A Prince's Knight

Chapter 7

Chanhee was sitting in the dining room with Eric talking as they were eating some sweets and drinking tea, it was a casual and that they had just been joking around. The males had been there since the morning but now it was the afternoon, it had been around 4 hours and all the sweets were gone but they got refills of tea every so often.

The royal place his cup down and gently sighed "I finally get a break from the dates, although I feel bad for ditching the duke yesterday." He put his arms on the table, one of them was holding his head up.

The marquess nodded "Well he had to leave today, plus he didn't mind. He was actually happy although he was happy being near you." The male did the same thing as the prince but he was looking at the clock "And I missed him by 3 hours.."

The royal raised and eyebrow "You missed him by 3 hours? Did you guys get that close within a day and a half?" He was surprised as he raised his head in surprise.

The marquess nodded "It's weird, remember when I made fun of you for wanting love at first sight like in the book." The male explained while looking back at their younger days.

Chanhee rolled his eyes playfully "I still want love at first sight. But I don't so that's why I'm doing the dates." He took a sip from his teacup and then started at the tea's reflection.

Eric nodded "Well I think I fell for him, but I'm not sure." He went to drink from his teacup but had no more tea. He placed it down and just looked at the older male.

"Well I hope you might have a chance to talk to Juyeon since he is still waiting outside at the front of the castle." Changmin spoke from behind Chanhee.

The nobles jumped a sudden voice as Chanhee looked away from the teacup and Eric was busy thinking.

Chanhee turned around and punched the male "Next time tell us if you are here. Plus weren't you at practice?"

The knight shook his head "Nope I just came from my room, anyways Eric go talk to him." He smiled and pointed to the front of the castle.

The marquess got up and ran out the room and once reaching the front of the castle he went down the stairs and grabbed the duke's hand "J-Juyeon I have one last thing to say to you."
Juyeon smiled seeing the male and turned to look at him "Go ahead tell me what it is Eric."

"Goodbye for now, I'll visit you a lot and you'll have a hard time getting rid of me from now on. Have a safe trip Lee Juyeon..." He let go of the older male's hand and smiled softly.

The duke laughed into his hand and hugged the younger male, he was happy about the said goodbye and that the male might have a chance with the marquess "I'll be looking forward to it then Eric." He pats the boy's head "Goodbye for now Eric Son."

As if on cue the duke's carriage made it's way to them, the marquess was willing to bring him back as he was a professional horseback rider and a legal carriage driver but he couldn't. He knew he couldn't but he waved goodbye one last time. Juyeon hugged the boy one last before entering the carriage. Eric watched as the carriage disappeared from sight and had a bittersweet smile. It wasn't the last time he would see the male but he wanted to stay by the male's side a little longer.

Meanwhile the royal had been in his study reading a letter from Hyunjae, a small smile on his face as he reads about how the nobles became closer after visiting the prince. He had been keeping in touch since he last saw them, even though they were a kingdom away. The male's made it a thing to keep in touch, Chanhee placed the letter in his desk and sighed contently. He looked up and saw his knight setting down a tea set "You really like to spoil me, I told you we could have went together to the kitchen." He grabbed the teapot and poured the two a cup.

Changmin giggled rubbing the back of his neck, he had to admit he was just spoiling the somewhat older male, he couldn't help it though. Would it be a lie if he said he fell for him, after 6 years of watching the boy being happy as himself just looking out from afar he finally got to remeet the prince he'd been so curious about since the first time they met at the bakery "Well get used to it, as your night I have to do my best to make you happy." He smiled and sat infant of the boy.

Chanhee nodded and took a sip from his tea "Well it's nice to see you being more active instead of just you staying by my side." He placed the cup down snd thought back to how he met the boy again after 6 years, he was curious what happened to the boy. He always had ideas like 'He moved on and quit' or 'He's been busy with work' even just 'he must be happy living freely now.' Those type of ideas would pop into his head when he was curious, but now he knows and was quite surprised how just a few days with the knight effected him so much.

Another knight walked and bowed at the the two "Your highness the queen would like to meet you in the throne room." Then the knight left the room.

The two stare at each other but got up and went to the throne room side by side. Upon reaching the outside of the room they were stopped and stood in confusion. They just looked at each other before noticing that the people who stopped them was prince Jacob, marquess Eric, and jester Kevin.

The noble turned his attention to the knight "Sorry but the queen wanted us to stop you so Chanhee can go inside alone. We don't know what she wants but it's best we listen to her orders." Eric said before looking to the two oldest in the group.

The couple nodded in agreement and Chanhee just sighed he gave the knight a reassuring look before walking inside, as for the others they decided to leave to the garden. Upon Chanhee walking inside he saw his mother giving the boy a soft smile.

The queen motioned for her son to sit on his throne "Come here sweetheart I only have a few questions." She knew for the past few days that the boy had became happier, she was aware he didn't pick a suitor yet but a knight caught his attention. She wasn't mad she was just overjoyed knowing her son might have found someone to love.

Chanhee walked over and say beside his mother, he was nervous at the sudden meeting but calmed himself. It was his mom, nothing wrong could happen.

The queen looked at her son and spoke softly "Would you like to have the remains dates soon, or did you figure on something." She wanted to know so she could help support her son.

He sighed "Mom I don't mind the dates, we can keep going through them its just.. It's just that I'm not sure of my feelings right now mom..." He sat back his gaze at the ceiling.

"What's going on then, I won't judge you sweetheart. If it's anything I can fix please tell me." He got up and pats the boy's head. She thought about how difficult it could be for her son to just think or go though anything.

He breathed in and out before looking his mom in the eyes "I might stop after 2 more dates, but after that I think we should stop. The dates are just going to make me more confused with my feelings.." He seemed to be okay but he was just sitting there with a sad smile.

The mother hugged her son and rubbed his back "Alright Chanhee, I'm okay with that. I'm glad you spoke up." She smiled softly as she just held her son comforting them.