#skz royal au | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sparklingchan · 22 days

Text

Serendipity || Seo Changbin (Stray Kids)

Pairing: Reader(fem.) X Changbin

Word Count: 5.4k+

Warnings: Suggestive, mentions of pregnancy (the reader is not pregnant) , mentions of poison, Changbin is sweeter than sugar. Set in the Joseon Era.

Genre: Royal AU, Arranged marriage AU, fluff with very slight angst.

Description: The King of Joseon had chosen you as his queen. But there are those that wish for this union to fail. Will your love be enough to overcome the competitiveness of the Palace?

A/N: Hello everyone! Back with another installation of the SKZ Royal AU. I am genuinely in love with this one ngl. King Changbin is a rizzler y'all. Hope you guys have fun reading this <3

Do check out the other fics in the skz royal series. (The stories are not interrelated)

Here's the link to the masterlist.

Being a woman in this country is not an easy task. Especially when one is a candidate for the position of the country's Queen.

You'd dreamt of this for years, the idea sewn into every thought by your father even since you were child. With time, you'd welcomed the thought without a complaint.

"My lady, the Royal messenger is here." Somi informs you, and your nervousness just goes up by a thousand.

Did you manage to become the Queen and make your father proud? Or did you get disqualified and were now just a daughter of some minister and free to marry any other commoner like yourself?

You run down the hallway and enter the pavillion in front of your house, the colorful banners of the Royal entourage shine under the bright sun.

You straighten your robes and kneel down, head almost touching the ground, as a mark of respect for the King's verdict.

The chief Eunuch opens up the scroll in his hands.

"Please find enclosed the Royal Edict from the King's Court:

I, Seo Changbin, the King of Joseon, have chosen Miss y/n of House Kim as my wife and, by extension, the Queen of our beloved country. I have consulted the three High State Councilors and my mother- the Queen Dowager about the same and we have all unanimously agreed that she would be the best choice for the country as well as the Royal family, owing it all to her wits, beauty and manners.

Congratulations to Miss y/n and her family.

The Royal family would also like to extend an invitation to the bride-to-be to shift into the Detached Palace at the earliest as part of the customary pre wedding ritual. "

It feels as if someone had punched out the air from your lungs, you couldn't speak nor stand, while your parents and brother continuously thanked the Royal Eunuch, accepting all the gifts sent by the Palace for you.

But you couldn't move. You just stayed there, frozen. For life as you had known it has come to an end.

And thereafter begins a new, Royal chapter of your life.

"I'm going to miss you, my child."

The days since the Edict pass by in a heartbeat. All the members of your family were busy with packing your belongings while you were busy with mentally preparing yourself to leave your family and house behind forever.

Yes, you'd always wanted to be a Queen. Yes, you'd spent years getting ready for this role. Yet when the time finally comes, it hurts you to think about leaving behind twenty three years of your life.

"I'm going to miss you too, mother." On hearing your words, your mother cries harder.

But as usual, your father shows no emotion. His face is calm.

"Remember, y/n, there are no friends in the Palace other than your husband. You cannot confide in anyone but him. The other concubines will do anything to gain his favor, but you shall always be a step ahead. Be vigilant and loyal. You will make a great Queen." He says. Like the strategist he'd always been.

"Yes, father." You reply, swallowing the lump in your throat.

Your mother clinges to your arm.

"We will try and visit you whenever we can. I'm sure his Majesty will allow."

"Yes, of course. You can visit me anytime. The Palace is only a few hours from here."

"Oh, my child! How will I ever live without you!" Another sob tears out from your mother's throat. You hug her with all the love and care you could muster up in that moment.

Your father walks out of the room, hands behind his back and face twisted into a frown.

The Detached Palace is to be a temporary residence for the bride-to-be. For over the next thirty days, you would be receiving lessons on various subjects like history, Royal Etiquette, sewing, cooking and most importantly- lessons on intimacy. The last lesson is considered most important, according to Somi, since it allows you to birth as many healthy heirs as possible.

After helping you dress up for the night and setting up your bed, your maids take your leave for the night, only Somi remaining by your side.

"Do you think I'll see the King tomorrow? It's queer but I'd like to know what my future husband looks like, at least."

Somi sighs, "I don't think it's allowed, my lady. I believe you can only see his Majesty on your wedding day. A month from now."

You're oddly disappointed. You had dreamt so many nights of seeing the King, holding his hand, being by his side, yet the King in those dreams often never had a face.

Was it wrong to yearn to look at your future husband's face? Just once?

A subtle knock on your door startles the both of you.

"Yes?"

"My lady, the King is here to see you." Your handmaid almost whispers the words through the door.

With unparalleled urgency, Somi helps you straighten your clothes and rushes off towards the door.

"Your majesty." The maids and Somi greet him with the customary bow, while you purse your lips in a line, head hanging in a subtle bow.

Your heart hammers against your chest. It's so loud, you're sure even the King could hear it.

"Please give us some privacy." The King commands.

And you heart beats faster on hearing his voice for the first time. Gentle, yet authoritative, just like you'd dreamt.

When Somi closes the door behind her, you almost regret wishing to see your future husband. The proximity makes you nervous and you could only hope you'd not faint in front of him.

"My lady, you may rise."

You'd almost forgotten you were still bowing to him. You mentally slap yourself.

"Y-yes, your majesty. " your voice comes out as an embarrassing squeak, your eyes still on the ground.

You'd prayed for this moment for years, y/n. Why couldn't you just meet his eyes?

As if sensing your inner conflict, the King takes two long strides towards you and hooks his index finger under your chin, sending a chill down your body.

"My lady, please look at me."

And you do.

And he's like everything you'd ever wished for.

Perfect, like a beautifully crafted sculpture.

His soft brown locks, his rosy lips, the subtle mischief in his eyes. Everything is perfect.

"Y-yes, your majesty. Sorry." You mumble.

The king smiles, rubbing circles into your cheeks.

"You may call me Changbin when we're alone."

You nod.

"I just came to ask if you're finding your new residence comfortable. We both shall be busy with lessons tomorrow onwards so I figured tonight would be a good time to visit my bride."

His bride? His bride?

Your legs feel weak.

"I'm finding it extremely comfortable, your majesty. Thank you for your hospitality. "

Changbin let's out a low chuckle, leaning towards you. His lips hover inches above yours. And when he speaks, you feel hot air on your lips, "I told you, y/n. Call me Changbin."

You frantically nod.

"Good. Better be careful next time, my bride."

When you wake up the next morning, you're sure you'd dreamt everything that happened last night.

But apparently not.

"The King is a dashing young man." Somi teases as she lathers a concoction of herbs into your hair. "You're lucky, my lady. He seems to be a gentleman."

But you are too caught up in your thoughts to reply to her.

Did the king of Joseon really come all the way to the Detached Palace to see you? What if he's disappointed with how you had reacted? But he shouldn't blame you at all.

You had not been expecting anyone yesterday night, especially not him. But he did come to you. And he touched your chin. If you focus hard enough, you could feel his touch lingering in the area.

"My lady?" Somi clicks her fingers in front of your eyes, "Come back to earth. We have to get you ready for the classes today."

Blushing, you reply, "What classes do I have today?"

You had three classes today: Palace etiquette, literature and what Somi insists most important: lessons on reproduction.

While Palace etiquette mostly includes lesson on how to behave with Royal elders, ministers, maids, the King, literature includes important pieces of literature that are important for a woman.

And lastly, the most dreaded time arrived.

The reproduction lessons.

The tutor shows you all sorts of obnoxious hand movements and some drawings of couples in intimate positions. You feel uncomfortable from the beginning till the end.

A woman at least five decades older than you is teaching you about intimacy? Very awkward, to say the least.

But you heave a sigh of relief when the classes end for the day and you make your way to your room in the Detached palace.

"It's just the first day, Somi and I'm already tired to the bone." You say, kicking your shoes off.

"Well, it's going to be a lifetime of time this now, my lady. And you best be prepared for it."

You reply Somi with silence. But her words make you wonder. If this palace life would ever be less tiring someday? Would it even be worth it?

Perhaps not.

But King Changbin 's face flashes in front of your eyes; his sparkling eyes, mischievous grin, his feather like touch- maybe he is what will make everything worth it.

That night, after your maids get your bed ready while Somi is combing your hair, a familiar announcement echoes through the corridors of the Detached Palace.

"My lady, the King is here to see you."

His smiling face peeps through the doors as your maids hurry out of the room. He wears blue silk robes, and you feel weaker in his presence than you did yesterday.

"Did you miss me, y/n?"

And thus begins a month of secret nightly visits by the King of Joseon to the Detached Palace.

Everyday, you wake up looking forward to the time when King Changbin would come knocking at your doors, always up to some jesting.

Sometimes, he brings you fruits you'd mentioned you liked or he tells you stories from his childhood. At other times, he tells you about that one teacher he will hate till the end of time.

But most times, he spends his time listening to you talk- about everything and everyone, about the skies and gods, about ghosts and afterlife, about favourite foods and literature. After you'd overcome the initial shyness, opening upto Changbin was as easy as breathing, almost natural. Of course, you were still nervous around him, but it's a feeling you'd come to like.

Is this what the writers and poets describe as 'butterflies'?

"Do you think I'll make a good Queen?" You ask him one night. He sits in front you on a cushion, across the room, a position you told him is appropriate for two unwed people (although he did not agree to it initially).

If your nightly shenanigans were to be ever discovered by anyone, you would not want to be found in close proximity to each other even though you were betrothed to each other. He's breaking Palace rules everyday as it is.

He hums, "Of course! I think you'll make a great Queen. You're so good at your lessons already."

"That does not guarantee anything. I might not be good at taking the responsibilities."

"Do you trust my judgment, y/n? I think you'll make a great Queen. And even if you are overwhelmed, I shall always be here."

That night he leaves earlier than he usually does, owing to the fact that tomorrow is the day where his concubines are to be welcomed into the palace. Five of them.

The thought leaves you feeling bitter and dejected, but you make sure to not make those feelings obvious. This is a rule for Kings, to take as many concubines as possible to ensure the continuation of the blood line.

"Don't worry, my lady. Your rank in the palace is above these petty concubines. They will not mess with you." Somi comforts your thoughts the next day.

"But what if Changbin favors them more?"

Somi does not reply to that question.

On your 18th birthday, your father had promised to you that he would make you the Queen of this country. He kept his promise because here you are, after five years, getting dressed to be married to the most powerful man in the country.

Your father always insisted that powerful men do not love but Changbin's sparkling eyes always contradicted everything your father had taught. Nevertheless, you know the competitiveness among the concubines for the King's affection is mad. More often than not, even the Queen gets involved in petty fights.

But you try to remove all thoughts of your father and the concubines today. Because today, you are to be married to King Changbin. From today, your name will be written in the historical logs of the Royal family. From today, a new life begins.

"Are you okay, my lady?" Somi asks, "You look worried."

"I'm fine. Just hope the ceremony goes well."

The ceremony does go well and in all honesty, you were not worried about the ceremony itself. You were worried about the aftermath.

The maids guide you to your new palace, and get you dressed in white robes for the wedding night. The night when you will finally meet Changbin as his wife. The butterflies swim around in your belly.

The bed is decorated with flower petals and a few candles are lit. Everything is perfect.

"The King is here." One of your ladies in waiting announce and you get up to greet your husband.

The maids leave the room as the doors slide open and Changbin steps in, also dressed in white robes. He looks dashing, but his signature grin is nowhere to be found.

When the doors close behind him, he walks past you to the bed, the scent of liquor evident in his breath.

"Have you been drinking, your majesty?" You ask him, worried by his odd behavior.

What was wrong with him? Why wouldn't he even bother to meet your eyes?

"Changbin." He slurs, wrapping the blankets around him, "Call me Changbin."

He turns away from you and is snoring away in no time.

The butterflies in your stomach flutter around before dropping dead.

You did not sleep that night. Even though you were sleeping next to the man you love, you felt lonelier than ever.

Many times during the night, you consider walking out of the bed chamber to the servants quarter so you could talk to Somi. But you couldn't do that. Because you were now the Queen of this country and every single step you take will have its repercussions.

When morning comes, Changbin wakes up in a haste and greets you with a subtle nod and walks out of the chamber in long strides.

You well the tears back. It's your first day as Queen and hadn't he always promised to be there when you were overwhelmed? Had he lied? Or was it Changbin's doppelganger who visited you every night in the Detached palace?

Somi comes in a few minutes later with an excited smile on her face.

When she does your hair for the day, she asks, "So, how was the wedding night?"

You want to answer her truthfully - how cold Changbin had been, how he had not even looked at you let alone touch you, how you think he had changed almost overnight. But you see the prying eyes of the other palace maids and swallow your sadness.

"It was perfect. Like everything I'd ever hoped for."

"He was gentle, I hope." She says through a grin, but it feels like someone pouring alcohol on an open wound.

"Yes. He was."

As part of royal customs, the new bride is supposed to visit the senior most female member of the family and greet her. In your case, the member happens to King Changbin's mother.

Somi dresses you in the most exquisite silks and adorns your hair with the most precious flower but you feel nothing at all when everyone compliments you on the way out of your new Queen's palace.

Your mother in law's palace is a little far from the Queen's palace yet it is as beautiful as any other palace. From inside as well as outside.

"Greetings, your majesty. It is nice to meet you." You bow in front of the Queen Dowager.

The woman-not more than sixty years of age- looks at you with a gentle smile.

"Come in, y/n. Please be at ease."

You're seated in front of her on a cushion while the Queen Dowager's maids serve you breakfast.

"I hope your first day here goes well, my child. Our family is thrilled to have you." She says.

"The pleasure is all mine, your majesty. I am honored to be a part of this family." You say.

In the back of your mind, you wonder if Changbin is thrilled to have you or not. Probably not.

The mere thought of yesterday's rejection stings.

"Y/n, truth be told, my son is a quite a troubled man. His father was murdered in front of his eyes. He was made the king when he was only 16 years old. It's been 7 years since then, but the burden only gets worse. I hope you, as a Queen and as his wife, can help him lessen these burdens. Can you do that?" The Queen Dowager asks again, sipping tea from a small cup.

"I will do everything I can to help him." If only he'd let you.

"Good, good. I'm glad. And one more thing, y/n, you know as Queen one of your primary duties is to produce an heir for Changbin's throne. I hope you're working on that, yes?"

Heat reaches your cheeks. If only the poor woman knew what her dear son had done last night. If his behavior continues, perhaps it will be long before the Queen Dowager sees the face of a royal grandchild.

"We are trying, your majesty. We will not disappoint you." You reply, sipping tea from your own cup.

"Great! I shall send all types of herbs and tonics to help you conceive as fast as possible. I shall also draw up a chart after consulting the astrologer..." the Queen Dowager's voice fades into the background as your mind drifts off to the nights in the Detached palace, when Changbin would come and spend all his free time with you, against the rules of the palace. At that time, you had been sure that producing an heir would be a beautiful process, not a chore.

But Changbin does not even treat the thought like a chore.

Did he not love you? Did his Royal duties burden him too much?

When you leave the Queen Dowager's palace, you walk past The King's palace. It is as beautiful and majestic as they say. But you wonder if you'll ever be able to set foot in the same.

As if on cue, you see Concubine Jung walking out of the King's palace, her maids behind her. The butterflies in your stomach burn with jealousy.

She has a smirk on her face when she sees you.

"Eun, did you know there's a rumor around the palace that the King refused to sleep with the Queen last night? Sad, isn't it?" Concubine Jung says.

One of her maids giggle and nod, "Of course! How could the Queen even live with this shame?"

You cry yourself to sleep that night, while Somi does everything in her abilities to soothe you.

Needless to say, nothing worked.

"My lady, wake up. The King has invited you to breakfast with him." Somi informs one morning, six months after your wedding.

"Tell him I have a bad stomach bug. I cannot go."

You'd be found dead before sharing a meal with him and that obnoxious Concubine Jung. You'd shared enough meals with them already.

The past months, the King had not visited you even once but often you'd see him walking the gardens with Concubine Jung at his side.

After the first few weeks, you had no tears left to shed anymore so when the rumor came in last month that Concubine Jung might be pregnant, your eyes do not water no matter how much you force yourself to cry.

"I do not wish to congratulate them." You say, true and plain.

"My lady, he's invited only you. Not anyone else."

So you agree. As a last attempt to make your marriage work, even if it's just for your own sake.

Somi dresses you in green robes- The King's favorite. You quickly make your way to his palace, as if someone else would take your place if you didn't hurry. It's sad your thoughts had turned so negative in just half a year in the palace.

Your father had told you the King would take in many lovers during his lifetime, and that being Queen is about having power, not being loved.

But you think he didn't warn you enough. He didn't warn you how lonely it would be to sleep on the cold bed every night, how painful it would be to see the King smile at someone else.

Even if you did wish for a child, how could you produce you a child without Changbin?

"Good morning, your majesty." You say to him when you enter his bed chamber. It smells like cinnamon, a smell he'd often carry with himself back when he used to visit you at the Detached palace. Back when you were sure the king had been in love with you.

"Hello, my Queen. Please have a seat."

The butterflies dance around for a split second.

"Did you sleep well last night?" He asks, taking a seat in front of you.

"Yes." Lies. "Thank you for inviting me over."

When the maids leave the both of you alone, his demeanor changes.

"Actually, y/n, I had something to talk to you about." He says, casually, as if he hadn't been hurting you everyday for the past few months.

"What is it?" You ask.

He sighs, "It's mother. Ever since that rumor of Concubine Jung being pregnant spread. She wants the first grandchild to be of the Queen."

His words do not faze you, "How can I help you, Changbin?"

He frowns. Since when had your tone become this melancholic?

"Um, so if I have your consent, I'd like to try for a child tomorrow night. We'll see how that goes, yeah?"

"Okay. I will be honored." You say.

You finish up the food quickly and almost slide the doors open when he grabs your arm from behind.

"Y/n, what is it? Did something happen? Are your parents well?"

"My parents are well enough, thank you for asking." You say, keeping your eyes on the ground.

"Then? What happened? Is it Concubine Jung? Really, you did not have to be jealous of her. She's not pregnant. I can assure you of that. I have not consummated my marriage with any one of the concubines."

His words seem to have an effect on you. Your heart blossoms with hope but you keep your face and voice neutral.

"I am not jealous, Changbin. If one of the concubines get pregnant, I shall wish you both well."

You force your arm out of his grip and walk out the palace, not looking back once.

Changbin's stares at your leaving figure, now worried beyond relief that he might have broken the one person he cared for the most by his pursuits of a greater good.

While the past few months for you had been filled with loneliness, for Changbin it was almost the same-if not worse.

The first night of your marriage was filled with as many butterflies for him, as it was for you.

He had fallen in love with you and he wasn't afraid to show the world how much you meant to him. He wanted to hold you, kiss you, make love to you. And he had all plans to do that on the first night.

But that was until he had overheard a secret conversation between Concubine Jung and her father- Minister Jung.

For all he knew, Minister Jung had always wanted his daughter to be the Queen but being the dim-wit that she was, Concubine Jung could not even get through the first stage.

"Father, it's been two days since I'd been in the palace and that man has not visited me once. He had not even asked for my name the day of the welcoming. What kind of man is he? And you say I am to be Queen!"

"Hush, child. In this palace, even the walls are listening. Be careful. And as far as the position of Queen is concerned, you need not worry. If the King does bed the Queen tonight and she get pregnant, we shall make sure her pregnancy terminates before maturity. I have connections with all sorts of medicine vendors in the country, be assured, she shall never see the face of a child. After we weaken the Queen, we can take her throne as easily!"

Changbin had wanted to laugh at the man's foolish plans but deep down, he was worried as well. For you.

Which is why he pushed you away for so long and kept Concubine Jung close. While she tried everything in her power to seduce him, he refused her under the pretense of keeping an oath of abstinence for a year.

Every time she tried to even hold his hand, Changbin thought of you; your innocent eyes, your talks, your wit, your hands, your beautiful hair. No woman could make him feel like you do.

Changbin's secret informants had confirmed that Minister Jung had not one but two houses full of gold and cash he'd collected as illegal taxes from the local people. He'd also sometimes force husbands to send their wives to him in exchange for money. Even the thought nauseated Changbin.

Every time Concubine Jung visited, he made sure to collect some sort of evidence through her. He even visited her every night and while she snored away, he stole some of her gold jewlery and clothes to get them checked as evidence of the illegal taxes her father had been collecting.

And sure enough, after a few months of spying on her and her father, Changbin had gathered enough evidence by now to expose both of them at the court.

But he realised quickly that Minister Jung had a few tricks up his sleeves as well. The rumor of his daughter's pregnancy would make it difficult for Changbin to expose him easily, and so Changbin waited every night that the rumors would die down so he could run to the Queen's Palace and hug you with all his might. You were not safe unless the father and daughter were deposed.

And for some selfish reasons, Changbin had hoped you'd understand the reason behind his distance. But no woman could find a logical reason behind her lover being absent and it was horribly wrong for him to expect you to do the same.

"Are you stupid?" His friend, the eccentric dancer Minho had asked him.

Changbin had told him how coldly you'd behaved this afternoon when he'd asked you if you wished to try for a child. Most women would giggle and blush. But you were like a statue.

"You push her away for months and make her feel lonely and not loved and what not and you have the audacity to ask her that?"

"Well, yes. Mother had been pressuring me for a child and obviously, even with the pressure, I would never do anything that y/n would not have wanted but I thought it would be a great way to reconnect with her. Even if it didn't end in child making or whatever."

Minho let's out a frustrated groan, "You have to learn so much, Bin. But let's start with this- be honest with her. She's your wife and you ought to tell her everything. Give answers to all her questions and hold her hand if she let's you. Small steps first, a child can wait."

Changbin nods, " Okay, should I go to her right now?"

"Yes, you idiot!" Minho says, earning a slap on the arm from The King of Joseon.

He should be glad he's not being beheaded for calling the King an idiot.

You're almost done getting ready for bed when the lady in waiting makes an unexpected announcement .

"My lady, the King is here to see you."

Your heart leaps and the butterflies come alive again only to die down once you realise why he might be there. For a child. Isn't that why he's here? Isn't that why people get married in the first place?

"Y/n." He sighs when he enters the room, almost out of relief. He purses his lips.

"Is there anything I could help you with?" You ask.

Oh, how badly he'd hurt you. He could see the hurt in your eyes, in your voice, in your mannerisms.

"Y/n, I'm sorry. I really am. I know I have caused you pain and I cannot imagine how lonely it must have been. But I hope you know that I really do love you and only you."

"Then why the distance? Why visit Concubine Jung every night?" You ask, hands on your hips.

The tears that had left you threatened to return again.

And he tells you everything. From the conversation he overheard to how insistently Concubine Jung asked him for a child to how much solid proof he'd collected over the months and how he'd sent those evidences to the Minister of Security, who in turn ensured that by tomorrow the Jungs will out of the palace and be imprisoned for life.

It all makes sense to you now, of course it does. Yet you feel guilty. He'd been trying to protect you, all this while.

"I'm sorry, Changbin. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I only-"

"Don't apologize, y/n. It's me that should apologize. I should have somehow tried to contact you and tell you about everything. I'm-"

"No, no, Please. Don't. You only tried to protect me and-"

"No, y/n, it's all my fault, please-"

Somi overhears the entire conversation through the door, her mind finally relaxing after the misunderstanding had been solved between you and the King. She could no longer stand you being this sad. And she somehow knew King Changbin had his own reasons for his behavior.

She hears soft sounds of kissing through the door and takes it as a sign to move away from the door, and join the other maids waiting outside the palace door. She smiles to herself.

The butterflies burn with passion.

"I do not wish for a child this early. I want to be here like this with you for a while, just y/n and Changbin and maybe two or three years later, we could try for a child. What do you think?"

When he kissed you initially, you half expected this to end up in the bed. But it did. And you're glad it did.

The butterflies bloom more than ever.

You're wrapped in his arms, tightly. The nakedness no longer bothering the either of you.

"I agree. I want to be this close to you every night, not as a Queen or the mother of your child. But as y/n. As your wife."

Changbin draws his face closer to you, pecking you on the lips, "And so you shall, my love."

And so you shall.

89 notes · View notes

starlostseungmin · 2 years

Text

awake the red rose ─── felix.

masterlist.

pairing — vampire prince!felix x elite!fem reader (with she/her pronouns) ft. txt’s yeonjun & xdinary heroes’s gunil.

genre — vampire au, friends to ?? trope, forbidden love-ish, arranged marriage, romance and angst

warnings — profanity, character deaths, physical abuse (not from felix dw), alcohol consumption, sharp objects, threats, trade, blood, murder, biting, kissing, not proofread. lmk if i missed something

word count — 18k +

You died.

They thought it was the end.

You live.

And it was only the beginning.

They always paint the roses red.

You despise it.

Thunder and lightning roared in the black sky as you lay inside the coffin. Hands together above your stomach with your favorite flowers and eyes closed in a deep slumber for eternity. The Prince stood a few meters away from the mourning family, his face filled with no evidence of sadness but loathe and displeasure. Hints of rain fell, and water droplets made wet circles on your red gown. They tossed red roses at you as the fire from the candles stopped burning. Lanterns were lit instead.

Your Mother was weeping with a white handkerchief to wipe her tears off as his husband remained still, staring at your lifeless body and the lord you married. They were all in despair as the rain poured harder. The priest said his condolences as the other relatives left the tomb yet seeing the Prince was more than a shock. Whispers and murmurs had his eyes followed their voices as his butler nudged him with an umbrella above his head. Your parents turned around and the lord一ashamed and scared.

“Your Highness, we should get back now,” His butler said. Your parents bowed to pay respect as the lord executed a nod. The Prince glared at him.

“It must be a heavy burden to come一”

“Leave us,” The Prince ordered, cutting your Mother’s sentence as his butler frowned in response. Your parents hesitated, even the lord. “Leave me and Y/n alone,” He ordered again.

“As you wish,” Your Father stated, gesturing the other two to follow him, yet the lord didn’t leave the Prince’s gaze.

“Your Highness the rain will pour harder anytime soon,” His butler insisted as the Prince sighed in disbelief.

“I said, leave us!” His voice was stern, and the butler immediately obliged, returning to the carriage. “Don’t wait for me and get back to the palace,”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” The butler bowed and left, even the funeral directors left the coffin open for him to see you one last time.

His footsteps became heavy each time he took a closer approach to the black coffin—one that it feels like a silver dagger pierced his chest. The sounds of grass being stepped on were heard as the rain made them fresh and soaked bit by bit. The Prince closed his eyes, forcedly shut in rage. He despised what happened to you. A harsh reality that strikes the wonder of your life and with all the pain and tears, he should have done something to save you. But he didn’t—devoured by heartbreak and anger, being forbidden to move and left to watch you die, his heart darkened.

The flowers slid away from your hands as he held them tight. Cold as ice, fragile as glass, weak as a bowing flower—his eyes never left yours. He caressed your cheek, feeling the peace of your slumber. Even in death, you are still beautiful in his eyes, but he fears what he will become when you are gone. He folded his knuckles as the veins came to hold tightly yet softened by the pain in his heart. If only he did something to protect you—only if he stepped out of the palace to talk, he never did. And it was too late, his precious red rose, gone in the hands of the man he was jealous of. His lips met your forehead—you will suffer no more but he knew someone must pay the price.

“I’ll make them regret this,” He said quietly as a tear fell from his eyes, but from sorrow and misery—his gaze turned dark, filled with hatred and regret.

The rain stopped unexpectedly as the clouds opened like curtains to reveal the big full moon directing its light on you. It was fascinating, bloody, and dark, the Prince looked up to the sky, claiming his natural form. The time he’s been waiting for, calling for taking what’s his and making them pay for what they have done to you. It was quiet and clear, the cold breeze of the wind gushing to the sadness. His brown eyes turned blood red, fangs visible on his teeth—the Prince needed to save you.

A few months earlier,...

It was a normal day in the kingdom of Felly, rays of golden sunshine from dawn down to the sunset, rain mists softly—enough to nourish the grounds. A kingdom that is blessed with good resources, but cursed under the blood moon. Not too many folks talk about it in town as the royal family didn’t do any harm to the people. You were told stories before, and rumors around the kingdom that the Queen and a woman from the town gave birth on the same day in the same year. Two babies were born under a bright blood moon. One was born with immortality and one was born with a hint of royal blood.

Many believed that the royal family was cursed—they ruled the kingdom for centuries now. They were given immortality in the form of blood-sucking creatures. Others said they were blessed with that possession to maintain the goodness of their kingdom, to never make an outsider be King or Queen. To remain the order and pristine house of rules. Just like a Prince must marry a Princess, a Princess must marry a Prince. Royals are only for royals. You didn’t understand politics, you didn’t care but being a daughter of the Governor, you needed to learn them. But vampires? You were interested in that fiction.

Or so you thought, it was just fiction.

Afternoons were always spent in the garden, under the shade of an oak tree—reading fairy tales. Hardcovers with overwhelming pages amuse your entertainment. It was good for you to read, but it should be about politics and not fictitious love stories and adventures. An escape from a society filled with pressure and high standards. You never wanted other people to decide on what is going to happen in your life. But it always happens. Even if you were just reading a book. Your Mother’s head of maids is the one who brings books from the local library—some came from the towns nearby. She always tells you different stories that drown you in a world of fantasy and even make you believe in magic. But your parents tell you otherwise.

Sounds of women gushed around the mansion and the butlers were hurrying to assist the visitors. The Governor is always busy almost every afternoon as your Mother tries to make everything in order inside the household. You were told to get out of the way and study. But it seems like it doesn’t always have to be their decision to rule your life, do this and do that, study this and study that一you love art, you love reading, you love learning, but not politics. You get tired of it whenever your tutor from the other kingdom suffices. He’d told you everything but doesn’t meet your standards of the subject.

You shake your head in disappointment, you’ve been spacing out again. A great distraction from an exciting fighting scene in the middle of the ocean of two pirate ships. It was good to immerse yourself in books, nothing could beat traveling in your imagination and the author’s train of thoughts. You flipped the page to read the next chapter, wondering what happened next. It was a nice afternoon anyway, gentle heat and sunlight, the cool wind swaying with the leaves as the maids hurry for tea. It was a busy afternoon after all.

“Ah, welcome, Your Highness,” Your Father greeted the Great King and the Prince, Felid. “Thank you for visiting us in this old Chateau,” He bowed to the two with the most respect, a hand on his belly and the other one behind his back.

“Pleasure is all mine,” The King said, reaching out his hand for a shake. “I think we have a business to discuss, Governor,” The King resumed with a smile on his face.

“I believe there is,” Your Father said. “Let’s go to my office,”

“Is Y/n here?” The Prince suddenly interrupted before they could reach the stairs.

“I presume that she is,” He said. This perked the ears of the Prince, one that delighted with joy and an excited smile on his face.

“Can I see her, Father?” The Prince asked as the King chuckled with a nod.

“Well, yes, of course, Your Highness,” Your Father said with pleasure and honor. “She’s in the garden reading her old fairy tales,” He added, which made the Prince’s excitement grow.

“Why, a bookworm, that’s fascinating,” The King said, filled with amusement in the tone.

“I always tell her to read about diplomatic relations and governance but she chose a very distinguished fiction from an author’s imagination,” Your Father sighed, rubbing his temples.

“I believe it’s better than reality,” The Prince smirked. “Now then, if you’ll excuse me,”

Your Father only sighed in response, the Prince is your best friend after all and it was a privilege in the family to have the royals be a family friend. The King and the Governor had left for a meeting as your Mother sent orders to the maids while you were alone, reading in the garden一facing a horizon that leads to the sun setting down. An open field, enough to run around and play. The Prince directed his footsteps towards the oak tree, the hem of your dress was visible enough for him to notice. A color that resembles the sky and the white shade of the clouds, a mixture of the two that produces a relaxing tone for the eyes. He walked closer as he hides behind the tree, you were too indulged with the story to sense his presence. His eyes peek toward the words printed in the formal font of your book and read a few sentences before a smile crept on his lips. The Prince climbed up the tree and sat on a branch, enough to support his weight, and then;

“Hey, Y/n!!!” He beamed which made you squeal in shock. But the Prince only laughed at your priceless reaction and the way you jolted out of your spot making the book fly away.

“Your Highness!” You exclaimed, clutching your chest from the fast beating of your heart. “You scared me,”

“Did I?” He teased as you watched him hanging upside down with his forehead being exposed. “Sorry about that, I was so bored before we got here.” He said as he sat properly on the branch.

“No private classes for you today?” You asked, picking up your book a meter away.

“I asked to postpone them,” He said. “Nothing interests me nowadays, I already know them,”

“Good for you,” You sighed, taking your spot again as the Prince jumped beside you.

“You don’t have classes today I presume?” He asked, sitting beside you.

“Nah, my tutor didn’t come and I’m here reading a book the Headmistress gave me,” You smiled as the Prince leaned his head on your shoulder hugging your arm. It was normal for him to be that clingy, he is your friend for how many years after all. He was shy when you first met him at the palace when your Father claimed to be the Governor of Felly一it took a while before he warmed up to you. And that was six years ago.

“That seems to be a good book when you’re too occupied with it,” He said as you hum in response.

“Say, is The King inside talking with my Father?” You asked as he nodded, hugging your arm tighter, coming comfortable.

“The usual,” He sighs. “They are preparing the future of Felly when I become King,”

“Shouldn’t you be there at the meeting?” You asked opening the book to proceed.

“I asked if I could see you, my Father let me so here I am,” He smiled. “Why, you don’t want me here?” He teased which made you frown.

“It’s nothing like that Your Highness,” You said when he shake his head.

“Y/n, how many times do I have to repeat myself to call me Felix,” He chuckled as you smiled in response.

“Well, I must practice myself to call you that because you’re going to be King,” You said as he sat properly, hugging his knees. “Your Father might look for a bride for you,”

“Right,” He sighs. “But let’s not talk about that. It’s not going to happen anytime soon, I still have a lot of time being the Prince, yes?”

“Yes,” You smiled, leaning your back against the tree as Felix took the opportunity to lay his head on your lap. “You’re being comfortable,” You chuckled.

“I am comfortable around you,” He remarked. “So don’t mind me and continue reading, that’s an order, Milady,” He winked as you laughed, trying to get the sense of the book again.

Felix closed his eyes with a hand at the back of his neck and the other one rested on his stomach as you read. Your fingers traced his black locks, feeling the softness of the strands. It was good as your eyes scanned the words on a page while Felix lay comfortable, trying not to pursue a smile. He wouldn’t hide the fact that he always forgets his worries every time he is with you, not a single political problem comes up when he sees you smile or when he touches your hand. It feels like he couldn’t hear anything else when you speak, it was only your voice he wanted to listen to. But that doesn’t always come to exist. He knew he’d be in an arranged marriage soon and it will stop him from seeing you ever again. Sooner or later.

A sigh escaped your lips trying to figure out what was going to happen next. But his presence took your attention. The gentle sunlight was directed to his face as it shows the constellation-like freckles that cover the skin under his eyes. Soft sounds of his breathing were heard as he took a nap while lying on your lap. He is at peace and seems comfortable with his spot, one where you could see the entire galaxy in his beauty. The wind blows his hair as the strands dance with them, he looks so beautiful—even when he does nothing and sleeps there. You held your book down to cover his face, thinking that the light will distract his sleep. One fact you had learned was to let the dark seek your eyes before sleeping to have a good slumber, but it wasn’t the case for him. A smile surfaced on your lips, seeing him so quiet and demure, an ethereal sight of a young man that indicates light and hope. It made your heart pound.

Placing the closed book on the space beside you, Felix moved a bit to ease his lying position. You find it adorable as you decided to play with his soft black locks with your fingers. The Prince felt at ease and melted under your touch. He flickered his eyes open as you stroked his hair, smiling at the sight of you. The thumping of your heart is loud enough for him to hear, and the smile you have on your face is crystal clear in his sight. He could feel the warmth of your touch, one that he wanted to feel for a long period of time. It was obvious that he is so in love with the idea of you, everything about you. Six years of adorning friendship that leads to one that looks at the other full of administration and awe or it were how someone gives butterflies in their stomach even when it was only caused by the slightest thing they do. It painted memories that can be placed on an empty canvas, later filled with bright colors and nostalgia.

Felix held your hand as he placed it on his cheek. Your thumb starts to caress his soft skin and then traces the stars imprinted on his cheeks. His lips met your palm, feeling the warm touch and the skinship—it wasn’t for some best friends to do. But a spark illuminates the picture of being afraid to tell one how the other feels. His smile never faded as much as yours, and fingers interlocked within a second. Your free hand fixed his bangs that made his smile grow bigger. A sweet gesture that made his heart beat go wild.

“I’m going to melt, Y/n,” Felix said as you chuckled in response.

“Says the one who stares at me the way I stare at them,” You remarked when Felix sat up to fix his clothes. “You shouldn’t be lying on the ground, it will get that expensive fabric of yours some dirt.”

“Oh, I can’t help but be clingy with you,” He said.

“You know I love it when you’re so close to me,” You smiled. “It makes me forget about how harsh the reality it is than the ones you’ve read in books,”

“My precious Y/n,” He awed with a hand on your cheek. “You will always have me, okay? Even if I get married to someone else, I’m not leaving you behind.” You didn’t know why it hurt you when he said that. It was something like a knife being pushed inside your chest, or you wanted to shed a tear from the code. But you can’t. Six years weren’t enough for Felix either. He wanted something more than this, yet, practical is what should be followed. No other option left.

“You’re always precious to me, Your Highness,” You smiled as Felix sighed in disbelief (in a playful way).

“Y/n, it’s Felix, okay? I am Felix, for you!” He exclaimed and you just had to laugh it out with him. “But seriously, we’ve been friends for a long time,” He whined.

“Okay, okay, Felix,” You said, which made his heart want to flip inside his chest. “Felix,”

“Yes?” He gulped, not wanting to go feral with you calling his name.

“I just wanted to say your name,” You said as he softened his expression before he placed a soft kiss on your forehead and hugged you tightly.

“Just say my name,”

A few days passed by, and the same lectures were given by your private tutor. One that always happens in the small library. His classes were good enough to make you understand things, but the subject itself is the one you hate. Neat papers filled with words written with ink, books from different constitutions piled at the other side of the table. He reads a book out loud as you take notes while seated in front of your study desk. You listened diligently, trying to comprehend every word. Each sentence feels like a brick fell from tearing a tower, how many times do you have to mention it to yourself that you hate politics? But the tutor smiled at you before flipping a page on the book.

Living in this century seems to be a little weird anyway.

It was a sunny morning, your parents left early for a gathering as the Headmistress will be the one in charge of all your classes today. The tutor wanted to keep your attention in class knowing they won’t be home anytime soon but you wonder what the Prince was doing. A sigh escaped your lips as the tutor stopped in the middle of the written sentence, glancing at you. He cleared his throat and closed the book with a gentle thump, making you bite your lower lip. The pen fell on the paper after writing a period. You can’t seem to focus by then.

“Is everything alright?” He asked as you shake your head quickly.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Choi,” You said as he nodded in response which took him a few seconds before opening his mouth.

“Well, your assignments are good, I can tell how much you improved from the previous classes, very detailed learnings perhaps,” He said, clasping his hands together. “What seems to be distracting you?”

“Nothing,” You defended when he sighed, taking off his glasses and packing his things back into his bag.

“Y/n, I know you despise this class so much but your Father expects too much from you so let’s endure the pain while it lasts,” He said as you nodded gently.

“Yes, Professor,” You said quietly with a sad tone.

“Let’s call it a day and I’ll see you next week okay? I will not give you anything to write for the rest of the week but please do read these,” He answered referring to the book being piled on your table.

“Did he tell you I am a disappointment in this family?” You asked, stopping him. “Because I was born a girl and he was expecting a son, Mother can’t give birth anymore because of her health, yet they still make decisions for me without my permission,”

“I understand your sentiment in that, but being a woman is noble and learning things is powerful,” He said. “Y/n, you are never a disappointment, I believe in you, okay?”

“Thank you, Professor,” You smiled gently.

“Please, do call me Yeonjun,” He said with a smile in return. “I’ll be off now, see you next week Milady,” He added, taking a formal bow as you stood up from your seat一walking with him outside.

You stood by the door, seeing him take his carriage and left the Chateau. Another sigh escaped your lips watching him disappear from your sight. It was good to spend the mornings with Yeonjun’s political science class but what excites you the most is when your parents are out the whole day. You had the privilege to do anything you want with the maids tailing you, read tons of books一eat anything in the kitchen, horseback riding around the Chateau. It gives you peace and joy, yet the thoughts of Felix keep knocking inside your mind. The Prince must be busy with his education and training to be King someday and you were just waiting for someone to arrive and ask your hand in marriage. Yet, you always despise the idea of it.

Arranged marriages are common in the kingdom and if they were lucky, they marry for love. Felix was awed by the fact that the Prince of Minnister managed to marry the Princess of Christark instead of the one who was fixed to be his bride. Even the Prince of Targarhyun married for love, he always believed he will experience the same thing. You shake your head as you take your horse for a walk around the Chateau, it was huge enough to take a stroll. The sun was high and the wind is friendly to take a run outside. You declined reading a book, for now, it was something that makes your head think a lot of things. Being alone is what you needed the most. The dining area was too peaceful with you eating alone, even the hallways were empty and the maids had their jobs to keep.

Being the only child is not always what the others capture to be fun.

The night came and the horse of your family’s carriage neighed the way in front of the entrance as you were sitting on the window seat in your room, ended up reading the next chapter of Professor Yeonjun’s lesson. The Headmistress was standing by the front deck when you saw another carriage following yours. With knitted brows, you stayed by the window holding the curtains aside. Your parents went off the carriage first and waited for the other passengers to get off. They were all smiles and laughed when you recognized the visitors. You watch them enter the Chateau as a young man, probably the son of the family who came, had his eyes in your direction. A smirk pursues his face一there must be something going on. And that’s when you heard a knock on your door.

“Miss, the Governor, and the Lady have arrived,” One of your maids said the moment they entered your room. “You have visitors,”

“Who are they?” You asked, standing up from the seat.

“The Duke and Duchess of the West, with their son, Lord Gunil,” They said. “They’re expecting you to dinner, Milady,”

“Sure, I’ll be there,” You said, dismissing the maid as they bowed and left the room.

A sigh of disbelief escaped your lips as you look at yourself in the mirror, fearing there might be something wrong by the time you stepped inside the dining area. Taking a deep breath, you left the room with your heart beating faster一you doubt it is a thing you need to worry about. You walked out of your room with a maid and a butler behind you. They must know something, it was silent enough to bother your existence and everyone is already settled down in their seats and stood up to greet you. Excited smiles from the visitors, even your parents, it was painted with bright colors but not to Gunil. He was just staring without amusement.

“Good evening, Milady,” The Duke greeted as the Duchess and the Lord bowed.

“Good evening,” You greeted back, taking a glance at your parents who have their hopes high.

“Take a seat and have dinner, then we will discuss our agenda. Shall we?” Your Father said as everyone take their seats again.

It was only the banging sound of the silverware on the dishes that were heard as the maids served the food. Everything was all silent, no voices were meant to talk as you could feel Lord Gunil’s eyes looking at you. The Duke and Duchess started to compliment the food and your Mother was delighted. You became uncomfortable with the sudden interaction as you take as much food as possible. He could only smirk and shake his head, eating the steak on his plate. You bit your lip after swallowing your food. He is handsome, you admit yet you wonder what would Felix will think if you tell him.

“Tell me Miss Y/n, what do you do in your free time?” The Duke suddenly asked, taking your attention from the delicious food.

“I read books in the library and Professor Choi’s lectures in Political Science,” You started. “I also do horseback riding around the Chateau and play the piano,”

“Oh, that’s fascinating, our Gunil loves playing instruments as well,” The Duchess suddenly interrupted.

“I see,” You answered nervously, taking a spoon full of food.

“I guess Y/n and Lord Gunil will get along with each other well,” The Governor said as your Mother smiled in support. A quiet sigh escaped your lips when you knew where this is going to lead. “Perhaps we could discuss their engagement?”

“Engagement?” You asked as your heart sank.

“We are delighted to say that we are going to have you in a fixed marriage with our son, dear,” The Duchess said which made you stand up from your seat.

“What?!” You exclaimed out of shock and anger. “You didn’t tell me,” You said, looking at your parents as the other family watch you. Not minding the stares of disbelief.

“It was supposed to be a surprise and it is!” The Governor beamed. “I and your mother talked with the Goo family since last year and today we decided to declare it as what it is,”

“You decided this without my permission? How would you know about how I feel with this surprise of yours eh, Father?” You snapped back which made Gunil smirk again, rolling his eyes.

“Goodness, Y/n, where are your manners?” Your Mother interrupted.

“Take it easy, you do owe her an explanation.” The Duke said.

“Y/n, sit down.” The Governor said as you hissed underneath your breath and sat down against your will. “Your Mother and I, even the Goo family have been planning this marriage ever since you were born, we talked last year about this to have it official. It will be good to have a Lord as your husband一I will also be a benefit for this family and even when you are part of the Parliament.”

“Listen to your Father dear,” Your Mother said. “It’s for the strong bond,”

“You mean power,” You scoffed.

“Y/n!”

“No!” You said banging your fist on the table before jolting out of your seat一leaving the dining area. The Governor sighed in disbelief as your Mother tried to cover the embarrassment.

“Let me talk to her,” Gunil said wiping his lips and went to follow you.

“After all, I’ve done for her,” The Governor scoffed as his wife held his hand.

“Let’s give the children some time,” The Duchess said as the Duke nodded.

“Let Gunil have a chance,”

Groaning at the thought of it, a loud bang of the door closing was heard. The maid and the butler were kept out of the room when Gunil showed up a few seconds before you could shut it in front of his face. You were fuming inside, one that you wanted to blow everything away. How could they do this to you? They didn’t even tell you anything一even the marriage. You didn’t even know Gunil very well. Everything is fucked up already.

You hissed under your breath, cursing at the situation right now as your hands came attached to your waist as you walked back and forth around your room. All, expecting to be it was a sick joke but nothing! Another sigh came out from your lips for the nth time of the day, it is a surprise. It surprised you, with disappointment. But suddenly, a knock came through your door. You weren’t in the mood to take visitors again, an arranged marriage news is already too much to take.

“Who is it?” You asked.

“It’s me, Gunil,” The voice said. “May I come in?” He added, but you hesitated, still, you didn’t have a choice but let him in.

“What do you want?” You asked, not wanting to sound rude.

“I’m going to talk some sense with you,” He started as you turned away to face the window, hugging yourself from the bitterness you felt. “Listen, love, they did a mistake for not telling you sooner but even if you protest, I’m already tied up with you, yes? There’s nothing you can do to change it.” He chuckled as you roll your eyes.

“I don’t want to marry you,” You said which made him smirk.

“Too bad you can’t run away from it, love,” He said, taking a few steps towards you.

“What if I can?” You protested facing him, when he pinned you on the window, looking at your eyes with a stern expression that made your heart race in fear.

“I can’t let you get away with this,” He said with his low voice, enough to send shivers down your spine. “You are going to marry me, whether you like it or not,” He whispered before blowing gently in your ear and plastering a wicked smile before leaving your room.

You fell on your window seat, clutching your chest in response to what just happened. That Lord is a jerk and it made you hate your parents more. Your knuckles turned white from forcing them into a closed fist. This is not what you wanted for yourself, studying Political Science and being pushed towards something you don’t like is already too much. You knew you have to do something with this, a plan that might stop this madness. Tears started to form in your eyes, trying to process everything. You can’t marry that man, you just can’t.

Meanwhile, the Prince was looking at the bright moon from his balcony. The light illuminates the dark sky and the stars shining and glimmering with it. He was feeling the cold breeze of the wind as he closed his eyes, letting him take his moment of peace. Yet he still worries about something, he hadn’t seen you for days一he misses you despite his busy subjects. Not a moment he doesn’t think of you. Every day becomes more hectic than usual, the Prince has been preparing for a royal ball that will happen next month, it is a celebration for the King’s birthday一and a way for him to find a bride. A sigh escaped his lips, sharp claws started to appear on his hands as his eyes turned red and fangs grew in his teeth. He doesn’t want anything even if he already knew that he is destined to marry a princess by the end of the day, he wanted something else.

The Prince let the moon envelop his presence and make his pale skin glimmer along with stars. It always happens when the full moon strikes his body一and there’s nothing above his control. He learned that the hard way. Being a member of the royal family and being blessed by immortality is a privilege, one that it could only be done by good and use the power in anything but evil. But everyone fears what a blood-sucking creature can do. A vampire who doesn’t always satisfy his cravings enough for just animals’ blood. Not everyone in Felly is a vampire, not, but the royal family only.

Behind those gentle smiles and sense of nobility in public一even the way he looks at you and learns to control his lust for blood, the Prince is still young to learn everything. Even the King and Queen get worried, for how like a monster is seated on the throne. People believed the curse, some say they are harmless because they rule the kingdom well and there had been no casualties during the past decades. No one from the royal family risked their lives for hunger, but that someone might break the rules. And if one decided to take part in killing a human for its blood or not, they will face the consequences, even death.

The Prince looked at the moon again as his claws scratched the railings, not a moment after, his eyes shut forcefully. He wouldn’t want to end the royal family’s code. But why does your blood smell so good that he had to prevent himself from killing you? Being a good friend of his isn’t the answer. He loves you and he would never try to do anything that will make him lose you.

“Sire,” Someone said from behind him.

“Yes?” Felix answered in his deep voice. “Did you bring me any news?”

“Y/n seems to be distracted today,” Felix opened his eyes and turned around to see his spy. A vampire himself.

“Is it something I should worry about?” He asked as the man nodded.

“I believe it is about the Governor,” The man said as Felix sighed in response.

“She’ll come to me,” He said. “You can go now, Yeonjun hyung,”

“Have a good evening, Your Highness,” Yeonjun said and disappeared, leaving Felix alone. His gaze went to the Chateau from afar, the glowing lights from the windows indicated you were still awake.

“I wonder what’s happening, Y/n,” He said to himself, watching the candle lights flicker at the windows until one of them dies.

You didn’t sleep well during the past few days ever since the announcement of your engagement. Books were left eating clouds of dust in the library and the reading materials were untouched. No motivation to read anything that sparks up your imagination. It was supposed to be improving your skills in Professor Park’s lecture but nothing happened. You lie awake that one night, staring at the ceiling wondering how would you tell the Prince about this. He was hoping you’d be the one to choose who you want to marry. The maids got worried when you are not eating properly, the Governor seems unable to notice but your Mother would force you to eat. But you keep resisting and lock yourself inside your room the whole day, keeping everyone away. Silence envelopes the atmosphere at every family dinner, your Mother hesitates as the Governor is looking forward to the celebration.

A long deep sigh escaped your lips, uninterested in the new chapter the Professor was talking about. The pen ticks with the paper now and then, and Yeonjun got distracted by the damsel in distress. He watched you get bored as your face indicated how weak you were. The lecture notes he gave didn’t even leave the place where he left them last week. His eyes wander around before taking his respective seat, clearing his throat to earn your attention.

“I thought we are having a class today?” He asked.

“I’m sorry Professor,” You sighed in response. “I’m just not in the mood,”

“And by what is the cause of this, not in the mood thing?” He asked again clasping his hands together on his knees.

“I don’t know how to tell you,” You sighed again.

“You don’t have to tell me,” He smiled. Yeonjun has been teaching you Political Science for months now and it was easy to warm up to him with his decent and friendly personality. Yet, you are still hesitant to tell him everything even if you feel like he’s been a good older brother to you. Even if telling him might ease the burden you felt, he couldn’t help you get out of the situation anyway. You shake your head at him and forced a smile, it was something for him to be worried about especially when he notices every single detail you do.

“My parents hadn’t told you yet?” You asked as he shake his head.

“No, care to tell me?”

“I’m getting married,” You said which made him freeze on his spot. It was a piece of big news but wasn’t unexpected. A sigh escaped his lips, massaging his glabella一he definitely knew the Governor was up to something. “They just told me last week,”

“How do you feel about this?” He asked, brows knitted in disappointment.

“I felt betrayed,” You said quietly. “They didn’t give me a heads up about it, no one, it just popped out!” You cried. “I don’t know what to do, it’s the Duke and Duchess of the West一”

“Hold on,” He said, stopping you in the middle of the sentence. “It’s Lord Gunil, isn’t it?” He asked.

“Yes,” You sniffled. “He’s a fucking jerk! Did you know what he told me? He said I’m going to marry him whether I like it or not! Fuck!”

“Milady, calm down, I understand how hard it is for you, but let us remain calm,” He said as you slammed your fists on the table making him flinch on his spot. “Y/n,”

“Fine!” You hissed, standing up from your seat. “I can’t let them do this to me.” You added with a deep sigh. “I can’t marry someone I don’t love,”

“Did your parents know?” Yeonjun asked again as you shake your head.

“They don’t care,”

“Good gracious, Professor Yeonjun, this is supposed to be a class!” A voice said as it enters the library, your Mother. “You are in no position to deal with family issues, your class is done for the day, Y/n, go to the hall and play the piano for your practice. This commotion shall not reach your Father, understood?” Your Mother ordered with a stern look on her face and you were about to protest but Yeonjun already bowed to apologize before leaving the library.

“Professor, wait!” You exclaimed as your Mother blocked your way.

“Into the hall, now!” She said as you glared at her, pushing her out of the way一running after Yeonjun.

“Yeonjun, please wait!” You yelled again as you reached the main entrance.

“I’m sorry Milady, let’s see each other for your next class. I have to get back to work now,” He said, opening the carriage’s door.

“Please help me with this,” You pleaded, taking his hand.

“I can’t offer a solution for now,” He sighs in response. “Your Mother’s right, I have no right to intrude with your family issues, I’m sorry,” He said taking your hand away and bowed again as he left with the carriage.

The sounds of the piano came horribly as if you were looking at the keys with pure hatred and disgust. It was supposed to be a good piece that you always love but it turns out to be more aggressive than smooth. Yeonjun is one of the only chances you could get away with the unwanted engagement as you feel ashamed talking to the Prince about this even if he is your very close friend. Felix already has a lot on his plate, his princely duties, training to be the next heir to the throne, and classes. The engagement was already planned ahead for the weekend, and it was something that you shouldn’t look forward to. It only made the music piece go out of tune which made your Mother rage at the melody.

“Again!” She ordered as you tried to remain calm.

You repeated the music again, the very first note down to the last. It was better than the first one—a forced piece of soothing melody from a grudge of a lady. Your Mother seems to enjoy your skills of playing the piano, a hobby of yours ever since your childhood embarked on great talent, aside from reading at a fast pace from reading almost all of the books from the library. It was relaxing, yes, but you don’t enjoy the things you used to because of the standards your parents have. And to marry a Lord for power and wealth, they have already taken away your freedom.

“Good, you will play this piece for your engagement party this Saturday afternoon,” She smiled and left the hall, leaving you slamming your hands on keys causing it to release a piece of distressing music. Your nails dug at the ivory, scratching them out of the blue making your maids flinch in fear.

“Get me the Messenger now,” You ordered, standing up from your seat. “Right now!”

“Yes, Miss!” One of the maids said and ran to fetch him.

The night fell by the next day—you headed for the stables to fetch your house. Everyone was asleep, but not your butler and the maid. It was dark outside, with no source of light but the lamp your maid was holding. The Butler was the lookout even though they didn’t like the idea of this. Yet, it was the only way to escape to see the Prince. After the messenger appeared in the Chateau with an envelope in his hands that had the Felly’s seal on it, you knew the Prince wanted to see you urgently. Your noble steed gushed like the wind as you both left the grounds, the Maid and the Butler will cover for you until you come back. But you knew it wouldn’t last, they will find you anyway. The engagement party is in two days, you might be able to spend time with Felix in preparation for the wedding later. Your horse neighs as it reached the streets heading to the old farmhouse by the lake. A landmark that states near the border of Felly. The moon is shining brightly again, never in Felly had it dark—a spell controls it as it gives more power to the royals. A source of intimate beauty and gives life to immortality.

Sounds of the hooves hit the grounds, enough to awaken the attention of Gunil from his manor. His eyes landed on the maiden, running across the streets with a familiar face. Curiosity fell as he glanced at the moon—a good time to play outside. The farmhouse was already in sight with Felix’s horse, eating grass around it. A sigh of relief escaped from your lips as you smiled, halting your horse beside the Prince’s noble steed. You landed on your feet, running towards the entrance, and saw nothing on the ground floor. It was dark inside, broken pieces of wood and machines welcomed you, even the clouds of dust. Every particle was visible enough to say this was already abandoned. But not tonight.

“Felix?” You called, lifting your skirt to get into the second floor. The Prince was delighted to see you, excitement riled his face the moment he heard your voice.

“Up here Y/n,” He answered, looking down from the railings by the second floor, enough to take a picture of you.

“Thank goodness you came,” You said, hugging him after reaching the floor as the Prince welcomed you with a hug.

“You wished to see me, I can’t say no,” He said, chuckling as he hugged you tighter.

“I haven’t seen you for almost two weeks now,” You said.

“I’m sorry, life happened to me,” Felix said, pulling away from the hug. “How are you, love?” He added, caressing your cheek.

“I haven’t been well,” You sighed softly in response, melting under his touch. His hands were always cold as he find warmth in you.

“Did something happen while I was away?” He asked in a worried tone.

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” You said as your eyes met his. “The Governor and my Mother had an agreement with the Duke and Duchess of the West, I’m marrying Lord Gunil,” Felix stopped in his tracks, he knew this was coming anyway. But the pain in his heart is one he cannot hide on the dark side of the moon. He took a step backward, trying to process the sudden confession at most. A disappointed sigh escaped from his lips as he turned his back from you. It was big news to him.

“The Governor did mention about this when he came this morning at the palace,” Felix said. “Do you want to marry him?” He added, finally facing towards you.

“No!” You exclaimed as Gunil was already sitting on a branch that belongs to an old oak tree, a few meters from the farmhouse. Eyes darkened at the sight of you and the Prince.

“Why?” Felix asked.

“I wanted someone else,” You said but it only lead Felix to fall into silence. “Felix I can’t marry someone I don’t love and for goodness sake, he is a jerk!”

“I know,” Felix hissed. “I don’t have a chance, aren’t I?”

“What do you mean—good heavens!” You exclaimed. “Felix, I’m not going to reject you! Did you just—hypothetically—tell me, you like me?”

“I always do,” He said quietly. “But I can’t risk you to be with me Y/n,” He added, closing his eyes, folding his knuckles. “And you don’t feel the same as I do,”

“There’s not a moment I didn’t think of you,” You said. “From the minute I knew I was going to marry Lord Gunil, all I thought about was you!” Gunil thought it was a surprise, he knew something was wrong. But he fled back to the manor, a good reason to ruin your reputation. A smirk formed on his face, he might enjoy the arrangement for a while. “And why can’t I be with you? Is it because you’re a royal and I’m not?”

“No!” Felix exclaimed. “I can break the rules if I wanted to Y/n,” He said, tears starting to form in his eyes. “It’s too dangerous for you,”

“My life has always been,” You said, holding his hand. “I love you,” Felix looked at you.

“You don’t know what you’re diving into,” He said.

“Just tell me,” You said softly, but only his lips met yours—his hands wrapped around your waist while yours rested on his shoulders. It was intimate, one that you wanted to last. His lips tasted like red wine, it felt soft and gentle, full of longingness and touch. Felix knew this was wrong, but you wanted to risk it. The Prince kissed your forehead as he took you into his arms again. “What am I going to do?” You said quietly, sobbing on his chest.

“We’ll figure something out, okay?” He said.

“That household is suffocating me to death, I am not free,” You said. “Can’t I just be with you, even if we keep it a secret?” You asked, so desperate enough to lure Felix. But he shook his head, kissing you again.

“If I could,” He whispered. “But you have to do what I need you to do while I figure out something to get you out of this mess, okay?” He said as you nodded eagerly.

“Okay,” You said quietly.

“You have to pretend that everything is okay, I’ll meet you here at the same time after your engagement party,” He said, holding your hands tightly. “I have to tell you something by then,”

“Are you going to the party?” You asked as he nodded in response.

“Yes, I wouldn’t miss it,” He said as you came to hug him again. “I love you,”

The day of the engagement came in a blink of an eye. Everyone was busy that morning as you were in your room with your maids, picking a dress to wear for later. They were doing your hair first—Yeonjun surprisingly came to help you choose one of those dresses. You were all smiley, but you can’t help but notice Gunil’s unamused stares that could reach through your soul. He’s been around the Chateau for two days for the purpose of getting to know you more. But it didn’t happen the way everyone expects. You ignored him as much as he ignored you. With all that death glares exchanged, the way he holds your hand tightly that can leave marks, it was the way he threatens you that he knows something—still it made you loathe him more. You tried not to mind him but the fact that he’s going to be your fiance in less than a few hours makes it worse. It will be only Felix that finds a spot for your happiness and seeing him today might comfort you.

His cold hands felt warm and his hugs were good enough to make you feel cozy, the scent of him still lingers in your nose. Being in love with the Prince fell to be a risk—six years of friendship didn’t suffice. It was innocent at first, one that the two get shy during the first meeting but ended up having a conversation that sparks each other’s interest. And by the moment he locked eyes with you, the sweet scent of your blood—he knew you were the one he needed to take. Yet it was no use when he could only keep you close and not sentenced you to marry. Even you, being tied up to someone else, is already living in hell. Fate wanted to play the game, anyway.

A vintage sage green gown with a mixture of white and silver enveloped your body. The maids were awed by the sight of such a beautiful young woman. Even Yeonjun was stunned, the Prince would be delighted to see you later but the dress was not for his occasion. The garden is already settled with tables and chairs, the gazebo is decorated with white roses and ribbons, and even the piano was seated beside it. Your Mother was in charge of the preparations and the Governor invited noblemen and women, especially the royal family. It made you stare at the busy people down below, a party you never asked for—an engagement with the person you loathe together with your toxic parents. If only you could run away in peace, but Felix’s words made you trust him. Pretend.

“Miss, the visitors are starting to arrive,” Your Butler said as you glanced at Yeonjun.

“He promised to come,” Yeonjun said as you gave them a nod.

“Lord Gunil?” You asked.

“He’s with his parents in the garden, Milady,” The Butler answered. “He’s been waiting for you.”

“Please tell him I’m almost there,” You said dismissing the Butler as Yeonjun bowed to leave as well. Your Mother came to attend and the rest of the maids went off.

“You look beautiful, darling,” She said as you faked a smile, not saying anything.

The garden was packed with the nobles and the relatives of the royal family. A gathering that was worthy of joy and celebration, the Governor was happy as the Duke and Duchess. You stood beside Lord Gunil, one who had your hand wrapped on his arm as he talked to the noblewomen—admiring his own beauty. But that didn’t amuse or make an intriguing segway, it was the Prince you were looking for. You hated gatherings anyway. A waste of time of unwanted moments with such unwanted people.

“Announcing the arrival of the King and Queen, and the Prince of Felly!”

It bears a smile on your face, but Gunil holds you closer to him—stopping your presence in front of the Prince. His grip was tight that made you glare at him but it was no use, he was already smiling as if he had known something. It caught the Prince’s eyes while the King and Queen were entertained by the Governor. You could feel Felix’s dark gaze at the man you were about to marry. His knuckles turned white, trying to hold himself from anger. The Prince didn’t want to ruin the party. You turned your gaze to him, but he just took a glass of wine, drinking it full all the way down his throat. His brown eyes gave a hint of red as Gunil locked his gaze with the former.

“You must stay close,” Gunil whispered. “You are marrying me, not the Prince.”

You wanted to get away from his grip, but the more you went against it, the more he didn’t want you to escape. Everyone was enjoying their time at least, but not the ones who exchanged dark glances at each other as you hung your head low. The women danced with their men on the dancefloor, sharing laughs and flattery as others tried the wine and champagne—cakes and other food from the buffet, children playing and the orchestra singing. It was beautiful in everyone’s eyes, and the Prince was catching the women’s attention for his ethereal beauty. He walks slowly by the tables, hands on his back, and his eyes never left your image. Gunil never left your side either and the growing impatience of the Prince never settled. Felix sat down at one of the empty tables, asking for another glass of wine—watching every single move you and Gunil make.

“I shall die before marrying you,” You said, protesting at him.

“And I will kill you if you don’t,” He said in a low monotonous voice.

“Fuck you,” You hissed as his eyes hinted the color red, staring at you, reaching through your soul. Maybe your eyes were just tricking you or the sun was about to set.

“As I said, Y/n, you will marry me whether you like it or not,” He said. “I didn’t ask for this marriage, love, but if you want to save your parents’ reputation, you will not decline.”

“What?” You asked, puzzled by his sudden confession. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, they didn’t tell you?” He smirked.

“Tell me you fucking bastard!” You hissed but he just chuckled in response. It made you grow impatient as well—but he didn’t even budge until the signal for the official dance started. That was when he dragged you to the dancefloor as Felix watched you at the center. Gunil was doing a good lead, a skillful son of ceremonial dancing but you weren’t amused at anything. The Prince joined the dancefloor, exchanging partners was required, Gunil spun you around and let go of your hand, Felix then, the first man to catch your dance. But you could still feel how he throws daggers on your back, one that makes you stiff while holding Felix’s hand.

“Are you alright?” Felix asked, waltzing with you. “Is he threatening you?”

“It’s nothing, Felix, don’t worry,” You managed a smile but the Prince didn’t believe it.

“Do you wish to tell me?” He asked again as you sigh in response.

“I will, I just need to figure things out myself,” You said as another man took you to dance and Felix ended up with another woman.

The worry in your eyes was visible, but the curiosity led to another. You looked at Gunil who was smiling at the maiden he was dancing with, so innocent but vile. Fuck that filthy man. Everyone was loving him too, but Felix is the only one you see, even if you were dancing with a random stranger—a noble you didn’t know was a relative. The Prince tends to think about it as well, what on earth did Gunil mean anyway?

Another man took you for a dance, he will be the last one before you could go back to Gunil. Small and shy smiles were shared, but the excitement vanished when he held your body again. A face of disgust and anger, the Lord expected it from you but he managed a smile. Felix was left dumbfounded and went out of the dancefloor. The sun was about to set and the dance was cut off by announcing the proposal that will be held in five minutes. You pushed Gunil away, glaring at him as if you’d despised him ever since your birth. But the latter stood away, still growing that sly smile he had.

“Meet me at the gazebo in 5 minutes,” He said. “Better say yes,” He added, clearing his throat before leaving you.

“That wicked bloke.” You hissed as you were about to step away from the dancefloor when Felix pulled you into the bushes, hiding from everyone. “What are you doing?” You asked.

“I wanted to know if you were okay,” He said, caressing your cheeks.

“I don’t know,” You said. “I think I’m going mad,”

“What happened?” He asked as you looked at him.

“It’s something about my parents, I don’t know,” You said, worriedly. Felix glanced at the Lord who was drinking a glass of champagne near the gazebo. Black rings adorning his fingers, a golden cross necklace around his neck, and a conceited indication of his position. He returned Felix’s gaze and finished his drink—whispering something on the Butler beside him.

“Meet me at the farmhouse when everyone is asleep, you have to know something,” He said.

“Everyone is keeping secrets from me, Felix, not you too,” You said, trembling at the thought.

“Right now is not the right time,” He pleaded.

“Do I have to say yes?” You asked him, holding his hand tightly. “I’m scared,”

“Say yes, I’ll take care of it later, alright?” Felix reassured, kissing your forehead as the announcer yelled for everyone to gather. “I’m not going to leave you,”

You gave Felix a tight hug before your Maid could find you, assisting your way towards the gazebo. Everyone was watching and the painter was capturing a once-in-a-lifetime event of your life, perhaps you were doing it with the wrong person. Your parents were holding each other dearly, as the Duke and Duchess were all smiles. Seeing Gunil is down on one knee, he looked sincere with his posture as he hold your hands gently. Felix isn’t having it—he doesn’t have the power to stop such an occasion. Even the King and Queen seem to be buying the party, one that they congratulated the Governor for doing so. But for what purpose did this engagement exist?

The music goes on smoothly, your Mother told you to act shocked and smile with pure innocence. You hated it, the Governor as well as Gunil’s parents were anticipating the right moment. Felix signaled his hand for Yeonjun to come closer, a task that only a vampire can do for now. Everyone suddenly clapped to you and Gunil, one that made him chuckle, fake. Standing there is the start of the steps to getting married. Felix looked at you, worried at the sight that you are going to be tied up with a bad menace. He held his knuckles tightly—he wanted to cause chaos.

“Fate brought us here, and I believe our meeting is not an accident and this engagement will be the start of our blooming relationship. Will, you give me the chance to love and take care of you, starting right now to the day we exchange our vows—(your full name), will you be my wife?” Gunil said which made you chuckle in response. Anyone would think it was a result of being flattered but it was so much more than that. It took you a while to give an answer as you glance at the audience anticipating for you to say yes. The Governor is impatient as the Lady signals you to go through—the Duke and Duchess didn’t seem to be bothered at all. You don’t like any one of them after all.

Gunil held your hand tightly, eyes glaring at you yet only a sly smile plastered on your lips.

“Don’t make me wait,” He mouthed at you, tightening his grip that made you prevented to make a sound. You wanted to protest and slap him square in the face, but like what Felix has said, pretend.

“I’m not making you wait,” You said.

“What’s taking you so long then?” He smirked as you giggled again.

“Yes!” You exclaimed, smiling at everyone and then back to him. “Filthy Lord,” You whispered.

“You better watch that mouth of yours darling,” He hissed.

“You want to rip it? Go ahead,” You glared at him.

“You definitely know nothing, woman,” He said, walking away.

The celebration comes after when you played the piano for the guest. But instead of the soothing music you’ve been practicing in front of your Mother, it was a music of a masquerade ball under the presence of a dark aura. Felix loved the tune, Gunil was amused as the Duke and Duchess you felt something was wrong—your Mother raged on their table but some of the guests were dancing, regaining a memory they had in the past. You looked at Felix as he bowed at you before leaving the Chateau, but the King and Queen stayed until the night fell when everyone drink and eat for a feast. The loud whines and cheers from the dining hall were heard as they all whipped with joy—it will be probably the same as the wedding day—all are happy, all are overwhelmed, except you.

Yeonjun stayed behind as you walked back to your room after an exhausting day. Gunil was walking you back to your room, silence all above the surface, and a distance was kept. The sight of your door emerged by the 2nd floor.

“You can go now,” You said, wanting to get out of his presence as you held the doorknob.

“If you wish to cheat on me with the Prince, better not make it obvious,” He said, making you halt. “You don’t know what trouble you will cause when they find out Y/n,”

“What are you up to?” You said facing him again.

“Your Father made a deal with a blood-sucking creature,” He smirked. “He wanted to gain power in the palace, and you are a perfect trade,” He added, caressing your cheek. “You better not run away from me love,” You felt his hands, and slowly traced your cheeks, it was gentle and cold, but his eyes were never meant to be good. They were red, and as his fangs were sharp, they made you freeze on the spot that send shivers down the spine. “I could kill you right now, and your lovely Prince,” He chuckled and left you, nearly collapsing by your door. Heartbeats were fast as you shake and shiver, hugging yourself at what you just saw.

Not a moment later, you headed for the stables, the Governor and the rest of the guests were too drunk to notice. The maids were occupied as they all thought Gunil left you inside your room to rest but the latter was watching your every move. He turned to face the Duke and Duchess as they nodded in unison. Your horse ran away along with you, the loud sounds of its hooves grinding the grounds had Gunil’s ears ringing to follow from the trees as Yeonjun reached the Prince first. The wind was carrying you on, trying to make the pace faster because of being scared. You could feel Gunil’s presence nearby as the sounds of the leaves gushing the trees and a creature of madness. He was following you.

“Yah!” You exclaimed as your horse ran faster but Gunil was quick enough to stop in front of you. The white horse stood in its two hooves behind, neighing at the sight of the monster with red eyes and sharp claws. You tried to calm your horse down but the Lord was already restraining him to get away.

“Where do you think you are going?” He asked.

“Away from you!” You exclaimed.

“As I said, you can’t get away from me darling,” He added, walking closer to you. “Get down,”

“No,” You hissed. “I’m not going to marry you! You, your family, and my parents can rot to hell!” But Gunil wasn’t amused as his hand reached your hair, grabbing it sternly looking into your eyes.

“I will be your husband in two weeks from now and you decided to cheat on me with the Prince? Are you really that desperate Y/n?” He said before dragging you to get down as you winced in pain as to how tight he’s been pulling your hair. “If you want freedom, I am glad to do the honor of killing you,” He chuckled.

“Do it then!” You hissed again trying to get off from his touch but being the vampire he is, Gunil is too strong to resist.

“Any last words before I do?” He asked before lifting his free hand, claws sharp as knives. Horror intensifies in your face. This world is too cruel for you to live in anyway, and maybe dying at the night of your engagement being done by your fiance will be a story that might be published in gothic fiction—or so everyone thought vampires don’t exist.

“I loathe you—” But before you could finish, someone interrupted.

“Lord Gunil, stop it at once!” The growling deep voice was heard, accompanied by a familiar face. Gunil sighed harshly, glaring at the Prince who just arrived as Yeonjun’s face filled with worry.

“He’s dangerous Felix!” You exclaimed, but Gunil didn’t even bother to let you go.

“Shut up!” Gunil hissed.

“I command you to let go of Y/n,” Felix said.

“You are not her subject, Felix! She’s mine to kill.” Gunil exclaimed as Felix’s eyes turned red—sharp claws appeared as his fangs were ready to bite.

“You don’t want me to kill you myself, don’t you?” Felix smirked. “Let her go!”

“You know vampires are prohibited to kill, especially a royal!” Gunil said. Your eyes are facing terrified and nervous, afraid of being killed or for what Felix was doing. Vampires are real, and the royal family’s curse was real—Gunil is part of the royal family from the second line. But Felix was so beautiful, his skin shone with the full moon that night, his eyes were blood red, and even when in anger, softness still lingers. His black sharp claws, his white fangs that can be painted red, he was too mesmerizing to be afraid of. But the idea of the creature can bring danger—how could he hide such a secret from you?

“You will kill her, I will kill you, our hands are going to be painted with blood eh?” Felix said, walking closer to you and Gunil. “How’s that for prisoners committing treason, cousin?” He smirked as Gunil got frustrated and pushed you away. Yeonjun was the one to secure you in his arms, trembling at the sight of two heated vampires in front of you.

“Cousin,”

“Are you okay, Miss?” Yeonjun asked as you looked at him, scared.

“You’re a vampire too,” You said, shivering under his touch. He looks the same as them, his hands are cold as ice, with no warmth at all.

“I’m not going to hurt you Miss, and so is the Prince,” He reassured. “Now let me take you back home,”

“What about Felix?” You asked.

“He revealed what he needed to be told, but don’t worry you will see him later,” He said as he took your horse and ran back home with you, leaving Felix who managed to secure a small nod for reassurance.

“How much do you love my fiance?” Gunil asked, letting you go.

“More than my life, Gunil,” Felix hissed. “And I will never let you lay a hand on her,” He said, voice growling in the depths.

“Royals are not allowed to marry the elites,” Gunil spoke, walking around him. “Are there no princesses that amuse you? Why deal with a mortal?” He hissed.

“I’ve known her for six years now, you can’t blame me for falling in love. Not someone like you who threatens their fiance for what? Power? The Governor traded his daughter for a higher position in the King’s parliament to a monster like you!” Felix said, eaten by anger.

“Oh, the Duke said I can do whatever I want with the girl, I thought she’d be all lovely and sweet but what did I see?” Gunil said, stopping in front of the Prince. “A worthless commoner who is foolishly in love with a Prince, and not just a Prince, a blood-sucking vampire. Admit it, Felix, Y/n’s blood is too good that you can’t resist it. You will kill her, eventually,” He smirked.

“I’m not like you!” Felix growled. “She is not your mate, even if her blood attracts you!”

“But she’s mine,” Gunil said, mocking his Highness’ tone. “I’m going to suck on her blood the night of our wedding and claim her mine. The privilege was given to me Felix, not you!” But then, sharp claws scratched Gunil’s chest, ripping his upper dress—the older boy was caught off guard by the sudden action and bled. Felix’s gaze had no signs of softness and remorse.

“You are lucky to have the law, or you’re already dead by now,” He said, lowering his voice, piercing his claws in Gunil’s chest making the older boy grunt in pain. But Gunil remained silent with his hand clutching his wounded chest. It will heal sometime. “Don’t touch Y/n, or I’ll bury you alive. And remember that she was born under the blood moon with me,” Gunil could only glare at him as he proceeded to dig his claws deeper. “A vampire can die with silver but not my claws Gunil, don’t cross the line,” Felix whispered before taking his claws off, making the boy kneel in his place. “Go home,”

Felix was about to leave the place as Gunil was panting heavily, forcing himself to rise up—gaining for the Prince with his claws ready to cut him in half. His movements were enough for Felix to notice and turned around to hold his wrists. He had the chance to throw him to the ground, wrapping his hand around Gunil’s neck. Felix’s red eyes were fuming like fire as he put much force on the latter’s neck, choking him nearly to death. Gunil tried to take it away from him, but Felix didn’t budge to move.

“I said, go home,” He said. “You’re quite stubborn are you?” But the latter smirked.

“You can’t kill me,” Gunil said.

“I will not betray Felly for you,” Felix said before he let him go. A frustrated sigh escaped from his lips and went to the trees and jumped his way back to the palace, leaving Gunil unamused and sparking his hatred more.

He went back to the Chateau as you were assisted by Yeonjun to sit on your bed. Gunil was fuming in anger, so much that he forced himself in even if Yeonjun had to stop him. You were already scared enough to distance yourself, but the Lord pushed the Professor away. Tears started to form in your eyes, blood was dripping down from his chest—Felix became something he didn’t want for a while. Almost everyone affiliated with the royal family was blessed with immortality and a monster hides within. Gunil’s hand reached your reach with a loud smack on it, causing your tears to flow faster. Yeonjun wasn’t in the place to stop him, for Gunil stands in a higher position than a mere professor himself.

“You are not going to leave this house, even if we marry. I forbid you to see the Prince!” He growled and left you with Yeonjun inside your room. Louds sobs were heard as you hugged him tightly.

“What should I do?” You asked, trembling as your hands shake. “He will kill me, he will kill me…”

Drowned in despair, you sent Yeonjun away to the Prince. But even if life has given you the signs that you’re going to die, that didn’t stop you from seeing Felix every night. He would come into your room with Yeonjun being the lookout and sneak you out by the window. Each night possesses bright full moons being the indication that a blood moon will show itself soon. You couldn’t help but wonder how it happened or how Felix and the royal family got to be blessed with immortality. A great gift that must be used for the good, but the others have abused their power for the sake of revenge. He tells stories one at a time as you sit beside him by an open window in the same old farmhouse. One that the moon’s light stares directly at the Prince.

“The story begins during the war, a beautiful woman seeks refuge in the kingdom after her family was killed by the enemy. She was held captive by the King that time, a stranger from a nameless kingdom, no one knows where she came from,” He said, holding each other’s hands and interlocking your fingers together as he leaned his head on your shoulder. “His wife had a heart of gold, she believed the prisoner was poor and must be given good treatment. The King was not amused but she begged him to save the stranger’s life—it’s cruel to keep someone innocent in a dungeon with no crime,”

Some believed she was a witch and lied to the royal guards that her family was killed during the war. She befriended the Queen, and she believed her stories—no provocation of a witch so they set her free. Her name was not to be spoken, she was nameless to everyone but not the Queen herself. She became her right hand, eventually and the Queen trusted her, with no doubts or hesitations. The kingdom used to think the Queen was reckless and ignorant of the danger. She didn’t know what awaited her. Then, the plague came, it took a lot of lives in Felly, the Queen fell really sick and the King accused the girl of sorcery. How could she betray the one who gave shelter and trusted her? With the Queen ill, they punished her death—thought they would make the plague gone when the girl died. But the people were fools.

They hanged the girl, but before they could, she wished to give her last words. She cursed all the members of the royal family, she didn’t find goodness in their hearts except for the Queen who showed compassion. It was the night of the blood moon, she promised she would not flee from the accusations but the magic she possessed enveloped the royal family members who were watching the execution. With the power of the blood moon and her magic, she said they’ll have the form of a blood-sucking creature—a dangerous monster, unable to control when it’s under the spell of the red moon. They were forbidden to kill, or else their treasures and ranks would vanish especially immortality. But my ancestors didn’t do well and broke the rules, and there remains a curse. The girl died, the plague was still there and the curse. The royals were forbidden to love a non-royal as well, but some say that one day, one of the members of the royal family will break the law. This vampire might kill someone or fall in love with a commoner.

“Sounds stupid right?” Felix chuckled. “Vampires usually have their prey when their blood is so sweet and fragrant to them, but some of us have it as our mates or they were the ones who were born together under the red moon. And as for me, I am destined to be with a mortal, a non-royal,” He added, looking at you. “Your blood smells so good, and you are born under a blood moon with me,—I’ll risk everything to be with you.”

Your hand reaches his cheek, kissing him under the bright moonlight. His skin was soft and cold, yet it felt warm which makes your heart melt. A sense of touch that ruins the code and law as if they were turning their backs on the kingdom—a significance of opposing this engagement. It didn’t matter what he is, nor the proceedings of the law, you didn’t want to be with someone else but the Prince. The freedom of seeing him every night ends at dawn, you will be seeing Gunil around the Chateau again and pretend everything was fine. Parents with unreachable standards and a rebel child, it does play a problem and fate is not friendly as it seems.

The day of the wedding came, and tears spilled from the eyes of the rebel child as her unwanted groom stood at the altar. Hands gripped tightly around the bouquet as her father assisted her. Everyone was smiling, admiring the beauty you possessed—but the rage inside your heart gets darker every time you take a step. The Prince watched the parade, eyes turning red at the acquisition. He wanted to lash out at everything in his sight, kill the man he was jealous of for having you standing in front, exchanging vows, and taking the veil off of your face. The Prince closed his shut, not taking the kiss for proclaiming the newlyweds as husband and wife. Your Father was overjoyed as your Mother wept with relief. The Duke and Duchess weren’t amused but the trade is a trade.

You are already married.

Your husband held your wrist tight to get a portrait, it will be one they will hang on the wall. The reception was filled with joy and drinking. It was the same scenario you had during the engagement party. Both didn’t paint a smile nor happiness in your world, only anger, and resentment. You were thankful that the marriage didn’t happen inside a church—a vampire, getting married in a church was ridiculous—you thought. But no matter how you execute thoughts, fear still remains and your husband can be responsible for taking your life whenever he pleases.

“You have the power to stop this wedding, why didn’t you do anything?” Yeonjun told Felix as he watched you dance with your husband at the center. You keep on glancing at Felix, but Gunil would make him look at you, smirking as he holds your hand tightly.

“And what would I do when I object?” Felix asked in return. “I will not hesitate to bring that monster and his family down! I will take care of him, clean and crimeless,” Yeonjun gave him a puzzled look.

“You will make a bloody crime,” Yeonjun whispered, but Felix didn’t answer and walked away.

“Can I have a dance with the bride?” Felix asked, interfering with you and Gunil from the dance. The Lord was looking at the Prince, unamused of his sudden appearance—then he looks at you, who was looking down on the floor, trying to resist the pain you feel from his grip. It will leave a bruise later.

“You will not do anything stupid,” Gunil said, pushing you towards the Prince as you stumbled upon him. “I’m watching you very close,”

“That bastard,” Felix growled as he held your hands, seeing the bruise on your wrist. “He did this to you?” He asked, eyes hinting red at the sight of it and Gunil was sitting a few meters away.

“It doesn’t matter,” You said.

“But Y/n, he’s abusing you!” Felix said gritting his teeth. “I’m going to kill that fucker,”

“Felix, he will kill you,” You argued, taking his hand, pretending to dance away.

“He will kill you,” He said. “I’m taking you away with me the moment this ends, I don’t care what will happen.”

“You’re putting dirt on your name, Felix, I won’t let you do it because of me!” You said tears started streaming on your face again.

“I love you, Y/n,” He said as it made your sobs grow harder.

Felix held your hand as his arm being wrapped around your waist pulled you closer to him as you sway to the music. Eyes were on you, it was a magnificent sight but not on your husband. You were beautiful in Felix’s eyes even if tears were shining like pearls—he wouldn’t waste such an opportunity. The white dress twirled following your body movements, it was the way the Prince spun you around and make a distance with your hands colliding with each other, it was the way how he pulls you back into his arms and hugged you tightly. It was sweet, but there was darkness behind. The music was soothing with a mixture of a masquerade theme. A melody that signifies that a woman was dancing with a lover that was never truly hers. It was bleeding painfully.

The Prince held your hand again, slipping something onto it, a silver dagger that was wrapped by a piece of cloth. A sharp object that can kill a creature in just one force into their chest. It was something that Felix feared, a weakness that contributes to his death. You looked at him as you slipped it inside your dress, Gunil was thankfully talking to his mother—Felix knew great timing. But then, you were confused as to why yet you were meant to kill.

“Kill him,” He said. “Then we shall flee from Felly,”

“What about the King and Queen?” You said in a worried tone.

“I’ll explain it to them, they will help us,” He insisted as Gunil suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“That’s enough dancing with my wife,” He growled. “Find your own bride,” Gunil added as he dragged you away.

“Felix!” You cried but all he did was stand up on his spot, giving you a nod.

A vampire can’t kill another—but a human can. It will be considered a crime yet the person dragging you towards your room has already committed one. Felix flew above the Chateau as Yeonjun held the carriage outside the main entrance. He landed on a branch that settles him to see you through your bedroom’s window with your husband dragging you inside as you keep resisting his touch. Grunting and groaning to the pain you feel on your wrist, your body felt the softness of the mattress where he had to push you, eyes red in anger and rage. His heart turned dark, knuckles turned white, and his fangs were sharp as his claws—it might be the last time.

“What are you doing?” He asked. “You think Felix’s help will get you out of this?! No! You’re married to me now Y/n,”

“I’d rather die than spend a lifetime with you!” You exclaimed, launching out from the bed. “You agreed to take me for a trade! What am I? A thing? Bullshit!”

“Oh, Y/n, you’re more valuable than that,” Gunil smirked as he played with your hair. “You have something that I need,” He added breathing on your neck gently which makes his hunger craves more. You shut your eyes closed, fear enveloped your body as you remembered the silver dagger Felix gave you.

“Did my Father know?” You asked, trembling on your spot. “Does my parents know you’re a vampire?”

“No secrets for a trade love,” Gunil smirked. “I can’t let have the Prince feast for this luscious blood of yours to save his life, you’re his mate after all,”

“You can’t have me!” You defended when he just chuckled.

“Too bad, I already did,” Gunil opened his mouth ready to take a bite when you pierced the dagger on his left stomach causing him to weaken and kneeled on the ground. “Fuck,” He hissed at the sight of his blood, running towards the silver blade.

“Y/n!” Felix yelled from the branch as you hurried to open the window but Gunil gathered his strength, pulling you again, earning a scream from you. A hand grabbed your hair as he took the dagger from his wounded side.

“You will never leave this house!” Gunil growled as Felix launched himself inside, but he was too quick to hold you captive with his arm wrapped on your chest and the dagger’s sharp edge pointing at your neck. “You think you can get away?” He stressed as Felix halted in front of you. “Don’t come near us or I’ll kill her!”

“Let her go!” Felix yelled.

“She’s mine, Felix!”

“No,” Felix retorted. “You don’t know what will happen if you’d kill her.” He saw your eyes covered in fear, trying to resist Gunil’s grip for the nth time. Tears stream from your eyes, Felix hated that.

“I already see a monster inside you Felix,” Gunil smirked. “How much more if I’d take her life too?” He chuckled and was about to slash the dagger when Felix grabbed his hand—holding his wrist tightly causing Gunil to wince in pain and dropped the sharp object down to the floor as you fled.

“Go!” Said the Prince, holding Gunil from attacking any further. “Yeonjun take her away!” Felix ordered as the former quickly carried you out from the room and hopped towards the carriage.

“Take me back to Felix!” You cried but Yeonjun already pushed you inside.

“I can’t Miss,” He said. “You have to stay here, he will come later,” He added, hopping on the coachman’s seat to go on the road. Felix was left with Gunil, combatting against each other—one that would slash their claws on one’s arm or the other punches the other’s face. The Prince pinned Gunil on your bed, a hand wrapped around his neck, suffocating him. His eyes were full of rage and the latter was trying to take it at ease. He was too weak to do anything anyway, the stinging pain of this wound made by the silver was painful enough.

“Remember your Highness, you can’t kill,” Gunil smirked as Felix positioned himself to slash his enemy to death. “You can’t kill me,” He said.

“You don’t deserve your place, you’re a filthy vampire,” Felix grunted in response.

“It’s sad why a human was destined to be your mate,” Gunil chuckled. “You will kill her for her blood anyway,” But it only made Felix have his grip tighter around his neck.

“You do not speak to me like that,” Felix gritted his teeth. “I will kill you myself,” But Gunil pushed him away as Felix’s back landed on the furniture surrounding the room—earning a painful wince from the Prince. He lifted Felix up from his place, a hand around his neck and a dark stare. Even in pain, he still gains strength, he knew damage from a silver won’t heal faster than the minor ones, minus the mineral.

“How much are you going for her?” Gunil asked.

“I’d die for her!” Felix said struggling to get down from the former’s strength but managed to kick him right on the stomach where you stabbed him. Gunil fell to the floor and Felix grabbed the dagger and fled—coming for your carriage but to his surprise, Yeonjun was lying unconscious on the road—the carriage was bumped into a tree, damaged at the front. The Duke had a knife on your neck, again as the Duchess had Yeonjun’s head bleeding and passed out.

“Felix!” You called but it only caused the Duke to make a small cut on your neck, so much for the blood dripping, it drove the Prince crazy. His head was spinning, the scent of your blood was enough to rage him for lust.

“Ahh, his mate it is,” The Duke laughed. “You know your Highness, it is quite of a pity to have a mortal as your mate when everyone was destined to marry a royal. But her blood smells good and appetizing,”

“You don’t need to be selfish,” The Duchess said but the Prince was dizzy.

“Felix,” You cried.

“When she dies, you will become useless and the King will make Gunil heir to the throne!” The Duke said.

“A Governor who wanted power traded his daughter without knowing what will hit him,” The Duchess chuckled when you bit the Duke’s hand to flee but enough to stab the knife behind your back, buried deep.

“No!” Felix exclaimed before he could attack them both in anger, slashing the chests and piercing his claws on their hearts. Law didn’t matter to him anymore. He was furious—eyes were dark red, devoured with madness and blood, and he came mercilessly to the two nobles. His hands choked on their necks, with the brightness of the moon that night, he sucked on their blood—tackled them to the ground, and pierced the dagger into their hearts. You were lying on the grass, catching your breath as Gunil arrived, seeing his parents dead. His eyes were covered in fear.

“Do I need to kill you too?” He asked. “Right, there’s no point in killing you yet,”

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” Gunil said, shaking at the sight of his parents being lifeless, blood being sucked and empty.

“I am,” Felix growled as he went in your direction. “Y/n,” But with rage Gunil was about to attack him from behind when the Prince was too quick enough to turn around and stabbed his wound again causing him to wince in pain, loud enough. Yeonjun regained his consciousness and saw the horror.

“A life for a life,” Felix whispered. “You don’t deserve a place in the palace,” Gunil fell to his knees and collapsed on the ground as Felix proceeded to you, fighting for your life. Breathes were heavy and painful, blood coloring the green grass as you lay, looking at him with worried eyes. “Y/n,.. I’m so sorry…” He said.

“Shhh,” You said, reassuring him. “I’m sorry,”

“Sire,” Yeonjun called. “You killed the Duke and Duchess, the King wouldn’t be pleased.”

“It doesn’t matter, I will explain what happened,” Felix said. “Leave me and Y/n, alone for a moment,”

“And Lord Gunil?” He asked again.

“Take him to the royal physician and burn their bodies,” He ordered as Yeonjun bowed. “Everything will be okay, now,” Felix said, looking at you as he take your body on his lap. “I’m sorry,” He cried.

“Don’t be sorry, none of this was your fault,” You said, holding his hand. “Now that I’m wounded and dying, my blood is already yours,”

“And leave you to die?” Felix said, as his voice cracked with his sobs in between.

“I think I was destined to die anyway,” You smiled despite the pain. “I’m already losing a lot of blood, I’m sorry I won’t be able to give you a happily ever after,” You added.

“You’re going to live okay?” Felix growled. “I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you,”

“I love you,” You said. “My blood is yours, my Prince…”

The Prince was left in despair as tears wouldn’t stop streaming his face the moment you finally closed your eyes. Clutching your body onto his, he buried his face in your neck. Despite the luscious red liquid that drips down from your body, it became nothing. He couldn’t bear to take your blood as his now—what’s the point of it anyway? You are gone.

“Your Highness, we should get back now,” Yeonjun said. Your parents bowed to pay respect as the lord executed a nod. The Prince glared at him.

“You’re lucky I didn’t intend to kill you with the Duke and Duchess,” Felix told Gunil.

Felly watched the funeral of the Duke and Duchess the night where Felix killed them as Gunil was healing. Everyone was scared at didn’t look the Prince in his eyes. Even your parents were ashamed and the Governor lost his place in the palace. The King was furious but gave no punishment to his child despite the crime. There was no crime, after all.

“It must be a heavy burden to come一”

“Leave us,” The Prince ordered, cutting your Mother’s sentence as his butler frowned in response. Your parents hesitated, even the lord. “Leave me and Y/n alone,” He ordered again.

“As you wish,” Your Father stated, gesturing the other two to follow him, yet the lord didn’t leave the Prince’s gaze.

“Your Highness the rain will pour harder anytime soon,” Yeonjun insisted as the Prince sighed in disbelief.

“I said, leave us!” His voice was stern and Yeonjun immediately obliged, returning to the carriage. “Don’t wait for me and get back to the palace,”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Yeonjun bowed and left, even the funeral directors left the coffin open for him to see you one last time.

Your parents knew what happened that night. The King’s royal guard informed the Governor to be revoked from his place. One that he didn’t deserve after making a deal with a vampire and trading his daughter—not just a hopeless maiden—but the Prince’s mate. His best friend and true love, the one who gives him joy despite the sadness he carries from being one of the royals. Felix was devastated and so was everyone in the kingdom. Your parents were put on house arrest along with Gunil. The Lord was too weak and sad to escape, but their effrontery manner is thick enough to have themselves show at your funeral, weeping and ashamed.

“I’ll make them regret this,” He said quietly as a tear fell from his eyes, but from sorrow and misery—his gaze turned dark, filled with hatred and regret.

You died. They thought it was the end. You live. And it was only the beginning. They always paint the roses red. You despise it.

With the blood moon above the sky, Felix’s fangs met your neck—burying the bite deep down to savor the remains of your body. His DNA travels from every nerve and passageway to roam inside your body as if it was a venom that escalates for someone to die. But the difference—it will let you live. He attempted to bite, not once, not twice but thrice of his fangs grow sharper by the minute. Your eyes were still closed, with no sense of life after all. Yet he didn’t give up there. He was left with his last choice and carried your body back to the palace where he used the trees as an escape. No one saw him as he landed on the balcony of his room where the King and Queen were waiting. Yeonjun helped him lay you on his bed, lifeless yet beautiful.

“She will be back, the blood moon is with us,” The Queen said.

“Your marks have indicated life, let’s hope for her return,” The King added. “Son, why did you let Gunil live?”

“He is not for me to kill,” Felix said, caressing your hair. “I don’t want to stain my hands with his blood,” The King and Queen exchanged glances as they gave their son a hug.

“We will leave you alone with her,” The Queen said as she nodded at Yeonjun, taking her way out along with the King.

“Sire, let Y/n rest for a bit,” Yeonjun said as Felix gave him a nod before placing a soft kiss on his lips— leaving with him.

The door closed behind Felix as gently as possible and left you into your deep slumber on his bed, hands clasped on your stomach. It was a beautiful night indeed, the bright light from the moon entered the room with the wind howling making the curtains sway. The burning flames on each candle blow as his blood devour your body to your heart. The wind grew stronger and the gushing sounds of it poke the life within you. A gasp escaped your lips as you opened your eyes.

They were red.

Felix suddenly felt something weird that held him back to his room, you were standing in front of a mirror—amused by what you had become. The Prince ran back inside as you heard the sounds of the door opening. Felix’s heart started to beat faster, you look different after being brought to life, yet still the most beautiful woman in his eyes. He is already crying as you stare at each other—you spread your arms open as he welcomes you into a hug.

“My love, I missed you so much,” He said, hugging you tightly as you melted under his touch. “I thought I’d lost you,” He added between his sobs. “You came back,”

“I thought I’ll be gone,” You said, shedding tears as Felix kissed your lips most definitely.

It is that one thing that you missed. His hugs, all the cuddles, and laughs—his kisses were always gentle and soft as you tasted your own blood from his lips. That didn’t matter. He wrapped his arms around your waist to pull you closer, enough space to deepen the kiss. It was filled with longingness as he was left to cry his heart out inside his room a few days after your death. It wasn’t his job to bring back the living but for the sake that you are his only mate, he risked his own life for it and promised to make them regret what they did. He loves you dearly.

Your back met the mattress as he hovered over you—hand wrapped around his neck, Felix didn’t waste his time kissing you. He licked your lips before sucking them and took them again as you let out soft moans from his touch. One that it drove him crazy while at it, you pulled him closer to yours as you played with his black locks. Felix smiled at the thought, ending it with a soft kiss on your lips, making you giggle. Your hand placed on his cheek gently, caressing it to look at his face in awe. The face of the one you love, the one who saved you, and the one you should marry.

“I love you,” He said.

“I love you too,” You added he placed another prolonged kiss on your lips again.

And that moment later, you lay beside together as you hold hands with Felix playing with your fingers.

“The ball will be tomorrow night,” He said. “We were supposed to be busy,” The Prince chuckled.

“I’m sorry to forfeit your schedule,” You said as Felix shake his head, kissing the tip of your nose.

“It’s fine, they already know,” He smiled. “I want to deliver you in public tomorrow, make your parents regret what they did, and face Gunil,” He said, slowly changing his tone.

“Wouldn’t be weird to have a dead be alive again?” You asked as he giggled.

“I have the power to make you live for you are my mate, my blood is yours, we share it now,” He smiled. “I made you one of us to make you live, and I will make you my Princess,”

“That’s a huge honor for me,” You said.

“Will you accept it?” Felix asked, looking at the red eyes that you share with him.

“I will be honored, your Highness,” You smiled.

The night of the ball arrived, it was supposedly a birthday celebration for the King where everyone is dancing and colleagues meet. Your parents were invited as well as Gunil who is still a prisoner, dressed them into fine nobles to what they should be. The King was seated on the throne along with his wife. A feast that everyone thought that it was the usual birthday party. Felix stood beside his Father and watched the townsmen enjoy the company. The music was played by a famous group of musicians and a singer was intended to sing later.

Everyone was distracted, the King is smiling and the Queen is satisfied with the taste of the wine as you were hidden on the second floor. A red ball gown that emphasizes a sweet backfire as you walked down the stairs made the King halt the activities. The Prince went to escort you and the townsmen were left in shock. The Prince’s other half lives. Your parents had a hard time swallowing the fact that what they did was wrong and now, the royal family’s hatred grows bigger—with you being alive and a part of the immortality.

“Behold, our new heir of the throne,” The King announced as Gunil dropped his glass on the floor. That caught your attention as you stood beside Felix at the throne, one that your parents cried in regret but it was too late. It was their fault why your life was miserable enough and was killed for your blood. A connection to the Prince not to get the throne if you were gone.

“Y/n,” Your Mother cried as was about to run to you but the guard have blocked their way. The Governor was ashamed. He couldn’t look you in the eye.

“Why did you do this to me?” You asked them.

“Oh darling it was a mistake, your Father—” But your Mother was cut off when she saw your eyes. You became one of them.

“Gunil, you are no longer a Lord, Mr. (y/l/n) the King revoked your Governor position and now you live as a normal member of the town with your wife.” You said. “I forgive you for taking away my freedom but I will never ever forget the day you traded me for a fucking position in the palace—Mother didn’t even stop you,” You cried at your Father.

“Your Highness, please forgive me,” Your Father said but it was too late.

“Please, just leave,” You said quietly as Felix hugged you.

“Guards, escort them back to the Chateau,” The King ordered. Your parents wanted to oppose at the situation but the guards dismissed them away. Gunil hissed at the sight of you, being disgusted with the fact that you’re all fine. But you sent him a death glare and smirked away.

“Do you want to walk with me outside?” Felix asked as you nodded. He held your hand tightly as you walked by the garden. It was yet another lovely night—the celebration resumed but the thoughts of your parents’ faces never left your mind. The former Governor might’ve been so embarrassed that he didn’t say any word. Yet you still despise Gunil for what he did—he was for you to kill anyway but decided to never lay a hand to a prisoner. They didn’t deserve you.

“So what’s your plan now? Your parents and Gunil?” Felix asked.

“I still love them even after what they did to me, let them be in the Chateau and Gunil will be prohibited from having freedom,” You sighed as he gave you a nod.

“That will be taken care of,” He said. “But what’s on your mind, right now?”

“I’m happy,” You answered in response.

“How so?” Felix asked, smiling at the sight of you—excited of what you meant.

“Everything happened quickly like a blink of an eye,” You started. “All this luxury after I live again felt so unexpected,”

“Y/n, you deserve this,” Felix insisted as he stopped—looking at you. “You’re free now, nothing will step in your way. All you need to do is be my Princess, and be my Queen when the time comes.” He said as you giggled in response. “I’ll take that as a yes then,” He smiled.

“Felix, you know I can’t say no to you,” You smiled as he kissed your forehead.

“I know,” Felix answered, caressing your cheek. “I love you Y/n, you deserve anything in this world.”

“I only ask for you,” You answered as Felix smiled before kissing your lips softly.

“You will always have me,”

©️ 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐒𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐌𝐈𝐍 , 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑.

617 notes · View notes

sunnytaes · 1 year

Text

The Ballad of the Phoenix

❅ Pairing: Hwang Hyunjin x Lee Minho x Lee Felix

❅ Genre/themes: angst with a happy ending (eventually), eventual fluff, adventure, fantasy au, royal au, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, Felix is Steve (but not really), arranged marriage (but not really), prince!Hyunjin, prince!Minho, mage!Felix

❅ Warning(s): alcohol mentions, brief description of an animal pelt, Felix (unfortunately) does not appear in this chapter

❅ Chapter word count: 6.7k

❅ Chapter summary: Prince Hyunjin of Mahonia and Prince Minho of Cerasus have been distant for years after once having been close as children. Their parents want them to marry to unify their kingdoms, but both princes adamantly refuse. They agree to give reconnecting a chance, however, though it proves to be difficult when neither is willing to bend.

❅ Note(s): This fic is for the Clownracha fic exchange and it is dedicated to my lovely Lennie, @decaffedthoughts! Lennie, I hope you enjoy it. I made a playlist for the series, which you can find here. Pls listen to it in order :)

Chapter 1: Forget-Me-Not

The afternoon sun seeped in through the tall windows of the castle, squares of light broken up by the shadows of the window panes travelling across the large canvas set up next to the window. Delicate, practised hands were adding small, vaguely flower-shaped dots of orange to the rhododendron bush on the canvas. In front of the canvas sat His Royal Highness, Prince Hwang Hyunjin of Mahonia, the Kingdom of Winter.

The young prince was sitting in a decidedly un-princelike manner, hunched over his canvas with his paintbrush clutched tightly in his hand, but the determined expression on his face was certainly that of a king’s. His long hair had been tied crudely out of his face with a stray piece of twine, and his princely outer robes had been tossed haphazardly on the large bed, leaving him in only a white undershirt, the paint-splattered sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his everyday pants, the piece of linen he used to protect the fine material from paint long since abandoned on the floor.

Hyunjin’s painting was interrupted by a firm knock to his door, two raps in quick succession, followed by a third a moment later. Hyunjin only knew one person who knocked in such a unique manner and a smile spread across his face.

“Come in, Seungmin,” the prince called out, rinsing his brush in the wooden bowl next to his easel before placing it on the cloth next to the bowl to dry.

Hyunjin’s personal attendant and the closest thing he’s had to a friend all his life poked his head into the prince’s chamber, his fluffy brown hair flopping slightly to the side from the angle, his round golden wire-rimmed glasses also falling slightly askew. Hyunjin could only see his collar and a bit of his left shoulder, but he knew Seungmin was wearing the same garb all of the palace staff wore, a royal blue tunic belted at the waist with a gold braided cord, black trousers, and polished black loafers. Each tunic bore the kingdom’s crest — the Hellebore Mountains with the moon rising behind the peak, surrounded by a wreath of plum blossoms — embroidered on the left side, just above the heart, and Seungmin’s featured a small gold pin of the same crest on the mock neckline of his tunic, indicating that he was a member of the royal family’s personal staff.

Hyunjin did not need to see the rest of his friend’s uniform in that moment to know that not an inch was out of place, with starch-pressed creases in the trousers and shoes so well-polished one could see their reflection in them. Seungmin was often better dressed than Hyunjin, the latter often having the odd paint stain somewhere on his clothing or hands, despite the amount of care he took to prevent that from happening.

“Your parents are requesting your presence,” Seungmin said, casting a glance at Hyunjin’s canvas. He hummed appreciatively at the painting, meeting Hyunjin’s eyes as he spoke. “It seemed serious, so you might want to make yourself look… a bit more presentable. But quickly, it also seemed urgent.”

Hyunjin let out a sigh, picking up a rag to wipe the stray flecks of paint off of his hands. Some of the fresher flecks came off easily, but some only smudged deeper into his skin, and others had long since dried.

Seungmin took his leave, off to do whatever it was he did when he wasn’t taking care of Hyunjin. Hyunjin honestly didn’t know what he got up to in his spare time, but he did not care so long as Seungmin was there when he needed him, which he always was. Technically, the prince’s attendant or his personal maids were supposed to help him dress, but Seungmin had given up on that very shortly after he took on the role, and Hyunjin had also dismissed his maids from assisting him, as it made him feel like a child being doted on, which he hated.

The rest of the kingdom thought him to be a spoiled, arrogant prince, but Hyunjin and those closest to him, albeit not that many people, knew that was far from the case. The prince did not care what others thought of him, though. He knew that his subjects called him the Ice Prince because of his cold exterior, but he did not mind. He was warm to those who mattered and polite but succinct with those he was unfamiliar with, and if that made him come across as cold, then so be it.

Hyunjin dressed himself quickly, praying his parents wouldn’t notice the splash of yellow paint that had made it onto the knee of his trousers, and started to make his way to the east wing of Icehaven Palace, where his parents resided. Hyunjin spent most of his time in the south wing, in a former guest room that he had claimed for his own because of the beautiful view of the garden below his window, and the Hellebore Mountains on the horizon, marking the edge of his kingdom. Though it was customary for a prince to stay in the east wing with the rest of the royal family, Hyunjin found himself forgoing custom more often than not, and even though he occasionally returned to his childhood bedroom in the east wing to watch the sunrise, he had called the room in the south wing home for as long as he could remember.

Arriving at the east wing, Hyunjin made his way to his parents’ shared room, as that was usually where they were when they summoned him together. He nodded at their personal guard, Mingyu, as the taller man stepped aside to let him in.

Entering his parents’ chambers, Hyunjin was met with the familiar scent of mulled spices and old wood that he came to associate with the space. His mother was sitting in her favourite chaise lounge by the window, the midnight silk of her dress blending into the indigo velvet of the chair. A chalice was perched delicately in her hand, likely containing her favourite plum wine, a Mahonian signature. Hyunjin’s father stood by her side, staring pensively out the window and looking in Hyunjin’s direction when he entered the room. Like Hyunjin, his father had long hair, but his swept past his shoulders where Hyunjin’s only reached his jaw. The king often wore his hair in a complicated braided knot atop his head, accenting his crown perfectly, but now his hair was loose, flowing past his shoulders as the gold crown rested on the vanity next to the queen’s matching one.

Hyunjin was unaccustomed to seeing his parents so casually, but he did his best to appear unfazed by the sight. He greeted his parents with the low bow customary for greeting Mahonian royals, with one fist clasped over the heart to signify fealty to the crown. When he straightened his posture, his parents were smiling warily at him, as if they were nervous too.

“Hyunjin, please sit,” his mother said, gesturing towards one of the armchairs facing the chaise lounge.

Swallowing his nerves, Hyunjin sat in the one closest to the fire.

“There’s something we would like to discuss with you,” the king said, his focus solely on Hyunjin now.

“I only snuck out to get paints once, Seungmin had no idea!” Hyunjin blurted, wringing his hands in his lap.

His father quirked a bemused eyebrow at him, while his mother appeared to be hiding her smile between her chalice.

“That is not what we were planning on discussing, but we can address that later.”

“We have always appreciated your independence, Hyunjin, and we would never force you to do something you didn’t want to do, but there is something we would like you to consider,” his mother said, smiling at him warmly.

Though both of his parents were looking at him with uncharacteristically fond expressions, Hyunjin could not help but feel the anxiety rising in his chest.

“What is this about?” he asked.

“We’ve been talking with the King and Queen of Cerasus, and we were thinking it would be greatly beneficial to both kingdoms if you were to get married to their crown prince, Prince Minho,” the queen said apprehensively, as if she knew what Hyunjin’s reaction would be.

Predictably, Hyunjin shot out of his chair immediately, causing it to tumble backwards and land with a dull thud on the carpet. “If we were to do what?” he exclaimed, eyes frantically darting between his parents. Surely they had to be joking.

“We are not trying to force you, Hyunjin, but we would like you to consider it,” his father said calmly, ignoring his son’s burst of frantic energy.

“It seems a little forceful,” Hyunjin chuckled nervously, reaching his hands up to tangle his fingers in the roots of his hair, loosening his ponytail and causing him to look probably about as frazzled as he felt.

“You don’t have to commit to anything right now,” Hyunjin’s mother explained gently, resting her chalice on the side table next to her. “We have invited Prince Minho to stay with us at the castle for the summer. All you have to do is get to know him better, and tell us how you feel at the end of the season.”

“I already know how I feel about him,” Hyunjin grumbled, crossing his arms. “He hates me. Why couldn’t it be Prince Yeosang instead?”

“Prince Yeosang of Celosia has already expressed his intent to marry a commoner,” his father said with a sigh. “Besides, weren’t you and Minho friends? I seem to remember you two running around the Cherry Blossom Palace wreaking havoc everywhere you went.” “Not anymore,” Hyunjin said with a pout, arms crossed defiantly. He was well aware that he was behaving childishly, but he could not bring it upon himself to care. He would continue to refuse marriage to Prince Minho even if it was the last thing he did.

His mother gave him a look, and Hyunjin sighed, tossing his arms in the air. “Fine, he can stay here. But I make no promises beyond that.” “That is all we ask of you, son,” his father said, something akin to pride in his eyes.

Hyunjin was dismissed from his parents’ chambers and left in a huff, not even bothering to greet Mingyu this time, leaving the poor guard with his hand lingering halfway in the air.

Not a single member of the staff dared to speak to him as he thundered through the halls of the castle, a storm forming on his brow as he made a beeline for Seungmin’s room.

When Minho’s parents, the king and queen of Cerasus, the Kingdom of Spring, first suggested to him that he marry the Hwang prince, he adamantly refused. He’d known Prince Hyunjin since he was a toddler and Hyunjin was a dumpling-shaped infant, on account of their parents being good friends and their kingdoms being allied. The two princes had been friends as kids, Minho had many fond memories of chasing stray cats together through the gardens of his palace and peering through the telescope in the large conservatory in the Cherry Blossom Palace.

But as they aged, Hyunjin grew distant, and one year at the annual Harvest Ball held in Celosia, the Kingdom of Autumn, Hyunjin avoided him like the plague, even going so far as to run away when Minho tried to approach him. They were still kids then, especially Hyunjin, who was two years Minho’s junior, and Minho knew he should’ve been the more mature one and tried to talk to the other prince about it, but instead Minho reacted in the way he knew best. If Hyunjin was going to act coldly towards him, Minho would be cold right back.

Years later, after Hyunjin had continued to act coldly towards the elder prince and Minho delivered sharp remarks any time they were forced to be together, Hyunjin had developed a reputation in his kingdom.The citizens started to refer to him as the Ice Prince, not simply because he was prince of the Kingdom of Winter, but because he acted coldly to everyone he met, staying locked up in the castle and refusing to go out to meet the citizens on holidays as was expected of royalty.

Minho, on the other hand, though he had grown to act coldly towards Hyunjin as the years went by, had earned the title Angel Prince because of his delicate features and his benevolence towards his people. Prince Minho was often seen in soup kitchens helping the needy and donating toys to local orphanages, and had even purchased an animal shelter with his own money to keep it from shutting down. Whereas Prince Hyunjin was feared by his subjects, Prince Minho was revered.

Though they had been friends as children, Prince Minho was firmly against marrying the frigid prince and moving to his equally frigid kingdom for even part of the year, and he vocalised as much to his parents, who were disappointed but agreed that they would not force him. But when a courier from Mahonia arrived with a letter addressed to him, Minho briefly reconsidered his stance on the Ice Prince.

Prince Hyunjin had personally written to him saying that his parents had also tried to talk to him about a marriage between the two of them, and while he was not enthusiastic about the idea of marriage, he had made a promise to his parents that he would try to get to know Prince Minho.

The letter was an invitation for Minho to come stay with him in Mahonia. Minho was not thrilled at the prospect of staying in the winter kingdom, where he hadn’t been since he was too young to remember; both his and Hyunjin’s parents much preferred spending their time together in the warmer Kingdom of Spring.

Minho was moved by the letter, regardless, because it would have been easy for Prince Hyunjin to continue to avoid him like he had all these years, and the fact that he hadn’t outright rejected the idea without a word to Minho or his parents was enough for Minho to find himself packing his bags with his warmest clothes in hopes that the Ice Prince he knew had thawed his heart since the last time he had seen him.

The day of Prince Minho’s arrival at Icehaven Palace, Hyunjin was doing his best not to be found. That is to say, he was hiding in a far corner of the library where he hoped no one would think to look. Hyunjin was not much of a reader himself, but he had gone looking for Seungmin during his days off enough times that the prince was very familiar with the royal library and all of the nooks and crannies that would make perfect hiding spots.

That’s how he found himself wedged in a bookshelf in the least frequently visited part of the library that had been suspiciously cleared of its lower shelves, leaving an oddly Seungmin-shaped void where the books should be. Hyunjin was not a coward, not at all, but there were many things he would rather do than entertain the Prince of Cerasus for weeks and pretend that there was any chance of the two getting married, and folding himself into a pretzel in a bookshelf that was probably pressing bruises directly into his bones was apparently on that list.

Hyunjin wasn’t sure how long he was going to hide, but he figured emerging at dusk would be a safe bet as he would only have to interact with Prince Minho at dinner and then would be able to excuse himself to his chambers for the night. Judging by soft light filtering in through the domed skylights built into the library, it was mid-afternoon, and Hyunjin would have to be here for a while longer.

With a sigh, he reached his hand up to the shelf above him that did, in fact, contain books, and grabbed a book at random. As he pulled it off of the shelf, a plume of dust emerged with it, causing Hyunjin to splutter and cough and hold the offending book at arm’s length. Of course Seungmin would only clean the shelves he would need to create his hiding place.

Carefully shaking out the book and wiping the cover with his sleeve, Hyunjin began to read. He wasn’t too interested in the ancient methods of agriculture of Mahonia, which, despite being the winter kingdom, were still plentiful, but he was bored enough that it didn’t matter as he soon got engrossed in the text for the sake of having something to do.

Despite the book likely having been relegated to an unused part of the library for a reason, Hyunjin found himself losing track of time. It wasn’t until a pair of black trousers and spotless black shoes appeared in his periphery that Hyunjin became aware of how much time had passed. As he looked up to meet Seungmin’s eyes, the sky showing through the skylight had darkened significantly, dusk being well underway.

“Just what exactly do you think you’re doing here?” Seungmin said, in the same bored tone he often adopted when Hyunjin was being too erratic for his liking. “And in my hiding place, no less?” Pouting, Hyunjin dog-eared the page and pretended not to see Seungmin’s responding wince. “Didn’t think anyone would be able to find me.”

His whining tone was met with an eye roll as Seungmin crossed his arms impatiently. “Most people would not think to look for you in the library, because everyone knows how much you hate reading. But I’m not most people. Now get up, you’re due at dinner in half an hour and you’re covered in dust. Not to mention your fiancé has been wandering the castle like a lost soul because you didn’t come to greet him.” “He’s not my fiancé!” Hyunjin protested, groaning as he slowly eased himself out of the cramped bookshelf nook, his joints creaking in protest. Seungmin made no move to help him.

“Visiting prince who your parents are ‘suggesting’ you marry, same difference,” Seungmin said, looking as if he was holding back a laugh as Hyunjin finally stood to meet his eyes, his face red from the sudden blood rush and his long hair tossed haphazardly in his face. With a fond smile, Seungmin picked a few dust bunnies out of Hyunjin’s long hair like he’d done many times before, adjusting the prince’s hair so it was back in the neat half ponytail he normally kept it in. “Let’s go, Prince Dust Bunny, you should wash up before dinner. Wouldn’t want to make a bad impression on your future husband.”

“That ship has long since sailed,” Hyunjin grumbled, following Seungmin with heavy footsteps as they made their way out of the library.

“What’s with the book, by the way?” Seungmin asked as they were almost at the grand doors of the library, only sparing a cursory glance back at Hyunjin, who still had the book cradled in his arms like it was more precious than it probably was. “I’ve never seen you get more than ten pages into a book without giving up, you must have been really keen to avoid this prince.”

“Thought Yunho might like it,” Hyunjin mumbled reluctantly, having in fact brought the book with him instead of leaving it where he found it because he thought Seungmin’s boyfriend, the palace gardener, would enjoy its contents. Hyunjin knew Yunho hated reading, but he did enjoy hearing Seungmin read to him, something the gardener and the prince shared in common.

Seungmin’s retort died in his lips as a voice called out further down the hallway, “Prince Minho, we should really return to your chambers and wait to be summoned for dinner.”

Hyunjin froze, quickly thrusting the book in Seungmin’s direction, leaving the poor attendant to scramble to hold it properly. Approaching from the other end of the hallway at what could only be described as a leisurely stroll, was none other than the very person Hyunjin was trying to avoid, with a very flustered guard, one of Hyunjin’s own, trailing after him hopelessly.

Hyunjin hadn’t seen Prince Minho in years, but he looked the same, only more handsome, if that was possible. Minho had really grown into his features, much to Hyunjin’s annoyance, and his confident posture seemed to indicate that he knew it.

The winter prince was still frozen in place when Prince Minho and his escort’s path overlapped with his. Hyunjin was regretting not ducking into the nearest supply closet to hide, because Prince Minho looked even more beautiful up close. Warm brown hair, rosy red lips and chestnut brown eyes that narrowed upon seeing Hyunjin. Hyunjin had once known Minho well enough to know when the guarded expression he used with those he wasn’t close to fell over his features, and he could still see the moment it slipped into place as the Cerisian prince stopped in front of Hyunjin.

Hyunjin wanted nothing more than to avoid eye contact, so he let his eyes trail from the polished boots Prince Minho wore, to the silken white trousers, to the lavender silk robe and matching overcoat gilded in gold flowers. The garment was typical of Cerisian court attire, but he must have been freezing when he arrived. Hyunjin found he did not care about whether the other prince was cold on his journey or not when they finally met eyes, and the air around them was palpably tense.

Though equal in rank, it was customary for royals to bow to each other upon greeting as a sign of respect. Neither prince moved to bow, choosing instead to maintain prolonged eye contact. Hyunjin was the first to break, because even though he didn’t want to initiate contact, he knew he should based on the fact that he was the one hosting.

“Prince Minho,” Hyunjin said with the slightest inclination of his head toward the other royal, nothing close to the customary bow. He couldn’t bring himself to bow before the man who had been unkind to him for years, the other prince didn’t deserve that kind of respect. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Seungmin bristle slightly at his cold tone. It was not one he used often, usually reserved for courtiers who thought their status meant others should bend to their will, and Seungmin was unaccustomed to hearing it. The last time Hyunjin had seen Prince Minho had been long before Seungmin was promoted to be his personal attendant.

“Prince Hyunjin,” the spring prince replied, equally as frosty, his stare seeming to pierce through Hyunjin’s perfectly crafted cold persona that he adopted around the Cerisian prince, straight into his soul. He looked simultaneously menacing and bored, like he would rather be anywhere else in the four kingdoms. He probably did, Hyunjin knew that Prince Minho had accepted his invitation, but he didn’t know how much of that was the prince’s own will and how much of it was his parents’.

Suddenly, Prince Minho’s demeanour changed, his shoulders loosened as he blinked owlishly at Hyunjin, his gaze trained on Hyunjin’s hair.

“Is that… dust in your hair?” he asked, seeming almost amused.

Hyunjin’s eyes widened marginally, shifting his gaze to Seungmin, who had clearly missed a dust bunny in his tidying of his prince’s hair. Seungmin shrugged apologetically but utterly unhelpfully, leaving Hyunjin to fend for himself. Hyunjin took a look at the high, vaulted ceilings, almost as if begging the gods to help him come up with an answer, and failing that, his gaze trailed to the portraits of his ancestors that were lining the hallway in ten foot increments. Neither the gods nor his ancestors appeared to be on his side, because no answer came.

Squaring his shoulders, Hyunjin looked directly into Prince Minho’s piercing brown eyes before addressing him. “What’s it to you?” was the only thing that came out of his mouth, a childish response he would’ve expected to have given at the age of eight, not twenty two.

Frustrated and ashamed and utterly unwilling to let Prince Minho see the flush that was beginning to creep up his neck, Hyunjin surged forward, brushing past Minho with a brisk nod to his guard, Seonghwa. A baffled Seungmin was on his tail the entire time as the abashed prince rapidly made his way back to his chambers to wallow in peace.

Prince Minho of Cerasus arrived at Icehaven Palace in the middle of a blizzard, after eighteen days of travelling across the continent on horseback. To say he was exhausted would be an understatement. He was unaccustomed to long distance travel, only travelling between cities and towns within his own kingdom, and occasionally to Celosia. But neither Cerasus nor Celosia had weather quite this terrible. Minho had never encountered such weather before, and he now understood why the Mahonian king and queen always made the journey to his kingdom instead of asking him and his parents to visit them here. Minho was quite convinced that if he had to live here for any extended period of time, he’d want to get away whenever he could as well.

His reception was nice enough, the queen greeted him personally in the expansive main hall of the castle, fussing over his tired appearance and snow-covered form. He was assigned a personal guard, as all of his had returned to his kingdom upon abandoning him in a kingdom he had never been to with people he hardly knew (he definitely wasn’t harbouring a lifelong grudge against each and every one of those guards and their descendants), and a personal attendant for his stay in Icehaven Palace. They both seemed nice enough, and were both around his age which would be nice for a change. Many of the guards in Minho’s palace were in their thirties or older, and while they were interesting to be around, Minho did not have the chance to spend time with many people his age.

The guard was a slim but imposing figure, seeming to tower over Minho and looking like he was taking account of every breath Minho took with his wide but piercing eyes, which was a little unnerving, honestly. He was introduced as Lieutenant Park Seonghwa, one of Prince Hyunjin’s personal guards who had been reassigned to Minho for the duration of his stay. If the lieutenant was upset about this assignment, Minho could not tell. The attendant was introduced as Yang Jeongin, who apparently knew all of the ins and outs of the castle and would be able to secure Minho whatever his heart desired, within reason. Minho was polite to his new companions, as he was raised to do, but he wondered all the while how long it would take for him to evade his new shadows and be able to roam the castle without feeling like he was being kept prisoner.

In the meantime, Minho would have to make do with the situation he was in, so he politely excused himself from the queen, though she was very insistent that he wait just a few moments longer in case her son decided to show up, but it had been abundantly clear to Minho as soon as he stepped in the castle and was greeted only by the queen and a handful of staff members that Prince Hyunjin was not going to grace them with his presence any time soon.

After Minho insisted on making his leave, Jeongin led him to the chambers where he would be staying for the month he had to live there as Seonghwa carried the small sack of Minho’s belongings he had brought from home. The chambers were well-decorated and nearly as big as his chambers back home, he could tell it was one of the ones meant for important guests.

The main room had a small sitting area to the right of the door, in front of a fireplace, which Jeongin had rushed in to light as soon as they arrived. The bed against the left wall was massive, much bigger than the one Minho had at home, because he hated feeling small in such a large bed. It was dressed in indigo silk sheets, with a gold brocade on the comforter and pillows. Minho smiled, recognizing the set as a gift from his parents to the Mahonian king and queen many years ago. Minho’s kingdom was the primary exporter of silk across the continent, so it was a safe bet that most if not all of the silk in the castle had been produced in his kingdom.

Though the bedding was familiar to him, the room also had more animal hides and pelts than Minho had ever seen gathered in one place before. He supposed it was only logical, as they would need to keep warm somehow in the frigid winter kingdom, but Minho shuddered nonetheless at the sight of a particularly realistic white pelt laying across the back of one of the chairs that must have belonged to an arctic fox at some point.

Probably interpreting his disquieted shudder as a shiver of cold, Jeongin appeared at Minho’s side, wiping the soot from his hands on a white handkerchief with the blue and gold kingdom crest embroidered on it.

“Would you like me to draw you a bath, Your Highness?” the attendant asked, reaching to help Minho out of the heavy winter cloak he had purchased specifically for this journey. Minho obliged, letting the sharp-eyed man take the cloak off of his shoulders.

“That would be nice, thank you, Jeongin. And you may call me Minho, I do not require honourifics when we are away from the public eye. The same goes for you,” he said, turning to address Seonghwa, who was in the process of placing Minho’s bag in the armoire that was to the left of the door, parallel to the bed. The lieutenant paused, his brows furrowed and wide eyes full of confusion as he pointed to himself as if to say “Me?”

Minho let out a laugh at seeing the man’s previously intimidating face shift into such an innocent-looking one. “Yes, you. I estimate we are all about the same age, and I don’t have the luxury of being surrounded by people my age when I am at home. So please, refer to me comfortably.”

As Seonghwa stood there, still dumbfounded, Jeongin piped up brightly “Alright! Minho it is! How would you like your bath?”

“So scalding my skin turns concerningly red and I have a reason to miss dinner,” Minho replied with a deadpan look on his face. Minho had come to accept that his humour was doomed to be criminally underappreciated, but to his surprise, Jeongin’s face broke out in a gleeful dimpled smile as he scurried off in the direction of the bathing room that lay beyond the bedroom.

“You got it, boss!” the young attendant exclaimed, sounding slightly too excited about the prospect of drawing Minho the hottest bath he’d ever been in. A surprised laugh bubbled out of Minho’s chest. He could learn to like it here.

A long bath that left him smelling so floral it reminded him of home and a short nap later, Minho decided to dress himself and wander the castle a bit before dinner. Jeongin had disappeared from his room before his nap, after unpacking Minho’s bag and steaming all of his clothes free of wrinkles and hanging them up in the armoire, a task he did not have to do but did nonetheless. Minho had a feeling the attendant would insist on doing many more things for him over the course of his stay, even though Minho was used to pretty much being left alone at home. Minho wasn’t sure if all personal attendants were this dedicated, as he had not had one since he had nannies as a child, or if Jeongin was just a special brand of enthusiastic.

Nonetheless, Minho was able to leave his room with one less shadow than he had entered it with, only Seonghwa, who had been posted outside of his door, following him now as he wandered aimlessly throughout the cavernous halls of the castle.

The layout was considerably different from Minho’s home, with tall sandstone walls and arched doorways and ceilings, instead of the bamboo walls and ornately painted tiered ceilings Minho was accustomed to. He had expected to be cold in the castle walking around in his Cerisian attire, since the place was made almost entirely of stone, but he actually felt strangely warm. Not uncomfortably so, but enough to make Minho question exactly how the castle was being heated, as the small torches mounted on the walls appeared to be more for lighting than heating.

Now that he thought about it, Minho remembered feeling warmer as soon as he set foot within the palace boundaries. Granted, it had still been cold, because there was still snow everywhere and Minho apparently had delicate Cerisian sensibilities, but to the best of his memory, he had started to warm up as soon as he entered the palace’s outer boundaries, not its walls.

Minho’s thoughts were broken as he became aware of two things at once. First, Seonghwa’s presence only a couple of paces behind him, much closer than the trailing distance he’d been maintaining up until now. It appeared Seonghwa had been trying to get his attention, which he would have succeeded in doing, had something, or rather someone, not immediately grabbed Minho’s attention as soon as he spotted them. Second, walking closer to him and looking in any direction other than Minho, which let the older know immediately that he was being avoided, was none other than the Ice Prince, Hwang Hyunjin.

Given that the other prince had not received him despite personally inviting him, Minho had an inkling that Hyunjin had been actively trying to avoid him, and would likely scurry away immediately upon making contact, as he had often done when they were children. Which was why Minho, despite having initially paused upon spotting Hyunjin, continued his leisurely stroll down the hallway, making sure to keep his eyes on Hyunjin the entire time, so that if the other prince looked in his direction he would be forced to make eye contact.

When they inevitably did make eye contact, Minho stopped where he stood and schooled his expression into the bored one he used when the ladies who worked at the soup kitchen would try to set him up with their sons and daughters, even though he was secretly delighted at the fact that this eye contact appeared to be making Prince Hyunjin squirm.

Certain that the Ice Prince would run away at any moment, Minho made no move to bow. He did not want to embarrass himself in front of his new guard or the attendant by Hyunjin’s side when he was left in a perfectly polite ninety degree bow in the direction of the space the younger prince had occupied before fleeing.

“Prince Minho,” Hyunjin spoke first, startling Minho so much that his careful mask almost slipped. He had not expected the Mahonian prince to speak to him at all, though the level of frostiness in his tone was not surprising in the slightest.

“Prince Hyunjin,” Minho returned, fighting to match the cold tone with his own that he was quite unaccustomed to using. Hyunjin had changed drastically since the last time Minho had seen him.

He had frustratingly grown to be what looked to be a couple of inches taller than Minho, but luckily they were not standing close enough that Minho had to look up to him. He was sure he’d die if that happened. His face had lost nearly all of its dumpling-like softness that Minho had once fussed over for hours when they were children, and was now angular in a very flattering way, making him look all the more like the Ice Prince he was said to be. His hair was also much longer than Minho had ever seen it, long enough to be kept in a short ponytail, with only a few wisps falling out, and… “Is that… dust in your hair?” The question slipped out before Minho could stop it, but he found himself unable to regret it once he saw the look of panic flash across Hyunjin’s face. It made him look more real, much more like the Hyunjin he once knew.

“What’s it to you?” the younger prince blurted, before his eyes widened and he darted past Minho, who could only sigh as he watched him leave. Definitely like the Hyunjin he once knew.

After the mess he had made of himself in the hallway, Hyunjin did not want to attend dinner, begging Seungmin to say he had a stomachache and would be retiring early. It wasn’t a complete lie, as Hyunjin’s stomach felt as uneasy as it had used to feel on the boat rides they used to take to Cerasus when he was a child. But Seungmin refused to lie for him, and said that he would not bring him food later on if he skipped dinner, knowing quite well that Hyunjin had not eaten all afternoon and was likely starving.

Seungmin’s persuasion unfortunately worked, so Hyunjin found himself seated across from Minho at the long but mostly empty dinner table, his mother having given up her usual spot next to the king so that the two could sit opposite each other. She seemed quite fond of Minho, asking him many questions about his travels and his life back in Cerasus, but Hyunjin tuned most of it out, focusing only on his dinner. He tried not to eat too much, but he was really starving and ended up being the last one to finish eating, well after everyone else had finished.

After Minho excused himself abruptly but politely and retired to his chambers with Jeongin and Seonghwa on his heels, Hyunjin’s mother shifted back into her usual chair so she could glare at her son properly.

“What was that?” she questioned, taking a sip of her plum wine as she stared daggers at her son over the rim of her goblet.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hyunjin mumbled around a large bite of persimmon tart.

“Manners, Hwang Hyunjin,” his mother snapped, like he was five years old again. Heat rose to Hyunjin’s face as he forced himself to swallow the pastry with a sip of plum wine to wash it down. The sweetness of the wine cancelled out the sweetness of the dessert, leaving his mouth with a bitter taste in it, but Hyunjin couldn’t bring himself to eat or drink anything more now that his parents seemed set on interrogating him.

“Why do you insist on giving our guest, your guest, the cold shoulder?” his mother questioned. Hyunjin looked to his father for help, but the king seemed very interested in the contents of his wine goblet, swirling it counterclockwise and decidedly avoiding inserting himself in the conversation.

“He’s mean to me,” Hyunjin grumbled, hating how much he sounded like a petulant child.

“Have you even spoken to him since he arrived?” the queen retorted.

“Well-” Hyunjin started, before deciding that the interaction in the hallway did not count as a conversation. “No, but-”

“But what, Hwang Hyunjin?” his mother sighed. Hyunjin remained quiet, because he did not have a way to end that sentence that would not result in his mother scolding him more. He could tell she was starting to get frustrated with him as her nails were tapping rhythmically against the cherry wood table.

The king chimed in now, placing his hand placatingly on top of his wife’s to stop the tapping. “All we ask is that you try to speak with him, Hyunjin. Perhaps he’s changed since the last time you saw him. Think about how out of his element he must feel here. It needs to be you who reaches out.” Hyunjin knew his father was right, but he hated it. He would rather walk through a blizzard in nothing but his undergarments than be the one to break the years-long tension between him and Prince Minho, but he had made a promise to his parents, after all, and he couldn’t let them down.

Masterlist.

Taglist: @wooyussy @saltyone101 @burningupp

#skz fic #stray kids fic #skz au #danceracha fic #hyunho fic #skz royal au #skz fantasy au #stray kids angst #hyunjin fanfic #lee know fanfic #stray kids series #felix fanfic #hyunlix fic #minlix fic

49 notes · View notes

lixxpix · 2 months

Text

the blood crown. (chapter 1.)

pairings: prince!chan x reader, prince!minho x reader, prince!changbin x reader, prince!hyunjin x reader, prince!jisung x reader, prince!felix x reader, prince!seungmin x reader, prince!jeongin x reader

warnings: mentions of blood, death, poison, suggestive jokes but no smut, competition amongst noble families, ot8 are princes

author's note: hellooo:) welcome to my first series on tumblr! i wanted to go with a sort of dark theme for this fic:> please please do leave likes and comments, it truly makes my day!

You grew up in a household made of lies, deceit and poison.

Born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you were born to an ordinary village girl, and your father, a high-ranking noble. Your mother had been training you since you could barely walk; always smile politely, always walk gracefully, always greet your guests. Each time you would get something wrong, the feared cane would come down upon your hands, enough to hurt but never enough to leave bruises. Your mother had grown up in a poor village, using her charm and wit to seduce your father and charm her way into the ranks of high society. She was ruthless, cunning, and most of all: ambitious. She dreamed of ascending to the very top- the royal family. It was no surprise that when you were at the mere age of ten, your father was pronounced dead on a Thursday afternoon in his quarters, being assassinated by a thief who had supposedly snuck into your house.

But you knew.

You knew when the corner of your mother's lips curved up ever so slightly, at the funeral ceremony of your father. Barely there, but it was the smirk of a triumphant winner of the chess game. All your father's assets were transferred to your mother, and she became head of the household- never remarried and never gave birth to any more children.

Your kingdom was governed by the Bahng's, who had eight sons and a daughter- Christopher, the heir to the throne and the king's sole legitimate child, Minho, the second, born to a concubine in the king's harem, just like the rest. Changbin was the third, along with Hyunjin, then Jisung, Felix, Seungmin, and finally Jeongin. And then there was Princess Areum, the king's beloved daughter and second legitimate child.

Your mother heard from the gossip circles amongst the ladies at the tea tasting ceremonies she hosted often, that there were talks of Princess Areum being engaged to Duke Choi's son, Yeonjun. The Choi's were a rival family, always competing with your mother for power.

One day, when you had just crossed the age of eleven a few weeks ago, your mother called you to her study. You sighed, getting up gracefully from where you had been perched on a chair reading, and walked to her study, knocking first, three sharp raps.

"Come in," she called.

And so you put on a demure smile, hands clasped in front of you, never tripping or stumbling on your way. Clothes neatly ironed, not a single hair out of place, the pinnacle of perfection.

"Y/N." her perfectly shaped brows rise, scrutinising you, before smiling softly. Your mother was always strange like that. You knew she loved you, but in wanting what was best for you always pushed too far.

"You know of Princess Areum's engagement."

You nod, brows furrowed.

"She is not the heir to the throne and poses no danger to us as she is a girl, but her future husband does, unfortunately. The Choi's will surely use their newfound power to gloat over us and trample us underfoot if their son was to be married to the princess. However, we must target the girl this time, it is far too risky to target the boy. Weeds in a garden have to be pruned, ripped out by the roots, to maintain the beauty of the garden. Surely you understand. Tell me the number one rule in chess again." her once soft expression hardens, and she leverages you with a stare, piercing through you.

"Always predict your opponent's next move." you reply, unsure of where this conversation is going.

"Yes. The Choi family will immediately suspect us if something happens to their precious firstborn, meanwhile the princess will be easy to manipulate and target." your mother sighs, folding her hands neatly on her lap.

"I want you to make friends with Princess Areum, invite her to our house if possible. We'll see from there."

You nod, hesitant yet confused. What did she mean by target the princess? Was she going to manipulate her to cancel the engagement?

It turns out, the outcome was far worse.

Princess Areum had become fast friends with you quickly, both sharing common interests. Soon, she began to invite you and your mother to the royal palace, your mother becoming close with the queen too.

You should've known.

Years later when you were older, you finally understood what had happened. A tiny bottle of liquid your mother had claimed to be a restoring health tonic, carefully tucked into your mother's sleeve as she made her way to the palace together with you for your weekly afternoon tea sessions with just the four of you.

Princess Areum's rigid body falling to the ground when she took a sip of her afternoon tea, the cries of Queen Bahng echoing out throughout the room as the princess drew her last breath.

You knew.

The King was heartbroken, his only daughter buried in a grave six feet under the ground. No one even suspected your mother.

One year later, Queen Bahng departed from the realm. The people claimed she died from the heartbreak of losing her only daughter, but only two individuals ever knew the truth.

Your mother pretended to be inconsolable at the funeral, sobbing as she watched the casket, and you almost wanted to applaud at how convincing her acting was. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the Crown Prince, Christopher Bahng, standing beside his father who had a tight hand clasped on his shoulder. The prince's eyes were clearly red from having cried the night prior, yet he remained stoic throughout the ceremony. He never let his emotions nor his grief consume him, you supposed it was how you were like with your mother. Never allowed to show your imperfections to the world. Though you wouldn't admit it, deep down you felt sorry for him, a broken child just like you.

The Choi's never rose to power, and your mother's plan worked.

"You must take what is rightfully yours," she had said on the carriage ride home. "And you must do what it takes."

"But at what cost?" you asked.

"Everything."

-years later-

You stared out the window at the bustling city, feeling extremely uncomfortable in the many layers of silk and fabric you were clad in.

"Remember," your mother turned around to look at you, her sharp voice cutting through the silence. "Keep your head up and your eyes trained upon the goal. Charm Prince Christopher.”

“Become the next queen."

~part 2 coming soon~

116 notes · View notes

paintedstories · 3 months

Text

little girl

->Bang Christopher Chan, known as the god of war/wrath (ARES) x fem small town babysitter.

[song]

[playlist]

A.N: Just came back from turkey(5 hours ago) in vacation. Now the series starts!!

tag list:@cherryonigiri; @hyuka-luvbot

(want to be tagged on this and the next upcoming stories from the series? Let me know by Reblogging with a message saying that you do, or commenting!)

"And the last thing is, to not go at that castle," Amy said while pointing to a dark castle on the far point of a mountain, half hidden by the clouds. like it was a god's home, far beyond this world.

"Why?" you asked curiously while looking at it with adoration. "It's said that there lives the God of Wrath and War, Ares... no one dares to go, and who did, never has been heard of them, ever... again..." She said while making a killing motion with her thumb on her neck.

"mhm, so you all believe there lives a...god...?" you questioned while giving her a look that said that she was crazy.

"Trust me y/n!" she said while starting to walk away, motioning for you to follow. "that place gives me the chill only by looking at it..." she said while hugging her shoulders, on her clean face being painted a look of horror.

"if you say so... let us change the subject. What kids do I have tomorrow to babysit, you told me that someone already asked for their kids to be taken care of by 10 AM." You said while walking closer to her holding the basket full of goods that your new friends, the villagers gave you while visiting.

"well miss Pinch will leave for work tomorrow at ten as you know and you will babysit her kids for 2 months, this will be all your job, let me show you her house. Oh! by the way, be at her house with 10 minutes faster, she likes punctual ppl."

"noted, now show me the house, I want to go sleep, this day has been exhausting!!!" you said with a whine.

after 2 hours of seeing the rest of the village and the house you're going to be working at for the future two weeks, you arrived home and went to sleep. But your sleep was quick to be interrupted.

"the window to your bedroom opened showing the bright moon, as you got up to watch it you heard someone running then silence.

"hm, weird, maybe this house really is haunted as Amy said haha" you laughed alone then went to sleep.

in the morning you were at Miss Pinche's house at 9:50 exactly how Amy told you. knocking 3 times for luck you waited till she answered the door. there in front of you stood a beautiful-haired slim woman with a bright smile.

"you must be y/n right?" she asked with a mother like nature in her voice, visible that she had kids.

"Indeed miss!" you said while returning the smile.

Two months had passed as quick as the spring rain. You were heading home from the town market ready to make a nice spring soup and a cheesecake.

On your way home you keep thinking about these 2 past months, how many things have happened, so strange. randomly flowers found at your door when you got home at night, primarily red roses, then at night you kept seeing a figure of a man in the corner of the room. weird, you saw him, but you never felt frightened so you just let it be, it's just your imagination, what can he do to you.....right?

*knock*

*knock* * knock * *knock*

*uh.. I'm coming!!" you screamed while putting a night gown on you, as you were used to sleeping only in your undergarments.

Running to the door and opening it you saw a man dressed like a messenger. "Good morning miss! the future king would like you to come with me to the castle," You were shocked. who? the.....future ... king..?

"I will get ready in 5 minutes and I will let you escort me sir" You bowed and went inside starting to dress, Under your dress in your stockings you put a small blade, in case of anything.

while making your hair you couldn't stop thinking about this king, Is this the one from that dark castle Amy told you to not go to? or was he from some other place?

as you were going to the door you saw in the corner of your eye that man again ... but as always he was too blurry for you to distinguish his features, one thing you could know for sure, was that he was tall, towering, might I also add.

opening the door you were again met with the messenger.

"Miss, you are ready, the prince is not patient

#x reader #kpop fyp #skz #skz au #skz scenarios #skz hyunjin #slytherin boys react #bang chan fluff #bang chan au #bang chan hybrid #bang chan comfort #skz chris #chris skz #fyp #creative writing #writers on tumblr #australia #god #royal au

40 notes · View notes

inncubus-honey · 10 months

Text

tell me what's underneath

a/n: this is along the same lines as his section the treating wounds fix I did for him. but yk, he's the royal and the reader is the protector. but also it will take place after the attack. also imagine him in the outfit that he wore on the masked singer recently

Word Count: 1.8k

royal!seungmin x knight!gn!reader

royal roundabouts masterlist

smoke and heat surrounded them on all sides of the meadow opening. the knight dragged their prince by his hand into the forest to which they exited; both covering their mouths with cloth from the knights shirt to keep smoke from getting in. yells and clashing of metal were heard behind the prince as you dragged him further into the thick of the forest.

one moment he is on his way to a neighboring kingdom to talk politics, the next flaming arrows and people charging from the trees, swords drawn with people screaming with pains and war cries. the carriage tripped over as horses traveled past it, their riders rocking it back and forth.

once it wa tipped onto its side, they ran to fight the other knights who saw them rock it. you and seungmin carefully got of the carriage and you took him towards the woods to escape the attackers eyes.

“my liege, we must move further into the forest so we can lose them!” your words rang in his ears as he went further into the woods by you.

his head pounded against the thudding of horse hooves racing towards one another. cries of knights as they were swept off their horse only to be backstabbed by the enemy who caused it. he looked back and forth from you back towards the violence behind him.

the only thing keeping seungmin tethered to his head in the moment was your hand in his. the calluses of your hand against his softer ones; puppy eyes staring at your side profile and taking in every inch of it. with you as his protector, seungmin would follow you to the ends of the earth.

you handed a tin cup to seungmin who sat on an infirmary bed. the doctor finished checking him out and left y'all for a quiet moment. he took it in his hands, hunched over with a thick wool blanket upon his shoulders.

“how are you feeling, seungmin?” you asked with soft worry hidden in your broad voice.

seungmin always knew why he liked you for a reason; you called him by his name.

never ‘my liege’, ‘your highness’, ‘your majesty’ or any of the other titles that other knights and staff used. you calling him by his god given name was such a meaningful gesture that he fell for you the moment he met you.

seungmin doesnt like when the staff just treat him as the prince; not the booknerd who loves to sneak into the castle library late at night, not the boy who loved to ride his horse in the changing leaves in autumn, nor the boy who would sneak about the village, looking at anything and everything the farmers market. he cupped the cool cup, bringing it closer to his chest and took it in one big gulp. the fire in the meadow caused smoke or how he ran for a while with no breaks caused a parched throat. he had been coughing since they got back to the castle, but he didnt want to stop the doctor from looking at him as he sat in the room.

you never left the room, if you did. it was only for a moment to talk with a maid to get fresh clothes for him or to bring in the water you just handed him.

a hand resting upon his shoulder brought his reiling mind out of the events; it brought him back. he was back in the castle, back in the doctors room with a tin cup in his hands, back with you as you stared with worry infesting your eyes that he didnt like to see in your face. you shouldnt have just a loathsome emotion etched in your features.

“ye…yeah i’m fine. just still thinking about w-what happened in the meadow is all..” he spat out his thoughts before his mind could tell him to calm down.

“are you sure, seungmin? you seemed rattled, which is understandable for what you saw…” he sometimes wishes you were never his guard. maybe a staff member, a doctor or chief. something where this level of violence and gore wasnt something either of you witnessed; but he also knew that wouldnt be fair on you.

you both have had in depth talks about what would be different in your lives if you could choose something else. he would like to experience the other paths of life, not as a prince, maybe a farmer. but you said you would always want to be a knight. whether protecting royalty or not didnt matter, being a knight did. you always had this air of wanting to protect others at any cost.

“yes. just tired and smelling of smoke…” he tacked on a light chuckle, hoping it would ease the worry in your face. you dont deserve to have more on your plate to worry about, not if he could help it.

“i asked for a change of clothes, they should be here soon. is there anything else you need, seungmin?” wordlessy, he pulled upon their arm which brought them next to him on the bed. he rested his head against their exposed collarbones as the front of their shirt was loosened from escaping the carriage.

your scent of smoke and roses mixed too well for seungmins liking; he wanted that to be your signature scent for the rest of time. the roses brought him comfort as they were from the royal gardens while the smoke seemed to match the air you carry yourself with.

“c-can you stay here with me? i dont…want to be alone.” you sat there a little shocked at his actions; hes the prince and you’re just his knight. this level of intimacy would send anyone into shock if they saw it; but your heart ignored the screaming signals that your brain was sending.

“um…yeah seungmin, i’ll s-stay.” your voice couldnt go any louder than the whimper that left in its sted. a gloved hand slowly placed itself on seungmins broad back, the other resting upon his maple brown locks. gently you brushed back the bangs the cover his forehead to truly show his face.

whenever his hair covered the top half of his face, it made him too boyish in your opinion. but the moment they were pushed back, it opened up his face to truly show his features making him look like a mature prince that he was. regal was what bled from him, you never felt more inadequate next to someone as they simply just existed.

seungmin did have a cute, boyish prince charm that made young girls in the village gush about him whenever he was seen. you found him cute whenever he argued with his butler, changbin about waking up early or what his father wanted him to wear that day; he was still too young to be running a kingdom which is why he was still learning from his father.

in the council room, seungmins boyish charm turned into a wise, aged king as he talked about what was good for his kingdom with the people of the council. when his father wasnt speaking or in the room, the room demanded his attention. his voice may not be deep and bassy or anything; it was clear and present in the room.

those charms of his never left your mind as you watched him in every one of those moments.

the pair were cocooned in the wool blanket; it muffled every noise outside leaving them with soft breathing. seungmin looked up at you through his hooded lids; if he could he would do this all day. he never wanted to be part from you like this again.

“you have infected me…mind, body and soul. but..but it is something i wish not to be rid of, for if i am, i would simply die without knowing you are every thought and emotion i have. you may think you are just my guard, just my knight, but you mean a lot more to me than you realize.” seungmin’s words could only be heard between the two, just secrets slipped between two different worlds.

you sat there with seungmins head on your chest, speechless at his confession. you looked at him with befuddlement; a prince couldnt be in love with his knight. you felt like the air had been sucked out of your lungs; something you never thought would be spoken between you two. you thought it would just remain unsaid and unmoved upon, you could never act upon it without the risk of being killed by the king.

“you…you have also made me suffer with the feelings of loving you, seungmin. i couldn’t act upon with the fear of consequences; i would have been fine with the idea of loving you from afar. but with your true emotions out on the table, seungmin, if you are ready to go forward with this…then so am i, your highness.” your words that were whispered back filled seungmin with a warmth in his chest.

seungmin slightly pouted at the use of your highness, but he knew the manner you were using it in. you let a soft chuckle at his boyish charms again, leaning down to capture his lips in yours. dry, cracked lips moved against softer ones like cogs in a well-oiled machine to which lead to soft groans leaving the princes lips as you pushed down against the bed, the cover still over you.

only a few minutes passed with the lovers lip locked, hands moved over each other with soft caresses. but for them felt like an eternity of finally releasing the feelings that they fenced up for years. unwilling pulling away from each other, soft breaths fanned over their lips, blown pupils of different hues looked on with gratification and relief. no more far away glances, longing touches or plaguing midnight thoughts.

“can i hear you say it one more time?” his voice was slightly horse from holding his breath in the kiss. you chuckle again, also sounding slightly horse from the same experience. your hand came to his cheek, brushing softly against his cheekbone as your soaked in his features looking back at you.

“always, my love…i love you, seungmin…” low enough so no one else could hear it if they were nearby, but only so seungmin could hear it with the gentleness in your voice and features.

a toothy grin appeared on the princes face as his cheeks turned a little rosy from the heart-spoken words from you. he took his turn to reach up and caress your jaw himself, tracing a scar that traveled down your jaw and neck.

“i love you more, darling…”

the prince and his guard stayed under the blanket until the doctor came back in and shooed them off to the princes room for the rest of the night with a smirk and shake of their head at the actions of the two and to work on writing up their reports for the night.

#kim seungmin x reader #seungmin x reader #ROYAL AU #royal aroundabouts #skz fluff #skz imagines #seungmin x reader fluff #honey writings #inncubus honey

46 notes · View notes

qwonyoung23 · 7 days

Text

CRIMSON SANDS

Crimson Sands

Prequel: The Fall of Hyunjin

Genre :- Historical romance, Mystery, Thriller, Time Travelling, Enemies to lovers, Royal AU

⋆༺𓆩𓆪༻⋆♕⋆༺𓆩𓆪༻⋆⚔︎⋆༺𓆩𓆪༻⋆♛⋆༺𓆩𓆪༻⋆⚔︎⋆༺𓆩☠︎𓆪༻⋆♕⋆༺𓆩𓆪༻⋆⚔︎⋆༺𓆩𓆪༻⋆

The unforgiving cruelty of his actions unfolded before his eyes. The coarse sand of the deserts was wet from the crimson blood flowing from the bodies of his victims. The sword at his side was covered in clotted blood, and the same was true for his royal robes. All his hard work had gone to waste. Even though he could now be the emperor, what use was that title if he had none left to rule over? The moon slowly rose, and he heard the distant howls of hyenas. The temperature had dropped significantly, and he shivered, clutching the sticky robes as he stood up. His most trusted bodyguard, Bangchan, lay crumpled on the ground like a mighty tree felled in battle. Every direction he looked revealed fallen comrades. His horse was nowhere to be seen. Shuffling through the sands, Hyunjin walked away from the tragedy. He had no sense of direction—no, he wasn't even in control of his senses. He was lost, both physically and mentally. Her smile haunted him—the last time he held her in his arms, the blood seeping through her robes brought tears to his eyes. Then he remembered his dearest friends: Seungmin, his most trusted advisor, whom he poisoned because he believed the false prophecy; his elder brother Minho, whom he eliminated to become the sole heir to the throne; his cousins Changbin, Han, and Felix, whom he expelled from the kingdom based on that same false prophecy; and finally, Jeongin, his younger brother, who was killed out of jealousy after being seen in the palace gardens with her.

Now Hyunjin was too late. He had made a fool of himself, becoming his own enemy on the path to defeating all other foes. His eyes fell on his sword. He inhaled deeply. He decided to leave this living hell. He knew that he wouldn't have a favorable afterlife due to his deeds, yet it was much better than remaining in this cruel, bleak place. The sword sliced through the air, coming into contact with his throat. As he felt the cold steel, he saw the moon turn red, and darkness greeted him.

2 notes · View notes

because-im-an-introvert · 1 year

Text

P.s. GIF not mine. All Credits goes to the rightful owner

She stares ahead at the burning field, marking the end of their enemy's territory. Their kingdom had finally claimed the land, burning the old palace to ashes and its people.

A sense of fulfilment washed over her, anger once more settling at the pit of her stomach. She's one step closer to her purpose, and now that no one's on her way to get in her way, she knows she will be soon claiming victory.

"Your Highness."

Or not.

Slowly turning her head to look at the royal guard standing close behind her, she realized she had to get rid of another nuisance before finally succeeding her plans.

She smirked, realizing it was none other Chan, her childhood best friend-turned-warrior-turned husband, all because of her plans.

She smirked.

"you really are the greatest warrior, aren't you?" She started, eyeing him to the side but still not fully facing him. "You are really deserving to be married to the royal princess, aren't you?"

When the presence behind her failed to respond, she continued musing, "I'm preparing a victory party for your troupe, thank me later." She smirked.

"I'm not interested in that."

His answer caught her off guard, sending her attention fully to him.

She frowned realizing that she never got the chance to study the state he's in right now, too focused on how to pursue her plans in the nearing future.

She scanned him from head to toe.

There was blood dripping on the side of his face from the ends of his hair line, a nasty cut starting from the left side of his cheekbone down to his right cheek, and a busted lip.

And yet, all of the aforementioned were only found on his face.

On his torso, were several cuts as well, his right fingers dripping blood, and yet all of these were nothing to soldiers who were trained to be in war.

A fickle of worry bubbled up inside her chest as her eyes faltered and she hated the fact that she felt that way.

He was a mere marionette to her plans, albeit him being a friend. And she will never let feelings get in the way of her revenge. She immediately buried that angsty feeling deep in her chest and put on a blank face.

"If you weren't here to boast about your victory, then what brings you here?"

"I already know about your plan," he started and it startled her how calm he was at the situation. "At first I was confused, as to why you chose me marry you. But I know it all along now..." He trailed off and she gulped, trying to hide the nervous feeling bubbling up her chest.

"oh yeah? And why is that?"

"because marrying someone under you will give full authority of the throne." He concluded. "If by chance you married a prince, he will be the immediate successor of the throne, not you. As you know that the kingdom sees King to be fit more than a queen."

She balled her hands into fists at the side of her peach-colored gown, her knuckles growing white. She hated how he could see right through her and her plans, just like the old times.

Chan smiled, the one that didn't reach his eyes as he looked down the ground. "I know I'm in no position to tell you this. " He fished his hands inside his pockets, his heel playing with the ground as if he was crushing something. "I think you should stop whatever you're thinking before it's too late." He looked up to see her eyes widened in anger at him.

"your wrath will only destroy you." He stated that with a straight look on his face, as if he was talking to another soldier, not his childhood friend, not his wife, and most definitely not the upcoming queen of this country.

"You shut your mouth soldier or I will not hesitate to slit your throat with your own sword." She gritted her teeth as she let out her angered words.

"Bow down to your queen."

A/N: A lil cliffhanger for the lovelies! May or may not continue this XD

#skz drabbles #skz imagines #skz stay #skz #skz bang chan #bang chan #skz chan scenarios #skzbangchan #stray kids #stray kids fluff #christopher bang #fanfic #fiction #husbandau #royal au #royalty #skzimagines

17 notes · View notes

sparklingchan · 2 months

Text

A Duel of Hearts || Kim Seungmin (Stray Kids)

Pairing: Reader(fem.) X Seungmin Word Count: 5k+ Warnings: Suggestive, strong language(ig), mention of suicide (not the main characters). Genre: Royal AU, Friends to Lovers, Dark Academia, Angst mixed with fluff. Description: Caught in a dilemma of affection, Kim Seungmin, a prince, finds himself drawn to you. There was but one obstacle to his pursuit —you've set a single condition for all potential suitors: no royal lineage. A/N: Hello everyone! Here's another installation of the SKZ Royal AU. Idk why but Seungmin has this Dark Academia kind of vibe so I tried to incorporate that here. Hope you guys like it! More to come<3 Do check out the other fics in the skz royal series. (The stories are not interrelated) Here's the link.

You like to believe that your new dorm room is starting to grow on you.

It wasn't anything like your room back in your parents' house of course; but over the past twelve months, you'd renovated your dorm room enough to feel at home.

You'd replaced the light blue curtains with grey ones, swapped the single candle stand with a lantern to help you study better at night, put on a white table cloth and the list goes on.

A knock on your door pulls your attention.

It must be Wendy, you think to yourself, walking toward the door.

Correction: your only friend Wendy.

"Gosh, I really hate this academy, y/n." She walks in complaining, "I cannot believe they gave me a B in geography. I love geography. I cannot believe they'd ruin my overall grade like that."

"What happened?" You ask, closing the door behind her.

"I don't know! I will deal with this later, anyway," she says, fishing out a note from the pocket of her blazer. "I'm here to discuss a more pressing matter."

"What's that?"

"Of course, it's one of your lovers, y/n. I have two more lover letters in my backpack. Do you need them?"

You half chuckle and half sigh, taking the note from her and tearing it into bits.

"Ouch." Wendy says, staring at you, "Tell me y/n, it's been over a year since you joined the academy. All the boys here would die to even see you across the hallway yet you've kept the door to your heart locked. Why?"

"I am not not open to having a relationship. I just dislike how most of these men who pursue me are of royal blood. And if there's anything I despise most is royalty. That letter you gave me right now? It was from the Duke's son. It's his third letter in a row. That boy just doesn't know when to stop." You press your hand to your forehead, stressed.

Wendy nods her head, "Yeah, he is an annoying brat, I'll give you that, but y/n, I really don't understand your dislike towards royalty? Any girl out there would love to be pursued by royal suitors, including myself."

You smile in response, "It's a secret."

As always, Wendy just chuckles and doesn't push you to answer further because really, you don't know what you'll do if you ever have to explain yourself. It's a secret you rarely even discuss with yourself.

"Come on, we'll be late for our afternoon class." You say and walk towards the door, already tired of the day ahead of you.

“But Professor, do you not think that the first king of Taru was a horrible person morally? I mean, he did kill all of his wives when they failed to birth a son.”

If there is anyone in this academy who you think hates you to the core is your History Professor. The amount of times you’d ask him a question and he’d reply very vaguely, never answering to the point was insane. So naturally, you had developed a habit of asking him odd questions just to spite him.

Your Professor looks at you, almost angrily, and answers, “We are no one to judge a historical figure. Miss y/n.”

“But sir, you are portraying him as a role model to the class. Don’t you think that’s wrong? As you said, we are no one to judge him.”

Your professor hisses through gritted teeth and turns towards the board, not bothering to answer you. A subtle smile finds your lips.

“So, class as I was saying. The first King of this country- Taru- built the longest bridge in -”

“Excuse me, sir?” A hand shoots up from among the students followed by a voice, “May I answer Miss y/n’s question please?”

Your professor rubs his temple and sighs, nodding, “Go ahead, Mister Seungmin.”

You turn your head up to look at the owner of the voice, and much to your surprise, it is Kim Seungmin. He’s one of the quieter kids in the class but you’ve worked on a few projects together so you know that there’s more depth to him than just being the quiet kid by the window seat.

“Y/n, I think we could still look up to the King as a leader. Yes, he was ruthless to his wives but we don’t need to look up to him as a husband. He was, on the other hand, a great leader who led his country to become one of the greatest in the world, second to none.”

“Well, does that answer your question?” The professor asks and you nod, bowing towards Seungmin. He bows back.

The professor teaches the class for an hour more, letting you guys dismiss after his daily warning of, “You'll be going to universities next year so do work hard this year,”

You gather all your things and walk out of the class, stomach growling, almost begging you to make your way to the dining area for lunch.

For lunch, the menu rarely changes except on holidays.

And in all honesty, you’re tired of having chicken stew with rice everyday since you stepped foot in this academy, but the other options are extremely limited so you join the line of hungry and tired students, complaining about how difficult this year has been.

Once you have your plate of rice and stew, you seat on one of the empty benches and begin to gobble up the rice like there’s no tomorrow.

“Um, y/n? Mind if I join you?”

“Seungmin?” you ask, almost surprised, “Have a seat, please.”

Seungmin mutters a small ‘thanks’ and claims the seat in front of you, placing his backpack on the sides.

“So what have you been up to?” he asks to break the ice. It seems like you’re more focused on the rice in front of you than him.

“Eating?” you chuckle, “What’s up with you? How’s your preparation for University?”

Seungmin, licks his bottom lip, deep in thought.

How was his preparation for university going, really? He doesn’t know. He doesn’t even remember the last time he opened his books after school.

In fact, lately, his mind has been occupied with something entirely different-you.

You, who acts so indifferent to the rest of the people yet helped Seungmin when he was almost failing a chemistry project evaluation.

You, who says she has no friends yet packs extra food from home for Wendy.

You, who says she is having a hard time adjusting to the academy yet she’s his favorite person here.

How could you not be on his mind?

“Eh, it’s okay. I guess.” Seungmin scratches the back of his head. “How’s yours?”

“Not really well, to be honest . If only that duke’s son would stop sending me those stupid letters, my life would be a lot more peaceful.” you say and it’s true that those letter have been nothing short of a nuisance since you came back from the semester break. You respect his feelings, but you’re not obligated to like him back. Hell, you’ve never even spoken to the man. “He’s so persistent, it scares me, really.”

Seungmin could feel his anger building up. Of course he knows you have quite a few admirers. Even some of his friends are in that crowd. But Seungmin likes to think he always had the upper hand.

Yet he feels annoyed, offended at the thought that someone was pursuing you to the point of fear.

“He might be a duke’s son but he isn’t behaving like one.” Seungmin comments.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. All of these aristocrats and royals believe that the world is at their disposal. They could just command it and everything would go according to them. It’s ridiculous. I’m so glad you’re not from a royal line or else we wouldn’t have been having this conversation.” you say and Seungmin’s world stands still.

You think he’s not from a royal family?

You didn’t know who he really was?

He almost wants to tell you the truth, that he, in fact, is the descendant of the very king you were talking about in History today. But he chooses to remain silent. He’s enjoying your company way too much to ruin it in one day.

“Yeah, thank god for that.” Prince Seungmin replies.

The next few days pass by in the blink of an eye and the academic pressure gets worse.

"Wendy, could I borrow your lantern? Mine is broken, I think." You ask Wendy one afternoon.

The sun brightens up the inside of Wendy's room.

"Yeah, sure." She passes you her lantern, "I have a spare one. Going to the library?"

You nod.

There's no better place to study than the library. Especially on such a warm and cozy afternoon when everyone just wants to take a nap.

"I'll see you at dinner then?"

"Sure thing."

You walk the corridors, fiddling with your pockets, making sure you'd taken all your stationary. It would be a hassle to walk back to your room again.

As soon as you enter the library, the sounds of the world as if disappear. Not even the tapping of pens could be heard without focusing hard.

You find a suitable seat for yourself by the window and settle down there.

The library feels colder than your room and you're grateful for it. At least you wouldn't be sleepy now.

"Someone's working hard, I see." A teasing voice whispers from behind, "May I join you?"

Seungmin’s voice, much to your surprise, brings a smile to your face.

"Sure." You say, shy like a kid in kindergarten.

He claims the seat across you, setting his books and stationary on the table.

And for the next three hours, the only sound you hear from his side is that of his breathing. Even and steady.

He's busy reading a book and his eyes are focused on the pages, never once wavering anywhere else.

He's quite sincere, you realize.

The sun sets and the students light up their lanterns and immediately go back to studying. Seungmin glances at you for a second, his lips curving into a soft smile. You smile back, albeit shyly.

Hours pass by and you know it's almost time for dinner because your stomach is growling. Louder than ever.

"Y/n," Seungmin speaks to you, putting his book down, "Want to have some warm Noodles? There's a new stall in town which sells delicious noodles."

You contemplate for a second before agreeing with a smile.

"Noodles sound amazing right now."

The both of you pick up your lanterns and walk out the main gate into the streets of the town.

While the town is busy and bustling with activities during the day, at nightfall the town comes to a standstill. Something you've always liked.

"It's not in the market square, I presume." You say as Seungmin navigates through the lanes of the market.

"No," He replies, "But it is quite near to the market."

After a five minute walk from the market square, you finally see an old bamboo hut in the distance, dim and quiet.

But the moment Seungmin and you are seated on one of the wooden benches, you're as if in a trance. The aroma of herbs and spices and chicken broth is nothing like you'd ever felt before.

"Grandma, we'll have two bowls of noodles with a side of Kimchi, please." Seungmin says.

"Sure thing, son." The woman replies with a twinkle in her eyes.

"You're a regular here. " You say to Seungmin, looking around the interiors of the stall. "It's cozy and the noodles smell amazing already."

"Oh, y/n, wait till you taste them. It'll be like nothing you'd ever had before."

And true to his words, the moment you eat those noodles, flavors burst in your mouth.

It is a perfect blend of sweet and salty, but the black pepper adds the perfect spice to the combination of flavors.

"Seungmin, this is amazing!" You say, taking a second bite. "We have to come back here again!"

He can only chuckle at your reaction. If you'd say the word, he'd bring you to this place everyday. Without fail.

The two of you eat quietly, only sharing a glance of amazement once in a while.

"I'll pay, y/n." Seungmin offers once you guys are done eating, bellies full.

"No! Let me pay." You get up immediately and walk up to the old lady.

Seungmin can only shake his head at you.

"How much will that be, grandma?" You ask, taking out your purse.

"Oh, its on the house today. " the lady says, much to your surprise, "Master Seungmin brought his girlfriend out for a date at our place. I couldn't take money from you today."

Seungmin and you stare at each other, wide eyed and speechless and hearts racing.

"Grandma! She's not my girlfriend! We're classmates." Seungmin says, the tip of his ears bright red.

You nod, shyly, "There's nothing of that sort going on between us!"

Grandma smiles as she pours soup into a bowl, "Well, not yet maybe. I have an eye for things like that, you see."

When you exit the hut, Seungmin remains quite, his lips pursed in a line. It's truly endearing to see him flustered like that.

"Well, that was awkward." You say, trying to lighten up the mood.

Seungmin nods, rubbing the back of his head, "Sorry about that. I don't know why she'd say that."

"No, no, it's okay. She's an adorable woman." You say.

The rest of the walk passes by in silence.

For some reason, you always find yourself in these silent moments with Seungmin. But you like the silence. It's calming, not uncomfortable.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" He asks as the two of you reach the entrance of your dorm building.

You nod. You're about to turn around when he pulls you in for a gentle embrace.

Your heart stops. Your breathing stops. The earth stops.

Without even meaning to, you find yourself melting into the embrace.

The next second, Seungmin pulls back and walks towards his dorm, not even saying a word.

And you're standing there, mouth hanging open.

What are these nervous sensations Seungmin is making you feel?

"So why were you not at dinner yesterday?" Wendy asks the next morning, an eyebrow raised in suspicion, "Were you with a boy?"

You try to calm the heat spreading to your cheeks, "Kind of. But it wasn't anything like what you think. I swear. We were studying together and then he asked if I wanted to try a new food stall in town. That's all."

And then he hugged you Goodnight. And you haven't been able to forget the way his body felt against yours.

"And who exactly is 'we'?" Wendy asks again, the tone of suspiciousness still present in her words.

"Seungmin and I." You say.

Wendy stares at you, flabbergasted.

Seungmin and you?

You went out on a supposed platonic date with a Prince?

"Y/n, Seungmin is-" Wendy's words are cut off by the ringing of the hourly bell, indicating that your classes are about to begin.

"Wendy, I'll tell you all about it. Promise. See you later." You say and disappear into the crowd of hurrying students but Wendy doesn't move.

Wendy has a different plan in her mind. Something she considers more important than attending boring lectures.

"Kim Seungmin, can I see you for a second?" Wendy drags Seungmin by his arm the moment he steps out of his dorm building.

He stares at her, confused.

He didn't have a class yet; he was just stepping out to get some breakfast. Where was she dragging him early in the morning?

"What's wrong?" He asks.

Wendy and him have never even talked with each other before so why this sudden interest?

Wendy stands in front of him, eyes full of doubt. Her hands rest on her hips.

"Are you trying to mess with y/n?" She asks flatly.

Seungmin is taken aback, "What? No! Of course not!"

Why would she even think that? Seungmin almost feels angry.

"Then why are you hanging out with her late at night and why is she oblivious to you being of royal blood?"

Seungmin sighs, "Okay, Wendy, listen. I'm not trying to mess with her or anything. But its true I haven't told her about my family yet. And I will tell her. But I just want her to know me for me. Before she starts to dislike me just because I'm of royal blood. Do you think I'm wrong?"

Wendy thinks for a second before replying, "Well, you don't mean any harm. But...I think you should tell her about yourself. I mean if you're trying to get her to like you back, might as well be honest about your life."

Seungmin’s eyes are wide with shock. How did she even know about Seungmin’s crush on you? Did one of his friends spread the rumor? Did she try to spy on him?

"Hey, don't look so surprised, your majesty." sarcasm drips from her words, "Everyone here knows you like her. We have eyes, you know?"

Seungmin doesn't reply, embarrassed. Of course it is hot gossip when a prince falls in love, isn't it?

People have written sagas and books and poems about it. What is a little academy gossip compared to that?

You find out Seungmin hanging out with a female friend the a few days later during lunch, and you try to shake off an uncomfortable feeling.

"Seungmin, could I speak to you for a second?"

The girl looks at you, from head to toe and nods her head. "Hey, she's quite pretty, Seungmin."

Seungmin sighs, "Oh, shut up, Sojong. Don't you have a class?"

His ears are red again, like how they were back at the noodles shop.

"I'm going now anyways. Bye sweethearts!" The girl walks off with a smile, and you're left confused.

"Don't mind her. She's my cousin. An idiot cousin, if I may add."

It feels as if a weight is lifted off of your chest. Your lips automatically curve into a smile.

"I didn't know you had a cousin in the academy."

"Yeah, well. Now you do. So what's going on?" He replies.

"Um.. did Wendy say something to you a few days ago? About you going to the noodles stall with me?"

Seungmin chuckles, "Oh yeah. But it's alright. She's your friend. I get that she's quite protective of you."

You smile, "Thanks for understanding. But , umm...Seungmin, she also might have implied that you kind of want to go out with me."

Seungmin’s soul almost leaves his body. Wendy could not have shut up about it, could she? Now you probably think Seungmin is some kind of creep trying to get into your pants.

"Hey, it's okay. Wendy always exaggerates everything and she wants me to get a boyfriend desperately so I understand if you didn't say anything of that sort to her. She's not very good at conveying messages." You say.

"But I did." Seungmin says, mustering all his courage, "I did say that. To her. And it's totally okay if you don't feel the same way about me. I really do. "

You almost feel like laughing.

You haven't been able to get him out of your mind for the past few days. And he thinks you don't like him?

The both of you had been busy with different classes and tests and projects. The few glances and greetings you shared with him during lunch would become the highlight of your day. And he thinks you wouldn't want to go out with him?

Impossible.

"I do, though. I'm open to the idea of going out with you."

Seungmin was not prepared for that answer. He was sure he'd get rejected, but here you were, looking all shy and sweet while confessing to liking him back?

"Um..so how about tomorrow night? There's a nice restaurant with live music and all. I could book us a table there."

You try to supress the grin that is trying to claw its way onto your face.

"Sounds great. See you then."

"Yeah, see you." He replies, heart hammering hard against his chest.

The night finally comes and you find Seungmin standing just outside of your dorm building.

He wears a black long coat and pants, paired with a high collared white shirt and a rose in his hands.

Your legs feel weak the moment your eyes meet. And the gravity of the situation finally dawns on you.

By tonight, Kim Seungmin might become your boyfriend. He's handsome, intelligent and funny, yet he decides to go out on a date with you?

Why? How did the two of you even end up here?

On the other hand, Seungmin feels like he'd been hit by the cupid's arrow. The only thing he can think about as you make your way towards him is how beautiful that long, pink dress looks on you and how he couldn't wait to make you his.

"For the beautiful lady." He says, offering you the red rose.

Shyly, you take the rose.

"Shall we?" He asks, gently taking your hand. Your hand feels warm.

"Yes." You reply, intertwining your fingers with his.

Oh, how beautiful it feels.

To be able to walk hand in hand with the man you admired so much. It feels natural. Like this is how the two of you were always meant to be. Maybe if Wendy had never told you about how Seungmin felt about you, you'd have never made the effort to ask him if he ever saw you in a non-platonic way.

But you're glad everything that happened happened. You're not someone who liked to live with what-ifs.

The restaurant he'd booked just adds to the beauty of this evening. The ambience is nice and a musician plays a beautiful melody on the piano, matching to the aesthetic of the place.

"I had booked a table for two by the name of Kim Seungmin. "

The waiter takes you to your place, a large candle adorning the center of the table.

You take your seats and the waiter takes your order and leaves.

Seungmin gets a hold of your hand again, intertwining your fingers.

"I can't believe we're actually out on a date." He chuckles, tracing his thumb across the back of your palm.

"I can't either. It's surreal." You say, "But I love it. I love being here with you."

Seungmin nods, "I love being anywhere, as long as you're with me."

"Didn't know Kim Seungmin was such a flirt, huh." You laugh, your cheeks heating up.

"Oh, you're in for a long ride, baby girl." He says, pressing his lips softly against your fingers.

Goosebumps.

Indeed, you were in for a long ride.

That night, the two of you walk back to the academy campus in silence.

A silence that is so calming and so comforting, it feels almost like a soothing hug from Seungmin.

When you two reach the main entrance of your dorm, Seungmin pulls you in for a hug again.

And just like last time, you melt into his arms.

He smells like smoke and mint and comfort.

"I had a great time, y/n." He whispers, pulling away but keeping your faces close.

He put strands of your hair behind your ears, so soft and tender.

"I did, too." You reply, your hands gently settling on his cheeks.

"Can I kiss you, y/n, please?" Seungmin asks, almost pleads. Like kissing you is what would keep him alive from that day on, like kissing you would fill his lungs with oxygen, like kissing you is the drug that he just cannot quit.

And you can only nod before he crashes his lips onto yours.

And yet again, he's gentle and tender and you sigh into his mouth when he pulls you closer.

He tastes like the tiramisu you had back in the restaurant, sweet and like strawberries.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then." He says when you pull back, breathing heavy. His eyes are shy with a sense of pride in them. He couldn't believe that the girl he'd been crushing on since last year was finally his. He couldn't believe his luck.

And neither could you.

"Yeah, see you!" You say and kiss his lips once again before jogging into the dorm building.

Seungmin goes to sleep that night dreaming of you and wakes up yearning for you in the morning.

And the cycle repeats every day, for the next 2 months.

The two of you had become inseparable, spending every possible moment with each other.

Whenever your schedules would not let you spend a lot of time together, the two of would make sure to have at least one meal together. That single meal would be the highlight of both of your days.

But the final exams loom over you like an ominous grey cloud.

"So, as you already know, our country neighbors multiple other countries, each with their own king and set of rules. I want you all to remember the names of all current kings and all new rules they had added to their country during their tenure. " the history teacher was going on and on, "Remember, you only have a month left for your finals. That final grade would determine the trajectory of your lives. Study well."

And he finishes off with that threat.

You were so busy jotting down notes during the class that you didn't notice Seungmin's absence from the day's class.

You'd been late this morning and didn't have time to even have breakfast before coming to class. Naturally, you'd assumed he'd been in the class.

"I don't see your boyfriend today, y/n." Wendy says after class, as if reading your mind.

"Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing." You say, absently, stuffing your books back in your bag.

Wendy tags along with her other friends for lunch and you excuse yourself, making your way towards Seungmin’s dorm building.

You'd been to his room multiple times now, yet everytime you're surprised by how neat it is. The books are neatly lined up on the shelf, the blankets are folded on the bed and his shoes are neatly stacked by the corner of his cupboard.

"Missed you at class today." You say to Seungmin, whose eyes widen with excitement when he sees you enter the room.

"Yeah, I spent nearly three hours solving a problem last night, I didn't wake up on time." He says, patting the space near him on the bed.

You sit beside him, "Can we study together at night? I need your help."

He agrees immediately, pecking your cheek.

"In fact, we could go to the library right now, what say?" He asks.

"Did you forget, Seungmin? We have a field trip today. In the second half. We're supposed to assemble at the playground after lunch."

Seungmin chuckles, "Yeah. A field trip to the old fort of Taru. Almost forgot about it."

Something he'd been dreading for weeks now.

When it was announced that the final year students would be going on a field trip, he was excited in the beginning.

But when he found out the location of the said trip, he was devastated. The old fort of Taru was his ancestral home. His grandfather and great-grand father and great-great grandfather fought multiple wars and ruled the country from that fort and when they passed away, Seungmin’s father had shifted his family to a new palace just outside the city, deciding to turn the old fort into a museum for tourists.

Seungmin didn't dislike the old fort. In fact, he loved visiting that place . Every year, he'd look forward to visiting the old fort to pay homage to his forefathers during special festivals that only the Royal family celebrated.

Yet, he was dreading today's trip. Because at the entrance of the new museum, stands a tall painting of him and his family, welcoming tourists to their ancestral home.

And if you see the painting, his façade is going to disappear and you'll know his identity and that would be the end of his beautiful daydream.

But when you pull him by his collar and kiss him with so much love, he cannot help but wish for this dream to last forever.

When the time finally comes to board the horse carriages that would take the students to the fort, Seungmin starts rethinking every single choice of his till date. He knew he was hurting you, he knew you would be devasted to find out who he really is. But he would die if had to lose you.

And his greatest fears come to life the moment he sets foot out of that damned carriage.

Wendy, with her hand on your shoulder, stands near the fort entrance. You'd reached the fort earlier since the girls were sent off earlier. And Seungmin wishes they hadn't been.

You look confused, sad, eyebrows furrowed in exasperation.

When Wendy sees Seungmin, her eyes widen. "She knows." She mouths at him.

Seungmin swallows the lump in his throat, "Y/n, I swear..I swear I didn't do it to deceive you. I really like you and hell, I even love you. Please. Hear me out."

You don't say a word and stare at him with a piercing gaze.

"Y/n, please. I don't know why you hate Royal families but I promise you, I'm not as bad as you think they are. You know me, y/n. I'm your Seungmin!" He insists, trying to hold your hand.

But you pull away.

"You lied to me. You're no better than them." You say, almost a whisper, "Forget about what happened between us. It's over now."

And with that, the love of Seungmin’s life walks out of his life, leaving him in shambles.

You'd not slept properly for a week now and even stopped attending any classes. You had buried yourself in your books, revising every single page of every single book for as many times as you could.

The only time you did step out of your room was during lunch and dinner and even then, you made sure to avoid him at all costs.

It had been dreadful, really. You thought it would be easier for you to move on and forget the past few months if you kept reminding yourself of Seungmin’s lies, but it only made you miss him more.

He lied, yes; but he also made you fall in love with him, which was worse. Falling in love and dreaming of a family with Seungmin was never on your cards, you were sure you'd always marry the person your parents would have chosen for you. But here you were. Heartbroken and infatuated; both by the same person.

And today is no different from other days, or so you thought.

At around half past midnight, you hear a knock on your door. Wendy had gone home for a week and would be back tomorrow, so you are genuinely curious as to who would knock on your door at such an ungodly hour.

When you open the door, you see those eyes again- the black orbs that you'd fallen so deeply for.

"Y/n, do you have a minute? Please?" Seungmin pleads when you freeze at the sight of him.

"No. I'm afraid not." You reply, your heart hammering against your chest. The tightness in your throat does not help.

"Please, y/n. I beg you, please."

Across the hallway, a few girls pop their heads out of their doors, wondering where the male voice is from.

Sensing no other option, you pull Seungmin inside your room reluctantly.

"Fine. Say what you have to and then leave." You mutter.

You're doing everything in your power to avoid any sort of eye contact with him because you know that is what your weakness is.

He sits at the edge of your bed, while you sit in your chair, across the room.

"Y/n, you don't have to take me back. But I want you to know that I never meant to deceive you. It is pure, genuine love that I feel for you. I know you hate me because I'm of royal blood but ignoring that part, you did like me, didn't you? Before you even knew about my family. I'm still that person. I may be a prince but that is not all I am."

Your throat gets tighter and your eyes mist over with tears.

"It doesn't matter. Our relationship started from a lie. And as a matter of fact, I cannot ignore that you're a prince. I had one condition for all suitors and I cannot withdraw it for anyone."

Seungmin swallows, his eyes bloodshot, "Can you at least tell me why you hate Royal blood so much? What did they ever do to you?"

You scoff, "You really wanna know, huh? Does it still matter now? Because I'm never going to get back together with you, Seungmin."

"I want to know."

And so you tell him.

"I hate royals so much because I am one of them. I am a princess. A forgotten one, but the blood of royalty still courses through my veins."

You were a little girl of around four when your now parents had adopted you, more or less. You didn't know who they were or why they were taking you away from your mother and father- the king and queen of Nabha- a country neighboring Taru. You only remember crying till your head hurt. You remember your birth mother crying, standing at the gates of the castle while her emerald crown fell at her feet.

When you turned twelve, your adoptive parents told you the truth of your adoption.

Your adoptive mother worked in the Royal Palace as a governess for royal children while your adoptive father worked as a royal architect. They'd both met in the palace and fell in love, eventually married. You were born to the queen and king a year later. Everything was going well.

But as all stories go, yours had a villain too. Your own birth father- the king. He was the worst kind of person. He was cruel, unjust, abusive and hated you because you were a girl. He had prayed to every God known to mankind for a son, only for him to receive a daughter in return. But he refused to crown you the heir. For the next few years, the king traveled to all neighboring countries , looking for some solution to his problem. And then he found it. An oracle that told him to disown his first born daughter, in order to be blessed with a son.

When the king arranged for your adoption, he didn't even bother consulting his wife. One morning, you were in her arms and the next, you were being taken away to Taru by your adoptive parents.

The Queen killed herself the next morning.

"And that was the day I promised two things to myself: First, I would never set foot back in that country. I made Taru, your country my home. Second, I would never marry a man of royal ancestry. Because I know, no matter what happens, I never want to be associated with royals ever again. Betrayal is all we'll receive at the end under the pretense of a greater good."

Seungmin is speechless at this point. He thought your dislike towards royal lineage was just a matter of preference but now, he understands you. Truly. He understands why you'd take his lies as a sign of betrayal.

"Y/n, I-"

"Save it. You have your answers and I have mine. Leave."

He walks out of the room without a word and the moment you lock the door behind him, he falls on his knees, crying. His heart aches for you. For everything you'd been through and for everything he put you through. He cries for you.

But little does he know, behind the closed door, you're on your knees too, sobbing into your hands. Every single fiber of your being begged you to stop him and you chose to ignore it.

You wonder if you'll ever be able to hate Seungmin like you wish you did.

Wendy is lecturing you again this morning, her face tense.

"Y/n, we're leaving this academy forever tomorrow. Can you please give yourself the closure you deserve? Just go and talk to Seungmin. You don't have to hate his guts forever. "

The final exam results are out today, which means that your parents would be coming to pick you up tomorrow evening. You'd be leaving this place and all the bitter-sweet memories associated with it forever. It hurts you a little.

But you had to be strong.

"I've got my closure, Wendy. I promise. Can we talk about something else now?"

Wendy sighs, "Y/n, if this is what you want, then I shall support you. But know that I genuinely will always believe that you and Seungmin were meant to be. Even if you get married and have ten kids with someone else!"

For the first time in months, you allow yourself to laugh at Wendy's stupid statements. She joins in too.

But her words stick with you throughout the day.

That night, after you're done packing most of your stuff, you crash on your bed, a thousand thoughts circling your head.

I genuinely will always believe that you and Seungmin were meant to be. Even if you get married and have kids with someone else!

Even the thought of marrying another man and having his kids nauseated you. Are you really ready to let go of Seungmin, forever?

You had spent a long time trying to forget Prince Kim Seungmin, his voice, his words, his touch, but had you really succeeded?

After today, you might never see him again. Are you ready to live with that regret forever?

The answer to all these questions is no. You are not someone to live wondering the what-ifs.

So you jump out of the bed, lantern in hand and run towards Seungmin’s dorm.

"Y/n, did you come here by mistake?" Is his first reaction when he opens his door, hair messy and eyes alert.

You shake your head, "No. I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"

He let's you in.

"So, what's up?" He asks, rubbing the back of his neck. He looks nervous. Like the first time he had taken you out for dinner to grandma's noodle shop.

"I've been thinking. About you and about us. And I.. I'm scared. I will not lie. I do not trust royals, but for some reason, I trust you. I know that there’s a thousand things that could go wrong but I still want to be with you. If you'll have me again"

Seungmin is dumbfounded. Literally. How does one even respond to things like these?

"Seungmin, say something!" You insist.

He forces the words out of his mouth, "I'm g-glad you feel that way."

You scowl, hands on your hips.

"I bare my heart open to you and this is all you have to say? Really? Listen, if you've found someone else in these few weeks then I understand, I really do but please at least-"

He kisses you. He kisses you so beautifully, it pains you to even think that you were willing to give up this. And for what? A horrible father who coincidentally was also of royal blood?

His tongue nudges at your tongue playfully, while his hands are cupping your face, thumbs circling your skin in comfort.

You'd never felt so much peace.

When you pull away, he gently presses his forehead onto yours, "I wouldn't dare find someone else. I assure you, whatever prejudices Nabha had, they do not exist here in Taru. I'm not like your birth father and I will never be. I promise. I will do everything in my power to convince you about it."

And for some reason, as usual, you believe him.

You kiss him again, knowing that if you could go back in time, you would not change a thing. You would let Seungmin easily win the duel of your hearts a thousand times over.

83 notes · View notes