Another typical day for the dwarves

All of them are doing their own thing like how some are picking fruits from the trees, some are gardening while there's someone who's sitting on a bed and thinking if it's okay to be jealous

Specifically, Luhan

He groaned and laid fully on the bed. He's getting frustrated and he hates it

"What to do?" He mumbled

Thinking of a way to forget this annoying event is what he needs

Luhan started listing things in his mind that could help him get distracted

Magic? Nah, I do that everyday

Cooking? I'm horrible at it

Stalking? What the hell

Archery? 

"Archery" He got up and grabbed his bows and arrows that was made of a tree branches

Luhan headed outside and he felt happy. It has been a while since he got out to a crowd of dwarves

He excitedly ran towards the place where archery happens, it takes some time to get there but it was worth the effort

When Luhan got there, a girl is already there, her figure looks somehow familiar

As he went closer, he was a bit surprised, but not shocked, when he saw who it was

"Oh hey"

Aeri smiled at him as she points the arrows at the bullseye, carefully positioning it at the right angle

"What brings you here?" She asked 

"Just to clear my mind, I guess?" Luhan shrugged, putting his things down

"Same" She let go of the arrow and it perfectly went straight at the center

"Woah" Luhan mumbled

Aeri backed away with a satisfied look on her face, sitting on the ground after the archery

"Your turn" 

Luhan shrugged and grabbed his bow and arrow, standing across the target board and positioned himself

"You've gotten better, I see" Aeri commented as she watches every move Luhan does

Luhan didn't reply, instead, he concentrated and aimed for the center

He let go of the arrows once he found a good angle and he watches as it almost hit the center, it's close to Aeri's but it's not the center 

"Yup, better than before" Luhan proudly say

Luhan sat beside her and put the arrow and bow beside him

"Luhan?" Aeri called

Luhan turned to her and smirked "You don't call me my prince anymore huh?" He teased

Aeri let out a small laugh "I hate it when I call you that, but kingdom things, you know" 

"Yeah" Luhan smiled

"You do know that we're just of the same age right?" Aeri pointed out

"Yeah, but like, how old are we now?" 

"I don't know, I lost track" 

"I think I'm almost 100" Luhan tried to count in his head

"Then so am I" 

"We're lucky huh?" Luhan said

"How?"

"We get to live longer than humans" He replied

"Oh, yeah" She smiled

"But aren't you like-, a bit sad?" Aeri questioned

"For what reason would I be?" 

"The human you like will live shorter than you" She specified, making Luhan's eyes widened

"What are you talking about?"

"I act dumb around the kingdom, but I am not. Everytime I see you looking around to see if no one is near, I already suspect that you're up to something" She explained and it amazed and shocked Luhan at the same time

Aeri, the dumb girl that she always sees in the hall is not dumb?

"Aer-"

"And when I saw you once in front of the portal, I knew I was right. Twice to be exact, once with Yixing" 

Wow, it really shocked Luhan for real

"How come you know all of that?!" Luhan stressed out

"You came back everytime I'm about to go home" Aeri answered

"That didn't answer my question"

"It did. The portal is not that much of a secret and it's literally placed way too close at the main hall. As a main hall, it is meant to be walked through of course, a pathway, and that is where I always pass by when going home" She revealed

"Aeri, I hop-"

"And no, I'm not gonna tell your parents if that's what you're worried about. I may be their personal dwarf-" She quoted the last two words and giggled before continuing "But I am not a dog who will bark to alarm them at whatever is happening around the kingdom" 

"Thank you" Luhan smiled at her 

"I thought you were dumb" He blurted out, receiving a glare from the girl

"Ouch?" She laughed

"Why didn't you tell them?" Luhan asked out of curiosity

"Want me to?"

"No, just curious"

"I fell in love with a human before. I know how it feels" She sadly said

"Where is he?"

"I don't know, the last time I saw him was on.....don't know" She shrugged

"You're not gonna find him?"

"Want to, but I can't so it's time to move on" She bitterly laughed, the sound of pain is there

"Did you-? you know?"

"Yes, I let him see me, I talked to him, I broke the rules" She bravely admitted

"I'm sorry" Luhan mumbled

"Why? Is he your brother or something?" She chuckled

"No"

"I was just joking"

"I know"

Aeri stood up and removed the dust from her dress and grabbed her things

"Nice talking to you, Lu-" Aeri looked at him "My prince" She bowed and laughed

"Nice talking to you too" He smiled

"I gotta go now, see you around, hopefully somewhere not near the portal" She giggled

"I can't promise you that" Luhan grinned 

"Okay then, bye" Aeri smiled at him before leaving

Luhan is alone now, suddenly, thoughts flooded his mind

If Aeri knew it when I thought she would never, what if my parents..."

"No that's not gonna happen, I can't let it happen!" Luhan grabbed his things and hurried back to the kingdom

When he got there the guards stopped him "No running" 

Luhan looked at them with raised brows "What are you talking about?" He asked

"Oh your highness, my apologies" They bowed and let Luhan in once they recognized him

Luhan ran into his room and while on his way, he bumped into someone he never expected to

"Appa" He bowed

"Luhan, where were you?" Baekhyun asked

"Just did some archery with Aeri" He answered

Luhan's hands are sweating

"Oh, I checked your room earlier and I thought you were at Yixing's. You should tell us, or atleast me wherever you're going. I easily get worried" Baekhyun hugged his son 

"I will, appa. I'm sorry" Luhan apologized 

"Forgiven. Now, I must go, you should take some rest okay?" He smiled and ruffled his son's hair before walking away

Luhan's eyes widened and ran to his room

"He checks my room?" Luhan came into realisation

"Oh no"