Chapter Text
- You look beautiful. The most beautiful omega I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of them. - whispers Koe, tucking a red strand of omezi behind her ear and immediately bends down so low as to leave a light, barely perceptible kiss on the top of someone else's head.
Taehyung shivers. He trembles just as he trembled fifteen years ago at the foot of the royal throne, not knowing what to expect and what the punishment for his crime will be. Then he could have been killed, but he was given life, accepted into the family as the most desirable child, protected from all the troubles and cruelty of the world, bloodthirsty punishing anyone who decided to even jokingly whisper something bad in his direction. He grew up in the midst of blood and endless war, afraid that one day someone from their family would not return home, and at the same time surrounded by love and care like the most beautiful and rarest flower in the world. He does not know what will happen now, so he presses closer to his native warmth, looking for hope and support for him. That is better. Just for seconds, for a split second, but it's so much easier to deal with the pain and the sense of confusion that took over him. Mori always taught Taehyung that no matter what was happening around, pain and danger, the mind should be kept cool and calm. Dad had taught him that the mind was a sharper weapon than the swords of their guards, his own scalpels and boulders lifted into the air by unstoppable forces. As it turned out, Omega turned out to be a worthless student. Hysterical, whimsical, wild like a street kitten, which does not suit the role of a prince at all. It is not a pity to give such a man to the enemy in men to be torn to shreds. A complete disappointment, not an heir apparent.
- Cherry, what are you doing? why are you crying The eyes will turn red, the face will swell, and then what will the guests think about us? - the woman whispers worriedly, turning her unyielding nephew to face her. — I know that a marriage of convenience is a bad thing even with enemies, I know the truth, but I also know that we simply have no other choice. It's either that or another war that we simply cannot afford.
- Is it because I'm an omega?" I failed you and so now we have to accept their terms so as not to start another massacre. Whether I became an alpha or even a beta, everything was different.
- What are you carrying? Koe growls loudly, shaking the boy by the shoulders. - We always knew that you would be an omega, we knew from the very moment when we looked at you so small and scared, but with your head proudly raised and never regretted your choice. - Me and my brother, we felt that we would never have children, it was something like a curse imposed on our family in ancient times, but it woke up only now and that's why then, fifteen years ago, we stretched out our hands to you, accepting you as a seven I You have become our salvation, our child, and what father will blame his child for what nature rules and which is generally not a mistake? Only the worst.
- Then where is he? - Taehyung hisses offended, not wanting to give up. - Where is dad? If he doesn't blame me, why didn't he come to say goodbye? He hasn't even looked at me for the last week, as if… as if I'm gone. It's like I died. This is the worst.
- It's just that he needs time and it's definitely not about you, but about him. Mori is worried about not being able to protect you. "He probably hates himself for not being able to save you from what he was able to avoid himself."
- Did they also want to pass Dad off as someone else's alpha?
- You know…
- They wanted to. - Mori answers without a knock, entering the room of his son, a relative, although not by blood, but by feelings. — And they even issued it, but the marriage did not last long.
- Why? - enough for the possibility of an omega carefully watching his father.
Mori is very silent, closes the door and walks into the room, taking a place on Taehyung's other shoulder. Love from childhood, the smell of exotic tangerines and lemons coming from his dad and aunt fills the room with a soothing wave. It reminds of a hungry childhood and of seven years spent at the same table with wounded soldiers and frightened children of fathers, clinging to their omegas and sobbing in unison of explosions, it reminds of how Mori, who does not yet know how to handle a child in silence, handed him a tangerine. Soft, overripe, rotten on one side, but the first and tastiest, such as Taehyung had never eaten before or since. Then, for the first time, he felt calm and foolish faith that everything could really be good. Among the unceasing cannonades, screams and fire, among other people's sobs, the rattling of swords and the groans of the dying, Taehyung felt safe. Now, surrounded by the scent of his relatives, he feels safe.
- So what did you do?
- You don't need to know. - tries to brush aside Koe's question.
- I killed my alpha. - the senior omega calmly shrugs his shoulders. - Slit his throat while he slept peacefully on our marriage bed drunk after another banquet, and then told a sob story about the murderer.
- I... I can… I can…
- No, you can't. You can't fox, you can't. - Mori sat down on his knees, squeezing his son's hands tightly. - Swear to me that you will never even think about trying to kill your husband. swear
- But why? - Taehyung claps his eyes in confusion, trying to see the answer to his question in the purple eyes opposite. - Why can't I do what you did? Why do I have to suffer when you're gone?
- Because my husband was a tyrant and a psycho from whose stupidity the people suffered, and your prudent manipulator and favorite not only of his father, but also of people. If he suffers from your hand, no one will understand the reasons and they will simply send you to the gallows. I know Elder Jeon ng and I know how he thinks, so please don't take any more risks than you have to.
- And what? Should I now become an obedient omega who fulfills all the whims of this southern moron?
- So. At least until I find a way to end your marriage without anyone getting hurt. Act politely and discreetly, but aloof and cold. Don't let them doubt your intentions or doubt your motives or they won't think twice before killing you with impunity. You know that there will be no judgment, regardless of who you are. They call us savages, but in reality they are much worse. Remember this. Remember and keep your secret until the end.
Taehyung flinches, closes his eyes and mentally counts to five, trying to see through his nightmare. Trying to get out of his head the images of his friends impaled on the heads of his friends, empty eye sockets and the sweet smell of decaying flesh. His future husband killed, bathed in the blood of those with whom Taehyung experienced both hunger and cold, those whom he called friends, those who always stood behind him, helping him survive day after day.
- Dad, I don't want that.
- I'm a kid too. I also. - Mori runs his son's cheek lovingly with his fingertips, feeling his heart freeze with fear and despair. He loses his child for the third time in his life. For the third time in his life, that which is more valuable than all titles and wealth is taken from him. The first one was taken from him by a hated man who paid for his mistake with his life. The other - hunger, cold, and on the eve of death, which forced him to personally eviscerate the unborn child from himself, in order to have the strength to preserve the already alive one. The third - the most painful time - it is done by those who, in his opinion, are worse than beasts. For the third time, his child is taken away by the southern monsters, and all he can do is humbly accept his fate and pray that his plan will succeed. Never in my life had the crown worn sixteen years ago out of good will seemed so heavy and at the same time useless.
- It's time for us. Koe whispers. - I'm really sorry, but we have time.
- Fine. — Taehyung nods to himself, standing up. - Everything will be fine with me.
He doesn't believe in it himself and still wants to believe it. He knows his dad and aunt well. He knows what they are capable of. More than once, I myself personally saw how Koe, without thinking, without trembling and without even doubting, cut off someone else's head if only his brother waved his hand. She did this for years, in front of Taehyung, learning to suppress emotions and to look into the victim's eyes until the end, filled with even greater fear. She is an Alpha. Strong, dangerous, steadfast. The sea is an omega. He is a cunning manipulator, kills faster with his words, forcing others to do the dirty work, but even in this he is so skillful and experienced that people themselves seek to fulfill his most terrible order, giving their lives for the benefit of someone else's desire. Taehyung has no doubts about his family. He has no right to this after they gave up their pride, exchanging it for the right to take him off the streets and call him theirs.
- No matter what happens, you are my son. — is the last thing the king says, opening the door, finally letting them into the corridor.
As if by a wave of a magic wand, the guards straighten up and point forward short swords, the blades of which are decorated with a pattern of pine cones. The omega within Taehyung lets out a muffled huff. Even the king has no right to order the soldiers to strip them, not in order to shed someone else's blood, even the Sea does not have such power over other people's lives, which means they wanted to. They themselves made this decision, they went for it, they themselves recognized him, a homeless boy, as their prince and now this is how, silently, but demonstrably, they mourned the departure of one who fought with them on equal footing in more than one battle. Tears welled up in his eyes, but a smile, now sincere, shone on his pale face. And to sneeze who will think. Just for a moment, but this eerie day full of fear and hatred becomes brighter. Better.
- They are also sad. Koe whispers. — They miss their brother in arms.
- I will miss them too. For all of you.
The omegas freeze in place, look into each other's eyes as if saying goodbye and finally nod letting go. Not forever, but for a long time. For an unacceptably long time. A wave of a hand and a grand, wooden door opens, dividing Taehyung's life into a "before" and an "after." Finally, it becomes clear that there is no way back, and it is too late to retreat. He no longer has a chance to escape, except when a hundred mocking or pitying eyes are on him. Each of the guests expects something from him that only they understand. They are waiting for an introduction that the omega has no intention of giving them. He is a prince. A prince, even if his veins are far from noble, aristocratic blood.
- But the ceremony will begin. - loudly announces the priest, when the barely audible sounds of the flute are carried around the hall.
- Everything will be fine. Taehyung whispers with his lips as he steps forward along the perfect white path. Dad, aunt, friends and the past life are left behind, where the past is dark, bloody and painful, seems happy. - Everything will definitely be fine. I can handle it. I must.