3RD PERSONS VIEW。

jaeyoung slumped as she walked back to bakery from school, her mind was filled with thoughts about the princes. realizing the situation, she quickly shook her head, trying to get rid of such thoughts.

"i shouldn't even supposed to be thinking about them! let alone talk to them..." she mumbled, trudging her way towards the familiar store.

her eyes fluttered wide, seeing the recognizable black car parked in front of the bakery. she let out a small whine, "why today?"

"i don't think i can even face any of them." she huffs and slowed down her pace.

once she got in the bakery, she grabbed the basket waiting for her at the kitchen counter and made her way out. a day ago, lucas was the one to receive the pastries, she wondered who was for today.

she bit her bottom lip, feeling a bit uneasy before going outside the store.

"um..." she mumbled and stared at someone's back figure. it looked awfully familiar and it soon came into her senses, "doyoung."

the prince turns around, had a scowl on his face as he called his name, "you're aware that i'm a prince, right? yet you're still naming me as if i'm not."

jaeyoung bit the insides of her cheeks, staring at doyoung, "i don't see you as a prince though."

doyoung's scowl was replaced with a look of confusion, his brows knitting together, "what?"

"i can't see you as a prince." jaeyoung restated.

doyoung scoffed, "and what makes you say that?"

"because you're human like me."

"yeah, and that doesn't change the fact that i'm a prince."

"but you're a friend."

doyoung froze at her words, his bottom lips slightly dropping, "f-friend? you see me as your friend?"

she nodded, feeling brave, "you're a special person, like your brothers whom i've met."

doyoung sneered at her comment, "i am special because i am a prince."

"prince is just a title, you're doyoung under that title."

"you don't know me." doyoung shakes his head. "you probably know nothing about the royal family."

"exactly why i'm not seeing you as a prince. i met you as a regular person, so i'm treating you as a regular person."

"bold of you to say that in front of a prince." doyoung rolled his eyes and stuck his hand out.

"it's not like you don't like being treated normally." she shrugs and hands him the basket.

doyoung scrunches his nose, "you're lucky i can't argue with that."

a smile creeps up the girl's face, "i know you're a good person."

doyoung scoffs, "i'm not gonna treat you differently just because most of my brothers like you. you're no different from other girls i've met."

"did they hurt you?"

"who?" doyoung narrows his eyes at the girl in front of him.

"those girls you've met."

"yes. and they annoy me with their attitudes." doyoung added.

"do i annoy you?"

"you ask too many questions, now you're annoying me." doyoung huffed and looked away.

jaeyoung frowned while doyoung glanced at her, "and yes, you annoy me, because you're too nice and innocent."

jaeyoung was taken aback by his words, "wha—"

"jeez doyoung what's taking you so lon—" the other prince inside the car got off and was about to whine about how long they were taking when his words came to stop upon the sight in front of him.

his eyes met with hers and his body was stiffened. his mind was empty and all he could do was stare in utter shock.

"y-you..." jaeyoung sputters, her finger pointing towards the other prince.

doyoung's eyes widened, "hyung! i told you not to come out– wait," he shot a confused look towards the girl, "what do you mean 'you'!?"

a corner of taeyong's lips curved up into a little smirk, amused to see her again, "didn't think we'd see each other much sooner, lady."

"oh, and it's rude to point a finger at someone." he added and grabbed her hand, softly pushing it down so it no longer pointed towards him, "especially at a prince."

doyoung's jaw dropped, "you two know each other?"

taeyong hummed, his eyes still casted upon the girl, "i know her, she doesn't know me, apparently."

jaeyoung's nose scrunched as she looked away, avoiding the prince's sharp gaze, "i-i told you, i don't pay attention to the royal family."

taeyong cocked a brow, "it's disrespectful to not look at someone while talking to them, you know."

her eyes fell onto his, "you're so– proper.."

"i'm a prince, after all." he chuckled.

"do you still not know my name?" taeyong questioned.

she shook her head, "no..."

taeyong nodded, "then i guess you'll have to keep listening to your history teacher." he said and looked around, "you work here?"

she nods her head, "y-yeah, mrs kang is kinda like my mother."

taeyong suddenly remembered the day he met her, she's an orphan, was what stuck in his brain. "ahhh, i guess you made these?" he said, gesturing over to the basket full of pastries doyoung was holding onto.

"yes, i did."

"no wonder they tasted good, you surely made them with love." taeyong urged to smile but he didn't know why he fought it and remained with a plain but calm expression.

"i told you to study about us, and know my name." he suddenly reminded.

jaeyoung narrowed her eyes at the prince, "why should i?"

taeyong leaned closer, "i told you, so then you could call me by my name."

"i can call you by—"

"my title? the prince? it's boring, lady." taeyong cuts her off, "besides, you said it yourself, i hate being treated as a prince."

"so..." he trails off, locking eyes with her again, "do me a favor and learn more about us."

doyoung balled his left hand as his other hand gripped around the basket handle tightly. a frown occurred on his face as he got closer to the two, "can you please explain what's happening and how you know her?"

taeyong stepped back and glanced at his brother, "you know her?"

doyoung was hesitant bit nodded anyways, "probably our brothers who get to receive the basket know about her too, hence lucas."

"ahh, no wonder." taeyong nodded in understanding, clasping his hands together, "let's get going then."

"wait, just like that?" doyoung's eyes widened, looking back at jaeyoung who had an unreadable expression plastered on her face.

"i'll tell you more on the way back to the palace." taeyong stated, patting his shoulder.

"we'll enjoy the pastries, lady."

"don't– call me lady, prince." jaeyoung muttered.

taeyong hummed, "then don't call me prince, jaeyoung."

"unfair, you know my name and i don't know yours." jaeyoung pouts a bit in disappointment and looks away.

taeyong lets out a small breathy chuckle and patted the top of her head causing her to freeze in her spot, "you'll know me soon."

"let's go, doyoung." taeyong said before entering the black car.

doyoung stood there, craning his head towards jaeyoung, "i don't know what happened but you just caught his interest."

jaeyoung nodded slowly, "i-i know, he told me..."

doyoung scoffed, "you know, i'm scared."

"huh?" jaeyoung creased her forehead, her fingers playing with the hem of her school's blazer.

"i'm scared you'll meet all of us– and it'll happen again..." doyoung bit his bottom lip, a sad look displayed on his face.

"i know... that you're not a bad person... but i'm scared you'll get hurt."

jaeyoung gulped, feeling sad for the prince. she didn't know what was actually going on with them, but she was certain that something had happened between them or inside the palace that caused this. she even thought that maybe it was linked with seulhyo's death.

doyoung sighed, "do me a favor?"

she hummed in response, "what?"

"don't let people abuse your kindness– you'll only get hurt."

"that's what happened to us, look what happened."

with that he gave her a faint smile before entering the car and it drove away.

—

poor doyoung :(

she still doesn't know taeyong's name though–

-jibin