Chapter Text
Sunghoon wishes nothing more than to disappear right now.
He is now standing in front of everyone, on a stage with the spotlight specifially on him— as if he is a diamond to show and sell.
"120!" "128!" "14—" Dozen shouts of his worth, going up and up and up and not stopping. Sunghoon shakes his head each time, ears bleeding as he hears men shouting their prices over him and there is nothing he can do other than lowering his gaze.
At the very least, he will not see those who think he is no longer human, no longer a living being, existing only as a mere object to exploit. The thought boils his stomach— he wants to puke, to scream, to do anything to survive this nightmare brought upon his own father.
And that is what hurt him the most. His father, now busy with the thundering sounds of the knocks each time someone offered a bid higher and higher than before, had dared to auction his own son, his own blood, just to save himself from the mounts of debts he created through the drunken gambling plays he did to distract from the grief of losing his wife.
Ah. Sunghoon trembles, the image of his mother flooding uninvited through the projector of his mind, reminding him of how happy his family was— perhaps, he wonders, had his mother survived, would he not be here now? Would he still live the peaceful life of being the son of Duke and Duchess Park, and not as an object to be auctioned?
No, no, no. He cannot let his mind go there, to the endless pit of ‘what if’s. As much as it pains him, the reality is in front of his eyes and he cannot do anything. His heart tightens, causing his breath to almost lose its rhythm for trying to control himself to not cry. He refuses to cry in front of these gross old men and his father.
“—no higher bidder? In 5, 4–“
What?
Sunghoon had lost himself in thoughts that he did not realize someone— in a split second, he guessed either a very wealthy merchant or a commander— had bid high enough to start the count. He is now panicking, looking at his father on the right with half-fake pleading eyes to not make it official, to not sell him. He does not want this, no, never, he refuses to be sold.
Yet he is met with nothing but a blank look from his father. That alone is enough to throw Sunghoon in the engulfing fire that is rage— his father does not care and has never been, and within 5 seconds, he will be owned by someone he barely knows with the sole purpose of using him. Not as a human, rather, as an object.
Just when Sunghoon was about to risk everything and try his best to run away the moment the knock of the bidding was about to fall, the auction hall’s door bursts open and Sunghoon’s heart twinges in pain with the unfamiliar familiarity upon seeing who dared to interrupt.
“Call off the auction.”
It is Heeseung. Lee Heeseung, the crown prince who now walks straight towards his father with several royal guards following him. The hall erupts with whispers of shock, of how a simple auction can summon the crown prince himself without notice.
“Bu—but, your Highness, the auction is about to end—” Sunghoon’s father tries to reason, still trying to grasp the money that was about to fall into his hands, but Heeseung is having none of it.
“I will not repeat myself, Duke Park. This will be an act of treason the second you try to proceed and this auction is invalid,” Heeseung’s voice is calm, but Sunghoon, having to unintentionally read the slight timbre of anger hidden beneath while watching him since he entered, knows better than to assume the man is joking.
Oh, there is that twinge again. Sunghoon realizes he is still able to read Heeseung, after all these years, and it causes something in him to stir uncomfortably. He is not supposed to feel so familiar with Heeseung— both of them have changed drastically since the last time they saw each other, with the older becoming more refined and developing an aura of dominance, accompanied by the authority that his status enabled him.
However, that is the least Sunghoon is supposed to be worried about.
He knows there is no existing legal law that auctioning someone can be considered treason, let alone a law to forbid it, especially in the case of him who is owned by his father by blood. Even if there is, it should not be regarded as treason because it has no direct insult or any ties with the royal family members. Heeseung may be the crown prince, but he also has to abide by the laws.
So, why did Heeseung—
Sunghoon’s breath hitches when Heeseung suddenly averts his gaze to him, sharp eyes turning to soft bambi eyes he used to see, and it pains Sunghoon so much that the world starts to spin in frenzy, but nothing could ever prepare him for what Heeseung says next;
“Because he is to be my bride.”
If the 16-year-old Sunghoon had been told that he would be Heeseung’s bride, that younger Sunghoon would have laughed hysterically, would have said that it is impossible and that he and Heeseung would never ever cross paths again.
5 years later, here he is, sitting across Heeseung inside the royal carriage and going straight to the kingdom. The air is heavy around them, suffocating both with how the comfortable silence they used to have turned into something so uneasy.
Heeseung clears his throat, plainly affected and wanting to strike up a conversation, “Apologies if I sound rude, I—I.. uh, did your father force you to..?” He does not want to continue his question, afraid to accidentally hurt Sunghoon. Instead, his hands try to finish vaguely.
“He did.” Sunghoon answers shortly, eyes firm on staring at the scenery from the window to the left, anything to distract him from acknowledging Heeseung’s presence. Even so, he can still feel the pity, the anger, and every mixed-up emotion Heeseung harbored about what happened to him, but he tries to pay no mind.
Another wave of silence hits and it's clear that between them, the only one trying hard to continue conversing is Heeseung. Perhaps, deep down inside, Sunghoon too, but the ache has become uncontrollable and he does not want a replay of what happened years ago if he starts to let his guard down again.
“I can assure you I’m not going to force you on any matter, Hoon,” Heeseung says softly, as if he is careful to not step into a territory full of unknown answers that will lead their conversation badly. Unbeknownst to him, he is stepping inside of it now the second after he said it.
“But you are.” Sunghoon turns his head, confronting Heeseung eye to eye, “I now have to be wedded to you, your Highness , and it is not my choice.”
He is too harsh, he knew it with how Heeseung flinched when he called him by his title instead of his name, but the weight of his twisting heart alongside the culminated emotions inside had taken the best of him.
Hurt flashes through Heeseung’s eyes, “I—I’m sorry. I don’t... I don’t know how else to save you other than.. this. I’m sorry.” He bows his head a bit, expressing the sincerity behind his words.
Sunghoon remains silent. His heart twists, twists, and twists. This time with guilt, not pain, after seeing the way Heeseung even bowed his head just to express how remorseful he was. Remnants of what they were are now eating him alive, to forgive and to accept Heeseung back, but he will not. The damage has been done and there is no going back.
“I promise,” Heeseung suddenly says, voice full of honesty and reassurance, “I will not make you uncomfortable nor will I disrupt your private space. You are free to do as you please, before and after our marriage. You have my word for this.”
It almost crumbles Sunghoon’s walls of defense. He is not blind, he knows this Heeseung is still the Heeseung he knows— the one who will sacrifice anything for him. The one who cares about him. But he can’t, or more accurately he does not want to; the past of theirs still looms with the constant ache shadowing his heart.
By then Sunghoon knows he will choke trying to hold his composure if he replies verbally, so he settles with a nod, and thankfully, Heeseung is satisfied with it. The older now leans back, an act when he feels there is no more to converse about, but his eyes do not stray.
Sunghoon can’t handle the intensity of Heeseung’s gaze, hence resorting back to seeing the boring scenery of trees. The distance between the auction hall and the kingdom is quite far, they will probably arrive in 20 minutes or so. It is terribly long for Sunghoon who is tired mentally and physically, his eyes now drooping as the tiredness starts to seep in, and without him noticing, he is already falling asleep.
In between his sleep, Sunghoon feels a hand ruffling his hair and a soft, “Sweet dreams, my love. I’m sorry.”— but he rules it out as a dream constructed out of exhaustion and not something Heeseung has truly done.
By the time Sunghoon is awake, he jerks up in horror knowing he has fallen asleep in front of Heeseung and that his conscience still believes in Heeseung to the point of him unconsciously letting his guard down.
But Heeseung is no longer sitting across from him. He is still in the carriage, but it has stopped moving and Sunghoon can see the gleaming lights and the glorious building that is the kingdom. He looks over to the left a bit and finds Heeseung there, chatting with his royal guard.
Sunghoon knows him. Park Jongseong, the man who has been given the duty to protect Heeseung ever since he was 15.
“—he’s still sleeping, so there’s still time, Jongseong.”
The night is so quiet that Sunghoon can hear their conversation, albeit not too clearly. He leans closer, trying to get the best of what they’re talking about.
He can hear sighs from Jongseong, “Right, okay. So, what do you want to do?”
“Please gather up every personnel in the kingdom and make them line up from the entrance door. I want them to welcome my bride’s arrival.” Heeseung says with a lovesick smile, and Sunghoon’s heart jumps upon hearing the way Heeseung addressed him. My bride.
“Okay. Anything else? Do you want me to notify his and her Majesties too?”
Heeseung shakes his head. “No, that will be my responsibility. They haven’t known yet, so it’s best to explain to them myself.”
What..? Heeseung’s parents didn’t know? So.. he did it all without permission?
To say Sunghoon is shocked is an understatement. Heeseung is never the type to disobey and do things without informing his parents beforehand, and for him to not do that with such an important matter as marriage just to save him— Sunghoon does not know how to react.
However, before Sunghoon can dwell more, he can hear Heeseung’s footsteps nearing the carriage. He quickly readjusts himself to make it look as if he is still sleeping and he nearly gets caught as Heeseung is already opening the carriage door by the time he closes his eyes.
If Heeseung can still read him the way Sunghoon does, then he will most likely know he is feigning, and indeed he can. Heeseung lets out a laugh, “How long have you been awake?”
Blood colors Sunghoon’s cheeks, as he slowly stands and takes Heeseung’s hand that he offers to help him get out of the carriage. “J—Just.. just now.” Sunghoon answers, and it is even more obvious because of the stammers he lets out.
Heeseung just laughs once more, “Whatever you say. Come now, let’s go.”
Sunghoon nods, letting himself be guided by Heeseung’s fingers enrapturing his own— the way it has always been, before. Another sting shoots his heart, but for the sake of their image, he puts on his best smile when the main entrance is opened, revealing hundreds of maids and guards lining up to welcome him.
“Welcome home, Prince Lee and Marquess Park.”