Chapter Text
The chiming music filling the air was decidedly very charming, yet if Yeonjun had to hear it for yet another second, he feared there would be very violent repercussions.
It wasn't that he had any ill-will against the septet filling the grand room with their melodies. It was just that, well, Yeonjun has had to attend perhaps over twenty balls in this season alone, and the idea of repeating his paces, filling the dance cards of the same bachelor and bachelorettes filled Yeonjun with a dread so profound, that he was absolutely ready to hide away in his office for the rest of the season.
Alas, if only his mother, the esteemed Lady Taeyeon, and perhaps also, the Lady Hyori, would let him leave.
"Are you not enjoying yourself, brother?" his younger brother, Soobin, smirked.
Yeonjun pulled a face for a short second, allowing himself the respite of dropping his pleasant facade. His brother finding his hiding spot amongst the masses wasn't the worst thing that could happen, Yeonjun supposed. But where Choi Soobin went, the masses followed. Before Yeonjun knew it, he was surrounded by a gaggle of the most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes from this season, and their very zealous mamas.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Soobin greeted them all, smirking at Yeonjun when he tried to escape and was subsequently thwarted by Lady Hyori.
"My Lady," Yeonjun greeted her, hoping that the look on his face wasn't as close to a grimace as he thought. Stuck between the Lady on one end and his brother and the beautiful masses on the other, Yeonjun was feeling rather like a fish lured to a bait.
"Lord Yeonjun," the lady said. She was far too refined to smirk in front of the gentry, but there was something in the manner of her countenance, in the way her head was titled just so lightly, the curve of her eyes, and the lift of her lips. All of it, of course, was accentuated by the diamonds she was wearing. Yeonjun wasn't so well-versed in jewellery: it was one of his few shortcomings, but he was rather aware that the pink diamonds were the talk of the season.
They matched her beautiful pink gown perfectly as well, and Yeonjun knew, from his own sisters and his mother keeping him informed, that she had won the metaphorical contest in setting the fashion and trends for his season. His younger sister's gripes about the amount of pink accessories this season was something that Yeonjun would probably hear in his dreams.
"Would you be so kind as to accompany me for a turn around the room?" she asked, and really it wasn't a question, however politely she had framed. Yeonjun did not sigh, for this was certainly a much better alternative than having to make merry with Soobin's admirers.
Soobin, at that moment, was very busy talking and charming the ladies. He looked up when he found his chief object of teasing mirth missing from his side. The rakish look on his face turned into something more pleasant in the presence of Lady Hyori. "My Lady, don't tell me that you're taking my brother away from me so soon?" he pouted petulantly.
Lady Hyori laughed, an elegant sound, and Yeonjun found himself standing next to her, his arm out already for her to rest her hand on. "I fear I am, Sir Soobin. Though, you shall worry not, I will return your brother to you and all your sociable ways soon enough."
"Oh no," Soobin shook his head, eyes wide and looking at the picture of distress. "Keep him to yourself and your company for however long you like. His dreary self is hanging about like a rain cloud on all of us."
"You're the one who came to disturb me in my little nook, brother," Yeonjun replied dryly. "If my presence was so much of a rain cloud, I wonder why you didn't just seek shelter elsewhere."
"Well, I had to make sure my brother was doing fine! Isn't that right, ladies?" Soobin redirected, and it gave the gathered crowd a perfect chance to hop in on mercilessly teasing Yeonjun.
"Lord Yeonjun," a gentleman whined, eyes big and doe like, his fan fluttering ever so closely against his face. "Why don't any of us have the pleasure of dancing with you?"
"Yes, Lord Yeonjun," someone else chimed. "We're already halfway through this season, and we can count on one hand, the amount of times you've graced the dance floor."
"Are we not delightful company, Lord Yeonjun? Do you find us lacking?"
"Gentlemen," Yeonjun placated them with a smile, "I assure you that I have never seen anyone prettier than the debutantes of this season, my own sister being among your ranks. But I find myself tired of the late hours. Now, Lady Hyori grows impatient, and I do too, but I promise that at the next ball you'll see me in all your dance cards."
The collective giggles took over the air, and with one last dip of his head, he and the Lady Hyori left the throngs to his brother's very capable hands.
They walked about the room for two turns, hardly exchanging a word outside pleasantries and genial remarks on the behaviour and charisma of this season's debutants. Everyone was certainly very beautiful, as Yeonjun had said before, but the consensus was that they were lacking a certain something among them; which was also the reason why the Queen had yet to choose her diamond of this season.
"Now, Yeonjun," she said, directing him towards the splendid garden of wherever they were. Yeonjun had certainly greeted the host but could hardly remember who it was. "I understand that your mother is very adamant that you find yourself a suitable wife this season."
This time, Yeonjun did sigh. "Yes, I am sure she has been in your confidence about this already, Lady Hyori, but I find myself vexed this season, and I understand that it has made myself a particularly unpleasant company this season. I do not think I would make a good match for the mamas in there."
"On the contrary, you are the most sought after match this season. Your taciturn behaviour and the manner in which you refuse everyone is the only reason why no one has thought to pursue you ardently," she said. "I understand that there is some difficulty, and I do not blame you for not feeling at home in the chaos of the marriage mart, however, to ease your burdens and that of your mother's I have decided to introduce you to some of my guests. They have come to our ton from all the way across the ocean, and I am sure they would make a very agreeable match for you."
"Oh?" Yeonjun asked, unable to stop the disbelief coursing in his veins. After the lacklustre previous season, and the current one hardly going any better, Yeonjun could be forgiven for not having faith in Lady Hyori's attempts.
"Yes, well, they are the children of an old friend of mine, and I am sure that they will have a successful season here. The younger among them would be a perfect match for you."
"And who are they, Lady Hyori?"
"Choi Beomgyu, the eldest son of the Choi Family, and Huening Kai, the younger brother but no less skilled or blessed, and I am sure, the perfect person for you to marry."
Yeonjun bowed his head, resigned to his fate, "I cannot wait to meet them."