Chapter 7
"His Highness, Alpha King Kyuhyun is flying to Sedocia for peace talks,” says the Royal Representative, Park Jungsoo. “Whether Sedocia’s Alpha King Joonmyun has set up the meeting is unknown, but we've reached out to their side for their comments."
Joonmyun nearly spat out his tea at the news he just heard, but years of etiquette training made him swallow the liquid without choking on it. He turned to Minseok who was busy with both his phone and tablet.
"I'm confirming it now, Your Highness," he said, walking towards Joonmyun so he could hand him the tablet. There was an email displayed on the screen and Joonmyun quickly read it. His eyes widened, squinted and then he sighed as he placed it back on the table. He turned to Minseok who was nodding and talking to someone on the phone before ending the call.
"I just talked with Alpha King Kyuhyun's advisor. He says they're sorry to come on such short notice but hope you can welcome them with open arms. They're also hoping you can make time to talk with His Highness. They say it's about the treaty."
Joonmyun sighed and nodded as the advisor confirmed everything that was written on the email. "When are they due to arrive?"
"According to the itinerary attached to the email, it says they will arrive tomorrow night at 10PM. What do you want to do, Your Highness?"
"First, let us check the public's reaction. If there's a mess that we have to take care of, we need some time to clear it up. If not today, then the earliest should be tomorrow. Does Alpha King Kyuhyun already have accommodations?"
"No, Your Highness."
Joonmyun sighed. "It's obvious that they want to stay with us. Prepare them all the rooms they'll need. How many people are coming with him?"
"Two of his personal guards, his pilot and the co-pilot, and his advisor."
"Alright, prepare the rooms and make sure there's a meal prepared for when they arrive." He took another sip of his tea and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sure Alpha King Kyuhyun will want a party for his welcoming so clear my schedule three days from now and we'll have it then. That'll give His Highness enough time to rest. Invite the whole royal family, the nobles, the royal council, ERU members and government officials, and anyone who's ever had something to do with the equal rights movement."
"Is there anything else, Your Highness?" Minseok asked, his hand paused from writing.
"Call Heechul and Jongdae, we'll need to talk."
"Yes, Your Highness." Minseok quickly whipped out his phone and Joonmyun went back to watching the news, eyes unfocused and ears unhearing. He could tell how much trouble this was going to be.
"Heechul and Jongdae say they're on their way. If there's nothing else you will have me do, I will observe the public’s reaction so we can start planning your statement."
"Yes, you may go. Thank you, Minseok."
Minseok didn't say anything, just bowed and offered Joonmyun a comforting smile. When Minseok was gone and Joonmyun was all alone, he allowed himself the luxury of slumping back into his chair. His heart still beat wildly in his chest while his nerves began their slow ascent up his body. If Alpha King Kyuhyun finds out—, Joonmyun couldn't even let himself finish the thought.
He took several deep calming breaths, shook away all thoughts of Kyuhyun and focused on something else, like Jongdae's smile, the way he always sent him messages with emoticons and the sound of his laughter, ringing in his ears like soft little bells. In just a few minutes, Joonmyun found a semblance of calm. He still felt nervous but his heartbeat was steady, allowing him to think about this with a rational mind.
Before he could put himself in another anxious state, Joonmyun walked out of the dining hall and headed for the conference room. Heechul and Jongdae arrived soon enough, both of them looking a little out of breath and taking gulps of water as soon as they sat down.
"Okay," Heechul said, practically slamming his glass down on the table. "Here's what we're going to do. Your Highness, please, do not say anything that would hint to the truth of your relationship with Jongdae, no matter what the circumstances are."
Joonmyun nodded upon hearing Heechul’s instruction.
"Is he really here just to catch us?" Jongdae asked. "Isn't his official statement for peace talks?"
Joonmyun frowned. "If it were for peace talks, we would've been notified earlier and we would be the ones arranging it instead."
Jongdae bit his lip. "What do we do?"
"For now, let's just stay calm and proceed as we usually would. Continue to act like a normal couple and if Alpha King Kyuhyun confronts either of you, please tell me immediately."
Both Jongdae and Joonmyun nodded. Before any of them could make a comment, someone knocked on the door. "Come in."
Minseok popped in, bowed his head and said, "It seems the public wants a statement from you, Your Highness. We've prepared something short and we need you to review it."
"I'm sorry, but I need to take care of this," Joonmyun told them both.
"It's okay, I'll make sure to bring Jongdae back home," Heechul said.
Joonmyun nodded and left before Heechul and Jongdae could. Minseok thrust the single piece of paper in his hands and Joonmyun read over the short statement. They headed straight for the PR room where a lone camera and the rest of Joonmyun's staff were already waiting for him.
"We'll go with this," Joonmyun said as he stood up at the podium and smiled at the camera.
"You don't want a representative to speak, Your Highness?" one of them asked. Joonmyun smiled at them kindly.
"No, that won't be necessary." It was something he learned from his father. If the people could see him, could see his participation when it came to upholding the kingdom, then the more that they would love and respect him.
"Yes, Your Highness. We'll begin in five, four, three," and the cameraman mouthed the last two numbers.
"Good day citizens of Sedocia. As Alpha King Kyuhyun has said, he is coming to our kingdom to discuss our latest efforts in achieving equality throughout the whole country. Let us welcome him and his party with open arms and open minds." After a few more assurances that Alpha King Kyuhyun’s purpose was for good, Joonmyun thanked the people of his kingdom and waited for the camera to cut.
"Now all we do is wait," Joonmyun muttered to himself, preparing his heart and mind for the worst.
Joonmyun made sure to pick up Kyuhyun from the airport himself. They managed to prepare everything in the short amount of time they had been given and now, Joonmyun was ready for Kyuhyun.
Once they received news of the plane's landing, Joonmyun and Minseok exited the car and waited to greet Kyuhyun. Joonmyun and his guards stood in line, waiting for Kyuhyun to exit the plane. The door opened to reveal two guards, moving about and then making way for Kyuhyun. The man looked the same from the pictures and videos Joonmyun had seen of him, but when he stood to his full height and smiled down at Joonmyun, the young king could feel the amount of power he held. It didn't help that Kyuhyun stood a few inches taller than him, causing the other to literally look down at him.
"Alpha King Kyuhyun, welcome to Sedocia," Joonmyun greeted first, his smile warm and welcoming. He offered his right hand for Kyuhyun to shake but the older just shook his head and embraced him.
"Let's skip the formalities," Kyuhyun said, almost shouted even, in Joonmyun's ears. "We're practically cousins." He pushed Joonmyun back, as if to take in everything that Joonmyun was.
Joonmyun tried not to grimace at the idea or thought of them being relatives. Although it wasn't a comment without basis, they both knew how it was a bit of a stretch. Still, Joonmyun accepted Kyuhyun's embrace and smiled as kindly as he could.
"This is my advisor by the way," Kyuhyun said, smiling down at the stubby man beside him. "Lee Sungmin."
Sungmin bowed low upon greeting before smiling up at Joonmyun. Joonmyun caught a quick whiff of omega from the man and could barely hide his surprise. Not only was it uncommon for an omega to hold such a high position under the royal empire, it was almost impossible for it to happen in Venocia, the kingdom where most omegas were forced into slavery. Before anyone could notice, Joonmyun quickly schooled his expression into a smile and shook hands with the advisor. He introduced Minseok to both Kyuhyun and Sungmin, then urged them to follow him so they could escort them back to the castle.
Taking two different cars, Joonmyun allowed himself the peace and quiet to assess his thoughts on the situation. He would need to be on guard for the rest of Kyuhyun's stay and would need to keep himself in check now more than ever.
Once they arrived, Joonmyun showed them to their rooms and invited them to have a light meal before they retired to their bedrooms.
“Thank you for your hospitality but that won’t be necessary,” Kyuhyun said. “We’ve had a long flight and I’m sure my men would rather rest up for the night.”
“Of course. I understand. Please have good night’s rest." Joonmyun waited until all of them closed the doors to their rooms before going to his own. He pressed his lips closed when Kyuhyun pulled on Sungmin's arm, dragging him into his room. It wasn't his place to say anything.
Joonmyun clenched his fists and went back to his room. As someone who fought for the rights of all omegas, he felt the need to do something. However, accusing Kyuhyun of things he was uncertain of would cause even more conflict. Just then, the phone in his pocket vibrated and Joonmyun breathed a little easier knowing it was one of Jongdae's usual nightly greetings.
Before he could really think about it, Joonmyun dialed Jongdae’s number and laid back on his bed.
"Hello?" Jongdae greeted, almost unsure.
"Hi," Joonmyun replied and he smiled at the obvious sigh on Jongdae's side.
"For a moment there, I thought it wasn't you. You rarely call."
"I just felt like hearing your voice."
"What's wrong?"
Joonmyun wondered if it was his voice that gave him away, wondered how he sounded from the phone. "I saw Alpha King Kyuhyun practically drag his advisor into his room." Before Jongdae could counter, Joonmyun continued. "He's an omega."
"Oh," Jongdae said. "You think they might be...?"
"I don't know. I—" Joonmyun took a deep breath. "I want to give them the benefit of a doubt, but it's definitely..."
"Suspicious?"
Joonmyun chuckled. "Yes, but if I recall correctly, Sungmin has been his advisor since he became king. There could be a lot of things we're missing."
"You're such a good person, you know that?" Jongdae chided. "Even now, as you're literally doubting the most evil king of our time, you're still trying to see the good side in him." There was no bite in his voice and Joonmyun smiled.
"I have to," he said. "It's how my parents raised me. They taught me to be fair."
"And that's why you're such a good king," Jongdae said, almost a sigh in his voice. "It's too bad we can't go out on dates while Alpha King Kyuhyun's there."
Joonmyun hummed and he almost choked on it when he heard Jongdae's soft, "I'll miss you." His heart hammered inside of him, jumping up and down in excitement and confusion, but once he got his bearings, he smiled and closed his eyes.
"But we'll still see each other. There's the party for His Highness and all the possible appearances we have to make," Joonmyun countered.
Jongdae sighed. "Yeah, but it's not gonna be the same when it's just you and me."
"I promise to make up for it," Joonmyun said sincerely.
"Now that sounds like a good promise. I'm holding you to that."
"But of course, as King of Sedocia, I have to make sure I always make do on my promises."
Jongdae laughed, voice low and rich in Joonmyun's ears. "Good night, Joonmyun."
"Good night, Jongdae."
Despite the short announcement, several people gathered to welcome Kyuhyun into Sedocia. Kyuhyun busied himself with mingling, accepting the introductions of the extended royal family and seemed quite interested as they talked about things Joonmyun couldn't hear. Joonmyun took a deep breath from where he stood, wine glass in his hand still full.
"You okay?" Jongdae said, squeezing his arm and bringing him back to reality.
Joonmyun took a deep breath and smiled at Jongdae. "Yes, I am." He took a sip of his wine and led Jongdae to the middle of the crowd where they were cornered by a few of Joonmyun's relatives.
Despite the number of people crowding around them and Kyuhyun, Joonmyun could feel Kyuhyun’s watchful eye over them. If the weight of his piercing gaze was anything to go by, Joonmyun was sure Kyuhyun never kept his attention away from Joonmyun and Jongdae.
It didn’t help that Jongdae could feel how tense he was, dancing in the middle of the hall and feeling the way Joonmyun’s body wound tight.
“Hey,” Jongdae whispered, stepping close enough to practically embrace Joonmyun. “Calm down, you’re stressing me out.”
“I’m sorry,” Joonmyun said with a soft nervous chuckle. “But I can tell he won’t stop looking.”
Jongdae hummed. “Then pretend that in this sea of people, all you can see is me.” He stepped back to look into Joonmyun’s eyes, holding his gaze. Look at me, look only at me, Jongdae’s eyes said and Joonmyun did.
When Kyuhyun and Sungmin finally made their way towards them, Joonmyun was calm enough to smile at them normally. Jongdae wrapped an arm around his waist and bowed slightly in greeting.
"Good evening, Alpha King Kyuhyun," Joonmyun greeted. "I hope you find our welcoming to be most suitable."
Kyuhyun smirked, but Joonmyun had a feeling that was just his natural look. "Yes, it's definitely suitable. Thank you for your efforts." His advisor beside him flinched and Joonmyun pretended he didn't even hear the obvious insult.
"Yes, well, before I forget," Joonmyun hurriedly changed the topic and urged Jongdae to move forward. "This is my lover, Kim Jongdae."
Jongdae stepped forward and bowed low. "It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
"Likewise," Kyuhyun said. He looked Jongdae up and down, his nose twitching slightly, causing the younger to shiver and Joonmyun felt the minute vibrations from where they stood. "You're not a royal, are you?" wondered Kyuhyun. It sounded curious but Joonmyun could tell there was an underlying mockery hidden in his tone.
"No, I'm not," Jongdae said proudly, chest popping out and smile so wide. Kyuhyun looked fairly amused but didn't comment, just nodded his head and then changed the topic.
Kyuhyun talked about anything and everything, from the difference of the weather to culture. Joonmyun and Jongdae barely had time to offer their input before Kyuhyun was talking about something else. Sungmin on the other hand seemed satisfied to stand right beside Kyuhyun, flinching ever so slightly whenever Kyuhyun mouthed something seemingly rude or inappropriate.
A few of their guests would come by and exchange words with them but they'd leave after a few minutes, either unable to withstand Kyuhyun's seemingly kind attitude or his blatant ignorance of their presence. By the time Joonmyun and Jongdae noticed it, they were already backed into a corner and somehow, even Sungmin was gone. Jongdae quickly turned to Joonmyun, his eyes screaming with worry while his face remained passive. Joonmyun didn't dare acknowledge the look and stood there, waiting for Kyuhyun to say his piece.
Kyuhyun eyed them very carefully, leaning slightly into their personal space, his nose twitching. Joonmyun swallowed.
"Is there something wrong, Your Highness?" asked Joonmyun, business smile on his face. He could barely feel the burn of his muscles now that he was older.
Kyuhyun hummed and straightened. "I don't believe for a moment that you two are a couple." His voice was as clear as day, but it was soft enough that no one would hear. Joonmyun could feel his heartbeat stuck in his throat.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jongdae replied, although with the thundering in Joonmyun's ears, it sounded more like a whisper.
Kyuhyun chuckled, and from a bystander's point of view, it would've looked normal, sounded normal even, but from where he and Jongdae stood, Joonmyun could hear the clear tone of mockery underlying it. "You can deny it all you want," Kyuhyun said flippantly. "But it's suspicious how well timed your relationship is and how perfect everything seems to be." Kyuhyun hummed once more. "I'm definitely going to find out the truth about you two."
Before either of them could defend their relationship, Kyuhyun smiled at them in challenge and walked away, swallowed by a crowd of ERU members. Joonmyun let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding and then turned to Jongdae. "We should—"
"We have to go back," Jongdae whispered, grip tightening on Joonmyun's arms. "If we disappear now, he'll suspect something."
Joonmyun, although he desperately needed to talk to Jongdae, agreed and together they took a few deep breaths, put on a smile and went back to the crowd. Kyuhyun didn't bother with them after that, choosing instead to notice all the others he'd ignored before.
They waited until the guests trickled on home, until Kyuhyun bid them all good night, until the only ones standing in the ballroom were them and a few of the maids cleaning up. Joonmyun took a shuddering breath and pulled Jongdae into his arms. "What do we do?"
"I don't know," Jongdae whispered, wrapping his own arms tight around Joonmyun's waist. Joonmyun swayed them a little, to look like a couple savoring the night. "Maybe," Jongdae started, breath hot against Joonmyun's neck. "Maybe we can start by being handsy? I mean we barely kiss and hug in public. Maybe that's what he needs."
"Maybe," Joonmyun echoed. If possible, he pulled Jongdae even closer.
When no one else spoke, Jongdae started humming a melody, the minuscule vibrations comforting to Joonmyun. They continued to sway to Jongdae's soft hums until they turned into a soft song.
"You have a very nice voice," Joonmyun whispered, relaxing into the slow dance.
"I told you that I won a talent show through singing alone," Jongdae whispered before continuing to sing again.
"I can see why," Joonmyun replied, focusing on the soft notes of Jongdae's voice. They sounded a little strained, but it was comforting, little notes of warmth blanketing Joonmyun into a safe haven.
"Feeling better?" Jongdae asked, the echoes of his song still filling Joonmyun's mind.
"Yes."
"Good." Jongdae squeezed Joonmyun tightly once more and pushed him back so they could be face to face. He leaned his forehead against Joonmyun and somehow that brought a wave of relief through Joonmyun. "Whatever happens, no matter what, I will always be here for you."
Instead of saying thanks, Joonmyun pulled Jongdae close, hand going around the back of his neck to guide their lips together. Jongdae stiffened in Joonmyun's hold before sliding his own hands down Joonmyun's back to pull him in, pressing their lips harder against each other. Joonmyun moved his lips against Jongdae's, coaxing them open so he could taste Jongdae better. Jongdae moaned through the kiss but allowed Joonmyun to do as he pleased, mimicked his movements until they both couldn't breathe anymore.
Joonmyun was the first one to pull away, barely leaving an inch of space between them.
"What was that for?" Jongdae panted, lips almost brushing against Joonmyun's.
Joonmyun took a few deep breaths, trying to clear his mind enough to stop wanting to kiss Jongdae again. His mind raced with reasons to thank Jongdae, ranging from being himself to being here, keeping Joonmyun up and supporting him even though they barely knew each other and were thrust into this relationship for different reasons. Joonmyun closed his eyes and settled on, "Reasons."
Jongdae laughed, loud and echoing in the quiet ballroom. The strength of it was enough to pull their heads apart. "One of these days, you're gonna have to tell me those reasons."
Joonmyun found himself smiling anyway and said, "I promise."
The next morning at breakfast, Joonmyun greeted Kyuhyun with as much respect as he could muster. Kyuhyun didn't seem to care about his image as he grumbled a greeting back.
"Your Highness," Joonmyun started, his voice echoing around the dining hall. "I wanted to ask you about your schedule so we can decide when to talk about the treaty."
Kyuhyun gestured for Sungmin to talk, his advisor walking forward so he was closer to Joonmyun. "Alpha King Kyuhyun wishes to hear whatever you have to say about the treaty during your weekly meeting with the ERU. We understand that it's still two days away, therefore His Highness wishes you could free up some of your time to tour him around Sedocia."
Joonmyun nodded. "I see. Let me just confirm with my advisor." Minseok stepped forward and Sungmin went back to Kyuhyun's side. Joonmyun noticed the tell-tale limping of the other, but kept his mouth shut.
"You're absolutely free today, Your Highness. Today's a Sunday," Minseok said. Joonmyun tried his best not to sigh and nodded.
"Alright. Can you call Jongdae and ask him to come over?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Minseok said, going back to his corner.
"As it turns out, I'm free today. Would His Highness be all right to go an hour after now?"
Kyuhyun checked the watch on his hand. "Yes, that would be enough time to get ready." He sent Joonmyun a mocking smile before going back to his breakfast. Joonmyun could tell Kyuhyun wasn't much of a morning person, and didn't bother him with any more questions.
Breakfast remained silent between them until Kyuhyun and Sungmin left to get ready. Joonmyun lingered for a few minutes, trying to catch his bearings. Today would be a good opportunity to show Kyuhyun how real he and Jongdae were. He needed to take this chance. With that thought, Joonmyun got ready.
They took two cars, Joonmyun and Jongdae in one while Kyuhyun and his party were in the other. It gave Joonmyun and Jongdae enough privacy to plan their next course of action.
"I think this would be much easier if I had a lot more dating experience," Jongdae muttered, sidling closer to Joonmyun to whisper closely in his ears.
Joonmyun tried to chuckle, but it fell flat between them, swallowed down by their worries. "I feel the same, though the truth is, I've only ever dated one person and that was—it was different then and so many years have passed since."
"Different because you really liked them?" Jongdae asked and for a moment, the younger looked shock that he'd asked. Before he could take it back, Joonmyun shook his head.
"Different because I was young and didn't know any better," Joonmyun answered, a teasing smile playing on his lips. Jongdae nudged him back and sighed, gripping his hand tight.
"Should we just make out every five minutes?"
Joonmyun blushed at the idea of repeating last night's actions but he managed to shake his head. "I'm almost definite it would just make him suspect us even more."
"Well, whatever." Jongdae squeezed Joonmyun's hand. "We have to try to at least be more couple-like."
"Easier said than done," Joonmyun muttered.
"If we fail, at least we tried." Jongdae urged Joonmyun to face him and quickly placed a soft kiss on those lips. "And at least we did it together."
The car stopped then, and Joonmyun took a deep breath. Once the door opened, Joonmyun pictured himself as Jongdae's boyfriend, someone who loved their partner deeply. When he looked at Jongdae, it wasn't too hard to believe.
They went to the museum that Joonmyun had built in honor of his ancestors.
“Welcome to the Royal Museum,” Joonmyun said. He gestured his arm and presented the expanse of exhibits before them. He made sure to hold Jongdae’s hand at all times. Kyuhyun eyed them for a few minutes before he took in the whole museum.
“I’m guessing this is a tribute to honor your ancestors’ efforts in equal rights?” Kyuhyun said condescendingly.
Joonmyun didn’t let his smile falter when he said, “It is more than that, Your Highness. In this museum, we tell the beginnings of Seiocia as a country, the birth of the four kingdoms and the struggles that my family has gone through to uphold their beliefs.” Jongdae’s grip on his hand tightened and Joonmyun took a deep calming breath.
Kyuhyun scoffed and Sungmin flinched by his side. “Very well then.”
Joonmyun smiled and began the tour of the exhibit. Jongdae ran his hand up and down Joonmyun’s back, trying to bring him into a semblance of a good mood. The king smiled at Jongdae’s efforts, doing his best to show their guests what Seiocia was, is, and could be.
Kyuhyun let them walk ahead, eyes heavy on their intertwined hands. When Joonmyun looked back to explain to them an artifact, Kyuhyun would turn his eyes to the piece and then return it to their hands when Joonmyun looked away. Joonmyun did his best to ignore it and moved his arm to wrap around Jongdae’s waist instead. Jongdae instantly leaned into his side.
Other than his sharp gazes, Kyuhyun mostly kept quiet and looked almost bored when Joonmyun had to point out something that was part of history. From time to time, both Joonmyun and Jongdae noticed how Kyuhyun always kept Sungmin to his side, unlike Joonmyun who always had Minseok some steps behind.
At one point, Jongdae whispered to Joonmyun, "They honestly feel more like a couple than we do."
They tried multiple times to wrap their arms around each other or kiss throughout the tour, but with Joonmyun acting as a tour guide, it seemed out of place.
Joonmyun glanced back at the other two, their guards and Minseok following from farther behind. Kyuhyun and Sungmin stood close to each other, their arms brushing and when Joonmyun looked at their hands, he could see how their fingers reached out just slightly. He looked away before Kyuhyun could catch him looking, busy with admiring the paintings in the exhibits.
When they were reaching the last exhibit, Jongdae leaned his head on Joonmyun’s shoulders and whispered, “I give up.”
“Just a little more,” Joonmyun whispered back.
"What are you two muttering about over there?" Kyuhyun called out. When Joonmyun turned around, there was a smirk on his face and the young king had to bite down the urge to sigh.
"We were just talking about taking you to the 'Origins' exhibit. We're not sure if you've heard about it, but it's the exhibit that contains the portrait of the first royal family of Seiocia as well as the letters written by both Alpha King Seo and Omega Prince Consort Sia."
Kyuhyun hardened at the mention of the first royal family. It was a growing conspiracy that the kingdom of Venocia tried their best to extinguish the existence of a male omega in their history. Before the expression could really take root, his signature smirk came back to place and he said, "Lead the way, Your Highness."
Joonmyun nodded and pulled Jongdae closer to his side, needing his presence to keep him standing.
The exhibit looked even more remarkable now that Joonmyun was seeing it for the second time. The large painting of the first family hung in the middle of the hall, inscriptions still clear despite the years that had passed. His family had done their best to preserve everything in this exhibit, from the painting to the letters to the first peace treaty that Alpha King Sedon had made. He did his best to tell Kyuhyun of their significance, but eventually let the king roam for himself.
Jongdae separated from Joonmyun and stood to admire the glamorous painting in the middle. Joonmyun approached and took this opportunity to wrap his arms around Jongdae's hips. It felt uncomfortable and forced, but they'd been keeping it relaxed for far too long. Jongdae stiffened before settling against Joonmyun's chest, hands going to hold onto Joonmyun's arms.
"What're you thinking about?" Joonmyun asked, placing a small kiss at the side of Jongdae's head. They both know it was too much, but it was either that or get caught.
"Nothing, just thinking about how things would be different if Omega Prince Sia were alive to help raise his children. I've always wondered what kind of world we could've had then." Jongdae shook his head. "And then I stop myself because it's pointless. It's not going to change a thousand years worth of history."
"But we will," Joonmyun whispered and Jongdae shuddered in his hold.
"Have you two made love already?" Kyuhyun asked, popping out of nowhere and nearly giving both Jongdae and Joonmyun heart attacks. They barely had time to recover from the shock when the question hit them. Jongdae stuttered and Joonmyun flushed bright red.
"Don't you think that's a little inappropriate, Your Highness?" Jongdae countered.
Kyuhyun hummed, "It's up to you if you don't answer, but we both know that it won't help your cause."
"We haven't," Joonmyun answered before Kyuhyun and Jongdae could fight with words. "We've just started dating and I want to respect Jongdae's space," he said with a neutral expression, but his grip on Jongdae's hip was tight.
Kyuhyun squinted at them and scoffed. He sighed and stood beside Sungmin. "I think I'm tired for the day. Let's continue this tour tomorrow and go back."
"Of course," Joonmyun said. "I hope you'll excuse my absence as I bring Jongdae home first."
Kyuhyun smirked at Joonmyun's statement. "I see," he said tentatively. "Then we'll go ahead of you. I'm sure Sungmin can talk to the driver on your behalf. Let's go, Sungmin." Kyuhyun stalked forward, but Sungmin turned around to bow low before following Kyuhyun.
Joonmyun only relaxed once he and Jongdae were in the car. "Tell me immediately if he still suspects us," Jongdae said, gripping Joonmyun's hands tight. "Maybe Heechul or Seohyun will be able to help us."
Joonmyun nodded, but all the effort of keeping up their facade had taken a toll on him. Jongdae seemed to notice and remained quiet throughout the ride. He sat close to Joonmyun and offered his shoulder for the man to lie on. Joonmyun smiled and accepted the offer. He didn't fall asleep, but he was able to relax, even if it was just for a few minutes.
He spent the ride back trying not to think about spending another day in the same vicinity as Kyuhyun. He was almost successful until the car stopped, the sign that he was back home. The icing on his cake was when Kyuhyun greeted him, arms crossed and body leaning against the grand staircase that would lead them to their rooms.
"I still don't believe it," Kyuhyun said plainly. "If you'd continued to act the way you did last night, I might've thought about it, but it was obvious that you tried too hard today."
"Your observations don't necessarily mean anything." Joonmyun was surprised how determined his voice sounded because deep down he was scrambling for words.
"Yes, I guess you're right." Kyuhyun shrugged. "Observations can be a bit misleading as they're onesided, but I just need one more proof before I trash your treaty altogether." He paused for a second and then said, "Oh, and before I expose the truth of your relationship with Jongdae to the media," like it was an afterthought.
Joonmyun clenched his fists. More than the threat to the treaty, all he could think about was how Kyuhyun would doubt the sincerity of his feelings towards Jongdae. He wasn't even sure how he felt about the other man, but he could feel the burn of the insult.
How could he say those things, how could Kyuhyun be so sure that Joonmyun and Jongdae didn't have anything between them now? Even if the foundations of their relationship were unconventional, it didn't mean they couldn't make pillars out of it along the way. He wanted to say all this to Kyuhyun, to convey how much he liked and appreciated Jongdae, but Joonmyun knew that wasn't what Kyuhyun wanted or needed. It was the last thing Kyuhyun was looking for in their relationship and would only affirm his suspicions.
He took a deep breath instead, cleared his thoughts and smiled ruefully at Kyuhyun. "I'm sorry to cut this discussion to a close, but I must retire to my quarters. I hope you understand, Alpha King Kyuhyun. All these last minute preparations for unannounced matters can be quite tiring. Good night, Your Highness."
Joonmyun didn't look back when he walked away. |
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wheredreamslast2017-02-03 11:43 pm
