Chapter Text
“Are you sure Your Highness?” Doyoung, his advisor cross checks with him again, running a little to keep up with Taeyong’s brutal pace.
“Of course.” And he most certainly is not completely certain if this is the right decision or not. But the consequences be damned.
“The Kings won’t take this well Taeyong.” Doyoung says, stopping in his steps forcing Taeyong to do the same, just a couple of feet ahead of him. He turned around and looked at the younger man. Eyes widened and a sheen sheet of sweat present on his face. His chest heaving, Taeyong knew he meant this not as his advisor, but as his friend. A friend who has known Taeyong ever since he was born, a friend who knows Taeyong’s next move before he does it himself. A dear friend Taeyong would be damned to lose because of his propositions.
“I know” is all he says because turning around and continuing his walk to the King’s chambers. The castle seemed eerily empty today, cold and unwelcoming. The same castle he had called his home ever since his childhood seemed to disapprove of his choices today. He hitched his coat a little when the guards looked at him weird. He was surely not dressed to trek the corridors and halls of the castle of Kore but he had priorities, “matters of great urgency that need the King’s attention right at this very moment” is how Doyoung described it to the guard carrying the message of his arrival.
His father wouldn’t be displeased per se, he must have been awake when the messenger would reach him with the news. That is most definitely not what concerns at this instant, it is the reaction to the news that Taeyong brings with him that scares him. His father is a man with a heart that is very similar to the ocean, it is calm often, but oh boy when it rages, it destroys many beyond repair.
The guards bow to him when he reaches the doors to his Father’s chambers, Doyoung close behind him. His grip on the scroll tightens on its own, as if it is the last of light that he will see today.
“The messenger you sent sounded so distressed I reckoned you were hurt somewhere, son.” Those are the words that greet him when he steps in. His father, a man who has seen four long decades, stood near his table, papers of all sorts displayed on the said table, a guard and his advisor stood in the corner of the room, Taeyong really wanted them out of the room at this instance.
Upon voicing out his thoughts and desires he was met with a questioning glance by his father, “I surely hope Sehun can stay here with me while we discuss these matters. He is my advisor after all,” his gaze drifted back to Doyoung who might as well be hiding behind Taeyong at this point.
Taeyong did not reply, he couldn't. Lord Sehun of the house of Ohs has proven to be a noble and tactful advisor all his life under his father. He was the one who suggested Taeyong’s engagement with the Crowned Prince of Ero,Youngho after all. Dismissing him would complicate the matters beyond resolution, so instead, he settled for a slight nod, asking the guards to give them some privacy.
“What is it?” His father asks, making his way around the table now. His father, King Chanyeol of Eunubulus was tall, and that is the first thing one would notice about him, his handsomeness and broadness following suit. As a king, Taeyong would like to deem he was just, fair and cared about his people. As a husband, he has been excellent to his partner, even respecting the women he had his children with. As a father, Chanyeol’s one expectation from all his sons was to be fair with one another, to not pay heed to the fact that they have different mothers, that they are brothers above all.
“You are worrying me, son.” And his father had a deep voice indeed. One that has managed to scare and comfort Taeyong alike.
“I have something to tell you Father,” Taeyong gulps, eyes following the slight movement Lord Oh made, his weight shifting from one toe to another and eyes drawing in hostile slits that spoke of a challenge so vicious that if the young Prince hadn’t known the advisor all his life, he would have been scared for his life.
“So I know,” his father pointed out, drawing his attention back, hands flailing slightly. His demeanour was slowly coming loose and if anything it should warn Taeyong not to go through with his plan, but he had to. He had made promises after all, countless at that, and to people his father had explicitly told him to maintain a good relationship with.
“I wish to not marry Prince Youngho of the Land of Ero.” His declaration was met with very distinct reactions, Doyoung slid to his right, completely hiding behind the Prince, Chanyeol on the other hand, raced towards his son and Lord Oh looked at him as if he was drunk. Which might as well be considered true since he did down some alcohol to give him the courage to communicate with his father.
“Are you out of your mind?” His father supplied, voice barely as high as it was before. Behind him Taeyong watched as Lord Sehun pulled a face that seemed to convey his feelings very well with his lips pulled taut and eyebrows scrunched together. Taeyong had always heard and known so himself that his Father and Lord Oh shared the same soul, their relationship ran deeper than his Fathers’. Perhaps it was the result of being paired together ever since they were born, or perhaps it was the result of Lord Oh’s imperial sense of judgement and his great adaptation skills, whatever it might be, this day was not supposed to prove those statements true.
It seemed to him as if both the Lord and his father were inching towards him at a pace so slow that it would put a tortoise to shame but make a Hunter feel proud, eyebrows scrunched and confusion worn on face in a manner that told Taeyong to scream “this is a joke father!” on top of his voice. But it was not.
And yes, it had taken Taeyong more than just a while to come to terms with the fact, and it will most possibly take his father even longer, but his reasons were justifiable. At least to him and his own advisor, they did sound justifiable, to his father and his advisor, they may not. But Doyoung was not titled the greatest debater of his generation for nothing, even if he was hiding behind his own Prince as of now.
“Speak boy!” His voice sounding grave and desperate, very much unlike the king he was and oh, his father had resorted to screaming now. Something in him warned him, probed him to utter some word, some phrase, anything to save him and his advisor from the wrath that was about to follow so to speak he did.
“I have reasons!”
“Well you better,” Doyoung muttered from behind him, shrinking when his father directed his glare towards him.
“What reasons, my lord?” Lord Oh demanded in a gentle tone. To others it might sound gentle, as if he were talking to a child, but Taeyong knew that if he did not speak and justified his request, his wish, he would be thrown out of the kingdom, disowned, and banished. And that was not a life this Prince wished to live. Maybe someone like Prince Jaehyun would appreciate such a life, but Taeyong knew better. Or maybe he just possessed a very uncompromising nature.
“Prince Ten wishes to marry Prince Youngho of Ero” Doyoung pronounces over his shoulder, loud and clear enough for the two older men to hear him, and soon enough for Taeyong to turn and glare at him.
“Come out and speak clearly Kim,” Lord Oh reasoned after a weighted pause, one which prompted his father to take a seat and Lord Oh to come forth and fix his robes. He wore red today, to celebrate the Prince’s engagement which was primarily postponed owing to the little rendezvous Prince Jaehyun and him had went on back on the day it was supposed to occur.
Stepping out from behind Taeyong, Doyoung too adjusts his robes, as if imitating everything the older advisor does. And maybe he should, Doyoung had always looked up to Lord Oh, and rightly so. He was acclaimed to be the greatest advisor the Kingdom has seen till date and proved true to the words every single day he spent in this kingdom.
“Prince Ten has developed a liking towards the Eldest Prince of Ero and he wishes to marry him.” Doyoung states upon clearing his throat.
“It is but just a liking,” Lord Oh starts, sighing and making his way towards his Father’s side, “Ten is a child. He will grow out of it.”
“I beg to differ,” Taeyong gulps, he hated crossing Lord Oh, he made a great orator and even better debater. With one eyebrow raised, Lord Oh gave him the permission to continue.
“He seems quite serious about the matter, and surprisingly so does Prince Youngho,” Taeyong watches as Lord Oh and his Father look at him in awe and utter disbelief, silently urging him to continue.
“Why do you like to over complicate such matters, Your Majesty,” Doyoung whispers beside him.
Ignoring him, Taeyong continues, “they paid me a visit last evening, or this morning rather. Together. Prince Youngho promised me that he would still hold up his end of the treaty, save the fact that he did not wish to marry out of love. Especially now that he has found someone who adores him just as much. It would be improper to let them sneak about when their declarations sounded so resolute.” His words follow a silence so heavy that Taeyong wishes to crumble beneath its weight.
“Do you understand the severity of this deal, Your Highness?” Lord Oh voices out after a while, still looking at the paper, an invitation to the Princes’ engagement celebrations Taeyong notes.
“I do.”
“I do not think so,” Chanyeol says finally, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose and Taeyong hated to see his father in such great distress, but it was his duty as a brother, a future king, and above all, a betrothed to make sure his people are save, sated and happy. Even at the cost of himself.
“Taeyong we wish to have someone with great diplomacy skills in that court,” his father sighs, hand falling onto his lap, “Ten is a great man, he would make a good, a brilliant Royal Consort. But he was not trained, nor raised to fight in a court for his country.”
His father is right. It was Taeyong and Jeno who were raised to do that, Ten and Haechan were raised ordinarily, their mother had begged Chanyeol to not throw her sons into politics. But would you look at how cruel Fates are? That is exactly where Ten lands himself into, amidst the dirtiest, most crucial and haunting of political battles.
And it wasn’t even his fault, Taeyong couldn’t blame him. It was all “love”, it destroyed kingdoms, and ruined dynasties. Lord Oh had told him the same over and over, again and again till he stopped looking at boys or girls in a way that could signify his desire towards them.
“What if I tell you,” Taeyong starts, bringing forth his hand that held a scroll, “what if I were to tell you father, that the treaty would still be intact and we can have the Eroians on their toes at all times.”
“Elaborate,” Chanyeol commands.
“What if we let Ten marry Prince Youngho and leave for Ero as a Royal Consort, and in return, I marry the Prince of Ero and bring home a Prince myself.”
He could tell that Doyoung was holding his breath. It was a tricky proposition, one that could tip his father and his advisor alike. One that could lead to a war, eerily similar to the one they were trying to avoid by getting into this mess in the first place.
“I do not understand what you wish to say-“
“He wishes to tell us, Your Majesty, that Taeyong would marry Prince Jaehyun of Ero, and crown him as the Royal Consort of Eunubulus whilst Ten serves as the future king of Ero’s consort.” Lord Oh supplies, cutting off his father before continuing with his eyes still fixed on Taeyong.
“It would not disturb the line of Hierarchy because Eunubulus is yet to announce it’s crowned Prince, and it would only be suited for the eldest of the four to take after his father. Prince Jaehyun serves no purpose in the Court of Ero, nor will Ten if and when he takes his position and replaces the Prince. Prince Jaehyun, as the country’s consort will defend Eunubulus and make sure no harm is met to the people and the royal family alike. Ten will do the same to Ero. The deal would be intact still, but it would not be your son going off to defend your country in a foreign court, it would be theirs coming into ours and forcing them to keep the peace.”
“What do you think of this plan?” His father directed the question towards Sehun and Taeyong watched with his breath held tight in his lungs as the Advisor spared him a meaningful glance, one that over the years has taught Taeyong that his beloved Lord Oh is about to spare him one last time.
“I feel it is a good plan, Your Majesty. Better than what he had initially thought of.”
His father looked rather conflicted by this statement. It was his thinking face, that is what Lord Oh had told him time and again. Taeyong waited with baited breath as his father got up and made his way towards the door, past him and his advisor, only to call upon a guard and inform him.
“Ask the King and the two Princes of Ero that I and my sons request a meeting with them as soon as possible to discuss some urgent matters.”
Turning to him, Chanyeol warns, “it is your plan, and I hope you have discussed this through with the Prince concerned.”
Just as Taeyong was about to defend himself by gently reminding his Father that it was Prince Youngho and Ten who had prompted him to take such a decision, he came to a harsh realisation that his father never meant the two love birds.
“I shall arrange a meeting between you and the Prince in the gardens that overlook fields of daffodils, before the Kings meet and discuss your fates later into the day that is” Doyoung sighed behind him once his father and his advisor were out of the door, giving him a stink eye as a bonus.
:-:
Jaehyun smiled softly, eyes gazing down an action that made his dimples more prominent and hair fall on his face before speaking, “you know Your Highness, I presumed since your kingdom and you worship the Lord Hades and Persephone so much, you would believe in true love more than myself, a descendant of Eros and Aphrodite. But I guess I was wrong.”
When his gaze met Taeyong’s it made him feel small. Not in a way that told him that he did something wrong, in a way that told him that there’s so much more he has to learn about the term Jaehyun used.
“Your brother of course is an exception to my observation.” He tells him as if an afterthought that would prompt Taeyong to not take any offence.
“How so?”
Jaehyun sighs softly, humming as if wondering so himself before answering Taeyong, “because he loves my brother that he is still ready to wage a war against a kingdom as strong as yours.”
Taeyong tilts his head to the side, weighing Jaehyun’s words. It wasn’t that he wasn’t aware of the same, that Ten believed better in words and feelings that involved “love”, he had every reason to. He wasn’t trained by Lord Oh after all.
“So you do know about them, that is good to hear and realise I suppose,” he settles with that gaze directed back towards Jaehyun.
“But it is not what I wished to discuss with you, Your Highness.” He gulps, watching as Jaehyun smiles a small smile again, scratching the side of his head and looking up at Taeyong sheepishly.
“I wish to ask you if you would like to sign a treaty with Eunubulus and agree to become the future Royal Consort of Eunubulus.”
“Do you not reckon your brother is a little too young for me?” Jaehyun questions, sucking the inside of his cheek, his head falling closer to his shoulder in question.
“It is not my brother I wish you to marry,” and surely Jaehyun couldn’t be oblivious enough to not realise that Taeyong was referring to himself.
“Is this you asking me to marry you, Your Royal Highness of Eunubulus?” Jaehyun questions smugly, a hint of disbelief present in the tone of his voice
“Perhaps,” Taeyong shrugs, hands falling onto his lap as he watches Jaehyun’s smile drop.
“Well,” he sighs, resigned. “I would not lie to you but I took you to be someone with a more romantic approach. Surely more than proposing me to become the Consort to your Kingdom, and not a husband to yourself.” Jaehyun looks up at him gently, slightly disappointed, mostly unsurprised. “You make it sound like you are offering and promising me a position at your court and not the rest of your life.”
“It is what it is,” Taeyong replies, eyebrows pulled together in confusion because he was sure he made his intentions clear already.
The Prince before him turned to look at the daffodils that swayed gently and smiled lightly, “I do not presume spending the rest of your life with me is a bad idea,” he paused to give Taeyong a cheeky smile. “I am undeniably handsome and wise beyond my years. I would add the much needed spice to your bland and plain life, wouldn’t I, Your Highness?”
“I am surely not looking forward to that, Prince.” Taeyong muttered beneath his breath, not sparing the Prince a single glance.
He certainly was not looking forward to the rest of his life now, but surely it was better than his state earlier.