Stuffy Prince (Jaehyun x Reader)
Summary: Lady Y/N has been invited to a masquerade at the castle, gladly she goes. She dances the night away with a masked man, only to find out he's the most stuck up prince in the kingdom.
"Y/N the carriage is here, hurry!" Your brother Taeyong called from downstairs.
"I know, I know!" You called back, checking your appearance one last time before making your way downstairs.
"That's not the dress you picked out yesterday, is it?" Taeyong looked at you confused, he offered your mask.
You shook your head no, "I found this in mom's closet. I think it's much better." You put your mask on, turning to Taeyong and fixing his collar.
"I agree, you look like the moon." He helped you into the carriage.
"That sounds like it could be an insult or compliment." You fiddled with your rings.
"Whatever you prefer, my lady." He teased, getting in across from you.
"Ok, strawberry man." You chuckled.
The carriage ride felt fast despite the palace being so far from your town, probably because Taeyong was there to entertain you. Once you arrived and you both stepped out, Taeyong pointed to a tree.
"That's where we'll meet afterward, just in case I can't find you later." He said, running his hand through his hair.
You quickly smacked it away and fixed it, "Sounds good to me, don't drink too much."
He laughed, "I was just about to tell you the same."
The two of you hooked arms to walk in together. Once at the hall, Taeyong was quick to leave you after finding some of his friends. You shook your head with a smile, the snack table catching your eye. You saw a chocolate-dipped strawberry and picked it up. Taking a bite, you were hit with its sweetness, so good. You scanned the table and saw the drinks, you went over and poured yourself some. You took a sip and when you turned around, a tall man stood before you. He had black hair and a brilliant red mask with gold embroidery, matching the rest of his outfit.
You curtsied to him, "My apologies, excuse me." When you tried to step to the side, he matched your step. The two of you did it a few more times before you stopped. Surely he's doing this on purpose.
"Do you need something? Or are we in sync?" You asked with a polite smile.
"You're not here with someone, are you?" He asked. When you shook your head no, he offered his hand, "Come, dance with me then."
"Very well, I like this song." You put your drink down and took his hand.
He guided you to the middle of the dance floor then you began to dance. You could tell he was strong yet graceful, light on his feet but seemed confident in his movements. What a mysterious man, you thought to yourself.
"You don't seem familiar, do you come to the palace often?" He asked.
You shook your head, "I cannot say, tonight is a night of mystery."
He chuckled, "Mystery doesn't mean I can't ask a few questions, I'd still like to get to know you."
"I don't recommend trying to do so in such a loud room, it's hard to hear." You replied.
"Then let us go somewhere quieter, follow me." He led you outside, to a garden. You walked far enough for the music to be muffled, but the building was still in sight. You sat on a bench next to this beautiful fountain with stone flowers as decoration.
"Wow, how pretty this is." You touched the flowers delicately.
"You definitely aren't from the palace." He commented, sitting beside you.
You looked to him, the moonlight being bright enough to see his dark brown eyes. "Maybe I am, maybe I just never had time to come here."
He laughed, "Everyone's seen this old garden, except those who don't come often."
You laughed, "You caught me then, I'm not a palace lady."
"Are you a noble?" He asked.
"Too personal of a question, I choose to skip it." You playfully replied.
He rolled his eyes, matching your energy. "Fine, fine. What's something you like to do for fun?"
"There you go. I really enjoy baking with my mother these days. We usually don't end up eating it, though. The town enjoys it for us."
He seemed satisfied to get you to answer a question.
You turned and said, "Your turn, what about you?"
"I don't have time to have fun these days. If I had to choose... I think I'd say playing music." He looks at the sky.
"You must be a busy person." You nod at his response, "Hm, what are your parents like?"
"Isn't that too personal?" He raised an eyebrow at you.
"I didn't ask for names. What do you think of them?" You restated.
He chuckled, "My mother, is a good woman. She's weak though, she's gotten really sick recently. She seems to be sick all the time, growing up my father always told me to leave her to rest so I guess I don't have too many memories of her." He paused, "My father is a busy man. He's always working, forcing more on that than us. Of course, he's training me and my brothers to take over for him one day."
"I see. It sounds like there's some pressure on you. I hope your mother gets better, perhaps we can send you some of our baked goods." You replied.
"Sure, shall I tell you my name then so you can know the address?" He teased.
You shook your head, "I could just leave it here for you to pick up, no need for all that."
"It was worth asking." He shrugged, "I have another question."
"Go ahead," You looked at the water of the fountain.
"Since you aren't a palace lady, what do you think of the princes?" He asked, sneaking a glance at you.
You quickly looked to him, "I'm not sure I can answer that unless you promise not to tell them." You joke.
"Oh? You don't like them?" He leans against the back of the bench.
"I didn't say that, I just don't want a bounty on my head tomorrow for speaking about the princes." You counter.
He nods, "I won't tell if you don't."
"Good. There isn't much to say about the princes anyways. The eldest doesn't want to be king, he'd rather be a general so he's probably a little temperamental. The 2nd, I've heard is stuck up. I know he's a prince and all but there's no need to look down so heavily on others in the palace, he seems hard to get along with. I feel bad for his future wife. The youngest, on the other hand, I hear Prince Yoonoh is the kindest and most fun to be around."
"So if you were to choose one, it'd be Prince Yoonoh because Prince Jaeyuk seems difficult and Prince Jaehyun is just off the table?" He asks, sounding more interested than before.
"Definitely, Prince Yoonoh seems like the best choice. Unless their rumors are all wrong, but it's hard for that to happen considering how widespread it is." You nod confidently.
"Interesting way to think of it." He gets up, "Well, Lady Glimmerbrooke, the masquerade's almost over. We should head back." He offers his hand once again.
You reach to grab it but pause, "How did you-" You looked up at him.
He begins laughing to himself, "You are the Lady from Glimmerbrooke? I was just taking a guess. My my, I guess you failed to hide your identity."
You froze, "You're going to forget everything I said tonight, right? I'll get seriously in trouble if the palace nobles hear what I said."
He grabbed your hand and helped you stand, "Don't worry, I am a man of my word. I won't tell anyone. Now go."
You curtsied to him and quickly walked off, catching Taeyong under the tree talking to some lady.
"Our carriage is here, I hope I'm not interrupting." You cross your arms looking at them jump.
"Oh yes, ah I apologize, I must go." He kisses the lady's hand and goes off with you.
"I didn't expect you to meet the love of your life tonight." You tease.
"Quiet, don't think I didn't see you sneak off with that man." He sticks his tongue out at you, which you retaliate.
The next day your mother calls you into the kitchen. She's packing a basket of freshly baked goods.
You reach out and grab a bun, tasting it. "Mmm, these taste great! What are you making them for?"
"You're taking these to the palace." She passes the basket to you.
"What? The palace? For what?" You place a cover over the top of the goods and close the basket.
"A certain someone asks to taste our sweets. I wonder how he could've known about our little hobby." Your mom hums as she checks on other treats in the oven.
"Don't tell me it's him. Mother, what if he's a bad man? Are you going to let your only daughter meet some sketchy guy from the palace?" You try to use your puppy eyes.
She blows some flour in your face and laughs, "Trust me in his letter, he introduced himself. He's not just 'some guy' my dear, so you better be on your best behavior since he seems to enjoy your company."
"I'm just too charming, I should've known he would've fallen in love after dancing with me." You say dramatically but your mom pays you no mind, "I guess I shall just run away with this mystery man and never ever see you or Taeyong again."
She chuckles again, "The palace carriage is here already, don't keep them waiting too long or you might actually get your head cut off."
"Not funny!" You pout, cleaning your face and going to the carriage.
Once you arrive at the palace again, you walk around aimlessly. Soon you realize the palace is a lot bigger than you remember and you had no idea who or where you were supposed to be meeting. Maybe he'll be at the fountain again. You look around and catch sight of the garden, making your way to the fountain and bench you were at the night before. With the fountain in view, you see a very well-dressed man and dread fills your stomach. Shoot, it's a prince- he's probably just trying to enjoy some peace and quiet. You try to back away but nearly trip on a rock. The commotion makes him turn, and now you can see that it's none other than Prince Jaehyun.
You curse to yourself and go up to him, bowing. "My apologies, your highness. I didn't mean to disturb you, I'm just here to drop off some pastries for a noble around here. You wouldn't happen to see someone else around here?"
His emotionless stare at you makes you shift between your feet. You glance around the two of you. About to leave, you notice his face crack for a moment. As if this interaction couldn't have confused you more.
"Lady Y/N, you are very different without the confidence of your mask." He says, with a grin.
You stare. Then your face flushes immediately, "Don't tell me- You- Oh man- Listen, your highness, that was the drinks talking last night not me."
"Yes, of course, the drinks said I was stuck up and hard to get along with. And here I thought we had a good time last night." He replies, arching an eyebrow.
You smile guilty, "If it makes it any better, these are freshly baked." You hold up the basket, which he takes and opens.
"If these taste good, I may consider forgiving you. If not, my bad temper may have you beheaded." He sits on the bench and takes a pastry out.
You panic, "Ah there's no need for all that, your highness. You are quite generous I hear, surely you can forgive my slip of the tongue last night."
He takes a bite and nods. "For the sake of your brother, fine. I owe him one anyways."
"What- How does Taeyong know you?" You just keep getting more and more confused.
"He's a scholar, I would hope I've run into him enough." He adds, finishing up the pastry and going for another.
"Oh right, that makes sense." You mutter to yourself. You put on your best smile and crouch beside the bench, "Oh so gracious Prince Jaehyun, is there any baked food that you like best? Perhaps I can make you it as an apology?"
He thinks for a moment, "Hm, I don't know. I don't have pastries often. I guess you can't apologize."
"Oh, come on, there's something I could do for you, your highness. Even if I can't, my brother can do some things as well." You offer.
Jaehyun shakes his head, "I think I enjoyed this more when you didn't know you badmouthed a prince and his brothers to his face."
"You're teasing me, right?" You deadpan.
"Maybe, who's to know. My temper is just so unpredictable." He shrugs.
"Your highness, you don't hold onto grudges, do you?" You look up at him.
"Who knows?" He replies again, taking another pastry.
You bury your face in your arms on the bench and exhale dramatically.
You can hear him chuckling and you look at him pouting, "Enjoying yourself?"
"Very much I've never had someone talk to me like this. It's fun." He chuckles.
"Well, if you behead me, you'll be bored again." You offer.
"That's a good point," He's quiet for a moment, "Alright, I know how you can make it up to me."
You perk your head up, "I'm listening?"
"Come visit me often. You can either bake for me or entertain me." He suggests.
"Your highness, I'm busy as well. I run the town with my mother, you know." You stand up.
"I know, and your mother already said it'd be fine." He looks up at you with a slight smirk. "Of course, you'll be compensated."
"You're so lucky you're a prince and I'm not." You squint at him.
"Is that a threat?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Of course not." You put your hands up defensively. You sigh and put your hand out.
"Well, we're making a deal. I'll come to treat you or sass you 2 times a week." You say.
"6 times a week." He replies.
"Fine. 4 times a week." You sigh loudly.
He stands up and shakes your hand, "You better keep your promise."
"Not a promise, strictly business." You correct.
He laughs, "Fine, strict business visits. I'll see you tomorrow."
"You are ridiculous, your highness." You pause, "I'll await your summon. Bye now."
He watched you walk off, smiling to himself. What an interesting girl to have around, finally something to save him from this stressful and dull life.
You smiled to yourself as you walked too. Half embarrassed but also thinking you must be the luckiest person to get out of that situation alive.
