INTO YOUR EYES | CHANLIX ✔

XXVI

FELIX couldn't believe the words that just came out of Chan's mouth but when he looked into the prince's eyes, Felix realized that he wasn't joking.

"Let's runaway, Lix," Chan pleads, looking at Felix desperately. "We'll have our own happy ending. Let's run far, far away."

"Are you even thinking about this rationally?" Felix raises his voice and this was a new sight to Chan. The chef was always so soft-spoken.

"I'm serious, love," Chan answers, his eyes filled with determination. "I absolutely do not want to live with anyone except you. I said I'd only marry you, didn't I?"

"What about the death penalty then?" Felix questions. "Please think it through, I don't want you to suffer the consequences."

"No one will know, we'll run away and hide in secret," Chan says, trying his best to convince Felix but the chef wasn't having it.

"You're the crown prince, your father will send a whole army of people to search for you," Felix argues, trying his best to not raise his voice again. "We can't live in secrecy forever."

"I know a place we can stay at."

"And where's that?"

Chan smiles, "The valley behind the Hwang Kingdom's royal castle," he says. "Hyunjin's taken me there multiple times and no one else knows about that place."

"But... they might still find us."

Chan reaches for Felix, cupping his face gently. "Hyunjin's father passed away last year, so there's no ruling authority in the Hwang Kingdom until Hyunjin comes of age and is crowned the king."

"What does that mean?"

"That means," Chan places a kiss onto Felix's forehead. "If my father's men come in search of us to the Hwang Kingdom, Hyunjin will just send them away, telling them that we aren't here."

Felix frowns, still not fully convinced. There were a thousand ways in which this plan could go wrong. It was just too risky.

"Is Prince Hwang aware of this?"

"I've told him everything I told you and he said he'd make all the arrangements if you accept the plan."

Felix looks at Chan, "Are you really sure about this?"

"Trust me," Chan says. "I'll keep both of us safe."

Felix's lips curve into a small smile at the sincerity in Chan's voice. "Okay, let's run away together."

"I'm glad you accepted," Chan looks between Felix's eyes and his lips, almost asking him for permission to kiss him.

Felix nods softly and the both of them lean in slowly but are interrupted by Changbin running towards them.

"Felix, you need to leave. The King and the guests are leaving the ballroom, you shouldn't be seen with Chan."

Felix panics and sends Chan one last smile before exiting the porch with Changbin, leaving Chan all to himself.

...

CHAN stays on the porch with a small smile on his face. Maybe this might work out after all. He could finally live out the life he'd always wanted to.

"Prince Chan, do you have a moment?" came the gentle voice of Princess Changmi. Chan turns around and finds her standing at the entrance.

"Sure, of course," Chan says, gesturing her to come inside. "Is there something bothering you?"

"You already have a lover, don't you?"

Chan is beyond shocked. How on earth did she find out? And while Chan is contemplating what to say, Changmi speaks up again.

"I don't know who it is, my prince, but I have a hunch," Changmi says without any hesitation. "Is it true?"

Chan couldn't find any reason to lie to her. As much as Chan didn't want this wedding, Changmi also doesn't deserve this. So he tells her.

"Yes, it's true," Chan says, looking down in guilt. "I'm truly sorry."

"Please, don't be," Changmi looks at him and smiles. "I'm actually relieved because I have the same secret as you."

"What?"

"I'm in love with a maiden back in my kingdom, her name is Chayoung. I didn't want this marriage either, and I'm glad you feel the same way."

Chan's eyes soften. "Thank you for telling me this. I understand what you're going through because I love someone of the same gender as well."

"That's nice," Changmi replies, genuinely happy that the two of them were having such an honest conversation. "Does my brother know?"

"He does," Chan answers. "Does he know about you?"

"I haven't told him yet but he's already suspecting it so I'll tell him sooner or later."

"Okay," Chan smiles, not feeling awkward with the princess anymore. "I'll let you meet my lover someday, you'll get along well."

"I'll be glad to," Changmi answers. "I wanted to ask you something though."

"What is it?"

"What do we do about the wedding?", she asks. "It's in a week's time."

Chan sighs and proceeds to tell her everything he'd told Felix just a while ago.

"But will this work?"

"There's a fifty per cent chance and we're willing to take the risk," Chan replies. "If it works out, the wedding will be cancelled and you'll go back to your kingdom and will be reunited with your lover. Everyone wins."

"I hope this works out for all of us."

Chan smiles, "I pray for the best."

┈─────── ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
[A/N]

And the plot thickens....!

Changmi turned out to be lesbian, I think some of you saw that coming, didn't you?