Whisper Of The Wind [ONF FF]

Chapter 10

"I speak in the name of my family, in the name of this Kingdom when I thank you all for spreading so much love and joy. The town looks beautiful with everyone's efforts to decorate it with the colors of our coat of arms."

The crowd roared, the few but enough people of the kingdom yelling out their appreciation for the King. The speech had been going on for a while, the crowd not yet having lost any of their initial energy.

"I do not wish to prolong my speech as much as I did last year, I'm certain all of you want to begin the actual celebrations already. Howbeit, we do have a few announcements I believe many of you have been waiting for."

Yuto stepped from foot to foot, nerves getting the best of him as he hid behind the huge stage, waiting for his turn to be called on stage. He wasn't as bad as Changyun, however, who looked as if he was going to throw up at any given moment.

"I present to you my son, the Crown Prince and next King of our dear Kingdom, Shim Jaeyoung."

Jaeyoung walked on stage, the crowd throwing praises at him. He was already known to the people, being very loved by them. Everyone in the Royal Family had a good image on the townspeople's eyes, that was something Yuto had noticed during his trips.

"I now present to you, the one who has recently become engaged to my son, Lee Changyun."

"Engaged?" Yuto blurted out, Changyun dismissing his question with a wave of his hand before walking onto the stage, blush bright on his cheeks.

Yuto could hear the surprise and praise being thrown at him, the townspeople shocked that someone they knew was now engaged to the Crown Prince. Yuto was surprised and he for sure wasn't an outsider to the couple.

"And now to present the last but not least member of our Royal Family I give word to my sister, the Royal Princess."

"Very well. I have the honor to present to you, my son, the Royal Prince, Mizuguchi Yuto."

Yuto walked over to the stage, chanting to himself to calm his nerves. He stopped at the centre, bowing to his family before bowing to the townspeople. He could hear various reactions, some questioned who he was, some recognized him.

"The kind Sir is a prince!" He heard a high-pitched voice exclaim, his eyes moving to find a familiar child right in front of the stage. He stepped forward, kneeling down to reach for the child's hair, ruffling it. He could hear the crowd cooing at him.

"I told you when I read that story to you didn't I? Princes do exist."

The child smiled brightly. "Then can I be a prince too?"

"Perhaps someday you may." Yuto winked at the child as he retreated back, bowing once more to the crowd before going to his designated place next to his cousin.

The King finished up his speech, wishing everyone happy celebrations and showing once more his gratefulness to the people.

Yuto quickly made his way out of the stage once given the green light. He hadn't seen Minkyun from the stage and part of him wondered if the other had intentionally gone away the moment his name had been called.

"Yuto, may I speak with you?"

The Prince stopped in his tracks, bowing to his uncle. "Your Majesty."

"That child just now, are you acquainted with him?"

Yuto nodded, embarrassment due to what he did on stage only then settling in. "My apologies for my behavior, I did not think twice."

"No, not at all. I seldom wish to let you know that the child inserted a piece of paper inside your coat's pocket when you reached out to ruffle his hair."

"He did?" Yuto reached for his jacket pocket, indeed finding something inside. He pulled the piece of paper out, carefully reading the words written on it. The first thought that crossed his mind was that he recognized that handwriting. It was a very vague note but Yuto immediately knew what it meant.

"I must ask for your pardon, Your Majesty but I must leave."

"Yuto, remember what I said about Jaeyoung? It applies to you too. I know what you've been doing, as you might know I have eyes everywhere. Go to that boy."

Although it did irk Yuto that he had been watched the whole time he was out of the palace, the words professed by his uncle also touched his heart. He smiled widely and bowed, thanking his uncle for his help.

"No need to thank me. Create your own path Yuto. As long as you sleep at the palace."

"Flow with the wind Yuto!"

Yuto chuckled as he left, Jaeyoung's wind analogies accompanying his running towards the place at which he knew he would find the person he was looking for.

It felt like a weird deja vu when Yuto entered the bookshop. It was empty, just like it had been on the first day he had entered the establishment. Except he had never been alone after all.

He walked over to the bookshelf near to which he had let a book fall on his first visit, turning towards the space in between it and the following bookshelf. There stood Minkyun, hat in hand as he directed a warm smile at Yuto.

"I wondered what all that earlier fuss was about. I have to admit I was truly surprised."

Yut bit his lip, casting his eyes down. "I am most sorry, I should have told you earlier. I had never even considered you knowing when I realized you would know it from the ceremonies."

"I did not expect it at all. Sure the way you acted at times was odd but so am I. Does that mean that you can no longer read stories for the children? That we can not get along anymore?"

Yuto frantically waved his arms. "No, not in the slightest. Actually, His Highness just told me to flow with the wind, or a similar expression. I believe he has been reading poetry recently."

"Good. Because I do not want to get separated from you in any way."

Yuto's cheeks blushed pink at the shopkeeper's boldness. "Y-you don't?"

"Not in the least."

"Marvelous. Because I feel the same way."

Minkyun detached himself from the bookshelf he had been leaning against, leaning forward to lay the hat on Yuto's head, letting his hand linger on the other's cheek.

"I probably shouldn't be touching a prince like this, should I?"

Yuto shook his head.

"Should I be dancing with the prince then? To encourage affection?"

Yuto snorted, producing the least prince-like sound he had made in a while.

"No, affection has already been developed."

Minkyun laid one finger on top of Yuto's bottom lip, caressing it softly as he looked into the younger's eyes.

"What should I be doing then?"

"You should be kissing the prince instead."

And so, before Minkyun could even make a move, Yuto closed the space between them. Perhaps time had stopped when their lips met, but the butterflies flying around Yuto's stomach seemed to be brought to life.
For once in his life, the Prince wasn't concerned about the duty and etiquette he had been so thoroughly teached. For once, the Prince abandoned any thought other than the man whose lips touched his, whose arms were tangled around his waist, whose heartbeat he almost mistook for his own.

_____

"Are you sure a mere bookshop owner like me is enough for the Royal Prince of the kingdom?"

Yuto chuckled, making himself more comfortable in the other's embrace. "Your uniqueness is exactly what I love about you."

"I love you too, my Prince."

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A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed 'Whisper Of The Wind'~

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