✘ The Prince and His Servant - Junhao

001

The rain hit the windows, one drop at a time. Prince Xu Minghao watched, emotionless.

He knew the ceremony would happen in fifteen minutes, at exactly ten o'clock. He wasn't tired- in fact, he was used to staying up this late. Life as a prince was busy, especially as the first ever Chinese prince of the Pledis Dynasty.

He still remembered the coronation. He had been six at the time. Fourteen years ago... it felt like merely yesterday. He'd been fitted into a tiny navy blue suit and white pants, the same attire he wore for formal events today. The crown on his head must have been small enough to fit on his hands. He had stood there, stiff as a stone, watching his parents make their speeches, completely unaware that history was being made.

Now that he was an adult, he almost understood everything. He just didn't understand himself.

He was a prince, and he looked like it. He had a thin, pale face with a black mullet. He was slender, not particularly muscular, but not unhealthy either. He had long, thin legs, and he was about 5'11". On the outside, he was a perfect example of a royal. But on the inside, he was far from that. He was polite, kind, and quiet- but he was also gay - which wouldn't be a problem if the Pledis Kingdom wasn't strictly homophobic.

That was the reason he hated himself. He knew he couldn't be who he was. And it killed him inside.

His parents, the king and queen, had tried to get him a girlfriend before, but it never worked out. Minghao always tried his best to pretend, but the girl always left him. Part of him was glad, because to him, dating girls seemed impossible. But it always made him feel lonely. It was a reminder that he had to do this for the rest of his life.

There was a knock on the door. Minghao sighed. "Come in, Mother."

He had learned to recognize the footsteps and knocking of everyone in the castle. His mother's movements were much lighter than his father's, for example.

The queen sank onto the bed. Her long brown hair was wavy, giving off the signature scent of strawberry. Her long, sleeveless pink gown flowed to the floor, her arms covered by white gloves. She wore the necklace her husband had bought her on their first anniversary as king and queen.

"Are you ready?"

Minghao nodded firmly. "Yes I am, Mother. Do you know anything about the new servant?"

Queen Xu nodded. "I know a bit. He's actually Chinese, as well."

Minghao perked up. "Really?"

"I'm sure you two will get along well." said Queen Xu, smiling. "Come on, then. The ceremony is starting soon."

Minghao followed his mother down the spiral staircase, decorated with dark blue silk ribbons. Everywhere he looked, everything was fancy and luxurious. He honestly hated it with all his heart.

Whenever he met someone on the street, they always gushed over him and envied what he had. He played along, but deep inside, he wanted to get away. He didn't understand why anyone would want to be like him if they saw what it was like.

He just wanted to live a normal life. He'd wanted to live a normal life since he was a kid. But unfortunately for him, he was born into the royal life. He had to push through.

Everything about being royal was special and fancy. But he wondered, what was simplicity like?

He was snapped out of his reverie by clapping. The entire town and their mothers had gathered to see the newest servant of the castle.

He forced a smile and waved back at the crowd, seeming more princelike than ever. If only they could see how he really felt...

And then, the crowd separated. A man about Minghao's age was walking down the aisle. Many jaws dropped.

In Minghao's opinion, the new servant looked more like a prince than he himself did. He had brown hair that was parted perfectly in the middle. His dark eyes were charming, with a hint of mischief sparkling in his pupils. He made eye contact with Minghao and waved politely, bowing.

Minghao felt an urge to bow, just like a normal person. But he had to remember, he wasn't normal.

You're a prince, Minghao. You are superior to this surprisingly hot scumbag. You mustn't show vulnerability.

He gave his most princelike smile and held out a hand. "Welcome to the castle."

"I'm glad to be here." said the boy, grinning as he shook Minghao's slender hand. "Wow, have you been eating properly? You're very skinny. And that hairstyle... is really something."

Minghao nodded, his lips tightly closed. He wasn't sure if this kid was complimenting him or insulting him.

"So you're Prince Minghao? I admire you." said the boy. "You know, I'm Chinese too. It was really something to get to watch your coronation. The Pledis Dynasty hasn't been the same since."

"Do you ever shut up?" muttered Minghao, keeping his eyes fixed on the clock. 9:58. Two more minutes.

"Nope!" said the boy, unfazed. "But you know, I am tired. How long will this last?"

"As long as you make it last. Usually, it's done by midnight." said Minghao.

The boy yawned. "That's so long..."

Minghao shrugged. "Not for me, it's not. I still have to take you on a tour after this."

"Can't it wait till morning?" asked the boy.

Minghao shook his head. "I'd prefer to get this over with as soon as possible."

The clock suddenly hit ten, the bell attached to the nearby church ringing through the night. The boy sighed.

"Well, I guess I should go speak, huh? Wish me luck."

He stood in front of the microphone, the king and queen behind him. Minghao walked over and got in his position between his parents.

"Mom, Dad, are you sure about this? The kid's crazy."

"He knows what he has to do. He was the best pick." said King Xu. "Be quiet, you know the procedure."

The boy cleared his throat. "Well. Hello, Pledis citizens. Funny seeing you here."

A few members of the crowd chuckled.

"My name is Wen Junhui, as some of you may know. I'm looking at you three, Soonyoung, Wonwoo, and Jihoon. You can't tease me now, I live in a castle."

Three of the boys in the front rolled their eyes. Junhui laughed, amused.

"All jokes aside, as you all know, I am here because I am the castle's newest servant. I'll let you know right now, I can cook, I can clean, I can do anything... but most importantly, I can protect the royal family."

Minghao looked up, surprised. The commitment in the boy's voice had him hooked.

"I'm not afraid to put my life on the line, no matter what. I'm here for a reason, and that is to shield the royal family from any danger. I now speak to you, King Lijun, Queen Mioyi, Prince Minghao. My duty is to protect you. I will not let you down."

He locked eyes with the royals, a small smile on his face. Minghao gave a small smile back. He couldn't help it.

"And to all the citizens of this kingdom, lay all your worries with me. I vow to keep this kingdom safe, even if it means I go bye bye."

The audience laughed. Minghao wanted to laugh too, but he held it in. You're a prince. You can't laugh with them. You have to be professional.

"Hey, don't take this the wrong way. I can't be completely serious all the time, but I'm serious when it comes to my job in this kingdom. Don't worry anymore. Nothing can hurt this kingdom with me here."

𝕎o𝕣𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥: 𝟙𝟚𝟝3