INTO YOUR EYES | CHANLIX ✔

I

CHAN lifted his head and glanced across the room. No one captured his interest. He knew they were after him for his money and fame. Chan's father---- the king---- had been oblivious to this and just wanted his son to find a partner and produce a future heir to the throne.

The thing is, Chan knew he always liked men. As he grew up, boys of his age would always talk about how pretty the girls were and how in the future they were all going to marry pretty women. Chan never found himself being attracted to girls his age. He found boys pretty and beautiful.

When Chan grew old, of course, he realized that he had a certain preference, different from others. Different from normal, he thought. He considered himself abnormal. Chan talked to his mother about this, who told him there was nothing wrong with the boy. He just had a different taste. Chan's mother told him that he was just as normal as anyone.

Chan knew that his father wouldn't be as supportive as his mother, so he kept it a secret from him. As for the present momenr, Chan was stuck in a masquerade ball, while his father was searching for a suitable woman for him to marry. The prince couldn't refuse, of course, he had no power in his hands.

The masquerade ball was the same as any other ball Chan had attended since he was a little boy. All the princes and princesses across the world were present wearing masks, covering their faces except their eyes. Chan could read all their eyes, he knew every single one were greedy for the money. They just wanted to marry him for the sake of it.

"Channie, I know this is hard, but we can't refuse your father, now can we?" Chan turned towards the voice of his mother and gave her a sad smile.

"I know. If only father knew..."

Chan's mother gave him a comforting pat on the back. She felt sorry for her son, to put up with something so upsetting. The queen thought of talking to her husband about it, but would he understand? She was afraid of how he might react. What if he hurts their son? The queen just wanted her son, her one and only son, to live happily, with no regrets.

"I wish I could do something for you Channie. I really do."

"It's alright mother, there's nothing either of us can do," Chan shrugs and his mother engulfs her son into a hug.

"Ok son, I'll leave you alone for now. Just call me if you need me, alright?" his mother slowly walks away from Chan, disappearing into the crowd of people. The prince scanned the hall and caught his father's stern gaze on him. He knew the king was not in a good mood because Chan hadn't talked to a single guest throughout the ball.

The prince did not want to be lectured right now so he decides to go to the porch to get some fresh air. On the way, lots of princesses tried to approach him, but he shooed them away in an instant. Chan hears murmurs and whispers and he figured that they were mostly about him.

Well, he didn't really care. He made his way to the porch and as he entered, he could make out silhouettes of two people already standing there. Chan walked closer and realized one of them was his butler, Seungmin. The prince gave the latter a soft smile and the butler gently bowed.

Chan then shifted his gaze to the other person, scanning his physique. The stranger, certainly male, did not look like he was part of a royal family. He was simply dressed, hair done moderately. He was also wearing a mask, similar to the other guests, but not as fashionable. The stranger caught the prince staring and looked away, shyly.

"Sire, I hope you don't mind. I invited my friend from the town to help out in the ball, since there were too many guests tonight. He was willing to serve the drinks," Seungmin spoke softly, keeping his head down.

"No, not at all. I don't mind," Chan smiled. "And who might this young gentleman be?"

"My name is Lee Yongbok. I go by Felix, your highness," the stranger bowed gracefully. He then slowly took off his mask and looked right into the prince's eyes.

In a moment, it all felt like a trance. For Chan, it seemed as if time had stopped. Felix's eyes were ethereal, almost magical. The prince felt as if he could be sucked right into them. Those gorgeous pair of hazel-brown eyes were enough for Chan to feel something in his heart. What was this feeling? Honestly, he didn't know. All Chan wanted was to stare into those pretty little orbs forever.

"Your highness?"

Chan snapped out of his trance and watched the two males look at him with confused faces. He shakes off all the thoughts about the stranger and tries to focus on himself. Chan really needed something to distract him.

"Yes, sorry. I was just thinking," Chan apologizes.

"Do you require anything, sire?" Seungmin inquires and the prince shakes his head. "No, nothing Min. I just want to get away from this ball."

"You know you cannot do that, your highness. Your father just wants to find you a wife."

Chan rolls his eyes and scoffs. "I didn't ask him to. Besides, I'm still young, I don't want to get married this early."

"Well, your highness, I don't know what else to tell you. I shall take my leave now," Seungmin heads for the door. "Lix, are you coming along?"

"If your highness doesn't mind, I would like to stay here and give him some company," Felix says softly. Chan smiles to himself upon listening to those words.

"Do you mind, sire?" Seungmin questions.

"No, not at all. Your friend can gladly stay with me."

"Okay, then. Lix, I'll fetch you in an hour or so. Treat the prince well," the butler then quietly makes his exit, leaving only the two remaining men standing together on the porch.