Chapter Text
It had been a long time coming, but Mobei-jun was excited for this day. Well, as excited as a he could really get for a meeting with the elders of his clan. Given that was a bunch of toady old demons that he didn’t necessarily like, it tempered any excitement a good deal. Not that Mobei-jun liked many people but he particularly didn’t like dealing with his father's and grandfather’s old retainers.
Usually, when meeting about clan business, he’d have the benefit of Shang Qinghua’s company. His human was a good match for him in being able to sort through politics and clan business. The elders had softened on him a good deal when his competence had been proven time and time again. This didn’t mean they liked or even respected Shang Qinghua, they were certainly not above hints he should be disposed of, but they had at least stopped threatening to eat him. Those hadn't been believable to begin with - these elders didn't even like eating humans, they just couldn't back up most other threats!
Mobei-jun was not able to have Shang Qinghua preseny for this meeting, given the subject matter. He was going to declare his intention to take his human as his mate and sole permanent spouse. He did not want Shang Qinghua in close proximity if the elders decided to be defiant or spiteful in their reactions to his decree. They would see reason and bend to his wishes as king before Qinghua would know.
He should have suspected that something was off from how rattled the advisors already looked when he arrived. The elders were not such cowards as to immediately quake in his very presence, so Mobei-jun should have realized something wasn’t right. If his partner were with him, he’d have drawn Mobei-jun’s attention to it quickly with his own nerves and worries about ‘plot points’ and ‘dramatic worlds’ as well. However, with his own anxiety over their reaction, he was a step behind in catching on.
Mobei-jun’s eyes narrowed menacingly as he spoke of his intent to marry, looking over their faces challengingly. He dared them to speak out an objection, try to dissuade him. He didn’t believe any of them were strong or brave enough to put up a real resistance. That’s when he heard a voice behind him that made his blood burn.
“It’s good of you to see sense, you will be needing to marry. But I’m afraid it won’t be to that little human pet of yours.”
Linguang-jun, his young uncle, was ever the thorn in Mobei-jun’s side.
He had been standing in another part of the room, shaded from view and with his aura hidden. Now he stepped out in grand fashion to present old rules and agreements of some note, things he had probably scoured to find. He presented them like a triumph but it felt like such a hollow, weak little victory. Linguang-jun couldn’t best his nephew in combat or skills, so he wished to thwart him in marriage. Such a trivial victory.
Still, Mobei-jun felt a pang in his chest at it all the same, especially as the elders spoke in agreement to the necessity of choosing a proper demon lord as a spouse. No wonder they had been on edge - they knew they were allowing his uncle’s presence in defiance of Mobei-jun, and going to push something against his inclination. If he didn’t think them generally quite useful and the internal struggle in his clan not something he wanted to deal with, he’d kill them all for this insolence.
“It would be best for our clan to maintain position and influence by marrying a demon lord who can bolster our claims in either lands or fortune…” one of the elders offered, “We cannot rely forever on your ties to Lord Luo, especially if his favor wanes or he gives up the kingdom to fully retire with his spouse…”
“Lord Luo is allowed to take a human for a spouse.” Mobei-jun pointed out sharply.
“But you are not Lord Luo,” his uncle rebutted, smile so very nasty and toothy. Mobei-jun was tempted to remove his teeth.
“You could keep your human as a pet or as a concubine, perhaps-” One of the others started but was cut off with a glare by Mobei-jun.
“No.”
Shang Qinghua would be Mobei-jun’s mate or not at all. He would not reduce him to the level of concubine or pet. Regardless of how he referred to himself as a servant for so long, he was Mobei-jun’s most trusted advisor and his partner. Mobei-jun would not insult him by offering him less than his due.
There was also the matter that quite a lot of demons being territorial, especially the lords. They would either treat Shang Qinghua as their property as well as Mobei-jun’s, and use or abuse him to their liking or - the more likely scenario - they would kill him. Demon lords who kept harems had to keep them strictly arranged or be powerful enough in many ways to keep his various mates from killing each other, and even then there was no guarantee. It would take someone on Luo Binghe’s caliber both socially and intimidation-wise to keep more than a few spouses in line. A demon and a human spouse especially would be an issue, and if the human were not even on the rank of spouse? There would be no safety.
No if Mobei-jun loved Shang Qinghua - which he did, that was not in doubt - he would have to break things off if they were going to force him to marry. He was not meeting a series of demons to potentially marry and having Shang Qinghua anywhere near them. They might make a contest of trying to kill or terrorize him the most to show their superiority. A lot of other demon lords didn’t seem to understand his attachment to the little human as anything more than a passing fancy - an amusement that would be grown out of it in time. It was tiresome.
He argued, he fought, he even read the stupid decrees back to front, but in the end Mobei-jun was left with no wiggle room. He was not Lord Luo, and he would not be able to act as he pleased in this instance. If he were to give up his position instead, he would be exposing both of them to worse danger from new and existing enemies, and if he kept up his relationship, he would be signing the death order for the man he loved.
He hated it, but Mobei-jun knew just what he had to do.