finally after for so many chapters, we are now getting the markhyuck content we want ;-;

squirming here and there, donghyuck whined with his brows all furrowed until he got to finally open his eyes and his body jolted up from his small bed as if he had just woken up from the nightmare he had.

a dream.

❝a dream..❞ donghyuck placed a hand on his forehead as he was catching his breath. he then let out a small laugh, ❝of course it would be a dream! there's no way he knows me, much more greeting me a happy birthday.❞

he then stayed silent for a moment from his bed.

which one was a dream though? was it when he got to meet that lion again or was it when that lion announced to him that he'll be specifically working for him only? or maybe everything of it. donghyuck nodded, he may have passed out after having a conversation with renjun.

❝yeah, that may be it.❞ he clutched on to his blanket, hoping that none of it was real.

❝what's it?❞

the pudu screeched when he heard a voice all of a sudden, eyes diverting quickly to the owner of the voice after throwing a pillow. his panic rose after realizing that it was renjun and he knew he'd be dead meat after throwing a pillow at him. he got up from the bed and took the pillow he threw only to defend himself from the violent meerkat.

❝lee donghyuck.❞

❝i didn't mean to do it! you scared me and i just had to protect myself!❞ the pudu said, not leaving space to breathe.

it was too early to get mad, and plus if it weren't for him being called to wake donghyuck up then he wouldn't be there. ❝hurry up and get ready, the king is waiting for his breakfast.❞

donghyuck sighed, he was still tired and he needed to have more time to spend with his beloved bed. ❝will do.❞

renjun nodded, leaving donghyuck inside his room. he shut the door carefully and donghyuck was left there cleaning up his bed, as if nothing new happened in his life. moments passed and he just then realized what renjun had just said to him,

make breakfast for the king?

❝the king!?❞ donghyuck dropped the pillow and zoomed out of his room hoping that renjun was still outside to entertain his question. ❝since when did i work for the king—❞

he had enough surprises for the morning. donghyuck froze there with his mouth forced to shut up once he saw renjun with jeno, making him suspicious at how they were holding hands and how close they were with each other. renjun blinked his eyes with shock before letting go of the eagle's hand, noticing how jeno's face fell when he did that, and cleared his throat.

❝didn't the king personally tell you last night?❞ renjun said, keeping his calm and also his distance from jeno.

instead of paying attention to renjun, donghyuck's eyes were on jeno. he then pointed a finger at the eagle who looked like he was in a bad mood. doesn't he always? ❝what are you doing here with my bestfriend?❞

renjun turned to jeno but the eagle didn't even bat an eye at him. ❝ah, hyuck—❞

not giving renjun a chance to explain, jeno cut him off with a stern voice. ❝the king assigned me to guard renjun as he comes to remind you your duties for today.❞ hoping that donghyuck would buy it.

which the pudu didn't. he squinted his eyes at the eagle, ❝why would you need to do that though?❞ it's not like the way here is dangerous that renjun is going through an adventure with thunders and thorns.

❝king's order.❞ jeno simply answered.

the meerkat then cut the two off with a cough, finally getting both there attention. ❝and the king demands for his breakfast right now so, hurry up.❞

not wanting to encounter more questions from donghyuck's curiosity, both the meerkat and eagle went on with their tracks. they didn't forget to keep their distance until they were finally out of donghyuck's sight.

the pudu still stood outside of his room, trying to let everything sink it. it was just as if everything happened over night. ❝wait, breakfast for the king!❞

so it wasn't a dream after all. him meeting mark last night at the kitchen instead of his mother was real, mark knowing his birth date and greeting him a happy birthday was real, and mark suddenly saying that he now works for him is also real. then could it be, jeno and renjun being together is also real?

donghyuck went back inside his room after shaking his head to clear his thoughts. ❝why me though?❞ he then gasped, ❝did he find out that it was me hiding in the kitchen?❞

there's no way that lion could have known it was him, he was hiding. mark didn't see his face.

❝is this another dream?❞ donghyuck doubted everything that just happened.

he then slapped himself to make sure but nope, it was real.

meanwhile, the couple that caused confusion in donghyuck's morning finally got to escape the pudu and were in a corner inside the castle where no one can see them.

or so they thought.

jeno looked down at the shorter who was having a frown on his face. he understood what he felt which is why he took his lover's hand to calm him down. ❝hey, are you okay?❞

❝if i said no, will something change?❞ renjun caressed his boyfriend's hand and slowly looked up only to see jeno giving him a reassuring smile.

❝yes, me turning that frown upside down.❞ the eagle then went to surprise the meerkat with kisses on the neck.

it tickled, renjun couldn't hold back his giggle. ❝stop it.❞

❝not until i put a smile on your face.❞ jeno's arms made its way to renjun's waist and pulled him closer as if social distancing didn't exist.

❝i'm smiling, see!❞ renjun laughed louder when jeno poked his side, ❝jeno!❞

the two were inside their own world that they didn't even notice a presence catching them. it was as if they were the only ones there, no one else but them. renjun opened his eyes from laughing and playfully pushed jeno away with a genuine smile on his face, jeno feeling proud as he succeeded to make his boyfriend smile.

they held hands and was about to leave and go on with their job for the day but were then frozen as ice when they saw someone familiar standing there, looking at them with eyes portraying a lot of emotions.

the two didn't expect him to be there.

❝jaemin?❞

🦁

❝okay!❞ donghyuck proudly stared at the breakfast he made for the king, although it was still hard to believe that he actually worked personally for the king. he didn't even get the chance to work for the kingdom, helping the aunts in the kitchen here he is suddenly working for the king.

❝what are you making?❞

the pudu jumped from his place in surprise when he heard a voice. the last time he remembered, he was the only one at the kitchen.

gasping, could it be mark's grandfather's spirit?

turning around with his hand clutched on his chest, donghyuck then let out a relieving sigh when it was just a familiar honeybadger. with the honeynadger looking at him with curiosity, the pudu showed an innocent smile.

❝breakfast for the king, taeil hyung.❞

taeil had his eyes widened, ❝you're making breakfast for the king?❞ he then applauded, feeling proud at where donghyuck is assigned. ❝so you're one of the lucky animals that gets to work for the king.❞

scrunching his nose, donghyuck looked away and mumbled to himself. ❝i wouldn't want to call myself lucky.❞

❝since you're serving it for the king,❞ taeil approached the pudu, getting a knife by the cabinet and a watermelon by the cart, he sliced the watermelon after washing it with clean water. ❝don't forget the watermelons, he loves it.❞

donghyuck pointed at himself, ❝i'm serving it to the king?❞

taeil nodded his head with a chuckle, finding the pudu acting clueless quite cute. ❝who else would it be?❞

❝but i thought i'll just be making it for the king.❞ donghyuck stared at the appetizing breakfast he had just made and is beautifully placed on the silver tray, ❝i have to bring it up?❞

❝you have to. he doesn't eat at the dinning area that often.❞

❝upstairs?❞ the pudu asked again.

❝upstairs.❞

❝to his room?❞

the honeybadger laughed at how surprised the pudu is. ❝want to place it outside his room?❞

leaning his face close to taeil, donghyuck had his eyes sparkled with hope and dear like ears twitched in curiosity, ❝can i?❞

getting a slice of watermelon for himself, taeil shook his head before making his way out of the kitchen. ❝no.❞

with a huff, donghyuck watched the honeybadger leave the kitchen and now he is left with the breakfast he had to serve up to the king's quarter. the pudu picked the tray up with shaky hands, wondering why he was so nervous when all he had to do was serve the king his breakfast.

of course he was nervous, it's the king. it's the same lion he had met when he hid from jeno at the kitchen. it's the same lion who teased him inside this very kitchen. it's the same lion he threatened to bite if he gets close. it's the same lion who opened up to him about not wanting being a king.

yet, here was the same lion being the king he is about to serve.

❝pudu up, hyuckie!❞ he cheered himself on, reassuring himself that nothing will go wrong before he started to walk out of the kitchen.

he tried to convince himself that hopefully, that lion forgot everything that just happened when they met. that the lion won't eat him up as breakfast when he enters that room.

the pudu's face then started to heat up. ❝don't think of such things, hyuck!❞ he shook his head frantically. ❝bad pudu.❞

admiring the scenery around him, the kingdom still didn't fail to amaze donghyuck in many ways. it wasn't his first time seeing this, considering that he had served the kingdom yesterday, but the beautiful designs, amazing choice of curtains, the well sculpted pillars, they are all so breathtaking in donghyuck's eyes.

his smile widened, he was excited to explore the kingdom after this.

carefully but walking in a fast pace, donghyuck had finally walked up the grand stairs after greeting new animals along the way. mostly were meerkats, making him wonder where renjun was. he had also saw jeno along the way but he never had the guts to greet him. although, the eagle gave him a nod and let him do his duty.

breathing in and out, donghyuck calmed himself. he carried the tray with one hand and the other turning to fist, hesitating to knock the door.

he was finally at the king's room after asking for directions where it was. he did get lost along the way but finally found it just when he was about to give up.

❝hyuck, didn't you say you were going to pudu up?❞ donghyuck nodded at the encouragement for himself before knocking the door.

his heart was beating fast while waiting for a voice.

"who's there?"

and just when he did, he could feel his legs all jelly. ❝b-breakfast, your highness.❞

there were no replies, making donghyuck panic as he did not know what to do.

❝should i leave it outside?❞ he hoped the king would say yes. he wished leaving the breakfast outside was an option.

but no,

"come in."

he had to go inside and meet the lion.

turning the knob open, donghyuck pushed the door slowly and the plan he had made for the last minute was for his back to face the king. he didn't want to see him, neither did he want the king to see him. it was such a stupid plan, just discovering how messy the king's room is. he almost bumped into books down the floor as he was focused on his back faced at the lion.

the king then had his brow raised at the odd action, ❝what are you doing?❞

❝w-where do i place your breakfast y-your highness?❞ donghyuck quickly said, not answering the king's question.

❝by the table over there, donghyuck.❞

hearing his name rolling out from the lion's tongue felt so perfect. but no, donghyuck shook his head and mentally slapped his face, he shouldn't get distracted.

placing the tray down the table, which he guessed was where the king pointed out since he didn't once turn back to see, donghyuck excused himself and started to walk away.

not until the lion stopped him.

❝donghyuck.❞

freezing from his spot, and still having his back faced at the king, donghyuck forced the words out of his mouth. ❝yes, your highness?❞

❝why are you turning away from me?❞ the lion, who's sitting down by the bed like the king he is with a smirk, had fun teasing the pudu. ❝turn around and face me.❞

he didn't want to but it was the king's order. he didn't want to cause any trouble so, he did. the pudu turned around and faced the lion but his head was lowered down and his eyes were at the clothes scattered down the floor.

❝donghyuck.❞

❝y-yes?❞

❝look at me.❞

with eyes closed, donghyuck slowly raised his head. realizing that the silence went for too long, the pudu opened his eyes only to see the lion in all his glory.

the lion smirked at how red the pudu's cheeks where turning, his deer like ears drooping as if it could reach his cheeks to cover up the blush. ❝donghyuck?❞

if he had one favor, he'd like for the lion to stop calling him by his name. ❝what is it, your highness?❞

❝don't forget to bring my lunch and dinner here later.❞ he said with a sly smile.

that look of his almost made donghyuck click his tongue. but lucky for him, an inner part of the pudu reminded himself that it is the king he is talking to. ❝will do, your highness.❞

the pudu then took a bow, thinking that there was nothing more left to say.

but he was once again stopped by the king.

❝donghyuck.❞

❝what?!❞ that came out more with a tone. clenching his fists, donghyuck turned to face the king with a smile. ❝your highness?❞

he looked annoyed, and that was what mark was aiming for. ❝nothing.❞

with the lion standing up from his bed and walking towards his breakfast, donghyuck gritted his teeth and made punching gestures behind his back. he then let out a sigh before walking away, finally reaching the door and was about to open it until the lion wanted to tease him again.

❝donghyuck?❞

he swore to god— ❝may. i. help. you. oh. great. king. of. pride. lands.❞

the lion let out a chuckle from amusement. ❝i just love calling your name.❞

and that was all it took for donghyuck to malfunction. he wasn't thinking straight as of the moment and he just stood there, not taking the chance to leave the room.

noticing that, the lion moved away from his breakfast and decided to approach the pudu that stood there.

❝oh, and lee donghyuck?❞

the pudu's ears twitched up along with his tiny tail when he realized that the lion was already now standing behind him. he didn't know what to do but he had two options, to leave or to turn around and face the lion. but he had to choose the third one and that is to stand there and face the door.

mark lowered his head and leaned closer for the pudu to hear his whisper. ❝didn't i tell you to call me by my name?❞

the next thing mark could process was donghyuck running out of the room with the door slammed on his face.

⚊ t b c ⚊