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The trees were like goblin hands as he rode through them, stretching out spindly knuckles and fingers as if to pull him off his horse. Ryeowook shivered, gripping his sword hilt tighter when a breeze rustled through the branches and the tip of a knuckled branch touched the top of his head.
He swallowed hard, studying the shadows cast by the tall trunks, the light filtering through the leaves. The tower that was his destination spiraled through the treetops, blue roof twisting into a needlepoint that pierced through the clouds.
The sight of it reminded Ryeowook of his experience with the witch who had cast his future. She had cackled very loudly as she gave him his directions to his princess, as if she knew something he did not, and the memory of that laugh scraped down the ridges of Ryeowook’s spine with a bone folder.
She was, however, a good witch, and her predictions were never wrong. Ryeowook could not afford for it to be wrong. Finding his princess was his rite of passage, and only when he had returned home with his princess in tow would his father deem him ready for the crown.
The trees parted around him, as if sensing his hesitation, revealing the tower in its full glory. Made of white brick, it practically glowed against the blue of the sky, and the emerald green of the trees that surrounded its glade. Soft moss grew in the gaps of the mortar, speckled with white-capped mushrooms and delicate blue blossoms that he could not identify. Pink and white daisies dotted the grass beneath, and the sight of them made Ryeowook get off his horse to pick them. He plucked a handful, tucking one into his hair before gathering the rest into a makeshift bouquet.
Hopefully his prince– princess, it had to be a princess, liked flowers.
Ryeowook circled the tower twice, exhaling roughly when he spotted no door, but on his third go around, the sound of the stones creaking and scraping against each other made him stop in his tracks.
He watched in awe as the stones shuffled themselves like a magician’s deck of cards until they formed a doorway.
Ryeowook blew out a breath at the sight of the stone steps and ducked under the archway.
His prince– princess was waiting.
He began the climb, clutching the flowers to his chest. But by the time he arrived at the top, he was huffing and puffing, panting like a dog. Why did towers need so many stairs?
Even leaning on the stone wall did nothing to help cool his heated skin. Ryeowook blew a loose strand of hair out of his face, wishing he had a mirror as he straightened up off the wall. He ruffled his locks nervously, before setting a hand on the knob.
The room was surprisingly neat for such a small space. Ryeowook counted at least two stacks of books, a pile of music sheets and a stove that further spiraled anxiety through him. What could he give to a woman who can cook? She was going to take his place in the kitchen!
A sheer curtain was drawn over the bed when Ryeowook finally deigned to look at it. He could not see the woman’s face through the fabric, but he could ascertain that she was very tall. Another strike against her.
Heart beating rapidly against his chest, Ryeowook pulled the curtain aside with a trembling hand.
His heart tripped over itself and fell down a chasm when his eyes were first laid upon his fated one. She had a very boyish face, soft hair curling over plump cheeks. Her lips were a rosy pink that made Ryeowook swallow roughly.
This was it.
He untangled an elegant hand that had been wrapped around a rose’s stem, taking note of how large it was, before he pressed the knuckles against his lips.
“Hello,” he stuttered as long lashes fluttered.
Slowly, large eyes opened, if a little blearily. Ryeowook stood back, heart hammering in his throat as the prince– princess? sat up with a yawn.
“Are you my prince?”
Ryeowook’s eyes were drawn straight down when the covers fell from the lithe body, and the rush of relief that poured through his veins was indescribable.
He fell upon him with a cry of delight, snatching up those beautiful hands.
“Oh, thank god! You’re a prince!” he gasped. “You have a dick!”
The prince recoiled as if he had stabbed him, petal pink lips twisting with displeasure.
“That’s very crude of you,” he scolded, but Ryeowook was nearly effervescent with joy.
“I wouldn’t have been able to bring myself to wed a woman,” he babbled, squeezing the prince’s large hands to his chest.
The prince’s brows knitted, but he did not object to the treatment.
“What is your name, Sir Prince?” he asked. “It is very rude of you not to introduce yourself before grabbing me like you have.”
Ryeowook flushed hotly, dropping the prince’s hands like they were hot coals.
“Ryeowook, sir– I mean–.”
“You can call me Kyuhyun,” Kyuhyun intercepted his blunder gracefully, rosy lips pushing into a pout. “Now will you please get me out? It is terribly cold in a tower, and I would like a hug.”
Kyuhyun was very much taller than he was, but Ryeowook was so relieved that he was a man that he could have cared less. He enveloped Kyuhyun in his arms at the request, squeezing hard. Kyuhyun squeaked in the most adorable fashion when Ryeowook tried to pick him up, but he was far too gangly and unwieldy to twirl.
“You’re very small for a prince,” Kyuhyun commented with a frown, but he wrapped his arms around Ryeowook instead. Ryeowook’s heart took flight, the same way he did when Kyuhyun twirled him instead. “Very pretty.”
Too late, Ryeowook remembered the flower in his hair. And the flowers he had meant to give him but dropped all over the floor in his delight. His cheeks heated, but Kyuhyun did not seem to mind, picking the flowers off the floor. He turned around, carefully arranging the blooms in his hair.
“There,” he said with finality. “Now I can be your princess.”
Ryeowook’s heart swelled, and he nodded furiously. He would call Kyuhyun anything, give him anything his heart desired if it meant that he would not have to share a bed with a woman he could never love.
Kyuhyun held out his hand importantly, his cheeks pinking.
Ryeowook pressed his lips against his knuckles and watched Kyuhyun’s ears turn a pleasant red.
“Shall we?” he asked, gesturing to the doorway.
Kyuhyun gave him a nod, and Ryeowook tangled their fingers together, leading them into their new future together.