[00:24] “But I thought-..”
“My family is where my loyalties lie.”
“I never asked you to dismiss your family.”
“DOING WHAT YOU ASK OF ME-..” He yells and you flinch back a little, breath getting caught in your throat. He notices your eyes go round as you stare up at him and clenches his jaw. He sighs. “Doing what you ask of me… will ruin us, y/n.”
You feel yourself growing angry, now digging your nails into the palms of your hands. “How will getting my mother released from prison cause shame to your family?”
Mingyu’s eyes harden, looking you up and down. “Your mother was accused of treason. It cannot simply be looked over.”
Your lips part, eyes squinting his way. He gulps. “My mother,” you’re out of breath, jabbing a pointed finger at him. “,my mother practically raised you.” He looks down. He cannot look into your eyes, not when he can see your on the verge of tears and it’s all his fault. “My mother fed you, she educated you…” your breathing quickens, “heck, she would barely be home with me! Her own daughter! Because she was busy sneaking you out of the palace so you could have a life of your own! Away from all this ugly royal crap!” The crown prince bites down on his lower lip, “She has sacrificed the world for your family. Her time, her space, her health. Her life.” His shoulders drop. You take a step in, vision now blurry as tears trickle down your moonlit face, “How could you forget all that Mingyu?” Mingyu pauses. His eyes harden as does his entire demeanour. His head slowly lifts and his gaze meets yours, you almost stumble back from how piercing it is.. the way his stare meets yours. “Min-..”
“Your highness.” Your heart drops to your gut. You swallow.
“What?” Your voice is barely above a whisper. Mingyu has to close his eyes, grinding his teeth together.
“Do not forget who you’re speaking to. You may refer to me as your highness.”
You feel sick. You’re lucky your bed is right behind you because if it wasn’t you’d be dead all over the floor. You sit down. But you cannot seem to take your eyes off him, searching in hope for any sign that he’s joking. He can’t be serious. Not after all the times the two of you have shared. Not when he used to come to your servant quarters every night just to hear you read to him. Not when he snuck you into the masquerade ball, ensuring to personally select your dress, jewellery, and the mask itself. Not when he’d hold your hips with the softest of fingers and graze his lips against your ear with the softest of kisses whilst holding you against him in the hall, forgetting about time, space, and the fact that he is a prince and you are his servant. Mingyu never let you take too much notice of that fact.
Your breathing falters. You both have been silently staring at each other for the past two minutes. In this time you watched mingyus eyes soften. Obvious regret plastered across his face but he doesn’t say a word. You’re not even sure he’s breathing.
“Okay.” You say and Mingyus shoulders drop once again. His eyes round and lips pouting slightly. He’s scared. He’s suddenly terrified of losing you. “It is not deemed proper for a prince to be in the servants quarter at this late hour.”
His eye brows are furrowed and he panics, mouth opening to say something but it only comes out as a low gasp. He doesn’t know what to say. Not after what he’s just said to you.
“Leave before we get caught and they throw me into prison too.”
He shakes his head, he’s breathing heavy and he begins to sweat. He finally lets out a few words, “n-never.” His eyes well up and he places his hand on his chest as if his heart hurts. As if his heart is about to come beating out of his chest and land at your feet. “Never, I- I would never let that happen.” He’s still shaking his head and you’re trying to keep your entire body from trembling, “not to you. Never to you.”
You’re staring up at him and he’s staring down at you. Slowly rising from your bed, you walk up to, then right past him. He closes his eyes and breathes in your scent for what he feels will be the the last time until maybe a very long time. You’ll never want to see him after this, he’s sure of it. He turns and you’re standing next to the door, your hands linked in front of you and he hates the way you aren’t looking at him anymore. “Goodbye, your highness.”
He groans, “y/n, I-..” you suck in a breath, clearly indicating that you don’t want to hear anything.
He gulps back whatever words he was about to spit out. Nodding to himself once before straightening his posture. His face too numb to notice the stream of tears running down his radiant cheeks. He clears his throat. He makes his way towards the door and you feel your soul leave when he’s only half way through, into the corridor.
“I-I’d like you to please,” he breathes “, please remember.” You freeze when he speaks. He’s not looking at you and you aren’t looking at him. “I-I..” he gulps and he’s crying so fucking much, biting down on his lower lip to keep his composure. “I’ve loved you since the beginning of everything.” His voice breaks and you whimper, placing your hand over your mouth. “Since the day I first met you and you read me your poetry. The day you held my hand and told me you’d be my friend. The days I wanted to kiss you so fucking much but never got the chance to.” You fall to the floor, on your knees. Linking your hands and begging God to rewrite your stars. “I’ve loved you through all of it.”
And with that. He leaves.
Taking your soul with him.