Conditionally Unconditional

Intro: Reality Check pt.2

(Recap)

Changmin turned around to see an all too familiar carriage pull up beside theirs. "Oh no." Changmin sighed. Eric looked at Changmin with even more concern.

"Oh no what, sir?" Eric looked at the newly arrived carriage in even more discomfort as he scooted a bit behind Changmin's back. Meanwhile, Chanhee smiled in satisfaction at both the resolution of their problem and Changmin's reaction to the new arrivers.

"Hey, Minnie. Looks like you need a ride."

________

Changmin sighed, turning to Chanhee with annoyance clearly written across his face. Chanhee could only smile in response. "Tell the coachman to get the horses back to the stables. Have them treat their wounds. I just want this to be over and get to that damn boutique now." Chanhee nodded and walked off. Changmin then turned to Eric who was still very lost. "Come, Eric. We've got visitors."

Changmin and Eric walked over to the other carriage. The man inside the carriage was still leaning out the window. Eric noticed the smirk on the man's face as he and Changmin walked closer.

"Minnie~~" The smirk on the man's face grew as the frown on Changmin's face deepened. "What's with that look on your face? You miss me that much??" The man teased.

"Kim Sunwoo, shut it." Changmin rolled his eyes as he stopped in front of the man. Even though Sunwoo was the second son of the Marquis and therefore (in a way) was still ranked higher than Changmin, the two had dropped formalities a long time ago.

"Oh! Don't say my name like that. You make it sound too pretty." Changmin so wanted to wipe that smirk off of Sunwoo's face. So bad. "Smile for me, won't you? You look so much prettier when you smile~" Sunwoo cooed reaching for Changmin's face. Changmin slapped his hand back down. Sunwoo rubbed his hand, a playful pout dancing on his lips. Eric continued to watch in confusion. This Sunwoo guy was blatantly flirting with Changmin. Eric didn't notice he was involuntarily reaching for Changmin's sleeve until he heard Sunwoo scoff. "The paper boy? What's he doing with you?" The smirk that was once adorning Sunwoo's lips had turned into a distasteful scowl. 

"Oh, Eric? He's not the paper boy anymore. He's my soon-to-be butler. He's training to be Chanhee's understudy." Changmin replied with a slight smile on his face. Chanhee walked up behind Changmin.

"My what?" Chanhee didn't hear about any new understudy of his.

"Yeah, his what?" Neither did Eric.

"His understudy. We'll talk about this later, yeah?" Changmin patted the two on their backs as they looked at him in confusion.

"Really? Because I saw him delivering the papers to my door earlier this morning." Sunwoo raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, really. Each time Eric comes to deliver the papers, we have such fun conversations. Don't we, Eric?" Changmin looked at Eric, sending him a look that told him to just play along. Eric nodded with a smile. "I love having him around, and today I heard about his family's predicament, and I just couldn't stand by and watch the poor boy suffer and still smile that adorable smile of his, so I had to take him in." Changmin then ruffled Eric's hair, making Eric giggle slightly. "Isn't he cute? Just like a puppy, hm?"

Sunwoo frowned even more at the interaction. "Okay, I get it." 

Changmin smiled in satisfaction and patted Eric's mussed hair back down. "We were headed to the shopping center to get Eric some new clothes."

"And I'm guessing you guys need a ride?" Sunwoo looked around Changmin to take a look at the horseless carriage that was somewhat left behind.

"Yes." Changmin nodded.