The King's Pet

Chapter 14: Identity Crisis

Makita's P.O.V

It had been two weeks since the stunt I pulled and everything seemed to go back to normal. After a week of talking it through with Hyunjin and thinking about it whenever I was alone I had finally made my peace with it all. And the fact that Hyunjin had a strange unspoken approval of my vengeful actions made them easier for me to handle. Considering how my entire life was centered around royals and treating them like they were the most high until I was gifted to him, it was a miracle I didn't feel horrible for even thinking about threatening Jian.

Another miracle was me becoming so comfortable sharing a bed with Hyunjin, as we'd developed the habit and I didn't want it to stop. I'd also stopped calling him "My King" out of the indoctrinated respect I had for him but rather as a nickname, but I did start using his name more often and casually. We'd also started to be more affectionate with one another, it was still new but it really felt like we'd been made for each other because of how well and quickly we each took to stepping over more boundaries. It felt that way for me especially because I would've never imagined being so close with a royal and the first time that I was, it felt so natural.

Though, everything wasn't all positive as I was occupied with thoughts of the precise nature of our relationship. In my mind, if I wasn't his pet or another kind of servant then I was left without an identity. I didn't belong to a family or to a royal but 'belonging' was the most important value I'd been raised to have as a royal pet. Even though I knew I wasn't a pet anymore and that it wasn't a bad thing to be an individual, I still had a dependency on the need for an assigned identity. I couldn't handle being my own individual as I'd been denied the chance for 25 years, it was a new and daunting task for me to undertake, and I honestly would've preferred not to have to do it.

Thankfully for me, Hyunjin was an understanding person, so when I explained myself to him he was nothing short of supportive. "Would you like me to assign an identity to you, Kita?" He asked with an incredibly flirtatious tone that I didn't quite pick up on in the moment. "Yes I would!" I responded ecstatically and he smiled softly. "Then I'll have to come up with something special for you...do you like parties Makita?" He asked next. "Not really, no." I responded, a little nervous to say no but comfortable enough to do so anyway because I knew Hyunjin wouldn't be upset with me.

"So then something intimate, I can work with that." He responded, more to himself than to me by the sight of imaginary gears turning behind his eyes. "You don't have to do anything special for me Hyunjin, you could even give me an identity now." I suggested hopefully, trying to avoid him wanting to surprise me because I wasn't very fond of surprises. Most of the surprises I'd ever gotten were horrible so naturally I developed an aversion to them.

"But I want it to be special because you deserve it, don't worry it'll be a nice surprise—I promise." He replied, holding my hand and kissing my knuckles softly. I couldn't help the blush that made its way to my cheeks and the sight of it making Hyunjin smile so sweetly only buttered me up more. "Okay, you can surprise me." I gave in with a short sigh. "Thank you Kita, you won't regret it." He promised, cupping my cheek gently and giving me a soft peck on my forehead. I blushed again, the gesture making my stomach fill with butterflies.

"Would you like a snack, the chefs and bakers have been going all day." He offered sweetly. "But we just had lunch my King." I replied with a soft chuckle, in disbelief at just how much of an appetite he'd seemingly developed since I got back. "I know but the trip really took a toll on you, did you not notice?" He questioned. "How do you mean?" I questioned right back, unaware of what he meant. "Let's go find a mirror." He suggested, getting up and offering me his hand. I took it and we went into the castle in search of a full-body mirror, which we found in one of the downstairs guest rooms.

Hyunjin put me in front of the mirror and stood behind me, reminding me of the time when he saw my scars and the first time I realised my feelings for him. "To start, your hair is longer." He started, gently moving my hair over my shoulders so I could see it. Then he put his arm side by side with mine before pointing out my darker skin tone, then he pointed out how thin I was compared to him—which made me realise how small I'd become.

When the realisation hit I gasped and turned around to look at him, finally seeing what he was hinting at and realising why he seemed so hungry since I got back. "Let's go eat Hyunjin!" I suggested eagerly as if he hadn't suggested it first. He smiled and nodded, taking my hand in his and walking me to the kitchen so we could sample all the food that had been made. "Are you gonna cut your hair too Kita?" He asked as we got to the kitchen. "Mm, I like it long like this, I look like a prince don't you think My King?" I replied.

"You do look like a prince..." He agreed before pulling me aside to prevent me from going into the kitchen. I looked at him confused but had no time to question him as he cupped my cheek and kissed me softly. I instantly kissed back, enjoying the feeling of his lips on mine. I gripped his shirt as I moved closer and closer to him instinctually and in response, he pulled me closer and rested a hand on the small of my back. He pulled away briefly, giving me a chance to catch my breath before he connected our lips again—kissing me deeper than he had initially. When we'd both gotten our fill, we pulled back and smiled at each other—heaving in unison, sharing a juvenile romantic moment.

"I really couldn't help myself, you're just...so wonderful Kita." Hyunjin expressed, caressing my cheek and continuing to gaze into my eyes. In the moment I didn't realise what the look in his eyes was, but I'd soon come to know it. "Let's go eat now." He reminded before I could respond to him and we proceeded into the kitchen to pick out what to eat.

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