Suddenly, Friends

Lili was taken aback by the Crown Prince's compliment, her heart racing as he smiled sweetly at her.

“W-what?” she stammered in disbelief.

He looked back at the river, filled with colorful butterflies, “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, referring to the scenery and not Lili.

Lili felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, realizing her mistake. She was embarrassed, but relieved that he hadn't been talking about her. “Yeah, it’s beautiful,” she agreed.

The Crown Prince turned back to her and his eyes slowly moved from her head to her toes, admiring her. “You look like a human now,” he remarked.

Lili pouted, “Of course, I’m a human. Do I really look like a monkey to you? Are you having an eyesight problem?” She then shifted her attention to him and observed his attire. “Anyway, you look like a royal guard.”

The Crown Prince's expression turned furious, “What did you say?”

Lili, oblivious to his anger, continued with her statement, “I mean, the way you're dressed is exactly like Master Ken.”

He sighed, “Yes, but I’m too handsome to look like a royal guard.”

“Are you saying royal guards are ugly?” Lili retorted. She then added, “I don't think so. Master Ken is super handsome, you know.”

The Crown Prince rolled his eyes at Lili's comment, “Super handsome, tsk.”

Lili then diverted the conversation to the reason that the Crown Prince was supposed to be present for her father's birthday celebration. “Anyway, aren’t you going to my Father’s birthday, Your Highness?”

“Yes, I am,” the Crown Prince replied.

“Then, what are you still doing here? You should go now, Your Highness. Just please relay my message to Father that I greeted him for his Happy Birthday.”

“I don’t want to,” the Crown Prince stubbornly stated.

Lili's pouty expression lightened as she spoke, “Okay then have fun, Your Highness.” She then turned her back and started walking away.

But the Crown Prince's next words stopped her in her tracks, “I don’t want to relay your message to the Minister. You should tell him yourself.”

Lili immediately spun around, confusion etched on her face, “What?”

The Crown Prince crossed his arms nonchalantly, “Why would I go there without a doctor?”

Lili was left speechless, her surprise evident on her face. The Crown Prince seemed to sense her discomfort.

“What I’m saying is that… what if I eat something unhealthy there? Or I might get sick? Who would save me? Of course, a doctor. So, you should go with me,” he explained.

Lili's face slowly lit up with realization, “How about Master Ken?”

“He’s busy… yeah, he’s still working on the task I gave him. Why? Don’t you want to go?” the Crown Prince inquired.

A smile illuminated Lili's face, “Of course, I want to.”

The Prince cleared his throat uncomfortably, “I’m taking you with me because I might get poisoned. You need to see if what I eat is nutritious. There’s no other reason.”

Lili nodded her head, “I understand, Your Highness. But I assure you, that my mother and sister don’t put poison in their cooking. So, you don’t have to worry.”

“If you’re that sure that the foods are safe, then don’t come with me,” the Crown Prince replied.

Lili's expression fell for a moment before she found her voice once again, “What? No, I’ll go with you, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince's puzzled expression prompted Lili to find an excuse to go with him, “If Master Ken can’t go with you then at least bring me with you, please. I will protect you, Your Highness.”

Lili turned around abruptly and her eyes widened with surprise. “What? But why is that your command?” she asked in bewilderment.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her. “Do you expect me to provide an explanation? Just call me Master Ken and follow my command without questioning it,” he said curtly.

Lili found herself with no other option but to comply with the Crown Prince's order. She trailed behind him as he walked, taking in his broad shoulders, towering height, chiseled physique, and impeccable posture. She couldn't help but stare in silent admiration.

Unbeknownst to Lili, the Crown Prince sensed her gaze on him, and a small smirk crept onto his lips. He stopped in his tracks and looked at her over his shoulder, causing Lili to freeze in her tracks and meet his gaze.

"The weather is scorching hot, Lili, but why are you staring at me? You might make me melt," he quipped, his expression one of amusement.

Lili was left speechless, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. She felt embarrassed and flustered at being caught staring, but she couldn't help but feel drawn to the Crown Prince's commanding and charismatic persona.

After walking for what felt like an eternity under the sweltering heat, Lili finally spotted their home in the distance. She grinned excitedly and stole a glance at the Crown Prince, who was drenched in sweat. As she followed the trail of his perspiration from his forehead down to his jawline and neck, she found herself mesmerized by his rugged yet handsome features, quickly shaking her head to dismiss such thoughts.

Suddenly, the Crown Prince glared at her in annoyance, breaking her out of her trance. "You know how hot it is, Lili—why didn't you think to get me an umbrella or something?" he scolded her.

Lili felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry, Your Highness— I mean, Master Ken. I don't know what I was thinking," she stammered, realizing her mistake.

The Crown Prince let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. "How can a doctor be so uncaring towards her patient?" he muttered under his breath.

Lili let out a deep, heavy sigh, knowing that she had let her emotions get the best of her. "I'm sorry, Master Ken. Let's just go home and get you some rest," she said, resolving to make amends for her negligence.

The Crown Prince stood with his arms crossed, exuding a regal air as he spoke condescendingly to Lili. His voice was filled with skepticism, “How would a tiny girl like you ever be able to protect me? I don’t even think you know how to wield a sword.”

The back of Lili's neck prickled in anger at his scornful tone. Unflinching, she turned to face him, her jaw set and her eyes blazing with determination. “What are you talking about, Your Highness? I'm more skilled at sword fighting than you are,” she retorted.

The Crown Prince's eyebrows shot up in surprise, clearly taken aback by her confident retort. “What do you mean? Where did you learn to fight with a sword?” he asked quizzically.

A wry grin tugged at the corner of her lips as Lili responded with a hint of mischief in her tone, “I was just kidding, Your Highness. While I may not know how to wield a sword, I'm highly skilled with a scalpel. After all, I am a doctor. I'll protect you with that instead.”

The prince shook his head in resignation, unimpressed by her antics. “A scalpel? Tsk. Let's just go,” he said dismissively, turning on his heel and heading towards the palace exit, with Lili trailing behind him.

As they walked, Lili voiced her concerns, “Your Highness, isn't it risky for you to wander outside the palace? What if someone recognizes you and plans to harm you?”

The Crown Prince turned to her, his expression unreadable. “What do you think I'm wearing now?” he asked pointedly.

Lili looked at him quizzically, unsure of where he was going with this. “A black suit,” she replied automatically.

He regarded her with mild annoyance, “Of course I'm wearing a black suit. What do you think?”

Lili furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of his question. “I don't understand, Your Highness. What are you trying to say?”

The prince let out an exasperated sigh, “I'm dressed like one of the palace guards to avoid detection. Honestly, how did you become a doctor when you're this dense?”

Lili's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment at the Crown Prince's barbed comment. She opened her mouth to apologize but was cut off when the Crown Prince leaned in and placed a finger on her lips, silencing her.

“Call me Master Ken," he said softly, his eyes searching hers for understanding.

Lili swallowed hard, feeling a flutter in her chest at the unexpected intimacy of the moment. She nodded wordlessly, feeling a mix of confusion and intrigue at the enigmatic Crown Prince's behavior.

As they arrived outside of the house, Lili's eyes widened in awe at the sight of the elegant two-story structure. The servants darted around, engaged in preparations for the upcoming celebration, and Lili greeted them with a friendly smile as they passed by.

Without warning, she grabbed the Crown Prince's arm and tugged him inside the house, eager to get him to rest after his long day. As they made their way to the living room, Lili frowned in concern when she felt the prince resist her pull.

Turning to face him, she was surprised to see the usually aloof Prince frowning down at her. “What are you doing, Newbie? Do you think it's appropriate to drag me, the Crown Prince, around without my permission?”

Lili's heart sank with guilt and she immediately let go of his arm, apologizing profusely. “I'm so sorry, Your Highness. I was just trying to help you rest as soon as possible. I didn't mean to be disrespectful.”

The prince sighed in resignation, rubbing his temples as if he had a headache. “It's fine. Just bring me a cup of cold water,” he said wearily.

Lili's eyes widened in disbelief. “No," she said firmly, surprising both the prince and herself with her sudden defiance. “Drinking cold water after being out in the sun for so long can cause dehydration and other health problems. As your personal doctor, it is my duty to ensure your health and safety. I will bring you warm water instead.”

The Crown Prince's expression darkened and he glared at her, clearly annoyed. “I don't need you to lecture me about my health. I know what I'm doing. I'm the Crown Prince, remember?”

Lili calmly met his gaze, refusing to back down. “I understand that, Your Highness. But as your doctor, it is my responsibility to look out for your well-being, even if it means going against your orders.”

The Crown Prince let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed his eyes. “Fine. Warm water it is.”

As Lili went to fetch the warm water, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for defying the Crown Prince's orders. But at the same time, she felt proud of herself for standing up for what she believed was right. She knew that her duties as a doctor came before her duties as a servant, and she was willing to face the consequences of her actions.

He towered over her, the weight of his authority palpable in the air. Lili held her ground, meeting his gaze with a steely determination that surprised even herself.

"You're the first one who defies my orders," he said incredulously. "Do you want to be punished?"

Lili took a deep breath, gathering her courage. She looked him directly in the eye, refusing to back down. "I will accept my punishment if I really do deserve it. But what I said before, I'm taking it back. I really meant it. Because the moment that I became your Personal Doctor, I am given the right to look after your health. I am partly responsible for your health, so if ever something bad happens to you, I am the first to be punished. And that's the punishment I will accept."

The Crown Prince stiffened, taken aback by Lili's boldness. He wasn't used to being talked back to, let alone by a mere doctor. And yet, there was something in her words that rang true.

"I can't believe I'm arguing with you because of this reason," he muttered, feeling oddly embarrassed. "I should've not brought you here with me... You're so boring."

Lili opened her mouth to apologize, but the Crown Prince cut her off. "Stop. Can't you stop saying sorry to me? And more than that, you keep on calling me 'Your Highness'. What if someone hears you?"

"I'm sorry--" Lili began again, but this time he glared at her, effectively silencing her.

As they stood there in awkward silence, a woman walked into the room. The Crown Prince gave Lili a questioning look, and she smiled nervously as the woman approached them.

"Cris? What are you doing here?" he asked, sounding a bit annoyed. "Are you being right there for long? Did you hear what we're talking about?"

"Why do you have so many questions?" Cris replied, entering the living room and fixing the curtains. "I just arrived and heard you apologizing to him. If I heard your talks, I wouldn't be asking. Am I right?"

Lili nodded eagerly, relieved to have someone else to talk to. But then Cris turned to her, arms crossed, and gave her a sharp look.

"Since you asked me if I heard your talks... I bet it's something I shouldn't hear, right?" she said, her tone accusatory.

Lili felt her cheeks heat up, her stomach churning with anxiety. She had a sinking feeling that things were about to take a turn for the worse.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about," Lili stammered, her eyes darting nervously between the Crown Prince and Cris.

"I feel that you're hiding something, but I won't ask. Instead, let me ask you why you're here. You should be in the Palace, right? And..." Cris turned to face the Crown Prince, who sat silently in his chair. "Who's that man?"

Lili bit her lip, searching for the right words. The Crown Prince nodded at her, a barely perceptible gesture of approval.

"He is Master Ken," Lili said, her voice trembling slightly.

"Master Ken?" Cris repeated, her eyes widening. "You mean... the Prince Escort?"

Lili nodded, feeling a sudden sense of dread.

"Really? This is my first time seeing someone who is closest to his highness." Then, she stopped, a look of realization dawning on her face. "Wait... If the Prince Escort is here, then it means the Crown Prince is also here?!"

Lili's heart began to race as she struggled to come up with an explanation.

"No, he's not here. Why would a Crown Prince come to our house?" she said, trying to sound calm and collected.

"Huh? Then, why are the two of you here?" Cris asked, turning to the Crown Prince. "Master Ken, shouldn't you be with his highness right now?"

Lili shot a pleading look at the Crown Prince, silently willing him to come up with a plausible excuse. But he remained silent, his arms crossed over his chest.

"It's because..." Lili began, but the Crown Prince cut her off with a sharp command.

"Shut up, Lili."

Long before the Crown Prince replied, his piercing eyes roamed around the room, taking note of the decor and the guests. His expression was calm and collected as he spoke to the young lady who had caught his attention. "His highness ordered us to come and visit Minister Roque on his birthday on his behalf," he explained, his voice laced with authority. "That's why we're here, Miss...?"

The young lady, whose name turned out to be Cris, introduced herself with a warm smile. The Crown Prince nodded politely before asking, "By the way, why would his highness come here? I mean, is He even invited?"

Cris' face became slightly creased and she replied thoughtfully, "No, that's not what I mean. It's just that he's the Crown Prince himself. He belongs to a royal family. It takes a lot of confidence to invite him to a birthday celebration. And if he really visits a celebrant to his/her birthday with or without invitation, it's a big honor. Though he's not personally here today, it's our pleasure to have his Prince Escort in behalf of him. That's why I'm curious as to why his highness asked you to be here. Is it because my father is a minister?"

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, surprised by the young lady's words. "Why don't you ask your sister who personally invited his highness?" he suggested with a smirk.

Cris turned to Lili with her eyes wide open, "Are you saying... you invited the Crown Prince yourself?"

Lili looked embarrassed, but she nodded her head in affirmation. "Yes, I did. That's when I didn't know he's a Crown Prince."

Cris looked at her sister incredulously, "Are you saying you met his highness before you went to the Palace?"

Lili sheepishly admitted, "Yes, I did."

Cris looked back at the Crown Prince with a hint of amusement in her eyes, "You're unbelievable, Lili." She then turned back to the Crown Prince and asked, "Didn't his highness get mad?"

The Crown Prince threw his head back and laughed heartily. "He was really surprised," he admitted, "But he wasn't angry since he also wanted to wish Minister Roque a happy birthday."

Cris' smile widened, "It's good to hear that. I really thought he got angry."

The Crown Prince shook his head, "Why would he be angry? Isn't being invited to a birthday a good thing?"

Cris laughed and said, "You're right. It looks like the rumors I heard about the Crown Prince are completely right."

The prince frowned, his face creasing in confusion. "Rumors? What do you mean?"

Lili let out a sigh of concern, knowing that the prince may not like what they were about to say. "I heard that the Crown Prince is easy to be irritated, childish, always throwing tantrums, and can be quite moody and mad."

The Crown Prince's face turned red with anger, his fists clenching. "What? Who spread that stupid rumor?"

Cris shrugged, "I just heard it from random people." She then softened her tone. "But knowing that you're here to visit my father on his behalf makes me realize he's quite thoughtful. He even took the invitation of my careless sister without getting mad."

The prince slowly unclenched his fist, and a small smile played on his lips. "Of course. His highness isn't just handsome but also very kind."

Lili shook her head in disbelief. "Woah, really?"

Cris noticed that Master Ken, the Crown Prince's right-hand man, was smiling, and she wondered why. "Why are you smiling, Master Ken?"

The Crown Prince stiffened, "Why? Am I not allowed to smile?"

Cris raised an eyebrow, "Aside from his highness' personality, I also heard that the Crown Prince's right-hand man is cold-hearted. But look at you now, smiling. I guess I heard the rumor all wrong."

Master Ken bit his lower lip before speaking, "I'm really a cold-hearted person."

As he fell silent, he forced out a laugh and continued, "That's because his highness ordered me to smile at Master Roque's birthday, but honestly..." His expression turned serious. "I am indeed what you thought of me."

Lili smirked at how the Crown Prince imitated Master Ken's cold and blank expression, finding it amusing to see the royal highness doing such a silly act.

"I'm General Ken Alfonso, aka Master Ken. The cold, fearless, and more than that..." He paused for a moment. "I'm ugly."

To their surprise, both Cris and Lili burst into laughter. Master Ken stared back at them in confusion, having expected a different reaction.

"I didn't expect to hear that from you, Master Ken. But I guess you're wrong about the last one. You're not ugly, Master Ken," Cris said with a grin.

As the night went on, they ate, drank and laughed, enjoying each other's company. Despite the rumors, they all seemed to get along just fine, without any hint of the tensions that existed between them.

The Crown Prince let out a small smile, hearing Lili defend his looks. "I know, I'm not ugly," he said in response to her comment. Then, his voice lowered. "But if you saw the real Ken, you'd change your mind."

Lili smirked and whispered, "I don't think so, Your Highness. The real Master Ken is handsome."

The prince glared at Lili, not liking how she was speaking about his right-hand man. It was clear that he was still protective of Ken, despite their earlier conversation.

Cris turned to Lili and suggested that she give Master Ken a tour of the house. "It seems like you two are friends already."

The prince was taken aback by the suggestion. "Friends? What kind of--" He stopped mid-sentence when Lili suddenly put her arm around his shoulder, despite his tall stature. "Yes, we're friends," he said, unable to speak in surprise. It was the first time someone had gotten so close to him.

Lili felt uncomfortable and scared by what she had done in impulse, but she still faked a smile as she turned to her sister. "You know I'm friendly."

"I know, so it's not a surprise to me anymore. Give him a tour now," Cris replied.

Lili nodded. "Yes, I will."

As Cris left, Lili turned to the Crown Prince, and they were both surprised by the closeness between their faces. They were both unable to move and just stared at each other in silence.

Suddenly, Lili's friends arrived, interrupting the moment. "Who is he, Lili?" they asked, curious about the tall, handsome man standing next to her.

Lili felt nervous and unable to find an excuse for the prince’s presence. She didn't want to act too close to the prince, so she didn't want to say that he was her friend. However, before she could say anything, the prince put his arm around her shoulder.

"I'm Lili's friend," he said with a sweet smile, turning to Lili, who seemed stunned and speechless.

They stared at each other for the second time, aware of the sudden tension between them but unsure of how to handle it in front of others.