Royal Temptations

Bonus Chapter 18

I'm sure you guys are super enthused with me right now but OH WELL.

Two new current jams! Ateez's Inception (I've waited all month for this song) and Oneus's Come Back Home.

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Li Jie's POV

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"Sire!" I called as I caught sight of DaeHyun stepping through the palaces grand double doors. "Welcome back sire!" As with every time I called him that, he wrinkled his nose, which I always thought was really funny and kind of adorable. "What are you doing here anyway?" I continued, falling in step beside him as he mounted the stairs to go to his room. "And where's your pa?"

"In Korea with dad still," he explained. "I came back because I wanted to." I just shrugged and followed him to his room like I always did when he first arrived. We'd grown up together, so it was only natural for us to seek each other out when the other was around. He threw his suitcase onto his bed and sat in his desk chair while I hovered in the doorway.

"Is there anything you need sire?" I asked after a pause. He just shook his head at me, causing me to frown. "You're not hungry or thirsty? Tired? I could draw you a bath if you wanted. Or go get some take out."

"I'm fine Jie," he assured. "Just keep me company, alright?" I sighed in relief when I was given direction. I sat on the floor beside his chair, leaning my head against the armrest. He flicked his little TV on and we lapsed into silence, watching some movie play quietly on the screen. From time to time I glanced up, but he seemed zoned out, so I let him be. Pop always told me that my job, above all else, would be to watch out for King Yixing's kids. That I was going to help raise them. That I would be their listening ear and their comfortable space. It was instilled in me from the time I could comprehend the concept.

Though DaeHyun's recent behavior had me worried. I told pop about it of course, and he listened with keen interest. After all, we watched over them when they were here without King Yixing and King Junmyeon. But lately the Korean prince had been spacey and uninterested, zoning out more often than not. It would come out of nowhere too. One moment all would be fine. We'd be going about like normal. And the next it was like he was on another planet. I could never read his mood anymore, and I hated that. I wasn't doing my job of I couldn't figure him out.

"Huh?" I felt my phone vibrate against my leg. I flipped it so it was face up, a huge grin spliting my face. "Mei Zhen!" I jumped up and ran out of DaeHyun's room to pick up the call. "Hi honey," I greeted when I finally answered.

"Hi Li Jie," she replied. "What are you up to today? Wanna go do something together?" I opened my mouth to agree, but at the last second stopped, thinking back to DaeHyun now alone in his room. I couldn't just abandon him today. That wouldn't be fair.

"Maybe tomorrow?" I suggested apologetically. "Prince DaeHyun just got here this afternoon. It wouldn't be fair if I just left him." She sighed a little. "We can do something tomorrow," I vowed. "Promise."

"Alright Jie," she agreed at last. "You and that duty of yours, huh?" I smiled a bashful sort of smile. I had time to myself of course. But when the royal family came around, it was like a switch in me flipped. My duty was to them first and foremost. "I'd better let you go then. I know how you get when they're around. Them first."

"Ah, you know me to well," I said, ruffling my own hair out of embarrassment. "I do promise you that we can get together tomorrow, yeah?" I heard a noise behind me, so I twisted and caught sight of DaeHyun picking his way down the stairs. "Oops, I gotta go," I rushed out. "The prince is leaving."

"Alright, take care," Mei Zhen said. "Love you."

"Love you too," I replied distractedly, already running to keep pace with the young Korean prince. I hung up just as I caught him. "Where are you going sire?" I questioned, already going through a mental list of stuff. "Do you need anything? I can get it for you. Food? Drink?"