Prince Donghyuck is one of the most respected and loved by the people in his country, after both the King and Queen of course but he earned that respect. He doesn't decide with emotions, he decides by using that information given to him, he is unbiased and careful, he rarely makes decisions that he is unsure of therefor he rarely has regrets
"Y/n" He calls and while you refused to show yourself "Y/n its your ball, now get out and show me your dress"
"You're Highness, this dress is a bit too much-"
"It isn't, The Queen herself designed this dress" He tries persuading you to get out so he could see "Are you planning on disobeying the Queen's orders?"
"Donghyuck-" You breathed and he clamps his mouth shut "I'm going out, but please enough with the guilt tripping" and with a shuffle and a lot of contemplation you showed yourself, his heart stops beating at the sight and he remembers how much he's in love with you.
Maybe it was the way you smile at him or maybe it was how your hair would move against the wind, or how kind you were. God he is so in love with the girl infront of him, he imagines is this how it feels watching his bride, watching you walk down the isle, reaching out his hand just so he can pull you close and say 'I do' as quickly as possible, just so he can say you're all his and the crowned princess, his crowned princess. His own imagination seemed to be his own enemy, he had his hand out and you held it, a smile on your face as you whisper a thank you right before you walked ahead and let go of his hand, as he tries to reach out to hold onto your hand "No wait Y/n. Please don't go" he begs right before you happily ran into the arms of Hendery who stood by the end of the altar happily waiting for you
"Donghyuck" you shook him a bit and he wakes up, a hand tightly around your arm "Your Highness, its a nightmare" you whispered and he looks at you before letting go, taking deep calming breaths the memory of the nightmare lingered on him and he sighs, as you offered him water "Drink this, My Prince"
He obeys and looks at you, the dream (the nightmare) shook him a bit more, seeing you get married to someone else isn't something he want to experience. He drinks the water you offered and watches as you happily take a bite of the cake he bought for you, now he remembers, he took a nap I the café after the shopping for clothes for your ball tomorrow.
"Are you ok, My Prince?" You asked and looked at him, offering a bite of your cake "Here have something sweet to help with your nightmare"
He makes a face, trying to make sense with your words "How does that work?"
You laugh and the Prince heart stings, its almost over, He bites his lip and fights the urge to hold you close, he looks around. There were a lot of people maybe, just this once, he can ne selfish. He reaches out to hold your hand and lock your fingers together, you flinched as he does ready to pull away that was until you felt his other hand casing yours, and pressing it near his lips
"My Prince?" You tilt your head and gasp, he had tears and clinging on to your hand "What happened? Your Highness it was a nightmare"
He hasn't let go of your hand at all after that, its been a couple of hours since the café. Its already dinner and here he was still holding your hand as he looks at his phone, waiting for dinner to be served, The Prince has practically refused to let you sit opposite him, until the food arrived.
Prince Donghyuck reluctantly let go of your hand, he knows that after he does he won't be able to hold your hand again "Go eat" He smiles and pushes the pasta towards you "and eat well"
You nod ad took a bite "What about you, your Highness?" You looked to the side and checked to see of there was any more food "You don't like pasta" you noted, noticing the different dishes of pasta "We don't have to eat them since you don't like this that much, how about we go for some western style dishes, you love those" You suggested and he blinks
"You," He smiles, it would be stupid of him to be happy about something so small but the fact you remember he loves western food "You remember?"
You smile "It's quite hard not too if that's always the restaurant you suggest," He watches you as you tucked your hair behind your ear, he shifts closer to pin it behind that hair clip he bought that he sees you always wear , and honestly every time he sees you with it his heart forgets the word calm "Also, you're the crowned Prince- Thank you" you thank him for fixing your hair and continued "everybody knows your favorites, My Prince. You have a whole Wikepedia page dedicated to you"
He frowns "Oh?" that hurt, a lot, ever since he admitted to himself that his feelings for you are more on the I wanna kiss you and hold you close side he starts reading on to your words and actions more. He always looks for a reason or significance in them hoping to see or at least have a clue that what he is feelings is not one sided "Didn't realize I had one" He says a bit crestfallen, smiling sadly at his hand
You tilt your head and pursed your lips, not knowing why the Prince suddenly looks so defeated, humming to yourself you stood up to ask the waitress a favor. The Prince trying his best to think of anything else but the the throbbing pain in his chest, to realize you've left his side. You came by his side again, the familiar smell of roses filled his nostrils and he snaps his head to you. "Your Highness" You greet and placed the tea to the table "I asked help from the waitress, but I brewed your favorite tea"
He stares at you "Rose Tea? You know how to brew this?" He takes it and takes a long and deep inhale, his eyes closing in bliss
"I am a maid," You laugh "It would a disgrace if I don't know ho to make your tea, besides," You waited 'till he takes a sip before you grinned at his shocked face
"This way of brewing-" he mutters in pure disbelief
"I'm the one who always brews your tea, you're majesty" You smiled happily at him "Do you like it?"
Ba-bump
Ba-bump
The Prince places a hand on his chest, Calm! He silently willed, pink tinting his cheeks and the pain he felt previously was now gone, as if it never happened before, "I- Y/n, I really, you're incredible" He smiles happily, his hold on the tea cup a bit tighter "Thank you"
"Is that a carriage?" You asked happily, after dinner and you forcing the Prince to eat something, and him happily thinking about you, his darling Y/n makes his tea had him over the moon. He had his hand intertwined with yours again, whining when you had to let go and gabs on to it again, completely taking advantage of all the eyes pointed at the two of you. He has decided to take a walk for a little bit before summoning his chauffer, he says it was the best way to relax after eating, he just wanted to spend time with you
He looks to the side to see it, a wooden carriage with a beautiful horse that was gently nuzzling its owner. He looks back at you to see you admiring it "Do you," He smiles at how pretty you looked like that, the moon shining against you making you slightly glow, he held your hand a little more tight, afraid that this too was a dream "Do you want to ride it?"
You looked at him and smiled, the joy of seeing the carriage and the horse making you're whole body buzz "Sorry, My Prince. What did you say?"
"Does my love want to ride the carriage?" He teases
"We- We don't have to, I'm ok, we can ride His Highness's car" you pursed your lips when he raised an eyebrow "I mean Baby, we can ride Baby back to the palace"
He chuckles "Is that a yes or a no?"
"It's really up to you, My Prince"
He eyes you before letting go of your hand to speak with the coachman, bowing appreciatively when the coachman happily bowed repeatedly again. He smiles upon his return, excitedly grabbing your hand "Lets go for a ride" dragging you towards the carriage
You gasped, "No wait, My Prince, we really don't have to besides the carriage cant go far from here, we'll only be wasting His Highness' and the Coachman's time"
He scoffs "I hired the coachman," He answers and raises an eyebrow once you looked at him in confusion and shock "He'll take us back to the palace"
"He'll what?" You asked in shock "It's unnecessary, Your Highness. You didn't have to hire him-"
"How can I ignore my Fiancé if she wanted to ride one?"
"but-but how could I?" You stuttered
He smiles and holds your hand to assist you in getting on "Think of it as an early birthday gift"
"Its a bit excessive" you huff and sat down on the chair with the Prince following after
"You haven't seen my actual gift"
You looked at him and he laughed hitting the roof of the carriage so it'll move, you opened your mouth to reply when the carriage moved and you gasped, surprised that it moved, making you cling to the nearest thing, which also happens to be the Prince's hand while you excitedly looked out the window. He flinched and looked down at your hand, cheeks turning pink. You looked at the Prince only to see him staring at your hand and you pulled away, a familiar pink spreading to your cheeks "Sorry, I was just surprised" You whisper and placed your hand on your lap
He clears his throat, "Is this your first time in a carriage?" He teases once he notice you happily look out the window
You turned to look at him and nod, a happy smile on your face "There was never a time where I could" You explained, Prince Donghyuck mirrored your joy as he happily smiled down at how cute you were acting
"You should've told me"
"What for?" You asked and adjusted your hair again
"If I knew you wanted to ride a carriage I would've done it since day one," He answers, and fixes your hair again with the clip "Didn't I tell you to take advantage of me?"
You stared at him after he spoke, while he looks away and out to the window on his side and you look at yours. A comfortable silence covering you both for the duration of the ride that was until Prince Donghyuck spoke again
"You know, you can ride the carriage again"
You turned to look at him "What do you mean?"
"At our wedding," He starts and looks at you "You can ride one to the venue, and we can ride another one together when we go back to palace afterwards"
"We're not getting married" You said, your eyebrows knitting together in confusion "My Prince, you promised me two weeks"
"I know" He answers quickly "I was just saying"
"Two weeks end by tomorrow night, you promised"
"Yes, I know I promised and I intend to keep said promise" He answers "I was just saying, maybe you've gotten used to this lifestyle, you can marry me if you want to"
"Well I don't want to" You whisper and looked out the window again
He stares at you, I shouldn't have said that
The silence was thick between the both of you for the rest of the way, even after the carriage ride, now here he is walking you back to your room, the night before your birthday, the night before you're no longer his and he refuses to let you go with this feelings of his still strong, the guilt eating him from the inside
"I'm sorry" He starts and you stop to look at him "I didn't mean to upset you"
You nod and reached over to hold his hands by cupping them "I'm sorry too," You smile "I was a bit selfish when all you did these past few days was take care of me" you shifted to bow down, a sign of your regret and gratitude "I thank you, Your Highness"
He takes his hands away and helps you stand "Its not a goodbye yet" He replies and opens your door for you "We still have 'till tomorrow night"
You nod "That may be the case" you started and entered the room, retrieving a letter signed to him "This for you, My Prince"
He raises and eyebrow but takes it, opening and reading the letter. He scans over it before his eyes snap to you "What?" He asks bewildered "This is a letter of resignation" You nod "You're quitting?" He asks and enters your room, scanning the letter again not believing what he just read "Why? What happened?"
"Nothing, I simply just decided to quit as a palace maid after our agreement"
"If you're afraid of lingering words from the palace staff. I can assure you that will not happen"
"Its not the gossip that concerns me, You're Highness"
"Then why? Why are you leaving?" me, he wanted to add. The sudden announcement
"No specific reason, its a good way to start a new chapter of our lives, You're Highness. After the agreement, you and I would not have a reason to keep each other company"
I will once you stay here in the palace and by my side, he thinks and huffs but letting you speak your mind
"Also, My family asked me to take care of the flower shop" You started "It'll be my next job, so My Prince, if you're worried about my well being"
He really wanted to fight you on this, cause fine, he can't have you, he can't keep you and he'll accept that, but he is not accept loosing you this way "Can't I convince you to stay?"
"Not really" You laugh "Unless, My Prince has a reason for me to stay"
But you're not his nor does he have a good reason for you to stay "As long as resigning is truly your decision and no one's influence"
You nod and bowed down "I thank you, My Prince. I don't regret agreeing to our arrangement, I'm genuinely thankful for everything and I wish you don't harbor any regret either"
He sighs and nods, bowing as much as you, showing you respect before standing straight and you followed him "If you read my Wikepedia page you'd know"
"Sorry?"
He smiles, "I don't regret my actions," You smile back "I wish you happiness and luck in your future"
You nod "Thank you, You're Highness"
"Go get some rest, you'll need it for tomorrow, might as well make your last day in the palace memorable"
You chuckled and nodded "alright, Good night, My Prince"
"Good Night Y/n" he says and leaves the room, letting you get ready for bed. Hana, your maid was standing across the hall waiting for you to call her and the Prince bows and motions for her to enter since he was done with his business. Hana bows and moves to ready for her duty
The Prince was saying the truth, he doesn't regret his choices. All his life he only ever regretted a total of three things, the first one was being delinquent Prince as a child, he caused many problems in both the palace and his kingdom because of it, second fighting his Mark Hyung, the fight that lasted so long that it not only ruined his relationship with the Prince but their whole friend group, and finally his third regret which was right now, him walking away from your room a day before you leave, a day before the agreement is over, he regrets not fighting for you to stay. But he knows even if he regrets this there's nothing he can do, his feelings weren't valid.