I'm practically still buzzing from seeing Kingdom so hopefully this translates into energy for a story part.

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Li Jie's POV

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"Hey buddy, no cameras." I shoved the device out of DaeHyun's face, bundling him up under one arm in the same moment. Of course they bombarded him the moment he stepped out of the car. But I'd been prepared. This is what I'd been trained to do my whole life after all. A thousand shutters went off as I ushered DaeHyun along, King Junmyeon trailing behind us. DaeHyun didn't say much of anything as we bustled along. Hojun materialized out of seemingly nowhere and took DaeHyun's hand in his own, silently marching with us. It was enough to make my stomach heave.

Maybe my feelings weren't as simple and straightforward as I'd led myself to believe. It seemed silly to ever imagine the prince would ever have a crush on me when the truth was I'd liked him romantically since we were about nine years old (and how I knew that long ago I wasn't sure. I just knew that my feelings weren't "normal"). But when he admitted to reciprocating the feelings... I panicked. Largely because it was supposed to be a one sided thing. And he wasn't supposed to like ME. I was his servant. Merely a fly on the wall of his life. But I had to stand back and remember that he was biologically related to King Junmyeon, which meant his feelings ran deep and fast and without warning most times. So falling in love with me? Maybe not unusual. But definitely not part of the plan.

We got inside the little studio safely and without much fuss. A small table took up the center of the room, complete with microphones and monitors and anything else you could think of. I surveyed our surroundings. I had to admit. I was thoroughly unimpressed. DaeHyun sat down in a chair, and Hojun hurriedly occupied the one to his left. King Junmyeon shut the door, but instead of sitting he stood there for a few moments, his head against the door.

"Your highness?" I tried. He straightened, facing us, plastering on a smile. I wrinkled my nose. It was honestly like looking at an older DaeHyun sometimes. Fine on the outside. Crumbling inside. Their mannerisms mirrored each other pretty perfectly. He breezed by me. "It'll be okay," I assured lowly. I watched as Hojun attempted to make DaeHyun laugh, earning a small snicker for his efforts. "He's got this." King Junmyeon paused, closing his eyes for the briefest second and letting out a sigh.

"I worry," he admitted. I arched an eyebrow, never once breaking my concentration on the prince, who now had Hojun's hands in his own on the tabletop. "I worry for what this will do to him. Not that I don't think he can handle it. But because I failed to keep him safe from it." Finally King Junmyeon sank into the chair in front of me while I continued keeping watch a bit behind them all. But what he said banged around my skull like a bouncy ball on a rampage. Pop told me a little of what he'd discussed with both Kings (moreso with King Yixing as that was who he was directly under). And it was one thing to hear it as the barest trace of a whisper. Another entirely to hear it from the royal's mouth. DaeHyun turned to face me suddenly, and even if my mind was about a thousand kilometers away I snapped to attention the moment his eyes met mine. He motioned me closer  so I approached slowly. Hojun glanced at me sideways, appearing puzzled and ever so slightly annoyed. Although I was beginning to think that "ever so slightly annoyed" was his natural state of being when I was around.

"Fetch some water please," DaeHyun said crisply. His "prince" voice. The one he put on in public when we were together and he thought people could hear. "I'm parched." He turned a questioning eye to Hojun, who only nodded a little. Wordlessly, I bowed to the pair of them, whirling and disappearing back down the corridor we came from. With King Junmyeon there I felt better about leaving him to himself. I wove my way through the news station, pausing at a few doors and inspecting their innards before moving on.

"May I help you boy?" I jumped as a voice spoke down the hall. But then it laughed. "Li Jie! Pleasure to see you son." Zitao. Dressed sharp in his business suit. He must have been on the clock right now. "Got permission to be here to record the interview," he explained to what I assume was my questioning look. "They weren't going to broadcast to China orginally but anything the prince or princess does is a pretty big deal." I could only nod along. "So what are you doing?" Zitao asked at last.

"DaeHyun wanted water so I was looking for some sort of break room," I explained. "In truth I think he wants to keep me busy. He usually doesn't want anything to drink before an interview but..." I shrugged. I wanted to be usueful so I wasn't complaining too much. Zitao smirked, pointing down a hallway I hadn't yet wandered.

"Interview starts in five," he called after me as I jogged down. The last room to the right, sure enough, was a break room of some kind. I left a few won on the table and plucked two bottles of water out of the fridge. I did, however, take my time getting back to the room which housed the royalty. Now that my brain wasn't speeding, it dawned on me what I would have to hear. Likely in great detail. Though I shouldn't have been so worked up over it. After all it was my own fault I was in the situation. I could have said something. But I didn't. I let this happen in front of my own eyes and now that I was facing the consequences...it stung.

I emerged into the room and the chatter halted. My ears suddenly burned as it seemed all attention wad on me. I rushed the waters to DaeHyun and then took my orginal place near the wall, out of sight from most of the cameras and the news anchor giving the interview. DaeHyun twisted in his seat qnd mouthed a thank you my way. I dipped my head. Then I clasped my hands behind my back like pop taught me to do a hundred and one times, awaiting more instructions from the prince or even King Junmyeon. My role today was to be his silent supporter from behind. Not a hindrance.

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DaeHyun's POV

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"Good afternoon Seoul! This is your anchor Shin Donghyuk speaking. And today's special guest, Prince DaeHyun." They shined a light in my face, making me squint. "And King Junmyeon. And DaeHyun's..." Donghyuk faltered, and Hojun scowled for all of 2 milliseconds before my fingers found his on the table. I tapped his hand. His expression instantly morphed back into a pleasant one. "DaeHyun's boyfriend," Donghyuk stuttered out, staring passed me. "Hojun." Another pause while the cameras whirred, capturing every awkward moment in all its glory. "Now DaeHyun. It was revealed at your party yesterday that you are in fact dating Kim Hojun, correct?"

"That is correct," I affirmed. "We've been steadily dating for quite some time. It just wasn't the right time to tell everyone with my party looming and everything happening with the peace talks happening in Hong Kong." Dad and I practiced talking on the way over, and what he expected me to say to any certain question. "Actually p...King Yixing had to fly out this morning for that, which is why you don't see him here." Dad coughed lightly beside me.

"Oh yes, I heard things are going quite well for us overseas," Donghyuk commented, taking the bait. "This is likely going to be our most peaceful era in decades. Maybe even centuries." A bit dramatic perhaps. But the people at home were hanging onto every word. "But that's not why we're here prince DaeHyun, and you know that." Dad straightened in his chair, but I held a hand up to him.

"No, you're here to dicuss him like he can't hear every word you're saying," I retorted. "So let's talk. There really isn't much to discuss. We were mutual friends for a while. Then some natural feelings happened over time the more we got together. It is not a closely guarded secret I am gay. I fail to see why this garners such attention." Hojun's fingers found mine this time. I linked our thumbs, feeling comfort in his closeness.

"It's not so much the fact you're romantically involved with another man," Donghyuk defended smoothly. Clearlt he'd been prepared as well. "It's because of his social class. Though I am sure you are aware of that fact." I dipped my head. "This is not going to hinder your ability to rule in the future, is it?" Dad tensed beside me. I flicked a quick glance his way, seeing him ball his hands under the table.

"I assure you, and all the citizens watching right now, that I am being raised to take the throne from the very best. When my time comes, I will be ready. No matter what company I keep." Dad seemed satisfied with that answer, because he unfurled his fingers. Donghyuk hummed, a wolfish smile appearing. My stomach sank. Whatever he had next, it wasn't good."

"We have a 'source' inside the palace that has informed us of your affections for your servant boy, Li Jie." And just like that everything in me froze. No. No no no no no. That secret wad to go to the grave with me. My heart rate sped up. So loud in my ears it almost drowned out everything. Almost. But dad slammed his hands on the table and rose from his chair so forcefully it flew away from him and crashed into the wall, narrowly missing Li Jie, who scooted away just in time.

"Cut the cameras," he demanded. "This interview is over. I am not going to stand idly by while you slander my son's name on television."

"Dad..." I tried. But he wasn't so easily consoled today. He whipped my way, and I had the smarts to quiet down. Hojun watched this all wide eyed.

"With all fairness your majesty, this is what..." But he didn't even have time to finish the thought before dad grabbed him by his shirt front, hauling him away from the cameras. And me. Donghyuk stopped talking at that point, regarding my father with a look I could only describe as equal parts fear and bewilderment. Definitely how I felt inside right now watching my normally calm and composed father go absolutely mental on this news anchor.

"I. Am. Your. King." he growled, yanking Donghyuk close so they were practically nose to nose. "If I say cut the cameras...cut the fucking cameras." He threw Donghyuk aside at last, rounding on my little trio. I gaped at him. This was so unlike my gentle, loving father it was kind of ridiculous. "DaeHyun. We're leaving. Come on." And without even waiting for me he stormed off. I scrambled after him, ny entourage following behind me.

"King Kim!" Hojun whooped once we were out of ear shot of the recording room. "That was incredible. You showed him!" Dad paused in his striding at last, still facing away from us. But he slowly pivoted, dropping into a bow at the same time. So low that his upper half was damn near parallel to the floor. I was...taken aback.

"Forgive me son," he apologized. "I did not mean to hijack your interview. Nor did I mean to cause a scene. But he was starting to step out of line." He straightened. He looked guilty and ashamed. A look I wasn't used to. "All I could think of in that moment was defending you. I forget that you aren't little anymore. And soon enough, I won't... I won't always be there to do do, much as I wish."

"Aww, dad, it's okay," I assured him, rushing forward and wrapping my armd around him. He froze. "In truth I had no idea what to say in that moment anyway. I wasn't anticiting that." Dad sighed, patting my shoulder. Hojun sidled up next to me, slipping a hand in mine. I glanced to him. Then over my shoulder, at Li Jie, who remained stone faced, arms crossed. "Now what?" I asked dad. He pondered that.

"Let's just go home snd forget thos day even happened. This was a bad idea." I laughed. On that I agreed.

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Hiya. It hasn't been a whole yeat between updates look at me go