Taemin was born a prince, a prince conceived from the sixth Queen. He was far in line to the throne, having many a half-sibling. Every month, his father– the King– held a small feast, gathering all his Queens and children, after which Taemin would be forced to sit with the other princes and princesses, all of them going on and on about the royal politics– at times taking advantage of the fact that the crown prince, Jinki, the King’s son from his first wife, was away trying to establish good relations between the neighboring kingdoms– to criticize him and instead put themselves ahead as worthier heirs. Taemin was least bothered– he had absolutely no interest in being the King. He did not know what he was interested in, or what would become of him... but he knew one thing. He wanted his life, whatever it may become, to have that one person whom he held the dearest.

He was yet again forced to one of these gatherings. Sitting at the table arranged in the gardens under the shade of the trees, Taemin often lifted his gaze from his plate of dessert, running his fingers through his dark golden hair, conscious of his beloved’s gaze. His green eyes tried to settle on him discreetly, to steal a glance at least. And like always, his eyes eventually met warm, brown ones. Taemin looked away, but the other was still watching him from afar, knowing that Taemin would be bored and soon irate in the company of his half-siblings. And when Taemin passed him by through the archways a while later, he handed him a red rose discreetly. It took only that much– one rose and one coy smile, and it wiped every turbulence away from Taemin's heart and mind.

His beloved, the owner of those warm, brown eyes was named Jongin and he was a young, brave knight.

He was quite like the knights from the many tales Taemin had read in their library… and Taemin felt exactly like those corny protagonists– utterly besotted.