𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞'𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 | hyunho

thirteen

Hyunjin was in his room, applying the finishing touches to Prince Felix's portrait. It turned out pretty well, Felix was overjoyed to see it too. Now the only thing left for him was to hand it over. And then? He will be going back to his village, his home.

His mother's health was getting better, too. He had transferred her to a better hospital earlier, with the money that he had got from painting Prince Minho's portrait, and now she was alright enough to get back home. He could not wait to see her, he missed her warm touch, her soft voice, and her caring words.

"Hyunjin?" Felix called from outside his room, snapping him out of his daze.

"Oh, yes, Prince," He answered. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, really. I just wanted you to meet my friends. They are going to come over this evening." Felix told him. "Is that alright with you?"

"What... Meet more princes?..." He thought out loud.

"Well, not all are princes, others are ministers' sons, but one thing's for sure, they would love to meet you. I've been telling a lot about you to them." Felix chatted away while Hyunjin stared at him in shock.

"Ah... it's fine with me, yeah..." He mumbled.

"Yay!! Come with me, let me get you dressed up!" Felix cheered.

"Eh?!"

___

"There, perfect!" Felix exclaimed while Hyunjin observed the way his eyes were slightly sparkled with silver glitter, his hair partly tied in a bun. He applied the lip gloss offered by Felix and watched his lips glow.

"Woah... what is this-?"

"Lip gloss." Felix named. "Your lips are making it look even better."

"Never thought I'd get complimented on my lips." Hyunjin chuckled.

"But now you know." Felix grinned.

They both started laughing until one of the servants informed that Felix's friends had arrived.

He quickly got up from the chair, walking behind Felix, on the way to the recreation hall, where they met the guests.

"Greetings, Felix! Oh, that's Hyunjin, your painter, right?" Prince Changbin asked, his face showing that he was genuinely impressed.

"Mhm!" Felix quickly nodded his head. "Everyone, this is Hwang Hyunjin, the best painter in the whole world!"

Everyone cheered and applauded.

"Oh, Your Highness, you flatter me." He whispered while bowing in front of all of them.

Felix only chuckled and motioned for everybody to take their drinks and enjoy themselves.

He took the chance and sat next to Prince Han. "Greetings to you, Han."

"Ah, yes, great to see you again." They clinked glasses. "Why did you leave without informing me last day at my palace?"

"Oh, I, uh..." He struggled to find words. "It's just-"

"His stomach ached. Wasn't it so, Felix?" Prince Jeongin snaked his arm around Felix, with a dimpled smile.

"Wha- Oh! Yes, yes. It was paining a lot." Felix added.

"That sounds awful. I'm glad you're fine now." Han expressed his concern.

"Jisung, come here for a brief moment!" Changbin called out for him, from the other couch where him and Hyunjin were sitting.

"Please excuse me then, pals." He stood up and walked towards the other side of the room.

Felix then completely changed his expression and turned to look at Jeongin. "Get your arm off me."

"Woah, relax," The taller cooed. "I saved you one there."

"Do you want me to show gratitude to you, or something?" He questioned, sternly.

"No. Gratitude isn't what I want you to show." Jeongin deadpanned.

"I... I won't even ask what you implied by that."

The other prince just chuckled and sipped on his drink.

"This was supposed to be a party among my friends. Why did Han bring this moron along with him!" Felix muttered under his breath.

"You don't consider me as one of your friends, hm?" Jeongin rasped.

"Of course not, never will." He vowed in a way to prove that he was uninterested.

"More than friends then it is." The younger sniggered on seeing the horrified expression on his face. "Fine, I'll stop. But only for now."

Felix was about to open his mouth again when Prince Jisung returned.

"Hyunjin is an impressive man!" Jisung exclaimed. "Prince Minho is indeed great at recruiting talents."

"Yes, that's how Minho hyung is. He might look like he doesn't bother but he is good at understanding people within a short period of time." Felix agreed to him. "I'm a bit disappointed though, Hyunjin will be leaving soon. My portrait will be done by the end of this week."

"Oh, then will you invite me over on that day? I want to have a look." Jisung requested.

"Sure! That would be my pleasure." He beamed.

"May I come too?" Jeongin pleaded with a pout, pointing at himself.

"You-! Yes, Prince Yang, you can come over too." Felix gritted his teeth with a wide smile.

"Just call me Jeongin, my dear Prince." He insisted.

"You two seem to get along well lately." Jisung commented with a grin.

"It's nothing like that, Han-"

"Jisung, I'll get you and Felix another glass. Excuse me." Jeongin cut him off and sauntered away.

Felix glanced back at Jisung whose eyes were fixed at the distance. He let out an inaudible sigh.

The evening ended soon with no other impactful events. Hyunjin's nervousness had seemed to vanish at the end of the day. It was indeed exhausting for him to speak too much, however, he enjoyed conversating with the princes and other dignitaries.

⊹ ࣪˖𐙚〰〰〰〰〰〰₊˚.ྀ