On a day so bittersweet, where the sun shines and the sky cries…

“Get the hell out of my office!”

                Tao flinched from outside the door, heart racing at an incredible rate.  Inside, he heard feet running towards the door, which flung open a few seconds later.  A beautiful, almost perfect, blonde beauty ran out with tears running down her pale cheeks.  She glanced at Tao, shook her head, and ran down the wide, long halls of his home. He shook his head; yet another princess rejected.

                He straightened his coat as he watched her run down the halls until she disappeared from turning a corner.  Tao turned around and fixed his posture, raising his hand and knocking on the ancient door thrice.  There was a grunt behind it and he opened the door, stepping inside elegantly.

                “Pardon my intrusion, your Highness,” he greeted the prince, who was running his hand through his golden hair angrily. “Are you okay?”

                The prince lifted his eyes and calmed down as soon as they rested on his butler’s worried face. He straightened up and let out a sigh. “I’m fine, Tao.  Did you finish the preparations for tonight?”

                “Yes, your Highness,” Tao answered right away.  He took a few steps forward and handed the prince a file full of papers.  The prince looked up at Tao before looking down at the file and skimming through the papers.

                “What are these for?”

                “Your father requested that you sign these, but for reasons I do not know.  They are classified as to my knowledge, so I apologize, your Highness.”

                He shook his head once again. “Don’t sweat it Tao.  It probably involved yet another truce with the other princes at the castle, or something to do for my wedding.”

                The butler bit his lip.  His heart raced at his Highness’s last word.  They’ve been the best of friends since young, and his family took him in as a butler when they found him alone, starving, and cold on the street.  Tao’s family has been murdered by a rival nation when the nations went into war fourteen years ago.

                Now they are both twenty, grown, and both having responsibilities.  Him serving his best friend as his loyal butler, and his best friend preparing to be wedded with one of the neighboring princesses so he can take heir to the throne here at the Lao Tien Yeh Empire. The thoughts played through Tao’s head and grew sad.  Mentally, he shook his head and gazed steadily down at his beloved prince.

                Who knew one-sided love hurts this much?

                “Tao,” his Highness spoke up. “How much hours before the ball?”

                “Approximately seven hours and twenty three minutes, your Highness.” He responded smartly.

                He nodded and stood up; glancing down at the papers once again, “Take me to Vultaria Kingdom please.”

                “May I presume why?”

                Prince Yi Fan had a serious expression cross his face. “I just need to talk to Prince Yixing, and that is all I’m going to say.”

                Tao nodded briskly and left the office, a frown forming on his face almost instantly.  His Highness can’t be up to any good.  No one else would know him better than Tao.  Compared to the other princes, only he and Prince Chanyeol are the delinquents.  Tao nodded and bowed formally when her Highness Veronica, Prince Kevin or Yi Fan’s younger sister.  She smiled cheerfully at him and he hurried off down the halls of the castle.  Five minutes of quickly walking the halls and down the long staircase, he caught his breath once his face met the warm sun and he went towards the car.

-

                The trip to Vultaria was quite silent, but Tao didn’t dare spike up a conversation.  Hell, he did his best to not start a conversation with Prince Kevin whatsoever.  He feared his hidden and forbidden feelings for the royal blood would slip and the prince will look at him differently.  Tao knows damn well that Prince Kevin…Yi Fan… only likes the opposite gender and it will stay that way for royal purposes.

                He can’t love someone like me anyways.

                I’m just a butler.

                Tao’s thoughts made him drive a little faster, obviously shocking the Prince riding in the back seat.  Prince Yi Fan eyed his butler curiously and went wide-eyed as he noticed the speed went from sixty-five to eighty. 

                “Tao, slow down!” The prince cried feeling panicked. “You’re going a little…”

                “Sir, I am going the speed limit and I believe it’ll be better to arrive there faster and return to the Kingdom on time for your preparations for this ball.” Tao smoothly cut him off. “This isn’t just any ball. You should know that.”

                Prince Yi Fan scowled and crossed his arms. “Did you just disobey me?”

                Tao’s heart picked up its pace but he kept his cool. “Sir, you didn’t give any order.  You yelled out of fright.”

                “I-I wasn’t scared!”

                “Your stuttering gave it away, your Highness.” Tao forced himself to not laugh.  In his review mirror, the prince was tomato red and had his eyebrows furrowed, obviously defeated with Tao’s simple and quick replies.  The prince doesn’t know how his butler can answer him so plainly and act like nothing is affecting him.

                “You know how I feel about high speed driving.”

                “I guarantee you; I am a certified and licensed driver.  I won’t crash or…drive into a forest of spiders.” Tao mused as he recalled Prince Yi Fan’s fright from the Harry Potter movie they watched together.  Tao doesn’t even know why he is scared of anything fast in general. 

                That’s right, the all-mighty Prince Wu Yi Fan of the Lao Tien Yeh Empire is afraid of speed.

                “T-That’s not necessary to bring that up, Tao.” Tao smiled when he said his name in an embarrassed manner.  It reminded him of old times when he would cling to Tao when they were on a roller coaster or in a car.

                Tao didn’t reply and continued on driving to Vultaria, where Vulcan Manor rests.  The kingdom of true military power and controls the largest ports here on Western Nation.  It’s ruled by Lord Shang and his wife, Mistress Li Xing.  They have one son, the commander of the strongest military power here on the Western Nation, which is also nicknamed EXO, which is short for EXtreme Overpowers.  Two years later, they had a daughter for the sole purpose of her to marry a prince.

                Prince Yixing and Princess Mei—

                Tao came into sudden realization.  His foot stepped on the pedal harder.

                How can I be so stupid?! He cried in his head.  The military power.  An absolute invincible army. The need for revenge on the war fourteen years ago.  Yi Fan needs all of that. 

                So he has to marry Princess Mei.

                “Why does it hurt?” Tao whispered in a barely audible voice.  He shook his head and dryly laughed.  Why did he ask himself this question?  Of course he knows why it hurts.

                He’s been in love with Prince Yi Fan for five years.

                But only in his dreams will his feelings be returned to him.

                Because Yi Fan is a prince and Zitao is only a butler. It shall stay that way, until the day the prince marries.

                -

                Tao arrived in Vultaria and he was greeted with a warm smile from Jongdae, Prince Yixing’s butler. The butler hurried over and opened the door for Prince Yi Fan, who had a perfect straight face with no emotions crossing it.  He walked past both butlers and hurried up the stone steps of the castle.  Both butlers followed after him, opening the grand double doors.  Jongdae excused himself and hurried ahead, walking at a speed that hurt Tao’s feet.

                Tao has only been inside the Manor twice, but he didn’t have a chance to admire its barbaric beauty.  Not barbaric as the decoration is floored with skulls, bones, and tattered banners, but barbaric as it is decorated with the portraits of eras of generals of Vultaria, along with glass cases displaying multiple swords and guns throughout the centuries.  It is indeed the older brother kingdom of the Lao Tien Yeh Empire, but Tao had no idea that even its walls leaked out strength and hostility.

                There were footsteps ahead of them and Tao looked up, surprised to see Jongdae accompanied with Prince Yixing, who appeared bright and confident like usual.  He bowed and stepped aside, watching the two princes greet each other informally and Prince Yixing leading Prince Yi Fan another direction.  Tao took a step to follow them, but Jongdae grabbed his arm.

                “Let’s make them tea,” Jongdae whispered. “Their conversation should remain…private.”

                Tao opened his mouth to retort, but nodded.  Jongdae grinned and let go of him, walking the opposite direction down the hall.  Their feet echoed faintly down the halls, the sound bounced back to Tao’s ears hauntingly.

                This castle is strangely scary.

                “I know Prince Kevin wants to marry her Highness,” Jongdae said to him. “And I know for a fact you don’t want to listen to that.”

                Tao’s heart broke. “You don’t know anything.”

                “I’ve known you since you were a kid, Tao.  I trained you as a butler.  I know everything about you.”

                “N-No you don’t,” Tao defended himself sharply.

                “Tao, Tao, Tao,” Jongdae shook his head, “When will you man up and just accept your feelings for your dear prince?”

                “Because butlers aren’t supposed to fall in love with royalty.  It’s a strict rule, and it’s extremely forbidden.  Once he marries the better.”

                “You’ll only be hurt, Tao.”

                “I can move on,” he finished, entering the shiny and spotless kitchen.  The kitchen staff greeted him with smiles before resuming what they have to do. “You don’t know anything, Jongdae.”

                “No, it’s you who doesn’t know anything Tao. When will you accept that?”

                “Until the day I die.” Tao muttered.

                “You’ll always be a stubborn brat,” Jongdae sighed in defeat.

                I’ll always be a stubborn bratty butler who is completely in love with his god-like featured Prince Yi Fan.  It doesn’t matter if I get hurt.  I’ve been hurting all along. 

_______________

Man, I’m having extreme writer’s block recently.  I can’t think of anything whatsoever! It’s driving me mad, but this is my end result.

                What do you think of this TAORIS fan fiction?  Can you imagine Kris wearing regal outfits and acting all prince-like?  Can you imagine being in Tao’s situation, but if you are a girl you’ll be a maid. C:

 I might make this a few chapters, actually. Depending on my mood,and depending on the comments. ^_^

                Comment, vote, rate! Thank you for all your support for TDDUP, FY, and IABY. ^-^