Chapter Text
today, like any other day, was just another day for him to wander off inside the mansion where his family and himself resided. alone in the hallways, he walked through them, occasionally meeting a few of their housekeeping staff and waving at them as a friendly gesture. his boredom met no end, so he decided to go back to his room after all, not before going to the kitchen and asking for a treat from the maid as to not bother the chefs.
in the corner of his eyes, as he waited in the dining room for the sweet dessert he requested, was the closed door to the living room, where he wasn't allowed to enter. he had forgotten to close the door to the dining room as he opened, and the staff paid no mind to it.
he distinctly remembered his mother telling him this morning that they were to host a guest tonight as well, all the while carding her slender fingers through his soft hair. he had noticed that his front strands were getting longer now, almost blocking his eyes' view.
due to an incident that had happened in the past, he was not to meet guests from outside the mansion, or that were not deemed trustworthy by his parents. although, by all means, the fault for this isn't his, but rather the guests. these measures taken by his parents were only to protect him, so he understood and obeyed their orders.
the sudden vision of a plate holding up a prettily decorated cake being placed before him on the white table cloth brought him out of his thoughts, as he thanked the maid with a smile. she merely bowed, a polite smile seen on her features, before she went back to completing her duties.
reminded of the etiquettes he learned, he ate sophisticatedly, without making a mess. had he made one, that would only give more work for the house staff and he'd feel bad. as he finished savouring the last bite of the cake, the dirty plate and utensils were taken away from him and he stood up from the chair he sat in.
a sudden gasp, the voice unfamiliar to his ears, made his eyes widen and his head turned so quickly, almost giving him whiplash. the door to the dining room was wide open and in the hallway separating the dining room and the living room stood an unknown man, the guest, he assumed. he glanced behind the man to see the door to the living open and his parents' rushing out of it, noticing him in the presence of their guest.
he could barely make out the compliments the guest was spouting out to his parents and to himself, because a sudden wave of nausea washed over him. perhaps, he thought, that this was the consequence of being isolated, where he bore no human contact other than his family and the house staff. the air suddenly felt scarce to him and he wanted nothing more than to go back to his room, away from this man.
he did not wish for a repeat of what had happened in the past.
as soon as he took a step back, he felt a grip on his thankfully sleeved arm as well as an overwhelming presence standing in front of him. just a tilt of his head upwards, and he'll be able to see the guest up close, but he wanted none of that. as of this moment, he desperately wished to be in the confines of his own room, surrounded by his most precious items.
he could hear his father trying to talk the man into letting him go, the staffs standing around nervously but in a stance to protect him once he was let go and his mother going to the phone to call who he assumed to be his fiance. that's true, he pondered over it, the presence of his betrothed was also soothing to him.
the grip on his forearm tightened, and he winced from the pain, getting dizzy with the amount of presence in the dining room. when the first tear fell from his eyes, his arm merely retained the ghost of a hand and he immediately rushed to get away from the dining room, hair flying from his face and flowing behind him. behind him were shouts being thrown at each other, but he could care less. surely his parents would understand.
right now, his priority was to get to his room, and maybe, if he was lucky to find his fiance to not be busy, he'll pick up the phone if he were to call him.
after an hour of speaking on the phone, he hung up, hand finally letting go of the phone handle. during the call, he had seen through the window of his room that the carriage that led their guest to their mansion had gone out of their gate and he could finally feel comfortable now. of course, he knew his parents and the housekeeping staff would never allow the man to enter his room, had he even known where it was, in the first place.
his small hand clutched the cloth that covered him, right where his heart would beat underneath skin. talking to his betrothed never failed to make him fall in love again as if it were the first time. despite their union being one of an arranged marriage, both ends of the love line were happy and content that they were to become husbands.
he fell into his fluffy bed, clutching onto a pillow and closed his eyes, awaiting the sleeping spell that would bring him his dreams. with a silent apology to the maids for not changing before heading to bed, he fell asleep soundly and a week after, he was headed off alone to visit his fiance's mansion with no complaints.
had he known what would've happened if he hadn't gone, he might've regretted it.
for till this day, he is still haunted by the memories of warm colours dancing together inside the mansion and the flowing black mist that seemed to join the souls of those who once lived there. screams of his own seemed to be his only companion as wounds were to be carved and etched onto his fair skin.
and in the most detested place of his, a contract was formed between he and a demon.
curtains were dragged away from the center of the window with a sharp movement of a hand, adding light into the otherwise dark room filled with shadows that have enlarged. bedsheets rustles were heard consequently, expressing the want to sleep in more, despite knowing that wouldn't be possible.
"young master, it is time to wake up." a soft voice penetrated into the silence of the room, illuminated by the sunshine that seeped through the glass panes from the window. a whine followed his words, and the other presence in the room chuckled at that, off to get his master's clothes for the day after having preparing the tea.
by the time he had returned with the clothes, the boy was sitting upright at the edge of the bed, hands sleepily rubbing off the sand that had gathered in his eyes. as he got dressed, his butler listed off what he was to do during the day and what were he to eat this morning.
"and you'll be mostly free this evening." he finished off, meticulously wrapping the ribbon around the collar as his master stared at his face. softly curled purple hair of a pale shade laid on top of his head, and his eyes were of a hue of an almond, a pretty and beautiful colour. he resisted the urge to pinch his soft-looking cheeks and opted to stare at the lips he's dreamed of before.
their eyes met for a split second, and the boy's face flushed a pretty colour reaching his ears, hurrying to avert his eyes elsewhere. as a reaction, the butler merely smirked at him, fitting in his shoes to finish off the look. "flustered, young master?"
"you're imagining it." his voice came out more stable than he had thought, after that embarrassing moment of being caught in his act. it was too obvious, of course he'd get caught! he berated himself inside his own consciousness.
"then, i shall be on my way. i must make sure the food is to your liking." he stood up from crouching in front of the bed where his master still sat, and stepped towards the door with light steps. he paused just before reaching its handle, tilting his head to catch a perfectly aimed dagger. with a lovely smile that showed his dimples, he asked him. "would you like to wear your veil, young master?"
said master held an unreadable expression on his features, an arm outstretched from the throw, before breaking into the most common emotion he's ever shown. his giggles filled in the empty space that silence previously occupied. his butler swore he could hear the birds chirping in chime to him.
"no, that would be unnecessary. everyone in this mansion is already aware of my appearance, yet they treat me no differently than one would to an ordinary citizen."
no, that isn't true, soobin thought, as he excused himself out of the room to check on the kitchen staff. he couldn't even compare to those filthy rats on the streets.
he rested on his study's polished wooden desk, staying in that position for mere moments before stretching and picking up the documents and letter again. his eyes scrutinized each letters as he worked through them all after having eaten his breakfast in the dining hall.
"i want a snack..." he muttered as he read through another paper.
suddenly, as if having heard his words, a knock was heard and a voice pierced through the wooden door that separated his study and the hallway. his eyes lit up at the sound.
"young master, i've brought you a cheesecake. may i come in?"
"yes." he tried not to sound so desperate for the treat, yet failed miserably.
the door opened up, revealing a feline smirk plastered onto a handsome face, standing in the doorway before walking up to the desk, reveling in the presence of his master. in his hand was, as he had claimed, a plate with delicately cut dessert, the small fork hanging dangerously on the side.
"you seemed quite eager for the dessert, young master. or was it me that you wanted to see specifically?" hidden in his words were flirty undertones that did not go unnoticed by the receiver of them. his ears flushed red as he ran his fingers through his own hair before mumbling a small word of gratitude towards his housekeeper.
"do not flatter yourself. i merely wished for a snack and you had knocked at the right timing." the other presence in his study suddenly made itself more known than it already was, getting into the personal space of his master, face close to the latter. his eyes widened from surprise and he subconsciously held his breath, instead feeling the exhaled air from his servant due to their close proximity.
"why snack on this, when you have a full course meal right in front of you?" with one hand supporting his weight on the desk, he brought the other to tilt the chin up of the boy sitting in the chair while he leaned over. his jade hued eyes drifted off to the ethereal features of whom he is serving, before settling onto his parted lips, wandering back to his eyes as if asking for permission.
his answer came in the form of being pushed until he was no longer bending over the desk, instead standing straight, slightly surprised at the behaviour but kept his smirk on his face nonetheless. after all, he had managed to turn the young master into a flustered mess, quietly indulging in his cuteness.
"this evening... hyung informed me of my free schedule this evening." his received an eyebrow raised in response, as if questioning what he was implying there. he gulped before talking again. "let's... all spend time together then."
"how bold of you." the chuckle only made him curl into himself. "then, i'll be anticipating this evening with you and the others." he softly kissed the crown of his master's head, before stepping back into the hallway. he resisted against asking for his stay, no matter how tempting yeonjun was acting.
"enjoy your cheesecake, young master."
after dismissing the guests he endured during lunch time, he decided to take a break by taking a walk in the garden. clearing his mind clean of all unnecessary thoughts would surely aid him, he thought.
finally outside, he inhaled the fresh air before stepping onto the grass and admiring what his gardener had done while he had spent his time mostly inside. hedges decorated the perimeter of the property he owned and stones acted as the separation between flowerbeds and the soft but prickly grass.
as he walked near the fountain they had installed in the yard, to match the front of the mansion, he bent his waist to look at his own reflection from the swaying water tides. nothing that he hadn't expected showed in the liquid pool; merely his appearance that he cursed and loathed, yet he was thankful for at the same time.
"admiring yourself, young master?" a voice chirped from behind him, declaring its presence in the garden along with him. he turned around and stood straight, smiling at their gardener of a foreign appearance. "taking a break from your duties?" he inquired next, without waiting for a reply to his first one.
"you could say that. care for a walk with me?" he offered a hand to the younger, who took it immediately with no seen hesitance.
"if my master wishes for me to delegate my own duties for a walk together, then who am i to refuse?" dramatically, he teased the boy who now sported a pout on his lips.
"it was merely an offer, you had the choice to refuse as well..." he mumbled out, a pink colour dusting his cheeks. the younger only laughed at him, inciting himself to laugh too, for it seemed to be contagious. he also noticed how the gardener truly does not hold himself back in the presence of humour, almost to the point of cackling like a witch. or, perhaps a dolphin would be a better comparison...?
the procrastinating pair, arm in arm, continued their tour of the garden, with the gardener obviously acting as the guide to his master. the latter had pointed out that the layout seemed to change frequently, to which he responded sheepishly that it was because of his boredom. with not much to do, he arranged the flora and its plants and trees to be placed differently each time until he was satisfied with them. and the cycle repeated like thus.
"i had better get going back." a soft look settled onto the foreigner's face as he stared unashamedly at his master, who was looking towards his mansion. "it was nice to walk with you again. please do come inside when you can, especially this evening. you don't need to always stay out here. the others and i would appreciate your presence."
"if it is what you wish for, then of course i shall abide." with a wistful gaze, hueningkai's eyes followed the retreating silhouette who had closed the door behind him.
just a few more hours before the sun will finally bid him good night and offer its place in the sky to the moon instead, he thought. it was strange to perceive warm colours bleed into the sky's light blue, only for it to become a darker shade of the initial hue, in the end.
despite owning a personality that could rival the sun's brightness, he deemed himself to be more like the moon than the sun. showing only one face of his to those whom he cannot trust, much like the satellite. perhaps his servants would deny, but then he asked himself why compare him to unliving beings.
he let out a sigh, dreading returning inside to entertain the guest who he assumed merely wanted to take advantage of his young age to take over the legacy and fortune he had inherited. yet when he turned around to enter through the glass door of the balcony, he was met with someone he wasn't expecting yet.
"a penny for your thoughts?" his soft light voice that held a bit of a hidden roughness chased what he had asked for, and suddenly he was met with a flying boy who landed into his arms. "hey, i just reflexively caught you. god knows what would've happened if i hadn't reacted in time."
the boy heeded no warning to his scolding, instead nuzzling into the warmth, into the crook of his exposed neck. that mere action softened the other's hard features, silencing himself and allowing them to stay like so for a while.
"i know you'd just catch me no matter what, love." their short silence was interrupted by the master's muffled voice, still indulging himself in between his lover's arms. "and you know i'd do the same for you too."
"of course. i know."
they separated from each other as the young master took in his betrothed's features. said betrothed has claimed many times that he was the lucky one to get engaged with the older, but truly, he thought that he was the lucky person to someone like him. big doe eyes that held countless constellations of stars, and they looked so soft-like, yet the rest of his features are sharp. he couldn't get enough of the duality.
"hyung, can i kiss you?" he took a second to process those words being spoken so carelessly, and his face burst into flames from the lack of shame. he let out sounds unworthy of his noble title, and his fiance merely laughed at him. "you looked so cute, i couldn't resist. even now..." he licked his dry lips. "you look so tempting."
"just, uhm... stay until this evening. i'll be spending time with the others too, and i thought you'd... uh, like the offer too." he was stumbling over his words! what came over him? this wasn't like him at all, and he knew it. was this a side effect of being so in love with your fiance? if so, he'd better be more knowledgeable about such subjects from now on.
he only hummed in response, as if agreeing, before asking him a question. "i'll stay then, but at least give me a kiss?"
"... this evening."
"just a peck?"
"... fine." as the word was uttered out, he barely felt the air that followed before his lips was in contact with the other's. cheeks turning pink, he noticed that what they were doing was definitely not just a peck. still, he relished in it and gasped for air once it ended. he could barely register the smirk on taehyun's face before both pairs of lips met each other once again.
"they planned out the whole evening?"
"yes. it seems your words and their insinuations compelled them to enjoy this evening with you as much as possible."
he took a sip from the tea swirling in the china tea cup. it was near evening, and he had no more guests to entertain today. only a few more paperwork and then he'd be liberated, off to enjoy his supper with the house staff and his fiance. what came after was what he and his butler were discussing about.
"i haven't... i don't recall making such innuendos though." the sudden image of his younger lover in close proximity of his own face popped up in his mind, and his face went aflame. his hands were brought up, as if to shield his eyes from the unholy acts he had committed earlier.
"did something cross your mind?" he really could hear the smirk in his stupid soft breathy voice that he loved to listen to.
"n-no, nothing..." how convincing, he thought. he soon composed himself into the young lord he was, and cleared his throat. "it's a shame to not follow their plan though, since they had taken the liberty to create it. we'll proceed with it."
"yes, young master."
and just as he was going to reach the door knob, as if deja vu, he was interrupted. thankfully, it wasn't by a dagger aimed at the back of his head.
"hyung?" he paused in his steps. "will you participate in this evening's plans as well?" he could hear the pout in his voice, the lingering want, the unsaid need. his master truly was a being to behold, to fantasize about, to devour.
"if you order me to do so, then i see no reason to refuse."
"but i'm asking you if you want to. do you... want to join the others and i after dinner?" he fought a miserable fight with the blush trying to overtake the current paleness of his cheeks. his own brown eyes met a pair of pale crimson ones, as darkness was trying to overwhelm his study.
"of course. for you, there isn't a thing i wouldn't do."
and if there was any visible sign that he had shared a kiss with his butler, no one at the table during dinner had spoken about it.
there was nothing in the world he would trade for if it meant that he'd be surrounded by them. to be the subject of their infatuation, of their obsession, of their affection― he didn't mind it, rather, he'd graciously receive them all. he couldn't imagine living in a world without those four to be in with him.
such was the fate of choi beomgyu, and he'd have it no other way.
orphic was his beauty and he, trapping in four beings within his snare to obey his every whim.