𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 | 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐱

♡ t h i r t e e n ♡

"Your Highness, you are soaking wet! Come inside and sit by the fire," the boy panicked and drew him towards the crackling fire.

Only when he was tugging on the taller's cloak did he realize how close they were. The boy took a step back and bowed to the prince who only caught his shoulders and gently straightened him.

"It's okay. You can take off my cloak. I'm thankful for your help," Felix smiled and guided the maid's hands to the front of the outerwear.

Abashedly, Changbin helped him get it off and motioned for him to sit down. He excused himself to make some tea and dashed off to the kitchen not giving the prince a chance to utter a word.

He poured water into the kettle and put it in the oven. His heart was beating rapidly and he was shaky from nervousness. What was the prince doing in his house? He surely missed him and was happy to see him but a part of him began to freak out over the possible reason behind his unexpected visit.

Changbin hung his head low and pulled the sweater over his hands. Maybe he's here to tell me about the marriage with princess Yizhuo. It's been three weeks since I last saw him.

The boy grabbed the kettle and poured the hot water over tea in two cups. He put them on a tray and cut two pieces of cherry pie his mother had baked. Once he had everything on the tray he waddled back to where the prince was sitting.

Felix immediately stood up to help the boy. Changbin blushed and let him carry the tray to the table.

When he put it on the table the prince turned to face the maid with a serious yet soft expression. "I need to talk with you about something."

Changbin bit his lip unconsciously and cupped his belly. He nodded and waited for what the prince had to say.

Felix peeked at Changbin's hands on the baby bump; the sight already melting his heart.

"I want to know the truth about the baby. I need to know who's the father. Tell me what happened after the engagement feast 3 months ago."

Changbin's breath got stuck halfway in his lungs. He looked in the prince's eyes and saw nothing but determination to find the truth. The room fell silent for a moment. Changbin didn't know what to do but he eventually gave in when Felix's eyes filled with tears and he whispered weakly: "Please... I need to know if I hurt you."

♡♡♡

Changbin glanced around the ballroom. Everyone was happily chatting and enjoying their food. At the very end of the enormously long table, he could see the queen with the second prince on her left and the first sitting by his younger brother's side with his fianceé. Across the second prince, there was his soon-to-be spouse princess Yizhuo and her father - the king of the Central Kingdom.

The feast was a celebration of the second prince's engagement to the Ning princess.

Despite his bright smile, Changbin was somehow sad about the revelation. He would lie if he said he didn't have any feelings for the prince but he would never say it out loud either. After all, no matter how nice Felix was to him he was just a part of the lower-class castle staff. Besides the prince was an epitome of kindness to everyone so his occasional smiles towards him didn't make him special.

The prince didn't seem happy at all but the maid blamed it on the late hour and the commotion. He remembered the prince preferred tranquility of his chambers more than pompous gatherings.