3RD PERSONS VIEW。

"are you sure this is alright?" donghyuck questions jaemin who was leading him to the palace garden.

"you don't want to go?" jaemin stops and looks at donghyuck.

donghyuck shook his head, "of course i do! i'm just... a bit worried that they might look for us."

jaemin chuckles, "they'll just think we're playing around, don't worry that much." he gave his brother a pat on the shoulder.

donghyuck was very certain that he wanted to go, he always wanted to, he just never got a chance to go out. the two went behind the tall bushes, there revealed the tall wall that had hedges and bushes covering some parts. "here," jaemin mumbled and pushed one of the bushes to the side, revealing a cracked part of the wall.

donghyuck gasped, "it's an escape."

jaemin nods, "i found it after following some cat."

"let's go." donghyuck says and goes through the cracked part, and there he was now out of the palace. "where is this?" he asks jaemin who just crawled out of the crack.

"the little forest, you know, the one with the abandoned playground." jaemin answers and grabs donghyuck's arm, "let's get going."

"oh, remember to keep your identity hidden."

"is this why we wore black? alongside these black hooded cloaks?" donghyuck questions, raising his right brow at the boy who he was following.

"yes." jaemin responded quickly and pulls him to the streets of hefflorescence.

"woah," donghyuck marveled at the busy streets. the last he ever stepped out in the streets was probably when he was a kid. "i don't even remember this place well anymore." he frowns and looks around, seeing even the slightest bit of change.

"there used to be a shoe shop there," donghyuck pointed, "now it's just an empty store."

while the two roamed around, their faces practically hidden with the use of scarfs. jaemin gladly remembered the way jaeyoung taught him to get back, so he wouldn't worry how to get back anymore.

the two boys stopped by a coffee shop as jaemin requested that they should buy americano first. once they entered, the bittersweet aroma of coffee beans tickled their nostrils.

unfortunately, the two boys had to wait in line. so they did, patiently waiting behind two girls who were busy chatting about the princes of heraphany. "i'm quite sad that we don't get to see the princes of heflorescence often, unlike before." the girl with brown hair said.

"i know right?" her friend, the girl with a short bob, agreed.

the first girl squeals, "imagine meeting all of the eighteen princes in person! it would be heaven."

"the grand ball! is your family invited?" the second girl tilts her head, asking her friend.

"hopefully!"

"i'd do anything to get those prince to notice me." the first girl pouts.

"but, i heard they aren't interested in girls lately though? would you even stand a chance?" the second girl stifles a laugh.

the first girl glares at her friend, "yah! i've got like three suitors! who wouldn't want me?" her friend couldn't deny, the girl was really pretty, although donghyuck and jaemin didn't really like her attitude.

the two boys just eyed each other and rolled their eyes at the two girl's conversation.

"i even heard they denied different princesses." the second girl says.

"really? but there aren't any princesses here in heraphany? how come?"

"from another land, that's what i heard."

"is that so? then whoever catches their attention must be really special."

"this is gonna take long." donghyuck whines and grabs jaemin's arm. "i'm tired of listening to them," he whispers onto jaemin's ear.

jaemin stifles a laugh, "bear with it, i need my americano."

donghyuck rolls his eyes and drags jaemin out of the store, a whine escapes jaemin's lips, "yah! what was that for?"

"let's just go to some other store instead." donghyuck says and started dragging him.

"do you even know where you are goi—" jaemin's sentence got cut off as he trips and bumps into someone's shoulder. "i'm so sorry!" he turns around and immediately apologizes to that person, not realizing that the scarf over his mouth was now gone. however, he froze upon seeing the person's face.

his eyes instantly lit up, his heart beat increasing its speed, "j-jaeyoung!" he stammers.

the girl tilts her head, "oh, hi!" she smiles, recognizing the boy's face.

donghyuck's forehead creased as he squints his eyes at the girl, his mouth parted as he soon realizes who she was. he pointed a finger at her, "y-you! you bumped into me at the library a few days ago!" he exclaims, eyes widening.

"you two know each other?" jaemin blinked and looked at jaeyoung.

jaeyoung shrugs and gave donghyuck a look, the boy slightly pulled the scarf down as she analyzed his face, then realization hits her, "ah! yes! i did bump into you at the library."

donghyuck's mouth formed an 'o' shape as he murmured to himself, "i guess bumping into her isn't just a twin thing anymore, perhaps a brother thing..."

"i'm actually on my way back to the bakery, would you like to stop by?" she asks the two. "oh, and i think you need this." she mumbles and hands jaemin's scarf that fell onto the ground.

"thank you," jaemin softly said and flashed her a sweet smile before wrapping the scarf around his neck, over his mouth a bit to cover his identity.

donghyuck looked around, and was glad that no one was paying attention, nor did they recognize them both. he let out a relieved sigh, "let's go before anyone recognizes us." he mutters and starts walk.

"is donghyuck your friend?" jaeyoung asks jaemin.

jaemin hummed in response, tilting his head a bit, he turns to her, "kind of?"

donghyuck snorts and nudges him a bit, "seriously?"

"what?" jaemin laughs and pushes him gently.

"you're from the palace, too?" jaeyoung now averts her attention towards donghyuck who just gawked at her.

donghyuck turned to his brother, "s-she knows?!" he whispers.

jaemin shakes his head, "she just knows i'm from the palace, she doesn't know we're a prince." he whispers back.

jaeyoung eyed them weirdly, "what are you two talking about?"

the two looked at her and gave her a smile, "oh nothing, and yes, donghyuck also works at the palace."

"what do you boys do there?" jaeyoung lifted a brow, curiosity growing in her.

"we..." jaemin started glancing at donghyuck for some help.

"we— uhh— we actually... we train to become knights." donghyuck managed to say.

jaeyoung let out a small, "wow." before chuckling, "that's so cool!" she jumps.

"isn't it?" donghyuck agrees.

"we're here!" jaemin points out as they stopped in front of the famous bakery. jaeyoung grins and pushes the door open, letting the boys come in after her.

"and suddenly, i'm hungry," donghyuck utters and wraps his right arm around his stomach as he stared at the baked goods around him.

"what would you two like?" jaeyoung asks as the two chose to seat at a table somewhere at the far end of the bakery.

"hmm, i want a cake," donghyuck pouts and eyes one of the cake from the counter.

"strawberry cake?" donghyuck grins.

"how about drinks?" jaeyoung questions.

jaemin huffs, "i wanted an americano awhile ago, but it seems like you have something new." he says and points at the posters that were displayed on the window. "is that a peach drink?" he tilts his head, the corner of his lips slowly curving into a smile.

"yes," jaeyoung grins and looks back at the posters, "it just came out today and many people came to try it!"

"i'll have a peach drink then." jaemin says, clasping both of his hands together.

"me, too!" donghyuck raises his hand, "i want a peach drink, too." he smiles.

jaeyoung nodded, chuckling a bit, "i'll be back with your orders." she tells them before leaving to go prepare their drinks and donghyuck's cake.

she soon came back, a tray in her hand, which contained the cake and the two drinks. she slowly placed the cake down, then the drinks. the two sipped onto their straws, their eyes widening at the taste. the flavor just bursted into their mouths.

"this is so good! like, the best peach drink i've ever had." jaemin compliments, pointing at the drink.

donghyuck agrees, bobbing his head up and down, "isn't it? by the way, jaemin really loves peach."

"oh, why don't you sit down with us." jaemin says and pulls her down onto the empty seat beside him.

jaeyoung felt heat rushing up to her face, "i have w-work to do," she stutters, a bit flustered to even talk straightly. she cleared her throat as the two boys looked at her.

"please?" donghyuck pleads.

"i guess so," she mumbles. there weren't that many costumers, so she knew mrs. kang wouldn't need her that much since they've got plenty of workers.

"i'll go tell them i'll go on a break." she says before standing up.

"what time is it?" donghyuck questions jaemin.

"around six." jaemin replies, looking at the huge wall clock then out the window. the sky was starting to darken up a bit.

donghyuck nods, "good, we have dinner at eight, we still have time."

jaeyoung comes back and takes a seat. "what school do you guys go to?" she asks.

jaemin gulps at the sudden question, "we don't."

"what do you mean 'you don't'? i've seen some of the students from my school training for knights though," jaeyoung furrows her brows.

"well, we decided to dedicate our life to training, so they offered us school there." donghyuck says.

"ahh! no wonder." jaeyoung sighs, "is training hard?"

"a bit, but we can manage," jaemin shrugs, a smirk on his face, "i mean, it's us we're talking about."

donghyuck rolls his eyes playfully, "you get tired easily." he teases.

jaemin shoots him a glare, "no i do not."

"i know," donghyuck chuckles, "i'm just kidding!"

few more minutes of talking, the two finally decided to go back, knowing if they stayed any more longer, the more their brothers would get worried.

there the three stood outside the bakery. "we'll see you probably some other time, jaeyoung." jaemin bids and pats the girl's head.

jaeyoung flinches at his touch, chuckling a bit, "i guess so, but aren't you a regular here? so i guess i will see you some day."

donghyuck nods and presses both of his lips together before forming a smile, "i had a fun, thank you."

"no need to thank me," jaeyoung mumbles, a small smile evident on her face as she looks down a bit to hide her flustered face.

donghyuck ruffles her hair, "cute." he murmurs.

"we have to go now." jaemin announces.

"see you!" jaeyoung waves goodbye and watches the two boys walk away.

retracing their steps awhile ago, they managed to get back into the little forest, pushing through the bushes to find the crack. the two slipped into the crack, finding their way back into the palace. jaemin covers the crack with the bushes before they head back inside.

"hyung!" donghyuck flinches and turns around, seeing chenle.

"chenle!" jaemin smiles nervously.

"where have you two been? i searched all over the palace again, i was supposed to ask you guys to join me play." chenle pouts, crossing his arms.

donghyuck glances at jaemin, "i'm sorry, we just fooled around again."

chenle nods, "it's okay! by the way, taeyong-hyung wants all us in the tutor room, he says that minseok-hyung has some important details to tell us."

jaemin hums, "is that so? we'll go there."

chenle gave them a thumbs up and was about to leave when he suddenly notices their outfit, "what with the black?"

donghyuck froze, "u-uh, we were fooling around and playing ninjas! you know, the game we used to play when we were kids." he reasons, rubbing his nape slowly.

"ahh, okay, i thought you guys disguised yourselves or something." chenle waved off before walking away again.

"i'm glad chenle is gullible." jaemin sighs in relief.

"but i'm not." the two crane their heads to the new voice and saw renjun.

"you've got some explaining to do."

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