Chapter Text
Prince Chae Hyungwon stands as still as possible amongst the flurry of activity around him. He holds out an arm or foot when told, his mind a muddled mess. He’d been told a month ago what’s about to happen, but to be honest he didn’t really believe it. Denial filled him up till this moment, despite all the planners hurrying through the halls of his home day and night. He thinks back to all the fittings he’d taken part in, all the tastings he’d gone to… How could he have gone through all of that and still believed it all to be a joke?
Well, because he’s a prince. Sure, only a second-born prince, but a prince nonetheless. Princes never got betrothed in his kingdom, much less to another prince. Of course, his parents had always made an effort to accept his homosexuality as best they can, but arranging a marriage with the prince of a neighboring kingdom seems a bit much. Hyungwon’s mother comes into the room, the woman he got both his lean frame and plump lips from, and she smiles at him with tearful eyes.
“Mother,” he begins, so many questions coming to the forefront of his mind, but the expression she has causes them all to melt away.
“I’m so proud of you for going through this without complaint,” she tells him. “I know if your younger brother were in your shoes, he’d have given us so much trouble.” Hyungwon manages a small smile of acknowledgment, unable to keep himself from silently agreeing. If Jooheon had been thrown into an arranged marriage, he’d have been extremely difficult. Jooheon is a hopeless romantic, after all, and despised the thought of betrothals, thinking them archaic and ineffective.
“If you and Father are sure this is how I can best serve our kingdom,” Hyungwon finds himself saying, “then I’m happy to do it. The safety of our people is what’s most important.” His mother presses a tissue against the corners of her eyes, and she throws herself at him in a bone-crushing embrace.
“I hate to see you leave the nest so young,” she whispers to him, “but it’s for the best. You’re going to love your new home, my dear. It’s an academically-centered kingdom, you’ll fit right in.” She breaks away from him, sniffling into her tissue. “Have him ready in twenty minutes,” she orders the servants around them, her tone devoid of all maternal warmth it had been full of just moments ago. Hyungwon is used to this immediate change, has in fact made an effort to model his own behaviors after it, but isn’t sure if he has it down too well yet. He guesses he’ll have to teach himself from memory from now on, since he doesn’t know when he’s coming back home after being shipped off to the neighboring kingdom.
The thought causes him to regret not spending more time with his family before today, wishing he’d have relished every moment he could have before now.
Hyungwon hurries down the aisle as fast as he can, his long legs making the distance incredibly short. A quick glance around the hall tells him that his betrothed is not yet here. Another regret fills him at not having read the materials the court advisors had supplied him with. Apparently they had contained information about his fiancé and new home, but too late now. Now he’ll just have to improvise.
A few minutes pass before anyone else enters the hall. His parents take their seats in the front pew, his mother crying softly into her tissue as his brothers, Hyunwoo and Jooheon, attempt to console her. Hyungwon’s father gives him an encouraging shake of the fist, to which he can only give a small nod. The door on the other side of the hall opens, and in walks an older couple with imperious auras and a young man with blue and white hair and bulging muscles following behind them. The young man doesn’t seem too interested in where he is, a blank look set upon his face. His mouth is slightly agape, and Hyungwon hopes dearly that he isn’t his betrothed. That ditsy expression could get annoying very quickly.
The hopes, he finds out, are pointless. The young man bows before Hyungwon, who instinctively bows in return, and introduces himself as Prince Shin Hoseok. Hoseok throws a devilish grin on his face as he says his name, as if his name itself is a flirtatious joke. Hyungwon thinks this to be extremely arrogant of him, but tries to hide this thought with a small grin of his own.
The priest soon comes in and performs the ceremony quickly enough. Next thing Hyungwon knows, he’s being herded into a carriage with the young man. He tries to look to his parents for answers, but they remain behind in the hall and begin talking with his new in-laws. He says a silent goodbye to his family, mentally vowing that he’d come back to visit soon.
In the carriage, Hyungwon looks everywhere but at the young man sitting before him. He thanks the heavens he isn’t a fidgeter like his brother, Jooheon, because if he was he’d be moving his fingers nonstop. He feels the other’s gaze on him, almost as if he’s studying him. The carriage begins to pull away from the castle, and it’s all Hyungwon can do to keep himself from whining as his home begins to pull further and further away from him.
“S-So,” his new husband begins, the stutter surprising Hyungwon slightly, “is this a big act to seem supportive of your homosexuality by your parents, too?” Hyungwon stares questioningly at the prince before him, unsure of how he should answer. Hoseok sighs after a moment, going on. “It is for mine. They figured, Hey, why not kill two birds with one stone? Get rid of the firstborn black sheep of the family so they can casually pass me over for the crown, and also solidify an alliance with your kingdom. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
“Aside from us,” Hyungwon murmurs sullenly, leaning against the side of the carriage. He suddenly feels very tired from the events of the day, and all he wants to do is sleep in a fluffy bed surrounded by blankets and pillows. Hoseok pauses, smiling at the input. After another moment of silence, Hyungwon asks, “Are we going back to your kingdom?”
“No,” Hoseok answers with a shake of his head, “we’re going on a vacation to get to know each other better. Didn’t your parents tell you?” Hyungwon can only manage a shrug, feeling exhaustion begin to drag his eyelids down. Hoseok notices this, and decides to not attempt at any more conversation with the younger. He’d hate to get on the prince’s nerves so soon into their relationship.