Still, Jeonghan wasn’t able to go home the other day.

The head servant of the castle got a glimpse of him going up the carriage and called him out. He got a lot of scolding-- the former saying how dare he use a carriage at a busy day like that.

The day passed in a blur. For the rest of the morning, he just helped in the kitchen to avoid an encounter with the Prince. Even then, he was well aware that the other knew that he didn’t go home. That weird attraction was still there and the other’s presence was so palpable that Jeonghan guessed that if he just focus and concentrate hard enough, he could pinpoint where exactly the Prince was at that moment.

When afternoon came, guests started arriving in carriages so grand and intricate that Jeonghan knew that this was no ordinary party. He found himself dragging luggage after luggage of things down the west wing of the castle to which the high-ranking officials of the Fire Nation were designated to stay. His assistance was restricted to them as theirs was the customs Jeonghan was only familiar to.  The headservant has strictly prohibited him from even going near the visitors that came from the other nations to prevent any risk of embarrassment from him.

Over night, the castle was dressed up in a kind of electrifying elegance the Fire Nation was known for. Everywhere he looked, his eyes were able to feast on a variety of enchanted adornments laced by tricks and gimmicks created by the best Fire designers of the nation. Even he himself can’t take the gasp from escaping when he first stepped foot in the main hall that morning. Fire red tapestries exhibiting the emblems of the three signs of the nation decorated the walls and ceiling and were accented by ornaments bursting of thick amber and gold. A grand chandelier of swirling fire was located at the center. He went near it expecting to sweat but then realized it was enchanted by heatless fire. He almost can’t believe it.

Immediately after the sun has set, the banquet commenced and now Jeonghan, alert and anxious was teetering at the edge of the hall and avoiding eye contact with anyone. He kept himself busy by taking the initiative to bring out new batches of cakes and pastries or refilling jugs of drinks or cutting up cheeses. He even pretended heating up a slob of meat just to avoid a water nation royalty who was about to give him an order. Just anything to avoid any encounter with anyone. He can’t even face the direction wherein the royalties were clumped.

At one moment at the peak of the event, when the large room was almost full with people and the noise was too much for him to handle, he rushed outside to get some fresh air. He felt suffocated. Heart beating fast, he sank down the front steps and tried to calm his breath.

For ’s sake he didn’t prepare for this event. They just can’t expect him to function right around a large group of important people on such short notice.

He pulled his knees close to him and rested his head on them. He fondled the ties of his robes in order to calm his breathing but on the process, a heavy object slipped from his pockets. He caught it before it can roll over down the steps and examined it. It was the metal ball. He supposed he should throw it now. He wouldn’t need it anymore, right?

Gods. He rolled the ball between his palms and looked up the night sky, “please help me,” he murmured the stars in a state of lucid wonder.

Sitting there alone, however, wasn't able to give a moment of peace because not even a minute has passed, he heard the sudden loud thump of the double doors opening. He froze not knowing what to do.

Of all times to be caught not doing anything.

And then…Oh.

The feeling was so sudden and brought so many emotions… relief, excitement, irritation? Sadness—everything just being wrapped by a sheet of confusion. He can’t grasp them independently, like each was evading his blind hands that are grasping for handle. It was like a tangle of yarn was thrown at him. His poor heart just can’t take it.

He felt like if he stand up, his knees might betray him and he might just buckle over. So he resorted to bringing his head up from his knees and looking back at him. Under the moonlight’s gleam combined with the shade of the floating fireballs at the distance, he’s even more beautiful. His hair was up this time arranged under a small crown of amber and gold, exposing his features unreservedly.

He found him staring down at him with a strange expression on his face. Jeonghan noticed the rapid rise and fall of his chest and he wondered if he also rushed outside and why. He stared at him back questioningly.

Prince Mingyu looked like he was waiting for an answer himself but after a fe