For Choi Minho, dedicating his life to The Kingdom of South Korea was not a job any longer, but a purpose.

His life was shaped that way. For the oldest great-great-great-great-grandfather that could be seen on the very top of his family tree was known to have been serving The Palace.

And he was raised in The Palace environment, seeing the sons and daughters of Dukes and Duchesses, playing dragon and knight with the Princes tho he was not really counted as one of them.

Some of them treated him nonchalantly. Some of them looked at him sideways. But Minho had never really cared too much.

Because the most important thing was as long as he could stay as the part of The Palace, he knew he could make his late parents proud.

And now, the leader of the intelligent thing he became. A quite important position if he could brag.

And a headache-indulging one. Minho sighed as he was still studying the report his team submitted to him til that late.

He took a long deep breath as threw his back to the head of the chair behind him, his hand went up to massage his nape that felt about to snap.

If only he could take a day off, he really would.. But he knew the urgency of his job, so he understood well not to do it. Cause, see, even know at home at two o' clock in the morning, he was still working.

Clicking his tounge, Minho reached his hand out to get his mug of coffee before he brought it close to his lips and he sipped it slowly.

He straightened his sitting position again as he let out a small yawn. Better get this done sooner so he could rest, he thought.

And it was when he was ready to open his worksheet back again that he heard a knock on his front door.

Eh ? Minho frowned before he glanced to the clock on the bottom of his laptop screen. It's really past two in the morning. So, who could it be ?

Minho only shook his head as he decided to ignore it. He lived alone and he was not waiting for anyone, so the possibilty of the person that was knocking on his door was : 1) a ghost

2) a drunkard that had mistaken his door

He scoffed and was about to tap the touchpad of his laptop when he heard a vague yell.

"Froggie ! You couldn't have been sleeping already, could you ?!"

Wha- Minho bulged his eyes out and automatically jumped from his seat as he heard the nickname. He shook his head as he decided to quickly go to his front door. It couldn't be...

"Hyung ?!" his jaw dropped as he turned the knob and he couldn't believe what he saw "What the he-"

"Can you just let me in for now ?" Jinki asked as he raised his eyebrows, before huffing and letting himself in by slipping himself beside the stunned tall guy in front of him.

Minho frowned to himself for a good ten seconds before he closed his front door and slowly turned around to see Jinki had flopped himself down on his old flowery couch.

"What the heck is happening, hyung ?" he asked.

The older only sighed as he leaned back to the couch and closed his eyes "Tell you later. I'm deadbeat."

Minho narrowed his eyes "Why is your left cheek so bruisy red ?"

Jinki sighed again as he opened his eyes and straightened his sitting position "I guess you won't stop nagging until I tell you right." he said as he stared at Minho who just shrugged.

Jinki rubbed the side of his face "I've been found out."

"What ?!" Minho yelled again.

*

Jinki could only watch as Kibum got away, to see his world crumble down and apart right in front of him as he couldn't catch the sight of the younger any longer.

Something was pulsing so painfully, but Jinki didn't know whether it was his slapped cheek or that another organ that was supposed to beat.

Liar, the younger said. And yeah he was, is, whatever.

But he was never lying about how he had fallen for the other.

Couldn't Kibum see himself those bruises on him ?

He took a deep breath as he couldn't find himself able to move or to do something logical after Kibum had gone.

That was until he heard a rustling sound came from behind him.

"What did you do to him again ?" the obnoxious voice he recognized too well was heard.

Jinki turned his body around still with a blank face, just to face the person he didn't want to see the most at the moment.

He continued to stare at Jonghyun with an absentminded face that made the other raised his one of his eyebrows so uphigh at him.

"Did he.. probably.." Jonghyun eyed the light bruise on Jinki's cheek with interest "have found you out ?"

And the sudden turn of the head Jinki did to look away was definitely enough to send Jonghyun into unbelieving scoff.

"Daebak.." Jonghyun praised no one, smirking rather to himself "As I expected, Kibum is not as stupid as you.."

Jinki could only clench his fist on the side as he tried to gulp the annoyance he felt down.

"So.." Jonghyun continued as he crossed his arms on his chest, raising his eyebrows to Jinki "Don't you think it's time for you to leave already ?"

"What ?" Jinki automatically frowned.

Jonghyun offered him another offending smirk before he shrugged "With Kibum knows, I think i don't have a reason to hide your secret anymore.. Do i ?"

"Is that.. a threat ?" Jinki narrowed his eyes.

"That is a mercy," Jonghyun lifted one side of his lips upward "Your Majesty."

--

"Arh.." Jinki groaned soundlessly when Minho rather carelessly pressed a pack of ice to his cheek "Watch it, froggie."

"Geez, hyung." the tall guy rolled his eyes "It's not even a serious bruise."

You just don't know how deep it wounded me, Minho. Jinki thought to himself.

"But.." Minho said, suddenly pausing his hand for a while as he frowned to the older "How can they just.. slapped you ? Not beat you up or something ?"

"Ah.." Jinki fidgeted "Actually, it's not they.. It's only one person.."

"One person that found out ?" Minho asked before he frowned again "But still.. Isn't only slapping a little too.. girly for kkangpae ?"

"He's kinda girly." Jinki muttered.

"Huh ? Who is ?"

The older sighed "Someone..."

"Someone ?" Minho raised his eyebrows at the tone Jinki used for the word before he asked again "A girl ?"

"It's a he." Jinki said.

"O... Kay.." Minho responded carefully. Realizing there's an oddness somewhere around The Prince now but somehow he didn't dare to guess what.

"Well.." the younger decided to change the topic "You're planning to get back to The Palace after all of this, right ?"

"Yeah.." Jinki scratched his nape "Maybe tomorrow.."

"The Queen will be so thrilled." Minho smiled.

"Tho My Father won't." Jinki's lips stiffened into a thin line.

--

In the first two days, no one really noticed there's someone missing.

For most of them actually didn't spend much time in the headquarter themselves, so it was not that uncommon that they didn't see each other too frequent.

Inside their subconscience they might be knew there's something wrong but each of them couldn't really pinpoint what it was.

The realization just finally hit them when Joon suddenly asked "Did anyone see Onew ?"

"Onew ?"

"I don't think i've seen him around since yesterday.."

"Yeah ?" Joon tried to convince what he experienced himself "Me too."

"Did anyone ride back with him from the club last time ?" Changmin chimed in "Cause I'm not."

Joon frowned to himself "I don't even remember how I got back.. All that I know is I was already on my bed.."

"You drunkard." Changmin rolled his eyes.

Then Kibum walked in at the perfect timing, rather obliviousky only wanting to get a drink until Joon decided to call him "Hey, Key !"

"Yeah ?" Kibum opened his mouth while opening the fridge, answering with the flattest tone the boys had ever heard of him.

Joon frowned a bit before asking "Did you happen to see.. Onew ?"

Kibum automatically stiffened, his gripping hand tightened on the fridge handle before he asked darkly "Who you said ?"

"Onew.." Joon repeated obliviously.

Kibum pressed his lips tightly together, not answering the other for a good one minute as he took a can of soda in the fridge before he finally turned his head to look at Joon.

"Onew ?" he asked back, sneering with the coldest expression he didn't know he could even sport before he answered shortly "He's dead."

--

He's not dead. That was much enough to sum up his presence in his father's study that noon.

And without anymore words, Jinki slowly straightened himself from his bowing position as he looked straight, composedly to his father who was sitting on his working desk as usual.

And if the King was surprised to see his son again, he definitely was not showing it.

"You're back." His majesty said, in a tone that was more like a statement than a question.

"Yes, Father." Jinki said, trying to keep his face straight as he realized his father didn't sound as warm as when he was sending him off months ago.

"You're back for good ?" The King asked again, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes." The Prince answered.

His Father only nodded, tho after he seemed like examining him with an unreadable face.

"Do you bring that.." The King asked "The last task I've assigned to you ?"

"Oh ?" Jinki frowned for a bit before he slowly remembered about the name list his father asked for before and answered flusteredly "I-i apologize. I don-"

"I see.." the King cut off, making Jinki automatically shutted his lips.

He suddenly felt so small in front of his Father as they fell into an awkward silence.

"You must be tired." His Father finally said, looking away from him to the paper on his desk "You could go back to your room."

"Ye, Father." Jinki could do nothing but nodded before bowing for the last time and turning around to the door.

He was ready to step outside the room when he vaguely heard his Father said "Let's prepare for the meeting." to the Head of Defense Ministry on the room that he realized he wasn't even invited to it.

Jinki sighed as he closed the door behind him, thinking that after all the things he sacrified and he had through, he didn't know why he felt like all of it was for nothing.

--

Kibum knew he was being a ridiculous by answering the boys like that before, but he just couldn't help it. In his eyes, everything was so irritating that he couldn't help but to blame and throw tantrum to anything or to anyone that passed in front of his eyes without a reason lately.

Because why the they had to be still as clueless as him before about that impostor ? Saying that ing name in front of him so obliviously ?

And it's not like revealing the truth about him in front of anyone would be that easy. It would take him a great pain to bring the matter up.

Even he still avoided Jonghyun at the moment, knowing that his bestfriend would be able to tell what's exactly happening just by looking at his face and then force him to talk about it. That Prince. He didn't want to.

.

He was really such a ing girl.

Kibum sighed as he threw himself onto his bed. Laying on his stomach, he turned his head and glued his cheek to the matress as he stared blankly to the wall, trying to empty his mind cause he didn't want to think.

Without much thinking, he slowly took a deep breath. And only then, he just realized he could sniff something that was offered by the soft matress under him.

He didn't know whether it was just a fruit of his imagination or it was really there. The lingering scent of Jinki. Of musk and pine and masculine sweat.

Kibum closed his eyes and sighed again, for a moment lost deep into longing.

It was one of the night he had forced himself to forget. One of the earlier night he had learned about the truth and thus, he's keeping himself away from Jinki.

Kibum was already half-asleep when he suddenly felt there's a weight clung on his back; a warm, comfortable, and safe feeling yet a lil bit ticklish slowly spread inside him that he couldn't help but to subconsciously lean back.

But it was when he realized there's a slightly chapped lips softly breathing down his nape that Kibum shivered and opened his eyes in instance.

He turned his head just to see Jinki was holding him, locking his waist so tightly on his strong arms and smiling gently despite the dark that made Kibum couldn't even move.

And because the younger was still avoiding him, his self-defense mechanism was automatically activated that he soon tried to push Jinki's hand away, tho to no avail.

"What are you doing here?" Kibum whispered in a low voice, with accusing tone.

"I can't sleep." Jinki innocently said, nuzzling closer to the other.

But Kibum didn't want to give a damn about it. He sighed heavily as he's still trying to shove Jinki's hands away, "Go back to your room."

Jinki frowned with a hurting expression Kibum wouldn't be able to resist if only things were still normal "Let's just sleep...together." the older said.

The younger frowned back, struggling again when Jinki surprisingly loosened his arms. And Kibum had almost managed to get out of those arms, if only the older didn't pull him back to face him all of a sudden.

"What the hell?" Kibum snapped irritatedly at that "I'm sleepy! Can't you get your out of my bed and go to your own room instead ? You're not a ing five year old !"

It was harsh. Very. Even Kibum was taken aback himself with what he just said.

And Jinki could only look at him, with an even more pained expression this time.

"Why are you always pushing me away these days ?" the older asked weakly, as confused as a lost child, his grip loosened again in the way.

And Kibum couldn't help but to feel a little pang at the other's words.

Because honestly he didn't mean to. He didn't mean to avoid Jinki's presence, to ignore every single things he said, to push him away. He didn't want to.

But what could he do? At this point, he didn't know who or what to believe anymore.

He couldn't lie that hurting the older was hurting him too. Seeing Jinki's smile faltered, his eyes drooped, his frustated face, whenever Kibum cursimg harsh words to him.

But pushing Jinki away was the only thing he could do, the only thing he could think of, to prepare himself for the worst. So he could get used to be alone without the older when the time comes.

Tho he didn't know before it would be this hard. Harder than what he expected.

And maybe it was the time for his vulnerable side to finally take turns after his stubborn one. Because when Jinki tried to reach him the next moment, Kibum finally opted to surrender.

He just couldn't keep denying it.

Because truth be told, no matter how huge the lie Jinki had committed to him, Kibum was still craving for the other's touch.

How much more pathetic he could be ? the younger sighed soundlessly as he let himself being scooped by Jinki.

He could only close his eyes as he felt the older's finger softly swept his bangs to the side and slowly, that stubby digit was replaced by a plump lips, that travelled along his hair, down to his forehead, his nose, his lips, his jaw.

And because of that sudden resignation of the younger, Jinki was brave enough to let his legs tangle Kibum's, to let his arm tighten around that slim waist and without a hitch, he pulled the younger closer and closer to him until there's no space between them.

Just for tonight.

Kibum let it be.

Because this might be the last time. The last before everything would be dismantled, before the truth would be screamed out loud.

So then, Kibum decided to kiss Jinki back as passionately. Although he was trembling, almost chocked by his own soundless tears.

And as if Jinki already could feel the younger's tremor down his own spine, he only chose to hold Kibum tighter, so the other wouldn't fall apart. Which actually, already.

Kibum breathed out slowly, his arms came up to embrace himself as he realized the night had gone too cold for him.

He needed the other's body heat to warm him up, he needed his plumps lips to fill in the gap against his own parted one, he needed those stubby digits to dig in and burn his skin.

it.

Kibum cursed out as he threw the pillow above his head to the floor, realizing he was just being so irrationally stupid. Needy idiot.

How could he even still wanted that liar ? How could he still think about that man and felt miserable because of it ?

He had to get this all done and over with.

But why was doing something right could feel so wrong?

Even sometimes there's this impossible thought of him to wish that all of this was wrong and fake.

That Jinki was never lying.

That Jinki now was just taking his day off to go somewhere else and he would definitely be back to him.

That Jinki wasn't Jinki.

Kibum turned his head around and bury his face on the matress  under him to muffle his frustated scream.

Why, just why he couldn't think of anyone else but him ?

Kibum bit his lip as he banged his forehead to the bed. Calling that name inside his mind.

Jinki. Jinki. Jinki.

--

Jinki missed it. He missed the bullseye.

And that was enough to send anyone who was watching the usual evening archery practice into gaping. Even Taemin was.

"That.." he said to Jinki, pointing to the older's arrow on the board rather shakily "Did that make me win ?" he asked unbelievingly.

"Yeah.." Jinki answered cursorily.

"Wow.." Taemin gaped again, before he looked back and forth to Jinki and the target board "Wow.. I beat you.. I can't believe I beat you, hyung.." he said dazedly.

Jinki only smiled and shaking his head at his little brother who was looking genuinely stunned and now breaking into a smile. He couldn't believe it himself.

"Maybe I'm too old for things like this.." And too tired. Jinki said weakly, rather to himself.

And since he still could hear it, Taemin's happy smile suddenly pulled back into a frown. Because lately, there's this weird feeling he often got whenever he was with the older, that this Jinki was not the Jinki he used to to be. Not his hyung he used to be.

Taemin often felt like his hyung was still on distant, tho in the truth he was right next to him.

"You improved a lot Tae, that's good," Jinki suddenly reached his hand out to pat his hair softly. which made Taemin pull himself out from his thought and smile again, rather proudly at himself this time.

"Thank you, hyung," the younger said as he went to the nearby bench followed by his brother, and he sighed slowly as he sat "You know.. after you left things didn't work as smooth as usual. Troubles came, Father's being hard -harder- to everyone, he got irritated so easily, and yeah.. I could do almost nothing for it."

Jinki only nodded as he listened to his brother.

"Then right there I realized, maybe that was because i was too ignorant about our palace and our people before ? I was always so busy with my own world when you, on the other hand, had always been the one who came up with those briliant ideas for our country, to save our people, to sacrify yourself." Taemin bowed his head down as he took a deep breath again.

And Jinki could see the self-disappontment on the younger's sparkling eyes but he chose to say nothing.

"So when you left," Taemin continued "I decided to learn more, I took more class, I studied from some heads of ministry directly so that I could took your part when you're gone.

"I even exercised a lot," he grinned as he turned to Jinki "And you see, hyung? I won."

Jinki could only chuckle and shook his head, realizing that Taemin had grown, yet at the same time this young man in front of him was still his spoiled baby brother who needed a sort of approval from him for his well-doing.

"You do well, Taemin. I'm proud of you." Jinki said softly.

Taemin smiled widely in return tho he shook his head after, "You're still the best, hyung. You always are. That even I, sometimes envy that about you. Father is always proud of you."

"Is he?" Jinki raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised because he never ever thought like that about their Father. Now that Taemin mentioned.

"I thought it's obvious ?" Taemin looked at him, smiling, "Actually everyone is. Adoring you. Even me."

And somehow, Jinki could finally find himself also smiling just because of that simple flattery from his younger brother.

--

But that smile didn't last long. As Jinki started to lose his count. Of how much he had reminded himself that he was home and how much it backfired at him everytime.

Because no matter how true it was, it didn't feel like home at all.

It was the next morning. After he woke up from his king sized bed, with a full american breakfast had already served on the nightstand next to him and a bed of roses shown outside his window that the reality slowly hit him.

At first, he thought it felt weird just because it's been awhile since he woke up in that kind of well-being environment, but then when he realized the feeling didn't disappear at all after some time, he started to question himself.

Did this what he really wants ?

Jinki frowned and sighed deeply to himself. Even with the realization that he didn't have to work the day away, or sore his out with sitting in front of his crappy laptop or wear the same shirt for two days just because it's not the day of kkangpae's laundry, he didn't feel happy or relieved at all.

All that he could think of, was only that his huge bed was too cold to be used alone, his tea was way too sweet for his tongue and his hand was too empty without another strands of hair, or another expanse of velvety skin or another slim digits his fingers could run along on.

Maybe home, for him, was not somewhere anymore. But someone.

--

And Jinki had the urge to do something about it.