𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 8

Baekhyun frowned as he started peeling off his bandages. He didn't realize how good he burned himself until it started to heal and some of the small scars on his hands were gone.

The skin was completely smooth and Baekhyun even wondered if he still had a fingerprint. Chanyeol assured him that it was still there, but considering the smoothness of his skin he wasn't sure.

“I thought I told you to wait,” Chanyeol was only teasing as he walked into the bedroom. Ever since the incident at the kitchen, the prince and the servant had grown closer.

Chanyeol was still aiding Baekhyun with reading, and in return Baekhyun aided him with cooking. It made Baekhyun feel better that at least he could give him something in return.

The big thing for Baekhyun, however, was the lack of cooking knowledge seemed to humanize the prince. He was able to realize that he wasn't just a person, put up on a pedestal, but a human being. He had feelings and opinions just like everyone else. While they were cooking, they always seemed to get into conversations about childhood and growing up, or even just random nonsense.

“I remember one time,” Chanyeol had recalled one evening during dinner,

“One of the older princes we knew, I believe his name was Kyungsoo, played a cruel joke on me. It was during the spring festival the fairies put on. He told me that the fairies had cooties, and if you touched one, you would turn poor.

My five year old self believed him because he was ten at the time, and thus I felt he was wiser. I went home crying after the festival and my mother got a good laugh out of it. That was the only good time that came from it...”

Baekhyun stared at the prince. Feeling his heart ached with the prince's life story. He know the feeling of losing someone important. The fairy himself never even got a chance to know about his family.

~

Chanyeol and the little fairy spend their time together in the prince's bedroom, telling stories after stories. Feeling comfortable with each other presence.

Baekhyun still remember once, he had tried to ask the prince about his mother, but Chanyeol would always change the subject. It only took one time for him to realize he should leave the subject alone.

Poor Baekhyun, had tried to push the issue one time at the kitchen, insisting he wanted to know, but the prince got so upset that he ended up crushing an egg in his hand.

Baekhyun never asked again.

“I believe that you are fully healed,” Chanyeol inspected Baekhyun's hand. Baekhyun was truly grateful, because it was so hard to serve with only one hand.

“Thank you for your help,” Baekhyun bowed, “You really spoiled me.”

“No need to thank me, it's alright,” Chanyeol insisted, but Baekhyun went on.

“I owe you a lot, you don't even understand. I'm going to work twice as hard and help you with whatever you need now!” Baekhyun sounded determined.

Chanyeol thought for a moment. Why was he helping so much? He even got his own meals on nights Baekhyun didn't help him cook. He was fond of the boy but his greatest fear is that the feeling would not be mutual.