Royal Temptations

Chapter 13

I'm writing so far ahead to make sure I have enough content for a long time. I want to make sure that I always have something ready.

This chapter is the party, and in an hour I get to go work nine hours overnight. Yay.

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Junmyeon's POV

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The party was in full swing at this point. Countless people had already wished me a happy birthday. A table of presents dominated one wall of the ball room. And I'd lost my date for the evening, so I was a little irritable. Baekhyun promised he'd stick by my side tonight.

"Happy Birthday Prince Junmyeon," yet another person said. I bowed in response, transferring my thin flute of something tasteless and sparkling to my other hand. Now that I was eighteen, I was also allowed to drink. And father made sure there was plenty to drink around here. I was starting to get a little light headed though, as I was on my third glass.

"Slow down a bit." I jumped when a voice suddenly spoke right next to me. I glanced sideways to see Baekhyun, acting liked been there the entire time. "Trust me, hangovers suck," he continued. "And I know it's super tempting to continue to please your parents, but please use that brain I know you have. Don't push your limits tonight."

"I won't," I promised, taking another sip of my drink. Did they always burn on the way down? I couldn't even taste anything. Baekhyun seemed skeptical, but he shut his mouth on the matter. I surveyed the busy room, trying to catch a glimpse of the one person I'd been aching to see all night. The party had been going on for nearly two hours, and I'd yet to see him at all. Baekhyun followed my line of sight.

"I'm sure he'll show up at some point, right?" he said, sounding as unsure as I felt. "I saw his parents talking with yours. So he has to be here." At the mention of his parents, I sighed, downing the last of my drink. Maybe he didn't want to come after all. Maybe he didn't want to see me. Maybe he couldn't face me. The thought had me flagging down another butler walking around, replacing my empty glass with a full one. "Don't drink to forget either," Baekhyun scolded gently. "That never works."

"I'm not," I said, taking a drink. I pulled a face, and Baekhyun laughed lowly at me. This one seemed a little stronger than the last drink. "I just wanted another drink."

"Sure," he said, threading an arm through mine. "Just slow down after this, kay?"

"Hey, hands off him." Now it was both of our turns to be surprised. I whirled around, and the sight that greeted me was nearly enough to take my breath away. Yixing smiled his teasing smile, his dimples fully out.

"Yixing," I breathed, stepping forward to greet him. But soon an, admittedly, pretty female found her way to his side, lacing her hand with his. I stopped, feeling like someone sucker punched me in the gut. "It's good to see you," I said at last, bowing stiffly, the room spinning slightly. "It's been awhile."

"It has," he replied. "Happy Birthday Junmyeon." I dipped my head. "And this is Ying Yue, my fiance." The girl smiled. She had a cute smile, I'd give her that. "Ying Yue, I totally forgot I left his present with Luhan. Do you want to go to his room and get it from him."

"Sure," she replied, but his comment caught me off guard. Luhan was in his room, instead of out here enjoying the party? Yixing watched her until she disappeared from sight, and once she was gone he surged forward, wrapping me in a hug.

"I've missed you," he murmured. I felt a lump forming in my throat as my arms snaked around him of their own accord. I wanted to believe that. Fuck I wanted it so bad. But how could I believe him when it was clear he'd moved on? He didn't need me anymore. Hell, he probably never did. "So, Crowned Prince Junmyeon." He pulled away and offered a hand. "Would you care for a dance?"