Not Quite a Prince || Eric Sohn

~ 29 ~

"I wish we could date like a normal couple," Eric sighed, leaning his head on Chanmi's shoulder. She smiled, looking down at their interlaced fingers. "I hate that we can't."  

Her eyes scanned the room, his room. It was the only place they could "date" - if you could even call it that. Nothing had changed, except now they were holding hands and hugging and kissing in private. But they couldn't meet comfortably. The only place she could spend time comfortably with him was in his room, and even then she couldn't stay for too long, or else it would get suspicious. 

It was frustrating, but she never expected it to be easy. 

"I know I should be happy enough just to be together," Eric continued. "But I keep wanting more. Maybe I'm just greedy."

Chanmi shook her head, a small smile coming to her lips. They were just sitting on the floor, holding hands. That was their magnificent date, but still, it made her happy. "That's not being greedy. I wish we could date normally too, but you know we can't." 

"Maybe my parents, my royal parents, would-" 

"No," she said quickly, shooting down that idea before he could even finish. "Trust me, I know them a lot better than you do. They'll never approve. They'll want you to marry someone who can actually benefit them..." she trailed off, her eyes widening. "I'm surprised that they haven't given you a list of potential wives or something. They probably have a bunch of girls in mind." 

He groaned, sitting up straight and running a hand through his hair. "Please, don't jinx it. Don't give them any ideas." 

She laughed, "trust me, I wouldn't dare. But don't be surprised if they expect you to marry soon... and someone of their choosing." 

"The fact that you don't sound heartbroken while saying those horrid words... scares me," Eric said teasingly. 

"I'm preparing myself," she admitted. "There's nothing I'll be able to do-" 

"Stop," he said, the tone of his voice changing. He moved so that he was sitting in front of her. "Look at me." 

Reluctantly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. 

"Are you seriously preparing yourself to watch me walk down the aisle with someone else?"

"Listen... We know it can never be me. I know that, and so do you-" 

"I know nothing of the sort," he said, holding her hand tight. "I won't get married to anyone if it's not you." 

She laughed. "That's cute, but it's not exactly your decision. It's your parents who decide that." 

"What about when I'm King? They can't force me to do anything then, right?" 

Chanmi smiled sadly at him. "I suspect that they'll expect you to marry before you become King." 

He shook his head vehemently. "I won't let that happen," he said, his eyes losing their happy spark. He looked lost now. "I won't," he whispered. 

"Hey, don't be sad in advance," she said gently, though she felt her heart hurting as well. "Let's just enjoy our time together, hm? No matter how long it is, let's enjoy our time together." 

"I want you by my side for life," he murmured, making her heart soar. When she didn't respond he tapped her knee with two fingers, drawing her eyes back to meet his. "Why didn't you answer?" he whined playfully. "Don't you want to be with me forever?" 

"Like... as in marriage?" she asked tentatively. He nodded, and she looked down at the floor again, playing with the ring she always wore on her index finger. "I honestly haven't thought about marriage," she admitted. "I never thought anyone would want to marry me." 

"Wait, why?" Eric asked, and she could just imagine his facial expression at that moment, but she could bear to look at him. She couldn't open up to him and look at his face at the same time, or she'd lose her courage. She stood up, walking around the room for a second before perching on his bed. He sat beside her, after a moment wrapping his arm around her shoulders. 

"I just don't think... I didn't think anyone would want to stay with me for that long," she said softly. "I don't really see myself as someone who's worthy of love," she whispered, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. 

Eric pulled her to his chest, his strong arms wrapped around her, making her feel safer. 

"I'm scared you're going to leave me," she whispered, crying into his shirt. "I'm so, so scared." 

"I'm not leaving you," Eric whispered back. "Not if I can help it. Chanmi... you're stuck with me for life."