Chapter Text
Seoul, South Korea.
2030.
In 2026, the Korean government caved in and fell to pieces. In a desperate attempt to take hold of the situation, a monarchy was voted in by the public. A gracefully aged woman was chosen due to her high status and her political fairness in the past. Her name was Lee Eun-Hye.
She’d always been a social figurehead and everyone loved her. However, she was getting old and she knew that she would need an heir to take her place in the future. There was a potential heir, a grandson that she’d never met. Of course, there was a story behind his existence: It had been around twenty years since she’d heard about his birth and twenty-one years since her son had disappeared. Lee Junho was her son’s name and she’d only felt devastation concerning him at two points in her life: When he left and disassociated himself from the family and then fifteen years later when she was told of his death.
Of course, this broke her heart. But she had to try and find her grandson no matter what. So, in an effort to track him down, Eun-Hye hired the best private investigators money could buy. Then? Well she did what any seventy-year-old woman would do if they wanted to see their grandson.
She had him kidnapped.
Jeongguk wasn’t having the best day. His apartment had been trashed by partygoers the night before never mind the fact that he and his two roommates had received an eviction notice from the police due to their third strike after multiple noise complaints, reports of property damage and even a case of arson. The arson was when Jeongguk’s youngest roommate, Yugyeom, set the curtains on fire after trying to light a barbecue inside.
It irritated him that he had to get up with an extremely bad hangover just to fetch some milk to put in his coffee. Jeongguk ambled down the streets of downtown Seoul, dressed in the clothes he’d worn the night before.
That was when the bright flashes began and he felt as if someone was hammering his skull. Yelling sounded around him and Jeongguk did his best to shove his way out of the crowd. Two men in dark suits and sunglasses pushed their way through effortlessly and took either of his arms. They spoke into earpieces in code and led Jeongguk to a car where he was forced inside and the doors were locked afterwards.
As one of the nameless men started the car, fists banged against the tinted windows and some of the rabid photographers even stood in front of the large, sleek car in a weak but desperate attempt to get a photo of the boy. Now that Jeongguk wasn’t in such sudden shock, he could tune in to the commotion outside.
“Prince Jeongguk! Give us a wave!"
“Lee Jeongguk!”
My name is Jeon Jeongguk, He thought. They must have had the wrong person. Jeongguk stared at the two men in suits, one in the driver’s seat and the other beside him, with a deep-set frown on his face,
“What the actual fuck is going on here?”
Neither of the men spoke, staring straight ahead and occasionally focusing on whatever was being told to them through their earpieces. Jeongguk rolled his eyes and reached for the door handle, to which his wrist was caught in the strong hand of the man sat beside him in the back seat.
“I wouldn’t recommend that, Mr Lee.”
“Mr Jeon.” Jeongguk corrected the man but leaned back in his seat anyways. As long as he wasn’t being traded into human trafficking, he’d be okay. Plus, they didn’t seem dangerous considering they’d taken him out of a potentially harmful situation.
“Okay, H, let’s be on our way.”
The man beside Jeongguk spoke and the other honked the horn a few times to get the photographers to move before pulling away from the sidewalk. They were in the car for around an hour before Jeongguk became much more aware of his surroundings. They were on the outskirts of the city, in the Hannam Hills. Swiftly, the car was checked and large wrought iron gates slid open to let them through. Jeongguk’s mouth gaped as they pulled up to a large stately home which seemed far too extravagant for him to ever come close to in life.
He was soon ushered out of the vehicle and up the marble steps to the front door. The two suited men came inside and flanked Jeongguk as he looked around the large hall they were stood in. There was a grand staircase which lined two walls to the second floor and along the wall going up the stairs were large portraits of people who Jeongguk didn’t recognise.
“Jeongguk.”
A voice caught his attention to his left and he almost doubled over in shock.
“You’re the Queen..”
She just smiled at his shocked expression and beckoned for him to walk into the room of the doorway in which she was stood. Her clothes just screamed luxury and cleanliness whilst he was covered in beerstains and a bit of vomit that Yugyeom blessed him with during a drunken chat they’d had only hours earlier.
“What’s happening?”
Jeongguk asked the woman who seemed to sweep the floor gracefully as she sat down on a plush couch which overlooked a roaring fire. She gestured to the couch opposite and Jeongguk sat down, all of his focus directed at her. Her expression was almost fond as she watched him and this only made Jeongguk more confused.
“My name is Lee Eun-Hye… And I’m your grandmother.”
Jeongguk was silent for a moment before he scoffed and actually barked out a laugh in disbelief,
“Yeah, okay, I highly doubt that.”
“I’m your father’s mother.”
Eun-Hye’s voice was soft. Speaking about her son was still a sore subject.
“My grandparents are dead, just like my dad.”
Jeongguk’s jaw was clenched and his words came out tight, almost as if he was in pain by even mentioning his father… Even after five years.
The pair were silent for a moment before Jeongguk’s eyes wandered to the large photo above the fireplace. It was a family photo which consisted of four people: Eun-Hye, an older man and.. Someone who looked like Jeongguk himself.
“That’s him,”
Eun-Hye said softly when Jeongguk stood and moved to take a closer look at the large scale family portrait,
“When he was a little younger than you.”
“You weren’t lying.”
Jeongguk choked out, eyes burning holes into the painted ones of his young father.
Eun-Hye moved beside him,
“Your parents didn’t know that this would happen, nobody did, it was unforeseeable. I agreed to stay away like your father wished so you could have a normal life without all of the wealth and the politics… These circumstances have left us in a position where you’ll be the one to take over if and when I pass on.”
Jeongguk turned his head to look at the small, frail woman who had so much power and pressure. The whole country rested on her shoulders and Jeongguk knew in that moment that the reason she was telling him all of this was to persuade him. However, he didn’t need persuading: He’d already made his mind up.
“This would’ve been my father’s place, what you’re asking me to do?”
Eun-Hye only nodded in response to Jeongguk’s question and he bowed his head before returning his gaze to his father.
“Then you can count on me.”
He spoke bravely, his heart clenching and stomach fluttering with nerves. If this would’ve been his father’s job then Jeongguk would take it upon himself to stand in and do him proud. This wasn’t for his grandmother and it wasn’t for his country – This was an effort to honour his father’s name and give his family a legacy to be proud of rather than a failed college student who got nowhere in life.
Eun-Hye nodded once more and turned on the heel of her fluffy slippers. She smiled at six men who stood before her and Jeongguk turned to settle his eyes upon them too. They were all dressed in casual clothes but they presented themselves to appear clean and well dressed.
“Your majesty.”
They all spoke and bowed to Eun-Hye in tandem and Jeongguk’s gaze wandered over each of the six handsome men with intrigue. She smiled and nodded at them, turning her head slightly to look at Jeongguk.
“These six, dashing, young men are going to be your guides in becoming a proper prince and eventually they’ll be your guidance as king.”
Eun-Hye explained shortly, stepping forwards and beckoning her grandson to follow.
One by one, Eun-Hye gestured for them to introduce themselves to their prince and Jeongguk couldn’t help but smirk and snigger quietly at all of the titles and proper language they all used.
“My name is Kim Namjoon, I am your tutor and translator.”
The lanky man bowed at the waist and Jeongguk stuck out his hand which was obviously quite improper when all six men eyed him in amusement. Namjoon shook his hand anyway.
“My name is Kim Seokjin, I’m the head chef here and your caterer.”
Jeongguk nodded slightly, deciding just to shut up and listen as they all exchanged pleasantries and told him what they did.
After all six men had spoken, he learnt that Kim Taehyung (who was incredibly well dressed) was his stylist; Min Yoongi was his personal bodyguard; Jung Hoseok was his secondary bodyguard and chauffeur and finally, Park Jimin was his personal assistant. So Jeongguk basically had six slaves.
He didn’t even recognise Yoongi and Hoseok when they weren’t wearing full suits and sunglasses to conceal their identities. Apart from their vibrant hair colours and their deep voices, they seemed like completely different people.
“I’ll leave you all to get acquainted.”
Eun-Hye was in a subtle rush to go somewhere as her assistant waited by the door with a clipboard in her hands. She left the room quietly and all of a sudden, six pairs of eyes were focused solely on Jeongguk which made him squirm.
“It’s.. Uhm, nice to meet you all.”
He smiled and Taehyung was the first to step forward, circling Jeongguk and seeming to pick him apart with a simple gaze.
“Oh, honey.. No, no, no – This just won’t do.”
He gingerly prodded at Jeongguk’s side and the younger jumped at the unexpected action. Jimin sighed softly and Jin couldn’t help but smile at the two youngest boys in the room.
“Well, you know about us so you should really tell us more about you.”
Jeongguk picked up that Namjoon was very well spoken and radiated confidence. He also picked up on the way Yoongi and Hoseok both seemed slightly on edge, scanning the room constantly. Jimin also seemed a little on edge, checking his watch often and holding a clipboard (much like Eun-Hye’s assistant.)
“My name is Jeon Jeongguk.. I lived in downtown Seoul and I studied at a college on the outskirts.. I’m twenty and I guess I’m a prince.”
Jeongguk finally looked up at the six men in front of him and he couldn’t help but grin. This all felt like a dream, it was so surreal.
“Well, Mr Jeon, I think we should get your measurements so I can have some pieces sent in from Italy to replace your – Can I even call these clothes?” Taehyung mused, analysing Jeongguk’s attire once more.
When he reached out to touch a stain on Jeongguk’s shirt, he found himself being gently stopped by the prince,
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you…”
Taehyung raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow in silent question,
“It’s my roommate’s vomit.”
At that, Jin and Jimin both spluttered and were both elbowed in the ribs by Namjoon and Hoseok,
“Let’s show him to his room so he can change.”
Yoongi lacked any expression but nodded to Hoseok so he would lead the way.
“Oh, Jeongguk-ah?” Jin spoke and everyone stopped to look at the eldest of the group,
“I speak on behalf of us all: It’s nice to meet you too and we look forward to teaching you everything we know.”
“I can’t wait to learn.”