𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐔𝐒𝐓 || skz

CHAPTER 15: DAWN

Things had returned to normal.

Kind of normal. As normal as they could return to, given the circumstances.

Felix was back as the prince of Serenn, living in the castle in the capital and guarded by his loyal dragonguards. His father had luckily survived, but was in terrible condition. Returning to his duties as the king took him quite some time but eventually he was back. This time, he did not force Felix to get married to someone he didn't know.

Eventually, the winter solstice rolled around, and that called for celebrations.

Felix stared at his reflection in the mirror. He still got surprised by his own appearance. He couldn't recognize himself. His hair had remained that golden blond color and his stardust never returned to silver. His eyes had turned into a warm brown color, light and bordering to amber. To match his new color palette, he had received clothes stitched with golden threads instead of silver. The person that stared back at him seemed so different, yet he felt like himself. It was an odd feeling and he wasn't sure how to deal with it.

He took a deep breath, but the stiff jacket hindered him to inhale fully. He felt somewhat restrained. It was uncomfortable and he felt out of place like this. While he didn't miss the circumstances, he sometimes found himself wishing to go back to the forest. He wanted to go back to a place where he could just be himself, and not force himself to be the prince everyone expected him to be.

He couldn't live up to everyone's expectations on him.

A knock on his door caused him to startle in surprise, and he blinked wide eyed at the door as it opened. Then his heart melted.

"Do you need any help?" Chan asked as he poked his head through the door of Felix's room.

Felix turned his attention back to his reflection as Chan closed the door behind him. He looked himself over once again, tugging at the hem of his shirt to straighten it.

Chan joined him in the reflection, wrapping his arms around Felix's waist and pressed a kiss on Felix's neck.

"I think I'm ready," Felix said, a giggle making its way into his voice as Chan's hair tickled him. He grabbed Chan's hands, prying them away from his waist and he turned around to face Chan. "How do I look?"

Chan took a moment, leaning back to eye Felix from head to toe and Felix did the same. Chan wasn't wearing his armor, but instead he was wearing a dark jacket with a scale pattern embroidered in silver on his shoulders.

It made Felix's heart flutter.

"You look handsome," he said as Chan took a step towards him.

"You do too," Chan whispered, taking Felix's face in his hands. "Radiant. Beautiful. Stunning."

Felix's face heated up. "Stop," he protested weakly. "I don't want to exit my room red faced. The staff might get the wrong ideas."

"Do I look like I care, my prince?" Chan asked, pressing a quick kiss on Felix's nose. "You're so cute I cannot resist teasing you."

"You're a very bad man, sir knight," Felix said, slapping Chan's chest playfully. The grin on Chan's lips only stretched wider.

"On a more serious note, we should get going," Chan said and Felix hummed. "Your father might tolerate me right now, but I don't think he'll be too thrilled if we've been late to three events in a row."

"Currently you do have a very bad track record," Felix said, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Chan.

"I will take the blame for the first time, but last time was all your doing, little prince," Chan said, raising his hands. "I just know your father's distaste for me and you showing up late in my company is automatically my fault in his eyes."