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Yun giggled as she ran around the courtyard that was newly damp from rain.  This was the most fun she had had in months.  She was dancing as the rain hit the pavement, her laughter reverberating off the walls.  However, her happy spirit soon dissolved as she slipped and fell to the ground.  Her scream echoed across the yard as she burst into tears.

“Are you ok?”

Yun looked up.  She was greeted by a young boy who had a worried expression on his face.  He had crouched down next to her and was staring at her with his big, chocolate eyes.  Yun tried to respond to him, but her words were barely audible over her sobs.  Confused, he looked down at her, but he soon realized there was no way she would be able to respond until she stopped crying.

“It’s ok; you don’t have to respond.  Here, I will help you.”

He stood up, hoisted her off the ground into his arms, and carried her out of the courtyard.  He carried her to a room that she had never seen before and set her down on one of the tables.  He then started to dig through one of the cabinets, pulling out some cotton swabs and a bottle of clear liquid.  He poured some of the liquid onto a cotton swab and gently pressed it against her raw skin, making her whimper in pain.

“Sorry. . .it’ll hurt a little, but it’s cleaning your knee so it won’t get infected.”

“Ok. . .” Yun replied in a pained voice.

The boy gently rubbed the cotton swab against Yun’s skin, making sure he didn’t leave any dirt on her knee.  Then he dug through the cabinet once more, pulling out some gauze this time, and wrapping Yun’s knee in it.

“T-thank you. . .”

The boy grinned. “You’re welcome.”

“Um. . .what’s your name?” Yun asked.

He giggled. “You don’t know much for someone that lives in the palace.”

“How do you know I live here. . .?” Yun asked, a hint of annoyance and curiosity in her voice.

“Well, for one, you wouldn’t have been playing in the courtyard if you didn’t live here, as it is prohibited, and I’ve seen you running around in the courtyard almost every day.  And to answer your first question, I’m Taehyung.”

Yun’s eyes widened. “Taehyung?  As in. . .Prince Taehyung?  First heir to the throne Prince Taehyung?”

He nodded. “Yep, that’s me. . .but. . .I hate that title.  Can you. . .just call me Tae?”

“C-can I. . .” Yun was at a loss for words.  Was the crown prince asking her to call him by a nickname?  Better yet, was he possibly asking to be her friend? “Uh. . .I. . .”

“I suppose my title caught you off guard…” Taehyung sighed. “No one ever wants to hang out with me because of it. . .”

“Oh. . .I’m sorry. . .”

“Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault. . .”

Yun tried her best to form some words. “Um. . .Prin-Tae. . .uh. . .I. . .” She sighed. “I want to be your friend!”

Tae looked up. “Y-you do. . .?”

She nodded slowly, a blush creeping across her cheeks.  Tae grinned widely.

“I’ve never actually had a friend before. . .”

“I haven’t either.”

“Prince Taehyung!”

Tae’s eyes went wide. “We need to get out of here!” He ran to the door and peeked out it. “It’s still safe, let’s go!” He turned back to Yun. “Can you walk?  Or better yet, run?”

Yun cautiously climbed off the table. “Uh. . .yeah. . .I think so.”

“Ok!  Let’s go then!  Quickly!” He rushed out, Yun close behind him.