Chapter Text
In a world where power and wealth is a salient factor, true love is nothing but phantasmal.
Prionia is a small country in between Ireland and Scotland. As they are ruled by Queen Charlotte, Prionia also has their social season, commencing during spring of every year. Balls and parties are held around for them to socialize and find their lifetime partner in the long run.
But the most awaited ball of them all is the one prepared by the Queen herself— the Gathering of Blooms.
All the single men and women are invited to participate, and the Queen shall pick one as the most eligible bachelor or bachelorette for them to pursue.
Among these families is the Lee Family, powerful and well-known due to them owning most lands inside Prionia. The Lee family has three sons— Viscount Minhyung, Viscount Jeno and Donghyuck. Their family is considered noble and of good class, and therefore, one of the most-awaited lads to open themselves for marriage every season.
— 👑
A loud screech was heard from upstairs while Viscount Jeno was in the middle of choosing which suit to wear for tonight for the Queen's ball. It was a special night especially if Donghyuck gets to be chosen as the diamond, but he also doesn't want to look that conceited in the public eye.
Arriving by the stairway, Donghyuck heatedly stomped his foot as he went down. He was wearing a cream-colored silk shirt with frills by his chest, black trousers and a gold dangling earring on his left ear.
"What seems to be the problem, Donghyuck?" the viscount inquired, stifling a laugh while his brother struggled against the fabric of his clothing, lips curled to a little pout.
Jeno knows the reason why, but it was such an amusement for him to see his brother so perplexed as it's one of his many charms.
Donghyuck, the youngest of the three, debuts into this social season, making him one of the most awaited candidates.
"I would love to not hear your voice right now, Jeno," Donghyuck raised a hand by his chest. "And could you please stop laughing at me! This plight I'm in should have been delayed if not for your want to get married this year,"
"Donghyuck," Jeno placed his hands on his brother's shoulders, leaning closer. "I have to deny your suspicions that I'm a part of this quandary— you are to debut as you are of age to start looking for a husband,"
"But— ah, Renjun, my angel. You came at the right moment," Donghyuck heaves a sigh, spreading his arms to welcome his guest.
Jeno looks back and there he is, Renjun of the Huang Family. He has been Donghyuck's best friend since they were kids until now. Sometimes, Jeno wonders how he keeps up with his brother's antics and vigor.
Renjun gives Jeno a smile as he walks past him, smelling like spring flowers in full bloom.
"Of course, I am. Who am I to miss the moment you get to be proclaimed as the diamond?" Renjun smiles fondly, patting Donghyuck's cheek.
He was wearing a suit as blue as the clear summer skies, neck adorned with pearls and aquamarine which he remembers as his birthstone. His blonde hair was brushed upward, a tiny crown with sapphires and aquamarines keeping it in place.
Jeno quietly stood there, eyes gazing softly at Renjun as he happily spoke with Donghyuck.
Renjun has very delicate features up close. His icy blonde hair matches well with his fair skin, his pointed nose and heart-shaped lips looking like it was sculpted by Venus herself for it to be so beautiful. He never noticed, but Renjun has such sparkly eyes when he smiles, which complements the little dimple against his cheek.
"Jeno," Donghyuck called. "Are you still with us?"
"Are you perhaps timorous, my Lord?" Renjun asks. Unlike Donghyuck's mocking tone, his voice has a glint of concern.
"No," he shook his head, smiling in assurance. "Worry not,"
"Well, if it helps," Renjun turns towards him gracefully, hands clasped together as he bowed his head. "You look ravishing, as always. I'm quite expectant to see both men and women flock towards you as soon as you arrive at the Queen's palace tonight,"
"Is that so?" Jeno asked with a tilt of his head. "You look quite quaint yourself, Renjun. I hope my brother here would learn some things from you,"
Donghyuck rolls his eyes at him, pulling Renjun by the wrist. "If you'll excuse us, my Lord." he curtsied, a mock on his tone. "My friend and I shall have a chat inside my room,"
Jeno nods, giving Donghyuck a mischievous smirk as he turns his back. "I shall take my leave then. I'll see you both in the evening before the party."
— 👑
"One thing I could never understand about you is your preference in men, Renjun," Donghyuck says as he offers him a cup of tea.
"People around think you ought to be the Diamond this season, but here you are, wasting your time to dress up daintily for my brother. He's beautiful, I must admit, for if he isn't then I wouldn't be considered as quaint either, but his personality is nothing but bland. If I wasn't his brother, I would've mistaken him as a horse whisperer!" Donghyuck exclaimed haughtily, as if his admiration towards his brother is one of the most ridiculous things in this world.
Renjun chuckles at the outburst, placing his cup down the table. Donghyuck found out about his secret admiration towards the viscount when he saw a hidden sketch of him folded in one of his books.
His mind wanders to the time his fancy for Jeno started. It was that one ball which they both attended two summers ago.
He was nineteen at that time, and the ball was held inside the garden of a nobleman's home who just came back from Poland with a few of his friends.
Renjun went there with Donghyuck to see if the rumors about the attractive Polish guests were true. They had a great time dancing and playing around, one of the Polish men even invited them to stay the night to which they declined. Renjun knows what their motives are, as this has not happened once, and he surely isn't interested at all.
As the night went on, Renjun decided to take a walk and inhale fresh air.
As he went down the path, he noticed a pair of wooden swings nearby. He sat there, rocking slowly as he looked up to the stars that night.
If there was one thing Renjun has always been curious about, it's how vast the universe is outside the one he's in. Was it really just full of celestial dust and billions of stars? Would he be able to differentiate planets up close? Is life out there possible?
"The stars are beautiful, aren't they?" a voice behind him asked. He spared him a glance, and there he was, Viscount Jeno taking a seat at the vacant swing adjacent to his.
He knows him as Donghyuck's brother, but their interactions were far from being often as the viscount usually takes trips outside the town to check on the land his family owns and make sure everything is in order.
"My Lord—" he immediately stands to bow, but Jeno gestures for him to sit back down.
"I suppose you're here because socialization has drained up your soul too? Or am I speaking on behalf of myself? " Jeno turned to face him and in that moment, time stood still for them.
The faint glow from the moon against Jeno's face made him seem like he's a deity that descended from the heavens sent to capture hearts— or maybe Renjun's heart.
His face may be as chiseled as his brother's, but Jeno has softer features. His eyes are turned downwards like a puppy's, creating crescents when he smiles.
Renjun wonders if the viscount is aware of how beguiling he looks. He hopes he does, for it is such a shame if he thinks hideous of himself.
Jeno seems to notice his silence, not knowing the reason behind it was him— Renjun is having a mental monologue and appreciation of the beauty before him.
"Are you not comfortable in my presence? I could—"
"No, not at all, my Lord," Renjun stops him from standing. "My silence is out of incredulity, allow me to apologize. But you can stay here as long as you want,"
"Do you like watching the stars?" the viscount asked.
Renjun nods in reply. "It's mysterious, but nevertheless beautiful. It invigorates my curiosity to know what's beneath this universe we are in,"
They continued conversing about the mysteries of the universe and constellations that night, Renjun realized that even in a short span of time, someone could definitely fall in love.
Since then, whenever Renjun gets the chance to visit Donghyuck, he would always thoughtfully pick his suits, making sure he'll arrive there as pretty as he can be.
It was foolish, he knows. But what's bad about a little hope to be considered as someone the viscount would marry? He is younger than him, yes. But that doesn't lose him the chance at all..
"Are you ready for marriage, Donghyuck?" he asks his friend as the latter picks a vest to wear tonight.
"Marriage you say?" Donghyuck scoffs. "Society mayhaps told us that it is necessary, but I believe in true love. And if I am yet to find one, then I shall marry them. But not over someone I danced with a party a few times,"
"Thou shall not say words you might regret," Renjun scoffs with a hint of a smile, finishing the rest of his tea.
— 👑
As soon as they stepped into the Royal Dancing Hall, flowers of roses and lilies welcomed them. The marble hall has its walls filled with hanging ceramic pots and a variety of blooms. Their chairs are adorned with petunias, tables with a vase of pink roses. The Queen was standing a few feet by the entrance, her discerning eye carefully studying every debutante that greets her. Tonight is when she decides which of the debutantes will be proclaimed as the Diamond, and every candidate has been trying to induce her.
Donghyuck was quite apprehensive, squeezing Renjun's hands as they envelope his. As soon as they reach her, they bow down almost simultaneously to greet the Queen.
"Lord Lee," she smiles, turning her head to acknowledge each of their presence. "Mister Lee, Mister Huang. A pleasure to see all of you here."
The Queen is wearing a court dress with golden details, paired with a headdress shaped like a heart, her face small and dainty, thin lips painted red and cheeks rosy, but her eyes are so piercing, cold. and imposing authority.
"I must say that it is ours, Your Majesty," Jeno replied. "It's such an honor to take part in this gathering."
"I hope you find the rightful person to be your other half tonight, Lord Lee." the Queen gives him a small smile.
"And I'm thrilled to know which of them shall be picked as the Diamond of this season," Jeno returns the smile, turning his heels as he guides the two towards the hall, hands pushing the small of Renjun's waist.
The touch startles Renjun, making him look back, but Jeno offers him a smile. "Let's stay at the end of the hall, shall we, pretty one?"
Renjun is about to respond at the remark, but was cut off when Donghyuck pulled him by the wrist as he ran to the refreshments.
Jeno gave out a light chuckle as he gazed at them, making his way to the end of the hall alone instead.
— 👑
As the night progressed, Renjun declined a number of invitations for a dance. It’s not that he doesn’t want to, for he delights in dancing, it’s just that he wanted his first dance tonight to be with the viscount. When he found out that Jeno decided to find his future spouse during the season, Renjun knew he had to be chosen as the diamond.
He thinks the viscount sees him just like how he sees Donghyuck– a younger brother, someone he needs to guide and take care of. But as selfish as it sounds, he wished to be more than that. He hopes to be someone he’ll be with for the rest of his life.
As Donghyuck roams around the hall as the social butterfly that he is, Renjun and Jeno decide to just stay together. A few women tried their luck in starting a conversation with the viscount, but the outcome has always been him introducing Renjun as his companion, and declining their invitations with grace.
“My Lord,” Renjun whispers. Jeno lowers his head, placing it near his mouth. Startled by the gesture, Renjun bites his lower lip before speaking again. “Allow me to ask this out of curiosity, but will you be pursuing whoever the Queen chooses to be the Diamond?”
Jeno’s shoulders lift as he chuckles, turning to face him with a grin. “Then similarly, out of curiosity, allow me to ask the reason of such question,”
Because I want it to be me , Renjun answers it inside his head. If I become the Diamond tonight, will you choose me?
They stared at each other for a few moments, and it felt as if time stopped for the both of them. Everything and everyone else started to blur, likes no one else but the two of them in the room.There was something in Jeno’s eyes that he couldn’t decipher– it was there, but was barely expressed, and Renjun wondered what it was,if it had anything to do with him being his companion that night.
“You–” Jeno was about to say something when the royal guards blew their horns in recognition of the Queen finally coming to a decision. Queen Charlotte gracefully walks out of her chamber, a smile plastered on her face as she stops at the middle of the hall. Everyone was holding their breath, no one dared to make a sound for any moment now, someone’s life would change in an instant.
“Your presence is considered,” the Queen looked around as she started to speak. “My heart is filled with gratitude for the number of debutantes who participated in this event. And tonight, I have finally picked the Diamond of this season– the one who sparkled the most in all facets… Keiko Hashimoto.”
The crowd claps and cheers as the chosen diamond steps forward. She was wearing a cream court dress, her trail held by one of her maids. She curtsies in front of the Queen, bowing her head gracefully.
A group of gentlemen made their way behind her, making sure they would be the first one to have the pleasure of dancing with her. Renjun looks to his side, surprised the viscount is still with him and not lining up with the others.
“Aren’t you going there, my Lord?” he inquires. He was tense, hands clutched to a fist as he waited for Jeno's reply.
“Should I, Renjun?” the viscount asks him back, placing his drink on the table. “I thought you’d be more delighted to join me outside.”
There was silence between them as Jeno offered his hand to him. It wasn’t unpleasant, yet close to confusing, as Renjun was bargaining whether to agree or not. But then he holds his hand, and the viscount smiles with relief as they walk outside.
Jeno would occasionally glance at him, and they would share a timid smile but never did their hands leave each other as they reached the Queen's garden. There was a large oak tree filled with fireflies that look like dainty lights dancing around them.
“You really chose to watch the stars with me instead of taking a chance to dance the Diamond, did you not?” Renjun chuckles, laying his back against the grass.
“Was it that unbelievable?” Jeno faces him, legs crossed as he sits down by his side. “I like watching the stars with you,”
“But I am no diamond,” he softly smiles, tracing a constellation in the sky with his finger.
“And I hope for it to be that way,” Jeno replies, eyes staring intently at him.
Renjun sits up, turns to him clearly disheartened. “And why is that so, my Lord?”
“Because that way… I can only have you for myself,” the viscount responds, his hand touching Renjun’s cheek. “I wouldn’t have to fear for the day when your eyes would lay on someone else,”
“My Lord–”
“You occupy my mind, Renjun. You never left my thought the first time we spoke that starry night,” Jeno brings his hand to his lips, kissing it softly. “I realized that the person I was looking for is you. And the most foolish thing I could ever do in this lifetime, is to let someone else love you when I know I could do that on my own. Now if you could let me—”
The viscount’s words were cut off as Renjun pulled him closer, pressing his lips to his. He pulls away, cupping Jeno's face between his palms. “My Lord, my heart has always been yours, and it will never be anyone else’s, that I can assure you,”
"Do me a favor, and be mine from this day on," Jeno whispers against his lips. Renjun nods, and it was the viscount's turn to initiate the kiss— the kiss he had been longing to do the whole spring.
And under the blanket of stars as their witness, they both realized that true love is greater than power and wealth.