Duty and desire // Nichojoo

one.

Nicholas pov. - June 7th, 1874

Morning light spilled through the tall windows of the palace, casting a soft glow on the floors as I walked down the hall. Every step echoed around me, a sound I'd gotten used to after all these years. Today, though, my usual calm felt different because today, I was being reassigned. Last night, the king, Koga Yudai himself finally told me the rumors were true: I'd be serving young Prince Yuma from now on. I kept a straight face when I heard it, even though my heart beat a little faster at one part of the news, Euijoo was being reassigned too. Euijoo and I had worked together for years, side by side, quietly picking up on each other's routines and habits. And though we rarely spoke more than needed, we shared a certain... connection. There were the glances that lingered a little too long, the moments we'd catch each other's eye across a room. But professionalism came first, so we kept those feelings locked up tight. Until now, at least.

When I got to Prince Yuma's room, Euijoo was already there, arranging some of the prince's clothes in that careful, thoughtful way of his. He glanced at me as I stepped in, giving me a small nod before going back to his work. A brief look, maybe a slight smile. That was all we ever allowed ourselves. "Good morning, Nicholas," he said, in that calm, polite voice. "Good morning, Euijoo." I met his eyes, just for a second longer than I should. It was enough to feel that old pull, though I pushed it down like always. The door suddenly swung open, and there stood Prince Yuma, grinning as he looked at us both with a curious gleam in his eyes. "Ah, you're both here! Perfect," he said, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. He looked between us, his gaze almost too knowing for someone his age. "I think I'm really going to enjoy having you two around." Euijoo and I shared a quick glance before stepping forward and bowing. "It's an honor to serve you, Your Highness," I said, even though something about the prince's look made me feel... exposed, like he could see right through us. As the prince started telling us his plans for the day, talking a little too fast, I felt Euijoo's steady presence beside me. And I couldn't help but wonder if, with this new assignment, our usual boundaries might start to blur.

Prince Yuma was already talking a mile a minute, his words tumbling over each other as he listed everything he wanted to do that day. I couldn't help but feel a bit daunted, the young prince clearly had energy to spare, and I knew today would require a bit of... patience. "So, first, I want to go see the gardens. But not just the usual way, no, I was thinking maybe we could sneak past the maze and see what's behind the ivy wall! Then, after lunch, I'd like to visit the stables and..." Euijoo shot me a look from the corner of his eye, a look that said 'be ready for anything.' I had to fight the urge to smile, keeping my expression neutral as I nodded along with the prince's plans. Yuma's eyes sparkled with excitement, the kind of energy that made it hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm. Once he finished his list, Euijoo stepped forward with a practiced smile. "It sounds like you have a full day planned, Your Highness. Shall we begin with breakfast before heading to the gardens?" Yuma did a little hop. "Yes, yes, let's go! I'll meet you in the dining hall!" And with that, he dashed off down the corridor, not giving us time to protest. As soon as he was out of sight, Euijoo exhaled a soft laugh, finally letting his shoulders relax a bit. "I think this prince might test us in ways we're not quite ready for," he murmured, half-joking, his eyes meeting mine for a moment that felt a little too warm for a typical workday. I chuckled softly, glancing down the hall where the prince had vanished. "We've dealt with plenty, haven't we? But yes, I have a feeling he'll keep us on our toes." We shared another brief, knowing look before we fell back into our usual, formal roles and made our way to the dining hall.

By the time we arrived, Yuma was already seated, looking at us with a grin as if he'd caught us being late—though we hadn't been. The table was set with a small but elegant spread: fresh fruit, warm bread rolls, scrambled eggs, and pastries. It was a simple breakfast, yet it felt lavish, especially for someone like me who usually ate in the staff quarters. "Come on, sit!" Yuma said, gesturing to two seats near him. Euijoo and I exchanged another glance. Usually, staff stood by and waited while the royal family ate. Sitting down at the same table as the prince was, well... unconventional. "Your Highness," I started, keeping my tone polite, "our duty is to stand by should you need anything." Yuma waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, come on. I don't want to eat alone, and I have a feeling I'll like my breakfast a lot more if I have company. Please?" After a hesitant pause, Euijoo and I sat down. I kept my hands on my lap, unsure how casual we were meant to be. Yuma noticed and gave a little laugh, pushing a plate of pastries toward us. "So," he said, taking a bite of a croissant, "how long have you two worked together?" The question caught me off guard. I glanced at Euijoo, who, after a brief pause, answered smoothly, "It's been five years now, Your Highness." Yuma's gaze flicked between us, the glint in his eyes almost too sharp for his age. "Five years is a long time," he said, a knowing look crossing his face. "You must know each other quite well by now." Euijoo nodded, his calm expression unchanging. "Yes, I'd say we've become very familiar with each other's habits." I tried to hide my reaction, but Yuma seemed to catch it, his smirk widening just a bit. "You know, my mother always says you can tell a lot about people by how they look at each other. Don't you think that's true?" Euijoo's hand twitched slightly before he calmly reached for a piece of fruit. "A wise observation, Your Highness."