Chapter 1- Zeitgeist

 

Baekhyun smiled as he grabbed his basket full of foods he made before making his way to the mountain where his boyfriend is currently taking care of their sheeps, cows and goats

 

“Hi Baekhyun hyung! Going up to the mountain?” their friend, Sehun greeted Baekhyun, who in return give him a wide smile

 

“Yes, how about you? You’ll visit Prince Luhan again?” Baekhyun teased the younger, who just blushed before defending himself, “hyung!” the younger shrieked before bidding farewell

 

Baekhyun proceeded on his way, receiving and giving a few more good mornings before finally seeing his lover’s silhouette

 

Chanyeol wiped a sweat on his forehead and decided to sit for a while when familiar small hands were wrapped against his trousers, he smiled then turned around to see the small man’s face who is smiling widely

 

“Baekhyunnie? Again, why do you bother to go up all the way here just to bring me food?” Chanyeol give Baekhyun a light peck on his lips to erase away the pout the smaller is showing

 

“But I don’t want you starving, and you know how long the travel is, from here to our home, you’ll pass out if you try to come down, so I’ll just bring them up here for you” Baekhyun explained before grabbing both of them into the shade that has always been there and take out all of the food he made

 

Chanyeol took a bite and give his lover a thumbs up, “so how was the coats you were making for the Duke?” he asked him, personally, he wished that Baekhyun would finish the Duke’s clothes, it’s because he knows that when he’s not around, Duke Kris likes to flirt with Baekhyun

 

Baekhyun shrugged, “it’s nearly done, I only need to do some final touch and it’ll be done by Saturday, but either way, the Duke always comes to my work place and chat with me, you know how it bothers me” Baekhyun looked at Chanyeol

 

Chanyeol just smiled, “you know we can’t do anything about it, if we try to shoo him, he might just use it to put me in the dungeons, you know how that man likes you” he just shook his head before sipping some water that Baekhyun brought

 

“hmm, you’re right, oh, eat some apples, it helps on rehydrating you, water’s not enough” Baekhyun smiled at Chanyeol, who, just ruffled the former’s hair because his cuteness is so irresistible

 

Chanyeol checked his battered old watch and turned to Baekhyun, “go home now Baek, it’s almost 2, you still need to finish making the Duke’s coats” he smiled before kissing his lover

 

Baekhyun pouted, but decided not to go against it since Chanyeol is right, the earlier he finish the coats, the faster he could get rid of some annoyance the Duke himself puts him in

 

“Okay, but be home before 6, might catch some trouble with wild beasts” Baekhyun pat his lover’s cheeks before starting to put leftovers and containers back into the basket

 

“be safe on the road Baekkie, don’t want to see you full of bruises back at home” Chanyeol pat his lover’s back which earned a slap in the arm and a pouting Baekhyun, “just kidding, just take care”

 

“Oh, Channie, please buy coconut oil for me as you go home okay? I’ve ran out and my skin’s getting dry because of the heat” Baekhyun said before waving off and started to get down the mountain

 

Baekhyun was hopping off the trail when a carriage stop just beside him, and the Duke’s head came into view, “Baekhyun-ssi, the weather is hot, would you like me to send you home?” Kris showed Baekhyun a smile

 

Baekhyun, on the other hand, was getting nervous, he’s not really comfortable around the Duke, specially when he knows the other’s intention, “Thank you for your offer sire, but I can manage myself, and I don’t want to interrupt your journey, dear sire” he bowed before starting to walk again, but Kris stopped him, by going down and holding his wrist to hold him in place

 

“no, it won’t be a bother at all Baekhyun-ssi, and I’m also going to your shop to check on my coats” he flashed another meaningful smile at Baekhyun, and even though Baekhyun is so uncomfortable, he couldn’t help but agree, because it is the Duke he’s talking with

 

Baekhyun, though very uneasy sitting inside the luxurious carriage in front of the Duke, who, since they sat inside, didn’t takeoff his eyes from the petite man, “so Baekhyun-ssi, what were you doing, walking beneath the burning sun?” Kris open up a topic

 

Baekhyun didn’t look at the Duke’s eyes then answered, “I was up to bring Chanyeol his lunch, and I also got my lunch” he smiled at the thought of his lover’s smiles and laughs

 

Baekhyun was so busy on adoring Chanyeol to notice the grim etched on the Duke’s face, what’s so special about the shepherd anyway? Why can’t Baekhyun choose me over that peasant? I’m the Duke of this Kingdom! That Chanyeol is just a shepherd, and just a snap of my finger, that peasant would be sent to the dungeons!

 

“Sire, we’re here” Baekhyun called the attention of Kris before going down first as a sign of common courtesy

 

“How are my coats Baekhyun?” Kris asked as they go inside Baekhyun’s shop, the latter give a small smile before going on the last coat and sit behind the sewing tools to put on the sequins to be able to give it on the Duke already

 

“Just some of this sequins sire, and after this, you’ll be able to take your coats already” Baekhyun smiled and proceeded to work

 

Kris wander his eyes around the room, looking at all of Baekhyun’s wonderful works, from women’s gowns and dresses to men’s suits, it was all detailed, all done beautifully, even though they’re just for samples, now, he fell more in love with the petite man who is doing his coat the more he sees him

 

Baekhyun smiled in triumph when he finally finished putting the sequins on the last coat, then he goes on the back to get the other 4 and arrange them neatly on a box and give it finally to the Duke, who just gave him a smile

 

“That’ll be 50 pieces of gold sire” Baekhyun smiled, and Kris handed him the bag of gold

 

“It’s a pretty cheap price for a majestic clothing like this” Kris took of his hat and bowed to Baekhyun, and the latter just bowed back

 

“Thank you for purchasing sire” Baekhyun give one last bow when the Duke left before going on his tools then sighed

 

He’s not naïve, thank you very much, he can feel all of those looks the dear Duke is giving him, and he can feel the anger radiating out of the Duke whenever he would mention his lover’s name, and he’s terrified

 

He’s so terrified because of the wrong love he’s receiving from the Duke

 

Baekhyun just sighed before starting to make the suit for Prince Luhan, specially requested by your majesty, with some persistence because Baekhyun just won’t give in, saying it’s too hard, when it’s actually not, and in the end, he decided to do it, since the Prince is also their friend

 

“aigoo, this sly little prince, this suit would take longer than I intended to, this is full of details” Baekhyun started to grumble as he sat down in front of his sewing machine that was made for him by Jongdae, who seen how hard Baekhyun has worked so he decided to help him a little, by doing him a favor of creating a sewing machine for him

 

Baekhyun is only starting to put buttons on the coat when the front door open, revealing his exhausted, but still smiling lover, “you’re home!” Baekhyun exclaimed as he run up at his lover, who just ruffles his hair

 

“Here’s your coconut oil, and oh, I bumped into Kyungsoo and Jongin while I was out in the town” Chanyeol explained as he put on the chair the things he purchased and lead Baekhyun on the couch of the shop where they sat

 

“Really? They have comeback already?” Baekhyun gaped at the taller man, who in return, just chuckled and nod his head, “yeah, I guess the King and Queen wants their entertainers back” he explained, since Kyungsoo sings for almost every event there is in the Kingdom, and Jongin dances just as much

 

“hmm, I guess we can crash at their place at the weekend, I’ve missed them so much, it’s been a while” Baekhyun stand up and returned to his sewing machine to continue putting buttons

 

Chanyeol stares at him, “is it Luhan’s?” he asked, in which Baekhyun just nods, “yeah, the kid wants to torture me so badly, he wants to have a very beautiful suit that is full of details” he rolled his eyes

 

Chanyeol just chuckled and grab an orange juice from the plastic bag and gave it to Baekhyun, “hmm, I think he just wants to test how talented you are, and you are very talented, see, it’s only been a few hours and you’re almost done at the base of the coat” Chanyeol pecked a kiss on Baekhyun’s forehead, who, just smiled up at him

 

“Thanks, it gives me a boost of strength” he smiled lovingly, “ok, I’ll make us dinner, and I’ll just call you to dinner later, ok? So start closing up the shop” Chanyeol rubbed Baekhyun’s small back before proceeding to their house, only at the back of Baekhyun’s shop

 

Baekhyun could only smile at how lucky he thinks he is because of the happiness that their relationship had

 

And everyone could’ve agree to that, everyone, except one