Royal Temptations

Chapter 15

My friends and I are all up super early to go to a doctor's appointment in a town 2 hours away help.

So, I looked today (7/9/18 for future reference future me, since I know how I operate) and this story is currently number one in the Sulay tag. Holy crap.

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Junmyeon's POV

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I gazed across the table at my unexpected guests, feeling butterflies exploding in my stomach all over again. Yixing and Luhan would be staying at the palace for a full week. It didn't seem real. I was thrilled. I mean, sure, I had all my duties to do, but now I had some company.

"It's good to be back," Luhan said. "Thank you for hosting us again King Junmyeon." I dipped my head. It still felt weird to be addressed that way. Then again it had only been half a day so far. "How have you been?"

"Good, and you guys?" I asked. Luhan nodded, and I waited for an answer from Yixing, but he was so engrossed on his phone that it was almost like he didn't hear me in the first place. A small sigh escaped passed my lips. When I imagined having him back here again, this isn't quite what I pictured. Then again I should've known. He said it himself; fairytale endings didn't exist in real life. Yixing suddenly chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way I was all too familiar with.

"Apparently Ying Yue is going to stay at our palace tonight," he said. "Everyone's a little loopy after just getting off the plane." He smiled that smile. The one I'd seen countless times while he was here the last time. The one that meant he was just so happy and content. That he was in love. My stomach churned, but I couldn't say anything. Even if I did, it wasn't like he even felt the same anymore anyway. He said that himself too. "Are you alright?" he asked me.

"Yep," I lied, smiling a tight lipped smile that felt far too forced to be real. "It's just taking me a bit to process that I'm king now." And that you didn't need me in your life, no matter what I'd fantasized. I wouldn't lie and say a small part hadn't hoped he hadn't moved on. Because I did. I'd wished for it to be the case so bad.

I'd been on countless dates after those two weeks. Met hundreds of potential girlfriends, wives, whatever you wanted to call them. Some I only saw as friends, like Dahee and Minji. Some I'd felt a connection with, like Sumi and Eunha, but after the dates I realized it could never work. I always went in to these dates intending to find my forever, but I'd already found them. And I could never have them. So I tried. I tried as hard as I possibly could to muster up some kind of feelings for these ladies. But it always failed, because nothing could replicate the sparks that ignited when it was Yixing.

"Your Majesty." I glanced up, smiling wearily when I saw Minji in the doorway. "I will be leaving soon." And so I rose from my place at the table, moving to embrace her. "That was a great party last night," she said. "Thank you for the invite."

"Thank you for coming," I replied as we finally separated. "It means the world to me." I glanced behind her at a boy I'd never met before. "Jisoo," I said to him, and he seemed a bit taken aback. "Take good care of this one for me. She's very special." He smiled a wide smile.

"Oh, I know," he said. I liked the sound of his voice. Low and smooth. "It was good to formally meet you King Kim. Minji talks highly of you. She said you're also the only other person besides us who knows the song."

"Indeed," I replied. "It's a very beautiful song Jisoo. You did a good job with it." He smiled sheepishly, ruffling his own hair in embarrassment. "Safe travels to you both. Feel free to visit any time you find yourselves on this end of Seoul." Minji linked an arm through Jisoo's, waving to me over her shoulder as they both left. I glanced over my shoulder at Luhan and Yixing. One was shooting me concerned looks, and the other was once again engrossed in his phone. I'd give you three guesses on which one was which. I suppressed another sigh, leaving the dining hall and making my way to my study. I sat in my chair behind my huge desk, not entirely sure what I was going to do.