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“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
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pride • /prīd/ • noun.
consciousness of one's own dignity.
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Winter is a curious time of the year. Snowflakes are breaking away from the soft cotton that lazily sleeps in the sky; it covers trees with white powder. Despite the silver frost wonderland, it’s surprisingly warm enough outside for people to walk through the frozen ground, feet dragging through like ants back from a hard workday. It’s beautiful—almost like an early Christmas. However, Donghyuck isn’t that particularly interested in all the glamour that comes with it. The glamour and love that comes with winter formals and dances.
It happens that Donghyuck’s invited to another ball, one that all the other omegas and betas his age would be delighted to attend; Donghyuck believes that he would scream upon being introduced by his parents.
No, Donghyuck stands corrected.
He would most certainly scream.
Donghyuck has already told his father that he is not interested in finding a mate yet. His father doesn’t mind, but Donghyuck’s mother does. She keeps sending letters on his behalf, but Donghyuck always finds a way to mitigate the circumstances of marrying a much older gentleman and always finds his way resting on the lap of his younger brother being read the latest poetry book during the night, right before moonlight.
Twenty years old and with no real knowledge of the world, Donghyuck doesn’t find himself wanting to be trapped in a loveless marriage. There are far too many books to enchant himself with to let an alpha dictate all his personal hobbies. He’s seen how omegas his age is restricted from reading and writing once they are wed, their activities consumed by child rearing and tending to the home without rest. In the worst cases, love never comes after consummating a marriage, but rather ill will and searching for affection elsewhere.
For his siblings, finding a mate is perhaps the beginning of their happily ever after.
But for Donghyuck, he doesn’t think that love is the answer to what he’s looking for.
There must be something grander than marriage in this world.
There certainly must be.
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At least, that’s what Donghyuck so badly wants to believe for himself to be true.
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The snow falls and you can make out the smallest blooms spreading out of their brown crevices.
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There are finely milled rumors that a bachelor of great caliber has arrived in the neighborhood this spring. Donghyuck has not known any peace since these rumors began propagating in his vicinity.
Far too many remarks regarding when Donghyuck should get married, and far too many times his father has insisted he has no wish for his youngest son to get married yet. The answer that follows is always, “When my son is ready to commit, you will all receive notice of his wedding.”
With these remarks, more rumors fill Donghyuck’s ears, and he learns that the bachelor is named Lord Jeno Lee.
An alpha with a great educational background and wealth should be able to sustain generations upon generations without much worry. There are also claims that Jeno is rather attractive, with strong verbal confirmations from Donghyuck’s old schoolmates that Jeno has eyes that remind them of a wavering crescent moon. Donghyuck rolls his eyes at their comments, preferring the romance gently woven throughout the novel in his hand.
It sounds far too good of a tale to ascertain the possibility of romance in Donghyuck’s eyes— that a gentle and handsome alpha has arrived in town with considerable wealth to sweep an omega or beta off their feet to find the end of a rainbow blessing a wedding.
Romance—as contrived as it can be—has only been something he has read in a book. And with greater certainty, romance only exists in books. After all, the only true love he’s seen come true is in the book in his hands. The princess gives up all for her knight and they settle in a small cottage at the edge of nowhere.
Donghyuck’s own mother had not loved his father during their engagement. Donghyuck’s mother had a rather low dowry to offer; however, her parents denied her the opportunity to be with a handsome beta man of her choice. An investment with no funds to sustain any worthwhile ambitions, Donghyuck’s mother married the first alpha of a noble family that sent a courtship letter.
Along the way, Donghyuck’s mother grows to appreciate and love her husband. Mrs. Lee becomes proud of her new name and becomes the matriarch of a humble estate.
And the rest becomes history, with Donghyuck born the second eldest of his siblings, an omega with the privilege of learning how to play the piano, and his penmanship is praised by many to be delicate and well thought out. He is taught how to read as well, and schooling does not end at the primary level. Donghyuck can complete fundamental mathematical tasks on his own and more complex problems with the assistance of an abacus.
Funnily enough, Donghyuck’s education does not ascertain the fact that he would marry for love.
The Longbourn estate is handsome enough to provide Donghyuck a comfortable lifestyle, but the Longbourn estate is not luxurious enough to prevent Donghyuck and his family from visiting the Netherland estate and meeting the eyes of a man he certainly did and does not want to speak with regarding marriage.
The Longbourn state is a shadow of its former self and so far away from glory, all that is in Donghyuck’s power is avoiding courtship letters by burning them in the living room furnace.
Being the second eldest means that Donghyuck is dependent on his dowry and is unable to inherit anything other than a few family jewels. Marriage is Donghyuck’s only way of accumulating wealth. Yet, he doesn’t want to let go of his first love for it.
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But bad luck catches up and a letter isn’t burned in time for Donghyuck to avoid a ball in Jeno Lee’s estate the following Saturday evening.
It is a welcome party of sorts, not that Donghyuck is interested in learning how to bid Jeno Lee hello.
Farewell is a word far easier to learn.
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Stuck in the mundane, Donghyuck weaves his way through the ball gowns and suits with purpose. He’s already spent the hour his mother demanded he spend here in the manor as she still believed he could find a suitable mate—but the list Mrs. Lee created was with the names of men and women who wanted their mate to stop chasing dreams and devote themselves in love and love only.
But love should not demand the absolute and should leave room for growth, or that is what Donghyuck’s personal conviction writes as a truth.
Donghyuck finds himself at the end of the entranceway, hiding in the shadows. Looking around and seeing the clock, his promise has been fulfilled. He grabs his umbrella and smiles to himself that his home is only a 30-minute carriage ride away. Had it not been raining, Donghyuck would have walked himself home.
“May I ask your name?” The alpha interrupts Donghyuck’s quiet escape, dark eyes observing and taking note of Donghyuck as he attempts to open his umbrella at the door.
The host had not welcomed Donghyuck as he had not been accompanied by his father or the alpha of his immediate family for this ball as per the custom of this town. However, it was well known that Donghyuck was rarely obliged by any custom he did not like or believed infringed on his personal liberties. He is his own person.
With this brief inquiry, Donghyuck concludes that the alpha must be a new resident, or at the very least, a traveler of the sort. While there had been alpha and beta suitors who attempted to court Donghyuck, most of them understood that Donghyuck would never be interested and did not wish for any romantic endeavor to dare come close.
But in this alpha’s defense, this interrogation seems to be out of pure curiosity rather than a type of physical attraction.
“Should you not introduce yourself first?” Donghyuck raises an eyebrow, confident in his stride. He had heard a great deal of things about Lord Jeno from Jaemin.
Jaemin, Donghyuck’s beloved brother, became smitten with the new bachelor and wished on the stars that he would meet Jeno of Netherland Park again. This was an infatuation born at first sight—the day Jaemin walked into town and saw Lord Jeno from the window of a bakery thanking the worker for the fresh loaf of bread.
Jaemin barely mutters a word in Lord Jeno’s direction, mumbling poor questions to know him better. Jaemin returns home with a blush on the apple of his cheeks, talking about how dreamy Jeno Lee is and how Jaemin wishes he could someday be the eye of Jeno Lee’s romantic affection.
A rain shower grants him this wish, with Jaemin’s strength regaining composure at the Netherland estate. That’s when the invitation letter comes into Mrs. Lee’s hands. To ask the family to visit and welcome Jeno Lee into town.
Yet the man in front of Donghyuck does not meet these requirements. He presents himself rather poorly to Donghyuck despite his handsome face and figure, a far cry from the dreamy prince of Netherland Park. Certainly, this man must be the lord of a different estate altogether.
“May I not know the name of the man with dignified eyes standing before me?” The man asks again, this time his tone less grave than before.
Donghyuck’s heart does not flutter, but he is briefly entertained by the compliment.
“I do believe that I must be introduced by my family first before I can give you my name,” Donghyuck smiles, masquerading his lie with friendliness. That is how his mother taught him to decline prying eyes. Kill them with kindness.
It seems like the alpha had expected Donghyuck to already know him by name as he looks at Donghyuck with amusement, but it’s not like Donghyuck is the type of omega to keep up with every rumor he stumbles upon. He does not know the name of any other eligible bachelor other than Jeno Lee.
“I understand that you’re an alpha, but I do not expect to greet someone whose name I most certainly do not know,” Donghyuck states with brave affirmation. “To believe that this ball is attended by the kindest and most educated of men in our country, I must certainly have been mistaken to have come to this conclusion. May you have a wonderful night as I certainly will.”
Donghyuck bows before he opens his umbrella and makes his way outside, calling for a carriage.
The alpha looks at Donghyuck with a look of surprise, eyes stupefied by the wonder of an omega rejecting a question.
The door shuts.
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And another door opens.
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Historically, Donghyuck’s father has always been on his side. That is the type of father Lord Lee is. Born to give love to all he holds dear.
While Donghyuck is born the second oldest of his siblings, it doesn’t deny the fact that Donghyuck is the one closest to his father.
Donghyuck loves that his heart can only fall in love with someone without thinking about the benefits they may bring him— at the expense of raising his own status in society, and it is the love that brings him close to his father. The power of love, at first sight, is what causes Donghyuck’s father to court an omega whose dowry is much below the worth of his name. This is also what makes Donghyuck’s father resistant to sharing his son’s name with the stranger of Lord Jeno’s party; the possibility of Donghyuck marrying for money should not exist in the eyes of the master of the Longbourn estate.
But historically, Donghyuck’s mother, Mrs. Lee, has always had a fear churning in her heart.
Roses cannot grow without thorns protecting their beauty; that’s how Donghyuck likens his mother’s love to be for him. His mother cannot love him without fearing for the future seeing that Donghyuck’s second gender will always restrict him into being the mate of another. He cannot keep his father’s name after marriage and will never be his own person. Stuck in her old ways, Mrs. Lee is the first to insist Donghyuck find himself a mate he can live with for the rest of his youth.
And in the end, Donghyuck’s name is given to the new young lord of Pemberley.
Underneath the grey clouds, there is a tiny sliver of sunshine peeping out. And with it, Donghyuck comes to learn the name of the young lord of Pemberley as well.
A door opens.
“I’ve forgotten to introduce myself,” The lord of Pemberley takes hold of Donghyuck’s hand to press a quick kiss. “My name is Mark Lee. I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
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The rumors failed to evolve and include the fact that there were in fact two young bachelors that have arrived in town.
With this new knowledge, Donghyuck grits his teeth and runs with flowers in his hands. He crushes them.
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The flowers Mr. Lee gives Donghyuck are tiger lilies.
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“Do you not find Mr. Lee handsome?” Jaemin pipes, holding his notebook to his chest.
He’s wearing a light blue gingham shirt and pants that almost blend into the cotton sheets that were gifted to him on his birthday last year. Jaemin’s hair looks soft underneath the lamp light and Donghyuck is almost predisposed to run his fingers through it. He does.
Jaemin had been making a list of items that needed to be purchased for the family pantry with Donghyuck’s second eye. Donghyuck himself doesn’t care much about his pajamas, but he does find comfort in the cotton blend while waiting to see what Jaemin determines as an essential good for the family good.
Donghyuck doesn’t find the topic of Mr. Lee as interesting as the type of tea Jaemin wishes to purchase next Wednesday.
“His face is not disagreeable,” Donghyuck admits much to his own detriment. Within seconds, Jaemin looks at him with bright button eyes. “But I would still not find my heart beating if I were to see him again.”
Jaemin frowns but still writes his list. “You’re such a bore.”
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With anything else to add to the salt in the wound, Donghyuck’s week doesn’t venture much out of attempting to escape another ball invitation that his mother tries to slip underneath his door.
It goes where all his other ball invitations die: the furnace.
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“I’ve heard rumors that you’ve rejected a proposal,” the young Mr. Lee comments to Donghyuck as the omega takes a glass in his hands.
So, he’s heard, Donghyuck laughs.
Donghyuck takes a sip before answering, “I had no intention of leading Mr. Jung into believing I was interested in his hand in marriage before his proposal. I believe you should know me better by now.”
Donghyuck states the obvious. He had no intention of marrying Mr. Jung, even if he met all his mother’s requirements. Mr. Jung is certainly wealthy, and he has never been married before. He’s not much older than Donghyuck either and quite frankly, attractive. But Donghyuck hasn’t talked much with Mr. Jung outside of a party greeting. There’s no way to assess if Donghyuck can feel affection for someone he hasn’t truly met.
And in all actuality, Donghyuck talked more to Mr. Lee than Mr. Jung.
There have been a few meetings here and there with the young lord of Pemberley. Most of these meetings have been a coincidence as Donghyuck never met him outside a parlor or shop. There are not enough meetings to know what Mr. Lee’s birthday is, but there’s enough small talk to conclude that Mr. Lee is not entirely an unpleasant being to spend time with. He’s well-read and finds interest in the novels in Donghyuck’s personal collection. Mr. Lee recommends adding Frankenstein to his collection despite the author’s unknown pedigree.
(Donghyuck doesn’t share with Mr. Lee that the book is a wonderful addition to his library. Pride stops him.)
“What made you believe I insinuated such a thing?” Mr. Lee asks, curiosity illuminating his dark eyes. The young lord of Pemberley looks young underneath the lights of the ballroom. Almost dashing if Donghyuck were to admit it. “I had only asked to confirm if you rejected a proposal. I had no intention of implying you seduced Mr. Jung.”
“I do not see why you are interested in matters that do not concern you Mr. Lee” Donghyuck bluntly replies, which causes Mr. Lee to flinch. He inches back in his dress shoes before confidence builds up again.
“Are we not friends?”
“I do not have the assumption we are friends Mr. Lee,” Donghyuck smiles. “But I do not entirely abhor your presence. You are delightful when you try to be.”
“If I were to allow you to refer to me by my first name, would you consider the hand I extend to be that of a friend?” Mr. Lee says.
“Are you not aware of the implications of your proposal?” Donghyuck raises an eyebrow, observing the alpha’s face on closer inspection. Mr. Lee looks rather honest.
It would not be the first time an alpha of Mr. Lee’s status attempted to abuse his power over someone of a different gender. Names have power. And it’s a power that is inaccessible to an omega like Donghyuck, despite his father’s good name and his father’s honored estate. Being an omega means that society is not yet ready for a larger role outside of the shadow of their spouse’s name and status.
“I have no intention of abusing the friendship I am offering you,” comes Mr. Lee’s answer. “I would like to refer to you by your first name as I would any other friend of mine. How else should we continue to share book recommendations.”
Donghyuck chuckles. “I would suppose that referring to you as Mark would make us equals?”
Mark smiles.
“I don’t see why you wouldn’t be my equal. Do we both not enjoy the pleasure of a good book?”
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When he was a child, Donghyuck was dragged to his first ball. His older brother, Taeyong, wanted to make a good impression on a traveling beta that was rumored to be well-read and of a good family.
While the other children his age attempt to mimic the grownups around them, Donghyuck hides himself underneath a table, reading a book with the smallest speck of yellow light.
He creates magic with the words faintly printed on the yellowed pages of his book.
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There are days when Donghyuck wishes he could go back to those days when he could hide underneath a table and read to his heart’s content.
But then he would have never learned how his heart feels orange-colored warmth when summer hasn’t shared her beauty yet.
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For a moment, Donghyuck finds magic underneath the yellow lights of another ballroom his mother drags him to. An early spring ball to celebrate the yellow tulips that surround the town.
Out of the corner of his eye, Donghyuck sees that Mark makes the ballroom lighten up.
Donghyuck can’t help but notice Mark in the center of any estate’s center, even if Mark himself never endured enough to make conversation with anyone else other than a select few. Like Donghyuck, Mark doesn’t find much joy in attending balls and in passing has rejected to be the dance partner of the few young omegas in his town.
Of those people, Donghyuck finds himself included in that private circle that Mark creates.
“Do you not wish to find a mate?”
It’s Mark’s turn to laugh. “I do not wish to wed a person who does not see themselves as my equal.”
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By the time they depart from the spring ball, Donghyuck learns more about who Mark Lee is other than being the young lord of Pemberley and his taste in books than the past few late evenings.
Donghyuck supposes that Mark has attempted to share who carries the burden of his name, but he had not been entirely interested until now. Donghyuck has no answer as to why he finds himself wanting to know more about Mark Lee, but he supposes that to kill time this is a reasonable investigation of sorts.
They talk about their families, although it seems that far more time is devoted to Donghyuck chastising Jaemin’s fast infatuation with Jeno. Mark talks about his young sister too, but her name slips off Donghyuck’s tongue. It’s not a common name by any means, but Donghyuck has not been as interested in learning about her as he is in learning more about Mark.
Mark’s also only a year older than Donghyuck as it turns out, and it’s a rare occurrence for someone that young to be the lord of his own estate. The only other person Donghyuck knew to have come up to that legacy is his own father, but it was such a modest estate compared to that of Mark Lee’s inheritance.
Although it’s a natural birthright, the eldest lord of an estate has the tendency to hold onto their domain until the very end. Donghyuck supposes that Mark had perhaps outlived his father far too early, seeing that he leaves the ball earlier than Donghyuck does.
“Are you leaving before me?”
Mark laughs before touching the door handle. “Am I not allowed to leave my glass slipper behind?”
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Donghyuck leaves soon after, wondering whether he should have answered Mark’s question earlier.
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But that’s when Donghyuck is reminded of the tiger lilies Mark gave him upon their first official meeting.
He starts thinking about how well Mark started to know him. But perhaps, it’s not enough for Donghyuck to change his perception of the alpha just yet.
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Being in love means it’s all good and done, and Donghyuck refuses to let himself fall into infatuation.
Infatuation, after all, is the first fall into hell.
He’s seen Jaemin fall, blindfolded, and led into the stained door with a fuzzy white light.
And Donghyuck refuses to fall too.
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“Are you not content with the book I recommended you the other week?” Mark raises an eyebrow.
Both.
“If you are referring to Emma,” Donghyuck replies. “I rather did enjoy it except I found the premise at the end suffered a bit.”
“How so?”
“Well, I found Emma a bit too naïve even if she did not have any experience in the subject of love.”
Mark laughs. “I would have to agree with you. You would think a woman with her amount of fortune would have been reared to be more careful of who she interacts with. But I do find that the ending redeems its charm.”
“Would you move into your father-in-law’s estate after marriage?” Donghyuck presents with curiosity. “Even if you possessed far more wealth than him?”
“I don’t find a concern with that matter,” Mark begins. “If it is the only price to being with the person you love, I would consider it a blessing.”
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Another ball makes Donghyuck shift the ball of his feet into the shadows of others. He’s not sure how Jaemin does it, but he’s already about to share a dance with Jeno Lee once again. It doesn’t seem like Jaemin is concerned with rumors considering that omegas should only dance with their promised mates—but again, Donghyuck doesn’t stop his brother.
A girl comes up to Donghyuck with the same dark hair and dark eyes as Mark. She’s wearing a light pink dress, a common wear for an evening ball like this one. She smiles before saying, “I did not expect to meet you here. My brother has told me a lot about you.”
Donghyuck laughs. “Oh my. I hope Mark has not greatly exaggerated my inability to remember names.”
“Minjeong,” she replies, eyes twinkling as she comes in closer, her hand reaching for one of the small cakes on the table. “Rather, he’s told me that you are an excellent pianist. I hope you would grace me this evening with a small tune if you were not already preoccupied with other things.”
“I believe that Mark is too kind. I haven’t had the chance to perform in his presence yet.”
Donghyuck pauses, thinking about the few times he has met Mark. But at neither of these parties has Donghyuck remembered to have performed for him.
The only person who ever called Donghyuck a distinguished pianist is his mother full of truths and half full of lies hoping to impress a potential fiancé candidate for her son.
Minjeong’s eyes open widely at Donghyuck’s answer, but her surprised expression softens with a glint.
“That’s rather strange. The only person my older brother holds up to such a high regard is you.”
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Donghyuck finds Mark far too easy for his own liking.
But nothing ever comes of it. He catches glimpses of Mark from afar, not able to expel the anger that has found a home in his chest. He doesn’t know Mark well enough to say anything else but a salutation.
But Donghyuck can’t help but notice whenever Mark is in the same vicinity.
For Mark holds such a gaze that makes Donghyuck believe he’s traveled the whole world and taken the stars with him.
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“I did not know you were so well-versed in the art of dancing,” Mark comments as Donghyuck glides across the floor.
“My mother made it a point to present myself as graceful at all events,” is Donghyuck’s humble reply. “I do not practice much though. I’d rather attempt to make my way towards attending school.”
“Why that’s a rather ambitious feat,” Mark observes with a smile. “It is a rather momentous event in life to consider oneself a studied man. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were offered to study abroad.”
“You certainly flatter me. Does my dancing warrant such a compliment?”
“Well, I think you are an intelligent and capable person. I don’t see why you couldn’t accomplish what you set out to do.”
Donghyuck laughs. “My mother would certainly faint if she were to hear that from you.”
“If there were a country you could visit, what would it be?”
“France,” answers Donghyuck. “I’ve always wanted to visit France.”
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In a dream, Donghyuck sees himself traveling across the world, his hair pushed back by the wind.
It’s imagined in a world where Donghyuck’s mother allows him true freedom.
And it’s imagined in a world that quickly crumbles when his mother opens his bedroom door.
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Being an unwed omega results in several ball invitations that Donghyuck has no interest in entertaining.
Had his mother taken notice, Donghyuck would already be fitted so that he could attend one of these evening events and perhaps catch the eye of an alpha, or maybe a beta of a reputable background and education. But much to Donghyuck’s, she has ignored in his favor Jaemin’s recent anguish.
Broken-hearted, Jaemin remains in a sunken place. Despite getting along with Jeno of Netherland Park, it appeared that the proposal had never come to fruition.
Waiting for more than two weeks means that an omega has been politely rejected for the sake of all the involved parties.
Omegas do not have the right to complain, Donghyuck has heard his mother say to him when they’ve stumbled upon a family who had been disgraced with their youngest daughter’s unwed status. It never fares well to be unwed past the age of twenty—for omegas at the least. Donghyuck has found himself peering over in fear seeing the ill fortune of young girls and boys married to an alpha far older than them.
On the stars and a blue fairy, he has wished for this to never happen to him.
To loses his dreams and chance of love out of the belief that having an alpha companion with wealth beyond the wildest dreams guarantees happiness. It rarely ever did.
And this unkindness is extended to Jaemin, who does not have the words to explain that his heart has been played.
On his tiptoes, Donghyuck overhears Jaemin sobbing. Donghyuck comes to comfort his sibling, waiting to see in between the tears, Jaemin would tell him anything that would be helpful.
“I believed that he would propose,” Jaemin tells Donghyuck quietly with grief. “I thought he loved me.”
Donghyuck compares Jaemin’s crying tone to a trapped hare, unable to escape its fate during the winter. There is a glisten that stains Jaemin’s face, almost like tears in the rain seeing that Jeno would not propose.
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There’s a calm before the storm.
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It brews.
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Some words fly that claim Mark is to blame for Jaemin’s predicament.
Donghyuck refuses to listen and believe in such rumors as he is one to know better.
Once when he turned of age, Donghyuck had been rumored to have had an affair with a count from a town over—the result of a ball he attended. Donghyuck had no interest in such a man, but his interest made many think otherwise. Countless proposal letters later, Donghyuck is the center of a world he wants no part in.
With great luck, his father comes forward and politely dismisses any arrangements that would be harmful to Donghyuck, not that Donghyuck should have ever had anything to fear. Nothing would ever cause Lord Lee’s love towards his son to waver, not even the myth that having the proposal of an alpha with good fortune come your way guaranteed bliss and happiness.
Donghyuck had never truly been one to care about financial gain—not even when he was an unpresented child Donghyuck ever thought about the gold jewelry his mother promised him when he came of age. Donghyuck was far too engrossed in his books to think about anything material.
And it’s a passion that drives Donghyuck to town on a cloudy day. He takes an umbrella with him, thinking that it is better safe than sorry based on previous incidents.
He looks through the bookstore, thinking that perhaps another book about a new species of butterfly discovered is a rather good investment to join his personal collection.
But what Donghyuck doesn’t expect is for Mark to muddle through the comfortable silence Donghyuck created in his world. There was a fact of life Mark would mention at parties: that he loved books, especially the long novels that would come in each week in pieces to form a whole world.
Today is Sunday, the day they come into stores to enamor and continue captivating an audience.
“Would you do me the honor of allowing me to gift you this book?” Mark asks and Donghyuck can make out the newly published chapter of a story he mentioned at parties.
“What’s the cause of such an offer?” Donghyuck responds, taking the book in his hands and making his way to the cashier. “Today is nowhere near a holiday or precious event to warrant such a gift.”
“Well, why can’t I buy a book for my friend?” Mark continues, walking towards the cashier box as well.
“I understand that you are an alpha, but that doesn’t mean that you can be so oblivious to what this gift could mean.” Donghyuck retorts, observing Mark closely. “I am certain you know that if I accept this gift, it means that you are courting me.”
“It is my intention to court someone as intelligent as yourself,” is Mark’s honest answer. “I sincerely hope that my recommendation to my dear friend does not hold ill will towards your estate.”
“Mark,” Donghyuck’s cheeks bloom vibrant red. “Why, I do not certainly believe that an ill recommendation regarding my brother is good cause to accept your courtship.”
“I believe this is a misunderstanding,” Mark starts. “Jeno should know that Jaemin is not well suited for him. Jeno is by far too—”
“My apologies, but I don’t believe a matter this grave is a simple misunderstanding,” Donghyuck seethes. “May you have a wonderful evening.”
With him, Donghyuck takes the rain.
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Donghyuck feels it all around, the nervousness of Mark’s doing and wrongs against his person.
He couldn’t believe that Mark would dare comment on a courtship where there is no foundation of love, or at the very least, any sense of financial urgency for the involved parties.
Donghyuck is mad for a moment, and then he stops to a new conclusion.
He asks himself, “Why do I feel so stricken with anger?”
Donghyuck has anger dwelling and swelling up in his heart, and even more in another moment, he is tempted to yell out for the reason of this red-painted emotion. He doesn’t believe himself to be wrong here. Rather yet, for all the reasons he can come up with, he doesn’t have another option to feel.
It must be romantic affection that Donghyuck feels towards the young lord regardless of all the wrongs committed.
With this new thought stuck in his heart, Donghyuck weaves the night into slumber.
༻❁༺
Oh, Mark thinks Donghyuck has forgiven him because Donghyuck’s in love.
He’s wrong.
Oh, so wrong.
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Darling, everything is on fire.
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In Donghyuck’s childhood, he once ignored Jaemin for an entire week without sparing a second glance because Jaemin ruined his toy soldier toy.
Only when Donghyuck was reprimanded by his parents did he finally forgive Jaemin’s crime?
So, certainly, Donghyuck can bear not even breathing in the same room as Mark.
༻❁༺
Donghyuck doesn’t speak to Mark for weeks and there is no faltering on his part. Any last-minute invitations that come Donghyuck’s way get thrown in the waste bin and Donghyuck pays no heed to his mother’s warnings about getting too old for marriage.
It was not like Donghyuck could bear any child. Only female omegas could bear offspring, and even then, it did not guarantee fertility. Any alpha or beta that proposed to Donghyuck, he would assume, could easily have a mistress join the estate.
Donghyuck would rather save himself the hassle of being second-best and not enter such courtship realities.
“Oh dear,” Jaemin says as he falls on Donghyuck’s lap. He had been the only person allowed in Donghyuck’s study as he never mentioned Donghyuck ever getting married. “What should I do?”
“What do you mean?” Donghyuck inquires. “Is there something troubling you?”
“I’ve been courted by Jisung Park,” Jaemin says. “I don’t know what to say regarding such a proposal.”
“Were you not infatuated with Jeno Lee?” Donghyuck continues prodding. Jisung Park was their younger neighbor who always had been a little bit in love with Jaemin. But it was no secret that Jaemin never paid him any more attention than anyone else. To Jaemin, Jisung was simply and has always been a good friend. Jeno, on the other hand, Jaemin loved him at first sight. “You were infatuated with Lord Jeno for so long now.”
“I was, but it’s not like it could ever be,” Jaemin sighs. “I’m glad Mark intercepted on my behalf.”
Intercepted? What could Jaemin be implying? Donghyuck thinks.
“Can you explain more?”
“Why I was not aware Jeno was a widower,” Jaemin starts. “His mate had been lost at sea so long and it was declared Jeno would have been allowed to remarry from the moment the letter was given to me.
“It’s not like Jeno wouldn't have been to love me, I am a lovable being after all. But there’s always the possibility of not knowing if Jeno’s mate would ever return home. You’ve read the papers, haven’t you? They’ve been finding missing persons more and more these days. What if...I was to be stuck in that predicament? Would I be able to remarry after such an embarrassment,” Jaemin ends the beginnings of his worries.
“But it wouldn’t be your fault if that were to ever happen,” Donghyuck runs his fingers through Jaemin’s hair, which has already sunk to the floor. “It doesn’t sound far-fetched to believe that Jeno would remain a widower.”
“It doesn’t, but I’m uncertain if Jeno has stopped loving his mate. I know Jeno visits his mate’s grave each day wishing he would return one day and…I…I’m a selfish person at the end of the day. I’m not sure if I could live in another person’s shadow knowing that their spot will always be there. And I’m not sure if Jeno would promise me my future if his mate were to ever return.”
“But do you think Jisung could bring you happiness?” Donghyuck asks his little brother, whose heart is close to hardening into rock. Jaemin is still on his lap, crying and staining Donghyuck’s trousers with tears. “Do you think you could live knowing you could have had Jeno for far longer than you would have ever thought?”
“I would rather live knowing, I would still be loved a hundred years from now than to have it end tomorrow without a second thought,” Jaemin replies before he finds sleep on Donghyuck’s lap. “I could live peacefully with my heart whole in Jisung’s hands.”
༻❁༺
In the wrong hands, Jaemin’s heart could have been broken beyond repair.
But Jisung proves Donghyuck wrong.
Jisung cares for Jaemin’s heart so well that Donghyuck doubts a museum could ever compete with him.
༻❁༺
Another month passes and Jisung finally presents his last courtship present to Jaemin.
He comes in fumbling into the estate, his head almost touching the old door that had always meant to be replaced. For a moment, Donghyuck remembers the little neighbor who would always stop by in the afternoon to hope to have a look returned by Jaemin.
The last courtship gift is a pearl necklace that Jisung happened to acquire on his trip to a neighboring town. Donghyuck studies it and by far, Jisung has never failed to impress him and the Lee family with how well he knew Jaemin’s tastes. The first courtship gift had been a bouquet of wildflowers that Jaemin loved making crowns out of in his youth. And the second had been a ticket to a play Jaemin had been dying to watch. The pearl necklace was the cherry on top.
The pearl had been set on a simple chain that Jaemin could easily wear at any event without worry of it being damaged.
How the clumsy neighbor turned into such a well-accomplished alpha worthy of Jaemin’s affection would be a story Donghyuck would readily buy knowing how love easily blossoms when Jisung gazes at Jaemin. It’s such a love that Donghyuck’s certain that would make Jaemin happy a hundred years to come.
“I would have never imagined that you and Jaemin would marry,” Donghyuck smiles. “But I do believe you will make him happy.”
“I also believed he would never look my way,” Jisung replies with such honesty that it makes Donghyuck wish that Jisung would become Jaemin’s first choice. “But I would have always waited for him.”
“Even if he married Jeno Lee?”
“Even then,” Jisung admits with full confidence, which shocks Donghyuck. Despite his status as an alpha, Jisung had never been assertive. “I have always loved him. And I’m not sure if I would ever stop.”
“Even if hypothetically Jaemin stopped talking to you because of an unresolved misunderstanding?”
“Are you perhaps referring to Mark Lee? I don’t take Jaemin to be the type of person to not get a proper response.” Jisung chuckles. “I’m sure if you were to talk to him, he would follow suit and court you again.”
“I don’t think I’m as beautiful as Jaemin is to even make such a lasting impression. I would have never blamed you if you stopped loving my younger brother. He’s such a lovely being worthy of being loved.”
“You assume the worst about yourself,” is Jisung’s reply. He studies Donghyuck’s unconvinced expression before continuing, “I believe that Mark Lee is far more sincere than you would ever imagine.”
“You think so?”
“I’m absolutely certain.”
༻❁༺
“I wish my mind would find some peace,” Donghyuck sighs before regretfully waking up at the break of dawn. A long day of wedding preparations left him without the usual amount of slumber.
While Jisung was from a respectable family, he did not possess enough wealth to fully provide the funds for a wedding ceremony. And with his heaven-ordained luck, Jisung was the youngest alpha of his family, far from inheriting his family’s estate. Nor did Jaemin possess enough wealth for this celebration either.
But when two halves become one, there is just enough will to become whole, a small home in the lower west side of town.
This means that Donghyuck spent the past few weeks sewing old linen and arranging flowers to help decorate his younger brother’s wedding.
Donghyuck decides to change into his most formal attire seeing that he must tend to Jaemin’s guests with a formality that is not a request, but rather a demand of hospitality. He changes out of his most worn shirt and pants into a crisp ruffled shirt and slacks with a beige coat layered above it.
After seeing that his outfit needs more help, he searches for one of his mother’s old necklaces.
The necklace is a lovely heart diamond that she carries with her as one of the few pieces of inheritance from a fallen noble family. The diamond is cleanly cut and placed through a thin gold chain that hangs just below Donghyuck’s neck. What made the diamond so precious was that it was a soft pink hue that was rare to see outside of the capital.
With this, Donghyuck finalizes his attire and walks down the stairs, hoping all will go well.
༻❁༺
Without a doubt, the wedding preparations had not gone in vain.
There are no words that can describe the beautiful ceremony that had been prepared for Jaemin and Jisung’s union.
Jaemin looked undeniably splendid underneath the white rose ornaments that Donghyuck created for the vow ceremony. With the release of a wild dove that Jisung found in his family estate, the ceremony ended without much unnecessary fanfare. No one could have imagined that the celebration was delivered without much wealth.
Jaemin and Jisung walk down the aisle together, ready to embark on the next stage of their lives with Jaemin brightly smiling with white roses in his hand.
Donghyuck’s breath would have certainly been taken away had it not been for the discovery that Jisung Park is an intelligent being.
Mark Lee has been seated right next to Donghyuck for the wedding ceremony.
Knowing his heart very well and no longer letting it suffer with unfounded worries, Donghyuck reaches for Mark’s hand.
“I must share that I do not desire marriage at this moment,” Donghyuck says as he watches Jaemin and Jisung begin thanking their guests for attending. “It would be inappropriate to insinuate so soon after my brother’s marriage. And…”
“And?”
“We have not had a proper date,” Donghyuck smiles. “I sincerely would like to be swept off my feet. Metaphorically, of course.”
“Then, would it be more appropriate to begin courting you two weeks from today?” Mark replies, eyes bright, and letting his fingers intertwine with Donghyuck’s fingers.
Donghyuck softly chuckles before quietly replying, “I hope you remember my favorite book.”
“Are gifts your love language then?”
“Perhaps so.”