Chapter Text
"Won't you loosen up? What harm could lie in my sleeping quarters?"
"I'm simply doing my job your majesty."
Just about 5 months ago, you'd taken up the duty of protecting the royal prince, Yoon Jeonghan, from any potential harm. The prince had many restrictions to his daily life. Who to speak with, when to speak with them, which duties to complete, what training to complete, how to dress, when to sleep, when to rise. Such a routine left him feeling lonely and his heart yearned endlessly for a companion.
"You're supposed to protect me, aren't you?" Jeonghan huffed.
"That is so, your highness." You replied.
"Well then I should have you fired, for I am at danger of passing away from loneliness." He sighed dramatically, "How shall I continue my life if the only person who spends more than a few hours with me won't even speak more than a few professionalized words to me!".
You held back a chuckle at the boy's theatrics. You pretended to clear your throat, "I apologize Prince Jeonghan. I'd be fired regardless if I was suspected of trying to woo you."
The prince smiled playfully, draping himself across his almost comically sized bed, "Do you mean to tell me the only emotion you're capable of speaking to me with is infatuation? Im flattered, Y/N."
You turned your head nonchalantly as to hide the slight blush forming on your cheeks.
"That's not what I meant, my prince."
Prince Jeonghan certainly was a creature of beauty, but you refrained from seeing him more than the subject of your knightly duty. It was never easy to contain your feelings, the boy was naturally charming. He thanked you for your service every night just before you took off to your own sleeping quarters. There were countless moments like this one that the prince would try to win your attention and start a conversation. It never went far, because admittedly so, the prince was too precious to you and losing your position in the kingdom meant losing him too.
"It's okay if you've fallen for me dear knight, it's not easy to resist a pretty face like my own." Jeonghan giggled. A silence fell upon the room as his majesty gazed tentatively at you. There were many things he'd come to enjoy about you in the time you'd been his royal guard. He thoroughly enjoyed making you blush with his flirty remarks, and even more enjoyed the attempt you made to hide it. The pursuit of romance was an unfamiliar concept to Jeonghan. Being heir to the throne, it was inevitable his marital partner would be predetermined. It was something he'd come to hate about being royalty, as anyone with a heart like his would. Many nights he spent wishing he'd been born a commoner, free to choose his lover. Stowed away in the castle, there weren't many romantic encounters for him. Not like the ones he read about anyway.
Until you, his new royal guard, was introduced to him. The prince hadn't planned on developing feelings for you, he only wished to flirt playfully. But as fore-mentioned, there were many things Jeonghan had grown to like about you. Your uniform, your appearance, your voice, the way you brandished each weapon, but your presence was most precious to him.
"Won't you sit with me dear knight?" he finally broke the silence with his gentle request. "All you do is stand with the blankest look on your face, I worry for you dear knight I really do," he was sitting upright now, motioning to the spot on his bed beside him, It couldn't hurt to rest for a moment?"
"Your majesty.." you started, hesitating to give him the same excuse you always gave. 'I don't want to lose you' you stopped yourself from saying out loud.
"Please.." Jeonghan whispered, almost desperately.
You felt your heart twinge. How could you deny his request? Surely there was no harm in sitting with his majesty?
"I suppose, if it'll keep his majesty safe from loneliness." You said with a playful tone in reference to his cry earlier. His face brightened in an instant, shocked that you complied for once. Like a lightswitch his inital playful air returned. "I promise I'll live a long life thanks to you dearest Y/N."
You left your stance at his door and settled on the edge of his mattress. You made sure not to sit too close in fear that he'd hear your beating heart.
"Don't distance yourself from me, dear knight." he teased, scooting closer to you, resting his head gently on your shoulder.
Your entire body tensed up, like you'd been shocked by lightning. You were sure he could hear the flustered beating of your heart, and feel the warmth of the pinkness spreading from the tip of your ears to the brink of your cheeks.
"Your highness-"
"Be quiet," he hummed "You'll wake the prince." Jeonghan innocently wrapped his arm around yours, completely aware of the panic he was sending you into. He wasn't a sadist, he was just confirming his own suspicions about your feelings for him. A part of him scolded himself for allowing such feelings to manifest in himself, but he couldn't bring himself to care at the moment.
Any words you had before died in your throat as you fought against yourself to keep your composure, unaware you had already failed. Finally you allowed your body to relax as you processed the scene. The top of Jeonghan's head brushed slightly against your face, and only then did you catch a whiff of his scent. It was almost cliché how wonderful he smelled. You couldn't tell if it was The Jeonghan Effect or the way he smelled that made you slightly dizzy. Perhaps both.
"Run away with me." Jeonghan whispered dreamily after a moment.
You choked on your breath. "Pardon me your highness?"
His lips curled into a soft smile. He replied, "I'm only joking.", but by the tone of his voice you felt that there was some sincerity to his jesting.
You stared off into the distance. 'Where would we even disappear to..' You pondered. As if he read your mind, Jeonghan continued "I'd like to live in a cottage in the forest like a little fairy." He looked up at you, head still rested on your shoulder. "Would you protect me from wolves and wild animals in the forest?"
You thought for a second. "I'd protect you from every storm, person and creature that wished to harm you, Prince Jeonghan." You replied, just barely above a whisper.
Jeonghan chuckled, tightening his hold on your arm and resting his head on your shoulder again. "Then I take it back dear knight, I'm not joking, flee the kingdom with me Y/N."
Your stomach fluttered as your heart beat with sparks like that of a campfire. Before you could reply, you both heard a knock at the door. All talk of running away dispersed as you stood up, pulling yourself away from the prince.
"Who is it?" Jeonghan called, his voice edged with irritation.
"The knights' warden. It's late your majesty and the knight must return to their own sleeping quarters at this time." The voice replied from behind the door.
"Y/N will return soon, please be dismissed."
The warden's footsteps faded away into the distance as it became silent again.
"It's time for me to leave, your highness." You returned to your usual professional self, as if you'd been awakened from a trance, and in a way you had been. Before you could give a bow and leave, Jeonghan grabbed your wrist.
"Please stay tonight. I can make an excuse that I didn't feel safe sleeping alone." His voice was laced with despair like he was afraid he'd never see you again.
"Your highness you know I can't do that, you know the risk." You winced. You couldn't bear risking being seperated from the prince.
"Just this one night, dear knight. Please stay with me Y/N, we can leave this place together and be freed from the shackles of our responsibilities." His grip on your wrist tightened.
"Where would we even go? What if we got caught? We'd both be executed for treason!" It was hard to contain your voice in a whisper at the absurdity of his pleading. Even if it sounded unbelievably tempting.
Jeonghan broke into a smirk, "I wouldn't mind dying for you." You scoffed in disbelief. "I couldn't let you do that Prince Jeonghan."
"Please Y/N..."
The two of you stared at each other without so much as a blink. It only lasted mere seconds before you sighed in defeat. "Okay Prince Jeonghan, I'll flee the kingdom with you. But you must let me guide us out of here. Before I became your royal guard, I was a patrol guard. I know this castle better than you. Please trust in me your highness."
"Oh of course my dear knight!" Jeonghan smiled widely, quickly rising to embrace you tightly. You hesitated before returning the gesture. These professional boundaries had no place anymore if the two of you planned to break free from them. You pulled away first and made your way to the futon nearby, settling down for the night.
"Y/N what are you doing?" Jeonghan tilted his head curiously.
"Preparing for sleep, my prince." You answered, feeling like it was obvious.
The prince scoffed at you. "Surely you aren't going to sleep on that stiff old thing?"
'Where does he expect me to lay?' Your heart skipped a beat. 'Certainly not in bed with him!?'
"Would you prefer I slept on the floor your majesty?"
Jeonghan rolled his eyes. "I'd prefer you sleep on a bed like any sensible person." He folded his arms expectantly. A moment passed before the corners of his mouth upturned mischievously. "Don't be shy with me now, dear Y/N, you've already agreed to escape with me. I promise the pitter-patter of your heart won't keep me awake."
Your words were caught in your throat as your face heated up for the nth time. Defeated, you removed your protective gear and weapons before joining the prince in his unreasonably large bed.
"Surely I'll have my head cut off by sunrise.." you mumbled. Jeonghan giggled at your worrysome comment, "Then perhaps we'd better leave before then." He said as he blew out the remaining lanterns illuminating the room.
"Dream of me dear knight." Jeonghan whispered sleepily, settling under the lightweight of his blanket. He sighed happily as this was his first time sleeping without his bed empty besides himself. "Thank you for your services." The prince added shortly after.
"Goodnight Prince Jeonghan." you hummed.
"Please, just call me Jeonghan.."
You turned to face him in the dark.
"Goodnight Jeonghan."