Chapter Text
It was Felix’s first day at the manor. He wasn’t anxious or even scared about who he would be working for—or who would essentially own him.
He might have come from the lowest level of society, starting life as an orphan, but he had always found his way. His ethereal, genderless beauty might have helped, along with his cleverness. The world wasn’t kind to people like him, burdened with a tragic background, but Felix had clawed his way up. From begging in the streets to working in the grandest manor in the country, he was proud of his ascension.
All he knew about his new master was his name and reputation for power. Respected and feared in equal measure. Probably some old man with a strong ego, Felix thought. He wasn’t entirely wrong—and would find out soon enough.
For now, he had a plan: use his position to meet a rich heir, seduce them with his natural charms, and marry into wealth. It would be the end of this miserable existence of servitude, the start of a whole new life. He’d deal with the complications of a rich wife later. The problem? Felix could barely stomach the idea of marrying a woman. He liked men; he always had. He’d known this about himself for as long as he could remember, even though this society—staunchly homophobic—made it a difficult truth to bear.
When he arrived at the manor, an old man quickly escorted him to a room. Felix didn’t bother catching the man’s name—he wasn’t interested. Nothing ever held Felix’s attention when he had a specific goal in mind.
The room he entered was modest but clean, with two small beds, a few pieces of furniture, and a large window. It was neat and well cared for. On one of the beds lay a young man reading a book. At the sound of the door opening, the brunette leaped to his feet, startled.
“Jeez! You scared me! Knock next time. I thought it was that crazy lady again.”
The guy was cute: curly black hair that could use a trim, round cheeks like a squirrel’s, honey-colored skin, and bright, lively eyes. He was slightly shorter than Felix, with broad shoulders and a slim waist—pretty attractive, though not Felix’s type.
“Language, Jisung,” the old man scolded. “This is your new roommate. I’ll leave you to the introductions. I have work to do for Lord Hwang. The ball is soon.”
“Oh, okay. Sorry!” Jisung replied sheepishly.
The old man gave Jisung a stern look before leaving the room, leaving the two younger men in awkward silence. Felix, still holding his bag, studied the boy curiously.
“Ahem, sorry for the bad first impression. Let’s start over! Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Jisung."
"Felix. Nice to meet you too.”
“This bed will be yours,” Jisung explained. “We’ll eventually get individual rooms—they’re still preparing them. I’m kind of new here too. I’ve been here about two weeks, and I think you’ll like it. They pay well and treat us okay. They even matched you with the right duties. I was in the kitchens at first, but, uh, I almost burned everything down, so they moved me. Oh! Let me take your bag!”
Felix quickly realized that Jisung was the chatty type and probably craved company. He didn’t mind. Felix himself was a social butterfly, and having a friend here could be useful. He needed information, and Jisung, who already knew the place, might provide it.
“Thanks,” Felix said as Jisung put his bag on the other bed.
“If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me,” Jisung offered.
“Thanks, Jisung. Maybe just one quick question—what’s this Lord Hwang like?”
A mischievous, enigmatic smile appeared on Jisung’s face.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Edgar told me we’re serving dinner tonight for him, his wife, and some guests."
"Ugh, sounds like a boring political dinner with old people,” Felix muttered.
Jisung chuckled, amused by Felix’s ignorance. This was going to be interesting.
The rest of the day passed quickly. Felix organized his belongings, explored the manor, and was trained in the intricate choreography of serving dinner. He wasn’t too nervous, knowing Jisung would be by his side. When the time came, he dressed in the elegant uniform they had provided, impressed by its quality.
“Fancy, right?” Jisung remarked. “Lord Hwang is so rich that even his servants look expensive."
"I can tell. He must love showing off.”
After braiding his long, blonde hair neatly, Felix followed Jisung to the dining room. Suddenly, a wave of nervousness hit him—a gut feeling that something life-changing was about to happen. He kept silent, carrying the plate of appetizers as they entered the grand room.
The space was filled with a dozen wealthy guests, their laughter mingling with soft piano notes. Felix scanned the room, curious about his owner. His eyes stopped on the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen.
The man had long, chestnut hair tied in an elegant half-ponytail. Sharp eyes, one accentuated by a mesmerizing mole, gave him the look of a predator. His nose was regal, like it had been sculpted by the greatest artist of their time. And those lips—plump and inviting—sparked a destructive, obsessive desire in Felix. The man’s tall, slender frame exuded grace, every movement like a choreographed ballet. Was he even real?
"He’s handsome, right?"
"Who?” Felix asked, startled."
"The man you’re drooling over,” Jisung teased. “That’s Lord Hwang Hyunjin, your owner.”
Felix froze. He didn’t know what shocked him more—that the most beautiful man he’d ever seen owned him, or that their eyes had just met.