Donghae should be focused. On Hyukjae. But now he can't help it.

He scours through the castle. Listens for Kim Soonok. Anything about her. Even as he's standing right beside Hyukjae.

The other is more reticent. He isn't giving Donghae his frequent glances. Smiles. Quiet comments. Jokes and laughs. He's not meeting Donghae's eyes for long. His exchanges are just polite.

It makes Donghae realize...

Hyukjae used to make him feel included. Donghae was the bodyguard. But he was part of all of Hyukjae's daily tasks. Hyukjae knew Donghae was listening. Seeing. That he had his eyes on him. So Donghae was given space for input. Was allowed to be amused. To chuckle. To remark. Quietly to Hyukjae. Or later when alone.

Now, it feels unwanted. Awkward.

----

Princess Eunji isn't happy. She's being forced into a blue dress. So she's shouting her loudest nos.

"I'm sorry, baby... I'm sorryyy..." Hyukjae says. "We'll take it off, okay? We just want to make sure it fits, Eunji -- look! Look, you have flowers on your skirt! Waaahww, right? It's waaahw!"

"No!"

"Oh. No, again. Okay, baby, I'm sorry -- can you give me your hand?"

Yoona and Hyukjae struggle with her. Patiently. After half an hour... Eunji's plopped on the floor. Her nose and eyes are pink. From tears.

She's glowering at a beaded necklace now. Because she's trying to remove the beads. With her fingers. With her teeth. Donghae can foresee a tantrum. The dress fits. But the material doesn't look comfortable. The skirt is puffy. Ruffled. It's turned her into a round ball.

"Sungmin, Sungmin, please take some pictures for me on your tablet, on your phone, I don't care -- with anything, please, please? Ryeowook, for the photographers next week, if we give Eunji something to play with, she'll keep the tiara on her head for a minute, but we really have to be quick because -- Eunji, sweetie, that's not for eating, you'll ruin what teeth you have, Yoona--"

Eunji's eyes are filling up again. is pouty. She shakes the necklace in frustration.

"Princess, here."

Yoona puts a binky into . Hyukjae grabs her animal-sounds keyboard. Presses the cow. Eunji snivels. Blinks down at it.

"Sungmin, this is fine, right? Yesung, what do you think? Good?"

Yesung is standing. Tapping pictures of Eunji. On his phone.

"We need to get her changed soon," Hyukjae says. "She's going to throw things and someone might get hurt -- and it might be you, Yesung, she's pretty smart and she knows you got the dress."

Donghae bites his lip. To stop a smile. Hyukjae's eyes flick to him. For a second. The prince turns his head away instantly. But Donghae's observed him for long enough now. He recognized the faint flicker. Of amusement. Satisfaction.

That he'd made Donghae smile.

His heart's suddenly lighter.

----

"We're going to get you to wawa, okay?" Hyukjae says. Rubs Eunji's back. Pecks her head. "You deserve all the time in the wawa. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

Eunji's babbling now. She's back in her usual clothes. A soft pair of shorts. A yellow shirt. Hyukjae didn't let her walk this time. Not even halfway. He is carrying her. Marching with purpose. To the Blue Fountain.

"Yes, princess, I'll let you swim in it if that's what you want, okay? You did so well, sweetie."

---

There's no way to swim in it. So Hyukjae gets right in with Eunji. Helps her stand. Walk. To keep her from slipping. Falling. Donghae worries about Hyukjae slipping too. He has to watch him closely.

The noise from the fountain... the splish and splash of the water... Hyukjae and Eunji's shouts and giggles...

They keep Donghae's attention. The rest of the castle's out of focus. But he's suddenly jerked back. He turns his head. Concentrates. Hears that familiar cane.

"Prince Hyukjae," Donghae says.

The other stops. Glances at him.

"Sir," Donghae says. Steps close. Lowers his voice. "Soonok is heading this way."

Eunji's trying to run. Through the water. Hyukjae immediately picks her up. She screeches in protest.

"Donghae, what's the fastest way out of here? I-I don't want her to see me."

---

Eunji quietens a little. Perhaps she's startled. Confused. By her uncle's shift in behaviour. Energy. Or by the new places they're walking through. But Donghae's certain Soonok would know. What path they took. Because they leave a trail of puddles. Through the halls. Through the narrow corridors. The guards and staff usually take these. To get from different sections of the castle more quickly.

They come out close to the King's rooms. The guards patrolling the area give them a strange look. The bottom of Hyukjae's pants are still wet. Donghae steers him carefully. He has a hand on his back. Eunji's staring around at the walls. Halls. She watches her uncle. Says a few of her incoherent words.

"Later, baby," Hyukjae murmurs. Kisses her cheek. "Do you want to see Kibummie?"

"Ooo..."

Hyukjae chuckles. "Mooo -- where'd you see that? Where's the cow?"

"Oona?"

"Oh, Yoona? You want to see Yoona? Okay, you'll see her soon. We have to get you changed--"

"Noooo," Eunji says. Shakes her head.

"No, no, not into that dress. Something comfortable, okay? You need a bath and dry clothes, princess."

----

Hyukjae and Sungmin are sitting in the lounge area. This one's not far from Hyukjae's rooms. Donghae's standing near the tall wi