Chapter Text
Vernon's father sighed deeply as the family sat around the parlor. "The party was amusing but I'm afraid it's back to reviewing ledgers for me. These figures won't add themselves."
Seungcheol smiled from his seat across from the older alpha. "I defer to Vernon on the actual computations but I'm here for morale."
"Helpful as always, Seungcheol." Vernon's mother shook her head in amusement. "And what are your plans, Jeonghan?"
Jeonghan cleared his throat quietly. "Actually, I was thinking how much I'd like to spend a few days in London." He gave a careful nod to Vernon.
"London again?" The dowager asked in surprise. "Whatever for?"
"I want to visit my aunt." Jeonghan said. "She lives in London, and I still haven't had a chance to see her. She's invited me and Vernon to stay with her for a while to keep her company."
Simon pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I remember Subin visiting her often."
The dowager huffed. "I'm not quite convinced. You've been mucking about in the village and London long enough. You're to be the Viscountess of Ashbourne here in Windcroft, not in London!"
"My lady has a point." Melody frowned. "I've hardly had a moment to teach you how I plan events and manage the household staff."
"But surely you won't prevent Jeonghan from seeing his own kin?" Vernon asked.
"Of course not, dear!" Melody exclaimed. "Your aunt is welcome to join us in Windcroft any time."
Jeonghan exchanged a glance with Vernon, trying not to panic. "But I really should participate in the London Season." Jeonghan insisted. "How else am I to meet all of society before our wedding? Especially since I never had a debutante ball of my own?"
"He has a point there." Seungcheol chimed in, and Jeonghan sent him a grateful smile, the omega's chest fluttering slightly. The Chwe family mulled it over, Lord Ashbourne stroking his chin. "Isn't Wonwoo Jeon's debutante ball coming up?" Seungcheol then pointed out. "Vernon and Jeonghan shouldn't offend by not attending."
"That's true…" The dowager hummed.
Simon frowned. "We kept our townhouse in London shuttered this year because we didn't feel up to participating in the Season ourselves after…" He trailed off.
"That's why we must stay with Jeonghan's aunt." Vernon said. "She'd be happy to chaperone us."
Melody smiled decisively. "I see no fault in that argument. Besides, young Jeonghan hasn't yet been to a party in London! You must experience it at least once."
"What of the wedding preparations?" The dowager asked.
"All that's really left is the venue, isn't it?" Melody pointed out. "And we'll telephone if we find any that look promising."
Jeonghan smiled. "Then that's settled. Thank you."
Seungcheol suddenly cleared his throat. "I need to go to London as well. To, uh, attend the parties. For the Season." He gave Jeonghan a meaningful look that had the omega's cheeks growing warm.
"You've never cared about the Season before." Melody said in surprise. "Especially after going through that bout of heartbreak. Why the sudden change?"
"People change." Seungcheol said simply.
"Seungcheol should come." Jeonghan blurted out, pulling everyone's gazes to him. "So people see the Chwe family all together." He quickly added on. "Otherwise, everyone will be inquiring after him and it wouldn't be becoming."
Melody nodded. "I expect you're right. Good thinking ahead, Jeonghan."
Simon smiled. "It's so nice to see you wanting to take a more active role in the social scene, Jeonghan."
"Yes and it only took the latter quarter of my lifetime." The dowager grumbled.
Vernon cleared his throat. "Now that the plans are finalized, we'd best go make preparations."
As the three younger adults headed upstairs to pack, Jeonghan gestured for Vernon to join him in the study. "For a moment there, I thought they wouldn't let us go." Jeonghan said in relief.
"I knew you could persuade them." Vernon smiled.
"We'll have to be careful to keep up our pretense around my aunt though." Jeonghan said. "She's got a nose for scandal like no one you've ever met."
Vernon opened his mouth to respond but quickly snapped it shut as Seungcheol joined them in the room. "I hope it's alright I volunteered myself." Seungcheol said. "I assumed you two were planning to do some investigating."
Jeonghan smiled. "I'm happy to have you there. I hope we'll have plenty of time to investigate together."
"Yes, precisely." Seungcheol nodded, holding Jeonghan's gaze.
Vernon glanced between the two of them. "Why are the two of you acting out of sorts?"
Jeonghan's cheeks burned as his head shot towards Vernon. "I'm just saying that Seungcheol will be useful." He said and Seungcheol nodded in agreement. "Two heads are better than one!" He let out a nervous laugh. "Or three heads, in this case."
"Right…" Vernon furrowed his eyebrows quizzically as he left the room. Jeonghan practically ran out of the study as well to avoid looking at Seungcheol, his cheeks nearly on fire.
***
Jeonghan's Aunt Seohyun met Jeonghan, Seungcheol, Vernon, and Joshua near the train station shortly after they arrived in London. "Jeonghan!" She squealed, throwing her arms open to welcome him in a warm embrace. "Look at you, darling, so posh! And with such handsome young alphas to do your bidding!"
Vernon raised his eyebrows. "Do his bidding?"
Seungcheol chuckled. "Jeonghan can be most persuasive. I’m Seungcheol, Vernon's cousin. And I'm sure you've met Vernon."
Jeonghan wrapped an arm around Vernon's pulling him closer as he tugged him forward to meet Seohyun. "Here's my handsome fiance now!"
"Uh, yes, lovely to see you again." Vernon greeted Seohyun. Jeonghan felt Seungcheol's eyes on him but tried to ignore it.
"How exciting!" Seohyun beamed. "It's good to see the two of you side by side. The perfect picture!"
Jeonghan smiled. "And this is Joshua Hong, my omega's maid."
Joshua curtsied. "We've heard so much about you, Miss!"
"Miss is right!" Seohyun laughed. "You won't catch me settling down anytime soon!"
"Indeed?" Vernon asked in surprise. Seohyun looped her arm through Jeonghan's and hauled him down the sidewalk, leaving the alphas and Joshua to have to hurry to keep pace.
After a few turns, Seohyun stopped outside the door to her home. "Here we are, the humble abode. If you don't mind, I'm going to steal Jeonghan away to catch up just the two of us! My butler will see to it that the rest of you are taken care of. Then we can all have a proper dinner together tonight."
"Enjoy yourselves." Seungcheol said. "Don't get up to too much trouble without us."
Seohyun leaned over to pinch Vernon's cheek. "Oh, no, we'll wait for you alphas for the real trouble to start!"
Vernon gave her a weak smile. "How…lovely…"
Jeonghan hid a smile, waving to the others as Seohyun led him into a nearby shop. "Oh, my." He gasped as he looked around. "This reminds me of the most avant garde ateliers back in New York!"
"Isn't it swell?" Seohyun grinned. "We need to find you something sophisticated, daring, and glamorous to show you off at all the parties! Starting with the debutante ball later this week!"
They began browsing the gowns on display. "I suppose gowns like these are casual wear for you, aren't they, Aunt Seohyun?"
"If only!" Seohyun laughed. "Believe it or not, I'm not always sipping champagne and dancing the night away. Just most of the time."
"And flirting, as I recall." Jeonghan chuckled.
"Naturally!" Seohyun exclaimed. "I had the most delightful few days in Paris with an alpha I met in an art gallery. We rode bicycles down the Champs-Elysees."
"Jacque, right?" Jeonghan asked.
Seohyun frowned. "Oh, heavens, no! I've stopped seeing him. I'm enjoying Jean now." She glanced around surreptitiously. "And then there's the violinist in Berlin. She makes the best coffee."
Jeonghan's eyes widened. "That all sounds terribly exciting. And nothing at all like your sister."
"Ah, well, Eunjung and I always were very different people." Seohyun said flippantly. "And how are you getting along with Mr. Tall and Brooding?"
It took Jeonghan a second to realize she meant Vernon not Seungcheol. "We're bonding more than we ever expected." He plastered a smile on his face, hoping to seem in love. "I'm fully swept away."
Seohyun raised her eyebrows. "Really? I can't lie and say I'm not surprised to hear it but I'm glad things are working out." She inspected Jeonghan carefully. "You know you don't have to put on such a brave face for me, don't you?"
Jeonghan blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"I certainly know what it's like to have someone pushed on you." Seohyun said sympathetically. "Even my own younger sister wanted me to marry myself away. Although seeing as I'm not lacking for family fortune, I wonder why she was so persistent. For image, I suppose. I know it can be hard to forge your own path. I'm here for you, truly, if you ever want to talk."
Jeonghan hesitated, swallowing thickly before turning up the smile once more. "I don't know what you mean. I'm perfectly happy with Vernon."
Seohyun frowned as if she were disappointed, then beamed as though the moment never happened. "Then that's all I could ask for you. I'm over the moon to hear it. Here we are!" She pulled out a shimmering beaded gown from the rack and held it up to Jeonghan. "Oh, darling, I think this will do the trick nicely. It has some Gothic inspiration but looks modern all the same." She thrusted the black and scarlet gown into Jeonghan's hands. "Go ahead, try it on and see what you think."
Jeonghan ducked behind the changing screen with an attendant to try on the gown, his lips parting in awe as he looked at himself in the provided mirror. "I look so elegant yet bold and daring."
"The perfect combination." Seohyun said in approval. "How about it?"
"I love it." Jeonghan smiled. "I think it'll be just the thing to make my name known at the next party."
"Splendid!" Seohyun put her hands on Jeonghan's shoulders, smiling fondly as the younger omega continued to look at his reflection. "Subin would be so proud to see you living so brightly and radiantly."
Jeonghan bit his lip. "I don't know if that's how she'd see me." He said quietly.
Seohyun sighed. "I know it's still hard, Jeonghan, and it probably will be for quite some time, but you truly seem in your element here. The glow you had when you stepped off that train platform, that mischievous gleam in your eye, it reminds me of when I decided I wanted to make London my home a few years ago. I think you're going to thrive here in England."
"You really think so?" Jeonghan asked.
"I know it." Seohyun smiled. "You'll see, dear nephew."
***
Jeonghan was taking tea in the parlor when Seungcheol entered the room. "While we're here, what about looking into that signet ring you found in the baby's toy bear?" The alpha asked as he sat down across from Jeonghan reaching out to pour himself a cup of tea.
"The one for the alphas' club?" Jeonghan asked and Seungcheol nodded. "An excellent idea. Do you happen to know where it is?"
"It's not too far from here." Seungcheol said. "If we went now, we could be back well before dinner with your aunt." He took a long sip of tea.
Jeonghan smiled and set his own cup down, standing up. "By all means, lead the way."
After dragging Seungcheol away from his tea and out of the townhouse, Jeonghan followed him to the Walrus club. The paused down the block, watching the entrance. "I've heard they move their headquarters every few years." Seungcheol said. "This is their newest location."
"It looks like the doorman is checking everyone's rings before letting them inside." Jeonghan mused.
"And I doubt they'd allow an omega inside…" Seungcheol pursed his lips. "Though I might have an idea."
"We've got to try." Jeonghan said with a determined expression. "Come on."
They both approached the entrance and Seungcheol held out the ring. "Terribly sorry, friend, I need to pop inside to fetch something I left earlier."
"Quite alright, sir." The doorman nodded. "But you know the rules. No omegas allowed."
Seungcheol frowned. "I can't leave him outside unchaperoned. It'll only take a moment."
The doorman hesitated. "I don't know, my lord…"
"But he is my fiance!" Jeonghan blurted out, taking a now stunned Seungcheol's hand into his while displaying Vernon's engagement ring. "You want him to desert me on the streets alone?"
Seungcheol cleared his throat, gaining his composure. "Uh, yes, precisely. What kind of precedent would I be setting as a proper alpha?"
The doorman looked between the two of them and sighed. "Just be quick about it, alright?"
"We shall." Jeonghan nodded, and hand in hand, the two of them walked into the club together.