Whisper Of The Wind [ONF FF]

Chapter 6

The two boys had walked in silence for a while, nearing the palace grounds with each step they took. Changyun glanced to his side, smiling at the happy look on Yuto's face. It was obvious the Prince had fun, one needn't ask. It wasn't as if Yuto didn't often have a smile on his face, on the contrary, the people at the palace loved the smiles he showed to them every day. However, there was something quite different about his expression - this one was of pure, genuine happiness.

"What's the deal with the hat?"

Yuto glanced to his side, hand reaching for the hat on his head at Changyun's words. "It was a gift."

"A gift? From who? The bookshop man?"

Yuto nodded his head, a soft blush settling on his cheeks. They resumed their silent walk, Yuto now with a permanent grin on his face. He let his hand fall, the texture of the hat and its exquisite patterns still lingering on his fingers.

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From that moment onwards Yuto went to the city every other day, being accompanied by Changyun. He always made sure to visit the Bakery he had enjoyed so much, catching up with the owner as Changyun chatted with her son. Oftentimes they weren't able to stick around as long as they wished due to the Bakery being busy with customers. Yuto felt content whenever it happened as it meant business was good for them.

The place where he spent most of his time was, however, the bookshop right next door. He still took time to uncover the hidden corners of the town but inside the beautiful bookshop was where his heart felt content the most.

It was as if there was some kind of secret connection between the Prince and the shopkeeper, the two young men resonating with each other even when not speaking. Yuto wondered how he had managed to keep his secret hidden so far, as the urge to tell everything about his life to the shopkeeper kicked in everytime he was around.

In order to keep his mind off of such thoughts, he had more than once offered his hand at the shop, be it by storing books, sorting out receipts or cleaning the place here and there, he tried to be as helpful as possible. Changyun had argued with him at first, telling him those were not tasks a Prince should realize. Yuto had eventually persuaded him, along with the growing trust the older had on the shopkeeper. It came to a point where Changyun no longer accompanied Yuto into the shop, instead running his usual errands at the town.

It was on one of those days, his fifth one in the town, that a child went up to him. He had been storing some new romance novels into a then almost full bookshelf when he felt his shirt softly being pulled. He turned to look at the perpetrator, being met with a child with bright hazel eyes extending a book in his direction. His features softened, a smile blooming in his lips as he bent down to be on the same eye-level as the younger.

"Hello there. How may I help you?"

The child shyly pointed with his chin at the book in his hands, pushing it into Yuto's own. "C-can you please read this to me Sir?"

Yuto was surprised by the request, lifting his eyes to search for Minkyun in an attempt to know if he was allowed to do as requested. His eyes failed to find him for the second time since they had met, leaving him alone to deal with the request.

"Very well, come here." He extended his free hand to the child, who took it, leading the younger towards a corner of the shop where they would be able to sit down.

"Are your parents around?"

The child's eyes turned moist as words failed him to reply. Yuto immediately regretted asking and instead pulled the child into his lap, embracing him from the back as he opened the book in front of the two of them. The child snuggled into him, eyes focused on the illustrations the book offered.