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Evening began to dwell down on the quiet kingdom of King Hyunjin. It was his favorite time of the day. The time where dessert was served. Each day after dinner he would sit down in his grand dining room with nothing but himself and an assortment of what his chefs whipped up for him.
Patiently he waited as each item was transferred down from a large silver tray down to the table in front of him. The slice of cake in particular had caught Hyunjin’s interest. Not too much icing. Just the way he liked it.
A glass was placed down beside the fruit platter and filled up generously before the remainder of the wine bottle was set a bit further away.
“Thank you, Jeongin.” The king smiled gratefully to his faithful servant, earning himself a small bow of respect. “Now, if you would please send my guard in, you may be dismissed.”
The fluffy haired man looked up at him with his innocent eyes as he straightened back up. Even though he was well into his twenties, Hyunjin still saw so much child-like youth in him.
“Your guard, your majesty?” Jeongin asked with a trace of confusion in his voice. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem,” Hyunjin replied easily. He had one arm keeping his cheek propped up with his free hand playing with the end of his fork. “I’d just like for him to be in here.”
Jeongin was surely not following the reason for having the guard come in, but either way, he obliged. Another gracious bow was presented to him before making his way to the other end of the large room and pulling the door open.
“His majesty would like to see you,” Jeongin informed the guard looking straight ahead with his back towards the door.
The raven haired man let his gaze shift towards the lighter haired man. Considering he was just a tad shorter than him, he had to lift his eyes to meet his. Just as Jeongin’s expression had before, he too showed a hint of confusion. But instead of questioning anything, he headed in without a word.
Letting the large door close behind him, Changbin stood just inside the room and looked straight at his king. “You wanted to see me, your majesty?”
A nod left Hyunjin’s head and beckoned him over closer. He waited until they were at an arm’s length before shoving the exquisite cake in the guard’s direction. “I think you need to taste this for me.”
Changbin blinked once. “Uhm.”
“What,” Hyunjin looked up at him with crossed arms. “You’d rather your king be poisoned?”
The dessert prepared before them had been made by the head chefs Felix and Seungmin. Changbin knew their loyalty to the king stood strong and he couldn’t think what could possibly give his king the idea that it was poisoned. Jeongin had been the one to bring it here, but could someone else possibly have spiked it somewhere along the line?
“Of course not.” Changbin hesitantly took up the fork handed to him by Hyunjin to get a mouthful, only to be pleasantly surprised by the quality. He practically melted in satisfaction before murmuring out a small, “oh my god.”
But as soon as the sentence came out, he wished it would go back in. Immediately he got himself back into act and set the fork back down beside the plate.
“I– uhm– I mean I think it’s safe.”
Hyunjin was looking up at him curiously with one leg crossed over the other and a foot gently bopping in time with the thoughts running through his head.
“You should try a sip of the wine, too,” Hyunjin proposed with his hypnotizing dark brown eyes now studying the tall glass of red liquid. “Just to be safe. Sit, sit.”
With a simple wave of his hand, Changbin was obediently taking the closest seat to him and taking up the wine glass in a delicate hold. On the surface it looked fine. It reacted just as any wine would when swirled around in the glass. There were no clear signs of tampering even when Changbin held it under his nose. The scent was the same as any other aged wine.
Again, nothing came to mind of what or who could have possibly slipped anything into what was laid out before them. The kingdom was pleased with their lonely king as he was a kind ruler. Unlike some other kingdoms, Hyunjin was very courteous when it came to his demands. Since people were living comfortably under his rule, all guards have had it easy in protecting the king. The best action they got was keeping him away from the people who just wanted nothing more than to touch him because of how beautiful he was.
Just as suspected, the only thing Changbin could deem about the wine was that it was indeed sweet. Maybe that was the reason Hyunjin asked him to try it. To make sure it wasn’t bitter. He knew how much his king disliked bitter flavors.
“This is also fine, your majesty,” Changbin assured as he set the glass down on the table amidst the various small, decorated plates. “It’s sweet just as you prefer it.”
“That’s a relief,” Hyunjin sighed out. Moving his leg from atop the other, he finally let himself pick up the fork and cut into the cake himself.
On instinct Changbin’s hand flew out to Hyunjin’s hand. “Wait– I should request a new fork for you since I–“
With his other hand up, Hyunjin immediately brought out Changbin’s silence. He shook his head gently, letting his long, blonde bangs dance around the frame of his face. The rest of his hair was tied back with a black silk ribbon.
“This still functions just fine,” Hyunjin assured, lowering his hand and bringing a giant piece of cake to his mouth. His tongue flicked out to catch the smear of icing on his lip before bringing the glass to them.
In every single movement he made, Hyunjin was graceful. The way he sat was so elegant and radiated his higher energy. It contrasted greatly with Changbin’s more solid movements and suddenly he remembered that he was still sitting at the table with the king rather than being on the lookout for any harm that could come his way.
“Your majesty, I think I have neglected my post for too long now.” Changbin attempted to stand but Hyunjin motioned his hand to keep him seated.
“You are still doing your job,” Hyunjin claimed. “Can you not be in here and still keep watch?”
“I… yes I can, but–“
“That fruit looks a bit suspicious to me.” Hyunjin pointed with his fork to the color gradient scale of fruit to the right of him. “Test it for me.”
Never before had Hyunjin been so adamant on making someone else try something before he let himself eat it. There had been a few times only when another kingdom had sent him something, but when it came to his own staff, he was extremely trusting.
Still, Changbin dutifully did as he was told and popped one of the strawberry halves into his mouth. They were extremely fresh and more than likely recently picked from the royal gardens this evening. There was a hint of sweetness with them, too.
“How is it?”
“Delicious,” Changbin answered. “Perfect for your tastes.”
“And for your tastes?” Hyunjin questioned with an awaiting expression resting on his face.
Changbin opened his mouth to speak but let it hang there for a moment before he could formulate a sentence. “I’m fond of everything I’ve had so far.”
“Then you should have more,” Hyunjin decided, gesturing a hand towards the table in front of them. “Eat all you want.”
It took Changbin slightly too long to realize Hyunjin had stopped eating. That instead he had been feeding him all the delicacies there were to offer. It was never about considering the safeness of the food, rather it was just a ploy to get Changbin to sit and eat with him.
Blinking his eyes a few times, Changbin tried to fully formulate what was going on. The entire time he kept his unwavering gaze on Hyunjin.
“Your majesty… I couldn’t possibly let myself eat all this. This is for you to indulge in.”
Something shifted in Hyunjin’s mood. Eyes falling, he replaced the fork into his hand and mindlessly cut away another piece from the slice of cake. He stabbed it onto the silver fork and kept it under his light pressure.
“I didn’t order this for me to have alone,” he admitted under his breath. “I wanted you to be my company from the start.”
Not knowing what to do or say, Changbin could only remain silent and watchful of his king. What had gotten into him? Was he sick? There was no possibility of him already being drunk from the wine. All he had was a sip.
A soft sigh left Hyunjin’s pink lips as he set the fork down once more. If Changbin wouldn’t eat, neither would he. “I’ll be frank. You’re only doing your job, but you being around me consistently like you do, I’ve begun to feel something right here,” he said, resting a hand against the front of his robe where his heart was. Only for a moment could he keep his eyes on Changbin before he let them fall again to the table. “I’ve come to take a watchful eye over you too. It’s silly, isn’t it?” He added in a small scoff.
Changbin was his personal guard so it was in his job description to accompany Hyunjin wherever he went. But what was not in Hyunjin’s job description was to take note of the smaller, though far more buff, man and all the things he did. It was meant for him to find another member of royalty and wed them. Instead, he was favoring his shadow who kept him safe.
“With all due respect, your majesty, are you saying that you like me?” Changbin tried to ask it in the most proper and respectful way he could, but honestly, he was struggling to keep his composure intact.
“It’s okay if you can’t see me as anything other than king,” Hyunjin started with a bit of melancholy in his voice. Being so high up with no one ruling with him became such a lonely life for him. Of course he had his people and members of his court to keep him company, but there was just something missing in his life that he felt could only be filled by one person.
“I understand that there are different classes in today’s society. But I also understand that I just feel so much at ease with you. Not because you are my guard, but because I have become fond of you. Nothing makes me happier than the thought of seeing you every day no matter where I go.”
This was an entirely new and raw side of Hyunjin that Changbin had very rarely seen before. It wasn’t him being the person held so high up that he was. It was him being a human just like anyone else with feelings and desires. For once, it felt like Hyunjin was on the same level as Changbin.
“I… I’ve admired you for a very long time too,” Changbin breathed out once he remembered what words were. “You are as pleasant and charming as you are magnificent. I really couldn’t dream of being born in another life as a guard to someone other than you. If so, I might betray them in order to be by your side.”
“Is that so?” A delicate smile painted Hyunjin’s face at his response. If he were being honest, he did expect a different reaction. He was a king and Changbin was his guard. That much was clear. There was a drastic difference in position between the two of them and he feared that it would be too much for him to get his feelings reciperated. But crazier things had happened.
The two of them finished out the dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere. By Hyunjin’s requests, Changbin partook in eating the treats that were ordered and Hyunjin resumed what he had started.
Changbin continued staying even closer to his king all while being able to defend him if needed at the drop of a dime. Because what better way to do that than to have him in his line of sight for more times of both day and night.
It did, however, feel a bit wrong in Changbin to move into Hyunjin’s lavish room. For a moment he was reminded of their positions, but Hyunjin reassured him that those things would not come in between their newly budded relationship. When it was just the two of them in their own private space, they could pretend for a moment that there was nothing separating them in likeness of titles.
“How am I doing, your majesty?”
“Changbin.”
A small smirk broke through onto Changbin’s face before he corrected himself.
“How am I doing, my love?”
Hyunjin was sitting in front of Changbin adorned in a silk robe as the latter gently brushed the long golden locks, careful not to tug at his head. He had done it in two parts so that he could put a braid in on both sides of his head and connect it at the back with a ribbon.
“Let me see.”
Once the ribbon was securely in place, Changbin picked up two mirrors from his side and handed one to Hyunjin while he held the other at the back. Keeping the mirror in front of him, Hyunjin turned his head every which way to get the full view of Changbin’s creation. A satisfied smile came to his lips before he gently placed the mirror down.
Turning, he lowered Changbin’s own mirror down and let himself lean into him. His eyes were shining and full of adoration as he looked into Changbin’s bright ones. “I think I might have to send my hairdresser away,” he whispered before closing his eyes and the distance between their faces until their lips lightly brushed against one another.
Sliding a hand against Hyunjin’s torso, Changbin gradually pulled him in closer so he could gently deepen the kiss. As respectful as always, Changbin asked permission at Hyunjin’s closed mouth before entry. And as eager as always, Hyunjin granted it to him.
Without ever breaking the kiss, Changbin was able to successfully move Hyunjin onto his lap and wrap his arms around him securely. Naturally Hyunjin allowed every movement and repositioned himself to be a bit more comfortable. Another second passed in pure bliss before Hyunjin finally pulled away.
His cheeks were as rosey as his lips that were now tingling after being sucked on. Changbin could name a good three constellations that he saw in Hyunjin’s eyes. They curved into crescent moons as Hyunjin let a toothy smile come to his face.
Changbin’s plump lips were as enticing as always and Hyunjin could kiss them all day long if only he wouldn’t be so out of breath by the end of it. But not only by his kissing did Changbin steal his breath away. It was everything. The little gestures such as brushing and braiding his hair, the compliments he would receive on the daily about the way he looked, but his favorite was just by laying in Changbin’s arms.
Shifting, Hyunjin curled himself into Changbin’s lap where he could nuzzle his face into the crook and warmth of Changbin’s neck.
“Would the bed not be better for you to rest on?” Changbin asked despite already knowing the answer. He just wanted to hear it.
“No,” Hyunjin answered as expected. “I fancy this more.”
Changbin blew a silent laugh from his nose before craning his neck to plant a tender kiss on Hyunjin’s eye mole that he adored so much.
“As you wish,” he whispered against his ear. If Hyunjin wanted to lay here in his arms then who was Changbin to argue?