Mizuki greeted Emilio back as he felt Eren fist the back of his jacket. He shifted on his feet and he hoped no one could see what Eren was doing.
Before he could say anything else he heard someone shout his name. He turned around and he grinned when he saw Rin get down from her horse and come running to him. Eren dropped his hands back to him when Mizuki started moving towards her. He opened his arms for her as she jumped in them.
"I missed you." She breathed out and he squeezed her back. "Missed you more."
He set her back down on her feet and grabbed her face. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm okay Mizuki." She said as she pushed his hands away. "Dad ordered Emilio to not let me out of his sight."
Mizuki turned to Emilio and his eyebrow quirked when he saw him staring at his sister with fondness.
"Thank you for taking care of her." He told him, snapping Emilio's gaze back to him.
"Of course, it is my duty to protect Her Royal Highness." He said, and Mizuki tried not to glare at him when he looked at his sister from the corner of his eye again.
"How come you're back so early?" Rin asked which made Mizuki turn to look at Eren who was awkwardly shifting on his feet as he stared at the ground.
"I'll tell you later." He told her and then he asked, "are you really okay?"
Her eyes saddened at the reminder of why Mizuki was asking her this and she took a deep breath before smiling and nodding at her older brother. "I'm fine, Mizuki."
"Um-Your Highness, who is this?" Emilio pointed at Eren with a frown making him move towards Mizuki.
"Wait, isn't that the royal crown of Yarisha on his clothes?" A guard whispered and then everyone turned to stare at Eren with wide eyes as he moved away until his back hit Mizuki.
"Emilio, and you two come with me back to the palace. Everyone else get back to what you were doing." Mizuki yelled out and everyone did as ordered as Emilio and the two guards started walking with Mizuki who grasped Eren by the shoulders and started moving with him.
When they were far enough he let Eren walk in front of him as Emilio came to stand next to him. "Is that a royal member of the royal family of Yarisha?"
"Yes." Mizuki answered with a straight face as all three soldiers around him faltered.
"Should we take him to the prisons?" One of the soldiers asked and Mizuki tried not to glare at him.
"No, he's going to stay in my chambers." Mizuki answered, all of their voices were hushed but Eren could clearly hear and the relief he felt at Mizuki's words was immense.
"But-" Mizuki turned his gaze to the guard that dared to question his orders and he shut up when he saw him and bowed down in apology before walking forward.
They arrived in front of the palace and Eren's eyes widened at how different it was from his back home. It looked so much more modest and bright compared to the Palace in Yarisha that looked more like a dungeon.
Mizuki entered first and immediately people turned to stare at him and when they realized who it was, they bowed their heads and moved away so he could get through.
As they were walking down a hallway they heard a shocked gasp and then there was someone running towards them.
Mizuki blinked in shock as he saw Aimi move towards him and before he could even comprehend what was happening she was hugging him.
"I'm so glad you're back safely!" She squealed in his chest and he stood frozen with his arms to his side.
He turned to stare at Eren, expecting to see a sign of jealousy on his face but Eren wasn't even looking at them.
Mizuki frowned and he tried to ignore the tinge of disappointment he felt at the lack of emotion on Eren's face.
The guards and Emilio stared with their jaw opened at the shamelessness that the usually shy Aimi was showing and how she actually dared to hug the prince.
Was she in a relationship with him?
Mizuki, too distracted in staring at Eren forgot to push Aimi away and now she was just hugging him for much longer than necessary.
Eren finally turned to stare at Mizuki and he raised an eyebrow as he blinked at Aimi and Mizuki finally snapped out of it as he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away gently.
"Aimi, um it's nice to see you too?" Mizuki said and Aimi's eyes widened as she covered her mouth in horror at her own actions.
"Oh god! I'm so sorry Prince Mizuki! I just heard of your safe return and I couldn't stop myself. Please pardon my rudeness." She apologized with a deep bow and Mizuki awkwardly chuckled.
"It's okay but please refrain yourself from doing...that again." He told her and she blushed in embarrassment and after murmuring another apology she disappeared.
Mizuki turned to Eren but he had already looked away and after a sigh they continued on their way.
After climbing a number of flights of stairs and taking 10 different hallways that Eren couldn't keep up with, they finally made it to Mizuki's personal chambers.
Mizuki led them in front of a room and then he stopped and turned towards them.
"Come here." He motioned to Eren who walked towards him. Mizuki opened the door and softly pushed Eren inside, whispering a 'stay inside' before closing the door.
"Why is he so compliant?" Emilio spoke up.
"I've had him for a couple of days now and he understands that there's no point in trying to get away or put up a fight." Mizuki told him and Emilio seemed skeptical but he nodded his head nonetheless.
"I want you two to guard this door. No one and I mean absolutely no one goes inside without my permission. If he knocks on the door and asks to see me, you call me immediately, do you understand?" He ordered the guards and they nodded their heads dutifully.
"I'm going to go talk to him." He told them before opening the door and entering the room.
He saw Eren laying down on the bed with the rope on the ground and he chuckled, signalling his presence.
Eren jumped off the bed as soon as he heard the noise and instead stood in front of Mizuki who walked over to him and grabbed his face.
"Are you alright?" Mizuki asked and Eren mutely nodded his head, pushing Mizuki's hands away from his face.
"Um Aimi is just someone I know." Mizuki added as Eren's silence made him think that he was jealous after all.
"I didn't ask." Eren said and Mizuki pouted.
"Come on, you're telling me it didn't bother you that some girl threw herself at me as soon as I came back?" Mizuki asked and Eren shook his head but his silence spoke volumes.
"Well if it doesn't bother you I'll have to go find her and tell her that there was no need for her to say sorry..." Mizuki trailed off as he made a move to leave but Eren grabbed his wrist.
"You're such an asshole." Eren said with a frown and Mizuki hid his smile.
"If you dare leave this room to find some girl then I might have to plan her demise like my grand uncle did." Eren said with a straight face and Mizuki's expression dropped as he stared at Eren with wide eye.
"...What?"
"I'm kidding, Mizuki!" He exclaimed.
"I mean I wouldn't kill her, per say. But she should definitely learn how to keep her hands for herself." Eren muttered.
"And you!" He pushed his finger on Mizuki's chest. "You let her hug you for 42 seconds!"
"Is that what you were doing when you were looking away? Counting?" Mizuki laughed and Eren scowled.
"Let's see how you'd react if someone hugged me for 42 seconds." He taunted and Mizuki immediately frowned as he pulled Eren in his arms.
"Don't even say that." Mizuki muttered and Eren stuck his tongue at him.
"Aimi just has a one-sided crush. I mean, can you blame the girl?" Mizuki said as he pointed at himself with an arrogant smile and Eren hit him.
"You know..." Eren said. "Emilio is quite hot."
"Eren." Mizuki warned and Eren smiled at him.
"What? I'm not lying." Eren continued to say and Mizuki approached him.
"If there weren't any guards outside you'd definitely not be saying this right now, sweetheart." Mizuki whispered as he gripped Eren's jaw and forced him to look at him.
"And what would you do if there wasn't anyone?" Eren asked with a raised eyebrow.
"First, I'd wipe that smile off your lips by kissing you." Mizuki told him. "And then I'd show you exactly who you belong to."
Eren blinked at him, not expecting the possessiveness Mizuki was showing but He couldn't say he minded it since he was the same.
He didn't think he was going to get this attached to him but when he saw Aimi jump into his arms it took everything in him not to pull her away himself and claim Mizuki as his.
"Too bad we're not alone." Eren whispered as he leaned closer until their lips were brushing and then he pulled away.
"You should really leave before they start to get suspicious." Eren told him and Mizuki groaned.
"There's clothes and towels in the closet. You can take a bath if you wish. If you need me just knock on the door and ask for me." Mizuki told him and Eren nodded.
"I'm going to talk to my dad and I'll try to come back tonight, okay?" He said as he moved his hand to softly cup Eren's cheek.
"Mhm okay." Eren whispered and then he hugged Mizuki.
"Thank you for not letting them take me to the prisons." He mumbled and Mizuki's expression softened as he wrapped his arms around him.
"I told you I'd protect you didn't I?" Mizuki said and Eren smiled into his chest as he nodded.
"Now go!" Eren said as he pulled away.
Mizuki smiled and nodded but he didn't leave before leaning down and pressing the gentlest kiss on Eren's forehead.
Hello!
Thoughts?
I wasn't going to jump to all the serious shit right away so I decided to write the chapter this way instead.
-till next time <3