mAn this gets confusing– jdksdj like rn i came back from the mafia au so... it's gotta be like: switch back to fluff mode :')

—

3RD PERSONS VIEW。

"thank hera you made it here safe." jaehyun said as he welcomed the prince with a warm hug. all of the princes were gathered in a separate room as they got ready for the grand ball tonight, a gathering to open the first day of efflorescence season.

"nothing happened, right hyuwon?" kun looked over from his seat and onwards.

the said prince chuckled softly, shaking his head as he let go of jaehyun, "nothing."

"those gunshots sounded terrifying..." jisung trailed off, remembering how he heard the gunshots. they were roaming around the castle's ramparts when they heard loud gunshot noises and hard footsteps coming from the knights. he shuddered at the memory, turning away from the mirror, "never want to hear another one again."

chenle glances at his brother with a worried look, "it's gonna be alright."

"how'd it go with jaeyoung?" jaemin changes the topic quick, eyes moving from jisung to ten.

they happened to be the last ones to meet jaeyoung before this grand ball since everyone else was busy preparing. they also agreed on that the two brothers should teach jaeyoung how to dance, just in case they said.

hyuwon tilts his head, confused for a second, "i'm sorry, who's jaeyoung? i've never heard..."

majority of the brothers froze at him. of course he just had to pin point that out, the name was so unknown to him that it caught his attention quick.

"oh jaeyoung?" lucas' head perked up, a wide smile on his face, "she's my lady."

mark nudged his brother, "not the right time." he muttered onto his ear making lucas' eyes grow wide, an embarrassed blush spreading across his cheeks.

with his ears turning red, the ever so tall lucas seem to have shrunk in his seat, "a-ahh... r-right..." he chuckled awkwardly, averting his gaze onto something else.

doyoung shook his head and ran a hand over his face, "she's–" he stopped before he could even say anything else. they didn't think they would stumble upon this situation, now they have no idea what to answer hyuwon. "um..." doyoung was lost, he looked around trying to ask for help, but none of them locked eyes with him.

taeil shrugged and focused back onto the book he was reading, a small snigger coming out of his mouth as if implying 'you are in trouble'. meanwhile yuta tried his best to stifle his laugh from doyoung's mistake, neither he knew what to answer the prince.

youngho blinked, not wanting to answer at all, he wasn't particularly close with the girl so he just didn't want to ruin the situation more. ten, however, kept himself busy with talking with kun and sicheng, who nodded along his conversation.

jaemin smirked and stuck his tongue out at him, feeling cocky as doyoung got caught in a trap. the twins – donghyuck and jeno kept throwing silly faces at the older, a sign that told doyoung that he totally fucked up.

jungwoo, on the other hand, wanted to help his brother explain but since he didn't really have an idea what to explain hyuwon, he ignored doyoung's look of help.

jaehyun nudged taeyong, eyeing him to go help doyoung, in which taeyong sighed and stood up. lacing an arm around doyoung, he faced the valfield prince with a soft smile, "jaeyoung is... someone we all met."

"a girl?" hyuwon cocks a brow and the eighteen of them shared glances before nodding.

hyuwon smiles at them, "i'm so proud of you guys! finally opening up to someone."

"you'd really be happy to meet her." jungwoo said softly, a bit sorry that he had to straight up lie. will hyuwon forgive them? maybe, if it was a good reason why they hid it. but it was a good reason.

jaeyoung's life was in danger. the eastern tribe had a hunch on who she was, especially after they saw her with the princes? it meant chaos.

chenle suddenly jumped from his seat, running up to renjun and sicheng, "the xiao family is here!" he said and dashed out the room.

"chenle! wait– aish that kid." kun deadpanned and went to run after the boy.

"are we all ready?" taeyong looks around and his brothers, including hyuwon, nodded at him.

"then let's go greet the others."

the seventeen princes met up with chenle and kun at the entrance where the xiao family had just arrived. exchanging greetings to each family, the boys had welcome their long time friends.

"we heard some news," hendery uttered and eyed chenle.

renjun squinted his eyes at the younger boy who hid behind kun in advance. "what news?"

dejun chuckles, "about a girl~"

"ah," was all renjun could say.

"are there more royal families coming?" yangyang questioned as he stood next to ten with a warm smile.

"a lot, actually." jaehyun stated, "should we go catch up somewhere?"

as the princes walked around, either bickering or laughing at each other as they talked about recent events, mark couldn't help but fidget as they go around.

lucas noticed this and nudged him, "something wrong?"

mark pursed his lips, "do you think something bad would happen? i'm... scared that something would." he sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

lucas scrunched his nose, "i'm pretty sure we'll be alright, think positive!"

mark laughed, "as expected from you."

"i wonder what she's doing right now..." chenle hummed as he walked beside jisung, who kept blabbering about what happened yesterday.

jungwoo tapped doyoung and yuta's shoulder, "do you guys want to break from them?" he questioned making the two boys raise an eyebrow.

"what?" both asked at the same time.

"like... let's go sneak around the kitchen." jungwoo said innocently.

yuta grinned, absolutely liking the idea, meanwhile doyoung had doubts. as jungwoo clung onto yuta, doyoung was left behind, still contemplating whether he should go or not.

"are you gonna come with us or not?" yuta raised a brow.

doyoung scrunched his nose, "uh... i'd rather not..." he mumbled and looked away.

yuta nodded, "okay."

the two princes walked around the palace, hastily made their way to the kitchen hall. they saw a lot of workers, wearing white clothing as they went here and there to prepare the catering. some, who noticed the princes, bowed at them before proceeding with their work.

jungwoo and yuta snuck into the kitchen, trying to look for the girl. "there–" yuta pointed, seeing jaeyoung busily cooking something.

"wah..." jungwoo gaped and yuta was about to step forward when another person spoke.

"you're not supposed to be here."

the two flinched and looked around, eyes growing wide as they saw lady misun. "the other princes are greeting the noble families at the ball room, what are you two doing here, hm?" she tilts her head.

yuta pressed his lips into a thin line, hands making messy gestures, "uhh..."

lady misun chuckled before pulling them out the kitchen. "is it jaeyoung?"

the two looked at each other before nodding with a small sigh, "yes..."

"you figured it out too, did you?" she chuckled and they gave shocked faces.

"don't worry about her." lady misun patted the top of their heads, "jung miyeon is on her way here."

the two princes nodded before bowing at her, "we're sorry."

"don't be." lady misun said softly, "but you better head back to the ball room, the event is going to start soon."

and with that, the two boys scurried off to the grand ball room.

lady misun peeked through open door, smiling at the sight of jaeyoung, before making her way back to her own bedroom to get ready. she smiled as the maids started fixing her up, "she'll make a perfect queen..."

.     .     .

the grand ball started smoothly, with each noble family being introduced shortly, followed by the visiting royal kingdoms, and then lastly the moon royal family.

the king stood up from his seat, alongside queen misun who smiled and waved at everyone gracefully. everyone clapped at the grand entrance of eighteen princes as they made their way to their own table.

the king looked at everybody, his powerful demeanor never faltering, "today we gather here to celebrate as we officially declare the beginning of efflorescence season!"

"may heraphany continue to live on with power as the five districts unite on the last day of the festival. as efflorescence season is dedicated to our one and only queen hera! the one who sacrificed herself for heraphany."

"let us also dedicate this season to our dear lost descendant of queen hera – the lost princess haera."

everyone clapped at his speech and proceeded to go around and spark a conversation with different people.

by the kitchen, jaeyoung sighed and walked out. her white chef's outfit's sleeves were rolled up as she grabbed a clean cloth to wipe her sweat. from all the cooking and preparing, she was already exhausted.

making her way towards the bathroom. entering the bathroom, it seemed like one of the stalls were occupied, not that it mattered since she only needed to freshen up.

taking off her necklace, she placed it carefully on the marble top. she leaned down and slowly flashed water on her face, that was when one of the cubicle doors clicked open.

"what the heck are you doing here!?"

flinching, jaeyoung looked up and saw the infamous jihye through the reflection.

jihye arched an eyebrow, "what's this? were you specifically invited because you knew prince taeyong?" she stifled a laugh, "should've known you're a real gold digger."

jaeyoung's bottom lip dropped a bit, a bit hurt with jihye's words. "what did i ever do to you?"

jihye clenched her jaw, "you annoy me so much!"

"and?"

"what do you mean and?"

"that's all? that's all it takes for you to act bad at me? i know i didn't do anything wrong..." jaeyoung said softly, clutching the white damp cloth she has.

jihye scoffed, "you think you're all nice and special? bitch, you're a nobody. i don't even get why you're here. ahh... you're a servant. could've known."

jaeyoung bit her lip, feeling uneasy with jihye. she certainly didn't want to get in jihye's bad side. "just leave me alone."

jihye rolled her eyes and went to wash her hands, "like i would waste my time on you." she spat, looking down. as she did, her eyes caught a glimpse of the necklace.

her brows furrowed, that looks familiar...

she looked up at jaeyoung and shot her a glare, "you don't even deserve to enter the palace." she said before pushing jaeyoung, making her fall back onto the red carpet floor.

jaeyoung winced and slowly stood up, "back at you."

jihye sneered, "we're not the same!" she raised her voice and pushed jaeyoung's shoulder.

jaeyoung nodded, keeping her looks unfazed, "we are definitely not the same. i am far more different than you."

"tsk," jihye scoffed and pushed her again before stomping her way out.

the girl sighed, feeling nothing but pain in her butt from the hard fall. "jeez, what an actual pain in the ass–"

"you shouldn't have let her do that to you then."

jaeyoung's body stiffened and she shot her head to the side, only to find a new face. he looked like another prince, how great was the only thing she thought upon seeing him.

"are you okay, miss?"

"i'm fine..." she nodded curtly.

"i'm liu yangyang." he smiled at him and his name instantly rang a bell in her mind.

eyes widening, "you mean..."

he nods, "yes. prince yangyang from the xiao royal family."

she slowly bowed down, "it's a pleasure to meet you."

"what's your name?"

"min jaeyoung."

yangyang blinked a couple of seconds, her name also ringing a bell in his ears. "do you perhaps know the eighteen princes?"

jaeyoung chuckled, shaking her head, "i don't."

yangyang's face dropped, "what... but i thought–"

"i'm sorry, but they aren't princes to me. they are my friends, actually." she said with a soft smile, "and i'm also sorry because i have to go now..."

yangyang nodded, "no, it's okay. i'll see you whenever." he said before waving at her and walking off.

jaeyoung let out a deep breath and went back into the bathroom to grab her necklace. "thank hera you're still here..." she mumbled and made her way to the kitchen.

"jaeyoung! gosh, where have you even been!?" miyeon fake cried and went to hug the girl.

"eh... trouble?" jaeyoung giggled before gawking at miyeon.

"you're so pretty!" jaeyoung squeaked, her eyes lightening at miyeon's pretty pink gown.

"wait until you see yourself." miyeon winked and linked arms with jaeyoung.

"wait– right now?" her eyes widened and miyeon laughed at her priceless reaction, "let's go! the dance is about to start!" miyeon said before pulling her into some room in the castle.

"hey are we even allowed–"

"shh, i've got permission." miyeon hushed her and pushed her to sit down.

"you have to look great out there."

a whine escapes jaeyoung's lips, "because?"

"because you're jaeyoung." miyeon giggled, "and i won't let my best friend go out there looking horrible! you need to be the prettiest!"

"wait scratch that, you're already the prettiest."

"i object–" jaeyoung mumbled.

miyeon scrunched her nose, "you need to look like a princess."

"noooo." jaeyoung shakes her head while her friend nodded hers, "yeeeesss."

"jaeyoung?"

"yes?"

"you're the greatest friend i could ever have."

"thank you, mi. you're also the greatest and most precious friend i have."

miyeon bit her lips and went behind jaeyoung as the maids started working on her look.

miyeon sat on the bed as she watched jaeyoung got ready. "i promise to protect you..." she whispers, not knowing jaeyoung heard it loud and clear.

thank you for doing so, miyeon. was all she thought as she stared at her own reflection.

—

i don't know how to write events hhskdje anywaysss...

uHh y'all might hate on jihye more–

-jibin