a pearl

ch:14: my prince.

hyunjin's eyes twitch in annoyance while his sister (crown princess) introduces his new personal guard and explains what he needs to do, what time he needs to get ready and shit she had already explained to thousands of hyunjin's past bodyguards.

"and hyunjin. this is your very last personal guard ever. whatever you do, he will be the one that'll be taking care of you from now on. that means you are forbidden to fire him without any relevant reason." the crown princess says strictly, maintaining a steady eye contact with her sulky younger brother who's giving her a stink eye.

hyunjin huffs at yeji, rolling his eyes. then, he looks at seungmin, eyeing him from up to down, examining him. he looks like he's around hyunjin's age or even younger, which is new to him because all of his past guards are older than him. "now excuse me, i have something to do." yeji says politely, giving them a soft smile. the guard bows down to her back politely before turning to the prince.

"my prince," he bows again and stands straight after that. "forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. my name is kim seungmin, twenty three years old. i will be your personal guard from now on." seungmin says with a smooth voice. he has pretty voice, hyunjin notes.

and my prince, huh? thats new.

when seungmin mentions his age, hyunjin becomes interested—slightly. "how old are you again?" hyunjin asks as he begin to walk. seungmin follows behind him. "twenty three, my prince." he states again. hyunjin hums delightfully, "birthday?" he asks more. "twenty second of september, my prince." seungmin replies.

the title makes hyunjin feel annoyed. he knows that he's a prince, he does not need a reminder that he is a prince stuck in a castle away from things he loves. he lets out an annoyed sigh, rolling his eyes. "quit with the my prince shit already, i don't need a reminder." he says quite rudely but seungmin does not comment on that and instead, he stays quiet.

"forgive me if that makes you uncomfortable, your highness. but i am only—"

hyunjin cuts him off. "shut up. im going to my room and don't follow me." hyunjin says, starting to walk a little bit faster so seungmin won't follow him which is stupid. "wait! my prince! the king and queen advised me to be with you—" hyunjin's door slams shut and seungmin hears the door lock. seungmin furrows his eyebrows, looking at the white fabric stuck on the door. he sigh.

"ouch!" seungmin hears a thud from the other side of the door. he takes the key for hyunjin's room from his pocket and unlocks the door, already knowing what to expect. "are you okay, your highness?" seungmin asks as he touch hyunjin shoulder to help him up. but hyunjin only growls and glares at him. his new personal guard is so annoying.

hyunjin snatches his robe back bitterly and stands up. he shouldn't feel hot from seungmin's touch right now. "leave me alone." hyunjin mutters before hissing when his knee accidentally hits the floor again because he steps on his stupid long white robe. seungmin shakes his head and just scoops hyunjin up in his arms which startles hyunjin and places him on hyunjin's bed.

"i'll get you some ice, my prince." seungmin says and left.

for some reason, hyunjin can feel the tip of his ears burning. he immediately throws his white robe to the floor in anger.

-
seven weeks later.

today is hyunjin's twenty fourth birthday. today was supposed to be a very happy day where he enjoyed his day and gifts, meeting with his friends and his people. but it was nowhere near that.

its five in the evening. hyunjin was supposed to get ready, dress up prettily and become the only prince charming for tonight. the party starts at exactly 6:30 pm.