Transmigrated Into The Book

THE YOUNG PRINCE AND THE KID II…

From the open window, he turned his gaze to the curls and curves designed on the walls of the wide room he was in. After that, he will lift his head to the ceiling to see a distinct style. He was doing it for almost half a minute now. To lessen his boredom, he will hum softly while swaying his legs to the rhythm. 

"Yuyu.."

He quickly jolted when he heard his name. He wanted to yawn, but it would be such a rude act. "Y-Yes, father?" he replied.

He watched the two shadows behind the thin curtains in front of him. One shadow is laying on the bed while the one sitting is his father, Master Lan.

"Come here for a minute," 

When he heard the command from his father, he immediately sprang up from his seat. It's when a smile stretches his cheeks. The boredom that had painted on his face earlier gradually disappeared.

He dashed, but carefully, towards the thin curtains. He slowly parted it with his hands, revealing a clearer view of the shadows behind it. 

Yuyu saw his father checking the pulse of the man lying on the bed. He bowed his head, "P-Pardon my intrusion, your highness," he said.

The man on the bed smiled at him, "It's okay, you don't need to greet me like that," although it was a bitter smile. Yuyu can tell that he was just trying to act tough in front of his father. He knew his condition, and he was getting worse. 

Every week he and his father will go to the royal palace for the emperor, who is the man lying on the bed right now. Bai Yinzhao, the emperor of this kingdom, has an incurable illness. It is said that it was a punishment from the red orb he took when he was still a Prince. 

A light chuckle escaped Yinzhao's lips. "He's very polite. No wonder he will become like you someday," he complimented Master Lan, who also smiled back at him, "I am just doing it as his parents, your highness" he replied.

Yes, Master Lan, Yuyu's father. They are not literally blood related because Yuyu came from the streets. His real parents died a long time ago and he couldn't remember their faces anymore. While spending his days doing bad things on the streets, he met Lan Zheng. This talented and great healer took him and fed him. It was the first time he felt he was loved again.

"Yuyu, my child," a soft voice tickled his ears while he was still in a daze. Yuyu bowed his head, "Yes, your highness" he stepped closer near the bed.

The emperor brushed his hair. "I have heard from your father that you are my son's playmate," he said, giving him pats.

Yuyu turned hot and embarrassed after hearing that. Besides, he was now a teenager, to be patted like that. Redness leaked all over his face when he remembered the word 'playmate'. The sudden silent reply from him made his father laugh. "Your highness, he was so shy to admit it... he likes the Prince so much," Master Lan said, which made the emperor chuckle too.

Those words made Yuyu more stiff. His father is teasing him again. 

"I wish I can still see them together when they grow up and become mature," Bai Yinzhao muttered under his heavy tone.

"Your highness, please don't say that..I will do everything in my power to cure your illness," Lan Zheng replied. 

This time, they ordered Yuyu to wait outside the room. They are going to talk as adults anyway, so he will again get bored. He closed the door slowly and sighed. "Why did father blab that suddenly? It's embarrassing!" he exclaimed inside his thoughts.

Yuyu brushed his face and sighed again, "Whatever, I will just find a perfect place to take a nap." he turned around and walked the quiet corridors of the palace.

When he reached the end, the sudden force that pulled him somewhere startled him. A hand connected to his wrist, dragging him along at the same pace. Yuyu quickly stopped when he recognized the face of the royalty. "Your highness?!" he exclaimed. 

As soon as they reached the grassland, the wind welcomed them. It blew the Prince's long messy hair as it delivered a sweet scent towards Yuyu's nose. He slowly lifted his head and was enchanted by the Prince's smile. The way his lips curved up became a slow motion in Yuyu's eyes.

It stunned him for a minute.

"Follow me!" The Prince said, gripping Yuyu's wrist more tightly.

They stopped in front of the tree; it was the place where they first met. Yuyu half smiled, remembering how the Prince cried that day asking him if he was scared of him. Only he realized that he was alone.

"Ehh?!! Where is he?!" he spun his head around and found no one. 'Is he playing a joke on me? Dragging me all along then leaving me?' Yuyu complained in his thoughts, crossing his arms.

"I'm here!!" 

The voice startled Yuyu; it came from above. He slowly raised his head, then his eyes widened. He saw a small fort constructed around the tree. Made with hard woods enclosed to each other and some dried leaves covering the roofs. 

"Don't just stand there, climb up!" As soon as the Prince said those words, a long ladder rolled down in front of Yuyu's eyes. He grabbed its side and helped himself to climb. 

'Is he too old to play things like this?' Yuyu said in his mind. He pulled a branch when he reached the top but unluckily, the branch was weak to support his grip. 

When his hand was about to fall, the Prince pulled him upwards. Both of their bodies fell on the hard floor of the treehouse. Gasping for air, they chuckled. 

It mesmerized Yuyu for a second as he witnessed that light chuckle from the Prince, then he quickly averted his gaze as soon as he snapped back. 'What is wrong with me?' he thought.

"This is so fun." The Prince sat up and gazed at the grassland below them. Yuyu followed him and sat up too. "Why a tree house?" he asked. 

The Prince didn't answer; he fixed his gaze on the scenery in front of his eyes. After a couple of minutes, he sighed. "I made this place for you," he said. 

"Ehh?!! Me?" Yuyu asked in astonishment.

The Prince dropped his body again, putting his arms under his head. "Yuyu, wait for me here…" he mumbled. "The palace will send me to the imperial war in a month. We won't be seeing each other for a while." he closed his eyes and fell silent.

As the leaves above them fluttered with the wind, Yuyu also felt the sting jolting inside his chest.