Within The Forest | Chapter 10

within the forest | chapter 10

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader x prince!Seungmin word count: 2.6k words summary: A normal birthday celebration with Chan and Seungmin, everything will go well, right..? a/n: atp, I can say that I'm bad at coming up with a summary--

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A soft humming escaped from the princess's lips as she hooked an earring to her left ear, the little fairy sitting on her vacancy became her sole audience for her little show. Beomgyu snatched a nearby tissue and wrote a message to her with his gold dust. He purposely sneezed to gain her attention. It was his typical way Beomgyu started a conversation in his little fairy form. She stepped closer toward him, leaning into the vacancy.

“You seem happy today, your highness. Did good news reach you?”

“Today is my birthday, Beomgyu and I can’t wait to spend it with Seungmin and Chan!” She unfolded her hand in front of Beomgyu and with a little hesitation, he climbed onto her hand. She began spinning around her room as the thought of spending another day with Seungmin and Chan excited her more than she had expected. Beomgyu had held her palm tightly to control himself from vomiting and flew off her hand.

A knock on the door was all it took to save Beomgyu. The fairy flew out her window when she headed for the door. She opened the door and was greeted by Sara holding a tulip. The maid smiled widely as she expanded her arm toward Y/N. 

“Happy birthday, Princess Y/N! I pick up this before I come here.” 

“Thank you, Sara!”

“Let’s get your hair done, should we? I can put this flower on your braid if you desire.”

“That will be lovely.”

Sara chuckled and closed the door after her. The rest of the morning was filled with Sara and Y/N’s laughter as they shared what they would do today. 

His hand ran through the dresses on display, mind running through every possibility of her reaction to the dress. A frustrated sigh left his mouth as he grabbed a handful of his hair. He averted his gaze to Taehyun who was buying fruits outside the shop he was in. He never thought finding a perfect gift for someone would be this difficult. Buying a gift for his friends rarely crossed his mind because all his friends were temporary.

“Come on, Chan! Think of something.” He mumbled to himself. The store owner had his eyes on Chan for some time, emerged from the counter and walked up to Chan. Amidst his busy customers, he saw Chan had the hardest time choosing, alluding to how long he had been standing at the same place and the constant zoning out.

“I see you are having a hard time choosing. Can you tell me what she likes? I can help you, son.”

Chan’s hand retreated from the dress and faced the old man.

 “Oh uhm…she likes flowers and anything to do with nature. She’s like a child when she gets excited over something small. Her brown eyes look so ethereal under the blinding sun, that I would like to stare at them for a long time. She brought a huge change in my life.” A fond smile made its way to Chan’s lips.

“You really love this girl, don’t you?”

Blood pumped onto Chan’s face and he immediately rubbed his right ear when he realised his words sounded like he was in love with Y/N. He vigorously shook his head.

“You took it wrong! She’s like my little sister!”

The old man chuckled and patted Chan’s shoulder in a fatherly manner.

 “Whatever you said, son. She must be lucky to have you.”

Chan’s face turned into a much brighter shade of red at his statement. The old man took one dress from the display and presented it to Chan. It was a soft yellow dress with a pink flower motif all over the dress and a puffed sleeve. It was simple, something that Chan didn’t expect to get recommended by the owner.

“I always say to myself that a sincere gift is more worthy than an expensive gift. Let me pack this up for you, son”

The owner returned to the counter. Sincere – why was he worried about Y/N liking the present or not? 

After paying for the gift, Taehyun and Chan returned to the cottage. Chan twisted the doorknob and immediately sneezed loudly, causing Taehyun to jolt back in surprise.

“Are you okay, Chan?” He asked and Chan just nodded, looking at the ground. The floor was covered with gold dust that belonged to none other than Beomgyu himself. Taehyun placed his things in the kitchen and dragged Chan to the backyard after he had put the dress in his room.

Taehyun could guess the reason behind this gold dust mess in the living room. Upon pushing the door to the backyard, his guess was right. Beomgyu’s back was facing them and some bunnies were hopping beside him with a pink ribbon stuffed between their lips. Birds were putting ribbons and flowers on trees. Beomgyu’s wings flapped rapidly until a small mountain of golden dust formed under his wings.

“I’m sorry Chan. Beomgyu did this when something excited him” Taehyun had his head down when he spoke.

“It’s fine Taehyun. The tree already cleaned up the mess.” He patted Taehyun’s shoulder.

Chan went to Beomgyu and asked him to make some arrangements for the decorations to which Beomgyu nodded and instructed the animal. The bunnies quickly hop toward the birds, handing the decorations to the birds. Taehyun stood far from the event. A tender smile crept up on his countenance as he observed how the animal approached Chan with ease. Soon, he joined them to prepare for this evening’s celebration.

“Good evening, princess and happy birthday! So, where are we heading today?” Seungmin asked and planted a kiss on the back of her palm. She laced her hand with him and dragged Seungmin into her room swiftly. It had become his routine to visit Stellious because of their wedding. 

In the past few days, they had ditched their responsibilities to get to know each other and the kingdom better. The prince had just arrived when she sneaked him inside her bedroom. To say Seungmin was confused was an understatement. The princess childishly glanced at him, causing the young prince to become bewildered once he stepped inside her room. She took the black feather under her pillow and held Seungmin's hand.

“Remember when I said I would bring you to meet Chan one day?”

He nodded with enthusiasm 

“Well, let’s go! Close your eyes”

Seungmin shut his eyes and a meadow came into his vision once he unfolded them. The birds' sweet melody greeted his ear and flew above them as if welcoming their arrival to Chan’s little cottage. She pulled him toward the cottage.

“Promise me you won’t be so surprised when you meet him.”

Seungmin raised his thumb and they entered the house. 

“Little flora, I’m in the backyard!” Chan’s voice erupted. Without her lead, Seungmin busted into the backyard and his eyes widened in amazement, he never thought he would see fairies that only appeared in his fairytale book. The three fairies halted their action as their gaze met the prince’s glimmering and curious gaze. The animals that were with them dashed away, terrified of the newcomers.

“I’m sorry for not telling earlier but this is Prince Kim Seungmin, my future husband.” She grinned sheepishly. 

“It’s alright! Finally, we met in person, Seungmin! Little flora had told me about you a lot.” Chan uttered, smiling at Seungmin. Seungmin replied with a big smile stretched; one that Chan always saw on a kid's face. His glimmering eyes reminded Chan so much of a puppy that his siblings adopted before he left their house.

“I’m delighted to meet you too! I mean the three of you! I thought you guys didn’t exist. Honestly,  you guys look even better than I imagined!”

By this time, Beomgyu had turned into a little fairy to hide his blushing cheeks which didn’t go unnoticed by Taehyun. Beomgyu rested on Taehyun’s shoulder, burying his face into the blonde’s neck. 

“Where did that ashed-hair fairy disappear?! I never read a tale that said they can vanish right in front of your eyes!” 

“I apologise for that, Your Highness. Beomgyu is pretty shy when it comes to compliments. The small fairy on my shoulder is him.” 

Beomgyu flew off from Taehyun’s shoulder. A wave of gold dust appeared and under them was Beomgyu, cheeks reddened. Chan chuckled and gently grabbed Seungmin and Y/N’s hands. He gestured to them to sit on the mat in the middle of the backyard. 

When they settled down, the princess just registered the decoration the animal had put up. Behind them stood two trees, a string of letters tied on its branches, forming a ‘happy birthday’. A tower filled with dessert and snacks was on the mat as well.

“Did you prepare this by yourself?!”

“With the help of them of course!” He pointed to the other fairies who swiftly entered his cottage when all eyes were on them. Taehyun mouthed something to Chan before fully shutting the door.

“Seriously Chan, you don’t need to prepare all of this. Being with you and Seungmin today is enough.”

 “Well, compared to what you had done in my life, this isn’t enough to repay them”

He averted his gaze to the prince and beamed “I hope you enjoy this dessert, Seungmin. Is not much”

“This is more than enough, Chan. Thank you for preparing this!”

The evening went on with Seungmin asking question after question toward Chan. Some questions were odd to ask but Chan answered them honestly nevertheless – it was entertaining he’d say. Their interaction was wholesome to watch. From her point of view, she saw figments of herself and her mother telling tales about the outside world in her bed, a single lit candle witnessed their laughter and smiles.

Out of consciousness, a tear poured down her cheeks. She hastily wiped it off but Seungmin held her hand and glanced at her worriedly.

“Are you okay? Did we make you feel left out or anything?” He asked, panic evident in his voice and she felt the grasp tightened. She rapidly shook her head and cleaned the stain with her free hand. She didn’t know why it had happened either.

“I’m okay, you just remind me of my younger self. Anyway, I’m glad you’re comfortable with him, Seungmin.”

Chan looked up to the sky and immediately grabbed their hand, dragging them to a familiar riverside. Seungmin and Y/N exchanged a confused look when they arrived and Chan simply pointed to the other end of the lake where two mountains stood side by side. The sun was slowly disappearing behind the horizon, and the golden rays mingled with the sky, creating an orange-coloured sky for them to watch.

“It’s gorgeous” she muttered.

He became more infuriated every time he glanced at the dagger on his desk. His assassin promised a beating heart of the fairy in the morning but nothing. Blood coated the dagger and its metallic smell spread throughout the room, causing nausea to anyone who set foot inside. He gritted his teeth as he stood up from the comfort of his chair, palm slamming to the desk.  

He threw the dagger across the room and it clattered against the floor, his face was burning red as he marched toward the door. Relying on someone else wouldn’t fulfil his dying hunger so he better take it upon himself.

He rushed to his horse in the castle front yard and shoved Gale away before climbing up on the horse. He gave the horse a harsh slack and it ran out of the castle, the king clenched the rein in his palm as the horse picked up his speed toward the forest. Once the forest registered in his view, he pulled the rein and the horse followed suit, its feet came to an abrupt stop as it neigh.

The king’s eyes widened at the sight of huge blackthorns growing from the ground, concealing the forest’s entrance. It looked impossible to cut it down with a sword. He dismounted from the horse. His knuckles had become white from the strength of his clenched fist, he could feel his nails digging into the skin of his palm. 

“You’re a tomato, Your Highness” Someone snickered behind him, causing the king to whip his head to the source. Duncan showed him a smile while tilting his head – a smile that was too eerie to call it a normal smile. He approached the thorn and caressed its harsh surface.

“I’m sorry if that was rude, Your Highness but I believe you need my help?”

“I’ll never beg for help from you, Duncan!”

“Even if your precious daughter is at risk of getting killed? That’s just irresponsible. ” He jeered 

His jaw tensened at the statement. “Must I remind you that your people almost killed my daughter?”

“You’re slightly wrong, Your Highness. He was. After he broke the rule, he was simply a betrayer to me” He spun around, resting his gaze on the king’s. 

“I believe we have been in this stage before, Your Highness. Don’t be silly; you asked for my help before. You can’t kill him without me, you know that better than anyone” He smirked

Chan’s shoulder suddenly stiffened after a wind washed over him. His eyes observed his surroundings while he stood up. 

The air felt heavier. 

The hair on the back of his neck stood up. 

This wasn’t right…

“Chan? Something’s wrong–”

“Y/N look out!” She heard Seungmin shout before her view was completely covered by Seungmin’s chest and a warm sensation flowed from her forehead. His hand clenched around her shoulder as a grunt escaped. 

Her heart stopped beating momentarily when she saw an arrow piercing through Seungmin’s shoulder. Beyond his shoulder, she caught a figure hiding among the trees, preparing to shoot another arrow. Chan cursed under his breath before wrapping his arm around their waist and launching himself into the air.  

Although it began growing dark, she could make out the figure. Oh, how she wished the sky was coal black.

Chan landed on the ground and quickly screamed for Taehyun and Beomgyu. The called fairies exited the house and horror was written on their faces. They helped Seungmin into the house and pulled the arrow out. Seungmin chewed his bottom lips as Beomgyu cleaned up the wound.

“It’s going to be alright, Your Highness” Taehyun comforted as he hovered his hand on Seungmin’s wound. His hand glowed and before Seungmin’s eyes, his skin began attaching itself. A small gasp bubbled out from Seungmin as he ran his fingers over his injured shoulder – there weren’t scars or invisible marks.

Chan’s fist clenched as he headed to the door. Seungmin shouldn’t be injured, it should be him instead, the prince was innocent. She noticed his behaviour, grabbed his wrist, and shot him a begging look.

“Whatever is inside your head, please don’t do it. I don’t want you to be injured after Seungmin“ She pleaded, the edge of her eyes began brimming with tears. Chan released himself from her grasp gently and shook his head

“Stay with Seungmin, promise me. Return to the castle after this, don’t wait for me.”

He gave her a forced smile. His footsteps echoed through her ear and she swore her vision blurred briefly. In her blurry vision, she saw Chan’s gigantic wings facing her while huge orange flames devoured everything around her. She heard him muttered sorry to her before darkness consumed her.

Was that her imagination or a piece of her forgotten memories?

within the forest | chapter 11

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader x prince!Seungmin word count: 2.1k words summary: It's about time the king confronts you about the fairies a/n: I apologize for this bad chapter T-T

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The crackling of the fire camp under the chimney had become her company as she clenched the pink dress Chan gave her yesterday. She rested her elbow on her knee, bouncing as long as she could count, face buried into the soft material. Yesterday’s accident caused a memory to surface back. She can’t shut her eyelid without deciphering it.

What happened? She couldn’t grasp any vivid memory of it. She was young, maybe recalling was useless. How hard she wrecked her brain, all she could remember was the bright orange and red flame engulfing her, her throat was in pain and a thick layer of mist clouded her vision.

“Y/N, why are you up this late?” The sweet voice of her mother snapped her head toward it. Y/N’s gaze followed the woman’s silhouette until it settled on the chair across hers. 

“Nothing. I couldn’t sleep. Maybe I’m overthinking my future. You know overthinking is envious of my good sleep sometimes.” 

She offered her mother a tender smile before taking her hand into hers. Rubbing her thumb over the wrinkly skin of her mother, she pecked it. This hand takes care of her, bled before and maybe had soaked in her tears while she was a careless little girl. 

She was ashamed as she was too late to realise her selfishness. It was a selfish act to forget the one who gave you freedom and happiness. The queen’s hand touched the princess’s cheek and caressed it softly.

“I’m here if you have any problem. I’m here if you want to rant about anything… including Chan.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You knew?”

“Ever since you were 8. I met him a few days ago and I’m glad he’s the one you met. Do know I welcomed him as your friend” She smiled and relief washed over her, easing her mind from the possibility of her mother loathing him too.

“I’m always by your side, sweetie. No matter how devastated or ecstatic it is. Now…” She rose to her feet, approaching the princess. She kissed on top of her head, her lips lingered on her temple before pulling away. 

“Go to sleep. I promise you, whatever is in your mind, won’t be a big matter as you wake up tomorrow.”

“Wait, mom…” She immediately stood up and pressed her lips tightly. It had been a long time since the word left her and a lump formed in her throat, causing difficulty for her to utter it. 

“Can I hug you?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course, you can, dear” She rushed into her mother’s arms and buried her face into the crook of her neck. Her scent acted as a blanket, engulfing the princess in warmth and comfort – something she didn’t realise until now. It brought ease to her troubled mind, in her arms she could breathe again.

“Thank you, Mom.”

[1 week later]

To see everything set up for her wedding was something out of her childhood dream and she was speechless. The day she wouldn’t think come, she would face it sooner than expected.

“Why did they push the date forward?” Seungmin asked as they walked around the store, picking flowers to decorate the castle’s entrance. 

“They see progress in our relationship. They act fast when opportunity strikes.” She pointed to the flower in front of them and the worker quickly jotted it in her book. She turned to Seungmin, taking his hands into hers and exited the shop. The last week went by in a blink, the preparation for the wedding kept them busy until they didn’t realise how much time had passed. It was refreshing to step outside again.

“Don’t you think they’re in such a rush?”

Her steps halted beside a post lamp, gaze stuck on the wanted poster. Her blood ran cold as she saw the sketch of the man. Seungmin followed her gaze, leaning down beside her ear.

“Isn’t that Chan?” he whispered.

Wanted…It only meant that Chan was in a death or alive situation. How long has it been here? But given he’s a fairy, there’s no way a human could kill him.

Right?

“I shouldn’t be standing here doing nothing to prevent this.” She was going to flee from the town but Seungmin swiftly grabbed her arm and tugged it, causing her to land on Seungmin’s chest.

“Don’t. Doing this will put Chan, Taehyu, Beomgyu and even you at a much bigger risk! Your dad is searching for him, think about the consequence of your imprudent action, Y/N. Believe me. If you help him or something, that will make your dad more furious than he is.”

The king wouldn’t put up a wanted poster if someone weren’t a threat to the kingdom.

Heavy footsteps came into a pause behind them. A light tap on her shoulder caused Y/N to force a smile onto her countenance as she spun around, meeting face-to-face with her carriage driver.

“The king wants to meet you in an instant.” He opened the door, palm unfolded as if inviting her to climb into the vehicle.

“See you later.” She glanced at Seungmin before entering – Speaking of the devil. 

Once the horse stopped, she instantly hopped off the carriage and headed to the king’s office. His right-hand man opened the door, and his announcement of the princess's arrival echoed through the room. Her father’s back was facing her when she entered. His hands rested on her hips as he watched the outside view with a smile.

“Why do you want to meet me, Dad?”

He turned around, approached her and pulled her in a hug. Her body turned tense under his arm. Something was odd, he rarely does this. The king loosened his grip, giving an indecipherable smile before letting go of her figure.  

“Do I need a reason to see my daughter? Anyway, how is Seungmin? Is everything fine?”

“We’re still awkward but I’m sure that won’t last long.”

“I’m relieved to hear that and glad I pushed the date. So, you don’t care about the fairies mhm?”

Infuriating crawled inside her, and her fist slowly balled up. She averted her gaze down to the floor, shutting her eyes to compose herself. Showing him that she cares about them will put them in danger. 

Held it back, Y/N

“The fairies? Why do you ask about them? They shouldn’t be in our conversation.”

“Oh! I think they should. I don’t want them to destroy your future, Y/N”

“How are they capable of that?” 

The king walked to his desk, collected some scattered paper and handed them to her. 

Aged pictures of corpses. It was Duncan’s work, she knew only because of Beomgyu's visit. If Beomgyu didn’t come that night, her trust in Chan would crumble even more. It was hard to remain calm given the tension slowly building inside the room.

“They’ll kill you if you’re too close to them, darling. I can’t let that happen to my sweet daughter.”

She quickly brushed off his previous reason as an excuse when she saw his sinister grin. It was clear that he was persuading her to abandon the fairies.

“Then, don’t do anything. Don’t kill them”

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!” He gripped her shoulder, tight enough to notice his anger began taking control of him. She darted her eyes to his face, his eyes were shaking – They screamed fear. He was afraid of the idea his plan would come to a pathetic ending.

“Understand what? What’s the difference between you and them if you kill them? Nothing! Both sides are monsters.” 

She escaped his grip and left the room, passing past a silhouette whose hands were hanging after the attempt to call the princess was vain. The figure stayed where it was, hearing the king’s scream in frustration. 

“I want his heart on my desk tonight! No matter what the circumstance is!”

Her hand clenched her dress, running away from the place before the king noticed her appearance there.

“Beomgyu, you need to help me,” She said to the tiny fairy sleeping on her table. Beomgyu woke up, rubbing his eyes softly before tilting his head. She slid a sealed letter to him.

“Give it to him. It’s important” 

He nodded and stood up, balancing the big envelope behind him before flying off, leaving scattered shining dust on the wooden surface.

That night, she was at Chan’s cottage. What her father said didn’t sit right with her, causing the worry to overflow. Hugging her knee closer to her chest, she shivered in the night breeze. It was chilly tonight, and wearing thin clothes doesn’t provide warmth. She rested her chin on her forearm, watching the tiny creatures dancing on the water's surface. The creature seemed to be created by flames.

They move elegantly with their partner, and the water vibrates under their feet. The creatures beamed her a smile every time their gaze met and continued waltzing, drawing gorgeous paintings on the untouchable surface for humans. The drawing accompanies the stars' reflection.

A blanket suddenly draped around her. “Are you planning to get a fever tomorrow?”

Chan sat beside her. She chuckled while shaking her head.

“If I did, I’m running to you first so you can take care of me.”

“Then? I get sick too?”

“Yes! It would be unfair if I’m the only one who gets sick.”

He glanced at her with the are-you-for-real-now look to which he received a giggle. His hand reached for the end of the blanket, pulling it to cover her body.

How long will this stay? 

“The creatures are beautiful, chan.”

“And stunning.”

“Just like you”

She turned her head toward him, smiling tenderly. A silence lived up to the surroundings as they stared into each other’s eyes. Red tints slowly climbed into Chan’s cheeks as his eyes roamed elsewhere as long as it was not her face.

“I like how your eyes reflect the stars above.”

“I like how your hug feels like a warm hot chocolate after a full day from work.”

“I like your wings. Your so-called hideous black wings. Whenever you bring me up to the sky, a new world unfolds. A world that I’ll never experience if I don’t meet you”

“Even if there are a thousand people who want to be my home, I will always choose you”

“It never changes, I promise you”

His cheeks and ears burned from all of the compliments. Hearing tons of compliments from people was normal, he got it all the time when his friends were still alive. None of it made him flustered like this. Was it because of how long their friendship lasted? That hearing was enough to engulf him in a warm feeling.

He observed the creatures, unsure of a reply.

“Thank you, little flora. You were the best gift the universe had given to me”  

The simpler the better

“The same goes for you”  She laid on his lap, pinching his rosy cheeks. His eyes widened, and she ignored it.

"Are you okay, Chan?"

He nodded, removing stray hairs that were blocking her view.

"Why do you ask?"

"Beomgyu told me that the army attacked you several times. Every time he says that I want to check up on you but Beomgyu asked me to focus on my wedding."

"He's right but you don't need to worry too much. I'll be fine because Taehyun and Beomgyu will be there to protect me. Your wedding is much more important now. While we're at it, I'm excited to attend your wedding!"

"You will be gorgeous in a wedding dress, little flora. I can do a little touch-up. A small fairy touch will make everyone speechless with your beauty!!"

His eyes glimmered in excitement 

"Promise you'll be there?"

"Of course!"

He intertwined his pinkie with hers.

“What time is it now?”

“It’s…midnight”

“Happy birthday, my dear fairy godfather” Her eyelids closed as her head felt lighter on his lap. Chan’s gaze turned soft and he ran his slender fingers through her brown locks.

“You remembered my birthday…”

He lifted her and appeared in her room. Flying to the palace could wake her up, he doesn’t want to risk the possibility. He placed her on the bed, their intertwined pinkies didn’t go unnoticed by him. 

“Thank you for making me alive again, little flora”

Will this be the last time?

He doesn’t know what the future holds for them.

Was it possible to be scared of tomorrow?

Duncan’s on their side, eliminating him is easy now.

He might get killed tonight, tomorrow or in his sleep.

He never knows

We never know.

I'M CRYINGGGG, THIS HURTS MY HEART. And chan as the fairy godmother ;-;

My Favorite Princess | Hyunjin

ᑉ³pairing; Husband! Dad! Hyunjin x Reader

ᑉ³genre; Fluff

ᑉ³warnings; none

ᑉ³Authors Note; Hope you all enjoy :)

As you prepare for your daughter, Areum's Cinderella-themed birthday party, the air is alive with anticipation. Your little princess has been dreaming of this day for weeks, and you're determined to make it a fairytale come true.

With Hyunjin by your side, you dive into the task of transforming your home and backyard into a magical kingdom straight out of a storybook. The party decor team bustles around, hanging shimmering streamers in shades of blue and silver, while fairy lights twinkle like stars in the night sky.

"Let's place the Cinderella carriage centerpiece right in the center of the table," you suggest, pointing to the elegant coach adorned with sparkling crystals. "And we can scatter glass slipper confetti around it for an extra touch of magic."

As you direct the placement of each decoration, you can't help but feel a surge of joy at the thought of your daughter's delight. This party is more than just a celebration—it's a chance to make her dreams come true.

"Mommy, Daddy, look at this!" your daughter exclaims, twirling in her blue tulle dress as she examines the decorations. She is dressed in a custom-made Cinderella gown. As for you and Hyunjin, you've opted for a more casual approach to your attire, both donning outfits in shades of blue to match the party's color scheme.

"It's like I'm really in Cinderella's castle!" she continues.

You smile at her enthusiasm, feeling a warmth spread through your heart. "It's all for you, sweetheart." 

Hyunjin crouches down to his daughter's level, his eyes sparkling with affection as he takes in her excitement. "You look absolutely beautiful, just like Cinderella herself," he says, his voice filled with warmth.

She giggles, twirling once more, the skirt billowing around her like a cloud of magic. "Thank you, Daddy!" she chirps, reaching out to take his hand. In her other hand, she clutches Jiniret, dressed like one of the mice from Cinderella. "I'm so happy!"

Your heart swells with love as you watch the tender moment between father and daughter. Despite the stress of last-minute preparations, seeing the joy on their faces makes it all worth it.

Hyunjin takes her hand gently, his touch reassuring as he leads her out towards the backyard. The sun casts a golden glow over the meticulously decorated space, where shimmering streamers in shades of blue and silver dance in the gentle breeze. A canopy draped with twinkling fairy lights adds a touch of enchantment to the scene, creating an atmosphere fit for a princess's celebration.

Meanwhile, you continue to oversee the placement of decorations, your attention focused on every intricate detail. Each corner of the backyard and house is adorned with magical touches. Banners depicting scenes from Cinderella's story flutter gently in the wind, adding to the whimsical ambiance.

As the party guests begin to arrive, your home fills with laughter and excitement. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked treats, from cupcakes adorned with edible glass slippers to sandwiches cut into pumpkin shapes. Tables are adorned with bowls of fruit arranged artfully to resemble a majestic castle.

Areum eagerly greets each newcomer with a radiant smile, her eyes scanning the crowd in anticipation, hoping to catch a glimpse of the "real-life Cinderella." She can hardly contain her joy as she awaits the arrival of the enchanting princess she's been dreaming of meeting.

"Daddy, Mommy, when is Cinderella coming?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Hyunjin chuckles warmly, ruffling her hair affectionately. "She'll be here soon, sweetheart," he assures her.

Your phone suddenly buzzes with an incoming call. With a furrowed brow, you step away to answer the incoming call. You were eagerly awaiting the delivery of the cake, and were hoping it wasn't a last-minute hiccup.

"Be back soon," you murmur, offering a reassuring smile before stepping away. "Hello?" you answer.

On the other end of the line, you hear a hurried voice speaking, delivering the news you had feared. "I'm sorry to inform you that the princess performer has fallen ill and won't be able to make it to the party," the voice says, its tone apologetic.

Anxiety begins to creep up within you as you hang up the phone, your mind swirling with worry. How will you possibly break this devastating news to your daughter? And more pressing still, how will you salvage her dream birthday party now?

In the background, curiosity sparkles in your daughter's eyes as she turns to Hyunjin. "Daddy, what do you think Cinderella's like?" she asks, her voice filled with wonder.

Hyunjin grins down at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, I think she's probably very kind and brave, just like you," he replies, his voice soft and reassuring.

Your daughter beams at the comparison, her heart swelling with pride. "Do you think she has a prince, like in the story?" she asks, her excitement growing with each word.

Hyunjin's smile widens as he considers her question. "I think so," he says with a playful wink. "But let me ask you something, my little princess. What do you like the most about Cinderella?"

Your daughter's brow furrows in thought as she considers his question.

As she nods enthusiastically, she reaches out to squeeze Hyunjin's hand. "I love that Cinderella's prince always finds a way to be there for her when she needs him the most."

Hyunjin chuckles at her observation, his eyes shining with affection. "Ah, so you're a fan of the prince, then?" he teases, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

"He's like a hero," she declares, her eyes shining with admiration.

As your daughter's excitement fills the air, your thoughts race, scrambling for a solution to the sudden dilemma. It's already an hour into the party, and with the festivities in full swing, so finding a replacement princess performer seems virtually impossible.

Hyunjin's laughter breaks through your frantic thoughts, drawing your attention back to the present moment. His gaze flickers briefly to you, sensing something amiss. A subtle shift in your demeanor doesn't escape his notice, and a furrow creases his brow as he registers your troubled expression.

"Mommy, are you okay?" your daughter asks, her concern mirroring Hyunjin's.

You force a smile, attempting to reassure her. "I'm fine, sweetie," you say, your voice catching slightly. "Just... thinking about somethin-"

But before you can even finish the sentence, he's already spinning a new tale. "Oh my goodness, look who's here! Your best friend Ha-ri just arrived!" he exclaims, his voice filled with excitement.

"Really?" your daughter gasps, her eyes widening with anticipation.

Without another word, she darts off towards the entrance, her Cinderella gown billowing behind her as she races to see her friend.

As your daughter bounds off to greet the guests, Hyunjin's playful demeanor fades, replaced by genuine concern. He stands beside you, his hand gently squeezing yours as he senses your distress.

"Is everything alright?" he asks softly, his eyes searching yours for any hint of what has occured.

You take a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. "The princess performer... she's unable to make it," you explain, your voice tinged with disappointment. "I don't know how to tell our daughter."

Panic continues to bubble within you, your mind racing with thoughts of your daughter's shattered expectations. She had been so excited for Cinderella to be there, and now you're at a loss for how to break the news to her.

"She's going to be devastated," you murmur, your voice catching with emotion. "All she wanted was Cinderella... she didn't even ask for presents."

Hyunjin's expression softens as he listens to your words, his heart aching for both you and Areum. He wraps his arm around you, pulling you close in a comforting embrace.

"I don't know what to do, Hyunjin," you admit, your voice trembling with worry. "How do we make this up to her?"

Hyunjin's arms tighten around you, his touch a comforting anchor in the storm of your emotions. "Shh, love, we'll figure it out," he murmurs, his voice gentle and soothing. "We'll make her birthday unforgettable, even without Cinderella."

Your words hang heavy in the air, the weight of disappointment pressing down on both of you. "But we'll never live it down if it doesn't happen," you whisper, tears threatening to spill from your eyes.

Hyunjin's touch is tender as he brushes away a stray tear. "Don't worry about that," he says softly, his voice filled with determination. "You worry about greeting the guests and looking pretty. I'll take care of it, okay?"

His words wrap around you like a warm blanket, offering a glimmer of hope in the darkness of your despair. With a shaky nod, you lean into his embrace, finding solace in the strength of his arms.

"Okay," you whisper, your voice barely above a breath. "Okay."

As Hyunjin presses a gentle kiss to your forehead, you feel a sense of calm wash over you. With a shaky exhale, you reluctantly release yourself from his embrace, returning your focus to the tasks at hand.

As you make your way to the backyard to check on the guests, Hyunjin disappears into the depths of the house, determined to salvage the birthday celebration. Amidst the hustle and bustle of serving guests and attending to last-minute details, you lose track of time.

An hour passes in a blur, and as you glance around , you realize that Hyunjin is still nowhere to be found. A sense of worry hits you.

Where could he be?

Before you can dwell on your concerns any further, your daughter's voice interrupts your thoughts. She stands before you, eyes wide with anticipation, hope evident in her voice.

"Mommy, is the princess coming soon?" she asks eagerly.

You search for the right words to soothe her, but the truth catches in your throat.

"I... I'm not sure, sweetheart," you reply, your voice faltering. "But let's focus on enjoying the party, okay?"

As your daughter's questions become more persistent and her restlessness grows, you feel the weight of your uncertainty bearing down on you. Each inquiry chips away at you, until you're on the brink of revealing the truth to her.

But just as you open your mouth to speak, the sound of hoofbeats and the creak of carriage wheels cut through the air, stopping you in your tracks. 

Your daughter's eyes widen in wonder as she turns to you, a spark of hope dancing in her gaze. "Mommy, do you hear that?" she asks, her voice tinged with excitement.

Before you can respond, the source of the sound emerges from around the bend, and there, coming into view, is a magnificent horse-drawn carriage led by a majestic steed.

Your heart skips a beat as you recognize the unmistakable look of a horse-drawn carriage. At the reins is Minho, dressed in regal attire from head to toe. And in the carriage, dressed in shimmering all-white attire, is Hyunjin, a dazzling smile gracing his features.

As the carriage comes to a stop before you, your daughter's face lights up with sheer delight. "I get to have my own carriage!" she exclaims, her voice filled with joy.

Hyunjin chuckles warmly, stepping down from the carriage and sweeping your daughter into his arms. "Of course, my dear," he says, his tone tender. "Why bring Cinderella when you are already a princess? My favorite princess, at that."

Your daughter beams at the compliment, her cheeks flushing with happiness. "And every princess needs her prince, right?" she says, her eyes shining with adoration.

But the surprises don't end there. Coming out of the the carriage is Chan, dressed in an elaborate costume that can only be described as the Fairy Godmother.

Chan, with an exasperated sigh, straightens his posture and adopts a stern expression. He clears his throat.

"Hello, I am Chanita, your Fairy Godmother," he announces in a deadpan tone, clearly not thrilled about his role. You watch as Minho snickers in amusement.

But before he can continue, Hyunjin elbows him so hard that Chan's tone changes abruptly, now filled with excitement. "And I'm here to grant all your birthday wishes!" he exclaims, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

As Chan waves his wand theatrically, a burst of glitter fills the air, and your daughter's laughter fills the space around you. "Fairy Godmother!" she cries with glee, running towards Chan.

Your daughter giggles with delight as Chan scoops her up in his arms, placing her gently inside the carriage. She squeals with excitement as he lifts her, her laughter echoing through the air as she settles into the plush seat.

Meanwhile, Hyunjin descends from the carriage and comes to your side, a grin playing on his lips.

"How did this happen?" you ask incredulously, shaking your head in disbelief.

Hyunjin chuckles, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "I may have called in a few favors," he admits, his tone teasing. "You know, just to make our little princess's birthday extra special."

You raise an eyebrow, unable to resist pressing for more details. "And how on earth did you convince Chan to be the Fairy Godmother?" you inquire, still trying to wrap your head around the unexpected turn of events.

A grin spreads across Hyunjin's face as he leans in to whisper in your ear. "Well, let's just say Changbin wasn't available, and Chan and Minho both lost a bet and owed me a favor," he confesses, his voice laced with amusement.

As your daughter's joyful laughter fills the air, she calls out to Hyunjin, her voice echoing with excitement. "Daddy, come ride with me!" she exclaims, her eyes alight with anticipation.

Hyunjin's eyes sparkle with amusement as he glances at you, a silent question in his gaze. With a nod and a smile, you encourage him to indulge your daughter's request.

As Hyunjin climbs into the carriage, he keeps his gaze fixed on you, his eyes filled with so much love it's palpable. A smile blooms on your lips, and the warmth in your eyes doesn't go unnoticed by your daughter.

"You really love mommy, don't you?" she observes, her voice filled with curiosity.

Hyunjin's smile widens as he turns his attention to his daughter, his heart overflowing with affection. "Yes, sweetheart," he confirms, his voice tender. "Your mommy is my favorite princess."

Your daughter's eyes light up with understanding, and she snuggles closer to him, her small hand finding his. "That's why you're always going to be my favorite prince."

"Why?" Hyunjin asks, his gaze softening with affection as he looks at his daughter, waiting for her answer.

"Because you love mommy more than anyone else," she continues, her gaze unwavering. "And I want to be just like you, loving someone so much it makes magic happen."

Hyunjin's heart swells with pride as he listens to his daughter's heartfelt words. "That's right," he murmurs, his voice filled with tenderness. "Your mommy is the most special person in the world to me."

He intertwines his fingers with hers, holding her hand gently as he speaks. "And you, my dear, are the most precious princess," he continues, his eyes shimmering with love.

With a shared smile, they set off on their enchanting carriage ride, the gentle clip-clop of the horse's hooves accompanying their journey.

As the wind tousles their hair and the golden sunlight bathes them in its warm glow, Hyunjin leans in to whisper in her ear. "Happy birthday my sweet girl," he says softly, his voice carrying the weight of a thousand promises. "I love you."

*·˚ᑉ³ M.LIST | Ko-Fi | Taglist | Thank you for your support | Consider leaving a comment, reblog or like | © 2024 Valkyriexo  licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

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Wish you back: nine

Ex!Seo Changbin x sick!reader

Summary: you and Changbin have been off and on for years, and even though he knows he's made countless mistakes, he can't figure out why you're so set on staying apart this time. Can he get you back if you aren't you anymore?

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· . ˚ 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞

— the moments in which the members of stray kids realize how they truly feel about you.

words・1.4k / pairings・ot8 x gn!reader / warnings・depictions of conflict and anxiety in hyunjin's and han's / genres・domestic fluff, smidges of hurt/comfort, established relationships

a/n・thought i'd try out a new fic format :-) i had so much fun writing these and hope you like reading them just as much. any and all feedback is appreciated, as always!

chan is in a heated staring contest with his notepad when the door opens, and he knows that it’s you who comes in, but his head is miles away, tangled in an amalgamation of syllables and rhythms. he goes on to forget that you’re here for a short while, poring over the unfinished lyrics in front of him with undivided focus. that is, until he feels a gentle hand on his shoulder.

you’ve just pulled a chair up next to his desk. “lemme see,” you say, gesturing to the notepad. there’s a surprised pause, and then chan places it in your hand, scoots closer to you.

you spend the next two hours talking him through his block, but there are periods when you fall silent to brainstorm or to write something down, and chan takes those quiet opportunities just to look at you: wearing one of his old t-shirts, your hair still damp from your shower, completely concentrated. and he knows, then, that he wants to marry you.

minho doesn’t realize he loves you in a singular moment. rather, he has a faint inkling for some time, and then the rug is randomly pulled from beneath his feet, and all of a sudden he can’t remember a version of his world that didn't have you at its center.

there are times when he’s especially aware of his feelings, though. like when he throws a witty remark in your direction and your retort comes back twice as sharp. when your eyes and smile light up like lanterns as you talk to him about your passions. when one (or all) of his cats hover at your side as you go about your day. when he returns home after a grueling practice and you’re there to offer him your comfort, no matter his withdrawn demeanor or sweaty skin.

he is a quiet lover, and sometimes he worries that he’s too quiet, that you have no idea what’s going on inside him every time he looks at you. but words have never really been necessary with minho. you know. you just do.

changbin is greeted by a chilly breeze when he emerges from the gym, and he silently chastizes himself for forgetting to bring an outer layer yet again. but the temperature moves to the back of his mind when he spots you, waiting on the sidewalk, as you said you would. a familiar grin breaks across your face when you see him, and he feels its shape against his lips when he runs over and kisses you, in lieu of hello.

“what are you feeling for dinner?” you ask once he’s pulled away, and he realizes that you’ve pressed something to his chest: one of the hoodies that he keeps at your place, still soft and warm from just coming out of the dryer. and boom—the epiphany hits him, instantly and unequivocally.

he is dumbfounded for a moment, just processing the newfound discovery; and then, out of nowhere, the two of you say the name of the same restaurant at the same time. he swears he never believed in soulmates until he met you.

hyunjin has always held so many emotions in his heart so fervently, to the point that they sometimes overflow in the form of words that he doesn’t believe, in a tone that he doesn’t intend. and it happened again today, when he spoke to you the wrong way in a moment of pure impulse, and the surprise on your face morphed into poorly-disguised hurt.

a few hours later, the weight of his actions sits heavily on his shoulders. when he lifts his phone to call you, his hands are shaking a little, and a breathy apology spills from his lips the moment he hears you on the other end: “i’m sorry, angel. i’m trying, i promise. i really am.” to which you answer, “i know, hyune. i forgive you. we’ll keep trying together, okay?” and your words pull his heartstrings in a new direction entirely.

he asks if he can come over, you say yes, and he tells you he loves you as soon as you open the door. he’s done hiding his heart from you.

jisung’s contagious grin and raucous cackle come easily to him for the most part, but there are times when he forgets how it feels to laugh or to breathe, times when he wants only to hide from the world and all of its scariest parts. and when you see his figure in the doorway tonight, his face cast in a nameless shadow, his shoulders sunken in quiet defeat, you understand immediately that this is one of those times.

“do you wanna talk about it?” you ask as he approaches you. silently, he shakes his head: not tonight. but his body language asks for what he cannot verbalize. you extend your arms toward him, and he buries himself in them the second he’s close enough to, his face nestling the crook of your neck, the tension in his limbs melting at your gentle touch. you stay there for a long time, rubbing circles between his shoulder blades, coaxing him back to the ground, back to you.

wherever he chooses to hide, he thinks he’d like to take you with him.

when felix opens his eyes, the space in the bed next to him is empty, and the faint scent of flour and sugar wafts through the gap beneath his door.

he gets to his feet, throws on some clothes, and wanders in the direction of the smell, rubbing the sleep from his eyes—and the sight that awaits him makes him wonder if he’s still dreaming. you’re standing at the stove, still in your pajamas, hair slightly disheveled from your rest, and there are pancakes in the frying pan before you; sliced strawberries on the cutting board next to the stove. and the look of sheer focus on your face, as if staring at the pancakes will cook them faster, absolutely destroys him. (and he knows in that moment that he wants to wake up to you for the rest of his life.)

with an enamored smile, he wraps his arms around your waist, pulls your back to his chest, and presses a light kiss to the nape of your neck. “morning, beautiful,” he mumbles sweetly. “how fucking lucky am i?”

being around you makes seungmin feel like a kid with a crush. he smiles brighter and laughs louder. he opens like a lotus in bloom when you say his name. the floaty sensation he gets when you kiss his cheek or hold his hand persists for hours afterward—and none of it makes any fucking sense to him. it’s not that he doesn’t believe in love, but he’s never believed that love could feel like this, straight out of a sonnet.

now, your head is on his shoulder, your body rising and falling in your slumber. seungmin looks at your interlocked hands where they rest on his knee, and at the current track displayed on his lockscreen: “still” by day6, a song about losing and loving, about regret and reminiscence. those bright days between us are over, the lyrics go, and he makes a silent promise to your sleeping form that the bright days between the two of you will never end.

the word "love" still doesn't cross his mind, but it is etched all over his face, and carved into his soul.

you and jeongin are telling each other about your days over dinner when your phone lights up with an incoming call, and he nearly spits out his mouthful when he sees who it’s from. for a few seconds, the two of you just stare at each other in flabbergasted silence. but then, you raise your phone to your ear: “hi, grandma! to what do i owe this pleasure?”

and the voice of his grandmother comes back through the receiver. she tells you that she’s just gone on an evening walk and found herself thinking of you, so she wanted to see how you’re doing; if you’re taking care of yourself. you rush to thank her, looking entirely flustered, and a bit like you’re about to burst into tears.

with that, the two of you launch into chatter about everything under the sun: grocery store discounts, the recent humidity, jeongin’s bad habits, you name it. and it finally dawns on jeongin how inextricably embedded in his life you have become—and that he doesn’t want it any other way.

𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤? please consider reblogging, commenting, or sending me an ask to let me know; or, read my other writing here. thanks so much for the support ♡

© 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐱 (est. 090323) · all works are pieces of original writing and all characters and relationships are purely fictional. please do not repost or reuse for any reason.

within the forest | chapter 7

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader word count: 2.1k words summary: expect the unexpected they said(edit because I realized I write the same summery ;-;) warning: mentioned of blood

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He jumped, preparing to push himself against gravity for the first time in a while. He was up in the air with a heavy downstroke, and the beautiful scenery of Stellious met his gaze. He exhaled a deep breath as a cold breeze washed over him. The air felt much lighter up here, and his body eased - he liked the feeling embracing him now.

He flew forward, eyes darting from tree to tree, searching for her figure. He sensed her arrival a moment ago. After some minutes, he caught her at the riverside, playing with a small creature. He landed on the ground with a gust of blowing winds. The princess had folded her eyes as some fallen leaves blew into her.

“That was sure a strong landing, Chan. You blow my hair away.” She chuckled, placing the bunny on the grass and fixing her hair. Chan sat beside her, taking the bunny into his lap. His hand ran through bunny fur as it snuggled further into the male’s leg. She tilted her head to see the animal clearly before cooing at how cute it was.

“At least it’s not a wig. I will laugh if it is one.”

“Funny, Chan.” She filled a palm with water and threw it to Chan. Chan giggled while avoiding the attack.

“Anyway…is everything fine yesterday?”

He hummed nonchalantly while nodding. “Just a small incident. A hunter misfires his arrow. I guess he isn’t used to the bow yet. I’m sorry, I was overreacting yesterday.” He gently placed the sleeping bunny beside them and glanced at her with an apologetic smile.

After hearing her father's conversation last night, she took Chan’s reply as an excuse. When she had put her trust in Chan, it began crushing down slowly. Why did he lie? Was he trying to make her not worry about him? 

Persuading him to tell the truth now, wasn’t a great decision. He seemed happy today and she doesn’t want to see that angelic smile fade. She held herself back from spitting that question. She draped an arm on his shoulder and quickly pushed Chan’s body. He fell into the river with a huge splash, causing the creature to be slightly jolted in its sleep.

A hysterical laugh rang throughout the forest. Chan’s head perked up from the water, eyes narrowing toward her as he reached for her hand. Since she was into laughing, she was oblivious to his actions. In a swift motion, she was under the water.

“Got you!” Chan held her waist and raised her to the surface.

“Look who’s laughing now” He spoke.

“I can swim, Channie. You can let go of me.”

And he did. Y/N backed away and splashed some water toward him. It caught him off guard so he did the same. Each splash became wilder and harsher as time passed - as well as their laughter and joyous screams. The very moment felt like reliving their childhood. An evening where you laugh as if there weren’t tomorrow.

The bunny has got friends to observe their child's behaviour on the water edge. The blonde-haired fairy observed them with arms crossed on his chest, the latter in amusement until his sugar cube melted on his palm. They had their tiny legs soaked in the flowing meek water.

“They seem so happy together. She fills the gap in Chan’s heart, possibly healing his past too.” Beomgyu mumbled as he washed the sugar off and summoned a new sugar cube in his hand.  

Taehyun’s gaze softened at the realisation. He whispered, “Is that so Chan?”

Beomgyu nodded vigorously and Taehyun gazed at him, a gasp leaving his mouth. He dipped his hand into the water and wiped his wet hand over Beomgyu’s lips and cheeks which were sugar-coated.

“You’re much older than me yet you eat like a child. Unbelievable, Gyu.”

“Hopefully Aunty Rosie's shop isn’t closed yet.” She dragged him over the street, through the crowd. The town was busy today. Horses with carriages bustling on the road, folks chatting, it was noisy basically. Twice as he last visited. 

After the sudden chaos at the riverside, Y/N pleaded with him to try her childhood food. He used the magic Taehyun taught a few years back to hide his wings, and he prayed it would last until the end of their journey.

Sometimes, he’d to fasten his pace to keep the same pace as her. It reminds him of his excited younger siblings. A moment later, they arrived at the shop. 

“Aunty Rosie!” 

The 60-ish woman snapped her head from the counter to them. A tender smile rested on her wrinkly face as she placed the tray inside the glass. Her arm spread widely and engulfed Y/N in a warm hug as a mother would.

“Aunty, this is Chan. My best friend!” 

“Nice to meet you, Aunty”  Chan extended his hand but Rosie cupped his cheeks instead. Chan unconsciously took a step back, surprised by Rosie's friendliness. 

“What a handsome man you are. I’m sure you would be a great husband to her.” 

He could feel his face heated up. Chan let out a giggle and his dominant reached for the back of his neck, rubbing it – out of habit – after Rosie released his cheeks. He thanked Rosie for the unexpected compliment.

“Aunty! Don’t say something nonsense!”

“A husband should know his future wife personally. How could the king set you up with a stranger? I’m against it!” Aunty Rosie scrunched her nose to prove her point more.

“Let’s go to the kitchen. I knew you would come today, so I prepared your favourite!”

Y/N followed Rosie to the back, leaving Chan wandering around the shop. He stopped at the wall full of pictures and a photograph gained his attention – A woman with a young girl sitting on her lap. The girl’s face was covered with flour and baking equipment was scattered on the floor. A broad smile was tugged on their faces. He was sure the culprit was the little girl. 

“That girl is Y/N, Chan,”

He turned to his side and saw Rosie looking at the same picture. 

“She was clumsy back then, yet it’s one of her personalities that entertained me”

“Were you there when she was growing up?”

“Of course. I’m one of her maids. Aside from my daughter, she’s the brightest and most curious little girl I have met.”

“Aunty, do you have an extra container? I want to give it to Chan too.” She shouted from the kitchen. Rosie gave him a last glimpse and patted his shoulder.

“You need to take care of her properly if you want to stay with her for a long time.” She gave a tender smile before rushing back to the kitchen. 

“Stay with her? Would I be able to do that?” He whispered while peering outside the big glass. His shoulder tensed when the Stellious army roaming the town came into his view. He’d his back toward the glass before searching for Y/N. He can’t let his guard down, by now, they already recognise him – maybe.

“Chan, let’s go back” 

“Let’s go” Chan intertwined her hand and exited the shop. His grip turned tighter, pulling her closer to his side. He led their way out. Stepping a foot outside the shop suddenly became terrifying, as if there were thousands of guns aiming at him. She noticed the change but kept quiet. 

A strong blow of wind passed him and tore his pale cheeks apart, drawing blood. Her eyes widened and turned around, coming eye to eye with one of the armies. His gaze traced the arrow that landed upon him. Wasting no time, he undid the spell and grabbed her waist.

“Hold on tight, little flora!” 

They were off the ground in a second. The surrounding erupts into chaos, citizens running for shelter as the army continuously tries to shoot them since every attempt is vain. 

She hugged him securely, eyes staying closed. Hearing the screams from beneath them made her imagine what had happened. Chan pushed himself against the air’s current, wings descending rapidly to her palace. Unfortunately, an arrow pierced his right leg. His leg ached, nonetheless, he flew faster. Getting hurt was the least of his concerns, as long as she was safe, he would too.

He crashed into her bedroom through the window, landing on his arm as a painful groan ran throughout the room. That was his last energy, luckily, they made it in just in time. Y/N got out of his grip and guided him to lean against her bed

“Slowly, Chan. We’re safe.”

“You are, I’m glad.” 

Her eyebrows furrowed and she shook her head.

“Both of us are safe, Chan.” She said sternly. She carefully took his injured leg in her lap. An arrow had embedded into his skin and under it, his pants had turned into a brighter shade of black from the overflowing scarlet-like liquid.

“Can I?” 

“Slowly, please”

Taking the arrow in her hand, she pulled the arrow from his leg, carefully. His forehead creased and he bit his bottom lips, containing his scream within him. 

“There…it’s out.”

 She threw the arrow from her window and helped him stand up. His legs felt numb when he tried to emerge. Blood dripped on the floor while he went to the chair. 

“Stay still while I stitch them. I don’t want you to bear any more pain, Channie”

 She patted an unused cloth on the open wounds as Chan hissed and stitched them. While doing so, Chan grabbed her forearm. Her action immediately halted and she averted her attention to him. His eyes shifted away when their gaze met, guilt devouring him silently.

“Why are you treating me when I was the one who caused you to be involved in this?” He questioned with a low voice laced with devastation.

“Because that's what a friend does. I’m not going to leave you knowing you’re hurt because of me” She doesn’t dare to say the last word out loud.

“Thank you, little flora” He rose to his feet, limping toward the window. 

“Chan, don’t leave. It’s dangerous!” She grasped Chan’s hand firmly, pleading for him to stay. He rubbed her hand with a thumb, escaping the hold. 

“I’ll be safe, little flora” He smiled softly.

The queen saw the fairy leaving her daughter's bedroom, so she shouted his name. The fairy seemed hesitant about the call.

“I mean no harm, Bang Chan. I just want to have a conversation with you.” She beamed.

“Regarding what?” 

“About Y/N. Could we?”

The fairy begrudgingly landed. The queen handed him a letter and a stem of blue hydrangeas as soon as Chan settled on the grass. 

“I know she is at your place when she isn't here. Although she never mentions it”

“Did she tell you about me?”

“A lot when she was young, not now. Maybe she’s afraid someone will stop her from seeing you. There’s a small gift for you in there. If my time has come, I’ll be relieved as I already sent my gratefulness to you and not worry because you will be there for her.”

He accepted the gift, speechless by the queen’s sudden gift. It was the first time he received a gift for being someone’s friend. He looked at the queen for reassurance and the queen nodded.

“Thank you for the gift, Your Highness. I apologize but I need to go now”

Y/N fiddled with her fingers as she averted her gaze outside of her room. A knock on the door snapped her from agitation that began choking her. 

“Come in!” 

“Princess Flora” A male entered and examined the room before glancing back at her.

“Who are you?”

The brunette male closed the door. Feeling threatened, she reached for a comb, shoving it toward the male. The male cracked a laugh 

“I’m Beomgyu, Taehyun’s little brother!”

“Ohh–” She returned the comb to the vanity, and an awkward laugh escaped. She cleared her throat.

“Why are you here? Pretending to be one of the maids?” Beomgyu hummed and approached the window.

“You seem uneasy about Chan. I’m here to reassure you, he’ll be okay. Duncan is going to protect him from the killer”

The night was dimmed by a heavy rain pouring in Stellious. Chan wrapped himself with a cardigan and sat across the fireplace, hands clenching the queen’s letter. A tear dropped onto the letter when he realised that he might not be able to grant the woman's wish.

Something fell and clattered on the wooden floor. It glinted from the corner of his eyes. He ducked, grabbing the item. It was a necklace with a lily charm. The lily was identical to Y/N’s hairpin. He sniffled and buried his face into his knee.

Since when did looking forward to another day become difficult? 

Why has his future darkened? 

A blurry path was ahead of him.

His mother’s voice echoed in his head and his cry broke even louder.

“Achieving true happiness requires a great sacrifice from someone.”