"Chanmi, can I ask you something?" Eric said tentatively.  

They were sitting side by side, cross-legged, on the floor of his room. Why they were sitting on the floor instead of in one of the many seating areas, she wasn't sure. Eric had called her in, and when she'd entered, this had been where he was sitting. 

"Sure," she said, playing with her hands in her lap nervously. She sensed what his question was going to be, and she didn't know quite how to answer. 

"Why haven't my parents visited me?" he whispered, his voice breaking. She looked over at him to find his hands clenched into tight fists, as he blinked rapidly, trying to push back his tears. "Don't they care about me?" he said softly, turning to look at her as tears spilled out of his eyes. "Did my royal parents force them to stay away? And what about them... I know they're busy but they haven't even tried to get to know me. We haven't even had one full meal together. Chanmi, I hate it here," he said, crying in earnest now. "I want to go back. I want to go home." 

She surprised herself by reaching forward, wrapping her arms around him. He started crying harder as he hugged her back. 

"Shh, it's okay," she whispered, blinking back her own tears as she stroked his hair comfortingly. "Your parents love you a lot, I could tell that when I visited your house. I feel like the fact that they're not visiting definitely isn't their choice. Don't doubt their love for you, okay?" she said gently. "Stay strong for a little longer."

"I hate it here," he said again, holding her tightly. "I don't want to be Prince. I want to go back to when everything was normal. I want to go back." 

Something twisted in her heart, hearing him say that. She wasn't sure if it was because she felt so awful hearing his cries, or if it was because the time he wanted to go back to was before he'd met her. Maybe a little bit of both. 

He'd been so strong. For a month, he'd been so strong. He'd gone to all his classes and meetings and interviews with a bright smile. He kept an optimistic attitude. 

And now here he was, falling apart in her arms. 

Anger suddenly rose inside of her. He didn't deserve this. No one should be making him feel this way. 

"Eric," she whispered, pulling out of the embrace and cupping his face with both her hands. She waited until his eyes met hers. "I'm going to see if I can go do something that'll cheer you up, okay? Go to bed in the meanwhile. I'll be right back," she said, getting up and running out the door. 

She ran through the hallways as if there was an emergency. She ran all the way to the boys' dorms, going inside without hesitation. She stopped when she saw Hyunjae, his roommate. 

"Where's Juyeon's room?" she asked. 

He smirked at her. "Why do you want to know?" 

Chanmi sighed, glaring at him and pushing him playfully. "Enough with your smirks. Where is he?" 

Hyunjae pointed to the room at the end of the hall, and she was off running again. She barged into his room, again going in without hesitation. She found a very surprised, and shirtless, Juyeon. He seemed to be getting ready to get into bed and sleep. 

"Chanmi!" he half-shouted, grabbing his cover as though he was going to cover himself, but she didn't give him a chance to. She ran forward and grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back so that he wouldn't leave, and would be forced to answer. "Ow!" he complained. "What's gotten into you. Let go!" he whined, turning to glare at her. 

"Where are your parents, and why haven't they visited Eric?" she snapped. "Do you know what it's doing to him? Why are they hurting him like this? And you too! I know you're busy with work, but couldn't you spare a few minutes to go say hi. He misses you guys. He may seem smiley and happy, but he's still having a hard time adjusting. So tell me, where are your parents?" 

Juyeon sighed. "I'll tell you, but can you please let go of me?" he grumbled in annoyance. She let go of him and he finally turned around to face her. "My parents are in the Palace right now, working on something with the King and Queen. I think they're helping interview the new recruits for the royal guard. They haven't visited because the King and Queen told them it would be better not to. They say he'll have a harder time adjusting if they keep seeing them. It wasn't an official order... but a request. Which is almost worse."

"Bring them," she said, her voice deathly quiet. "You and your parents better be in his room in five minutes, or I will find you. And you don't want to know what I'll do with you." 

Juyeon grimaced, probably remembering the time she accidentally caused him to sprain his wrist during one of their many fighting practices together. 

"Okay, okay," he sighed, going into his drawers and pulling out a clean shirt. He slipped it over his head. "Come with me, let's go get them."