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Yun frowned as she reflected on her past.  That was eight long years ago, when she was twelve.  She now looked into the mirror over the shoulder of the one she had always admired the most as she placed his long, purple robe over his shoulders.  His stern gaze met hers in the mirror.

“Yun, stop studying me like that.  You well know that the one standing before you will never be yours, no matter how you long for him.”

Yun peeled her eyes away from the mirror as she fixed Taehyung’s royal robe.  He had changed a lot since they were young.  He no longer thought of her as his lifelong friend, but simply as his personal assistant.  She supposed it was fitting, because that was what she was, but she still admired him the same.  She still didn’t consider him the prince, despite the fact that he would be crowned king in an hour. 

She wasn’t sure what had changed him.  The early and unexpected death of his parents, the weight of the throne suddenly being thrown on him, or simply his coming of age.  It might have been a mix of all those things that had changed him.  She didn’t know.  All she knew was that her old best friend was gone, and she was now stuck with this snob he had become.

“Yun?”

Yun jumped.  Taehyung’s deep voice caught her off guard and startled her.

“Y-yes, Your Highness?” She had become accustomed to calling him this now.  He didn’t react the best when she used his nickname.

“Fix my hair.  You messed it up when you put my robe on.”

“Oh.  Yes, Your Highness.” She quickly reached for his comb and ran it through his hair, making sure it looked perfect.  She looked him over once more, making sure nothing was out of place.

“Is he ready?”

Yun looked up at Taehyung’s second assistant, Jimin, who was standing in the doorway.

“Yes.  He’s ready.”

——————–

Yun sat glued to her seat as she watched the priest place the crown on Taehyung’s head.  She never would have thought this moment would come, and yet, here she was, watching as the king’s crown was placed on his head.  She knew this was the start of a long journey.

“Yun, are you all right?”

Yun looked over at Jimin, who was sitting to her right with a worried expression on his face.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Jimin sat up, the look on his face turning annoyed. “I know that look.  You’re not fine.”

“Jimin.  Don’t pry.  Trust me; you don’t want to know.”

“It’s about His Highness, isn’t it?”

Yun sighed and sat straight in her chair again.  Jimin didn’t know when to stop talking. “No.  And even if it was, it wouldn’t be any of your business anyway.” She set her eyes on Taehyung once again, wondering if they would’ve been together had her fate been different.

——————–

It had been a long night of watching the guests drinking and partying.  For some, it was enjoyable to watch.  But the newly crowned king was obviously getting more and more irritated by the minute.  It didn’t take long for him to react.

“Yun!  Jimin!” Taehyung snapped.  The two instantly materialized at his side.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” They inquired together.

“Go, tell the guards to escort Kimun out. He’s drunk and causing problems again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It wasn’t even a minute later that Kimun and his wife, Lina, were being shoved out the door.  He didn’t look very drunk at all, and he was yelling at one of the guards for trying to take him out of the palace because he was “a prince, too.”

Yun knew Taehyung’s real reason was probably just that Kimun was a nuisance.  They’d been neck-and-neck since they were children, and the death of Taehyung’s parents had just amplified that struggle.  Kimun was second in line for the throne.  He was the son of Taehyung’s father’s only sibling.  Who was dead.  Kimun, like Taehyung, was an only child.  Yun still remembered the night someone had snuck into the palace with the intent of killing Taehyung.  Thankfully, he hadn’t succeeded.  They were sure Kimun was behind it, but no one had any proof of his intent yet.

“Yun.  Jimin.” The king’s tone was softer now.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” They replied in harmony.

“I’m returning to my chambers for the night.  You two are free for the rest of the evening.  I expect to see you both at seven a.m. sharp, understand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”