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There is a glow on Jeongguk's face that the whole Palace is talking about. Whenever the Prince enters the room,there would be something different about him. The smiles would be wider and his personality wasn't a problem to begin with but when it came to his duties he was strict with them.

Though ever since he came back from that market trip with Arothian Prince a week ago, He has been different and nicer. Everyone just assumed it had to be about his engagement in 2 days. Maybe the Crown Prince got closer with his soon to be fiancé and maybe a new love blossomed between them.

No one even thought about Taehyung because absolutely no one knows anything about them, about Taehyung. To them it's just a blooming friendship with the two Princes, it feels wrong to even think about what they have as something more because how can their Prince like a man? That's something foreign to them.

They have zero idea of how drastically things have changed between the Princes. When they arrived at the Palace from the market, Jeongguk took Taehyung straight to his room. They felt like kids, just running to their rooms with silly smiles on their faces.

"What is it,Jeongguk?" Taehyung asked him and Jeongguk grinned more widely.

"I was going to wait a bit to give you this but I can't keep things hidden for too long." Jeongguk went through the little bag he had in his hands and took out the similar box he saw before. Taehyung's eyes widened when Jeongguk opened the box and there was the emerald pendant inside.

"Jeongguk…don't tell me." He paused when the boy chuckled.

"It's for you,Tae. I told you, there's something about you that is so special and I want to cherish that, cherish…us. So this is a gift from me to you." Jeongguk unhooked the necklace and told the boy to turn around.

He did as said, still surprised by the gesture. He could not believe this, Jeongguk buying something so expensive for him, as a gift he has never even given his sister a gift so it did feel a bit wrong but he decided not to say anything.

Not wanting to make the crown Prince upset as he looks so happy while putting the pendant on. He looked at the mirror in front of him. Touching the stone and he almost gasped at how pretty it looked on his smooth skin. They complimented each other so well. He looked at Jeongguk through the mirror, the boy standing right behind him while staring at his neck.

"This is so beautiful, thank you so much for the gift. You truly didn't have to do this but I'm still thankful. It looks pretty."

"It looks prettier around your neck. Not shocking, you are so gorgeous even the heavens would look at you with envy." These words slipped out of Jeongguk's mouth without even trying.

Taehyung failed at trying to keep it together because he was blushing automatically. He turned around to face Jeongguk who stared at him with such endearment. So he did the unpredictable and attached their lips together once again in a kiss.

Jeongguk smirked into the kiss, immediately kissing back as if he was expecting for Taehyung to press their lips together. His arms made their way to Taehyung's waist to pull him closer and deepen their kiss. Taehyung let the other Prince lead the kiss, he was too busy melting into it.

His lips felt like rose petals, so soft and it made you want it more and more. Jeongguk could kiss Taehyung forever if he had to, there's no other place he would rather be at than here with Taehyung in his arms.

Their bond had drastically changed afterwards. They would find themselves in each other rooms just kissing and sometimes grinding at most too often. Sometimes they would even go to the gardens and kiss when no one's around. They still have duties to do in the Palace but whenever they would be free, they would find their way to each other as they craved each other's touch.

Taehyung had noticed how Jeongguk has been spending time with him more than his sister. Whenever he would be free from his work, he would come to him instead of Iseul. He should feel bad for doing this to his sister. Making out with her sister's soon-to-be-fiancé isn't morally proper.

But he doesn't, he waits for the guilt to arrive but it never does. Maybe it is his time to enjoy things finally. The others didn't feel guilt when they made him go through hell so why should he?

So he would kiss Jeongguk if he wants to, he would lay down in the Crown Prince's bed and do things with him that only his wife should be doing with him. He has stopped caring about how others felt a good while ago.

Jeongguk sat down next to the princess who was staring at him with this excited expression on her face. He raised his brow in curiosity looking down at the dish in front of him.

"Jimin told me how you really like hotteok so I wanted to make it for you. Taste it! it's fresh, I just made it so that's why I called you in emergency." Iseul said to him and Jeongguk chuckled, she was acting like a kid who is showing their parents something they made.

He grabbed a piece of it and ate it. The flavors were to his liking and everything was quite perfect. He gulped it down and gave the girl a thumbs up. "It is pretty good, wow you are quite good."

"Really? did you really like it?"

"Yeah, it's good. Thank you for putting so much work in for me. You don't have to do this, we have chefs  for a reason." Jeongguk said to her,She just laughed.

"I know you do but it's different. You are the Crown Prince you can have anything you want but that doesn't mean I would stop doing things for you. It's about the gesture itself rather than the thing so I'm glad you appreciate it." She suddenly put a hand on his thigh in excitement which made Jeongguk a little uncomfortable.

"That's nice of you,Iseul. Though um.." He grabbed her hand and took it off his thigh subtly. She stared at the sudden gesture in confusion and then it suddenly hit her.

"Did I make you uncomfortable? I'm so sorry I tend to get touchy when I get excited about things." She started to apologize to him,panicking over it and Jeongguk immediately stopped her.

"N-no,Iseul. It's alright really. I am sorry for reacting like this, after all we are to be married, these little touches should be normal between us." Jeongguk tried to make her feel less bad.

"I am alright if they are not. We are getting married, yes but we still have a long way to go before we get to know each other that deeply so I am alright with it." She avoided eye contact with him. It was quite an awkward moment.

"I am actually glad you brought this up. I don't want to taint you before marriage, Iseul. So I am glad you have no sexual expectations right now because I am afraid I would have to turn them all down. If anything is to happen I want it after marriage like how it's supposed to be." Jeongguk talked like how his father would.

He knows the case would have been different if someone else was sitting here instead of Iseul but unfortunately that's not what's happening. He is saying things he doesn't believe in anymore but are still expected from a couple to be nowadays. He is following the traditions but breaking them at the same time with someone else.

"I agree, I too would not want anything before that. It's good we are on the same page but I will say it again as I did before,I don't mind if you still keep your concubines, your majesty. You are a man after all I can't expect you to leave everything for me." Iseul said to him and Jeongguk didn't reply to her.

He didn't have one, he can't be righteous about it and be like I would never do that to you like a loyal man but that's not what he is. He has seen the face of the harem for a long time so that's not the problem here but it's the brother of the woman in front of him.

How can he even tell her that it's not concubines he seeks but Taehyung, her half brother. So he just sighs and nods to the Princess. Seeing how her face falls and she tries not to be hurt by it. Immediately changing the topic into a more lively one.

Jeongguk stared outside through the hallways windows, the sun going down as the sky was filled with the most beautiful colors blending into each other. Creating such epiphanies between them it was hard to look away at such beautiful scenery. This specific hallway on the third floor has the best view.

As beside the breathtaking sky, these windows showed the view of the entire Palace and even the mountains far far away from this angle. With trees surrounding the Palace and the birds chirping in the sky, flying away before the night falls. Jeongguk can stay here and stare at the view for longer.

Unfortunately he's a prince and him being free is something he isn't familiar with. He started to walk along the hallway, right into the main hall with the stairs. He was going to go down when he was stopped by laughs coming from the terrace. He turned around to see the terrace with glass doors.

His eyes fell on three people that were on the terrace,one of them who he was looking for. There was his little brother hanbin playing with someone who he never expected to play with, it was Taehyung himself. It was both of them with wide grins on their faces and Taehyung chased the little boy around the balcony.

You could hear the giggles from here and it was probably the most adorable thing he has heard. It was adorable to see Taehyung acting like a child with his brother, he has never seen him smile this much with anyone else. Though to ruin the moment he saw his 'precious' cousin, sitting on the side watching them with the same smile.

'What is he even doing there with them?' The question popped up in his mind almost immediately.

Taehyung finally sat down after running around so much saying something to Hanbin that he couldn't hear. Out of all places, he sat next to Jin. Jin's hand moved to Taehyung's pack, rubbing his hand up and down as he handed the guy the glass of water from the side table.

The Prince passed him a smile before drinking the water. Jeongguk felt something inside his chest, making him uncomfortable. His feet moved on their own towards the balcony when he saw them laughing together. He doesn't like that at all, how Jin is laughing with, how he is touching him, it makes him want to do things he wouldn't be proud of.

He opened the glass door dramatically,making his younger brother look at him with wide eyes and a giant smile. Those small legs came running to him and hugged him. "Hyung!! you are here!"

"Yes baby, I am. What are you doing here with Jin and Prince Taehyung?" He asked the boy who smiled at his brother.

"We are playing!! Taehyungie hyung is so fast he catches me every time I play with him." Hanbin exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Taehyungie hyung? That's cute. Gotten so close, I didn't even know." Jeongguk looked at Taehyung who was staring at him with an innocent smile.

"How would you? you are too busy being the crown Prince, someone has to spend time with the little Prince. Coincidentally your cousin has been in good company too." Taehyung tried to provoke him and it worked.

It was valid to be mad at him because he hasn't really even spoken properly with Taehyung since tomorrow. With the engagement coming closer, his responsibilities have doubled. His father has also been hinting his coronation to be heard soon after marriage which is to be in this year. So he has a lot going on.

He did meet Iseul today for breakfast as meeting her is a part of schedule while Taehyung is who he spends time with on his own will.

"I apologize for being an inattentive host. Though it's surprising to hear that being around Jin isn't soul sucking." Jeongguk walked over to the two men as Jin rolled his eyes.

"Yah! I am your hyung, treat me with respect. It shouldn't be news to you that others prefer my company over your boring one. I can't name one person who would want to spend time with you more than me." Jin responded jokingly, Taehyung snickered at the remark.

"Is that what they have been telling you? oh poor you, you believed them too. Oh you are quite naive, dear cousin, aren't you?" Jeongguk responded to him, he was quite successful at riding up Jin as the boy was going to get up to yell at Jeongguk but Taehyung immediately stopped him.

"What are you two doing? Fighting like little kids in front of the younger prince. Shame on both of you. I am pretty sure it's time for dinner for Hanbin-ah, why don't you take him away so he can eat." Taehyung said to the boy's personal maid who nodded, she was going to grab the boy but he got his hand out of her grip.

"but I wanna play with hyungs more, I don't want to eat yet!!"

"If you don't eat, you won't grow up to be strong like your brother. That's what you want right?"

"Yes…"

"So you should eat, I am not going anywhere we can play tomorrow!" Taehyung replied enthusiastically, easily convincing Habin who was ready to leave.

The servants took Hanbin away as it was time for his dinner. The boy hugged everyone like the sweet boy he was and ran out of the terrace with the servants running after him. Taehyung chuckled at how cute the scene was before looking back at Jeongguk who was undeniably jealous.

"Now you two, should I also be dealing with you two like kids too?" Taehyung scolded them and it was enough to humble them.

"Sorry,Taehyung-ah. You see my cousin has this special power to make everybody annoyed by his presence, I'm shocked that an angel like you is friends with him." Jin said to him,putting his hands on his shoulder.

Jeongguk rolled his eyes,not taking his shit anymore. He grabbed Taehyung by his hand and pulled him closer to himself. His hand then went to his waist. "We are more than friends but what would you know about that? you barely got friends to begin with, let alone someone who would want to spend time with you."

"And he's fighting with me again. See what I told you?" Jin said to Taehyung who looked quite disappointed. Jeongguk hated that look on his face, what has this man been telling him? curiosity is killing him.

"I am done, you two continue fighting." Taehyung pulled off Jeongguk's hand from his waist, turning around to walk out of the terrace.

"Taehyung, wait!" Jeongguk also turned around,running after the boy before throwing a glare at his cousin who had this playful grin on his face. He wanted to punch that grin off but Taehyung is more important.

The heavy steps running down the corridors, he even lost Taehyung for a second when he turned to the left and disappeared. Though they were in the royal wing of the Palace, that hallway only led to Jeongguk's room and Hanbin's room.

Using his brain for a second, he turned towards his own room as that was the only logical explanation of where he could go. He hurried towards his room,there were no guards outside his room standing so he figured Taehyung sent them away.

Still,having some respect for the Prince, he knocks on his own room door. He hears a low 'come inside,Jeongguk'. Getting inside the room by opening the door. His eyes wander around the area only to fall on Taehyung, who was sitting on his bed with his face down, looking at his lap while his fingers fiddling with each other.

Jeongguk sighs, Seeing the pout on Taehyung's lips which he wants to kiss away. He walks over to the other Prince and sits next to him. "Taehyung, what's wrong? Can you please not run away from me again? I got really scared."

"I just needed to be away for a second." Taehyung replied to him.

"Yet you came to my room?" Jeongguk cheekily smiled at him.

"My feet betrayed me and somehow I ended up here."

"Taehyung, are you mad at me? What did I do? If it is something my cousin said then Taehyung let me tell you, that man lie more than anyone else you would have ever met. He finds it fun playing with people, thinking it's just his silly little jokes. You shouldn't listen to what he says." Jeongguk defended himself, mentally nothing to talk with Jin after this.

"Then who should I listen to,Jeongguk? I want to know more about you. You parents don't even want me here and Hanbin is too young for me to ask him about you. So all I have is your cousin. You don't even know what he said." Taehyung responded to him in monotone. Not trying to overdo this conversation as he is not mad, just confused.

"You should ask me,if you want to know more about me,Tae. I will tell you anything you want so just ask me. Besides what did he say? I doubt there's any truth in what lies he spewed to you." Jeongguk leaned back, staring at Taehyung who sighed.

"I asked him about how you really are when you are not being a prince. What is your personality like when it's not attached to your title? I asked as a worried brother of the bride obviously. He told me your entire personality is your title, you're too self absorbed and you brag about it. He said how your day barely goes by without visiting your harem and how you brag about how many concubines you got and that just irked me a bit." Taehyung explained it to him and Jeongguk stayed quiet for a second.

"and? Did you believe what he was saying?"

"Ofcourse not, I figured he doesn't like you that much when he started his speech. When he got to the concubines part I felt uncertain and uncomfortable. Then you came and started to talk about how Jin doesn't even know what having someone by his side feels like and I felt cheap in the moment, Jeongguk."

"Taehyung, I did not-"

"Let me finish,please. I know what you are going to say but isn't it really the truth? What is the difference between me and any of your concubines, Jeongguk? nothing. We are in some fucked relationship where I kiss my sister's future fiancé and pretend like we are friends outside of it."

"You have said enough, now let me speak. Whatever you just said it's not true. You are not a concubine of mine,Taehyung you are so much more than that. You are a prince and that alone puts you so far away from them. I don't treat you like some whore who is ready for me whenever I ask, what we have it's not the same. What do you want from me,Taehyung? Do you want me to not marry your sister? Do you have…feelings for me?" Jeongguk barely managed to ask the last question, it felt wrong to even say it out loud.

"No, for heaven's sake. I never said that. I don't want you to do anything, this is my problem I will solve it somehow" Taehyung looked away from Jeongguk, emotions getting a hold of his expressions.

Jeongguk grabbed Taehyung's hand and put it on his lap,making the boy face him again by grabbing his chin and making Taehyung look at him."Hey,look at me. This is not your problem, Taehyung. We are in this together, you are feeling conflicted because of me so tell me what really is it."

"I just don't want to feel cheap,Jeongguk but this feels like it. I don't even feel guilt for my sister. It bothers me to be put in same category as other people you fuck because that means I'm just another person to be with to you. There are so many more who can easily replace me."

"Taehyung, let me tell you one thing. You are special, I have said this so many times and I'll remind you again and again. When it comes to other people I have been with, I told you how ever since I kissed you for the first time I haven't even looked at the harem,I don't have any plans to either. You are on my mind if I even want to think of going there. I want you, no one satisfies me like you do and we have only kissed. Taehyung, you have me doing things for other people that would die for me to do for them,so you compare yourselves to others because there's no competition when it comes to you." Jeongguk rubbed circles on the Prince's palms.

Taehyung felt at ease. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense of what Jeongguk was trying to say. Though he figured his problem was just not that but he isn't ready to face anything just yet. He is content with how everything is right now and he will trust Jeongguk and believe what he is saying.

"You are so sweet to me, Why are you so nice to me?" Taehyung asked him a question.

"Because it's about time someone treated you like you deserve,Sweetheart. I missed you a lot today. How about we have dinner together tonight?" Jeongguk asked him with that charming smile of his which Taehyung could reject.

"But don't you mostly have dinners with Iseul-"

"Well not tonight. I want to have dinner with you today." Jeongguk moved closer as their shoulders brushed together.

"Alright but first, I want to do this." Taehyung slammed their lips together into a kiss. Jeongguk was taken back by the sudden gesture. He wasn't expecting it but that doesn't mean he would kiss him back immediately. He put his hands on Taehyung's waist and pulled him closer.

The lips moved together in a sync, taking in each other's taste, for once in their life's they only cared about themselves and their desires. What they wanted to have and just to embrace each other. The position they were in was still a little uncomfortable so Taehyung pulled away first.

"Dinner will have to wait, my prince. I hope that's alright." Taehyung pushed Jeongguk down on the bed, Jeongguk stared at him with lust in his eyes. This will be a long night.

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