"I have bad news," Eric announced the next morning, walking into his room to find Dayeong just getting up from bed. He'd been called in early by his parents, his royal parents. His other parents... he hadn't seen them since the wedding. It felt like forever, and he wanted to go to them. He wanted to go to them, but was scared that it might only end up hurting them.

He hated this. So, so much. He hated not being able to run to the people he loved. He hated having to be so careful to not show his affections, for fear that they may be used against him. He hated being a Prince.

And yet he was also ready to be King.

He was ready to have the power to protect the people he loved. And he was ready to get to know the Kingdom he was destined to rule. His royal parents refused to let him out of the palace walls, claiming that it was too dangerous. But he wanted to explore. He wanted to meet the people of his Kingdom, and hear from them what he could do as King to make their lives better.

But in order to do any of the things he wanted to, first he needed to be crowned King.

"Bad news?" Dayeong echoed, looking at him with worry swimming in her eyes. "What's the bad news?"

"My parents want to see us. Together. Like, in five minutes," he said, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Really, it wasn't enough to yell at me? Now they have to yell at you too?" he grumbled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He'd just come from a private meeting with them, in which they'd yelled at him for about an hour. They accused him of not being able to "control" Dayeong, for not being attentive enough, for not being good enough to gain her affections.

That was fine. That, he could take.

But he didn't want them to yell at Dayeong too. He knew that it would break Juyeon's heart, and since Juyeon wasn't here, he wanted to protect Dayeong as much as he could in his brother's place.

Chanmi got up from the small table by the window, where she'd been sitting and snacking on some grapes, left for him and Dayeong in a silver platter. Now, she looked worried. "What did they yell at you about?" he murmured, walking up to him and linking their hands.

"Just the wedding and stuff," he sighed, not really wanting to go into it.

"I don't think I'll be ready in five minutes," Dayeong frowned, running a comb through her messy hair. "Maybe... fifteen?"

"That's fine," Eric said. "We'll blame our tardiness on me," he told her.

"We don't have to do that-"

"Yes, that's what we're doing. Go, get ready now," he said, grinning at her and waving his hand in the air. She laughed, running to the bathroom to get ready.

"How are things going with Changmin?" Chanmi whispered to him after a moment. She looked up at him curiously. "You know, I'd be happy to help-"

"And go to jail for it?" Eric interrupted. "What if we get caught? Chanmi... I can't let you get hurt. I can't let my parents touch you. Please... let me try to protect you. I can't do much but, by not letting you help, it makes me feel like I'm doing everything I can."

"I want to help you," she sighed.

"I know. But it's okay. The investigation is... going. I assume. He said he'll investigate and we're meeting next week to see if he's onto anything. So I don't actually have any information yet."

She nodded, her lips pursed in thought. "I want you to be King," she whispered. "You'll be the best King we've ever had. I'm sure of it."

"Wow, no pressure there or anything," he joked.

Chanmi smiled up at him, tippy-toeing and kissing him on the cheek. "I don't mean to pressure you. But it's true. You're amazing. I have complete faith in you."

"Chanmi..." he said, playing with his fingers nervously. "What would you think about being Queen?"

She didn't say anything for a moment, just stared at him, her eyes searching his. "I hadn't really thought about it," she said softly.

"I want you to be my Queen," he said, shrugging and trying to pretend saying those words aloud was easy. He wasn't sure if she wanted to be Queen. It was a lot. It was a big responsibility, and maybe one she didn't want. It once again reminded him that their relationship was difficult because of him. Because he was the crown prince.

She squeezed his hand. "I'll be by your side, always. And if you want me to be your Queen, I'd be honored."

Eric smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You'll be an amazing Queen," he whispered. "I'm sure of that, too."