anyone manage to hide something this big that well? She couldn’t even comprehend how or why anyone would do that. She placed the box on the floor and approached Kyungsoo’s stiff figure from behind. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head against his back.

“My entire life is a lie,” he whispered bitterly. The princess didn’t know what to say in this situation. What was there to say?

“You know this means you’re the one who’s supposed to inherit the throne?” She asked quietly. Perhaps it wasn’t what she should have said in that moment, but it certainly was enough to fuel the fire that Kyungsoo felt in that moment. He turned around quickly, and looked down at the princess with wide, fiery eyes.

“I’m the one that should be inheriting the throne,” he repeated. She looked up at him, wondering if he had secretly been hungry for power this entire time.

“I’m the one that should be marrying you,” he added soon after. She wasn’t sure how she felt. Relieved? Angry? She was definitely hurt for the prince. How dare his parents keep this from him?

“I’m going to marry you. Mark my damn words,” he mumbled as if talking to himself.

“How?” She asked with wide eyes.

“I have a friend in the village. His name is Xiumin - he works in a printshop. I’ll make him make copies of the records and we’ll get them to spread around the village,” he explained his plan to her in one, rushed breath.

“And then?” She wondered.

“It will reach the kingdom. If the universe feels at least an ounce of sympathy for me, then this should work. I’ll turn this whole kingdom against my liar of a father,” he continued. The princess paused for a moment.

“Kyungsoo, the box must belong to your father. We need to hide it before he finds out that we found it,” she told him quickly.

They parted that night with a long, passionate kiss that had left the princess breathless. Kyungsoo took the box with him with the promise that he would hide it in a safe location. The princess trusted his word. The guards were back in their places when she arrived back at her chambers. Fortunately, she had made it right before the shift change. The tired guards were sitting against the wall with their heads laying on top of each other, snoring softly into the night air. She almost laughed, but her racing heartbeat reminded her of her vulnerable position. She tiptoed back to her room in her nightgown and pushed her way back into the room quietly. She made sure to shut the door softly behind her.

The next morning, the princess found herself walking alongside Prince Sehun towards the stables. The sun had only been awake for a few minutes and her rays were already warm against the princess’s exposed skin. Her fingers chased each other in circles as she thought about how the second trip to the village would go. Sure, most of the people had accepted her her for the most part, but she knew that there were more people like the angry woman she had encountered hiding somewhere in the shadows. She couldn’t be upset about the fact that they were so angry that they’d take it out on her. They must be terrified for both themselves and their families that a new king and queen meant big changes, changes that could be potentially worse than what rules were already in place. It made sense for them to be angry. She could remember the torn outfit the woman had been wearing and wondered what kind of kingdom the northern kingdom truly was to leave someone in such a state without trying to help.

All of her worries about the trip seemed to vanish when she saw Prince Kyungsoo in the distance. He was, of course, already at the stables preparing for the ride to the village. Her heart began to beat rapidly in her chest at the sight of the dark haired man working so hard. He shared a smile with one of the stable workers before he caught sight of the princess and his brother walking towards where he stood. He paused for a moment, basking in the sight of the woman he adored so dearly before he turned and made his way back into the barn.

“Princess! Sehun!” She heard a voice called out for her and the man next to her. She turned her head just slightly to see Baekhyun standing near a horse with his hand in the air waving wildly. A grin was on his face as he waved at them and she thought that he looked truly mad. She couldn’t help but laugh a little. Sehun glanced over at her as he waved at Baekhyun lazily. He noticed the princess seemed a lot more relaxed these days than she did when she had first arrived to the northern kingdom. What had changed? He paled at the thought that maybe she had finally fell for him. She ran towards Baekhyun, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He watched as they shared a handshake that they had wasted time coming up with yesterday at dinner. It was like watching two overgrown children interact as they giggled amongst themselves.

“You’re coming with us to the village?” The princess asked Baekhyun.

“That’s right. You won’t have to miss me all day now,” he answered her with a smug expression. He threw a his arm over her shoulders and squeezed her tightly, making her smile. Prince Kyungsoo walked over to where they stood with a horse saddle in his hands. He worked quietly as he put the saddle on Baekhyun’s horse and the princess tried to pull her eyes away from his working figure, but she couldn’t. Even when she felt the weight of Baekhyun’s arm leave her and heard him greet Prince Sehun, her eyes were glued to him. He glanced over at her when the feeling of her stare didn’t leave him. She seen the corners of his lips rise and fall so quickly that it was like it hadn’t happened at all.

“Princess, you don’t mind if we go to the bakery again do you?” Prince Sehun asked her, finally drawing her attention away from Kyungsoo. She glanced up at the man and shook her head.

“No. I have a bad craving for chocolate this morning,” she replied. This time, Kyungsoo couldn’t keep a smile from forming on his face.

Chapter Twelve

- kyungsoo x reader, royalty AU, prince!kyungsoo

- warnings : swearing, mature content, arranged marriage, good looking men

- word count : 2,795

chapter eleven or chapter thirteen or masterlist

♔ ♔ ♔ ♔ ♔

The princess took a deep breath as she looked down the small hill. At the bottom of the hill, she could see the reflection of the moonlight on the river's surface. If she looked harder, she could see the figure of a man sitting on the embankment of the river. Her heart pounded against her chest and her trembling fingers had shown up for an encore.

"I'm right here if you need me," Kyungsoo whispered against the shell of her ear before he placed a tender kiss against her forehead. She nodded and took a brave step forward. Once her feet had began to move, she couldn't get them to stop. Her footsteps were quiet, but the mystery man still seemed to hear them over the sound of the crickets singing into the night. He turned and looked at her with raised eyebrows. When she met his eyes, her feet finally found the power to stop. Her eyes were wide and full of disbelief.

The mystery man was Park Chanyeol.

"Oh my god," she whispered into the summer air. Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion as she watched the tall man rise from his seat on the grassy ground. He walked over to her slowly. He swallowed his nerves as he made his way over and cleared his throat before he let a soft 'hello' roll off the tip of his tongue.

"Hi," The princess replied weakly.

"I think there's something we need to talk about," he told her quietly. She agreed with a simple nod of her head. He glanced up the hill, just now noticing Prince Kyungsoo standing with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. The man was already intimidating enough with the sun up. Chanyeol drew in a sharp breath at the sight but allowed the corners of his lips to lift.

"Your bodyguard for the night?" He questioned in a playful manner. The princess glanced over her shoulder at the man she loved and couldn't help but smile softly.

"You could say that," she replied. Chanyeol revealed that he lived in a small cabin next to the mill, along the riverside. He insisted that she joined him there, claiming that he had some things he needed to show her. She called out to Kyungsoo - who was at her side within a few seconds. Her hand rested against his right arm comfortingly as he glanced between Chanyeol and her with fire in his eyes. She explained that they were going to Chanyeol's cabin and he hesitantly nodded.

The three arrived at the cabin within just a minute. It was small in size but stood at an astonishing height. It was decorated with flowers all around and the walls of the cabin were painted a light blue that looked almost green due to the fire of the lantern hanging by the door. The princess would have never imagined Chanyeol living in such a place, but she thought it suited him well enough. The inside of the cabin was sort of messy, but it was a welcoming mess. It looked lived in; it looked like the man's home. He quickly lit a few lanterns and the small space glowed.

"I know this is all strange, but I promise I will make sense of it before you leave," Chanyeol told the woman. He cleared two seats around his small table, that sat neglected in the corner of the cabin. Kyungsoo and the princess sat down at the table and watched as he rushed around the small space. He collected a few leather journals, as well as a few scrolls, and finally took a seat at the table next to the princess. His eyes flickered up from the handful of items sitting on the table's surface to the princess's.

"I'm not entirely sure how to go about this, so please bear with me," Chanyeol told her. She could tell he was nervous from the shakiness of his words. His lip trembled as he spoke ever so slightly. She found herself feeling sympathy for the man, wondering if this is what she had looked like all day. His large hand grabbed at one of the leather journals and he flipped through it until he found what he was looking for.

"When I was a small boy, this man would visit me a few times throughout the month. I never really knew who he was until I was old enough to understand the concept of people existing outside of my mother. We lived alone - in a small cabin like this one on the outskirts of your kingdom's village," Chanyeol began his story, his eyes traveling across the piece of parchment in his hands. He stopped speaking and looked up from the parchment to meet the princess's eyes.

"The man's visits came to a slow when I was around nine. He told me it was because he had a child that he needed to take care of because her mother wouldn't. He would visit once or twice a month, but he would send me letters weekly. He would bring his daughter sometimes, but he couldn't after her mother found out where they had been going. Do you know who that man was?" Chanyeol asked the princess. She stared at him with curious eyes.

"Who?" She asked quietly.

"It was your father," he revealed softly. Her eyes grew at the revelation. She released a nervous laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Why would my father visit you so often?" She asked with confusion in her voice. Chanyeol handed her the piece of parchment that rest in between his fingers and she looked down at it with furrowed eyebrows.

"Because he was my father, too," the man confessed in a whisper. She looked up from the parchment and looked at him as if he had grown three heads. He was nervous and his eyes watched her every movement. He had anticipated her rejection for years now. Again and again, he had pictured this very moment in his mind.

"Read it," he urged her, nodding down at the parchment in her hands. She looked back down at it with a speeding heartbeat. She felt a thin layer of sweat covering her skin already. Could it be true?

'My Dearest Grace,

For years now I have hidden a large part of my world from you. The pain I have felt from having to keep my two favorite creations separated is indescribable. If you're reading this then that means I have passed away and Chanyeol has found you.

You're probably wondering why I have waited until this moment to bring you together. I've asked myself the same question for a while now. Perhaps it was fear - fear that your mother would end up tearing you right back apart.

I don't want you to be angry. I want you to live a life you can look back on and smile because you lived a life you loved. You do not have to accept Chanyeol with open arms, but he is your brother and I love him as much as I love you. Be gentle with him. I hope you can find it in your heart to care for him and to one day forgive me.

Love,

Your Father'

The princess held a shaky hand over her mouth as she stared at the parchment. For a second she thought she was going to burst out into violent sobs, and then she thought she was going to release her stomach's contents all over the table. Kyungsoo's hand found hers under the table and he gave it a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him and lowered her hand slowly. He could see the tears in her eyes, the pain and shock in her face's features. He hated to see her so distraught when he knew there was nothing he could do to help sooth her pain.

"You told me you didn't know me," she whispered accusingly at Chanyeol, her eyes finding his as she did so.

"I was told not to. You don't know how hard it was to keep quiet when I saw you in the bakery and then you came back multiple times after that... it was like you were taunting me. I've been alone for most of my life and I finally had the chance to have my sister - it wasn't fair," he replied to her in a frantic tone. She stood from the table quickly, and Chanyeol found himself standing just as quickly. He was just about to plead for her to give him a chance when she threw her arms around his shoulders and pulled him into her. He was considerably taller than her and bent down so that she wouldn't have to strain to reach him. An expression of relief washed over his face as he let his chin rest on her shoulder. He felt her shoulders shake as she cried and within a few seconds he was crying himself. Kyungsoo felt as if he were invading an intimate moment and looked away from the pair to stare at his empty hands. There were several things he had expected to happen tonight; this was certainly not one of them.

The brother and sister held each other for a few minutes and pulled away one another once their crying had died down. The princess laughed lightly as she looked at Chanyeol's tear stricken cheeks, letting her thumb wipe at them until they were gone.

"Come back to the castle with me tonight. We have too much to catch up on," she insisted. Without being able to say no, Chanyeol agreed. He told her to give him a few minutes to gather some of his belongs to go. She was fine with that. She took a seat next to Kyungsoo, her hands finding his.

"I have an older brother," she whispered with amazement in her voice. He smiled softly and reach over to wipe a stray tear from her face.

"You know what this means?" He asked her quietly. She sent him a questioning look. He glanced over at the tall man before he leaned forward and spoke again.

"Chanyeol's the new king."

Chanyeol and the princess stayed up until the sun was rising again. They shared stories about their father that neither had known before. The princess felt bad for having her father around her at all times while her brother had only gotten him for a few years, and so she let him do most of the talking. They laughed and they cried, but they had never felt more whole in their lives.

"I can't sleep," Chanyeol whispered into the dimly lit room. He glanced over at the princess, who laid with a peaceful expression. She asked him why he couldn't sleep without opening her eyes. She was exhausted, but she found herself not able to sleep either.

"I'm afraid when I wake you won't be here anymore," Chanyeol confessed. He watched as the princess's eyes fluttered open. She sighed quietly and shifted in the bed so that her head rested against his chest. He let an arm wrap around her lazily as he stared up at the ceiling.

"I've always wanted a brother and now that I have you, it will take a war to separate me from you," she mumbled into his chest. A small smile formed on his lips.

"I hope I'm a good big brother," he sighed. When the princess didn't reply, he realized she had fallen asleep. He tried to recall their brief moments together as a child, but he could only remember small details. He had been so angry at the universe for keeping him away from his family all these years and, finally, the universe had given him what he wanted. It was too good to be true. He let his eyes close, trying to evade the worrisome thoughts. Before he knew it he was slipping away from reality and into a dream.

He woke up the next morning to loud whispers. His eyes cracked open just slightly to see the princess gesturing towards him as she spoke with Prince Sehun. He hand his hands on his hips and his eyebrows were raised as if he were upset by what the woman was saying. Chanyeol quickly raised up in the bed and held his hands out.

"I c-can explain," he stuttered with a slight slur to his words. The two royal figures looked at him in surprise. The princess couldn't help but giggle at the sight of his wide, tired eyes and his messy hair. Sehun suddenly bursted with laughter and held onto his stomach as he did so. The sound of his silly laugh only made the princess's giggles blossom into full on laughter. She held onto the prince's arm as they laughed together. Chanyeol looked at them with confusion in his eyes.

"What?" He finally asked, aggravated with them. They slowly sobered up from their intoxicating laughter and looked over at him.

"I've already told Sehun you're my brother. Besides... I am not with Sehun," the princess explained. His eyebrows shot up quickly and he pointed at them accusingly.

"But you're engaged!" He exclaimed. The prince and princess shared a glance with one another.

"I'm with Prince Kyungsoo."

"And I'm trying to be with Junmyeon."

Chanyeol blinked at them once, twice, and then a third time before he raised his hand to pressed his palm against his forehead. He had always assumed there was complications within the castle but he could have never imagined anything this complex. He listened to the prince and princess as they explained their situations. Disbelief could not describe how he felt as he listened. Suddenly he was looking at both Prince Kyungsoo and his fellow employee at the bakery differently.

"Prince Kyungsoo - is he good to you?" He asked the princess once everyone had fell silent. He watched as her cheeks transformed into a warm, pink shade and an adoring smile formed on her face. It was an expression of nothing but love.

"Oh, he's the best. I could go on and on for days. He's quiet at first, but I think you and him will become good friends," his sister answered him. Prince Sehun scoffed before he teased the princess for being so in love with his brother. He couldn't deny the fact that seeing the two together made him happy. While he knew he would never be able to love her like she deserved, he knew his brother would. He was glad his brother was getting the privilege of loving someone as wonderful as the princess, too. He grew unusually quiet as he began to daydream about nieces and nephews. I'll be a damn good uncle, he thought to himself.

The princess introduced Chanyeol to all of their friends after lunch. They welcomed him with kind smiles while he bowed before them respectively. His sister assured him that he didn't need to do that - he was a king after all.

"Princess, how many times am I going to have to ask you out to dinner before you say yes?" Baekhyun asked the princess as they sat against the cool grass out in the garden. The princess pretended to consider his words thoroughly, while her brother's head snap towards them quickly. He had stopped talking mid conversation with Jongdae to listen.

"C'mon, I would do anything to have lunch with a pretty woman like you," Baekhyun added with a suggestive smile as he looked over at the princess. She was about to laugh and push at his shoulder playfully when her brother spoke up.

"Hey! Don't flirt with my sister like that when she's already spoken for!"

Everyone looked between the two men, feeling the tension in the air already. Chanyeol glared down at the childlike man who had been speaking with his sister while Baekhyun simply stared up at him with amusement. Everyone was even more surprised when the sound of Kyungsoo's laughter sliced through the thick, tense air.

"We're keeping him," he told the princess once he had finished laughing. She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile.

"Baekhyun always speaks to the princess like that and sometimes she plays along. It's just their friendship - they know there's no feelings involved," Sehun explained to the king with an amused smile. Chanyeol's lips parted at the man's words. Jongdae and Jongin laughed at his expression, teasing him when they saw his face turn a bright shade of embarrassment.