Chapter Text
10.
"Wonwoo, come here, Dear."
"Yes, Mother?"
He was 10 and it was Winter. He who was born in a night of passionate Summer could not stand a chance in a blanket of white falling from the dark sky. As the result, he was clad head-to-toe in the heaviest, warmest winter wears.
Like that, was how Kim Mingyu saw him for the very first time. The said boy stood before Wonwoo’s mother, while she sat on her throne. His father was just beside her. The King's Advisor, Hong Jisoo, some maids and guards were there as well. He remembered he did not even steal a glance at the boy, as his mother (or father, since he's the king anyway) had not ordered him to look at the boy yet. The King and Queen's words were absolute and should be regarded as commands all the time.
So, Jeon Wonwoo stepped forward, ignoring the gaze young Kim Mingyu attached upon him. 'Insolent child', he thought at that moment with face plainly calm. He was not fond of being an object of the child's observation like he was some kind of a jester offering free entertainment at the side of the road. Sure, he knew he might look a little ridiculous, with so many layers of clothing even when the palace was probably the hottest place in all kingdom in the middle of Winter. It was not Wonwoo's fault. He was weak with cold from birth.
His steps came to an end. His mother had this super sickeningly sweet smile planted on her face, convincing Wonwoo that this summon would bear him no good result at all. But, being a good crown prince, future king of the strong and graceful Moon Kingdom, he had no choice but to oblige.
"This is Kim Mingyu."
With a (very) silent scoff, finally, Wonwoo turned his lithe body towards the child beside him.
He blinked.
'Oh wow...'
A puppy.
Wait, no, stay focused, Wonwoo. That's not a puppy you had always wanted. That's a human. A literal boy, breathing and living and...twinkling. Were human's eyes even twinkling? Wonwoo swore he would fetch some snacks from the kitchen right now to feed the pup—human just to see those eyes lightened even more.
Wow, such a surreal urge to have.
"Hi, Mingyu."
He had to smile. It was his job as the crown prince. Plus, this time he felt like he could smile genuinely towards the boy no matter what bomb his mother would drop really soon. Was this boy his long lost step brother from his father's secret concubine? Or was this boy his new guard in the making? Mayhap his parents finally decided that having one child was not enough and adopted this puppy from capital's shelter??
Oh please, please, let the third thought be real...
Or maybe...
"He will be your spouse in three days from now."
What.
"It's my honor, Your Majesty."
"Wait."
That one sudden word stole everyone's gaze, including Jisoo's (and Wonwoo hated Jisoo's gaze, too probing for his liking). Being the center of attention now, the young crown prince cleared his throat. Always kept a poised, calm demeanour and gentle act was what his manner tutor always said. Thus, the 10 years old prince bowed his head towards His and Her Majesty.
"I seek forgiveness, Your Majesty, it was not my intention to be so rude."
"Apology accepted," his mother said, looking satisfied with her son's perfect manner. "Lift your head, Jeon Wonwoo, and explain."
"Yes, Mother. I really appreciate your kindness for this...union...but, three days? Isn't that too fast to tie my knot to..." what was the child's name again? Bob? Or Bingo, more puppy-like to him anyway. "...forever. For life. Yes. Umm, is there any reason for this sudden urgency?"
"Silence."
And he did.
"This is your betrothed from now on, Jeon Wonwoo, and his name is Kim Mingyu," she smiled. "I wish for you to remember his name better than today in your wedding day three days from now."
Wow. Old hag. What a way to crush your own flesh and blood's whole life.
"But, Mother—!"
"Your majesty."
Again, he was silenced, by Kim Mingyu this time. Second look and Wonwoo realized much, much more than mere puppy eyes. The darker skin tone which screamed a foreign land to him. Soft, fluttering dark hair even when the royal throne room was tightly secured from any wind blowing in. His toothy smile, all wide and mesmerizing. And how Kim Mingyu was so, so small. Smaller than him. This boy could not be older than 10. 8 maybe? 7?
He's too young. It might be a (stupid) custom in the royal family of Moon Kingdom to wed very young, so he was prepared for it, but this child could not be a part of this kingdom originally. Didn't it feel weird for him to meet his spouse-to-be like this?
And, furthermore, in three days! What ever could happen in three days??
"Your Majesty, I apologize for not befitting your preference in spouse—"
Wonwoo's eyes got bigger. No, that was certainly not the case at all.
"—but I promise that I will learn to be your perfect spouse. I-I know I'm tiny and weak now, but Hyekyung once said that she saw me in her divination and I was very tall in there, big and all muscly and I can protect you, like, really protect you from any harm, Your Majesty."
Oh. Oh God. Oh no. Jeon Wonwoo's cuteness radar went all tingling throughout his whole body. Every words came out of that boy sounded like tiny, soft barks, the one puppies always let out when they wanted someone to pick them out from a bunch of dogs in shelter. He almost lost his control and patted the boy's head if not for his mother smirking at them, oddly interested with her son's reaction.
Wonwoo coughed to compose himself.
"W-well—in that case, I think we can spend our three days knowing each other then?" well, that was easy. He never knew he was the weakest in the face of deadly cuteness (he did now, ironically).
Kim Mingyu's face lit up in a moment too soon. And, that was when Jeon Wonwoo noticed his tinie, tiny fang behind his upper lip.
"It's my honor, Your Majesty!" he said cheerfully, bowing repeatedly at the crown prince, oblivious on how the said prince had blushes on both his cheeks. Not from shame nor shyness, but from massive endearment embedded deep within his heart, waiting to flood out. He could hug the boy right now, even squealing, but his mother's gaze lingered on. Jeon Wonwoo was everything but to lose to his mother's mental game (or Jisoo's, God, they're so similar, he would not be surprised if that man was his father's secret consort or something).
"The pleasure's mine," and, just to make his mother (old hag) happy, he added. "Kim Mingyu."