Within The Forest | Chapter 13

within the forest | chapter 13

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader x prince!Seungmin word count: 2.8k words summary: Is this the end of our story?

warning: mentioned of death a/n: prepare a box of tissues </3 and the italic font is a flashback

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She leaned her head on her arm and watched the raindrops pattering down on the window. Her eyes fell on Seungmin standing across her, one of his hands holding a loaf of bread and the other carefully slicing the bread. Next to him, the contents of the pot were boiling, and the steam mixed with the smell was wafting through the kitchen.

The kitchen was empty, as the king had excused his workers for the day, saying that today was their glorious day. She was speechless and her stomach churned at the thought of anything happening to Chan. Last night’s nightmare and the absence of Chan in the morning only intensified the eerie whispers in her head.

Chan would be fine, and Taehyun and Beomgyu would protect him if the worst happened.

Fortunately, Seungmin came to her rescue. His offer to cook his favourite dish and lend an ear to her story was so tempting that she had to accept it. It had been pouring since the morning, so everyone, including her, had to stay inside or they would get soaked.

And it was something new for her…normally, on days like this, she would leave the house and play in the rain with Chan until one sneezed – it acted as a sign for them to stop and return to the fireplace to warm themself.

The soft knock on the table interrupted her thoughts as she glanced up and saw Seungmin’s small smile before he sat before her. On the table was a plate with slices of bread and a bowl of soup, the smell of which made her stomach growl. When she heard it, a chuckle escaped her lips as her face began to turn red.

“It’s just a simple dish that my mom taught me when I was having a bad day,” Seungmin said as she took a spoonful of the soup and popped it into her mouth. Seungmin unconsciously chewed on his lower lips, his fingers rubbing together as he silently observed every change in her facial features. He had never cooked for anyone before.

Her eyes lit up with surprise and she let out a hum. Seungmin’s shoulders slumped in relaxation when hearing it.

“Thank you for cooking this, min!”

“You’re welcome! I hope it helps you forget the nightmare.”

She continued to enjoy the food and he turned his head toward the pile of paper resting on the table along with the food, he sighed. He propped his head on his palm.

“The marriage is next week…are you prepared for it?”

His smile disappeared instantly after asking it. If it were him, he would answer no – not when everything felt rushed and out of place. A wedding in the middle of a hunt for her best friend and his newfound fairy friends, how could the king think it was a good idea?

A wedding should take place in a peaceful setting…

Scoffing, she put the spoon aside. “Does my answer matter?”

“Of course it does! It's about your future, which everyone has to decide for themselves!” Frustration resonated in his voice as he buried his face in his palm. She giggled and took his hand.

“Honestly, I’m not, but since it’s with you, I don’t mind. I’m looking forward to our future,” she said and he could hear his heart beating aggressively against his ribcage as he rubbed his slightly flushed ear.

He turned his palm and intertwined their fingers. “Thank you for giving me a chance, Y/N. I promise I’ll take care of you for your family and Chan. Oh, talking about Chan, I’m excited to meet him after this!”

“I’m still glad that you get along with him well.”

“He and the other are so kind …I don’t understand why the King wants to kill them.”

She didn’t understand either.

After finishing the dish, she cleaned it up and headed to her bedroom with a container filled with cookies they baked earlier. They will be heading to Chan’s cottage later since Seungmin needed to clean the kitchen’s mess first.

She placed the container next to the black feather and sat on her study desk. The branches had been dancing and beating against the window pane since she had entered. She paid less attention to it and let her gaze wander into the forest. Her memories of Chan surfaced in the back of her mind.

Ten years had passed since their first encounter, but it still felt like yesterday. How soft his dark wings were beneath her delicate fingertips, the confused look they exchanged and the first invitation that led to their friendship today.

A small smile tugged on her lips as she remembered that moment. A gust of wind slipped through the creaking window sill, pushing an untouched letter towards her. She reached for the letter and opened it while tilting her head, brows furrowing.

Why she didn’t notice it? How long had it been here?

Her eyes immediately noticed a smudged red stain at the end of the letter. A loud thud echoed through the room before she could make out the words on the paper. She jerked her head around and her eyes widened at the sight of a figure lying on the floor. 

She ran over to him and helped him to lean against the bed. He was half conscious, his eyelids tightly closed, when a soft moan sounded.

The grip on his wounded stomach tightened as he struggled against the pain. A thick red liquid flowed slowly from his hand and spread over his wet shirt.

“Beomgyu! What happened?” There was a note of panic in her voice.

“An…attack. The Stellious army is attacking us. We're trying to stop them, but someone is helping them.”

The door flew open and Seungmin rushed to her side, pressing on Beomgyu’s wound to stop the blood from gushing out so much.

“Why are you here?! Why aren't they here?!” Her body trembled with fear.

She was worried about Chan.

Her gut feeling was right. Her nightmare wasn’t a demon game.

“Chan sent me to warn you. He asks you to stay put and not look for him” A cry escaped Beomgyu’s lips. She pulled a box from under her bed and took out bandages and a sewing kit.

“This is going to be painful, Beomgyu. Please hang in there.”

She took her hand from the wound, revealing bloody, torn skin. It was a sword gash.

She dabbed the bandage around the wound, cleaned up the excess blood and began to stitch, though the metallic fluid didn’t seem to stop. Seungmin held Beomgyu’s hand. By the time Beomgyu’s wound had sewed up, her hands were coated with blood.

She stared at her trembling hands while thousands of scenarios played out simultaneously in her head and a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her. She stood up and grabbed the feather, her hands clenched around it.

With glossy eyes, she spared Beomgyu a glance.

“Princess don’t!” He pleaded with watery eyes

“I’m sorry, Beomgyu!”

Beomgyu jumped towards her and tried to stop her, but it was too late. His action hurt him even more as he landed on his injured stomach.

The wave of dark dust engulfed her.

Her heels froze on the ground as the sight of the ordeal presented itself to her. The grass was covered in blood and the rain soaked the corpses. Swords and arrows all covered in the same liquid scattered across Chan’s front yard. A field of blood

A field where they used to dance and play

Y/N’s POV

"My dad said magic is dangerous because it can make people selfish. He always said that those born with magic are evil," I uttered, staring at the soil in my palm. You twirl your finger around the soil and a purple crocus emerges, unfurling its beautiful violet-purple petals. You plucked the flower, wiped off the excess soil and tugged the fresh blossom to my ear – I loved how a smile immediately dominated your face.

"Yes, for some people, but I'll never be like them. Anyway, do you want to see something amazing?"

"Sure!"

You stared at one of the trees nearby, your grey eyes glowing a bright colour compared to your dull eyes, which I found incredible. The branches of one of the trees came towards us, forming a circle beneath me and lifting me into the sky.

 I shivered from the height, but that subsided when I saw the scenery, The Stellious Kingdom. The view from up there was amazing, like you said, breathtaking even. You were next to me, hugging me gently from the side.

Was it possible to feel comfortable around someone you've only known since yesterday?

"Why would Dad and Mom hide such scenery from me, Channie?" I turned my gaze to you, hoping for an answer.

"I don't know, little Flora."

"They always lock me in the palace, I've never been allowed out. Except yesterday."

"Maybe they're trying to keep you away from any danger. Besides, not everyone you meet in the future has a pure heart"

I sighed "You're right. My parents know what dangers can come my way if no one takes care of me, but I feel safe with you, Channie."

"Thank you, little Flora. I feel safe and happy in your company, but you must tell your mother before you come to see me, mhm?"

You were wrong, Chan, danger was always at my side and held me hostage.

How could he?

Tears gathered under my eyes as my heart beat faster. I whirled around, my hand wrapped around the doorknob. My hands kept slipping as I tried to pry the door open. My knuckles turned white when I finally managed to turn the doorknob.

The pattering of the rain faded away from my hearing and was replaced by the sound of my heartbeat. A soft gasp was all I could produce.

Was this what he meant by glorious day?

"This place is fantastic!!! Can I come here often?" I asked with a hopeful tone. You sigh as you fetch two cups of tea, placing one in front of me and sitting opposite me.

"Only if your mother lets you"

When I heard your reply, I immediately sulked. I know they won’t like you

 "Mom certainly wouldn't allow it. She's too strict and also busy with Dad," I crossed my arms and pouted.

"Then sure. You can come here. Do you like reading? I still have tons of unread books on the shelf."

"Yes, yes!!! I love books!” You emerged and picked up some books. You handed them to me. I gasped and started turning the pages and getting engrossed in the story. Minutes passed and you just stared at me, a few careless giggles escaping my lips as I imagined the scene in my head.

"Reading books is the only way I forget that I'm alone and stuck in the palace. When I read, I feel like I'm not in that dim room," I blurted out, lifting my gaze and meeting your eyes. You were taken back for the second time that day

"Me too. It helps me forget my pain" You calmly replied

"I'm glad I've someone who thinks like me"

 I laughed and read on. I was glad that I had met someone who could understand me for the first time. The hours passed and the sun began to hide behind the horizon and welcome the moon. You, who noticed the change, quickly spoke up

"It's getting late, little Flora. Let's go home, shall we?" I nodded vigorously, closed the book and hugged it tightly to my chest.

And the dam broke and gushed into my cheeks. I rushed to the lifeless body in the middle of the cottage. Each step I took grew heavier as I tried to deny the truth in my head.

No, this is a dream

It must be

I sank to my knees and pulled your head into my lap. My tears fell on your pale face … since when has your face been so pale?

One night I woke up and realised that you weren’t lying next to me in bed. I looked up and the guilt consumed me. I was sleeping on your lap, you hadn’t moved me. I sat, leaning against the wall, next to you.

You sleep fitfully because of me. I let your head sink onto my shoulder and your arm wrapped around my waist. I ruffled your hair before sleep engulfed me again.

“Hey, Channie, wake up,” I whispered, resting my forehead on yours. My arms wrapped around your shoulders and pulled you close. It felt empty without you returning my embrace.

You must be freezing, right?

Is this the end?

“You promised to accompany me at my wedding. You promised me that you would show me your drawing”

“I’m sorry, Chan. I wasn’t there for your last moment,” I sniffled. I would no longer feel your warm hand wiping away my tears. I wouldn’t hear your laughter anymore. No one will accompany Seungmin and me to the river anymore.

Your smile in the back of my head will hurt me now.

Loud footsteps startled me and I jerked my head towards the source and saw Seungmin and an injured Taehyun. I opened my mouth, but nothing came tumbling out.

I stood before the grave as Seungmin and Taehyun pushed the last lumps of dirt into the hole. I pulled the blanket tighter around my body. The stain on my cheeks was abandoned as I knew it was pointless to wipe them off.

You were six feet under the ground ... next to your parents.

Suddenly I remembered your siblings. How would they react? Would they react like me or even worse?

“Thank you for everything, Chan.”

This is our last goodbye, Bang Chan

I arrived at my room with new clothes after Seungmin asked me to change. I looked over at Beomgyu and Taehyun who were sleeping in my bed, their clothes still soaked with blood and rain. My heart wrenched with guilt as I remembered that my father was the cause of their injuries and Chan’s death.

It was surreal to say this out loud. It felt like the aftertaste of biting into a poison ivy.

They can’t leave the castle yet, the army has probably moved through the forest looking for the fairies.

I went to my desk and picked up the diary Taehyun had given me. It was your last gift to me. Did you foresee your death, Chan?

I sat down on the floor and began to read the entries. A thin smile appeared on my lips. You wrote a lot about your siblings and me, even about the moment your parents died.

Until I stopped at a page. The page was half torn, and the uneven edge showed a sign of hesitation. Why did you want to throw it away?

: I was supposed to kill the princess tonight, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. She's just a little girl! How could I? You can’t blame me, no one can, unless they’re evil enough. I set the bakery on fire because Flora was there alone. When I heard her screaming for her mother, something within me ached. The guilt I felt back then has never gone away.

I rushed back into the house, hugged her tiny silhouette and threw myself onto the roof before the bakery exploded…. before she died. There are long scars on my wings now. I think of them as a gift for saving the girl. So I can remember that was my last mission before I left Duncan. Duncan would kill me now, wouldn’t he? If this is my final entry, consider I’d die in Duncan’s hands. I don’t think I will make it out alive the next time I meet him.

A dot appeared on the page, one after the other. I buried my face in the book. I found it harder to breathe, my mouth was gasping for air to fill my burning throat.

Is that true? You wrote it. You won’t lie in your diary.

An arson… that was the accident. He was misunderstood.

He was a villain who wanted to change, but fate betrayed him. The king had never considered what one must do to survive. He had not considered that a family grieves when it learns of the death of a loved one.

My arm fell to my side and I flinched as I felt the cold on my finger. I looked up and saw a dagger, the dagger I had brought with me from the cottage. A voice told me to pick it up and I did.

I stood up and marched to the king’s office.

But Chan promised himself that he wouldn’t do it again.

I opened the door quietly and walked towards him. He was staring through the window at the city.

You don’t deserve this ending

I raised the dagger, my nails digging into my skin with rage. Was it rage? Or just despair?

Out of the blue, a hand was shoved into my mouth and the other held my hand from behind. The figure dragged me out of the room. The silhouette of the king slowly disappeared from my field of vision as tears welled up in my eyes.

within the forest | chapter 12

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader word count: 1k words summary: Taehyun recounted how he had met Chan for the first time a/n: 2 chapters more before this story finish </3

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Taehyun propped his cheeks on his palm and stared at Chan’s silhouettes pacing back and forth in the hut. He sat alone on the branch, his legs swinging beneath him as a night breeze blew around him. Ever since the accident on Y/N's birthday, he couldn’t leave Chan alone, even though the eldest insisted he could manage independently.

He always said that, until it reached a point where Taehyun could no longer trust him. Every time he wasn’t with Chan, something happened.

“Did you regret it, Chan?” He mumbled

[13 years earlier]

The sound of branches breaking under his footsteps echoed in his ear as he descended deeper into the forest, a small flame in his hand to light the path ahead. After hearing a thud outside the house, Beomgyu had been roused from his slumber. Without telling anyone, he went outside to investigate the noise.

The hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood up as he heard a soft breathing sound from his right. It was a fast rhythm. Beomgyu whirled around and held out his burning hand. The bushes around him rustled together.

Maybe I’m hearing it wrong…

The surroundings became eerily quiet afterwards, which worried him. He wondered whether he should approach the sound or return to the comfort of his bed. He sighed and clenched his fist as he took a step forward.

A shadow lurked behind him and its hand slowly landed on Beomgyu’s shoulder. His feet were pinned to the ground and his whole body tensed under its touch. 

Here came another decision he had to make.

Unfortunately, a scream escaped his lips first and the shadow had to stuff its hand into his mouth to muffle the volume. 

“Hey, hey, it’s me, Taehyun!” Taehyun silenced him and raised his eyebrows when Beomgyu finally looked at him. The muscles in Beomgyu’s body relaxed at the realisation. The possibility of encountering a beast with bulging green eyes had opened up in his mind earlier.

“What are you doing outside of the house?” Taehyun asked and Beomgyu explained briefly. Taehyun turned his head to where Beomgyu's line of sight was and squinted, hoping that would help him. Black clouded his vision, but he could see something in the distance. He almost didn’t notice it since the thing was as dark as the velvet sky.

He wrapped his finger around Beomgyu’s wrist and pulled him towards it, his heart beating against his chest with a restless rhythm. Both eyes widened at the sight of an unconscious man on the floor, his leg wound still bleeding. His face was covered in scars. His right wing was torn apart.

Taehyun quickly came to his aid and brought him to their house. 

[Taehyun’s point of view]

The sun had begun sipping in through the ajar window and door, the bedrooms had emptied except for one I’d asked them to stay away from. The others were eating breakfast and I hurried into the room, my breath catching in my throat.

The sheet was on the floor, and the male sat on the corner of the bed, hugging his knee to his chest as he chewed on the end of his fingernail. His figure trembled slightly. If it weren’t for his wings, I might have thought he had shrunk.

I shut the door and settled on the bed, beside him. I left a gap between us acknowledging that we were strangers. He looked vulnerable, broken even. 

“What’s your name?”

He looked at me slowly and hid his finger, which was beginning to drip blood from his action earlier. He tugged his wings inwards and hid his face from me.

“Bang Chan and you?”

“Kang Taehyun. I can heal, so may I?” I pointed to the torn skin of his right wing. His eyes averted to the window next to us as his finger fiddled with the feather of his wings before releasing it. I beamed him a small smile and whispered thank you.

I placed my hand on the wound and removed it. I tilted my head a bit after I noticed the wound left a scar.

Is there something wrong with my power?

“Thank you but this could never heal fully. This is my punishment for disobeying him” He showed me his bleeding finger and I swiftly took his hand in mine. This time, it didn’t leave a mark. 

“Who is he? And why were you unconscious the other night?”

He remained silent and I waited for an answer.

Then seconds turned into minutes.

Then minutes turned into hours. 

I figured he wouldn’t open up that easily.

I tried again the next day.

And again, again only to fail

At least he ate what I gave him.

One evening, he suddenly spoke while I was putting the food on his bed.

“It’s a long story. Can you stay?”

“Of course, I don’t mind listening as long as it takes the pressure off someone”

A smile crept onto his lips as he nodded. 

 I wouldn’t survive a second with Duncan if I were in his shoes. I understood why it took him so long to say it.

Being within the forest was father’s greatest decision

3 days later, Chan asked me if I knew his family. I had already heard about his family from Mother, and as time passed, the story of the Bang family died with her. Mother said she was close with Chan’s mother before the family vanished out of the blue. 

His eyes sparkled with hope from the information. He insisted I accompany him to look for his parents’ house that evening.

So I did, although I only vaguely remembered the direction. I'd been to her house before.

We set off in search of it with a little hint from Chan. After flying for hours, we discovered an old cottage near the forest’s entrance. Chan landed immediately and opened the door before I reached the ground. I rushed to it and a cloud of dust washed over me, followed by a loud sneeze.

I looked around; all the furniture was covered in thick layers of dust, and cobwebs adorned every corner of the house. No light illuminated the room we were in, all the windows were closed.

“This is their old home,” Chan whispered and entered a room.

“Hey, Taehyun, I forgot to tell you something.”

“What is it?” I followed him to the room. He pushed the window open and faced me.

“I’ll be staying here so you don’t have to worry about me anymore”

This house needed upgrading and cleaning if he was going to stay here.

Present time

I guess you didn’t regret it, Chan. It’s not your fault how things have turned out now, it was never yours to begin with. 

· . ˚ 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 6

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader word count: 1.6k words summary: another day with Chan but someone seemed displeased with your decision. a/n: posting this while waiting for my food which took longer than I expected...btw, hope you have a wonderful day today!!

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“Come on! You will miss the sun kiss, Chan!” She ran to him, helping him carry one of the easels. Chan let a smile dominate his lips as he quickened his pace toward their painting place for today - his mother’s favourite place. While positioning the easel, he caught her spinning around the meadow - hands spread widely and her sky-blue skirt billowing. Her brown lock shone under the golden afternoon light - her eyes reflected it.

His action died down in an instant. He twirled his hand in a motion. Flowers around her bloomed after a wave of yellow dust flew across them. She seems more like a fairy than himself - glowing under the sunlight and with a beaming smile. He called out her name.

“You got entertained easily, little flora”  He ruffled her brown hair gently as she glanced up. Rosy cheeks and a broader smile plastered for him to witness. Under his touch, she still felt like the little girl he had met. It doesn’t matter if she ages up, she always would be Chan’s little flora. His flora that he would protect and care for until the end.

“We don’t live forever, Chan. So, I make sure every moment spent is exhilarating.”

“I’m glad you have that mindset. Should we start our painting session, Your Highness?” He offered his hand. She placed her hand on top of his palm - playing along. The easels were backing each other so there was no space for peeking at the other’s artwork. Beside the easels, a table stood with a colour palette and a plate of creampuff. 3 stems of purple lilac were on the plate.

“One question before we start. Why did you place the easels like this?”

“I want to keep our artwork as a surprise for each other. We’ll reveal it on my birthday”

“Whatever makes you happy, channie”

Silence took over when their hands reached for the palette and brush. The low sound from the caressing brushes was barely heard because they thought deeply about what to draw. The first stroke - your first action - will determine the outcome. 

Hours passed and the drawing began to take shape. Chan tilted his head to check up on her. With a brush on her right hand, she carefully placed black paint onto her canvas. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration before continuing to paint. She probably didn’t realise the smeared purple paint on her cheeks. He kept quiet because she was adorable with it.

“I have never seen you in a full dress before” 

“I’m not really into dresses. It limited my steps and most of my dresses were only for special occasions so I can’t wear them daily,” she replied, not sparing any glances at Chan.

“What a bummer…” he sighed and faced the canvas. He peeked at her once again before painting the features on his drawing. 

“You would look lovely and exquisite in one, little flora"

“If you are that eager, how about you be my stepbrother?” she chuckled but deep inside, she meant it. If Chan were her brother, nothing would stop their relationship - they could have fun daily without anyone judging glare.

“I would scare everyone in the palace with my hideous wings then”

“What are you blabbering about, Chan?” She set the brush away and approached him. She ran her fingers through his wings. Despite what he said, she was always fond of his wings - it was the part of him that made him special. Chan stood up and pulled her into a hug as a gesture of thank you. Parting away, the breeze blew his dark hair along the sudden ‘thud’ behind them was heard. An arrow bulged on the side of Chan’s canvas that had fallen to the grass. 

Chan yanked the arrow and untangled the tight-up paper on its shaft. Ripping the paper, a single line of words was written in red ink. He crumbled the paper and grabbed her hand. His indecipherable face caused curiosity to crawl into her. 

“You need to return now, little flora. They found me” he said, voice oddly calm.  

“Who did?”

“Them. Meet you tomorrow, safe ride” He closed his eyes as black feathers began consuming her. She vanished when the feather turned into dust. Chan eyed the canvas, a contemplating sigh escape. He twirled his finger and all of the equipment entered his cottage. He unfolded his palm, the paper uncrumpled, revealing the sentence - the bigger threat is coming, better watch out.

The strong light blinded her as she sat up, pondering while looking around. Open flower fields filled with her mother's favourites. Why is she here? Why did Chan send her back? Despite the strong light, she could make out a silhouette at the gazebo far away - a fully dressed woman, rushing toward her. 

“Flora? Where have you been?!” 

Oh, it was her mother, face worrying than ever. Her mother helped her stand up. 

“I was walking around, reliving my childhood. You don’t have to worry, Mother”

“How couldn’t I? I asked anyone about your whereabouts and nobody saw you!” 

She took her mother’s hand into hers, lips resting into a tender smile. Sometimes chasing her freedom, she forgot the one who allowed her to experience it - her mother. Was it a selfish act? Lying to her queen to save Chan and herself from being punished? Her grip tightened, yet careful so she didn’t hurt her.

“I’m sorry, mother.” 

“Let’s go inside. Father and Seungmin must be waiting for me” Her mother nodded and they went inside the palace. 

[later that night]

He threw the paper into the forked flame of the fireplace, watching it crumble into pieces and turn into ashes. His eyes were shut when a line of memory hit him, returning him to the past he wanted to forget. His wings wrapped around him as if they were comforting him. The scar that stretched across his right wing was visible under the fire. 

“Did the fire remind you of that accident?” A deep, familiar voice spoke out from behind the chair.

“What are you doing here, Duncan?” He asked, clearly unwelcoming the guest of the night. A figure lurked out of the shadow - a tall man with a pair of wings similar to Chan. His wrinkly face was wearing a sinister grin, it was more like a mocking grin the more Chan stared at it. A modern suit fitted him, an expensive suit for a man like him. He must be out on another hunting. 

“I heard from Minho that you made a new friend. The Stelious Princess, wasn’t it? What a decision when you’re on the verge of death. The king already had threatened you”

Chan faced him “You would tell me that if you have an offer to make. Stop beating around bushes.”

Duncan chuckled “Work with us again and I’ll guarantee your safety. Besides, could you bear your siblings mourning over your death?”

Chan’s face remains stoic although Duncan’s words twisted his inside. Imagining it was enough to terrify him. 

“Say yes, chan. You aren’t risking your life for a stranger” Duncan extended his hand in an inviting gesture, unfolded palm shoved in front of Chan. Chan wanted to take his hand but he stopped when a screeching scream rang in his ear. He hesitated, hand hovering over Duncan’s.

A train of memory winded in his head, and his hand instantly retreated. He questioned himself - do you want to experience the pain again? Do you want to be called a betrayer again?

“Your offer was sincere, Duncan but I say no. I can handle the king by myself”

“Minho will continue working with you. I’m not capable of it” 

Duncan scoffed, turning around. “Then, all the best. I’ll be there if you change your mind” 

"We'll see how far you will go for that girl"

Outside the cottage, two fairies watched Chan through the window. They couldn’t understand their discussion due to the distance they were in. The brunette fairy stood on the branches, holding the trunk to balance himself on the thin branch. He huffed. The forest was cornered with huge black thorns that grew from the ground. It will be difficult for someone to barge into the forest now.

“That fairy caged us in here, Taehyun!” He sulked while he nibbled his sugar cube.

“It’s for our safety as well, Beomgyu. The king will kill us if he sees us”

“But…”

“Another sulking from you and I’ll throw all of your sugar cubes, gyu”

“Fine!”

Her footsteps rang loudly in her ear as she headed toward her bedroom. The dim light from the candle in the hallway did less to brighten her path. As she took a step, the guilt from the dept of her heart escaped as the image of her mother flashed in her mind. How could she neglect her duty as a good daughter to her mother? Why did she realised it now?

“Make up your mind, Gale! Kill the fairy or I’ll execute your son!”

Her steps halted as well as her breath. She glanced beside her, instantly stepping back when she noticed it was the King’s office. The shadow on the floor shows how the king was grasping his hair in frustration. 

“Locate the dark fairy. We’ll attack him as fast as possible. As long as he’s alive, our people’s safety is at risk”

She covered her mouth with her hand as a gasp was let out. She hears her father’s words, nice and clear. Her heart dropped to the pit of his stomach at the realisation. Her father was the one who sent the arrow. She ran to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. 

Both males in the room jolted at the slam. The king felt unease so he perked his head outside his room. Only the night wind greeted him, causing his shoulder to slump forward. He was being paranoid for nothing. He slowly closed the door behind him.

“What was that, Your Highness?”

“I’m not sure”

“I hope it wasn’t Flora”

within the forest | chapter 5

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader word count: 1.5k words summary: Taehyun arrives at Chan's cottage bringing both good news and bad news.

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[2 days later] 

He flipped through the pages and was ready to begin another story until a knock on the front door tore his gaze away. He placed the book on the small table and headed for it, hoping it was him. Opening the door, he met face-by-face with a brown paper grocery bag and white transparent wings flapping a gentle wind to him. The figure behind it tilted his head, and his smile stretched from cheek to cheek. Tailing him were a bunch of rabbits, their little hand gripping the paper bag, while on the curly blonde boy rested a white dove, glancing at Chan with narrowing eyes.

“You bring a little company, Taehyun” Chan uttered, voice slightly low unlike how he usually greeted Taehyun.

“Yep, I hope you don’t mind Chan. Need an extra hand and these little buddies come into rescue.”

Taehyun chuckled, walking toward the kitchen counter after Chan permitted him to enter.

Chan darted his eyes at the blonde boy.  Crouching down to the rabbits, Taehyun thanked them. Envious and anxiety dominated Chan in silence.

“I'm always jealous of you because you’re so approachable, Hyun” Chan spoke, a hint of disappointment in his voice

He perked his head up, lips turned thin at the remark. Taehyun stood up with a rabbit sitting on his open palm. He approached Chan, gesturing for Chan to take the rabbit from him. Chan did as he told and the rabbit jumped to Chan’s hand. It’d looked at Chan with its wide black eyes before flashing a smile at him. The fairy was speechless for a moment. He sat on the floor, putting the small fluffy animal on his lap and patted him.

"They approach a pure soul despite their look. Try leaving the cottage and I'm sure thousands of animals will come to you. Animals aren’t like humans, Chan. They judge someone from the soul, not the appearance."

“Thank you, Taehyun. Both for the grocery and the comforting words”

“Chann-”

Both boys’ heads snapped at the sudden voice. Y/N’s eyes trailed to the sight of Chan playing with the rabbit - a sight that warmed her heart. At least, the animals aren’t afraid of him so he has company when she is away.

“Oh, hi! Who are you? Are you Chan’s friend?”

“Indeed, I am. You’re Princess Flora, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I was taking something from Chan. I’ll be leaving”

She gave Chan a quick hug and exchanged a smile with Taehyun. Chan waved her goodbye.

After Y/N left, the animals left too. A once brimming countenance changed into a worried one, Taehyun’s brown at unease motion.

“Why is the princess here, Chan?”

“I met her 10 years ago at my mom’s place and somehow the friendship was born. I love to have her around, she makes me look forward to upcoming days. With her around, I felt like I had a little sister.”

Taehyun sighed, messaging his forehead with both thumbs. Chan has opened his heart to someone - that’s a relief - but never came a thought that someone was the princess. To make matters worse, her father was hunting the fairies down. He pondered how to tell him about the news he was supposed to say minutes ago. Should he tell him the cold truth or cover it with nice words? Lying sometimes wouldn’t hurt…right?

“Tell me what’s on your mind, Taehyun. I can tell from your face that  my action will get me killed”

“EXACTLY! Chan, please tell me you expected the consequence”

He nodded

“Then, I wouldn’t feel guilty delivering this news to you. The king had begun a search for you. Unfortunately, they expanded the search to the forest. You need to be careful. You only live once, Chan. Don't let your heart kill you"

Chan hummed and replied with a dry thanks to him. In the circumstances, nothing could change if they advised him now. Things would change if they did it in the past.

“Since you’re here, would you go with me to the town? I want to buy some flowers for her”

“You must be joking with me, Chan. Are you out of your mind?! I told you about the search a second ago and you already made an imprudent decision?” 

Chan has lost his mind - Taehyun’s mind came to a quick conclusion. The one he cared for was mature and wouldn’t let his feelings decide the matter. Did everything change because of the princess? The princess must have changed his life, leading him to make such decisions.

“They have never seen my face, Taehyun. I’m sure they don’t know it is me. After all, I got nothing to lose in my life”

“Can’t I buy it for you? It’s less risky.”

“Taehyun, just this time. You helped me so much, hyun. You helped me find my parent's cottage back when I had no home. This time let me do it by myself" ” He pleaded.

Being the soft-hearted friend that he is, Taehyun agreed. He snapped his fingers twice and their wings disappeared under the raining dust. They exited the cottage, unaware of the small fairy watching them from the window sill, nibbling on his sugar cube - a sugar cube twice his size. His eyes gleamed with excitement and curiosity as he saw a letter slipped under the oak door.

“This is gonna be exciting!!”

Stepping into the town without tomato chunks and juice on his face was unusual. Right, he received that greeting if he was with his parents - which lasted when he was 5.

Horses with carriages pass non-stop on the cobblestone path. They were sending out folk's groceries or continuing their journey past the huge silver gate. It was the busiest part of the day for Stellious. Rows of cobblestone houses lined from both of their sides. Some of them were left unpainted. Taehyun grabbed Chan’s arm, pulling him toward a florist shop.

True enough, the king was searching for him. Wanted posters of him scattered all around the city lamp post. Luckily, his picture wasn’t included. A wave of relief washed over him- for a moment. Glancing at the flowers displayed, he immediately asked the owner to wrap a bouquet of purple lilac for him.

“Here he is!!” A voice rang through the shop, a loud shout that managed to attract everyone wandering nearby. Chan gave a quick glimpse to Taehyun. The bouquet exchanged hands. Chan dragged the man out of the store to the alleyway, ignoring the looks the folk gave them. He held the man by the shoulder, slamming him to the wall.

His grey eyes glowed as he stared at the man’s eyes. Soon, he let go of the man and left him. The old man rushed out after that. Taehyu’s brow furrowed.

 “I changed our encounter into an awkward one in his memory.”

“You could do that?! What else have you been hiding from me?” Taehyun whispered, surprised.

“A lot, Taehyun. Let’s go back before the other finds me”

“I warned you, Chan. If they saw you out here, I’m scared they would chase after you.”

The prince stepped inside the garden with his guard, the moist air after the rain filled his lungs, helping him to calm down his nervousness of meeting with the princess. After countless tries, he finally could meet the sole heir of Stellious. The guard motioned his hand to one of the gazebo that someone occupied. The girl sipped her tea while she stared at the dancing butterflies across her. 

The prince had asked the guard to stay where he was and he approached the girl, each of his steps felt difficult for him. He halted before he arrived and took a deep breath before calling out to the princess.

“Princess Flora?”

The girl spun her head as she placed the cup away. The gentle breeze blew strands of her hair away, allowing the Prince to fully observe the other’s face. Her eyes were sparkling as if reflecting the soft morning’s light. His heart had lost its original rhythm as his eyes laid on her. There was no doubt what the Stellious’s citizen told about their princess’s beauty.

“Oh, Prince Seungmin. Please to meet you, have a seat.”

And Seungmin did. She poured the tea into the empty cup and continued drinking. Seungmin licked his lips out of habit and glanced at her. Her attention seemed to linger on the insects and flowers, never once on him. 

“Hey, it’s my first time meeting you. Can we know about each other a bit?”

“I believe that is not necessary. Whether I know you or not, I’m still going to get married to you.”

The evening went on with silence hanging in the air. Seungmin couldn’t find a way to start a talk after what she had said, every word he attempted to speak beginning to form a lump in his throat. She glanced at Seungmin and abruptly stood up.

“I’m afraid that’s all the time I have today for you. I’ll be leaving.” She bowed and without sparing another glance at him, exited the garden. He sighed with his head hung low. This is going to be difficult.

“Will I be able to talk to her at this state?”

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?