Fairy Tale

One: The Beginning

King Byun Bae Con tugged on his reins and the horse he was riding slowed to a stop. Climbing off the huge beast, he held out his hand to a little boy in the jungle. The boy looked like he didn't eat for days and his clothes were ragged too.

"What's your name, little boy?" The kind king asked.

The little boy shook his head and stared into the king's eyes, as if trying to tell him something. The king patted the boy's head gently and turned to his royal advisor.

"Prepare the saddle, I'm bringing this kid back to the palace and he shall ride with me."

Back at the palace, the boy was given food, clothes and a place to stay. King Byun named him Chanyeol because he didn't seem to have a name. The only thing Chanyeol had with him was a pendant with 'Park' engraved on it. And so from that day onwards, Park Chanyeol lived in the palace.

Unlike other kids, Chanyeol couldn't speak. However, the king loved him like a son and even ordered a search throughout the kingdom to find his real parents. When he was old enough, Chanyeol volunteered to help out with work around the palace. Despite the king's efforts to stop him, Chanyeol insisted that he couldn't just stay there for free.

King Byun Bae Con had five children, three sons and two daughters. The eldest was a son named Byun Baek So. He was slightly older than Chanyeol by a few months. The second eldest was a daughter named Byun Baek Hee. She was the same age as Chanyeol. Byun Baekhyun was the name of the third child. He was slightly younger than Chanyeol and was the closest to Chanyeol among the royal children. Lastly, the two youngest were a pair of twins, a boy and a girl named Byun Baek-Ah and Byun Baek Soo respectively.

Chanyeol grew up together with the royal family happily. Although he would feel sad sometimes because of missing his real family, his childhood best friend also known as Byun Baekhyun, the third prince would be there to cheer him up immediately.

-16 years old-

One evening, Chanyeol was wiping the palace tower's windows when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find Baekhyun grinning widely at him.

"Let me help you!" Baekhyun piped, not dropping the grin.

Chanyeol widen his eyes and shook his head furiously. He put down the cloth that he was using and gestured in sign language, 'No! You are a prince. I'll do it."

Baekhyun's grin faded.

"Chanyeollie, you know I don't like it when you say that." He pouted cutely.

Baekhyun proceeded to grab the cloth lying on the floor and begun wiping the not-so-dusty window. Chanyeol grabbed the prince's wrist and stared at him.

Baekhyun froze and stared into those deep, innocent brown eyes. After a while, Chanyeol broke into a smile and let go of his hand. Baekhyun pretended he wasn't dissapointed at the missing warmth on his wrist.

'I'll get another cloth. Wait for me, okay?' Chanyeol gestured awkwardly.

"Ok-kay" Baekhyun looked away, cheeks flushing.

Chanyeol begun heading downstairs, silently praying that Baekhyun didn't hear his heart hammering inside him. Unknown to the third prince, Chanyeol had developed a tiny crush on him. It bothered Chanyeol that he won't ever have a chance with Baekhyun. But that didn't stop him from liking Baekhyun. After all, who wouldn't fall for the prince who stayed up all night to learn sign language just to have a proper conversation with a mute kid?