Jeno hasn't been going to school lately after the news broke out of what the Royal Family has been hiding all these years. His brothers are also just either in their rooms or out in the garden for a horseback riding session. But other than that, they are advised not to go out and be seen in public. "You have to give the people their right to be furious. Otherwise, you might lose their trust forever," the Royal Advisor told them.

So instead of moping around, Jeno decides to practice playing the piano again. It has been his stress reliever everytime he feels down. As he flips through the music sheets, he sees one in particular, which he remembers to be the song that he played for Chelsie during the music camp - Falling Slowly.

His memory brings him back to that day when he asked Mark to help him write a song for Chelsie. He doesn't know why he was so oblivious back then. He mentally slaps himself for that. Closing his eyes, he tries to not be bothered by it again. He has more important things to think about now.

When there's a knock on the door, his eyes shoot open, straightening his back and saying, "Come in."

"Your Highness, pardon me for the disturbance. But someone's here to see you," Antoine states, opening the door a bit wider and revealing Chelsie beside him.

"Chelsie, what are you doing here?" He stands up to meet her and when he does, he notices that she's holding something in her hand.

"Sorry for bothering you, Jeno," she speaks. "I came by to visit mum and..." she pauses, extending her hand to hand him something. "I want to give you this."

He looks at the flash drive in his hand then turns back to her. "W-Why are you giving me this?" He stammers, not really sure what to think about it.

"That's..." She looks away, trying to hide the blush that's apparent on her cheeks. "I just thought of making a song for you since you made one for me before. My family and I owe you a lot for all the things that you did and still doing for us. That's not much but I hope you'll like it. I'll... go ahead now."

When he sees her turning her back, he stops her by the arm. This is the right time for him to say something because he's been hurting others' feelings for a while. "Chelsie... I appreciate this. I like you. I really do but..." He sucks a breath, staring back at her confused face. "That song that I made for you... those lyrics if you can still remember it were not written by me. It's by someone who has been there for you more than I have ever been... someone who has been keeping what he feels for you because he's trying to save our friendship more than anything."

Her brows crease in the middle, blinking slowly. "W-What do you mean, Jeno?"

"I think you know who I'm talking about, Chelsie," he finally says, reaching for her hand again and giving the flash drive back to her. "I'm not your prince, Chelsie. Maybe not in this lifetime, at least."

****

Jeno had just gone back from a guitar playing session. They had never organized a music camp before so it felt exciting even for him. It was all Johnny's idea and it's all because he wants to help Jaehyun get close with Patricia, which is also in favour to him because that means he can be closer to Chelsie as well.

As he walked past a cabin, he saw Mark writing on his notebook and sitting on the table infront of the cabin. He approached his friend from the back, almost startling the unsuspecting Mark. "Jeno!"

He let out a soft chuckle, sitting next to him. "Sorry. Are you busy?"

Mark closed his notebook, turning to him. "Not really. Why?"

He pointed at his notebook. "What were you writing? Are you studying here?"

Mark laughed. "I'm not. That's just some poetry." He nodded at him. "What were you up to?"

Shrugging, he took a breath. "I just came from a guitar session."

"Oh, right. So are you performing on the music night?" Mark questioned him fervently.

"Music night?" Jeno squinted, not really aware about that one.

Mark bobbed his head. "I mean not the competition. You can be a special act. Maybe sing a song for Chelsie or something."

Jeno's eyes gleamed at that sudden suggestion of Mark. "That's actually a great idea! Can you help me write a song then?"

And that was how Jeno got Mark to help him write the lyrics for Falling Slowly. It only took a day for Mark to finish the lyrics. The melody was something that they both worked on. And after days of internalizing the lyrics of the song, Jeno felt like the lyrics fit exactly on what he felt for Chelsie. It was almost as if Mark was writing it directly for her. But Jeno overlooked it that time thinking that Mark was just really a great lyricist.

****

After the music camp, Jeno thought of writing another song for Chelsie. Only this time, he wanted to write the lyrics himself. He'd just have to ask Mark for help for a bit of revision and for the melody. But when he went to the debate room that one time, he didn't expect to be hearing the conversation of his friends, confirming that one of his friends even likes Chelsie.

"I can't compete with the prince. I'm just a nobody," he heard one of them say, whom he recognizes to be Jungwoo. He knew him from the Student Council being the fourth year representative. He's a year older than him, but he suddenly felt bad that Jungwoo felt like he didn't stand a chance against him in winning Chelsie's heart. He didn't have any intention to be a threat to anyone.

"That's right. Mark doesn't even dare compete with Prince Jeno, and he liked her first," the deep-voiced Lucas said, causing the others to shoot him a questioning glare. "Shit! You didn't hear anything from me."

Taking a step back, Jeno let those words register in his mind. He knew that Mark was close with Chelsie and Chelsie seemed to be comfortable around Mark. But he chose to think that maybe Mark was just being nice to Chelsie because she's new. Besides, Mark was generally nice to everyone so he never suspected a thing.

He just couldn't imagine what Mark must be feeling after he told him that he liked Chelsie. He should've been more sensible. Now he just needed to take a step back and let Mark confess to Chelsie. Otherwise, he'd have to do it himself.