"Are you alright?!"

I had been shocked at the sight of Prince Sehun lying sprawled across the floor, but soon came to my sense as I rushed into the study upon seeing him down on the floor and reached out to him.

"Your Highness?!"

Shaking him gently didn't seem to do a thing to his unconscious state, so letting all proper manners go flying out the window, I began to shake him even more violently... And finally, his eyelids fluttered slightly.

Then the rest of his body began to twitch slightly, the characteristic frown that always seemed to be etched into his expression returning as the corners of his mouth turned downwards from the angelic blissful look he had just a few seconds before, "Mm... Mnn..."

Almost immediately, I couldn't help but let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding in, relief flooding my body as my hands instantly let go of his shoulders and words started pouring out from my mouth, "Oh, Your Highness... I should call an ambulance... Or at least get Chen first-"

"Shut up," Prince Sehun simply said, stunning me into a silence as I could only stare at him intently with wide eyes at how he was now acting. He just looked... Tired and sleepy, but besides from that, unaffected at all, evident by how he effortlessly yawned lightly, sitting up as he rubbed his eyes.

My mouth must have been opened then as all that came out from my mouth was, "Uh..."

"I was just sleeping," he stated shortly, looking absolutely disinterested in the fact that I was in his office as he stood up, face completely expressionless as he turned to his desk, adding in as what sounded to be like a last-second thought, "I fell, if you were going to ask."

Just looking at him moving around as he normally did was enough to make a slight smile begin to tug at the ends of my mouth as the feeling of relief in me opened up even more, suppressing the slight chuckle about to escape from me. The fact that he was willing to even say anything to me was going into my head a bit, so as Prince Sehun said that he fell, my eyes instantly gazed in the area that he had been before.

The sight of the sofa didn't take long to click in my head as I could feel my expression soften even more and unknowingly, whisper out softly to myself with a soft chuckle, "Oh... I guess even Your Highness falls asleep on the sofa sometimes."

He slumped down into his chair, though otherwise seemed unperturbed as his eyes fixed themselves back onto the papers on his desk before replying to my whisper that I didn't even realize he had heard, "I was just taking a nap. I ended up working late last night."

At these words, the formerly 'awww' sort of moment I had earlier vanished slightly as I could feel my eyebrows instantly lower and furrow at his hunched over form on the desk in worry, opening my mouth to protest quietly, "But you'll catch a cold if you sleep like that."

Instantly, Prince Sehun's eyes flickered up to glance up at me as his face creased even more and a quiet mutter came from him, "You're one to talk... You're the one who fell asleep at their desk..."

"What...?" I looked back at him with now widened eyes and an uncomprehending mind, startled at his words.

My brain seemed to have frozen up then as what looked to be a strange look came over Prince Sehun's face before he turned back to the work on his desk. Then another uncharacteristically quiet mumble from the stony prince, "Nothing..."

Then what seemed to be a sudden thought to me hit me in the face. Could it be that last night... Did he...? A feeling of excited anxiety heightened at his expression as the question now stamped in the fore front of my mind couldn't be kept back any longer, "Um... Was it Your Highness who gave me that blanket last night?"

Prince Sehun twitched slightly in his seat as I spoke, obviously surprised as his eyes darted back to my face. But unlike last time, they were now once more guarded and cold as he was so famed to be, his voice equaling that of his expression too, "What blanket is this?"

I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at his words, biting the inside of my cheek as I scrambled to find words to explain myself even as my face too furrowed together in concern. So I seemed to be wrong too... In a clearly awkward voice, I presented the evidence that I had found last night, "I'm sorry. Last night, someone covered me with a blanket while I was asleep... I had thought it was Your Highness who did it-"

"Why would I do something like that?" Prince Sehun promptly interrupted, eyes narrowed even more as his gaze fastened onto mine, the corners of his mouth turned downwards in a clear frown.

That was a point he had, I thought to myself bitterly then with a mental laugh. What the hell was I thinking, expecting for a prince like him to be sneaking around to my room in the middle of the night to check on me? Ridiculous. So feeling a bit more than embarrassed, I bowed my head slightly to apologize quietly, "Sorry."

Then the sound of Prince Sehun clearing his throat made my eyes flicker up to him as he was now keeping his eyes focused on his paperwork, his voice completely smoothed over as he spoke once again, "You don't need to apologize. But did the blanket help at all...?"

Rapidly, I could feel myself gasp mentally at his question, though on the outside... I made sure to look just as undisturbed as he did as I nodded slightly and answered stoically, "Yes, it did. I was very warm."

"Oh, that's good." His words were simple and I would have completely disregarded them for him being his usual polite yet brick wall self if it wasn't for the fact that I thought I saw his features soften for a moment. And thus, all the previous discrepancies in my mind on whether or not he was the one to give the blanket to me vanished. It could have only been him... It wouldn't make sense for him to seem so concerned and talk about this much if Chen had done it instead...

Without missing a heartbeat while I was mentally spazzing out slightly on the realization of such, Prince Sehun looked up at me with that same detached and aloof look on his face as he harshly spoke, "Don't go getting the wrong idea. It would be a hassle if a guest caught a cold while staying here, not to mention an embarrassment to the royal family."

And as soon as they came, any feelings of kindness I had felt withered away into nothing again. Of course, practical Prince Sehun he was, there wouldn't be any emotions attached to what he did. So snapping out of my mini daze, I nodded once more before he continued on in a more stoic tone, "If that is all, I suggest you go back to your room. I'm busy."

Immediately, I bowed slightly with a stiffness that I would probably only used with Prince Sehun before muttering lowly, "Yes. I am sorry for disturbing you."

Leaving his office without another word from him or another look back from myself, I couldn't but think for a moment that perhaps he is a kind person, but just doesn't know how to show it... But then again, I didn't really know enough about him yet. Not yet.

Next morning.

And the atmosphere was certainly more than awkward now after the little incident Prince Sehun and I was involved in. Even when I returned to my room that night and tried to sit down and continue working, it just wouldn't get out of my head...

But this was a new day, a new morning. I should at least try to get to know Prince Sehun a bit better, right? That was what I told myself yesterday and I was determined to keep my words. I had an expectation for him to not answer, and with Chen standing at attention nearby, a strange look of perplexity crossed the butler's face as we met eyes. So even with the newspaper back in front of his face, I was undaunted as I placed my utensil down to once again try speaking to him, "Doesn't this taste great?" 

"Mm..."

Almost immediately, I was slightly disappointed by his vague response that was more or less exactly like how it was yesterday, but I couldn't help but also accept it. It wasn't like I expected anything to change overnight, not with how he was...

But then I heard Prince Sehun's voice slice through my thoughts, "It goes well with ketchup." 

I was surprised, wide eyed and completely shocked that he even said anything with my mouth half-opened as Prince Sehun then glanced up with a mild scowl and nodded his head at the dish in front of me, "You have put worcester sauce on yours, but it goes better with ketchup."

I had to sober up fairly quickly, instantly snapping my jaw closed as my gaze darted back over to Chen. The look on his face reflected the one I had just moments ago, before he neatly recovered too as he nodded, going to a nearby trolley and placed some ketchup in a small dish. Bringing the ketchup over to me, he sent me a tiny smile before murmuring quietly, "Here you are."

Looking down at the ketchup, I didn't hesitate to spread some of it on my food and bring it to my mouth. Slowly, to fully relish in the taste, I chewed it with my eyes closed before it really absorbed in... "Wow! It really does taste better this way!" My eyes had flashed open from the completely new yet outstanding taste with the ketchup and I blurted those words unthinkingly. Then I realized what I just did and snapped my mouth shut, awkwardly regaining my calm as I glanced back over at Prince Sehun, "Oh, sorry. I..."

But what happened next was as extraordinary as a blue moon. Prince Sehun started to smile. "I did tell you it tastes good that way," his words came to a stupefied me as I was completely speechless. Could I seriously be seeing him... Smiling?! But it seemed completely genuine and what more, warm for once. And before I could do anything, my pulse started to race and heart thumping even faster in my chest.

But just as suddenly the remarkable moment came, it broke down again as Prince Sehun gave a sharp nod with the smile completely vanished from his expression before returning his attention to his newspaper... And continued eating his own meal as if nothing had happened.

That left me a bit taken back though as almost instantly, I started to have doubts if I had actually just imagined that...  But as I looked over at Chen, he too appeared to be frozen in shock as he stared at Prince Sehun. So I wasn't just having hallucinations about Prince Sehun then...

Chen then seemed to notice my gaze and bowing his head, retreated back to his post as if nothing had happened. That seemed to be for the best, his action being like a signal for me to do the same. But even as I returned to my meal, all the while my head was filled with thoughts of what I had just witnessed...

Several nights later as a deep sigh slipped from my lips, letting myself sit back into the chair with exhaustion written all over my face.

The finished pile was now the one with the mountain while the unfinished pile only had a few papers left in it. The complete opposite of how it was before, when I had begun and lamented over my pitiful state of being here in Dres Van. I was finally nearing the end.

I had never thought I would ever finish these documents this quickly, but the light at the end of the tunnel was just around the bend... But as I looked over at the sheer load of paperwork that I had accomplished, there rose the feeling that mild disbelief that I had wrote all of that along with a slight bitter smile playing on my lips.

I had thought it to be a lot when I started, but just like working on these documents... But little by little, I've become able to speak with Prince Sehun as well. Sure, he might still be apathetic and a pain to even talk to at times, but he did have his rare moments occasionally and at the most random times that still labeled him as a human on the inside. What told Chen long ago and myself recently that maybe his heart hadn't frozen over yet. That he still had a chance...

Another sigh slipped from me at those thoughts before I shook my head to clear my mind... But they continued to linger around for a moment longer. I couldn't help but wonder about that nowadays... At first, all I wanted to do was go home, as soon as possible. But could there be a little part that doesn't want to go...? Well, maybe not...

And with that thought and a quiet scoff coming from me, I bent back down towards my work, a renewed vigor to finish it.

Next day, we were back at the dining hall during breakfast time. This was really the only time that I even got to be in Prince Sehun's presence without those few and sporadic passings in the hallways, but those didn't really give us anything to talk about besides a simple polite greeting here and there before he rushed off to do whatever princely duties he had to accomplish.

Suddenly as Prince Sehun and I were eating in our relative silence, Chen's voice rang out quietly in the hall, "Your Highness... About the party tomorrow."

Prince Sehun's eyes didn't even leave the newspaper as he answered back immediately, "Yes."

Mildly interested now, I kept my ears open instead of zoning out as I usually did on most other days, continuing to eat as Chen spoke up again, "We need to discuss your outfit so that I many place an order later today."

"I see," came the disinterested reply from Prince Sehun.

My attention was fully piped at the moment as I couldn't help but want to express my curiosity at this new development. There had been no signs, or from what I could see, of a party going on... Turning my head back to where Chen was stationed, I presented him with a question and a slight smile, "Is there going to be a party?"

As usual, Chen nodded with a returning bright smile curving onto his expression as he began to explain, "Yes. It's-"

"That's enough, Chen," Prince Sehun's sharp tone instantly then cut through the relatively calm mood of the dining room, forcing Chen to promptly fall silent before the prince continued on in that same icy tone, "There will be a large number of guests from other kingdoms coming," the scowl on his face deepening even more, "They must not know we have a commoner staying here, do you understand?"

Stunned and taken back by just how forceful Prince Sehun really sounded, I simply nodded at his words before saying quietly, "Yes."

Maybe I would have wanted to protest though it it made sense, I supposed. Even as I withdrew back into silence and my own thoughts, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed... But it is royal affairs after all and I certainly did not fit into that puzzle of this aristocracy.

That evening.

Finally. I was finished. Every single piece of paper work in my room was now one hundred done and even checked over to make sure they were properly filled out as I handed them over to Chen with a weary yet triumphant expression on my face.

Chen returned a warm grin as he rifled through it briefly, softly chuckling and shaking his head as he said with a certain hint of admiration in his words, "Thank you. I'm impressed you managed to finish all of those in such a short time."

But even as he spoke, I was starting to have mixed feelings as I took the opportunity to get out of the chair and stretch myself a bit. I had been wanting to go home as soon as possible but now...

Seeming satisfied with what he saw, Chen then produced a huge paper clamp from one of his suit pockets to clip the papers together before nodding at me with a gentle apologetic smile, "It will take at least three days for these documents to be processed, but it could take up in a week."

"Does it really take that long?" I quickly inquired, an eyebrows raising as I quickly counted off the days off in my head... And even as I spoke, there was a small part of me that felt relieved. Maybe with these last few days, I'll have a chance to get to know Prince Sehun a bit better...

Just then, both of us heard a loud voice coming from outside the door.

"you..."

Did someone just call my name? My eyes widened at the same time Chen's deepened slightly as he murmured quietly, "What could possible be going on out there? Please excuse me..." The baffled expression was stamped on his face as he quickly bowed his head and left the room.

But before he even stepped out into the hallway, my curiosity had taken the better of me as I could only wonder what was going on... And did something happen? So, I followed after Chen, who didn't seem to mind at all as he glanced back at me and even slowed down his pace so that I could catch up to him.

And who else did I expect at the end of the corridor, catching sight of Prince Sehun and a couple more familiar faces. Just from the back of their heads or the side of their face, it was obvious to distinguish who it was, my mouth instantly opening to state their names softly, "Oh. Prince Chanyeol... And Prince Baekhyun..."

All three princes turned around at the same time, all of them with a look of surprise on their equally handsome faces.

But Prince Chanyeol's instantly brightened as he caught sight of me, calling out in that same loud voice that Chen and I had heard in my room, "Oh, you! So you are still here!"

On the other hand, Prince Sehun brought a palm to his face and sighed deeply as Prince Chanyeol said my name, muttering darkly, "Don't come out here..."

Oops. Seemed a bit too late as I froze as his whispers reached my ears. Didn't recall his words when I decided to just go out with Chen in an sudden impulse...

But Prince Chanyeol simply smiled warmly and chuckled softly, coming closer with a eager spring in his long legs and exclaiming happily, "You don't need to apologize. We were just asking if you were still here," his grin getting even wider as he patted me on the head again, "I'm glad to see you again."

I automatically looked at Prince Sehun, feeling a stare coming from his direction as Prince Chanyeol was fawning over me. Though as soon as he met my eyes, he had turned away to speak in that same sharp voice, "Well, the cat's out of the bag now. I'll leave the rest to you, Chen."

Chen, having been just standing there quietly with a slight smile on his face, now looked a little surprised, but bowed immediately as he replied, "Understood."

The entire hallway was completely silent as all watched Prince Sehun leave, his shoulders rigid and posture stiff as a board. But as soon as he had turned the corner, Prince Chanyeol clapped a hand to Chen's shoulder with a sympathetic smile, "You have it tough as ever, Chen old buddy."

Chen instantly shook his head, giving Prince Chanyeol a small bow as he replied smoothly, "Not at all. This is my job," then letting his eyes flicker towards the silent prince who was just observing the rest of us with attentive eyes, "Now, it's not unusual for Prince Chanyeol to drop by, but I'm surprised to see you here as well, Prince Baekhyun."

"Prince Chanyeol forced me to come," Prince Baekhyun spoke without emotions as his dark eyes continued to gaze intently at us without ever breaking away. A bit scary, if I had to say.

But Chen simply smiled as to a inside joke and bowed again to him as he said quietly, "Oh... I see."

Immediately popping into the moment of opportunity that opened up, Prince Chanyeol piped up, "Well, there's that party here tomorrow, right?" And then his expression clouded and he sighed quietly, shaking his head, "It's such a pain to have to wake up early and get ready on the day... Especially since it's just a lead up to the main event."

I had been standing there without a sound from me, happy to just absorb in the happy and cheery aura around Prince Chanyeol like a sunflower would to the sun after all the coldness radiating from Prince Sehun. So I had no hesitation as I would with Prince Sehun around as I blinked my eyes towards him and asked curiously, "The main event?"

To my question, Prince Chanyeol cocked his head at me with a fair amount of puzzlement, "Oh, you don't know?" I shook my head at him, his expression turning into one of surprise before he chuckled softly and continued on, "There is a party being held in Nobel Michel the day after tomorrow... And so the party here tomorrow is a kind of before party."

At his words, I couldn't help but have an amused smirk quirk up at the mention of before parties. There was no concept of 'before parties' like this ever before in my life until now. The thought that they really did live in a different world than me as an eyebrow shot up and I inquired again, "There's before parties too?"

Laughing heartily now and grinning at me as if I was the most adorable thing he had ever seen, Prince Chanyeol was more than willing to explain, "Well, it's more like a small gathering to prepare for the next day and have a bit of fun. Right, Bun Bacon?"

Prince Baekhyun nodded slightly without a trace of irritation in his tone as he replied in a quiet voice, "We gathered at Philip last year."

Turning back to me, Prince Chanyeol continued on, "And it was held at my place the year before that. So it's Hunnie's turn this time, right Chen?"

Chen smiled a little again as he responded, "Yes... If I may, I would like to suggest that rather than standing here to talk... Perhaps it would be best if you moved to the dining hall. I shall make preparations for dinner."

Amid more of Prince Chanyeol's light teasing about how perfect Chen was as a butler, we followed his advice with Prince Baekhyun and I simply smiling and laughing along with the light antics happening then, heading to the dining hall.

"The chef you have here is the best! I can't wait for tomorrow's party!" Prince Chanyeol's cheerful voice echoed throughout the dining hall as we were all seated, eating the spectacular as always dinner that was spread out among the princes and myself.

Bowing his head slightly from his station in the corner in obvious modesty, Chen smiled before politely replying, "Thank you. This chef is a favorite of Prince Sehun's..."

Then Prince Sehun quickly interrupted with a frown and a reproachful tone directed at his butler, "When did I ever say that this chef was a favorite of mine?!"

Chen grinned at him knowingly as he smoothly answered, "You didn't, but you have kept the same chef for the last three months or more." I was sitting there a bit surprised at that mention with a mouth full of absolutely heavenly food, mentally asking myself a question of how one could keep a chef for less than three months when he continued on, "Up until then, we could barely keep the same person for a week, right?"

At this, Prince Chanyeol and Prince Baekhyun exchanged smiles together before Prince Baekhyun mentioned softly while looking down at his own plate of food, "Prince Sehun is a lover of good food."

Nodding ardently with those words and glancing at me briefly, Prince Chanyeol took the moment to pout in that adorable way at Prince Sehun before he added in, "That's right. You should have heard the complaints he made at my party."

Frowning slightly, Prince Sehun tried to defend himself from those remarks, "I wouldn't go so far as to say I made complaints... It was only for that combination, it would have been better to use a carrot based sauce..."

Waving away any more words that might had come from Prince Sehun, Prince Chanyeol simply grinned at him, "I know," and then chuckling quietly as he shook his head slightly, "After that, the recipe was adjusted to use a carrot based sauce, just as master chef Sehun suggested."

Prince Sehun's expression now seemed slightly brighter as he inclined his head and raised his eyebrows at Prince Chanyeol, "It tastes better now, right?"

"I guess, although I like it both ways. They both have their merits," came back the nonchalant reply as he merely shrugged and continued on eating. I was quite impressed then by the diplomatic and neutral position that Prince Chanyeol just took... But it was something that I would expect princes to have trained in them.

Instantly though, Prince Sehun's enthusiasm vanished at this answer as his usual frown arose from the depths of his expression. Gazing with narrowed eyes, he snapped back indignantly, "Your chef will never get any better if you are like that."

"Does that matter? I liked it the way it was before," Prince Baekhyun's voice cracked the moment apart as he seemed to mutter that to his food than the rest of us, diligently continuing to eat right after he had said his words.

Prince Baekhyun's stark opinion clear to everyone, Prince Sehun started to have this look of complete boredom as he turned his attention back to his meal. And in a bitterly quiet voice, he spat out distastefully, "I weep for your taste buds."

An awkward moment commenced then, all of us adverting our eyes away from each other and towards our respective plates of food instead. Then while only the quiet munch and crunch here and there could be heard, then Prince Chanyeol's bright voice broke the moment again as he spoke up, looking from plate to plate, "Well, how about tonight then? There are all kinds of sauces being used here."

All of our eyes now followed his example as they darted from what everyone had for them... Prince Sehun and I had gravy on our plates, and Prince Baekhyun had some sour cream while Prince Chanyeol seemed to be using some kind of onion sauce.

Nodding along with Prince Chanyeol, I couldn't help but grin slightly as I eyed Prince Baekhyun's condiment a bit longer than I did for the others, quietly adding to the conversation after having been busy eating beforehand, "Truly. The sour cream looks good too."

"It's best with gravy," Prince Sehun immediately interrupted curtly, frowning a little at what the other princes had as he did so. The expression on his face clearly was stamped out that he was not pleased at all with how the other two seemed to have their own tastes besides his own... Being so self-righteous and stubborn as he always was.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Prince Chanyeol's laughter, shaking his head slightly at Prince Sehun before he sat back to grin even wider, "Haha, you're just as stubborn as ever!"

Unable to keep in a quiet chuckle at just how true Prince Chanyeol's words were to me, I placed my utensils down before turning to Chen with a smile on my face. If only to calm down the tension that Prince Sehun seemed to be stirring up, I wanted to try out the other sauces. But I also was curious about how they tasted, calling out to Chen to request my order, "Excuse me. Could I please have a bit of what the other two are using?"

Chen smiled softly in response and nodded, responding back with a smile, "Yes, of course." Without skipping a heartbeat, he quickly turned and soon brought me some of the sour cream and onion sauce with a mild nod.

After murmuring a soft thank you to him, I then turned my eyes towards the sauce and took a deep breath before reaching out for them. I tried the sour cream first, placing a bit of the food with it into my mouth and closing my eyes for the taste... And immediately, it burst into a completely different flavor, but definitely a likeable one. I could taste a slight acidity to it, yet it still had a smooth taste as I savored it on my tongue.

Swallowing that down, I forced myself to keep a relatively neutral face as I now turned towards the onion sauce. No need to pass my judgment along before I tasted all of them first... I tried it with the onion sauce next, repeating the process as the first one. It seemed as if this one has a more simple taste to it, and not as heavy as the gravy...

It was then as my eyes opened and I continued to process and muse over the various sauces that I noticed that everyone had their eyes on me, all of their gazes intent on knowing what I had thought of the choices.

Instantly, Prince Sehun called the shot first as his gaze bore into mine, his words more commanding and forceful than usual, "Well? It tastes best with the gravy, right?"

As I continued to try and come up with a decision while leaving everyone with bated breaths, I just... Couldn't. They all seemed to taste just as good each other with their individual and unique tastes. And willing to risk the wrath of Prince Sehun, I decided to just be honest. Shrugging my shoulders slightly, I simply replied, "Well... They all taste good. I can't choose between them."

Instantly, Prince Sehun froze in shock at my response with a confounded expression before he could only mutter out in a voice that didn't sound like to be his, "You can't choose...?"

"Oh dear Hunnie. Did you just get rejected?" Prince Chanyeol slipped into right after, grinning from ear to ear like a Cheshire Cat as he nudged the still-stock Prince Sehun.

Flushing bright red at this teasing, Prince Sehun immediately threw down his guard over his face as a scowl, snapping back at Prince Chanyeol in an usually strong tone of voice, "Stop calling me that name! And why does that mean I got rejected?"

This excessive explosion of words startled me slightly, but even as I returned back to my meal with the exception of using the other sauces occasionally too, continued to keep my eyes on him. Prince Sehun seemed to look more shocked than angry, not seeming to have been able to full comprehend what happened yet in almost a childish way. It was almost cute to see him confused like that, I had to say... Making me wonder if I should have said it differently...

"Different people have different tastes, right?" Prince Baekhyun spoke up in his usual manner, blinking calmly at the exasperated Prince Sehun with what I swear, had to be the most calmest expression on his face as if he had been napping the entire time.

Prince Sehun sighed heavily at those words, rolling his eyes just the barest bit as he attempted to rip down the blush and mutter lowly, "Well, I guess I shouldn't have expected a commoner to have a discerning palate for food like this." 

That definitely left another bitter taste in my mouth as I resisted the urge to go and protest against Prince Sehun again, my eyes narrowing dangerous on him with a glare. As my previous experiences with him had taught me, that usually only led it to escalate into a yelling match of sorts between two people who were deeply convicted in their beliefs. But I still want to get my point across...

"Excuse me," I pulled myself together and spoke as confidently as I could, straightening up and locking my gaze directly on Sehun's eyes solidly, "Will you not try it with the other two flavorings for yourself?"

And before he could even interrupt like he usually did, I had turned to Chen once more... And asked him for some sour cream and onion sauce for Prince Sehun.

Still retaining that amusing bright coloring on his face, Prince Sehun's mouth stayed open for a few seconds longer than usual before he managed to grumble out, "You want me to try it...?"

I nodded briefly to him before continuing in that same bold tone that surprised even myself, "Yes. Rather than getting someone else's opinion, if perhaps you tried it for yourself-"

"I don't need to try it to know what is best," Prince Sehun interjected in sharply, the frown on his face deepening even more as he glared at me back.

"Just one bite..." I entreated with the idea of a slight pout coming to mind. He was a guy after all, and it seemed that they tended to fall for those kinds of things... Then watched him intently as Prince Sehun huffed out a sigh before eyeing the sauces now put in front of him. I couldn't help but in an anticipated breath as he then hesitantly reached out for the sour cream. Was he... Really going to try it?

All of us were in expecting silence as we watched him eat, first with the sour cream and then with the onion sauce... A strange look crossing his face immediately after he had swallowed down the food with the onion sauce with a sip from his drink. Then came the verdict that we had been all waiting for... "The gravy is still the best."

Oh. That was disappointing in the very least... If this was an anime movie, there was no doubt I would be hanging my head with a series of lines hanging over one side of my face as a weary sigh slipped out from my mouth silently. What did I expect... Besides his usual stubbornness?

Prince Chanyeol on the other hand, instantly took the moment to as he cheered on brightly with a mischievous grin, "That's our Hunnie! Never backs down from his convictions."

Prince Sehun frowned as he simply ignored Prince Chanyeol's words... Staring straight back at me. What was he doing...? I could only look back into his eyes as my pulse began to race again, from nervousness or something else... I didn't know. Then his lips slowly began to form words that seemed difficult for him to even get past his tongue, "But... It wasn't bad. I can see how people's opinions can differ depending on their own tastes."

Everything then went dead silent, so devoid of sound that we weren't even breathing. Everyone now looked at Prince Sehun with the same shocked expression, holding in our collective breaths.

Then as usual after the silence had settled around us momentarily, Prince Chanyeol stirred it up again as he spoke in a more awed tone than usual, "That's not something I expected to hear our prince of the icy mask to say."

And what made it even more surprising was that Prince Sehun smiled at Prince Chanyeol's words as he formally replied back in a completely calm voice, "Really? I'm not acting any different than normal."

Prince Chanyeol seemed to have broken out of the spell as his usual grin crawled over his features and he added in a slight sing-song tease, "Or at least you aren't aware if it yourself."

"What do you mean?" Prince Sehun's eyebrows twitched as the smile was suddenly wiped clean from his face at those words, replaced with his usual frown and glare at the carefree prince.

"Nothing at all. Anyways, what do you say to going for a drive after dinner?" Prince Chanyeol off-handedly waved off the question without skipping a heartbeat, smoothly sliding the topic of the conversation that continued to leave us in surprise.

"A drive?" Prince Sehun could only repeat back the words with an eyebrow raised, seemingly to be left mystified as the rest of us.

Before Prince Chanyeol had a chance to reply, Chen broke into the conversation suddenly, "You wish to take a drive at this time of the night?"

 Nodding with a eager smile gracing his bright features, Prince Chanyeol answered in that same chipper tone of voice, "Yes. Is that against the rules in Dres Van?"

"No, of course not," the butler replied with a soft and brief laugh before quickly sobering up to continue with a mild expression on concern,  "Although I would need to employ the services of a driver, so..."

Prince Sehun was next to speak as he neatly recovered himself, "You can drive, can't you?"

At this question, Chen had a bright smile on his face as he pleasantly replied as always, "Of course. Would it be alright if I were to drive?"

"I don't mind. It would certainly be faster that way," Prince Sehun dipped his head slightly, his approval being given while Prince Baekhyun and I nodded along with our consent too.

Instantly bowing his head, Chen answered readily with Prince Chanyeol and Prince Baekhyun smiling warmly at him, "Understood. I shall prepare to leave immediately."

"He's the perfect butler. I need one like him at my place," Prince Chanyeol sighed out as that same little pout that I had seen him sport before appear on his expression again, turning towards Prince Baekhyun with that face.

"Your butler is splendid as well," was the simple and mild reply that he got from the calmer Prince Baekhyun, who was idly beginning to play with the remainder of his food on his plate.

Heaving another sigh, this one more exaggerated than the last, Prince Chanyeol mumbled in a softer voice as the pout only deepened even more, "Yes he is, in an overbearing motherly kind of way..."

Prince Sehun then cleared his throat, throwing a brief glance at Chen before he threw in his usual realist sort of opinion into the matter, "Well, I wouldn't say the butler here is anything special, right Chen?"

Chen swiftly gave a practiced bow at this comment, automatically layering in with, "It is as Your Highness says. Please excuse my incompetence."

Now my respect for Chen grew even more as I now realized just how good Chen was at handling his master... At first, I thought he was just following Prince Sehun's orders because he can be scary... But he really did understand Prince Sehun like no one else could.

Another loud sigh and a mewling sort of sound escaped from Prince Chanyeol as he crossed his arms to scrunch up his face even more at the duo, "You see, Bun Bacon? I wish Suho was like that for me..."

That only got him another passive and unruffled reply from Prince Baekhyun as he responded, "Chen and Prince Sehun have been together since they were quite young... I think they understand each other quite well because of it."

During this entire time, I had been completely silent and content to be a passive onlooker to the situation. Almost like a drama in some ways, each of them with their individual dynamic personalities... But with what Prince Baekhyun said, I couldn't help but look towards Prince Sehun with a questioning look to seek more of an explanation, "Really?"

"I guess. We have been together ever since he came here as an apprentice butler," Prince Sehun answered with a detached shrug of his shoulders and an impassive aura around him.

At those indifferent words, there came a quiet snigger from Prince Chanyeol as he added in teasingly, "Prince Sehun doesn't have anyone else close to him, so Chen's pretty much his only confidant." 

Prince Chanyeol's comment definitely seemed to have struck a nerve as we could clearly see Prince Sehun's face darken faster than we could even blink, but Chen cut in before Prince Sehun could respond, "I will go and ready the car now. Please come to the courtyard when you are finished getting ready, I shall be waiting there with the car."

The atmosphere in the room calmed immediately at the sound of Chen's soft voice, surprising me a bit with just how skilled the butler really was at analyzing others and especially, Prince Sehun. But the person in question seemed to be a little confused as he looked up at Chen with a crease between his eyebrows, "The courtyard?"

Blinking slightly and hesitating, Chen spoke slowly to him in response, "Yes... Is there a problem?"

Prince Sehun paused for a moment before shaking his head briefly and wiping his expression clean again, returning to his usual aloof position, "No, it's fine."

Nodding in acceptance, Chen bowed once more before he straightened up to leave, a polite smile appearing on his features as he quickly excused himself, "Please excuse me for now, I will see you all shortly."

And with a quick wave and a "Later, Chen!" from Prince Chanyeol, we watched him quickly zoom out of the room to leave us to finish our own meals and leave the dining room soon after.

"He did say the courtyard... So around here somewhere?" Prince Chanyeol wondered out loud as we were looking around the courtyard, sans Prince Sehun... Who had bade that we go ahead without him with some excuse about finishing up some sort of work.

Prince Baekhyun murmured quietly too as he narrowed his eyes to peer into the dim darkness, "I can't see any cars..."

"I wonder if this is the wrong place?" a quiet sigh slipping out of Prince Chanyeol as his response, his pout slowly appearing back on his face again.

Just then as I was about to open my mouth and say something...

"Meow."

Immediately with hearing that meow next to me, I  automatically looked down... To only see a tiny adorable kitten blinking innocently with wide eyes up at me.

"Meow...?"

In a flash, I was already squatted down next to the kitten and with a huge smile on my face, was patting it on the head gently. It was so cute, I did something that I usually didn't do... Allow my voice to go into a aegyo sort as I squealed out in an excited tone, "Awww... You're so cute~! What's wrong, kitty?"

Prince Baekhyun, who was standing nearby to me, chuckled softly before picking up the kitten into his arms and smiling at it while he too gently caressed the kitten's soft fur as he murmured in a soothing voice, "I doubt it's even a month old."

Then as Prince Chanyeol and I huddled over the kitten, two more suddenly appeared from nearby as the kitten in his arms craned its tiny neck and meowed softly again, "Meow..."

"They must be its siblings!" Prince Chanyeol gushed as ardently as I did, rushing over before I could with his long legs to scoop them both into his arms, the grin on his face bigger than ever as he carefully passed one of the kittens over to me.

While I could only beam even more at the kitten who blinked its round eyes at me, I cooed back an answer, more to it than to any of the princes, "Must be. Where do you think they came from?"

"Maybe they live out here in the courtyard?" Prince Baekhyun's voice purred out as he brought the kitten to his face and nuzzled it gently, the smile that was on Prince Chanyeol's and my own face now evident all over his handsome face too.

But while we are all busy petting the kittens in our arms, a low voice abruptly rang out behind us, "Hm? Hasn't he brought the car around yet."

We all turned around at the same times with equally elated grins on our faces to only see Prince Sehun walking towards us, a cross look contrasting on his face. He then stopped right in his tracks, eyes widening and staring directly at the kittens in our arms, "What are you three doing?"

"We were..."

"We found some kittens..."

We all immediately opened our mouths to speak at the same time, but no one's voice but Prince Chanyeol's was the one that was heard as he called out fervently, holding his fluffy orange kitten out to Prince Sehun, "Look! Aren't they cute?!"

"S-Stop it!" came the harsh yell that was thrown back at us as Prince Sehun made a face, taking several steps back and shrinking back from the kitten with what looked like a horrified expression on his face.

At this, all of us and even the kittens could only stare at Prince Sehun with round eyes of surprise. Was it possible that...? Then Prince Chanyeol asked the question that was all on our minds, cradling the kitten close to his arms again, "Hunnie... Are you scared of cats...?" 

Prince Sehun spontaneously flushed bright red as well as angrily threw a scowl on his face, yelling back but stammering away, "S-Stop it! D-Don't call me that! And w-what are you talking about? Of course not!" Then as a deep breath was inhaled, he finally looked up at us this time before continuing to shout again, "I just remembered I have some more work to do! You lot can go by yourselves!"

And with those words, he literally ran back into the manor without another glance back at us, leaving all of us with the kittens blinking and taking our time to process what had just happened in silence.

Then after a few minutes of silence and exchanging shocked looks, Prince Chanyeol muttered quietly as he gazed down at the kitten in his arms, "Hit the nail on the head, did I?"

Prince Baekhyun, who had been silent up until that moment, whispered softly as he gazed sorrowfully at the one in his arms as if to apologize to it for Prince Sehun's rude manners, "But they are so cute..."

I simply allowed my eyes to drop down to the currently yawning white ball of absolutely adorableness, feeling a bit of a mild frown appear on my face and mentally agreeing about how I just couldn't see how anyone can be scared of something this small...

Next moment though, we were being surrounded by light as a car came towards us, making us stumble a few steps back before realizing what was going on. Prince Chanyeol then waved his arm at the vehicle as he called out loudly, "Oh, there he is! Hey, Chen!"

The car stopped nearby and in less than a heartbeat later, Chen hurriedly came out to meet us with a worried expression as he quickly bowed and apologized, "I am very sorry to have kept you waiting." But as he straightened up again, his eyes lit up on the sight of the kittens that we held, a smile appearing on his face too as he asked curiously, "Where did those kittens come from?"

I returned the grin to him, relieved that Chen was fine with them after Prince Sehun's fit as I replied cheerfully, "They were here in the courtyard."

"Hunnie took one look at them and ran away!" Prince Chanyeol cried out indignantly, scooting closer to Chen so that he could see the orange kitten blink its wide eyes at him, "How could he be so cruel to do so to these kittens?!"

Chen immediately laughed heartily as he gave a wry smile at this information, reaching out a hand to scratch the kitten behind its ears, "Yes... His Highness isn't very good with cats."

The pout on Prince Chanyeol's expression was now in full force as he murmured quietly, looking down at his kitten again, "So it seems..."

"Why?" Prince Baekhyun suddenly presented him with a simple word, looking intently at Chen for his answer.

Dropping his hand from the kitten, Chen simply blinked at him before inquiring politely, "Excuse me?"

"Why doesn't he like cats?" he elaborated, moving closer too and continuing to softly pet the now sleeping kitten in his arms.

Chen looked slightly puzzled by Prince Baekhyun's question as he looked away to think for a brief moment before answering, "Well... He does seem to like animals as a rule... But with cats... He doesn't seem to like their coquettish manner."

At this response, Prince Chanyeol had that knowing Cheshire Cat grin back on his face as he turned his eyes towards the other prince, mirth dancing in his words, "Ah, but whimsicalness is one of their charms. Much like those of a woman, right Prince Baekhyun?"

Prince Baekhyun again studied the kitten in his arms searchingly before he replied, "I don't think that they are whimsical, but rather act based on their instincts. Wouldn't you agree?"

It only seemed fit that Prince Baekhyun was asking this question to me as I smiled again at the slightly wiggling kitten in my arms, letting it get comfortable while I mused over my answer briefly, settling on one that seemed to perfectly fit in my mind, "But His Highness tends to dislike all things that are not as they seem or are not truly one thing or another... So I believe he is not comfortable with a creature that appears to act on a whim."

Now Prince Baekhyun laughed airily, his eyes curving into smiles too as he murmured quietly, the same knowing smile that Prince Chanyeol just had on his face now reflected in a much more diluted way, "You must spend a lot of time watching him."

"What...?" My eyes going wide at Prince Baekhyun, shocked on the inside at what he could have met. In no way was I a stalker or wanted to be anyways... And watching Prince Sehun...?

A soft chuckle escaped from Chen as he tilted his head towards me with the same smile on all three of their faces, adding in lightly, "This is true... I am not sure if His Highness is aware of it himself... But he has recently been opening up to Miss you as well..."

Now completely taken off guard, I hadn't expected him to say anything like that, making me hang my head in embarrassment and look down at the lightly slumbering kitten in my arms to hide the quickly rising color in my cheeks as I attempted to stutter out, "T-That's not..."

"Hunnie did seem to be acting a little different today..." Prince Chanyeol considered out loud without the usual teasing hue in his voice, "He might be opening up to you... Just a teensy bit."

Now my face was probably a bright lobster red at his words and even worse, my heart began to beat erratically at Prince Chanyeol's words. I couldn't help but wonder if that was true... And just how happy I was if it was... But what was the possibilities of something like that being actually true...

Then Prince Chanyeol's sigh interrupted my thoughts as he continued on, "Well, it is a shame but shall we retire for the evening...? Chen has Prince Sehun to worry about as well."

"That would certainly be preferable, thank you," the grateful stress in Chen's words making the rest of us nod along with his words and in unison, sigh at the dozing kittens in our arms regretfully.

The plan to take a drive was canceled, and we all headed back into the Manor after saying some very heartbreaking and tearful farewells to the kittens...

"See you tomorrow then!" Prince Chanyeol's spirited voice rang out in the hallway as we waved our good nights to each other. 

"Good night Prince Chanyeol and Prince Baekhyun!" I called back to them, getting a mild wave of a hand from Prince Baekhyun and a vigorous two-armed wave back from Prince Chanyeol that only left me to chuckle as I headed back to my room...

... When I saw Prince Sehun coming towards me from the other end of the corridor. Immediately, I could feel the wide grin I had on my face slid off as the memory of what Prince Chanyeol had just said a few minutes ago rushed back to me as soon as I saw Prince Sehun's face. So suppressing the urge to instantly blush, I bit the inside of cheek before nodding respectfully to him as usual, "Your Highness..."

"I thought you were going for a drive?" Prince Sehun instantly asked, frowning slightly as he gazed down at me, myself trying to avoid his eyes lest the pink dusted over my cheeks again.

So I just kept my eyes staring at the gentle curve of his lips, which didn't help at all in the end, as I muttered back a reply, "Oh, it was canceled."

His frown became even more etched then, but he didn't inquire any further, while I wondered if he was being worried about what happened earlier with the kittens, before he spoke up again, "Anyways... About tomorrow's party. I don't mind if you attend as well."

Shaken out of my thoughts and mindless staring at how even his lips looked graceful while he was talking, I blinked a couple times before beseeching for him to repeat what he had said, "Sorry...?"

"You can come to the party," he recapitulated, his tone being unusually kind...

Which only made me a little confused by it as I had to ask him again to make sure that I didn't had not misheard what he had just said for the second time, "Er... Are you sure that will be alright?"

Then as I now dared to take in the whole picture of his face, a bitter smile was playing upon his lips as he scoffed slightly before speaking again, "Well, Prince Chanyeol and Prince Baekhyun already know you are here..." 

Instantly, I mentally sighed to myself. Oh right. How could I forget that. It wasn't like he was going to do it out of the kindness of his...

"And you wanted to go, right?" Prince Sehun's abnormally kind voice seemed to kindle something inside me as I swore I could feel my heart warming... And wondering now if he really was doing this for me...

But I had instantly nodded my head to convey my assent, absolutely no hesitation in my answer as I replied immediately, "Yes. Thank you very much."

And with that, Prince Sehun now held something out to me with his head inclined slightly, "Here." They were some sort of documents, baffling me for a moment as I automatically took the finely print papers from him before he continued on slowly, "It is your permit to leave the kingdom."

Immediately, my heart began to pound unpleasantly in my chest as I could only stare down at the pages in my hands, unable to look up at him as he spoke again, "Everything should be finalized by tomorrow, so you should be good to go the morning after. So I guess tomorrow will be your last day here at the manor."

That meant... I could go home the day after tomorrow. One more day here in the manor. One more day for a chance to accomplish my promise that I had made myself earlier this week to get to know Prince Sehun better...

Then his voice sounded distant to me as he muttered lowly, "I figured you should go to the party tomorrow and have a good time before you leave."

As he spoke, the documents now felt even heavier in my hands.