After a few weeks, things changed between Min Jun and Uk. The prince, who had once been a pain, was now more diligent and calm. He no longer skipped his treatment and followed the physician's routine. This progress brought joy to everyone in The Red Ruby.
As for Uk, he became less pressured and more natural. He spent more time doing what he enjoyed and started including others. He exercised with the guards at The Red Ruby compound and taught pottery to the house's stewards during his free time. Being around so many people somehow fulfilled an empty space in his heart. He felt revived and contained. Life was merrier for him now.
Their relationship, however, still had a lot of progress to make. Even though they saw each other almost every day, things between them were still awkward. Uk maintained his composure around Min Jun, always serious, even when Min Jun tried to joke, which made the prince feel hopeless and slightly upset. Sometimes, Min Jun would act out just to get Uk's attention, but it never worked.
***
"Gisa Ahn, come and join me!" Min Jun invited Uk to lunch.
"It's fine, daegum..."
"Ah, come on! I can't finish all this by myself! Come!" Min Jun insisted.
"It's okay, take your time. You need to finish your meal and take your medicine, daegum..."
"You'll never join me in a million years, will you?" Min Jun swatted Uk with a sharp glare. Uk stared at him, blinking in disbelief.
With an unpleasant face, Min Jun grabbed the spoon and shoved food into his mouth. Uk watched from his spot, secretly relieved that the prince diligently ate his meal and took his medicine.
***
"What do you think?" Min Jun asked Uk, showing him his painting.
"It looks nice, Your Highness..."
"What about the color?"
"You blended it really well, too..."
"Is the size okay?"
"Certainly, daegum..."
"Argh! You're as stiff as a fallen maple leaf!" Min Jun yelped in frustration. He threw the brush into the bucket and crossed his arms.
"Daegum..?"
"Can you please give your honest thoughts instead of just agreeing with everything? What are you, a yes-man?!" Min Jun fumed, looking at his bodyguard.
"I wouldn't dare say no to a prince, daegum..."
"Again with that? Come on, Gisa Ahn!!"
The prince looked more upset than before. He took his stool and slammed it down, facing Uk with a sour face.
"Can you at least look at me like I'm your friend? Or if that's too much, like I'm a normal 20-year-old?" Min Jun's plea flustered Uk a bit. But Uk gathered his strength to hide his feelings from the prince.
Still a stubborn cow!
"Are you sure, daegum?" Uk asked calmly.
"Yes! Please!" Min Jun begged, looking desperate.
"Fine. With one condition..."
"Name it!"
"Stop calling me Gisa Ahn. I'm not a knight anymore," Uk's words changed the atmosphere. From upset to bright, Min Jun scooted closer to Uk with a wide smile.
"Really? You want that? Should we drop the honorifics between us?" Min Jun asked, eyes sparkling.
"It applies only from you to me. Not from me to you. I will still call you daegum or Min Jun daegun. But you can call me anything you want." Immediately, Min Jun's smile faded.
"I'd better call you a dog then!" the prince retorted.
"If that's what you want, daegum..." Uk's answer made Min Jun even more fuming inside.
"Can you at least get mad at me for once?! Argh!" Min Jun yelled in frustration, hoping Uk would finally show some emotion.
But the bodyguard remained composed and calm.
Giving up halfway, Min Jun returned to his stool in front of the canvas and harshly dipped his brush in the palette. He started painting again, but he looked so mad that he almost snapped the brush in two. Seeing Min Jun's frustration, Uk finally grasped the message. He cursed himself silently for being insensitive.
He should think fast before it's too late!
"Call me hyung-nim then," Uk's words made Min Jun pause. He turned around slowly, watching Uk.
"Hyung-nim..." Min Jun formed a smile. Uk bowed his head slightly, and the tension in the room simmered down. With one word, everything calmed.
"I was about to call you something else... But..." suddenly, Min Jun chuckled, staring into space.
"Is it a funny name?" Uk asked innocently, making Min Jun melt a bit. He batted his eyelashes with a never-worn-out smile.
"Kind of," the prince replied shortly, letting Uk drift into his own thoughts. Uk's curiosity peaked, but reality reminded him of his place. He halted and stayed silent.
***
"Ah... I don't know... I don't know..."
A huge sigh escaped Min Jun, making Dan chuckle. The prince's cousin was visiting, and they were spending the evening by the lake next to the main room at The Red Ruby.
"You've lost your touch around him, cousin..."
"I know! I think I gave my all, but... Look at him!" Min Jun shrieked, pointing at Uk, who stood on guard as usual.
"Have you tried... You know..." Dan slid up his sleeves, exposing his fair skin with a suggestive look. Min Jun smacked his cousin's head with a hand fan without hesitation.
"I was trying to help!"
"Not helping at all!"
The two men playfully smacked each other for a while before stopping.
"I don't want to make things awkward between us. What we have now, I think it's the safest route," Min Jun said sincerely.
Dan nodded, understanding well. He had known Min Jun since they were babies, born on the same day, only three hours apart. He knew Min Jun like the back of his hand, accepting everything about him.
"You know what..." Dan put down his teacup. "If he's meant for you, he will come to you. It's just the route..."
"I know..."
"Remember, always be happy no matter what, cousin..." Dan spread his arms, offering Min Jun a big hug. The prince smiled, leaning into Dan and hugging him tightly.
He thanked Heaven for giving him Dan.