Epilogue 2
Joonmyun watched as Jongdae pushed his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose and then trapped his bottom lip in between his teeth. There was nothing more attractive than his husband full of concentration, eyes determined to examine the blueprint laid flat on the desk.
Joonmyun pushed the door of the library a little wider, giving him a better view of Jongdae seated at his desk. Five years into their marriage and Jongdae still managed to take his breath away. He sighed in bliss, a smile gracing his lips. He watched for a few more seconds before knocking on the door, making his presence known.
“Oh, hey, when did you get back?”
Joonmyun walked towards Jongdae’s desk, leaning back into it before bending down to plant a soft kiss on his forehead, then his nose, and finally, his lips.
“I got back a few minutes ago,” Joonmyun replied, still caressing Jongdae’s cheek. “I was looking for you, and then the maids told me you were here. What are you working on?”
Jongdae groaned as he leaned into Joonmyun’s touch, letting the older carry the weight of his head. “Just finalizing the layout for the new school.” Jongdae groaned some more before completely resting his head on Joonmyun’s side, burying his face in the crook of stomach. Joonmyun chuckled as he ran his fingers through Jongdae’s hair, massaging his scalp in the way that comforted his husband.
“What’s wrong?” Joonmyun asked. “You’re not usually like this every time you start a new school.”
Jongdae muffled a whine in Joonmyun’s clothes before turning his head so he could speak a little clearly. “There’ve been complaints,” Jongdae started out slow and soft, ending with a sigh. “Ever since I confirmed that we’re opening another omega school, there’s been a lot of backlash on social media saying that I’m being discriminatory towards other statuses.”
Jongdae took a deep breath and sighed. He pulled Joonmyun across the desk and wrapped his arms around him. “It just makes me think if this is all worth it, if the first two schools were enough, if—if—”
“Jongdae,” Joonmyun cut Jongdae off, hands guiding Jongdae to look up at him. “You and I both know it’s not just an omega school. It’s an omega specialization institute that accepts students of all statuses to help them learn more about omegas. There’s nothing discriminatory about it, and a person who says otherwise obviously doesn’t know what kind of schools you’re trying to run.” He stroked the bruised skin under Jongdae’s eyes, knowing full well the time and dedication Jongdae put into making the schools everything that they were. “The institutes were a success and that’s why the ERU, council, and I approved the third school. Have faith.”
Jongdae closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Joonmyun took this as an opportunity to plant a kiss on his forehead.
“What would I do without you?” Jongdae asked, almost breathless.
Joonmyun chuckled. “I’m almost sure you could conquer the world without me, my prince.”
“I would never,” Jongdae softly replied. “It’d be much better if we conquered the world together, my king.” He closed his eyes and leaned in.
“That would be ideal.” Joonmyun met him halfway.
“Papa! Appa!”
Jongdae chuckled into their kiss, pulling away to look at their tiny intruders, two toddlers running towards them.
“Papa! Appa!” They called again. Jonghwa and Joonmi raised their hands so their fathers could lift them up. Joonmyun and Jongdae shared a look before relenting. Jongdae took Joonmi while Joonmyun carried Jonghwa.
“Welcome home, Papa,” Jonghwa said, planting a sloppy kiss on Joonmyun’s cheek.
“Yey! Papa’s home!” Joonmi cheered, leaning towards Joonmyun so she could give him a kiss as well.
“It’s good to be back,” Joonmyun said. “But where’s Baekhyun?”
At the mention of their nanny, Jonghwa and Joonmi looked each other in the eye before laughing.
“We kind of lost him,” Joonmi tried to say in between laughter.
“No, you didn’t!” Baekhyun emerged from the door, breathless and with his hair askew. “Oh my god, Your Highness, Your Majesty, I’m so sorry.”
Jongdae hid a chuckle in Joonmi’s hair while Joonmyun just smiled in kind understanding at Baekhyun. Joonmyun had been at the receiving end of his kids’ tricks, and it was definitely not fun to chase them around the castle, not to mention how difficult it was.
“Awwww,” they both said, sporting similar pouts.
“It’s okay, Baekhyun,” Jongdae said, adjusting Joonmi on his lap. “Why don’t you go take a break and we’ll handle them?”
Baekhyun’s eyes widened. “Yes, oh my god, that’d be so great, thanks, really—” he started to say but then caught himself. He chuckled nervously and straightened himself before clearing his throat. “I mean, yes, of course, Your Highness, Your Majesty, thank you.”
This time Joonmyun chuckled, and he didn’t bother hiding his amusement. “It’s all right, Baekhyun. We keep telling you that you don’t have to be so formal when it’s just us.”
“And not to mind him,” Jongdae gestured to Joonmyun. “Because that’s just the way he talks, even when it’s just us.”
The light slump of his shoulders told them that Baekhyun was a little more relaxed. “Okay, right,” he said with a nod. “I’ll go take that break then. I’ll be back in an hour, I guess.”
“Nah,” Jongdae waved. “Take the whole night, we’ll take care of the kids. Thanks, Baekhyun.”
Baekhyun’s eyes widened, but smiled as he watched Jongdae turn all of his attention to Joonmi and Jonghwa.
“Okay then, have a good night, Jongdae, Joonmyun.” He bid the twins a short good night, and then bowed before he left.
“Does this mean we get to play with Papa and Appa all night?” Jonghwa asked, his eyes practically shining as he looked up at Joonmyun.
“Not all night because you have bedtime at nine, but we can play until dinner time.”
“Yey!” They cheered.
“What do you guys wanna do?” Jongdae asked as they both put down the twins. Amidst their scrambling and shouting of what they wanted to play, Joonmyun leaned in and whispered, “Are you sure you have time to play with them? What about work?”
Jongdae smiled at Joonmyun, placed a quick peck on his lips, and said, “I’m good. Besides, I can’t leave you fending for yourself with these two. You’ll never make it out alive.” Joonmyun knew it was the truth. Jonghwa and Joonmi have proven themselves to be quite the troublemakers, and although Joonmyun blames Jongdae’s genes, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Their children bounded over to them, grabbed them by the hand so they could all gather in the space between the desk and the first bookshelf of the library.
“Appa, appa!” Joonmi excitedly called, dragging a picture book she must’ve gotten from one of the shelves. “Read us a story!” She handed Jongdae the book and then went off to Joonmyun and told him to help make a nest of pillows on the floor which Jonghwa already started on.
Joonmyun laughed but went along, placing a blanket below the pillows so they wouldn’t sit down on the dirty carpeted floor.
Once Jonghwa and Joonmi deemed their little space to be perfect, they pulled Joonmyun down to sit in the middle and promptly placed themselves on his lap with either one of them on one thigh. Jongdae cooed at the sight while Joonmyun tried his best to balance both his children in his arms.
The soft sound of the shutter came just as Joonmyun had his arms around the twins, pulling them back to rest on him. When he looked up, Jongdae had the most beautiful smile on his face as he looked at the screen of his phone. “This one’s for keeps,” he whispered just before his eyes locked with Joonmyun’s.
I love you, Joonmyun mouthed, and when Jongdae returned the gesture, Joonmyun’s heart soared.
When Jongdae began narrating the story of the alpha prince who fell in love with the poor omega, and when his twins laughed and chattered as Jongdae went on, Joonmyun knew there was no happiness greater than this.
Once nine p.m. hit, Joonmyun and Jongdae had the kids tucked in bed, eyes droopy and yawning. After the story, they had played a good game of hide and seek, and then some more games after dinner. Now, the kids were so tired that they could barely keep their eyes open as Joonmyun and Jongdae bid them good night.
“Sweet dreams,” Jongdae whispered to both Jonghwa and Joonmi. He planted a soft kiss on their foreheads and then it was Joonmyun’s turn.
“Sleep well,” he said, kissing them both on their foreheads. By then, the twins had fallen asleep.
Joonmyun stepped back and watched as their children took calm and even breaths. Jongdae stood beside him and Joonmyun pulled him into his side, revelling in Jongdae’s warmth.
Joonmyun had spent the past week travelling from kingdom to kingdom, and after missing his family, he was glad that he’d gotten this time to spend with them.
“Let’s go?” Jongdae whispered, but he was already pulling Joonmyun out of the room. Joonmyun nodded, following along.
Once the door closed, Joonmyun tugged Jongdae’s hand to stop him from walking further ahead.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s something I want to show you,” Joonmyun said, thumb brushing along the back of Jongdae’s hand.
Jongdae quirked an eyebrow at him. “Ohhh-kay.”
Joonmyun just smiled, but he knew it was the nervous one that never seemed to get past Jongdae. He just hoped Jongdae wouldn’t ask about it.
With Jongdae’s hand in his, Joonmyun led him to his office. Joonmyun opened the door to his now only slightly messy office, and Jongdae chuckled at the sight of it.
“If you wanted to show off your not-so-messy office, then you, my king, are in for a disappointment because this is still messy.” Jongdae flashed Joonmyun a teasing grin, squeezing the hand in his. “But that’s okay because I already knew you were the messy type and I still love you anyways.”
Joonmyun chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s not it. Come here.” He gently tugged Jongdae towards his desk where a long piece of parchment paper laid.
“What’s this?” Jongdae asked as soon as he was close enough to read it. His free hand felt the material of the paper, smoothed over the words that he wasn’t reading yet. At the head of the paper was Sedocia’s Royal Family letterhead and seal, and at the bottom of the parchment paper was the seals of the four kingdoms and the signature of all four kings.
“It’s a bill.” Joonmyun’s smile grew as Jongdae flashed him a confused look. “Technically, it was a bill. Now, it’s a law.”
“Okay smarty-pants, what exactly does this law do?”
Joonmyun shook his head at Jongdae’s blatant refusal to read the contents of the paper, but he understood that it wasn’t the easiest thing to read. He took a deep breath and smiled, wrapped his arms around Jongdae’s waist and turned them to face the parchment paper.
“It’s a law allowing you to be crowned king in time for your birthday on the 21st,” Joonmyun whispered, voice soft and low, and right beside Jongdae’s ear.
“What?” Jongdae tried to turn his head to look Joonmyun in the eyes but their positions made it hard. Joonmyun smiled and tightened his hold on Jongdae, making it harder for him to turn around.
“This is your birthday present from me.” Joonmyun kissed Jongdae on his nape.
“Joonmyun,” Jongdae started, a little breathless. “What did you do?”
Joonmyun bit back a laugh at Jongdae’s panicked yet excited question. He loosened his hold on Jongdae and allowed the younger to look at him, to let their eyes meet. The disbelief in his eyes was clear as day, but there was a shine to them that told Joonmyun there was wonder and admiration in them too.
“I had the council write a bill that would allow me to crown you as the first Omega King in the country.” As Jongdae’s jaw dropped, Joonmyun continued. “You are more than deserving of the position, Jongdae, and I wanted the world to know this, to realize just how hardworking you are for the people, and sometimes, even more than I. I wanted to show my appreciation for everything you’ve done to improve the rights of omegas and betas all over the world, and I realized that by crowning you king, I could be doing this and more; I could show the world that you are my equal, that you aren’t just a lowly omega, that you are a king of Sedocia. My king.”
Jongdae shook his head and then laughed, the disbelief clear in his tone, but he wrapped his arms around Joonmyun and pulled him in tight.
“I don’t know what to say,” he whispered in Joonmyun’s ear.
Joonmyun smiled, threading his fingers in Jongdae’s hair. “Tell me you’ll let me crown you king, Jongdae.”
Jongdae chuckled, his warm breath tickling Joonmyun’s neck. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, but yes, I’ll let you crown me.”
“I can’t wait.” Jongdae pulled away and cradled Joonmyun’s face. He leaned in, and just before their lips met, Jongdae whispered, “Thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me,” Joonmyun replied when Jongdae pulled away, resting their foreheads against each other’s.
Jongdae just shook his head. “I guess I’m gonna have to make it up to you on Christmas. I don’t think your birthday present from me was enough.”
Joonmyun laughed, pulling Jongdae closer to him. “Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, could be better than the birthday present you gave me last May, Jongdae.”
Jongdae quirked his eyebrow at Joonmyun, but the flush in his cheeks betrayed the confidence of his look. “Was it the ribbon I tied around my neck or the ‘you could have me any way you want’ talk?”
“Neither,” Joonmyun chuckled. “It was when you told me that you were my present… and maybe the ribbon helped a little bit.” When Jongdae’s flush deepened, Joonmyun continued. “It was at that moment that I really thought how lucky I was to have you in my life, that you were really and truly mine.”
“You’re so cheesy.” Jongdae buried his face in Joonmyun’s neck, hiding his embarrassment.
Joonmyun chuckled. “But you love me anyway.”
“I love you very much.” Jongdae echoed the sentiment with a kiss to Joonmyun’s neck, smiling as he embraced Joonmyun.
“I love you too, Jongdae, very much.” Joonmyun returned the gesture and kissed Jongdae’s temple.
They stood there just holding each other, and Joonmyun felt complete.
“We’re here in the Sedocian Royal Throne room to witness the coronation of Omega Prince Consort Jongdae. Many people have shared their thoughts on the coronation all over social media, all of them ranging from positive to negative. Despite what the overall public might have to say, the Sedocian Royal Council, the ERU, and the newly formed Assembly of Kings have all signed the bill that allowed Omega Prince Jongdae to be crowned. The law is not only being passed in Sedocia but in all kingdoms, drawing more and more public attention all over Seiocia.” The screen changed from the royal throne room to pictures of various social media posts reacting to the new law.
“Here to speak more about the matter, we have Sedocia’s Royal Advisor, Kim Minseok.” The camera turned from the newscaster to a shot of Minseok, dressed in Sedocia’s traditional clothing.
Joonmyun lowered the volume of the TV, walking towards Jongdae who paced in the room.
“Jongdae,” Joonmyun called, stopping Jongdae from barreling right into him. He slid his hands up and down Jongdae’s arms hoping it would help calm his nerves. “Take a deep breath.”
Jongdae nodded and did as he was told.
“You’re going to be fine, and I will be with you every step of the way.” Joonmyun curled his hand around Jongdae’s, squeezing to give it some warmth.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Jongdae stepped forward and stole a frantic kiss from Joonmyun. Joonmyun smiled into the kiss, indulging Jongdae. If it could ease his nerves, Joonmyun was willing to give it to Jongdae.
A knock on the door made them pull away. Jongdae panted, but his hands weren’t as cold anymore.
“Come in,” Joonmyun said, a little breathless.
Minseok popped in, offering a short bow to both of them. “It’s time, Your Highnesses.”
Jongdae took a deep breath and stepped away from Joonmyun, walking ahead of him. “Not yet, Minseok. I’m still ‘Your Majesty’, for now.”
Minseok smirked. “I know.”
Jongdae just shook his head and turned back, making sure that Joonmyun was following. When Joonmyun smiled at him, barely a step behind, Jongdae straightened his back and walked out of the room.
Flashes and cheers greeted them as they walked out in a single file. Joonmyun watched as Jongdae walked forward, paying no mind to the countless eyes staring at him, some of them surely waiting for him to mess up, but Joonmyun knew Jongdae would prove them wrong.
Just as they rehearsed, Jongdae sat down at the lone seat in the middle where the Head of the Royal Council, Sooman, was already waiting for them. Joonmyun took his stance right beside him, and Sooman presented the crown they had specifically made for Jongdae. Joonmyun didn’t want Jongdae to wear the crown that queens wore, he wanted Jongdae to wear a crown similar to his own. He held that crown in his hands now.
“By the power invested in me by the council, by the Alphas, Betas and Omegas of old, I crown you, Kim Jongdae, as Omega King Jongdae of Sedocia.” Joonmyun took the crown and walked behind Jongdae’s throne, lifted it high up to present it to the people. “Do you accept?”
“Yes, I, Kim Jongdae, accept.”
Joonmyun bit back the smile threatening to bloom on his lips as he put the crown on Jongdae’s head. A perfect fit.
“Bow to your people,” Joonmyun instructed. He watched as Jongdae rose and went down on his knees. The Royal Cloak that he wore moved along with him as he lowered his head, giving Joonmyun a good view of Jongdae’s grace.
“Rise, Omega King Jongdae.” When Jongdae finally stood, Joonmyun turned to his people and smiled. “Sedocia, please bow to your new king.”
Everyone present in the throne room, from guests to the royal families and representatives of the other kingdoms stood. Joonmyun watched with pride as everyone bowed. Once everyone had their head to the ground, Joonmyun turned and smiled at Jongdae before he too dropped to his knees. Even though he was king and that meant he didn’t have to bow so low, Joonmyun bowed until his head touched the ground. He could already hear the murmur of people who could see what he’d done, but he didn’t care or mind. This was Jongdae, and to Joonmyun, he deserved the respect that Jongdae had willingly given him.
When he finally stood up, Joonmyun ordered everyone to do so as well. Joonmyun clapped and everyone followed along, people already cheering. Reporters continued their broadcasts and the present royal families walked over to congratulate the newly coronated king. Joonmyun watched and made sure to keep a step back, allowing the spotlight to fall on Jongdae.
Jongdae stepped down from the stage, but before he blended in with the crowd, he turned to look at Joonmyun. Joonmyun didn’t know what for, but he smiled as encouragingly as he could, hoping Jongdae realized that he didn’t need Joonmyun’s permission or guidance. It seemed to be enough as Jongdae began walking forward, shaking hands with the Alpha Kings.
Joonmyun hoped Jongdae would realize that he would do just fine on his own because he was already every bit a king as Joonmyun was.
“Papa, papa,” his children’s voices brought him back to the present, and he looked down at their excited and confused eyes.
“Hold papa’s hands,” he told them, reaching for their hands so they could walk and greet their guests together. He shot Baekhyun a quick look, enough to tell Baekhyun that he could handle the kids for now. Baekhyun nodded, but stayed along watching in the background.
Many of the guests cooed at the children, and Joonmyun had to remind them constantly to introduce themselves. Joonmi loved the attention, but Jonghwa was still a little shy. Despite that, the young crown prince did his best to get the words out, telling people his name and title. By the time Joonmyun reached Jongdae, half of their guests had cooed at Joonmyun and the children and reporters had about a hundred photos of them. Jongdae was no longer surrounded by people, and he was walking right towards them.
“There’s my family,” he said once he was finally close enough for Joonmyun to hear. He took Jonghwa’s hand and held onto Joonmyun’s free hand with his own. He stood next to Joonmyun, side by side. “Now this is better.”
Joonmyun took a look at Jonghwa on Jongdae’s right and Joonmi to his left and then his eyes met Jongdae’s.
“No, this is perfect.”
“You’re so cheesy,” Jongdae said, but he was already leaning in. “I love it, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
And when their lips met halfway, a thousand lights flashed, capturing the moment.
THE END. |
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wheredreamslast2017-05-04 10:51 pm
