A Love Forbidden

The atmosphere was rife with excitement as Minister Roque's birthday celebrations unfolded. The extravagantly designed garden exuded a vivid ambiance with its vibrant lights and sweet aroma of mouth-watering food. The guests indulged in a festive mood, soaking in the vibrant music that rang through the air and sharing joyous moments. Amidst the throngs of attendees was His Highness, the Crown Prince, who graced the occasion with his presence. Seated at an outdoor rectangular table was a group of friends, elatedly enjoying the splendid party and the tempting drinks.

Lili was surprised when the Crown Prince called her by her name, a departure from his usual reference of "newbie" to her. Her heart filled with delight as she savored the moment. Introductions were made, and they settled down to continue the celebration.

Cris didn't want to sit beside Lili and was seated next to Mahara, leaving Lili to sit beside her. The Crown Prince was seated between Avoi and Thone, who was attempting to make him feel at ease.

Suddenly, Thone opened a bottle of liquor, poured some in a glass, and handed it to the Crown Prince. "It's your turn, General Alfonso," he said, smiling. Lili and the Crown Prince were taken aback by Thone's sudden request, and the Crown Prince looked towards Lili and her group to confirm it.

Mahara then asked, "Do you drink liquor, General Alfonso?" Avoi chimed in, "Of course, he can. It's part of military training, to ensure that they are capable of holding their drink."

Thone egged the Crown Prince on, "Drink up, General Alfonso. It must be refreshing." The Crown Prince paused for a few seconds, took a long look at his glass, considering whether he should drink it or not. However, Lili could tell from his demeanor that he was hesitant to do so, mindful of his status.

In order to protect His Highness's dignity and reputation, Lili volunteered to consume the liquor instead. Her friends were surprised and asked why Lili would do that.

"His Highness might find out that his right guard is indulging in drinking liquor, even though he only commissioned him to greet Minister Roque in his stead," Lili replied with a smile, her voice filled with determination and loyalty towards her duty.

However, the Crown Prince seemed to be displeased with her act and glared at her irritably. "Why would you drink the liquor meant for me? I can drink a couple of this without getting drunk and caught by His Highness," voicing his displeasure. Without any further thought, he picked up the glass and swallowed its contents.

Avoi turned towards Lili and exclaimed, "Did you hear that? General Alfonso can hold his drink well."

Thone attempted to make amends and start up a conversation, "So, how did you meet General Alfonso?"

"We both serve his highness," Lili calmly replied.

Cris interjected, "That sounds predictable. Why would you ask such a mundane question, Thone?"

Thone retorted, "I was trying to break the ice."

Mahara looked at Lili with a sly smile and asked, "Speaking of his highness, is he as handsome as they say?" The glimmer in her eyes hinted at more underlying curiosity.

Lili’s heart raced as she tried to gather her thoughts and formulate an answer to Mahara’s daring question. She stood frozen like a statue, grappling for words, her mind plagued by the possibility of offending the Crown Prince.

“Do I have to answer that?” she stuttered, her timorous voice betraying her unease.

Avoi quickly interjected, rescuing Lili from an uncomfortable situation. “Please stop with the personal questions, Mahara. It's not appropriate, given that the right guard is here. If Lili answers 'no,' it could be seen as a slight towards him. And if she answers 'yes,' it could be misconstrued as her liking him."

Mahara sulked; her lips pursed in a pout. “I was just curious,” she muttered defensively.

Determined to shift the conversation from Lili, Avoi addressed the Crown Prince. “Lili is dear to us, as one of our own. Please take care of her, General Alfonso,” she said, glancing at Lili.

The Crown Prince's gaze lingered briefly on Lili before he dismissively turned back to his meal. “It is my duty to look after the welfare of those under my protection as per my royal obligations,” he replied icily.

Lili sighed, knowing too well that his statement was technically correct, but devoid of any warmth or affection.

Relieved at the shift in topic, Lili's attention quickly turned to her approaching father. She addressed him with apprehension, “Father…”

He appeared surprised to see her there and asked, “What are you doing here, Lili? You should be in the palace.”

Her father's words trailed off as he noticed the Crown Prince seated among their friends. Lili's pulse quickened, fearing her secret would be exposed before the whole group. She gestured discreetly to her father, silently imploring him to play along with her ruse.

Before he could respond, the Crown Prince stood up and approached him with a smile on his face. "Minister Roque, it’s I, General Alfonso. I am here to convey my heartfelt wishes on behalf of the Crown Prince. Happy birthday, Minister Roque."

Lili's father looked taken aback, staring at the Crown Prince in disbelief. Lili breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the Crown Prince's intervention.

“Thank you, General, I appreciate it,” her father replied, still trying to process this unexpected turn of events.

The Crown Prince dismissed his offer to help, assuring him he could manage on his own. Lili watched as her father walked away, dazed and confused by what had just happened. She gave the Crown Prince a grateful smile, feeling a surge of warmth towards him, despite his aloofness.

Lili's friends had lapsed into a kind of trance as they peppered the Crown Prince with questions. Lili had been surprised herself by the way the young women had taken to the royal newcomer, who seemed charming but unremarkable to her.

His Royal Highness, for his part, seemed to enjoy the attention. He answered their questions with a winsome smile, his face open and friendly. His position as a member of the royal guard, and his rank as a General, seemed not to phase the three girls who hung on his every word.

Mahara, the boldest and flirtiest of the group, prodded him with another question. "And your real name is Ken Alfonso?"

"Yeah," the prince answered said modestly.

Before Lili could intervene, Mahara carried on. "You're the Crown Prince's escort or right guard, but I didn’t know you also had a rank, General Alfonso." She was looking at him with a wide-eyed expression, as though he were the most fascinating person she'd ever met.

He nodded. "Of course. Why would a rankless right guard be the Crown Prince's escort? That's impossible."

Avoi, who'd been watching the exchange with glittering eyes, threw in her two cents. "I can't believe I'm seated next to the Crown Prince's escort, Master Ken!" she exclaimed, unable to contain himself.

The Crown Prince gave a little chuckle. "Please, call me Master Ken. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Mahara seemed to be in heaven, and she wasn't quite finished yet. "You're so handsome," she said without preamble.

Lili watched the color rise in the Crown Prince's cheeks, and was nearly heartened to see it. At least he wasn't completely unaffected by their charms. Mahara continued, undaunted. "You're so handsome like your name. Ken Alfonso is probably the most handsome name I've ever heard, Master Ken."

Lili rolled her eyes and sighed, her earlier sense of unease returning with a vengeance. There was something about this whole interaction that felt off, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. But as the others laughed and chatted with the Crown Prince, she knew she'd have to stay vigilant. Something about this newcomer was just too persuasive.

However, the Crown Prince's smile quickly faded as he looked at Mahara, his eyes narrowing with annoyance at her constant flattery. "There's something even more handsome than that name," he said, his tone cool and clipped. Thone laughed, trying to ease the tension as he added jokingly, "Don't you want your name to be the most handsome name, Your Highness?"

But the Crown Prince simply rolled his eyes at their incessant compliments and persistent flirtation.

Undeterred, Mahara persisted, pouting and batting her eyelashes at him. She asked, "If Ken Alfonso isn't handsome, then what is?"

The Crown Prince paused, his expression serious, before saying, "It's something you shouldn't mention."

As midnight approached, the guests began to bid their goodbyes and filter out of the party. Avoi offered to take the drunken Thone home, while Cris and Mahara stayed behind with the Crown Prince and Lili.

"Take care on your way, Lili and Master Ken," Avoi said with a warm smile as they left.

Walking ahead of Lili, the Crown Prince kept his expression neutral, though she couldn't help but notice a hint of amusement in the curve of his lips. "Did you enjoy the party, Your Highness?" she asked, glancing at him warily.

His sunny smile dissolved into a glare as he turned to face her, his eyes cold and distant. "No. Your friends' stories made me so sleepy, it was utterly boring there," he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation and impatience.

Lili could sense that the Crown Prince had enjoyed himself despite his sour mood, for his body language betrayed him. Suddenly, they saw Master Ken ahead of them, his expression flustered and panicked. "Master Ken," Lili called out, her voice ringing out in the empty street. "You're dead, Your Highness," she whispered, her tone nervous and urgent.

The Crown Prince whipped his head around, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger. "What are you talking about?" he asked in a low growl, his voice barely audible over the rustling of the nearby trees.

"You mentioned his name, Your Highness," Lili clarified, her eyes darting back and forth between Master Ken and the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince cast a withering glare in Lili's direction, his lips curling into a thin line. "He won't know that if you don't tell him. And don't you dare tell him," he warned, his voice laced with menace.

Lili nodded obediently, her heart racing with fear and adrenaline. "Yes, Your Highness," she squeaked, feeling a cold sweat break out on her forehead.

She then turned to Master Ken, her voice calm and measured. "We're just coming from my father's birthday celebration, and we're headed back to the palace," she explained, hoping to quell his suspicions.

Master Ken had always been fiercely protective of the Crown Prince, and he never hesitated to voice his concerns. "Why didn't you bring me with you, Your Highness? You know it's dangerous to be outside the palace walls," he grumbled, his face twisting into a scowl.

The Crown Prince's expression darkened as he realized the potential danger of the situation, his brow furrowing in concern. Master Ken, on the other hand, was resolute in his commitment to the safety of the young prince, his eyes darting around the empty street for any signs of lurking foes.

The Crown Prince forced a smile, "Don't worry about that. Look at me, I'm safe."

Master Ken refused to be pacified and pressed further, "But you don't know what will happen on your way back to the Palace."

The Crown Prince sighed, "But you're here now, you can protect me then."

As they debated the merits of their current course of action, Mahara and Cris arrived, carrying with them the Crown Prince's sword. Lili felt anxious about the Crown Prince's safety as he seemed doomed already.

"Thankfully, you haven't gone far yet, Master Ken," Mahara said, panting from the long run.

"You left your sword, Master Ken," Cris said before handing it over to him.

Master Ken took the sword from Cris, examining it intently before passing it back to the Crown Prince. "You must be more careful, Your Highness," he admonished, his tone stern but affectionate.

But it was Master Ken's next words that sent a chill down Lili's spine. "Whose Master Ken?", his voice tinged with malice.

The Crown Prince looked down to avoid his gaze, and Lili felt a pang of alarm. Cris stepped in and pointed towards him before confirming, "Isn't he?"

The Crown Prince's eyes widened in horror and Lili felt a cold sweat break out on her skin. Cris stepped forward, pointing towards Master Ken before confirming the truth of his identity.

Lili could sense the tension mounting, and she knew that they had to act fast if they were going to survive the coming storm.

Master Ken heaved a heavy sigh, "Anyway, we're leaving now. Be careful on your way."

The atmosphere between them became heavy, and Ili could sense the tension. It felt almost palpable.

"You left without me knowing, and more than that, you even used my name, Your Highness," Master Ken spoke up.

The Crown Prince fidgeted, unsure of what to do or say. After a few minutes of deafening silence, he spoke up, doing his best to appease Master Ken. "It only happened today and will never happen again."

Master Ken wasn't having it, "But you've done it a couple of times already, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince recoiled slightly, as though he had been punched. He bowed his head in shame, feeling like he had committed a grave error. Ili looked on and couldn't contain her smirk. "You always say that, Your Highness!" she jested, trying to lift the mood.

The Crown Prince shot a glare at Master Ken, "You, Master Ken, fix your tone! Don't you know who I am?"

Master Ken responded in his usual stoic way, "You're Master Ken, aren't you?"

The Crown Prince flinched at the frankness of the statement, and he bowed again in contrition. "Come on, Master Ken... Don't be like that," he pleaded.

"Starting tomorrow, you will not leave the Palace without me, Your Highness," Master Ken proposed.

The Crown Prince was unsure if it was an order, "Are you ordering me?" he asked with skepticism.

Master Ken was quick to clarify, "No, I'm taking responsibility for you, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince of the Kingdom let out a deep sigh as he sat on his ornate throne, looking tired and disheartened. His lips twisted into a frown, and he replied to his aide, "Yeah...whatever."

The next morning, Lady Lili, the personal doctor of the Crown Prince, was awoken by loud knocks on her chamber door. As she opened it, she saw Master Ken, the Prince's loyal guard standing on the other side with a cross look on his face.

"What is it, Master Ken?" Lady Lili mumbled, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"You will join the Crown Prince today in his class because I have something else to do," he stated, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Lady Lili was perplexed, still feeling groggy, "Why me? I thought you said last night that starting today, you will be by his side."

"I said that he will not leave the Palace without me starting today," Master Ken replied curtly.

Lady Lili felt a wave of frustration wash over her, feeling that Master Ken was shifting some of his duties onto her. "Isn't that the same? You still need to look after him even when he's inside the Palace."

Master Ken let out a weary sigh, "I know that, Lady Lili. But I also have important things to do assigned by his highness. Can't I at least ask you to look after him, since you're his personal doctor?"

Feeling irritated but obligated, Lady Lili begrudgingly agreed to look after the Crown Prince since Master Ken had reminded her of her duties.

"Fine, where is his highness right now?" Lady Lili asked with a hint of grumpiness.

She quickly changed into her clothes and went with Master Ken to see the Crown Prince. They found him talking to someone with a scowl on his face, looking like a sulking child. Lady Lili couldn't help but smile at the sight. "What a start to my day."

"You can go now to his highness yourself, Lady Lili," Master Ken said before he walked away, leaving Lady Lili alone with the Crown Prince.

As Lady Lili approached him, the Crown Prince noticed her approaching and pointed at her, "You're here..." he mumbled in surprise before glancing at the person he was speaking with, the Royal Instructor. Then he added, "I will attend your class if she will attend too."

The Royal Instructor looked Lady Lili from top to bottom before nodding his head in agreement, "Very well, Your Highness."

During the lesson, Lady Lili listened attentively as the Royal Instructor spoke. However, without warning, he stopped speaking mid-sentence and fixated his gaze towards the Crown Prince. Lili followed his line of sight and gasped in shock as she saw the Crown Prince sitting with his arms crossed and soundly sleeping. Her heart trembled with concern at the sight, afraid that the Crown Prince might get reprimanded for his behavior. As Master Fok began to lament the Crown Prince's lack of focus, Lili was forced to fake a laugh in a bid to relieve the tutor's frustration.

As Lili gazed at the sleeping prince next to her, she couldn't help but think about the missed opportunity that lay before them both. Lili remembered the efforts and opportunities her father had given her, particularly the chance to study overseas, one which she did not waste. Master Fok broke Lili's thoughts, revealing that His Highness was notorious for dozing during lectures. Lili cringed inwardly from embarrassment as Master Fok discovered that she was Minister of Peace's daughter. Master Fok continued, expressing surprise that the Crown Prince allowed Lili to attend his classes, being his first personal doctor to do so. Lili felt uneasy but remained silent, biting her lip in guilt.

Master Fok, frustrated with the prince’s inattentiveness, excused himself from class, leaving Lili and the slumbering Crown Prince alone.

Lili mused to herself, "Thone is right, the Crown Prince is such a sleepyhead," but was suddenly startled when the Crown Prince asked, "Did he really say that?" Realizing that the Crown Prince was awake, Lili hesitated, but spoke nonetheless. "Are you awake, Your Highness?"

Slowly, he opened his eyes, gazing slowly at Lili, "Your voice woke me up."

Lili quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince closed his eyes once again, "I'll sleep again, so don't be loud."

Lili nodded, but couldn't help but remember to fetch him a pillow and a blanket to make him comfortable. As Lili stood up, the Crown Prince grasped her wrist and gently lay down on her lap, making Lili freeze in surprise. Lili was taken aback, almost speechless as the Crown Prince closed his eyes and fell asleep once more.

As Lili gazed down at the Crown Prince, she was entranced by the perfect features of his face. She was just about to caress his cheek when he abruptly opened his eyes once more, jovially laughing, "I-I thought... you're asleep." Lili's eyes grew wide with surprise as the Crown Prince grasped her hand tightly, staring intently at her. Lili was rooted to the spot.

Despite her reservations, Lili couldn't help but feel drawn to the Crown Prince. As she sat beside him, keeping him company as he slept, she couldn't ignore the way he spoke to her once he woke up. "When I closed my eyes, you didn't make even a little of noise in fear that I would wake up," he said, his eyes glistening with a newfound seriousness. "But how can I sleep if even when I close my eyes, I see you?"

Lili felt a lump forming in her throat. She was beginning to grow uncertain of her feelings, especially since it was highly inappropriate for a Crown Prince to fall in love with his servant. She was well aware of the long years of preparation she had undergone to become a personal physician to the Crown Prince. She couldn't allow such emotions to dim the competence and professionalism expected of her in the palace.

Trying to keep her composure, Lili couldn't help but wonder why she felt so nervous about the Crown Prince's advances. She knew that it was wrong, yet despite everything, she couldn't push him away. She felt scared – scared that all her hard work would be for nothing if she were to harbor feelings for the Crown Prince that would never be reciprocated.