The news of Baekhyun and Byul getting together spread through out the Palace like wildfire.

The moment Baekhyun and Byul left from the King's residence after lunch, Byul noticed a whole lot of other maids and servants looking over at them curiously. They hadn't done anything like that before because Byul was Baekhyun's bodyguard, that was what she was known as.

But the gazes and curious glances they were getting were completely different. Even as Byul insisted that there should absolutely be NO public displays of affection and they were just walking side by side, the maids and servants were looking at them and whispering to themselves.

When they walked past, the maids greeted Baekhyun like they usually did, in their sweet "Jeonha" voice. But unexpectedly, they greeted Byul too. "Annyeong Byul."

Byul blinked. Okay this was weird. The other maids were okay to her before but they couldn't really click since Byul wasn't that much of a feminine girl that could talk to them about the things that interested a usual female. She was just on the formal type of politeness with the other maids.

And now they were "annyeong Byul"-ing? OMOMOMOMO.

Baekhyun raised a brow. "It seems the news had spread fast." he grinned teasingly at her. "I think they know of..." he leaned closer. "Our new relationship status." he winked.

Byul pinked and slapped his arm, pushing him away. "Stand further you. I can't think with you breathing into my ear." she grumbled. She twisted her lips and sighed. "Now what. Now they're going to treat me differently!" she muttered. "I don't want that."

Reaching out to take her hand, Baekhyun chuckled softly. "Haven't you realized that these people haven't treated you in the same way from the very beginning?" he asked. "You were different from the start."

Byul looked at him, backing away as hurt flashed in her eyes.

Baekhyun shook his head and pulled her back, walking slowly as they made their way to his quarters again, to the privacy behind four walls. "Haven't you realized that people haven't treated you the same when you were just a girl?" he asked softly. "You have this aura around you, Eunbyul. This aura that makes you shine even in the darkess night, this beautiful face that would make any married man stop in his steps."

She made a face at him and he grinned, poking her cheek. "And besides your looks, when someone talks to you, they'll find that you're completely different from other girls out there." Baekhyun told her. "You don't bother yourself with things you're not interested in, you don't pretend to like something you don't. You're not someone easily swayed by trends, you're the one who sets them."

"Tchh, sweet talker." Byul murmured.

"Shh I'm not done." Baekhyun hushed her. He grinned at her. "Now where were we? Oh right. You're different even when you were in the military academy, being the only female student." he continued. "You were different because you're the first one to land a job as a bodyguard when the others were still trainee guards. You're the first one to be assigned to a royal, much more the Crown Prince. You're the one who got all of these because of your capabilities, even in this world where guys are favored over girls." he tapped her nose.

Byul looked at him, absoring every word. She blinked, looking at him curiously with slight tears gathering in her eyes.

"And now, you've captured the heart of the Crown Prince." Baekhyun whispered, tugging her hand to his heart. "You're going to become the Crown Princess, like it or not. We're getting married someday, because you know I'm that serious about this. You're going to be the future Queen. You are different, Eunbyul, taht's why you were never meant to be treated in the same way."

Byul bit her lip, biting back the tears. Darn this Byun Baekhyun with his way with words.

Baekhyun chuckled and wiped at her cheek. "Omo! Is this Han Eunbyul crying?" he teased lightly. Byul smacked his hands away and grumbled. "Stop embarrassing me you toot." she sniffled.

They stepped into Baekhyun's quarters and he pulled her closer. "It's going to be hard, Eunbyul." he murmured. "My status is glory and pride, but it's also responsibility and pressure. Being with me would force you to undergo things other people wouldn't have to." he took her hand and kissed her palm.

"Are you willing to face this with me?" he stared into her eyes.

Byul looked straight at him in the eye. "As you said, I'm different." she grinned back. "Even if I have to fight a dragon, I'll go all the way." she nudged him playfully. "Because you're Ddong-ha."

Baekhyun softened and opened his arms lovingly. "Come here you."

"So you two are really together?" Dahae looked at them.

The EXO-K princes shifted uncomfortably. Oh man, this was so awkward. "Yeah." Baekhyun nodded, sending Byul a smile. Chanyeol looked away, obviously still not used to this display of affection even though it had already been a week. A week of torture really.

Dahae looked at Byul, her teeth grinding. This could have been her, this position of being love and being the future Crown Princess after the wedding, and in the future the Queen.

She had always taken Baekhyun's affections for granted. She thought Baekhyun would love her forever, she thought she could have her way with Chanyeol and Baekhyun would still be there waiting for her.

But no. Baekhyun proved her wrong. Completely.

The way he looked at Byul now told her that it was impossible for him to turn his feelings back to her. She pretended not to notice when he had looked at her in that affectionate way of his in the past, but the way he was looking at Byul right then was something else altogether.

It wasw like she was the centre of his universe, the only one he could see even though there were another six people around, the only one his heart was beating for.

She lost, completely, to this darn commoner.

"Ah!" Sehun's yelp made everyone look at him.

Sehun shot a glare at Kai and rubbed his thigh. "Why did you pinch me, Kai hyung?" he whined. Kai mentally smacked himself. And to think they were cousins and there wasn't a little telepathy between them.

"I didn't!" Kai widened his eyes innocently. *Come on Hun just change the topic you idiot! It's getting so awkward with Dahae around!*

Sehun obviously didn't get the message. "But you did hyung!" he protested. "You pinched me! You meanie!" he complained. He ran to Byul and tugged on her arm. "Byul noona help punish Kai hyung for me!"

Baekhyun raised his brow. "Yah yah. I'm the Crown Prince here. If you want to find someone to protect you, shouldn't you find me instead?"

Sehun made a face. "But Byul noona's going to be the Crown Princess someday and she knows martial arts." he protested. "She's a better choice!"

"Oh yeah, Byul the Crown Princess." Suho chuckled. Byul pinked and looked at Baekhyun for help but he shook his head. She had to get use to this somehow.

"Whoohoo the crown princessss~~~" D.O. teased.

And it continued on.

The EXO-K princes finally left and Dahae was the last one to leave. Dahae looked at Baekhyun earnestly. "Can you walk me back, Jeonha?"

Baekhyun hesitated. "I..."

"I'll wait for you outside, Jeonha." Dahae went out first.

Byul bit her lip and felt a little uncomfortable. "I'll...wait." she muttered, going into her room. Baekhyun grabbed her arm to stop her. "Where are you going?"

"To the room?" Byul murmured.

"Don't forget you're still my bodyguard Han Eunbyul." Baekhyun tugged him to go with her. "As much as you're my girl. On both accounts, I can't let you out of my sight."

Dahae looked surprised to see Byul following since she had expected some alone time with Baekhyun.

He just shrugged. "She's my Queen."

"So now not only has he gotten your throne, he's got the girl you like."

Chanyeol stopped in his steps. He turned around slowly to look at his father, his face pale. "What are you talking about?"

Lord Park smirked. "Don't underestimate me, Chan. I know." he muttered. "That bodyguard of Baekhyun, Byul, isn't it? You like her, love even. You think the maids and servant haven't noticed your strange behavior?"

He walked closer to Chanyeol, noting the paleness in his son's face. "DOn't you see, Chan? If you're the Crown Prince, if you're the King, you can have her." he whispered. "You can get her if you have the throne, son. You can have anything."

CHanyeol swallowed, looking at his father. "Really?" He shook his head to clear his thoughts. HAd he just been...considering about it?

"Imagine watching Han Eunbyul marry Baekhyun, CHan." Lord Park continued relentlessly. "Imagine watching them having kids. Imagine having to bear all of that without flinching and knowing that you can never have her. Are you capable of that, Chan?"

Chanyeol looked at his father for a long time.

Can he do it? Can he?

"No I can't, Abeoji. I can't." Chanyeol whimpered.

Lord Park smiled. "Good. Now let me help you."