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There are things Noeul likes about being a Prince. He gets the opportunity to go to many new places and meet many new people and get to learn so many new things.
He can travel to other countries and see not only the big tourist attractions but also the hidden gems only the locals know about. (He remembers a beautiful little waterfall in a neighboring country, only accessed by foot, that his translator knew about from his childhood.)
He can meet the new leaders of neighboring countries and talk about politics and reforms. (He’s had a lot of both light-hearted and serious debates with his parents as well as various Prime Ministers and fellow royalty about the rising price of grains.)
He can learn how to greet visiting ambassadors in their language or how to make exciting and delicious delicacies from locals. (He once made a spectacular Chili Verde stew with the grandmother of a guide in Mexico.)
There are also things Noeul doesn’t like about being a Prince; having to go so many places and meet so many people and having to fit so much information in his brain at once.
There are only so many hours in a day, so many days in a week, and he is kept busy for most of them. If it’s not a Grand Opening for a hotel, then it’s a Minister’s daughter’s wedding, or a lunch with a visiting ambassador. Not to mention his own pet projects of making higher education more accessible and promoting green energy sources.
He has to remember so many names and faces, preferably also how many times he’s met them and their family structure, as well as what he is allowed to share about projects and with whom.
It’s very much a double edged sword. He loves his life as much as he hates it.
He does, however, appreciate one specific thing about being the Prince. Having Boss as his bodyguard.
It sounds silly, but since Boss became his bodyguard, everything is just so much easier to handle. The crowds are less scary and invasive, the places he goes are less foreign, and he always has someone to help him remember all the things he would otherwise forget. He’s had other bodyguards before, but Boss is different. He’s much more of a friend than anyone Noeul’s ever had protecting him before.
It doesn’t hurt that Boss is very attractive.
The man is a walking runway model; perfect height and fantastic facial features. Not to mention his frankly incredible body. Noeul doesn’t want to think about his friend-slash-bodyguard like a hungry teen, but when Boss looks the way he does, it’s hard to keep the thoughts away.
Boss isn’t his only bodyguard, but he is with Noeul most waking hours. Boss is the bodyguard he feels closest to. There’s always a pinch of loneliness creeping in when Boss leaves him for the night shift to take over, or he has his days off. Where in the past his bodyguards stood outside his bedroom or stayed firmly in the connecting room in hotels, Boss is with him; playing video games, gossipping, watching bad horror films, scrolling on social media. Well, okay, Boss doesn’t scroll through social media or gossip, because he’s actually a very competent bodyguard who is both good and dedicated to his job, but he does keep Noeul company when he does. Boss doesn’t sleep in the same room as him except for in hotels if there’s no other option, but Noeul’s working on making that happen.
Boss is also the only one Noeul has allowed to stick with him on red carpets. With his good looks, he blends right in with celebrities and royals, and he’s a comfort to Noeul when there’s tons of cameras aimed in his direction.
So Noeul goes where Boss tells him to, trusts Boss to guide him to where he’s supposed to go, and does his Princely duties to the best of his ability.
He doesn’t really have that many duties, honestly, it’s mostly being charming in front of cameras and a well-spoken, well-informed ambassador for his country and the causes he supports. Still, it can get overwhelming, always having to look good and be good and act nice and never step on anyone’s toes and remember everyone’s names and-... It’s a lot. Boss, thankfully, has his back with that too. While Noeul has to smile and be friendly, Boss can put on a deadly face, be curt, and pull Noeul away. It has saved Noeul a bunch of times from dying of boredom.
This particular red carpet should not be one Noeul needs rescuing from, however. He’s in their neighboring country, ostentatiously playing Ambassador and Visiting Orphans, but he’s really just playing with children and getting to go to his friend Peat’s gallery opening. It’s probably the least stressful thing he’ll do all year.
Boss, as per usual, is no more than five paces away from him as Noeul walks down the red carpet. Noeul can always sense where Boss is if he isn’t in his direct line of sight. Boss has this aura about him that makes Noeul’s stomach flutter.
He’s been very good at hiding the fact that he would definitely not mind if Boss started grabbing him more, especially in private.
When the flashes suddenly become a little too intense, Noeul looks down towards the carpet, blinking furiously. His contacts are stinging. He fiddles with the short hem of his cropped suit jacket. It takes all of three seconds before Boss’ hand is on the small of his back.
“We need to keep moving, Your Highness,” Boss says, voice clear despite the calls of the photographers trying to get their shot of the Prince.
Noeul looks up at Boss, unable to stop the relief bleeding into his media smile. “Yes, of course,” he answers and waves apologetically at the press, letting Boss steer him forward.
“Are two more stops okay?” Boss asks quietly.
If Noeul hadn’t become so used to Boss being able to speak without moving his lips or been so attuned to listening to Boss in the time they’ve been together, he would have missed the question. He makes a low noise in his throat and Boss’ hand on the small of his back presses a little harder against his body.
“I’m sorry, Prince Noeul can’t stay,” Boss excuses in a louder voice, smiling politely at the reporters and cameras lining the red carpet. “No interviews this time, I’m afraid.”
Noeul is eternally grateful he doesn’t have to be the bad guy in public. He gets to look remorseful and put his hands together in a polite greeting, dipping his head. He knows the press always has a field day when he does, especially when he has Boss next to him looking so dashing in his formal suit and being the perfect guard.
There are always a bunch of stories after events like these where the media portrays their relationship as something it isn’t. Sometimes it’s Boss being a rough hooligan who controls Noeul’s every movement. Sometimes it’s Noeul being a spoiled princeling who has Boss wrapped around his finger. Sometimes it’s a wild love affair between them. None of those rumors are true no matter how much Noeul sometimes wishes they were.
He’ll settle, as he always does, for being Boss’ friend (not employer, because that’s his father, even if Boss kind of works for him too). For now, he lets the warmth of Boss’ hand steer him inside the gallery so he can find Peat. A tour of the art is just what he needs.
-
Security isn’t quite as strict as Boss would have liked for the gallery opening, but it’s good enough. It’s a peaceful country and the event itself isn’t very big, so a full-scale security operation isn’t necessary, but Boss likes to err on the side of caution when it comes to Noeul’s safety.
Noeul is the Prince, after all.
He’s not the Crown Prince, thankfully, or Boss would really have his job cut out for him, but he’s still royalty and deserves to be treated as such.
Noeul is a good Prince to be guarding. He doesn’t have an especially taxing job description and he’s a good person. He’s not spoiled like many lesser nobles Boss have guarded before, and he genuinely likes the causes he supports and takes a personal interest in his country and the events he attends.
He’s also a huge dork.
Boss likes that Noeul isn’t a stuck-up royal who treats guards and servants like they’re lesser than him. Everyone in the castle agrees that Noeul’s one of the sweetest princes they know. The fact that he will yell at the screen when playing video games, cackle hysterically at his own jokes, and behave like a little toddler when he’s told he needs to go to bed only makes him more human and approachable.
To Boss’ extreme annoyance, Noeul is also gorgeous.
Beautiful, expressive eyes and a brilliant smile coupled with a lithe, athletic body. Boss knew he was playing with fire when he accepted the job, given that he’d be working with the Prince and being his main bodyguard, but he hadn’t been able to anticipate just how badly. Sometime over the year he’d been working at the castle, Noeul had also spontaneously made the decision to grow his hair out and color it a very stunning ashy blond. It wreaks havoc on Boss’ nervous system just about daily.
To see Noeul dress up for fancy events is also a rare form of torture. Noeul likes to play with fashion in a way Boss has never seen a royal do before and it makes him a media darling. It makes Boss’ job a bit more difficult since Noeul is always sure to turn heads and attract attention. That’s just on the professional side. On a personal level, it’s a confusing mix of heaven and hell to see Noeul dress up. He looks stunning, of course he does, but it also makes Boss want to hide him away so no one but Boss can see him.
Instead he does what he has to; pushes inappropriate thoughts away and lets the job come first. Protecting Noeul is his top priority no matter what. Rogue paparazzi, intrusive journalists, aggressive anti-royalists, sleazy politicians, Noeul’s own insecurities… Boss will always be there to make sure Noeul comes out of every situation as unharmed as possible.
When Noeul starts tugging on his suit jacket in the middle of the red carpet, Boss knows it’s time to go. Noeul’s head has gone places it shouldn’t or there’s something making him uncomfortable, so Boss will fix it.
“We need to keep moving, Your Highness,” he says, projecting his voice enough to let the gathered press hear him even if he’s speaking to Noeul. He hopes the gentle touch of his hand at Noeul’s back is comforting.
Noeul looks up at him and Boss has to squash the butterflies in his stomach at the smile directed at him. It’s Noeul’s media-smile, sure, but there’s also so much relief and trust in his eyes. Boss knows he’ll overanalyze it when he’s alone later tonight.
“Yes, of course,” Noeul answers and gracefully waves at the press. The camera flashes don’t let up even the slightest.
Boss uses the hand on Noeul’s back to steer him forward along the carpet. He knows enough of Noeul’s cues to know he isn’t fully relaxed. “Are two more stops okay?” he asks quietly out of the side of his mouth. He tries to keep a neutral smile in place so they can have this moment of pretend privacy in the middle of this crowd.
Noeul makes a low noise in his throat and Boss can feel his body straightening up, immediately scanning the crowd more closely. He can’t see what made Noeul uncomfortable, but he’ll take his Prince’s commands for what they are and presses his hand a little harder against Noeul’s back.
“I’m sorry, Prince Noeul can’t stay,” Boss makes their excuses to the media. “No interviews this time, I’m afraid.”
With a firm but gentle hand, he guides Noeul forward until he has the Prince indoors, out of the spotlight. Noeul’s media smile immediately falls and his shoulders drop.
“I’m sorry, the flashes were getting to me.”
Boss holds Noeul’s shoulders and bends until he can face Noeul entirely. The light contacts he has on makes his eyes incredibly distracting. “You never have to apologize, you know that,” he says earnestly with what he hopes is a reassuring smile. Noeul’s returning smile is tight but definitely more genuine, so Boss can relax a little more. “Let’s go find Peat.”
-
Noeul’s been to plenty of gallery openings and formal events that are more for the press than they are the attendees. He knows the drill. He’s not surprised that he only manages to say a quick hello to Peat before he is whisked away for another meeting with some very important people. Noeul would argue he is a very important person, but he also knows that he doesn’t actually contribute much to Peat’s success compared to some of his investors so they take precedence. Peat’s more important than him right now.
Peat does promise him a personal walk-through of the gallery if he hangs around for a bit, until the majority of the media hungry socialites and politicians and celebrities get their names in the papers, so Noeul convinces Boss they aren’t in a rush. (Which isn’t untrue as they only have a semi-formal dinner at the consulate later.)
Boss rolls his eyes when Noeul blinks at him with exaggerated puppy eyes, gesturing to the garden just outside the gallery. It’s still within the security lines and more private than the media frenzy at the front, so Boss agrees they can hang out there for a while. Noeul bounces out the door gleefully. It can be suffocating to have more than two bodyguards at once and since he’s out of the country, he has four with him at all times. He is happy that Boss ordered the other bodyguards to patrol around rather than stick close to Noeul. Boss is good at keeping Noeul sane like that.
It doesn’t take very long before Noeul spots what looks like a group of children playing nearby. They wave at him and Noeul waves back. He likes events with children the most.
“Hi there,” he greets when he’s close enough. He trusts Boss to have his back if there’s any suspicious activity.
“Hi!” the children chorus together. They crowd close in excitement and Noeul can sense Boss only an arm’s length away. The children almost immediately tell him he looks pretty and they like his clothes. Noeul is charmed, he always is with children.
He crouches down so he doesn’t tower over them. “What are your names?” he asks them. He tries to pay attention to the children as they introduce themselves, but he’s worried. He hadn’t seen an adult. “Are you here by yourselves?” he asks, trying to keep his tone light. He feels Boss’ hand on his back and he feels calm washing over him.
“No! Our teacher is over there!” one of the children answers and looks over his shoulder.
Noeul strains to see and, sure enough, there’s two adults coming closer with another group of children. He straightens up and puts on a bright smile. Boss is just behind him, hasn’t dropped his hand from Noeul’s back.
“Hello,” he greets the teachers politely, hands up towards his face.
One of the teachers seem to recognize him, her eyes widening. “Prince Noeul!” she exclaims and bows respectfully. The children gasp and stare up at him with wide eyes. “Children, greet His Royal Highness properly!” she prompts them.
Noeul tries to stop her. It’s awkward to have the children, who just talked to him so excitedly, become nervous and shy even as they bow very nicely.
“Are you here for a school trip?” he asks after a moment when the greeting ends all conversation.
The adults nod. The children thankfully recover much faster and two brave boys start explaining they were supposed to be in the museum next-door with another class, but they all got so hungry that they couldn’t wait for the other class to be done with their tour so they had gone outside.
“That makes sense,” Noeul answers, trying to keep a straight face, “museums always make me hungry too.”
The children giggle and they slowly inch forward. Noeul pops the buttons on his suit jacket so he can crouch down more comfortably and the children beam. They bombard him with questions and facts about what they learned during their tour and, for some reason, a detailed description of their various pets. He’s also showered with compliments on his hair and accessories, and he has to explain that his eyes aren’t naturally that light.
Time seems to fly by as the children become accustomed to him and the fact that he’s a Prince seems to have been forgotten. Eventually Boss has to lean down and tell him that it’s time for them to go inside.
“Well this was a lot of fun,” Noeul says honestly as he stands up. He brushes down the front of his suit pants, hoping they won’t be too wrinkly. Boss comes close and bats away his hands when he tries to button his suit jacket without looking away from the children. “You’ll have to send me a letter and tell me everything the others said when you told them you met a prince!” he tells them conspiratorially. He actually means it. He loves receiving letters from the children he visits and he tries to reply to them himself.
The children nod and giggle, looking pleased to have a big story to tell later.
“Boss, will you-” he starts, looking at his bodyguard.
Boss already has a card in his hand for Noeul. It’s the one they’ve made for occasions like this; a business card with the contact information for Noeul’s office. He smiles gratefully at Boss and hands over the card to one of the teachers.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she says.
“I do mean it,” Noeul assures them. “Please do write.”
“We will,” the teacher replies, smile wide. “The children won’t let me forget. Will you?” she asks the class. They immediately chorus a loud agreement and Noeul laughs.
“Good. I will be looking forward to hearing from you all again.”
Boss makes his presence known again by gently wrapping his arm around his waist, and Noeul lets his bodyguard guide him. He’s used to Boss’ hand on his person, leading him where he needs to go, so he doesn’t think much about it. (Unless it’s late at night when Boss has gone to sleep.)
“Fort’s been texting me that Peat’s ready to tear his hair out if he sees another collector,” Boss tells him in a low voice when Noeul’s waved his goodbyes to the children.
Noeul stifles a giggle. “I’m sure.”
“We have two hours before we need to head out,” Boss reminds him.
Two hours to hang out with Peat is better than nothing, but if he could convince Boss that he doesn’t need to change then that would give them an extra half hour. “Outfit change and then dinner?” Noeul asks.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Boss confirms, smiling. “Your cousin will be there, so media is unavoidable.”
Noeul almost stops, Boss’ arm still around his waist the only reason he keeps moving forward. “What? That was never the plan!”
Boss nods. “I just got the information.”
“Great,” Noeul sighs. “That’ll be a much longer dinner than planned, then, if it’s two royals in attendance.”
Boss nods. “I’ve asked your assistant to reschedule tomorrow’s lunch so we can have a slow morning instead.”
Noeul smiles brightly. Boss is really perfect. He knows how overwhelmed Noeul can get with too many events crowded together, and while he isn’t Noeul’s assistant or PR manager, he acts a lot like it. “You’re the best.”
Boss smirks. “Of course I am.”
“Ew, stop being gross,” Peat interrupts.
Noeul laughs and steps out of Boss’ hold to hug his friend again. “Hush you. Come give me a tour instead,” he says, linking his arms with Peat’s. “Tell me everything about the paintings.”
Noeul gives Boss a smile as Peat leads him away. He knows Boss will be close for the next two hours, focused on him but not close enough to crowd him. It’ll give him time to gossip with Peat, as well as let Boss catch up with Peat’s bodyguard-slash-boyfriend Fort. Maybe Peat can give him some pointers on how to turn his bodyguard into his boyfriend.
-
It’s hard saying no to Noeul’s pleading face and Boss knows he probably shouldn’t give in as easily as he does. Seeing Noeul’s relaxed and happy face as he strolls around what is essentially the gallery’s backyard is justification enough, though. The other bodyguards are circling the entire gallery so he steers them towards the back with a quick text. The grassy area is covered by the security measurements for the event but he still keeps his eyes open for threats, just in case. He spots the group of children playing just moments before Noeul does, and Boss resigns himself to the fact that Noeul will want to interact with them. Boss likes children too, loves his own baby sister to pieces, but not while on duty. Children are an unknown that makes it hard to protect Noeul, especially since the Prince likes to play with them.
He instinctively steps closer to Noeul when the children crowd him. They’re all so excited, both the children and Noeul.
He scans the area for the adult supervision and spots another group of children with two adults nearby. Boss thinks he can see them trying to count them in and he raises his hand to catch their attention. They spot him and he points to the children.
Noeul’s tone is worried as he asks the children if they’re on their own and he places his hand on Noeul’s back in comfort.
Boss nods respectfully as the group approaches. Noeul stands and greets the group too. He keeps his hand on Noeul’s back. He knows Noeul feels safer when Boss is close and it’s no hardship to be close to the prince.
One of the teachers seem to know who she’s meeting, her eyes wide in recognition. “Prince Noeul!” she exclaims and bows respectfully. Boss carefully keeps his face neutral as the children gasp and stare at Noeul with wide eyes. It’s always so adorable. “Children, greet His Royal Highness properly!”
The children are thankfully quick to overcome their awe and two brave boys start explaining to Noeul how they were in the museum next-door but went outside to wait for their other class to finish a tour.
Boss keeps his attention half on Noeul and half on the surroundings as the children giggle and draw closer to Noeul, like moths to a flame. Boss sympathizes.
He swallows hard and makes it a point to text the other guards where they are and what’s happening as Noeul pops open his suit jacket and crouches down to better interact with the children on their level. He catches one of the teachers’ eyes. He can see that she understands and he fights not to wince. He’s not supposed to be so transparent. It’s not good that a civilian sees through him without even trying.
He lets Noeul charm the children and the adults. He preemptively pulls out a card with the contact information for Noeul’s office, already anticipating Noeul will ask for it. He’s a sentimental person, soft-hearted, and will have already formed an attachment to these children.
His phone beeps with an incoming text. It’s Fort, Peat’s bodyguard, saying they’re just about done schmoozing the elite (Boss wants to roll his eyes, he can hear the sarcasm dripping off of Fort’s text). Another text beeps, adding Peat’s ready to rip his hair out. He huffs a laugh and tucks the phone away, leaning down to whisper to Noeul that they need to head back inside.
Noeul heaves an exaggerated sigh to the amusement of the children. “Well this was a lot of fun,” Noeul says, standing up. He is devastatingly earnest and it squeezes Boss’ heart.
He gives Noeul a second to get himself presentable, but then bats away the Prince’s hands when he tries to button his suit jacket without looking away from the children. He was about to button it all wrong and Boss is not going to let the Prince walk around with a wonky suit jacket. He pointedly ignores the smirks on the teachers’ faces. He clearly needs to learn how to be more discreet.
“Boss, will you-” Noeul starts, shifting towards Boss.
Boss holds the card out for Noeul and tries to remain neutral when Noeul smiles gratefully at him. The Prince hands over the card to one of the teachers with instructions to write to him.
“I do mean it,” Noeul assures them. “Please do write.”
Boss knows Noeul will be looking for the letters too.
They would be standing there saying their goodbyes to the group for a lot longer if he allowed it, so Boss makes the decision to physically remove Noeul from the situation. He wraps his arm around Noeul’s waist and gently steers him towards the gallery again. Noeul goes along with it as he always does and Boss tries to not let it get to him that the Prince just goes with him, letting him be responsible for his body like that.
He tries to not think about it. (At least not until it’s late at night when Noeul has gone to sleep and he can be alone.)
“Fort’s been texting me that Peat’s ready to tear his hair out if he sees another collector,” he tells Noeul in a low voice.
Noeul stifles a giggle. “I’m sure.”
He doesn’t want to rain on Noeul’s happiness, but they are on somewhat of a tighter time frame than previously thought. “We have two hours before we need to head out,” he says.
“Outfit change and then dinner?” Noeul asks.
He hears the reluctance in Noeul’s voice. He wishes he didn’t have to pull Noeul away from some relaxing time with his friend, but there is the matter of the changed dinner at the consulate. “Unfortunately, yes,” he confirms, smiling to try to ease the disappointment. “Your cousin will be there, so media is unavoidable.”
Noeul almost stops and Boss gently pulls Noeul moving forward by the waist. He should let go of the Prince, he should,, but he doesn’t want to.
“What? That was never the plan!”
He nods. “I just got the information.”
“Great,” Noeul sighs. “That’ll be a much longer dinner than planned, then, if it’s two royals in attendance.”
Boss nods again. He suspected Noeul would be less than thrilled about the change even if he does like his cousin and it will most likely be a pleasant evening. “I’ve asked your assistant to reschedule tomorrow’s lunch so we can have a slow morning instead,” he reveals. He steers them to where Peat and Fort are waiting.
Noeul smiles brightly. “You’re the best.”
Boss smirks, trying to squash the butterflies in his stomach at Noeul’s smile. “Of course I am.”
“Ew, stop being gross,” Peat cuts in.
Boss only watches as Peat and Noeul stroll away, arm-in-arm, to look at Peat’s art. Boss is confident they’ll gossip more than actually look at the art, but he doesn’t begrudge Noeul that privilege at all. The Prince deserves to have a moment of normality with his friend.
“So when are you going to make your move?” Fort asks as he falls into step with Boss.
Boss playfully shoves Fort’s shoulder with his own even as he keeps an eye on Noeul and Peat. He and Fort won’t be too far from the pair, just enough to give them their bubble of privacy. “I don’t know what you mean.” He knows Fort won’t give up, but he needs to at least pretend not to know what his friend is saying.
“I mean your boner for your Prince Charming.”
“You’re so crass,” Boss retorts.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not right,” Fort sing-songs.
Boss sighs. “Of course you’re right. He’s gorgeous and amazing, how can anyone not like him?” he acknowledges. “But I can’t. He’s the Prince. I’m his bodyguard.”
Fort pats him on the shoulder. “I thought that too, but look at me and P’Peat now!”
Boss snorts. “It’s different. Peat’s not royalty. He doesn’t have expectations of marriage.”
Fort lets out a low whistle. “That serious, huh?”
“I don’t know,” Boss sighs. “Yes? Maybe?” He scans the room, purposefully not looking at either Noeul just ahead of him or Fort next to him. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t just try it out with the Prince, you know?”
“You could,” Fort argues but raises his hands in surrender when Boss glares at him. “You could talk to him about it. See where it goes.”
Boss snorts. “Yeah, thanks, I’m good. I’d rather be his friend and bodyguard than nothing at all.”
That, at least, is the truth.
They fall silent and follow Noeul and Peat through the gallery. Fort cracks a couple jokes at the expense of some of the other guests and Boss feels his shoulders relaxing. It’s not a huge deal. Fort just wants him to be happy.
Boss means it, though. He would much rather have Prince Noeul in his life as this unattainable dream than not at all. In a different life things might be different. In a different life they might be coworkers. In a different life they might be best friends and lovers.
In this life, however, Boss will be Noeul’s protector and support. It’s enough.