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Before I Leave You (Pt.73)

(Omegaverse au, Mafia au, Bts x Reader)

Summary: You are everything to Yoongi, the yoke in his egg, the daffodils on the sidewalk, the sunshine in the morning. Everything. He just had to remember it. 

Tags: Nightmares, angst, hurt/comfort, mention of food issues but they're only talked about in terms of the m/c getting better.

W/c: 10.0k

A/n: the irony of this chapter is that it's going to come out during the wedding of the two people who live in the house that inspired bily, the last time i was there there where sprouts growing in every windowsill and a fluffy throw on every couch so <3 everything will be alright wont it? the house is filled with love in this universe as well as the bily one <3

Previous part- Masterlist - First part

Downstairs, you and Hobi are shrouded in a particular kind of fuzzy warmth. The kind that only comes from knowing you do not have to be in control anymore. That there is no hidden consequence waiting for you. no shoe to drop. no monster under your bed.

The downstairs is shrouded in that kind of quiet and comfort that comes with warm evenings and supple hands that have nothing to do but loving and set about diligently at that task. Like cold breezes in summer, icing and chocolate, and sunshine on raspberries warming their sugar.

But the upstairs nest room is not so peaceful.

Tae’s post-coitus talks are legendary at this point, as Yoongi sits on the edge of the nest, not looking at her because to look at Tae is to encourage more truth to fall from her lips. He busies himself with tucking jungkook in. Sprawled asleep. And tries not to listen to the truth that Yoongi neither wants nor believes he needs.

Right now his brain is fuzzy and prone to believing her.

There are small things all around the nest, pieces of the pack and remnants and evidence of the time the three of them spent here hours ago taking Jungkook apart and putting him back together again. Fucking then sleeping then waking up to fuck again. The arousal burns low at present, sated for now.

A discarded shirt of Jungkook’s sits tangled in a pair of handcuffs because he’d gotten too squirmy for Tae's liking, a silk scarf of Tae’s because he’d gotten mouthy too. A notepad and a bit of paper. Lines scrawled out because Tae’s post-knot clarity always gives her a few good poems, a few good lines.

Yoongi doesn't have to read them to know they're about you. Almost everything Tae writes has You and Jimin in it. The others are there too every now and then- but if Tae had to say it Yoongi knows you and Jimin are her muses.

It takes Tae a few months to digest her feelings into something palatable. Yoongi didn’t need to ask what time period it was written about as he read over her shoulder, pressing kisses to her lips between the lines. Trying not to be a distraction but wanting to be a distraction worthy of Tae’s attention.

This poem that he'd watched her scrawl out, pen to her lips between stanzas. It has the first few months of your relationship all over it.

I know I over-feed the cat, but I can’t help it. If you could eat the love I have for you what would it taste like? Would it be mangoes- Sticky, yellow, sweet. Eat Till the threads of it get stuck Between your teeth. Would it leave you full and sleepy- like bread and pasta? Rigatoni, Penne, pastina stars The candy toothache of my heart Swells thick and gummy. Eat up. I must admit I grow addicted to the brown sugar of your being. Would my love stain the edge of your smile? Like strawberries? Blueberries? Black? I must admit I am afraid of food metaphors When it comes to you. Because just like with food, I fear if I don’t give you enough You’ll go starving, Out of some sense Of beauty and responsibility. Could you love me enough, Would you love me enough if I’m good? Salt, fat, acid, heat. What is owed at our table- A full meal or half? Desert or just a snack? Just tea please, I’m not hungry. I already ate. I know I overfeed the cat, but I can’t help it- I can’t help it at all. If you would eat the love I have for you, Would you still want to be so skinny? Love is warm bellies and not hollow throats. Love cares not for second portions, Only 8 courses Love is a bowl of soup It warms from the inside out. I know I overfeed the cat.

Noodle purrs nearby, the subject of the conversation earlier today that no doubt inspired Tae. Heaped between a pillow and a rolled-up blanket looking overstuffed- like one of your stuffed animals that litter the nest up here and the one downstairs. Jin had gotten a little overzealous on the jellycat website during christmas time.

He's gotten rather chubby, his middle more round than just fluffy. His pudgy tomcat face is charming, eyes blinking slowly as he watches Yoongi toil with his emotions.

"We should put him on a diet" You'd lamented, still feeding him treats, in the kitchen this afternoon. Yellow light slipped through the windows and lunch plates piled high in the sink. A carton of coffee-caramel ice cream and mango sorbet gathering condensation nearby. On your knees before his bowl. Because if you all got after-lunch ice cream treats then he should get some too.

"Don't you dare, he's perfect this way." Tae had replied, scandalized, and made the point of giving Noodle an extra scoop of food and you an extra spoonful of sweet frozen milk.

Yoongi knows that your comment had stayed on Tae's mind just like he knows that it's not just Noodle you were talking about. How many times has he seen you pull down the edge of your shirt over the past few weeks? Or reach for Hobi's baggier sweatshirts? Or sho them all out the door when you shower intent on doing it alone.

The pack loves group showers, there will probably be one on the way tonight from the sound of it. Yoongi doesn't doubt that the pack will leave you messy and sated. A little too sleepy too. Someone will have to help.

His fingers drum quietly on the bed. Nervous. Waiting. A little annoyed- but Yoongi's not sure where it comes from.

A loud slap from downstairs punctuates the quiet. Yoongi just barely flinches. And Yoongi wonders if you'd let them see you naked tonight or if you'd been too nervous for it. Or if Seokjin and Namjoon will make everything, your anxieties and your fears and your feelings of inadequacy, feel small.

They'll make you feel small too. Omegaspace is all but a guarantee tonight.

But he's not allowed downstairs to double-check that you're alright. (He is, he's just not sure you even want him downstairs- which is another thing entirely. Would his presence make you more nervous? More likely to go into appeasement mode because you think that's what he wants?)

Tae has a habit of reminding him when he's being a shithead.

Now Yoongi wishes for Tae’s attention to be elsewhere. On a poem. On Jungkook. On anything. Yoongi has gotten very good at lying to himself over the past few weeks. But somewhere across the lines I’m still angry at her, turned into I should still be angry. He’s not quite sure when that changed. But he knows he's holding onto his anger, that it's growing slippery, but that he's not ready for it to go away.

Yoongi will do anything to keep you, to make you stay. And that’s part of the problem. He's scared of his own capacity for forgiveness. What you might take if he gives you another chance. He's scared that you'll go and take all of him with you.

He's scared- sure, but he's not really angry anymore.

He's just tired- tired of feeling so much, tired of feeling things so intensely. Tired of worrying, of keeping you at arm’s length and wondering if I let you back in now have you learned not to do this again? Or will you just say you’ll change?

Yoongi will always love you- will always be your mate. But he doesn’t want to be sitting and waiting all the time wondering if you’re thinking about leaving again.

You’ve already tried to do that twice; the third time would be the charm.

Jungkook slumbers belly down in the nest, his soft huffs of breath coming frequently and at a steady pace. He’s quite a vision with his rippling back muscles and splayed thighs. With Hickeys on his skin from Yoongi's own mouth where the skin goes soft and dark. Knees apart to limit the soreness he must be feeling from the knot. Covered at the waist but only just so with a thin sheet. The tops of his thighs shiny with cooling slick. Yoongi’s eyes hover on Jungkook as he looks back.

Tae's voice keeps it hush, mindful of Jungkook's sleep schedule but not of the fragileness of Yoongi's heart.

"If you worry you suffer twice. Her leaving and you not forgiving her- isn't the result the same?"

Jungkook's sleeping form will offer him no savior from Tae’s words, he’d say the same thing- they all would. "Do you really want the distance she's been trying to give you Yoongi? Because I really don't think you do"

You've been fucking miserable these last few weeks. Is what she doesn't say but wants too. Yoongi knows it. Can taste the unfinished business on the air in the form of Tae's wilting rose and cinnamon scent. The heady horny edge to it wareing away.

It’s quiet downstairs but it hadn’t always been; between your pleas and Hobi’s growls and then your cries that had made Yoongi gnash his teeth. Sobbing echos that made Yoongi flinch. Distant cries of “m’ sorry m-" and Jin’s joining croon of “good pup, come to daddy, I’ve got you my sweet little thing, I’ve got you.”

But it’s quieting down now. Yoongi can only just hear a little bit of the hushed voices when he strains his ears. He can’t hear you at all when Tae’s talking.

Jungkook stays asleep, completely lost to the world, He needed two cocks to settle, Jungkook always sleeps for a long time after scenes, even simple cute ones like this. You’re the same. Yoongi knows you’re the same. That you usually doze after cumming, so sleepy- like your body gives up under the force of too much pleasure. And that even awake you’re pliant and drowsy. (He loves it when you get that way).

You’ll never have to worry about insomnia the way that Tae and Yoongi do. If it ever gets too bad, the pack will only ever fuck you to bed.

Which is why Yoongi’s restless, why he can’t sleep. Because you’re downstairs and not upstairs with him. He can pretend that's not why he's awake, but the truth remains. Eviscerated by Tae's pouting lips.

He heard you crying earlier. Coupled with Hobi’s yelps and Namjoon’s low croon. It was hard- harder than Yoongi expected, to resist the urge to go down to you. Grating, the mental equivalent of nails on a chalkboard to tune out the sounds of his mate in distress.

It's not distress, he knows that- logically Yoongi knows that the pack would never do anything you didn't consent to.

And still…

"That's not it Tae, that's not it at all." Yoongi denies, but the lie is blatant even to his own lips.

Yoongi is harder to settle than Jungkook. Tae knows this. Folded against the nest, her silky lavender dress pulled back on after fucking Jungkook, small breasts pillowing, hickeys dotting the top of them both faded and not. Some of them are from Jungkook- fresh and pink- but a few might be from you a few days prior.

She snorts, "isn't it? You're both just doing what you think will give you the least amount of pain- instead of actually confronting each other about this. Do you know what I think hyung?”

Just about every packmate has a newfound obsession with Tae’s chest. The tender swelling sensitivity just there. Tae hasn’t gone up a cup size in a few months, she’s a B at best- but the pack still praises her for it. Still takes every opportunity to make her blush and show her their appreciation.

But still- sometimes Yoongi catches her in the mornings, putting on her lingerie that she wears under her clothes almost every days-tugging at the gaping in the front. She bought stuff a cup size up at the beginning- so did Namjoon and Jin and Jimin, endless pretty sets from for love and lemons and Victoria’s Secret that sit unworn.

Because they don’t fit- might not ever fit. Unless Tae does something drastic like surgery. Yoongi's surprised she hasn't asked for it yet.

Yoongi sighs, frustrated, “What Tae, what do you want to say?”

Tae flips over on her tummy, hair a little messy, grinning looking a bit like Noodle as she strokes gently down Yoongi’s jaw. He’s not wearing a shirt he just tugged on pajama pants so the scratch of her long nails down his skin makes goosebumps erupt all over his bare arms.

“I think punishing yourself isn’t a way to rewrite history. Punishing yourself isn’t going to make what happened go away. At this point- I think you’re keeping yourself away from her to prove a point- but the points already been proven.”

“That’s not it,” Yoongi says again. Like repeating it will make it true. Tae raises an eyebrow at him, swishing her legs, her white painted toenails flashing in the half-darkness.

“Don’t you want to make her see that it was a bad decision, isn’t that what you’re doing? Punishing her for going and punishing yourself for not being there when she made the choice to go?”

As if on cue Yoongi can hear it from the ground floor, the sound of your babbling giggles- you in omegaspace surely, a softly crooned “Good puppy, give him another treat, he’s earned it.” From Jin. Yoongi knows you’re cute and sweet and sensitive in your headspace downstairs, the idea of seeing you- touching you- without the burden of all this- is so tempting Yoongi’s hands hurt.

Yoongi’s hands tighten around Jungkook's elbow, his anchor, preventing him from going downstairs. When Yoongi turns back to look at Tae, her eyebrows are pulled together and she’s looking down at Jungkookie. He has a single hand tangled in the hem of her nightdress, fist closed, chubby and cute.

“What are you thinking?” Yoongi is always in the habit of asking that. It’s worth asking- so that you don’t have to wonder.

“You remind me of myself before I came out. Denying yourself love just because you want to be right- doesn’t make you right, it just makes you less loved.” Her eyes flick from Jungkook up to Yoongi.

Yoongi's hands are cold, the goosebumps on his arms are still there.

Yoongi is not human without your love. How many afternoons has Tae seen him staring off into space? How many more meals will Yoongi push around the food on his plate? How many mornings will his hair go unbrushed because Yoongi simply doesn't have the energy to brush it? Tae and the others make up for it a good deal, but at the end of the day, none of them are the person who Yoongi bonded his soul too.

Tae knows what sadness looks like, what depression looks like and she's learned a lot from you. She won't let this be more than a little blip in Yoongi's year.

Your love is one of the things that makes Yoongi feel human. Without you to love, and feeling like he shouldn't, Yoongi's a little unmoored, a little without purpose.

Tae detangles Jungkook’s fist from her dress gently, replacing his grip with a nearby item- another one of her dresses that the omega had so diligently woven into the outer rim of the nest. He curls around it protectively, purring gently. She covers him with a different thicker blanket to simulate her warmth. Then she sits up on her knees and starts to shuffle to the edge of the nest.

“Come on,”

“But Jungkook-”

“He’ll be fine for a second hyung.”

Tae hasn’t yet conditioned herself out of using that phrase, hyung. And Yoongi might remind her if it didn’t sound so sweet coming from her mouth. More of a pet name than anything else. Yoongi doesn’t mind. She can still call him hyung if she wants. They’ve had conversations about it before.

Tae stops, and turns back. The language thing- is one of her current fixations at the moment. “It’s not- just because that slips out doesn’t mean I’m not still a girl."

“I know baby. I’d never think that unless you told me- not that you’ve got to- not that-“

“No, I know. Thank you hyung.” Tae's teeth worry away at her lower lip.

“You can use Oppa too you know. If that feels nicer, or you can go back and forth and use both.”

“I know, I don’t know why I don’t like it as much, hyung makes me feel like you’ll always look after me.” Yoongi grabs Tae’s hands, tangled in the sheets, silken, pink.

“You know I always will.”

Tae uses that hand to her advantage. Pulling him up and out of the nest. Tae leads him down the dark stairs, her quiet giggles softening Yoongi’s anxiety, but when he gets down there, you're there.

You're small in Namjoon's lap, resting your cheek against the hollow of his throat. The pack alpha's shirt is completely unbuttoned now and you’ve hidden your face in his honey skin, rubbing your face all in it, cheeks pink and slowly purring. Guarding your eyes from the big light in the kitchen- where Jimin is getting Hobi a glass of water. Pants pulled on just barely, still hanging low. The scar on his shoulder pink and catching the light- just barely healing. Big on the back side and small on the front.

Yoongi just barely hears namjoons low and sweet growls, his sweet nothings. The way he cradles you gently but so fiercely to his chest Yoongi knows it's all instinct.

"I'm never gonna let anything happen to you- never again- I've got you pup, I've got you. "

The shirt you wear is big and dark, he knows already that it's his- probably pilfered from downstairs to comfort you. Yoongi's not really sure why that makes his throat close up. Even around all of them, even after all of that. It's still his scent you ask for. The one that cloaks you and covers you in the wake of this.

It hurts a little bit more than it should that Namjoon freezes when he sees Yoongi standing on the steps. Freezes, arms tightening just a little around you as you continue to nuzzle into the pack alpha's throat, Dozing and lost in the haze of aftercare.

His arms relax when Namjoon sees it's just the two of them, and tae floats over, dress swishing. "Oh alpha- did you make her all small and soft for me?"

Namjoons teeth look extra sharp as he beholds tae, as she strokes down his throat. To have another alpha touch him there should feel threatening, but Namjoon just feels satisfied. "Of course I did babygirl."

Hobi is more awake than you but so much further down in puppy space than Yoongi expected. The collar jingles faintly against his throat where he rolls his tongue lolling out. Belly up on the carpet and clearly enjoying Jin’s nails scrapping and petting and scratching over his tummy. Never too tired for more belly rubs, especially with a full stomach full of good pup treats (they're just dog bone-shaped chocolate chip cookies, a special all-organic kind that Jin buys from Etsy explicitly for this).

He’s shy- Hobi hasn’t had the time to indulge in puppy space in months, but now he tucks his face under Jin’s shirt and squirms. Happy to be on the receiving end of the pack Omega’s undivided attention. “Good puppy- what a good boy-“ Jin croons, eyes glassy and dark, biting his lip as he watches Hobi squirm and his tongue lol. Panting animatedly.

He’s needed this too- the sound of his praises fall so easy and natural from his pouted lips. And Hobi stills, ears pink when he looks to Yoongi and Tae in the doorway. Lucid for a breath. Tae’s arms are looped around Yoongi’s hips. Keeping him from slinking off, keeping him from feeling like he’s not wanted.

The pack alpha pears at them over the back of the couch. His arms slowly relax around you, nostrils flaring at the scents coming from both of them but mostly Yoongi. Namjoon looks, and glares, but he can smell it. How upset he really is, the undercurrent to his scent. Yoongi smells like chocolate and worry.

He tips his chin down, a clear command to come here.

“Yoongi wanted to make sure she was alright.” Tae supplies, Yoongi tries to deny it but Namjoon already knows. Namjoon’s grumble growl is warm and inviting as Tae guides Yoongi to sit. Your arms are loose around Namjoon’s neck. He’s quiet, but his eyes are shiny with alpha space, measuring every one of their movements like the pack alpha might measure threats. Guarding the pup in his arms very diligently.

“She’s tired, fell right off.” jimin says, coming over to stand above the four of you and watch as tae guides yoongi's hand out, to touch your back, to pet up and down gently. Jimin runs his hand over your wet cheek, picking a hair out from between your lips.

“Poor little pup” and Yoongi feels breathless but Namjoon and Tae make room for him to sit close. yoongi doesn't need to be guided to sit close to you, almost sideways in something like a hug. You sag just a little more into him, like you’re relaxed by Yoongi’s presence alone. Letting out soft huffs of breath against Namjoon's chest, tiny purrs start up anew, louder, deeper. Your spine curls at an uncomfortable angle like you can decide between Namjoon's chest and Yoongi's hands.

And then Tae takes both of your wrists, detangling them from Namjoon’s neck, the same moment that Namjoon starts to lift your hips.

Yoongi can’t even say anything, can’t even protest as they put you in his lap. You suction to his front like a starfish sinking deeper into dreamland and going more boneless by the breath. Yoongi starts to say something- nothing more than hollow protests.

But it feels so good to have you hear, settled over his lap. So good his breath hitches.

Your hands tangle in the front of his shirt, holding on tight- like you think he might go even in your sleep. Yoongi knows you feel that he’s here- although you might not remember it tomorrow. Maybe that's for the better.

he hesitates for a second, and then pulls you flush against him, hard.

Tae settles behind him and namjoon behind you. His big hands forcing the collar of his shirt to the side so the pack alpha can lean around you and nuzzle into the hollow of his throat. He barely has enough energy in him to open his mouth.

How lucky you and him are to have 6 people to watch over you like this. To make sure that you wake up safe, that you get everything you need before you drift off. Yoongi doesn’t have to do it on his own anymore. He hasn’t had to in months but that still doesn’t lose its novelty. Yoongi wonders if he’ll ever take it for granted.

Yoongi breathes deep and even.

“Thanks, Tae.”

“Of course, honey. Remember for next time- alpha knows best.” Yoongi’s cheek rests against the top of your head, and your breath tickles his neck.

“I know we’ve got to go upstairs, but can we stay like this for a second?”   “Of course, honey.” Her fingers stroke through his hair, and Yoongi closes his eyes and tucks his face into the top of your head. One cuddle can't hurt. He can go back to being angry with you in the morning.

“You’ll stay like that until Alpha says you can get up.”

Tae’s giggle is sweet, Yoongi’s eyes are already closed, “Joonie-“

He can hear Namjoon's bashfulness in his voice, the kind of shyness that warms yoongi up from the inside out and reminds him that they're all still learning. “Sorry, I’m still- it’s still-”

“I know alpha.”

I know I know I know.

~-~

(Yoongi, a few days later)

(In the end, forgiveness is not something that is inevitable)

Yoongi doesn’t know that it’s a dream while it’s happening.

One moment he is entirely unaware, resting, asleep, at peace. And the next the nightmare climbs up the edge of his vision. Clinging to the darkness- dissolving like mist only in reverse. Like smoke sucked through a straw. Like burning- carving from the outside in, hungry and without purpose. Burning burning burning.

One moment nothing and the next there is so much red.

The first thing Yoongi knows is that he can smell something burning, he looks up and he’s in the living room of your house, no furniture yet. The inside is so white but not perfect- he can vaguely place the memory.

This is the way the house looked just after they finished re-plastering; Yoongi files the memory and finds its from months and months ago- during another spring. The floors are all fucked from the mess that the plasterers had left. White splotches here and there. Everything covered in ghostly white sheets, a drop cloth under Yoongi's knees that slowly bleeds red.

It's about a month before the pack came home maybe. The last month it was ever you and Yoongi and not You and Yoongi and everyone else.

Yoongi watches as the Flames lick at the white walls. There is something in his hands but he can't look down yet. Something- his brain doesn't want to look at it- it's easier to look at the flames. The fire is yellow and slow to hunger. Creeping almost lazily, like it has nothing but time to burn. He can do little more than watch, not too scared, just confused, as all of the hours and minutes of his hard work are eaten up by heat.

The fire comes from everywhere and nowhere- leaking silently up the walls, turning the plaster slowly from gold to brown, then black before it crumbles away into ashes. Slowly chewing away at the walls, and the windows. The doorknob rattles and somewhere close by Noodle yowls and scratches at something.

The next thing Yoongi knows is that you’re very very still. You’re not moving at all. Not even a little bit- those pupish twitches of your fingers or the wiggle of your nose when you scent his displeasure. Nothing. None of it.

Yoongi is holding you, you are so small, so fragile in his arms. Lighter than you are in reality as he shakes you and tries to get you to wake up. You smile in your sleep a lot, but you aren’t smiling now. The mating mark is blackened against your throat, a thin trail of black and red that rims your lips, bleeding down the corner of your mouth. Inky dark one second, bright crimson the next as a bit of blood drips down the side of your face. 

There is so much blood. It's wet and it's cold despite the fire.

He calls your name, and you don't answer. Yoongi's own voice sounds muffled, Warbled. He keeps talking. Unsure what he's saying. He shouts and screams. But his voice never gets louder, you never wake up. He yells as loud as he can and you still don’t wake up.

It comes all at once, just like the fire.

There is blood on your throat too, so much it can't just be from your mouth. Bright and ruby, slipping down your collar bones and the hallow of your chest. Welling out from somewhere- somewhere that Yoongi can't see. Where are you hurt? Where is it coming from? Yoongi can't find the cause of the bleeding.

There is blood on your arms- trailing to the hallow of your elbow, between your legs, soaking through the white of his shirt, heavy and sticky and warm. Yoongi feels like he's suffocating. Yoongi searches for the source of the bleeding, fingers ruddy, soaking into his palms and his knuckles. Frantic as he tugs the hem of your shirt soaked through. The shorts at your hips- all red.

There is so much of it, so much of it that it pools around the two of you on the floor, slow and lazily, almost taunting Yoongi- just like the flames. Yoongi can do little more but watch you bleed out and hold you through it. Hold you as you die. Watch the red swallow you until there's nothing left of you. Just blood-soaked clothing. His breath hitches, suddenly painful in his lungs and his voice comes all at once. So loud it hurts him.  

“Namjoon- please- someone help me- someone-”

Yoongi wakes in the nest completely alone. Jerking up so fast that it makes him dizzy. He's too warm. Hot and balmy. Sweat soaks the front of his shirt.

He pushes himself up in the empty nest on shaking hands. Blinking, looking around at the folded blankets, the pillows at the rim of the nook, the absence of any other living soul here.

(that's not entirely true, Noodle is perched on a nearby pillow purring loudly. That's as much comfort as he can possibly offer as he's sworn to hate his arch-nemesis for eternity. Even though Yoongi sort of gives the best chin rubs- although Noodle would never confess it and will take the secret to his grave).

The high ceilings are dark and hollow, the whole room drenched in that half twilight of closed drapes. Empty even though Yoongi looks- searching for his packmates, searching for anything to make his chest feel not so tight.

Noodle purrs loudly and blinks slow.

The Christmas lights have been turned off- probably to help him sleep. The light streaming through the cracks in the curtains is dissonant. But the room is quiet and cluttered- Hobi’s monstera looks freshly misted in the corner, and humidity clings to the windows and skylight up high.

Yoongi pulls himself up and heaves out a shaky breath. Chest tight. You- he needs to find you. Find you and make sure- make sure you're not- Yoongi lets out a shaky breath. A dream, that's all it was. Just a dream. But part of him can't believe it. What if it wasn't?

It’s still hard to tell. The panic won’t leave his lungs. At the front of his nose is the scent of burning things- and that is very very real.

It looks like the omega’s piled the blankets around him, a smaller ring of fluffy blankets to keep the last slumbering packmate safe from outside eyes. But with so many blankets- Yoongi has overheated. He's sweaty and sticky and gross feeling. He should probably shower before he goes downstairs, probably, but-

He needs to make sure you're alright, right now- before he falls apart. Noodle mewls lightly and pulls himself over to Yoongi, pushing up against his trembling fingers, licking at them until Yoongi scratches his chin.

It takes him a second, staring down at his sweat-soaked shirt- to distinguish that it is not blood, blinking and mistaking the light behind his eyes for red.

Yoongi doesn’t say anything and doesn’t call out for anyone. Can’t do anything but detangle himself from the mess of blankets and Noodle and follow the smell of burning things down down down the stairs. Feeling like a ghost with a bad taste in his mouth. A vague pressure behind his eyes and a numbness in his arms and hands from lying on them for so long. His blood circulates slowly and sluggishly.

You are standing on a kitchen stool when he skitters to a stop on bare feet at the bottom of the stairs.

Yoongi has to blink a few times to make sure he's not dreaming, that the walls are the same light pink color they always were. Not brick red but not creamy plaster white- off color like the flush at your cheeks.

The sweater you wear is Hobi's- extra big especially at the wrists, pulling down all the way to your elbow as you reach up to stop the beeping from the smoke alarm with a wave of a newspaper. Nose wrinkled at the smell of smoke. You don't have the crusties at your eyes and your skin is glossy. Seokjin probably did your skincare routine for you as the pack omega is prone to do with so much extra time for fussing these days.

There is no one else in the house but you. The top layer of the air in the kitchen is cloudy with smoke. Yoongi watches you and scrubs a hand over his face. You do not turn and look at Yoongi in the doorway, although you know it’s him just because you can sense when your mate comes close, either scenting him on the air or through the dull pulse of the mating park.

Your sense of smell has been getting a little bit better recently. Yoongi knows better than to chalk it up to your weight gain but your health checkup earlier this week had been a lot more promising than the one before. Yoongi had gone to the appointment with you, and you’d perked up almost immediately when you realized he wasn’t going to give you the distant silent treatment again, all but skipping into the exam room.

He’d even let you hold his hand while they took your blood. He’s never had the heart to leave you scared. Never. Not even when he's angry at you.

Your hormones are leveling out, although there are no signs of you going into heat yet. Another 3 months of no change and you've promised Namjoon to at least talk about hormone therapies.

Tae had reassured you that it wasn't so bad with a kiss on your forehead and a hand at your hip. Covering the place where you, like Tae, might one day receive the weekly injections by Namjoon's hands.

It’s daunting. The idea of sitting through the same kind of treatment that Tae gets; the clink of the glass bottles on the counter, the pearly sound of glass hitting tile. The cold swipe of a swab and the press of a needle.

Namjoon’s always gentle.

You'd be inclined to just leave it alone- but your doctor had been very insistent, something about possible fertility issues if you want to have pups one day.  It’s hard to get pregnant outside of a heat, nearly impossible. This isn't an issue that can be just pushed under the rug if pups are something you want to have with the pack someday.

Namjoon and Tae had perked up a little when the idea of pups had been broached. But Yoongi had remained at the fringes of the room- silent. Yoongi thinks about your scent changing the same way Tae's did- how it went from cinnamon and pepper to cinnamon and roses.

He'd never tell her because Yoongi would never want to make Tae feel self-conscious about her own much-needed changes, but he doesn't like the idea of your scent changing the same way.

Deep down Yoongi wonders if you’d want to have pups if it wasn’t what the pack wanted. He’s not sure he’d be able to handle it, a little bundle of you and him and the whole big fucking world with all its wicked people. Yoongi knows peace now but still doesn't trust it. Wouldn't trust it especially if it was just him and you and a little life- so unprotected and vulnerable.

Yoongi doesn’t like feeling this way; vulnerable.

He breathes in a deep breath of your scent, warm and sweet and slightly smooth, not frazzled or scared sour (the way he first knew your scent to be, back before he even knew that you smelled like cake and not rain). You smell completely unaffected, unworried, and unharmed. You don't smell at all like you would have in Yoongi's dream. You don't smell like you're dying.

So why is his heart still beating out of his chest?

He crosses the kitchen in a few shakey strides, just as you start to speak. “Hobi made pancakes but Jin and him started making out and they like totally forgot about them! So they’re out getting breakfast sandwiches, I didn’t wanna wake you so I just got you-”

Your voice cuts off abruptly as Yoongi lines his face up with your spine and plants his nose there, breathing in your scent once, then again shaky. Nuzzling into your lower back. Arms around your waist, gripping your hips.

You make a little noise, questioning, looking down at him with a mixture of shock and concern. and you should be shocked and concerned- it's been nearly a month since your mate hugged you- let alone clutched you to his chest like this. It’s roughly the same sound that Noodle makes when you wake him up with pets.

He holds around your waist as you stand on the ladder, three feet up. His hands tangle with the fabric at your hips. he blinks looking down and away, at the floor.

“Yoongi!? What’s wrong?”

Dimly, he's aware that he’s supposed to be angry at you. He flushes, the blood hot and pink at his cheeks. You’re not supposed to be speaking really- at least not about things that matter and to be fair- Yoongi cannot speak right now. Burying his face in your back until the feeling of your blood on his hands is a distant memory. Feeling the warmth of your skin until the idea of you cold and still no longer bothers him.

Not a memory- a dream. Not a memory. He has to remind himself a second time. Remind himself enough that by the time he doesn't belive it the space to answer your question comes and goes.

Your eyebrows lower and you set a hand on his head, threading routinely into his hair- long, shaggy and dark. And he pushes further into your skin and into your touch the same way plants press into sunlight.

Yoongi is so tired of being angry, he's so tired of being scared. Your hand touches his cheek and his eyes flutter. Lips parting. Namjoon cuddled him just last night- but Yoongi will always be touch starved just for you.

Your breath hitches, "Oh Yoongi."

his arms tighten around you, like he's worried you're going to slip through his arms like smoke. "Bad dream?" You ask, it's a state that you are only too familiar with as he hums non-committal. you turn around halfway so that you can put your hands on his shoulders and touch him. Yoongi almost wants to keen at the contact, almost wants to tell you he likes it too much- which would be embarrassing. He nods against your back.

He missed this, missed this A lot. He missed you. Yoongi's eyes are itchy.

This is the first time he’s held you since you almost left, besides that moment in the car when you were both so angry and so broken it hardly mattered. Yoongi swallows, and he still can’t speak when he tries. Hiding his face in your spine, your hip when you turn, back hugging you because even on a ladder he is still mostly taller than you. Shaking faintly, still shaking off the fucking dream.

His voice is croaky, not all there when his voice box finally cooperates. “Can you get off?"

You get down from the stepstool instantly. His hands tangle in the side of your shirt to steady you. Unwilling to go more than a few inches from you. You're always so wobbly in the mornings before you've eaten and Yoongi is ever mindful.

The sweater you wear has a small doodled bunch of flowers on the front, a botanical print. Yoongi thinks he remembers if vaguely- from a trip Hobi and Namjoon took to the botanical garden a few years ago. It's got holes in the arms like Hobi has snagged it one too many times on rose bushes. Yoongi threads his fingers through them and holds on.

You stare up at him from the floor like you’re waiting for his instruction. Eyes wide and glassy and pretty and alive.

Yoongi stills, breath hitching- at the sight of a bit of red on your lips.

It's off to the side, on your bottom lip almost hidden by where your smile sits. Yoongi's face crumples a little at the sight of it.

Yoongi reaches up with shaking hands to touch it, wiping it away. You follow his hand. He looks down at the smudge on his finger. The little bit of red.

“Oh! That was from Tae she-" You break off when he pulls you back to him, crushing you to his chest. And you surely can’t know what’s going wrong or what Yoongi’s just dreamed but you let him man handle you regardless.

He's sort of glad that no one else is home, that it's just you and him here for a few moments. The quiet of the house is all encompassing- beyond the sound of wind sneaking under the windowsills and the pitter-patter of the drizzle outside. Noodle meows dolefully from the stairs, coming to see why Yoongi had abandoned him so abruptly (the nerve of him.)

Yoongi rests his full weight on you, crushing you to his chest. You push his hair back away from his face, and Yoongi keeps his eyes closed like that will keep the feeling here for longer. Like he's worried if he opens his eyes the nightmare will be here again.

Your hands, his face, small fingers that push at the wetness that he doesn’t name dripping under his eyes. His breath comes out in short little gasps.

There is rain outside, pattering against the window. It’s been raining a lot over the last few days. Soaking the soil in the pre-spring cold. It won't be long now and everything will be green again. Hobi will plant the window boxes, and you'll be able to put the ferns out. You and Tae will start wearing your matching dresses all the time and it will become Yoongi's job to cut the watermelon because he's the only one in the house trusted besides Jin with the big knives. He'll cut up orange slices and peaches and strawberries too. Everything for his loves and their hungry mouths and hungry hearts.

Soon but not yet. Spring and summer are just around the corner but they're not here yet and yoongi is painfully aware of that.

You don’t ask him why he’s crying; you don’t look him in the eyes when he opens them, just continue your careful petting through his hair, eyes flickering up, then down and away. The twist of your lips is guilty.

You are not bleeding; you are alive and Yoongi cannot stand it. The weight of memories he didn’t live weighs on him, still memories. He breathes out a shaky breath. And double-checks his fingers are absent of blood after he rubs over your throat. Checking.

You pull at him, hands on his shoulders. “Come on-“

You pull him through the quiet halls, and into the room at the very back of the house. Noodle follows too with a jingle of his purple bell collar.

The windows here are cracked to let in the chilly spring air- pushing out the last mustyness of winder and bringing with it the smell of rain. The nesting nook is dark and cozy-tempting; but full of stuffed animals and extra nesting pillows that you scoop out of the interior and put on the floor with such care. Lining them up against the outside of the nook. All to make room for him.

Yoongi holds onto the hem of your sweater, rubbing a fist against his eye. Like a clingy child. But he has to let you go when you turn. he can feel the pout on his face and you reach up to smooth it out. You only pause for a second, briefly, “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

Yoongi shakes his head, still wordless, unable to make his mouth cooperate. You don’t say anything, you don’t do anything but pull him into the warm dark quiet of the nesting nook.

Yoongi hasn’t spent so much time with you in here, but it’s surprisingly well-ventilated, the woven fabric sides of it dark but breathable. There’s not a lot of room but you make it work. Scooting back and pulling him down and down and down.

You pull him to rest against your chest, between your legs. Your hips splayed to let him curl up and nuzzle into you- in something like a full-body hug. Yoongi is too tired and too shaky to protest. He can’t even say he doesn’t want to but you check anyway- your movements slow as you get him situated.

Your heartbeat thuds quick against his fingertips. Yoongi wants to tell you that you don’t need to be scared, you don’t need to be afraid of overstepping. But can’t make his mouth cooperate.

His arms loosely circle around your waist, and then harder to crush you against him. At this position, you have full reign to run your fingers through his hair, over his shoulders, and down and up again. He knows he smells sweaty and probably rancid. But he nuzzles into your skin at the low neckline of the sweater. He puts his ear against your heart. Thud thud thud. Slowing down and evening out. You're right here and just under him, safe, and his eyelids are so heavy.

“Is this better? Do you need to go back to sleep?” Yoongi nods and doesn’t need to say another word.

Sleep rises up frightfully quick to meet him. He's not at all convinced that he hasn't dreamed it all. Finding you, coming here, and curling up. A dream within a dream. A good one in exchange for the nightmare earlier.

But this time he doesn’t dream at all, and even if he does, it’s only the sound of your heartbeat- thud thud thud. His own heartbeat thins out, and the tenseness in his shoulders relaxes.

Yoongi wakes up because a tomato has just fallen on his face.

You’re trying to be quiet, but Hoseok understandably laughs from where he’s holding out a half-unwrapped breakfast sandwich into the nesting nook for you to take a bite. Yoongi can vaguely place the words just whispered over his head. 'You guys eat without us, I don't want to wake him' 'Okay, but have a bite first- you know they're better when they're warm' 

Your laughter shakes against his cheek, your jaw clicks as you chew, and when he picks himself up, the tomato slides down his face, syrup slow. Until it flops against your throat. You and Hobi devolve into louder giggles and Yoongi can't stop the laugh that comes from his chest too.

The ruse is up, and you're all laughing. “Oh my god Hobi you promised to be quiet,”

Hoseok's one knee depresses the side of the nesting nook as he leans. Grinning down at Yoongi. Long fingers splayed around his ribs, making Yoongi shiver. The alpha pulls at his hips, and Yoongi feels a bit like a chew toy but in the best way, to be between the two of you laughing. “Come on Yoon- we’ve got you one too-“

Yoongi lets you both puppet him into the other room. Stumbling between the two of you. Until Hobi ducks low and nuzzles, and Yoongi just resorts to watching the two of you.

The way your hand goes from holding Yoongi's to touching Hobi's palm, then back to his like a bumblebee darting between flowers. A small smile works its way onto Yoongi's face. Even more when you pinch Hobi's ass and Hobi acts appropriately scandalized. Only you could get in on his and Jungkook's near-perpetual ass-touching competition.

(Yoongi's smile grows wider without him even realizing it).

There is a spread on the dining room, three heavy brown paper bags not just of breakfast sandwiches wrapped in checkered paper but biscuits in syrupy gravy, french toast sticks with honey yellow syrup, and a whole tray of tater tots that Jin pops into his mouth with a satisfying crunch. Half of the pack is still in their pajamas; it can't be later than 11.

Namjoon and Jimin are noticeably absent from the table- at work. But Hobi, Jin, and Tae are setting up the plates. Jungkook's already showered from his morning run- his hair all locky and tangled.

Tae looks a vision in a pair of flared yoga pants and Yoongi just blinks at her thighs, not realizing he’s staring until Hobi pinches his thigh for it. You laugh too and pull out the chair next to him with a squeak while Hobi hands out sandwiches and Jungkook cuts them into perfect triangles.

Yoongi blinks down at his plate, and he’s got a quarter of everyone’s sandwich on his, easily more than he can eat but still- You trade, cutting thirds and halves to try them all. Yoongi stares at them and feels fresh wetness on his lash line. Tae notices him staring, and she’s got sesame seeds stuck in what's left of her lipstick when she smiles.

“We didn’t know what you liked- so we got you two.”

And oh, Yoongi can’t breathe. The love in his chest bullies away the oxygen. How lucky he is to have people that get him two sandwiches instead of one, how lucky he is to have a house full of laughter and warm bellies and-

Hobi gets him a cup of coffee, Jin nurses his, thick-rimmed glasses and warm cheeks chubby as he looks across the table at Yoongi like he knows. He leans across the table to tangle their hands while he flips through his phone. Leaving the beta to his overfull heart.

“Tae- your nail appointment isn’t until 1- would you like Jinnie to curl your hair for you?”

“Can we try a new style this time? Space buns?” Tae asks so so sweetly- already wearing lipgloss even though she must have barely left the house. The smile never falters, just spreads wider when he stares at the glossy pink.

Jin hums, happy, "Of course."

"I love you guys" Yoongi whines. looking at Jin because he can't look at you. Telling everyone- because he can't tell just you. And really it's the truth. Jin blinks and looks up at him. A smile spreading on his chubby cheeks.

"Aw- someone's sappy." Hobi teases. "For the record, love you too"

"for the record; He just woke up" You peck the back of Yoongi's neck and shivers erupt all over his body. you lean behind him to swat at Hobi's shoulder. "Give him a break." The sound of chairs scraping hides Yoongi's whine and his blush.

"For the record, Love you too bun,"

Tae snorts, eyebrows knitting together as Jungkook sits on her lap instead of the chair right next to him. "Weird, but I like it" she pauses, "for the record."

Yoongi rolls his eyes, "oh my god stop-"

"For the record; Hobi started it."

"You guys call me bunny and bun all the time- I should be able to use it too!" Jungkook smirks, pausing for dramatic effect. "for the record."

Yoongi groans and you giggle. "Okay I'm done," Yoongi's smiling anyway

You sit, a little clumsy, and your coffee spills a little onto the dark wood table. Jin wipes it up with a tut, eyes still on the schedule. “There’s nothing else much for today just Tae’s appointment. Anyone else want to do anything?”

“Wanna cook together tonight?” You ask, Yoongi pulls your chair over to rest against his properly, he can still pull you over with little effort but it’s getting harder each day.

It’s a good sort of hard. You have half of a sandwich on your plate a quarter of Tae’s and another small corner in your hand half gone already. Yoongi should start working out with Jungkook- so that he’s as strong as you need him to be.

You look at him, and then down at your nearly pressing thighs, “wanted you to be closer to me.” He says, and then cringes, Hobi laughs at him and hits his plate with a metal clink. You just hum and turn back to your breakfast. Yoongi can see the smile in the curve of your cheek, can see it in full when he turns your face to wipe away the sesame seeds stuck to your mouth too.

"Yeah, what do you want to make Jin?"

You talk it through. You and Yoongi and Jin- easily launching into what you'll make, what you'll bake and barter for another night of full bellies and a full house of love. and although it involves a trip to a grocery store, it's easily set into motion.

Hobi asks you if you’ll walk with him to work today, he has to go in a few minutes and it’s not that far of a walk. 10 minutes. Half a mile.

But you say you’ll go only if Yoongi does too and he’s agreeing before he even realizes it. But as far as mornings go, walking Hobi to work and getting to walk home with you isn’t the worst way things could go. Not by far. Neither is the way that you tug his jacked tighter against his throat in the doorway of the flower shop. The roses in the windowsill all yellow.

“I’m really not all that cold.”

“Still, I always want you to be warm”

"I like taking walks after breakfast," you say after another few minutes of walking. Light. Calm. The cold air encourages more pink from your cheeks. The sun streaming through the leafless branches now that the storm has pulled off.

"We can do it tomorrow if you want." Whatever you want.

Maybe you’ll even hold hands (you will, Yoongi will reach for your hand first, and you’ll walk in quiet that isn’t so quiet all turn to you pointing to someone’s porch and the flowers they’ve already put out in their pots. Bright pansies, splotches of color among the springtime drudgery, and the million shades of grey and taupe.

“Do you think we can plant flowers soon?” Yoongi will say maybe, but Hobi will bring a flat of pansies home before either of you can text and ask.

But that will be later. For now, Yoongi just looks at you next to him on the dining room table, thumb rubbing up and down your thigh, forgetting to chew as he looks at you. Forgetting to take a bite of the sandwich slowly falling apart in his hands. The cheese and the egg sliding out. Both yellow, both yummy, both needed. 

Yoongi looks at you until Tae reaches over to pinch his thigh and he jumps. The egg in his sandwich slips out, hitting his plate with a slap.

Yoongi smiles, (really, the love is spreading like wildfire, slipping in through the windows like beams of sunlight, moving easily and unabated, like light through air).

“Eat your breakfast hyung- it’s getting cold.” She chirps.

Yoongi gladly complies, hungrier than he's been in years.

(In the end, forgiveness is not something that is inevitable. Forgiveness is something that you want to give, you have to want it with that person and they have to want it too. You have to give.

Yoongi will give and give and give.)

~-~

It happens on one of those evenings:

The nesting room is silent with the sound of sleeping packmates. The long curtains piled on the floor and two sets of bunny slippers sit unattended by the nest entrance because Jungkookie’s toes get cold sometimes and you like to match. His blue and yours pink. The Christmas lights up above are dimmed to a soft moonlit glow, lighting the bodies of your sleeping pack; gentle and heaped like sweet pavlova.

The door at the top of the stairs is open. There’s nothing to keep out tonight; no darkness or bad dreams. Nothing to fight off besides the vague feeling of childlike adventure that you gladly welcome inside. Not the sound of Noodle zooming around downstairs or the creeks of the house that’s almost finished.

Almost, it’s getting there. Yoongi has been working hard.

You and Hobi turn restless tonight. The only ones truly awake. Not with unease or with nightmares- too real and long gone. It’s not the memories of people with silver hair and dishonest smiles that keep you awake. Those villains are for dragons vanquished or papers in ashes that will never rise again to taunt you with their secrets.

There is no tower that you’re trapped in, at least not physically. Even mentally too. Any mental foes or sickness left in the confines of your head can wait until a later date.

Maybe it’s because of the full moon, the pearl bubble of your soul that matches and turns and keeps you awake, restless beneath the pink light. Maybe it’s because you both napped earlier with Yoongi in the nesting pod.

You’ve been doing that a lot more frequently over the last few days, taking little moments with Yoongi; spending breakfast in bed, cooking together most nights, sitting next to him always. Even small dates. Not even fancy ones but silly little outings that make you feel younger than you are.

Trips to his old coffee shop where he met Jin. His and Hobi's old record store, and Hobi's flower shop. Sometimes you leave separately and meet there to make it feel more like a date date. And Yoongi pretends he's surprised by the color of lipstick that Tae chose and you admire the ruffle of his tousled hair (he fussed with it for a few minutes in his car).

You'd never had a chance to date properly the first time.

It makes your relationship feel newer than it is. It makes you feel like you're making an effort instead of just having fun with your mate. It makes you feel like the drips of yellow paint on your sleeve- that had gotten there during the little sip and paint that you did last Thursday.

You'd gotten so giggly on cheap wine that you had to call Namjoon to pick you both up. You’d gotten handsy in the backseat and filled the car with the scent of arousal strong enough that Namjoon’s knuckles had gone white on the steering wheel. Barely a brain cell to scrape together to concentrate on driving.

Or the next day when you’d gotten dolled up just to go to different bakeries and sample cakes, eating them in the car with the windows rolled all the way down and the heat blasting. “This ones so good, have a bite.”

The two of you might be foodies actually, you might have found a shared hobby with it- testing pastries and food. You like the little things like fancy chocolates and fancy teas. It’s going to be your thing- the sweets. You can tell.

But for now, Yoongi sleeps peacefully not far from you as you look over at Hobi, eyes open in the darkness, face upturned, chest rising and falling just a bit too quick for him to be totally asleep. The windows are open and the night air is cool. You can press as close to the others as you want and you won't get too hot. You'd taken full advantage of this hours ago, snug tight under Namjoon's arm. His soft snore a special sort of lullaby.

You haven’t felt this calm in years. It doesn't make you choke up because you've felt this way before and you're getting used to it. The springtime air smells like rain, like the ocean already although you know it sits miles and miles away.

It might be another false spring- but the pack takes what it can get.

The nest is still quiet when you turn to Hobi and find his eyes open and bright in the darkness. Namjoon’s phone on the shelf reads 5:04 am. It's early enough to go back to bed but instead, you scoot over to Hobi when you see he’s awake, gently setting yourself first over Namjoon’s chest and then sliding down his other side to get to him.

Quieting Hobi’s sleepy giggles with an equally sleepy kiss pressed unhurried to his lips. His hands come up loosely to circle your waist, tired, sleepy. Your lips stay pressed for a breath too long. And Hobi shivers at the feeling of your warm skin pressed to his cold cheek.  

It’s still dark outside, not even the faintest breath of the sunrise cresting the trees. You lie there on your stomach, looking at him and stroking a hand down his cheek in the darkness. You just watch him until he turns at you. A bright mischievousness in his eyes. A bad idea or a very good one depending on how you look at it- cresting his mind.

“You know if we leave right now, we can probably get to the beach before sunrise.”

Bad ideas are made better when chased with dreams, it’s only been a month since everything went down, and maybe two since this got normal between the two of you. The kissing, the looks, the touching. That’s different, but it's still just you and Hobi.

He's still your best friend.

The softness runs a little deeper now. He'll always understand you a little better, a little more than the others. Although you'll give them a few years to try and catch up. Hoseok's love is a little softer, like a sunrise instead of a sunset. With no bursts of color just dark blue one minute and light blue the next, baby blue to blush tones to that weird yellow green of the sunlight.

You smile into the next kiss, eyes opening wider now, and you know you won't easily go back to sleep. “Yeah? Want to go?”

His kiss already tastes like saltwater. “Yeah, come on.”

Getting out of the nest without rousing your packmates proves to be too much of a challenge. (And really you think Yoongi would have a heart attack if you tried to leave without at least telling him where you've gone. He might have forgiven you, but you know better than to poke at his wounds.)

Namjoon groans while Yoongi blinks away the darkness behind his eyes, a big hand closing around your wrists, stopping you when Hobi’s already off the bed. “Pups? Where are you-”

“Just to the beach Joonie,” Hobi ducks to press a kiss to Namjoon’s forehead the same moment you kiss Yoongi’s lips, puckering in sleep and making a soft sweet noise. Your mate smells so good- rolling waves of sweet chocolate- so good that it has you not wanting to leave at all. You linger, kissing Yoongi again when the temptation becomes too much.

He opens his eyes and grins at you. "Want company?"

“You don't have to, we’ll be careful! Promise.”

"Where you going?"

He blinks back his sleepiness but no sooner have you explained what you're doing than are Yoongi's arms going around your waist to pull you in. Sitting up too at the same time. Careful to keep his voice low to not wake the others.

“Let me come with,” Hobi is already grinning, hair sticking up in the back after he pulls a sweatshirt over his head. Namjoon shimmies to the end of the nest apparently coming too- only to knock into Seokjin because Namjoon is always sort of clumsy in the mornings and he always gets a bit tangled in the blankets you roll up to construct the edge of the nest.

Jin’s plush lips pout, eyes squinting in the darkness, “Guys? What’s-”

Then Jin trips over Jimin's legs and the alpha shoots up straight, jostling both Tae and Jungkook (folded under either arm) and everyone is awake and sharing plans.

You tug on warmer clothes because Jin fusses; fuzzy socks, and thick cable knit sweaters. Jin doesn’t bother to put his contacts in, black-rimmed glasses balancing on his nose. A thick scarf that he won’t really need teasing at his rosy cheeks.

together you guide a soft and sleepy Jk down the stairs. Scrubbing at his eyes all puppy cute while you’re morning zoomy. Barely pausing to kick off your bunny slippers. Jimin gets down to tie Tae’s laces so she doesn’t have to bend over so early in the morning.

By the time you get down to the ground floor of the house, the light is already turning the sky a lighter shade of blue. And Hoseok is pushing everyone out the door, sometimes physically, with cries of “Quick! Before we miss it!”

For once, you don’t take two cars. This time you pile all in Hobi’s red car (thankfully gotten back from the police with all but minimal scratches and a hefty fine that Namjoon had reluctantly paid). You sit on each other's laps, ducking your head whenever you see oncoming cars in case they might be cops. (You haven't learned your lesson quite yet, but there is time- you don't have to grow up quite yet).

Tae sits on Jimin’s lap. Hands wrapped around her middle, talking softly over the color of her nails (yellow with chrome, making them look almost buttery). Jungkook sits on Namjoon's lap (the alpha tucks his face into Jungkook’s hair, a little long, a little shaggy, intent on going back to sleep.) And you sit in the middle seat on Yoongi's (playing with your mate's hands, turning them over and over again in yours, until he squeezes them lacing them through.)

The pack omega gets princess treatment on account of having the longest legs. Feet Crossed daintily on the dashboard where it not for his thick slides. Hobi drives and fucks with the playlist. But he doesn't need one. Leaves it alone for once in favor of listening.

Yoongi laughs and you ask him why he is. "Don't take this the wrong way but your ass is so boney, my leg is going numb."

"See! I told you you should come with me to pilates!"

"I'm no princess-"

"No- that's me." Jin snorts from the front seat.

"Joonie that tickles."

It’s only a 15-minute drive on the windy backroads, not so unsafe. Not so necessary that you’ll think about taking two cars and separating your little bundle of love into two places. Headlights crest the hills of shrub roses and shrub oak trees, leggy and just beginning to leaf out.

How is it nearly spring already? When did winter pass? Yoongi’s arms never release your waist, he keeps you like that, close and safe until you skitter into the parking lot.

Jin leaves his red scarf in the car. It sits there in the backseat, a heap of red thread whining over and over again, giving warmth that’s no longer needed. A string of fate organized and neat.

The parking lot at the beach is empty at this time of year and at this time of day. There is no snow piled up in heaps, only remnants in the forms of shallow silver pools and puddles that you traipse through with little regard to the state of your socks. The ocean air is warm, unseasonably so. You’re a mess of tangled limbs and pajamas. Laughs and- “oh my god I have to pee-”

Yoongi loses one of his slides on the way out and Jungkook steals it from the pavement. Running off with it and leaving him to hobble on one foot, only to bring it back after a second. And you let Yoongi place his hand on your shoulder for balance while he slides his sock back into it. Worried about getting his socks wet. His hair ruffled and eyes crusty but the sun-

The sun is bright and hot against your cheeks, wind whipping picking up your hair as it crests the horizon. You run out to the edge of the ocean, your legs fighting to keep up with Jungkook who's faster than you now that he's fully awake.

Water soaks pajama hems and you tread a little too close to the shore. It's low tide and the sea is far out. Sea spoils dot the wet sand, joining the reflection of the sky up above and the stars winking out one by one as the sky lightens slow.

You’re the first one to lift your hands, to shout and run as fast as you can (which isn’t very fast at all, so it’s a good thing they give you a head start) but the others follow without much preamble. Giggling and rushing to get to the sea in time.

It’s warm- the wind coming off the sea is warm and damp and lovely. Spring is here, happiness is here- and it might never be going away again. Not if you can help it and not if you hold onto it. You have seven other people to help you hold on tight and never let go.

No matter how hard it gets- you’ll hold onto it. You promise. (Promise me okay?)

Jungkook catches up to you first in the warm sunny sand. He picks you up and twirls you round and round. Shaking you a little, the same way that Noodle might shake a toy. You giggle, high and melodic.

You only see it for a second, spinning round and round- but the rest of them Seokjin, Namjoon, Hoseok, Tae, Jimin, Yoongi- they all stop where they’re running and watch. You’re dizzy when Jungkook stops, his grin pressed to your shoulder, arms hard under your shoulders. Clinging to him still- not putting you down because you’re dizzy and he’s still lifting you up.

“Jungkook- oh my god put me down- I’m heavy Koo- ” You’re a little panicked, a little startled, but laughing all the while.

“Not really. I can still carry you.” He tosses you up and catches you- shrieking even though you don’t really leave his hands. Clinging to him, scared of the weightlessness before he sets you down where you teeter, unsteady, dizzy but still laughing.

Your hands stay around his shoulders, on your tippy toes, and he raises his eyebrow at you.

The others catch up and Jimin leans down to squeeze around your middle. Salt air tickles your forehead.“You’re like hardly a work out-“

Yoongi’s teeth worry away at his lower lip, “guys-“

Jimin shows you it’s not a big deal by heaving you up and over his shoulder. leaving you shrieking again.

“Minnie no!”

"Minnie yes"

Jungkook and Jimin take off and Hobi and Yoongi chase them down, you feel a bit like a chew toy but in the best way, in the way that makes your stomach light and crinkly from the giggles and laughter. You end up with your knees in the sand and Jungkook against your stomach. Hobi behind you, hands fighting Jungkook's. wrestling over you until none of you have anymore energy for it. All of you are covered in sand but you're laughing so hard you taste salt.

You end up sitting there, at the edge of the storm line, where the sand goes hard and crusty at your feet but light and fluffy by your hands. You watch the rest of the sunrise like that. The good part. The best part when the colors bleed across the blue horizon line all yellow and gold.

Namjoon holds out a hand for Jin to get down, a bit more dignified than your sprawling mess of pups. And the pack omega leans sideways against Yoongi’s shoulder. Complaining squeakily about the state of his knees.

You settle against the sand. The eight of you curled close to keep out the last bit of cold. Eyes burning as you watch the sunrise and can't tear your eyes away. Until the sky turns that unmatched shade of blue, the kind that is never quite replicated by nature. Not in roses or daisies or in the color of people’s eyes. Everything blue blue blue.

Your sweatshirt is one of Yoongi's, the same color. Tae’s nails are that purple-blue too as she holds Jimin’s hand in the sand. The same color as the tiny piece of sea glass that Hobi pulls from between his legs because he somehow always finds sea glass. The best at finding lost things.

His hand slides around your middle, pulling you to rest firmly against the hollow of his chest. And his other raises to show you the little fleck of sea glass. Balanced on his index finger.

"It's a lucky find," you say. Hoseok hums behind you. Agreeing. Warm.

Later, you look over at him in the bagel shop (because if you’re going to have an early morning outing then it might as well come with breakfast and coffee.) You sit together with Hobi, Waiting for your sandwiches and your lattes.

Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jin sit at one table and bicker over the merits of avocado toast. While Tae, Jimin, and Jungkook take over the other playing some game that involves flicking a quarter over each of their sides and playing footsie under the table too.

Although Namjoon and Jimin will get frustrated and tug all of the red and white metal tables together before long- No one has the mind for it yet. All of you are still sleepy and pupish and young in a way that you haven't been, haven't felt in such a long time.

Growing up can wait for a day more, growing up can always always wait.

(You haven't thought about it at all today- what Geumjae did to you. You haven’t thought about the hurts in your past at all today and you won’t, the day will pass and it won’t weigh on you, you won’t even notice. That’s the way healing goes- you hardly notice)

(Later there will be food and you won’t think about eating it at all. Hoseok will make your sandwich up just the way you like it and you won't even have to ask for it. You'll eat the same way you love, messy like children but with so much hope in it.)

At the bagel shop, You’ll reach over and wipe your thumb across his lips to get some cream cheese off and it will be the first breakfast of many you’ll spend with him. How lovely is it- to get to spend mornings with the people you love? How lovely it is to lose track of the days and hours and kisses. To not count first kisses anymore and only count more.

You and Hobi are quiet where you sit at the metal tables, it’s not an uncomfortable silence, unbroken by ego or arrogance or anything of the sort. He looks over and smiles at you.

And because he asks, “What are you thinking about?” You give him an honest answer.

“Being at the beach like that,” Your hands play with the piece of blue sea glass he got you, your pockets are full of them because you spent a few minutes once the sun was up walking until the others called you back. Hand in hand, stopping only to pick up more.

“With the sunrise and the sunlight all around us, It kinda felt like the world was giving me a really big hug, do you think that’s stupid?”

(Neither you nor Hobi is thinking about what was done to you. Not even a little bit, not even at all. I hope you never think about it either. I hope you get to have days where you don't remember. Where you forget what it was like to need to be strong. May the prey animal part of you that lingers in your body and remembers be turned soft and docile with age. May you forget what it's like to be hunted and afraid. I hope you forget him. The man who hurt you. I hope you forget what he looks like and the sound of his voice. I hope you forget it all.)

“I don’t think that’s stupid at all.”

He pulls his chair over to your side of the table and puts his chair right next to yours so that your thighs can touch. Even though it’s a public place and even though it’s probably not appropriate. He pecks your shoulder and squeezes around your waist extra tight, grinning. It’s an awkward sideways hug but he pulls you as close as he can until it forces a giggle from your stomach. His palms press flat against your stomach and his thumb rubs up and down. Slowly.  

“In case you want one more, what’s another hug after all?”

~-~

Notes:

It's a sweet sort of irony, that this chapter is going to be posted when the people who live in the bily house are getting married <3 like what are the odds of that.

i think that this chapter is the real like- spot between the chapter chapters of bily and the epilogue! i think you can kind of feel it in the way that the chapter ends.

it's so like me to accidentally talk about tae's boobs for a few paragraphs i can't help it her tiddies are just so special to me. like 10/10, i saw a picture of dita von tess and just so you know...in my mind after tae gets a boob job- which she will- this is just me forshadowing it- thats the kinda tiddies she gets <3 cute lemon shaped ones!

the line about tae liking hyung more than oppa to use for the other members of the pack- is just kinda edgeing on an idea i've had for a while about my own gender thoughts- and thats that you can take what you like and what you don't like from each gender and make it what you want regardless of how you identify.

it's easy to forget that yoongi is also traumatized too you know? he needs so much hugs in this,

it always hits me how stylistically different i write the characters in bily- like this chapter i feel like i really got to develop yoongi's internal voice like- he's a very even cut of internal monologue, action, and sensation. different than the m/c who tends to be sensation first and then action, and jimin who is all bland sensation, and tae who has a very very strong internal monologue.

In many ways this chapter feels so like- stylistically light- like i think this entire series i've been trying to capture the feelings of found family- and you know-= this one gets alot of it right.

The Seal of the Dragon

Chapter one - Trials and tribulations

warnings: mentions of weight, AFAB character, mentions of female body parts, references to the weight of M/C, loosely based on my own research of the ancient Korean royalty system, message me if you feel I need more warnings

Y/N trusted her father. At least that’s what she tells herself. And it’s what she keeps telling herself day after day when each day her father disappoints her more and more. 

“I’m using this money for your future” he would say, whilst reeking of beer and stumbling through the door to their house. On particularly bad days, he would barely make eye contact with her as he tells her that his drinking was ‘all her fault’. Her father spent his days, after his fall from grace, drinking away the money that the rest of her family was trying so hard to cling onto, to hold them afloat in the noble status that they were barely a part of. 

There were few things that made her life feel just that little bit better, and that was her best friend, Hwang Yeji. Yeji had been her friend since she could remember, her own mother telling her stories of how you were practically raised by both sets of parents. There hadn't been a day that had gone by that Y/N felt loved and appreciated by her best friend.

Hwang Yeji, from the Hwang clan, was a beautiful woman, who was adored by everyone in the town. She had the warmest brown eyes that sparkled in the sun, and her hair was a similar colour to her eyes, only being lightened by the long summer days. Yeji was both taller, and skinnier than you, but she never let you feel like you were any less stunning than she was. Besides your mother, she was your biggest supporter. Pushing you to do bigger and better things with your life.

As much as she was your biggest supporter, she was also the person who worried about you the most. She despised your father, for what he was putting you and your family through, but she knew that there was nothing she could do, other than being there for you, to have a shoulder to cry on when your father spat his harsh words at her.

It was a lovely summer morning, at the beginning of June when the weather was warm, but there was still a calming breeze that swept through the streets, cooling you off as it passed. Today, Yeji had decided she wanted to drag you into the centre of town, where the hustle and bustle were found. You were donning a dark pink Chima with a cream Jeogri, your hair pinned back with a hair stick you had received for your 18th birthday, it was made of silver with a simple pink crystal, the metal details of flowers making the pin even more beautiful in your eyes.

Your white shoes made small sounds against the sandy ground, as you moved towards Yeji's house. It took a few moments for you to reach her house, and just as you were going through the gate, to enter into their garden, you walked straight into a chest. Looking up in anxiety, you see her older brother smirking down at you. a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Hyunjin! Omo! I am so sorry, I was in my head again, did I hurt you?" you quickly blurted out, as a soft pink colour swept across your face, your heart racing, worrying that you had in fact hurt the man that was stood in front of you, smiling down at your flustered state.

"Y/N! It's okay, I know what you're like, you've been bumping into me since you were 4, you never could keep your head out of the clouds could you?" he teased "Yeji will be out in a second, mother is finishing braiding her hair, as for some reason, the pabo can't do it herself" he adds. Before you could respond, he cut you off saying "Anyways, duty calls. Stay safe both of you" he finishes, but not before looking behind you. Hyunjin smiles behind you, and then at you before moving around you and out of the gate and down the street. You giggle slightly at the man's antics, he also has been a ball of energy. When you were younger, you had a crush on your best friend's big brother, I mean who wouldn't, he looked like he should be on a poster for everyone to admire. But you soon got over that crush, quickly realising that although you saw the man as attractive, the bond you had was definitely one of a sibling rather than a lover.

You heard quick yet light footsteps behind you before you felt two small and delicate hands rest on your shoulders. "Was he winding you up again?" she asked, a slight smirk on her small mouth, remembering when you told her that you had previously fancied her bother. Your face flushed again before responding "he was telling me that mother was braiding your hair, and calling you... what was it?" a smirk gracing your own lips, before carrying on "oh yeah... a pabo" you ended, looking up at your friend as a look of annoyance came onto her face. You knew she wasn't annoyed at you, rather she was annoyed at her elder sibling. The look that fell over her face next, brought memories back of when the two had been fighting and pulling pranks on each other that you soon got involved in, for both sides. You saw the same mischievous glint in her eye that you had seen in her brother's eyes just minutes before.

"I want nothing to do with whatever scheme it is you are building up in your head" you laughed, linking arms with your friend as you pulled her into the street so you could begin your mission of heading into the town centre. "spoilsport" she retorts, before beginning to pull the two of you into a skip. Smiles filled both of your faces, even as the townspeople gave the two of you quizzical looks.

"what's the plan t-" Yeji began before being cut off by shouts in the streets, as people ran through handing small pieces of hanji to passersby

"THE KING IS LOOKING FOR A QUEEN! THE SELECTION PROCESS BEGINS IN 7 DAYS" was the main sentence that was being yelled out from within the crowds "MORE INFORMATION IS AT THE TOWN HALL" others carried on

Yeji turned to you, a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. And without. a word, she grabs your wrist, pulling you full-speed to the town hall.

The Seal of the Dragon

Chapter Two- Taking the plunge

warnings: mentions of weight, AFAB character, mentions of female body parts, references to the weight of M/C, loosely based on my own research of the ancient Korean royalty system, message me if you feel I need more warnings

Before Y/N could take another breath, her feet were being pulled from underneath her as Yeji dragged her to the town hall. Laughs fall from both of their lips. Finally, Y/N falls into step with Yeji's feet, allowing her to be able to run better without twisting an ankle. It wouldn't be the first time that Y/N and Yeji had injured themselves whilst running in the town.

"Y/N hurry up!" Yeji yelled, followed by a laugh. Yeji's hand gripped Y/n's, her strength and speed overpowering Y/n's. laughter filled the air as they ran through the streets. that was until an unnoticed rock decided to make an appearance. Y/n fell first, the sound of a scuffle being heard within the walls of the shop-filled street. A yelp soon follows, and then the sound of something dragging against the sand-covered road follows. Another yelp is soon heard, but softer. Y/N had fallen and as she was holding onto Yeji's hand, she had been dragged along accidentally. As the weight of Y/n's hand fell from Yeji's, she fell forward, her body falling to the ground. Yeji fell onto the floor, saving her head from hitting the floor by placing her hands on the ground first. People around them began rushing towards them, well towards Yeji, making sure that the beauty of the town wasn't harmed. A whimper leaves Yeji's lips as she holds onto her wrist. A young man whose name neither could remember, helped the young woman to stand up, before her in the direction of the medical room, hidden just inside the town hall at the end of the street. As people began to leave, they noticed Y/n's body laying quietly on the floor. Sand and dust still fall in the air around them. People stood there, staring at the recently turned adult, laying on the floor in a heap. It took for some muttering and parting of the crowd for someone to finally go up to her.

it was Hyunjin, Yeji's older brother. His hands gently shook Y/n's shoulder, trying to shake the woman out of the shocked state she was laying in. "Y/n, can you hear me? Can you get up?" He asks, worry filling his voice. A small mumble is heard before any movement is seen. Y/n tries to push herself up off of the ground, before whimpering and falling back onto the floor. Hyunjin sighs lightly, before turning, glaring at the staring bystanders, before calling out to his friends "Chan, Changbin, Felix" he begins "Grab the rest of the boys, my little sister needs help" he finishes. A blush blankets y/n's face remembering her crush on the elder boy, and the fact that he just called her his little sister. Y/n knew that those words should hurt her, but instead, it's what shook her out of her feelings of love for the elder boy. it hit her all at once, that the only feelings she had for the helpful man before her, were the love of a little sibling to an older sibling.

"Hyun-" Y/n managed to mutter out before Hyunjin stopped her, reminding her once again to call him Oppa. "Oppa" y/n restarted "everyone's looking" she carried on "I'm so embarrassed" she finally finished. "Don't worry, the boys are coming right now, we're going to help you. Do you think that you can stand?" he asks. Y/n shakes her head, pointing to her already red ankle that was beginning to swell underneath her chima. Hyunjin winces looking at the injury. A gentle hand is placed on her head, patting her head gently, making her feel calm. she looks up, into the eyes of the person affectionately patting her head and looked into the eyes of Hyunjin's best friend Minho, and if y/n were to look just behind the man, she would see the rest of their friendship group looking onto the scene with worry in their eyes.

"Chan and Changbin... you remember them right?" the brown-haired man asked, y/n nodded in response. a small smile gripping the older man's lips as he carries on his sentence "They're going to help you up, and then, you see that cart just over there?" a small hum of a response from the woman lets the man carry on "were going to gently place you into that, and then take you to the medical room. normally we would help you walk, but judging by that ankle, it doesn't look like a good idea for you to walk on it before the physician sees you"

They were right, it definitely wasn't a good idea for you to walk on that ankle. The physician diagnosed her with a sprained ankle, wrapping it tightly in bandages and sternly telling her to try not to walk on it for a while. Of course, all of the boys that were waiting outside the room, made sure you stayed true to your word, helping you heal. You met again with Yeji later, laughing when you saw her wrist wrapped the same way as your ankle.

A sigh of a laugh, left y/n's lips as she remembers the memory. The wind blew in her face, making her feel as if she was on top of the world. Within a few minutes, they both arrived in front of the town hall. Many people having had the same idea as them, standing in front of a board, holding many different flyers, all holding the word 'King' on them. Y/n's eyes glitter across the words trying to work out what this all meant.

A feeling of anxiety and a slight bit of fear filled her body as she read what the hanji said. The King was looking for a wife, this she already knew. But every woman from a noble family and upwards had to apply for it, failure to do so would mean that the Kingdom's officers would bring the family out and strip them of their pride in front of their town. Your heart sank, as you realised that you would have to partake in this.

A man dressed in a blue and white hanbok, with dark brown hair, warm brown eyes and plump pink lips, walked into the square where the hall sat.

"Annyeong haseyo. Kim Seokjin imnida" the handsome man began, his eyes falling onto the crowd. Your eyes briefly connected before he looked away. "I am the Supreme Commissioner. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be my face you see, although I'm sure that the majority of you have seen enough announcements in the town square to know who the usual person is" he carries on, his laughter filling the air, making you laugh under your breath at the noise.

"However, due to the circumstances, the responsibility has fallen onto my shoulders. And it is my job to announce to this town and a few of the surrounding villages and towns, to announce that the King has begun his search for his Queen. Any woman between the ages of 18 and 24 from a noble of higher status is required to begin the process of application to become the royal bride." he tells the crowd, his eyes scanning them all again. "Failure to do so will result in the family that refused the process of application, to be publicly humiliated and lose all titles they may hold, in front of everyone" he stops for a breath "and the King". The rumbles of chatter that had filled the square fell silent at the mention of the King.

The King wasn't a bad man, far from it. Although he was feared throughout the country, for his war tactics and victories, he was also known for being kind to his loyal court officers. The man was also known to have a close-knit group of advisors. However, there were rumours about the advisors, and the relationship they had with the great King. You never took the rumours seriously. The relationship that they had, it had nothing to do with you, so you never spent too much thought or energy on the rumours. "Applications must have been started within 6 days, and the process begins on the 7th day".

The noise within the crowd began again, mumbles from men, giggles from women, questions beginning to fall from children's lips. The voices of the crowd are silenced again when Seokjin continues his speech, "I wish you all good luck, and hope to see many of you at the procession", his speech finished with a wink to the crowd before turning and leaving the podium from which he stood on.

Yeji turns to you with a bright smile gracing her glowing skin. Excitement is clear on all of her features. She quickly takes your hands in her own soft ones. She looks into your eyes, her excitement dulling slightly when she sees the anxiety that is filling up your eyes. "This could be a good thing, it could solve some of your family money problems," she said, squeezing your hands in comfort. "or it could make it worse" you retorted, a frown pulling at the corners of your mouth.

Yeji could understand where you were coming from, growing up with you, she had seen your family go from strength to strength and then fall, nearly falling to a lower class, meaning she would lose her best friend, due to the distaste of classes mixing together. A small feeling of joy filled her when she was told that your family was still within the band of a noble. Deep inside she knew that even if your family fell even further from grace, she would never let you go, you were her best friend, practically a sister to her.

"It's not like either of us has a choice," she says a frown gracing her once happy features "but, this is something we need to do. For our families, for our country, for our King. We need to take the plunge" she says before taking your hand and pulling you towards the men holding the application papers.

The Seal of the Dragon

Chapter three: The application

warnings: mentions of weight, AFAB character, mentions of female body parts, references to the weight of M/C, loosely based on my own research of the ancient Korean royalty system, arguing, harsh words, swearing, mentions of alcohol

message me if you feel I need more warnings

Anxiety filled your entire body as you stepped closer to the men holding the applications. You knew that when you took this application back to your father, and before you would even have a chance to tell him about the repercussions if you didn't apply, he would be on his way out of the door, on his way to the local tavern to waste away more money that was nearly all gone.

Your slightly shaking hand reaches out and takes the papers from the formally dressed man in front of you. You can't even bring yourself to make eye contact with the man, just putting all of your focus into holding yourself up and not dropping the paper that you had clenched in your fist. A shakey breath leaves your mouth, as you turn back around to your best friend. A gentle reminder from the woman to breathe has you letting out a deep breath, looking around. You begin to notice the other women in the square. Women who were nearly as beautiful as the stunning woman beside you.

A little voice in your head tells you that there's no point in being worried about the selection process. It was expected of a royal family member to be thin, yet with childbearing hips, and an auspicious face. You weren't skinny, you had never been. Never being able to lose the weight to look like the people that surrounded you. You had begun to learn to love your body, but there were days when this would become hard. Especially days like today, when you were surrounded by gorgeously elegant women, all looking to become the royal bride.

But, you knew that this was something that you had to do, for the sake of your family. For the sake of the pride of your mother, for the sake of your siblings. You couldn't let them down, that wasn't an option. And it would never be an option.

You turn back to Yeji, smiling slightly at her. "I think it's time I took my leave and returned home" you began "heaven knows that my father will have heard whispers about this and will be expecting me home"

Yeji nods, linking her arms with your own again, turning you back towards the road to your homes. No words were muttered between either of you, thoughts in both of your heads filling your focus. The silence between the two of you was comfortable, neither of you needing to speak, knowing that if you needed to talk, the other would be there for the other. "It'll be okay," she says as you arrive in front of the gate to your home.

Taking another deep breath, you turn to her, smiling warmly, before turning back to the gate, pushing it open, and putting a fake smile onto your face. One that your father either couldn't see through or didn't care to know whether it was fake or not.

As you reached the doors, you slip your shoes off, placing them safely next to the door, where no one can trip over them, unless someone was blindly drunk. Sliding the door open softly, you step inside, looking around the room, quickly making eye contact with both of your parents. You send a genuine smile to your mother, and restore your fake smile when sending a fake smile to your father.

"Eomma, Appa" you began "has the news reached you both?" you asked, waiting for their response. Your father squirmed slightly in his seat, whilst your mother smiled gently at you. They made eye contact with each other before nodding slightly. Sighing, you carried on "The Supreme Commissioner himself visited the town square with the news" you added to the conversation before moving on to the details "it requires any daughter between the age of 18 and 24 from a noble status or higher to apply for the procession which then goes onto the selection process"

"you won't be proceeding with this" your father almost laughs, as he looks you up and down. If the looks you got on the street standing next to your friend didn't make you feel small, the look your father was currently giving you certainly would. Deep breaths seem to be the only thing getting you through today, as the next thing you did, was take a deep breath, before continuing the conversation with your father

"Appa, you have no authority in this decision. The law declares that if you don't begin the process when the royal officers make their rounds and find a daughter of age, they will bring the family to the town square and humiliate them... not just in front of the town" you paused before finishing "but also in front of the King"

Y/n suddenly jumped remembering the rest of the details that you knew your father would hate "failure to give your daughter to the King will result in the family losing all title, money and pride"

Your father's face paled instantly, knowing he now had to decide between drinking and using the money to put his only daughter forward for the King. "Maybe I could do both," the man thought to himself. Your mother sighed, before speaking "Cheonsa, it would be an honour to present you to our gracious King. We must begin preparations now" The woman who always makes you think of elegance, stands from her seat. Beginning to busy herself with preparations, not even sparing her husband a look, knowing that if he had his way, then the family would be stripped of everything and publically humiliated. She would not let that happen to her family, she would die before that happened.

"The palanquin needs to be restored and decorated" she began, pacing the length of the room "then we must begin the process of application. There is much to do". The mother begins to walk toward her daughter, the sight making her nervous. Once her mother reaches her, she takes the piece of paper out of her hands, briefly glancing over it, seeing what she would need.

"Go prepare yourself for dinner, we are dining with the Hwang's" your mother says, smiling at you, before turning around and leaving the room. You nod, even though she would not see it, before bowing and leaving the room quietly. Once out of the room, you waited to hear any noises coming from the room your father was still sitting in. Hearing nothing after a moment or two, you move your body to head toward your room. You debate changing into a cleaner hanbok, but you decide against it.

Looking in the mirror, you notice that your hair looked rather dishevelled. This makes you decide that the best decision is to sit in front of the mirror and attempt to tidy it.

After a few minutes of trying to sort it out, you have only made it worse. Seeing your reflection in the mirror made you frown. You looked tired and stressed, the stress evident in the way your eyebrows knotted together. You rest your arms on your dresser, letting your head rest on your forearms. Your hair that had already fallen out of the hairstyle from you trying to fix it, falls around your head, surrounding you in a shadow.

A knock on your door alerts you that someone wanted to come in. Another sigh leaves your lips, as you lift your head up, letting whoever was at the door enter.

Your heart drops into your stomach when you see who was behind your door. It was your father and he was angry.

"How dare you tell me that I have no choice in this matter. I am the parent, not you, DO NOT treat me as a child" he begins yelling. He begins moving towards you, his anger seeping out of his every pore. You quickly stand up from your position, thinking it would be safer. Your father disagreed, this made him angrier. He lunges forward grabbing what was left of the braids in your hair and yanking his hand towards the floor, making you fall head first onto the floor with a thump.

"I AM THE MAN OF THIS HOUSE" he continues "I MAKE THE RULES, NOT A FAT LITTLE GIRL WHO WON'T EVEN MAKE IT PAST THE FIRST STAGE" he yells, crouching down to get in your face. his voice returns to normal as he grabs your hair again, pulling it towards his face "I wish you were never born. You should have died, not your sister. You're a disgrace" he finishes. throwing your head to the ground again. You try to keep the whimper inside, but it comes out making your father even angrier. But before he can continue on his rampage against your emotions and your head, your mother storms in, fire raging in her eyes. She grips the angry man by the ear, pulling harshly. She uses the grip she has on his ear to pull him out of the room and eventually out of the house.

Moments later she returns to your room, scooping you up in her arms. "Know you are none of the things that he said you are, nae salang/sarang" she whispers into your hair. Your head pounds as you lay curled up in your mother's arms. Shock still absorbing you, you stay deadly still in her arms, worrying that the man that you once adored would come back in. Somehow knowing that you wouldn't respond to anything for a few minutes, she begins stroking your hair, gently singing a lulaby from when you were little [AUTHORS NOTE: this is what i found from searching into a Korean lullaby, as i don't quite know how to type Korean, ill be writing it in how its spoken]

" mong mong geya jitjimara, uri agi jaldo janda, ggoggo dakah ulgimara, uri agi danjam ggenda, jajang jajang uri aga, jaldo janda uri aga" she softly signs. Slowly you can feel yourself calming down as the gentle strokes on your scalp continue along with the gentleness that your mother's voice holds.

"jaldo janda uri aga, byul bodado bitnan aga, jajang jajang uri aga, jaldo janda uri aga" Your mother finishes the first chorus, ready to carry on to the chorus once again when you decide to turn around and hug her tightly around the neck. Once you are ready to let you, you push yourself away from your mother looking at her face, worry clearly etched into her skin. "Now look at this hair," she says, "I thought I told you to get ready, not get worse" she smiles jokingly at you. Pushing a piece of hair behind your ears, she smiles lovingly at you "now let's get this hair sorted"

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Considering how the early part of your evening went, the rest of the evening went well. Your father even going as far as to barely drink. You think it had something to do with the constant glares he received from your mother, along with the bruise blooming on the skin of his ear. The sight of your mother scolding your father with just her eyes made you smile a bit. It made you feel safe, knowing that as you went away, even if it was just for a few days that your mother would be fine, and you wouldn't need to worry about her in that regard.

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The days leading up to when the application had to be handed in moved faster than you would have liked. Your house bustling with people trying to prepare for the procession and the first test. You had begun to hear about hidden tests, that mattered, but not everyone knew about. For example, there was a test within a ceremony. When the eligible women entered the Palace, they would need to stand on a pot lid, this was to send a message to the Kitchen God that a woman would be entering the family and to look after them, however, the secret test was that as they stood on the lid, if it moved they wouldn't be considered a good match, or "too heavy". This filled you with anxiety. Knowing that before you even took a step into the Palace, you would have already failed a secret test. In your heart, you just wanted to protect your family, for them to be proud of you. And the first test filled your mind with doubt.

Yeji and her family were also preparing for her to enter the castle. You had a feeling she was going to go much further than you, her beauty and intelligence and most of all her body type, getting her further than you could only dream of. Although sometimes you were jealous of your friend, you wished her nothing but happiness and luck with her future, especially if she became the royal bride.

The day before the procession, where the royal officers would attend each house, allowing the family to present their daughter, or rather their daughter within her palanquin, with the families servants ready to take her to join the procession towards the castle, you met up with Yeji.

When the two of you had found a sunny spot on a large wooden square bench area, where many would sit for picnics, you laid down, hand in hand. before you could stop it, the words blurted out of your mouth "are you scared?". Yeji turned her head towards you, her face contorted in confusion. "scared?" she repeated. "scared about leaving your family, about how your life will change when you proceed" you responded. "I wouldn't say scared, more nervous" she ended as you sat there and nodded. "I think you'll go just as far as I will, if not further" the woman continued, this time turning her whole body to face you, placing her free arm under her head. This comment made you laugh, as you turned your own body towards your best friend. the look that your friend gave you after your comment, had you shrinking slightly and offering her a small smile.

"your body may be different, but your soul shines through, you are the cleverest woman in town and everybody knows that. And if anyone says anything, I'll fight them. You are worth living in a cell for the rest of my life cheonsa", she spoke, her statement being followed with the most radiant smile you have ever seen in your life. The King would be a lucky man, when he took her as his bride, you thought, the image making your heart swell with love.

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The very next day, in the early hours, when the sun has barely risen above the ground, you are woken up, both maids and your mother bustle around your room, packing away the last of your things as if you were going to be spending weeks away. Your mother smiles down at you when she sees your eyes open watching everyone around you.

"good morning sleepyhead" she chirps at you, with much more energy than someone should have at this time of day. Thankfully your father was nowhere to be seen, making you feel calm and relaxed, rather than anxious and stressed. A deep breath starts your day, as you pull yourself to stand up. A maid, who looks like she must be the daughter of one of the remaining maids that you could afford, rushes over to you, handing you a ceramic cup of water, with a bright smile on her face. You thank her with an equally big smile on your face, hoping to let her know that not everyone in your house was like your father. Your mother turns to look at you once again before continuing with what she was doing, what that was you weren't entirely sure of, "go get washed up nae salang/sarang, it's nearly time to get ready for the procession". You nod, moving towards the door, and to near the room that held the basin full of water, a large tub full of water and another basin, used for your bodily functions. Removing your night robes from your body, you step towards the bath, stepping in, sighing in comfort when the water was just as you loved it.

You weren't sure how long you had been in the bath when there had been a knock at the door. "Excuse me, ma'am, Madam says that you need to get out of the bath, wash your hair and face, and return to your room, as soon as possible" the voice from the other side of the door spoke. A soft smile found its way onto your lips. "Thank you Wonyoung" You responded, moving your hands to find the towel that had already been prepared for you when you entered. standing up, you hear the sound of water sloshing around you, the sound reminds you of the sea for some reason, and it makes you smile. you move the fabric around you before moving your hands to the bowl that is kept next to the bath for the purpose of washing your hair. Once your hand gripped onto the bowl, you placed the bowl in the water, still holding on to it, and then bend the top half of your body over the side of the bath. Once your hair was washed, you moved over to the basin that was full of water for you to wash your face with. You cup your hands in the water, letting the almost cold water calm you, before lifting your hands towards your face. you repeat this, 3 more times before using the small towel that was next to the basin to dry your face off. Catching your reflection in the small mirror that was hung on the bathroom wall, you send a small smile to the mirror you, almost as if you were wishing them luck. Holding onto your towel, and picking up your night clothes, you head back into your room, shocked when you just see your mother in the room, with your robes. "Come, let's get you ready for the procession, we don't have long," she says, patting the ground in front of her. you nod, sitting on the floor in front of her. she cups your face, before telling you to turn around so she could sort your hair.

You go to apply makeup before your mother cuts you off "agi, remember the first part of the selection, you aren't allowed any makeup or extravagant hairstyles". you sigh, your anxiety beginning to fill your body. You were already at a disadvantage due to your weight and now you couldn't even hide behind the makeup that you wore daily. "So I'm going to do a sweet braid, with a ribbon holding our family's crest okay, nae salang/sarang". All you could do was nod. Your mother continued telling you about the process for the day. When she got to the part where you would need to climb into the palanquin, your entire body froze, remembering that two men would have to carry your entire weight along with the weight of the palanquin, and just the thought of it filled you with so much anxiety you couldn't move.

"Don't worry agi, it's Chan and Changbin, carrying you, lovely boys, actually they offered to carry you themselves before we even asked anyone. If the process to become the royal bride doesn't go well, perhaps we can set up a marriage alliance with their clan." This calmed your racing mind slightly, the two boys from the Bang clan were the strongest in town and took great joy in showing off their strength. Always flexing their muscles when you were around in such a comical way, that it never failed to make you laugh from your belly. A sound not a lot of people in this town had heard. Finishing with knotting the ribbon to the braid, your mother clenches your shoulders, signalling you to stand up. She leaves the room briefly to allow you to get changed, before returning to help you tie the gorum as she did when you were younger and didn't know how to do it yourself.

Once you were fully dressed, your mother stands back, clutching a handkerchief in her fists. "my beautiful agi" she says, trying to subtly wipe away a small tear that had escaped her eye. Suddenly she perks up as if a lightbulb had appeared over her head. "Don't forget your application papers!" she says as she goes to a box in the corner of the room, grabbing the papers before returning to you.

"Let's get this application process started," you both say

CHAPTER FOUR

Hello to everyone who is interested in the story of 'The Seal of the Dragon' (TSOFTD), I am working on chapter four, trying to make this chapter the best one, especially after the amount of positive feedback I have received.

I wanted to post a few more chapters today, but I haven't even been able to finish chapter 4, however, if I finish the chapter tonight before I inevitably fall asleep (the heat has been keeping me up till 5:30 am in the UK) early, the chapter will be posted. BUT I am hoping that I will be able to post the next chapter, maybe even the next two, tomorrow.

I hope you bear with me and that you enjoy the chapter once it's been released.

Stay safe, stay hydrated and wear a seatbelt.

The Seal of the Dragon

Chapter Four: Enter if you dare

warnings: mentions of weight, AFAB character, mentions of female body parts, references to the weight of M/C, loosely based on my own research of the ancient Korean royalty system, bullying, loneliness, anxiety, money problems, mentions of how other people view characters body

message me if you feel I need more warnings

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The anxiety that filled you, as you felt the palanquin get closer to the Palace, was unlike any anxiety that you had ever felt in your life. All of your feelings hit you at once, and you were unable to decipher which feelings were good and which feelings were bad. A small laugh was heard outside the moving carriage, making you poke your head out to see what was happening.

"Put your head back in woman, I can feel your eyes in the back of my head" Chan laughs, your eyes widen in shock, wondering how he felt your eyes looking at him, as you had barely looked at him. You were beginning to wonder why you and your family had put this effort in, you all knew that it wouldn't go far. You couldn't help but let out yet another deep breath, hoping that this breath would suddenly magic away all the anxiety that your body held. The lively voices of the men you had grown up with continue outside, each of them laughing occasionally, which would make a small smile appear on your face. Especially when Changbin laughed, the noise never failed to make you smile no matter how you felt.

You poke your head out again, trying to be subtle as you didn't want another scolding from your friend. "Y/N, what are you doing?" changbin questions. You close your eyes, grimacing at the fact that you were caught again. Chan laughs loudly. "I was just trying to look for Yeji's palanquin," you said, smiling slightly at changbin. He smiles at you, seeing the anxiety in your eyes before responding "She's in the one ahead of the one in front of us". a sigh of relief leaves your lips, knowing that your best friend was near.

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A few more hours passed before you finally arrived at the Palace. You pull the small lilac fabric back slightly, eyes peering at your surroundings. A gasp leaves your lips, the sight before you leaving you feeling enchanted. The walls were high, and the gate to enter the Palace was made from bright red wood with a decorated top coloured with greens, blues, reds and even golds. There were cherry blossom trees lining the grey walls, the smell of them wafting gently through the air towards your nose. Guards were spaced out across the wall, but more guards were crowded by the gate, watching all of the participants enter the gates.

The guards wore hanboks in glorious red colour, with a belt in almost the same royal blue that you had seen the supreme Commissioner wearing a week before. It takes you a few moments to remember what the tall man's name was, it finally clicking when you think about that afternoon. Kim Seokjin was his name, it was quite fitting you thought. He was very handsome, so handsome that his aura felt ethereal to everyone who saw him. You wondered if you would see the man whose broad shoulders could clearly be seen under his hanbok.

Just moments later, you felt the dark box you were sitting in, come to a stop. Anxiety that you had briefly forgotten about when admiring the guards as they stood by the gate. A soft knock is heard on the wood next to you, making you jump in your spot. "We're here," Chan said, his voice low and almost authoritative, reminding you that you could only go onwards and couldn't run home like you wanted to. "Take a deep breath and come out eolin-i" Changbin adds. And that is what you do. Taking your skirt in your hands as elegantly as you can, you make to take your first step within the Palace grounds. A beautiful smell suddenly hits you once your full body was out of the uncomfortable box, almost reminding you of home. It was a scent that made you feel warm inside, it was the familiar scene of samgyetang, almost smelling just like how your mother at home made it. The smell makes a small appear from the corner of your lips. You catch eyes with Changbin, who knows what you're thinking as your mother frequently made it for the Bang clan with all the help they gave her and your family, and he smiles back at you.

'Maybe things will be okay' you think to yourself. Soon after a loud voice filled the open square. "Ladies, welcome" the voice began "Please move onto the squares that have been prepared on the floor and allow for your palanquin carriers to move it to your spot. The first test begins soon". You look around, seeing where everyone else was going, but during this you finally found Yeji, you subtly wave before taking your first step towards one of the biggest moments in your life. You take your place on a square almost directly in the middle of the square. You hear some people talking around you, and hoping it was Yeji or some of the nicer girls from town talking amongst each other, you try to listen into the conversation.

"Why is she even here, it's not like she'll even make it past the first test. The size of her would repel our Beloved King" one voice says. You feel your heart fall, your anxiety heightens and what once was a smile, turns into a frown. "Indeed, the poor Queen Dowager has to lay her eyes upon the elephant" another continues, making tears well up on your water line. Looking up to the sky, you try to blink away the tears, trying to ignore the two women behind you tearing down your self-confidence quicker than it took to light one of the Palace lanterns. "She's not even dressed to the right standard, how does she even think that she can even present herself in front of the Queen dowager. When I become Queen, I will put her in the dungeons, for committing such a crime to the Dowager" their hate continues, followed by a giggle of the other. Shock fills your system, making you wonder if she could actually do something like that.

Looking around, you noticed that every single other woman around you, Yeji included, was dressed to the best that their money could afford. Worry piles onto your already high pile of emotions that you were feeling. Would you even be allowed to enter the view of the Queen Dowager in your current outfit? But before you could stew on your thoughts even more than you already were, Chan and Changbin arrive next to you with your palanquin next to you, blocking you from the view of people on either side of you. The feeling of the men standing next to you made your anxiety ease slightly, but the feelings still piled high within your heart. You turn to look at the men and open your mouth to say something when another voice cuts you off.

"Welcome Ladies and manservants" the voice begins, this sentence making you turn to the boys and smirk at them slightly, letting them know that you would never let them forget what they had just been called. The giggle that was about to exit your throat, reminded you to look towards the front. And you were not disappointed when you did. Seeing the man that you had been thinking about earlier when you had begun your entrance into the Palace. "Today begins the beginning of the selection process for our King to find his future Queen. That lady being amongst the very people in front of me." He starts "To help me welcome you into the Palace, the Head Directorate Min Yoongi has joined me," he says and turns, his hand pointing towards the shorter man slightly behind him. Min Yoongi looked almost as ethereal as the Seokjin, He had long blonde hair, half tied up in a high ponytail, a black band wrapped around the top of his head. A long pink scar covered his right eye from above his eyebrow to just below his eye. The man was just as attractive as the broad-shouldered man and you knew that a part of him knew that he was attractive. Yoongi takes a step forward, places a small smile upon his lips, and bows slightly before taking a step back, putting him back into his previous position. Smiling, Seokjin continues "Now to begin the process" a pause fills the air "We will begin with the person on the left" he takes his hand and points to the woman to his left, smiling gently at her "You will begin, and the King would like you to announce your name, both family and your given name, your age and your family crest. Please begin".

The woman he had pointed to during his speech, takes a small step forward, bowing deeply to the Supreme Commissioner and Head Directorate, an elegant smile on her lips before announcing her name "Kim Si-Hyeon, 19, Wild Boar" she states, before bowing again and returning to her previous spot. This continues until it reaches you. You repeat the same process that all the women before you had done.

Take a deep breath.

Take a step forward.

Brightest smile.

Bow

"Seo Y/N, 22, tiger"

Bow again.

Step back.

Breathe again.

Once you had finished, you hear small giggles and scoffs from the hate-filled women behind you. You pay no mind to them and continue to listen to the women around you announce themselves. Your breath gets caught in your throat when it gets round to the women who had been spitting hatred at you, "Kim Seol-Hyun, 22, Rabbit", soon followed by "Kwon Eun-Bi, 22, Deer". The voices clashing straight into the memory of when you had attended the school in town to learn how to read and write. The voices that had moments ago filled your heart with hurt, were the same ones who had tried to bring you down when you were barely tall enough to reach the middle shelf in the town library. You feel your whole body freeze, before remembering that they can see you, and try to relax your body.

A few minutes later, all the women in the courtyard had announced their names, their age and their seal. Your anxiety peaked once again, as you remembered that the first test was about to begin. Seokjin stepped forward again, a formal smile graces his face, as he begins to say what the first test would be.

"Well, it is wonderful to meet you all. The first test is the Chogantaek. You will have to remove all your ceremonial robes, leaving you in your underdress', you must also remove ALL makeup and hair accessories. The only accessories allowed are Daenggi's and small headbands. Please also remove your shoes and beoseoh, then return to the spot that you are standing in. The Queen Dowager will arrive in a few moments and will be with her ladies, making her decision row by row. Once she has completed every row, she will confer for one hour with her ladies before announcing her selection. 15 of you will be going through. That is one from every row. On the rare occasion that the Queen Dowager makes a decision to have more than one from each row, we will process with them, however, know this rarely happens" Seokjin takes a step back, then nods his head towards a group of guards. The guards take their staffs, stomping them on the ground, yelling out and announcing the arrival of Queen Dowager.

The Queen Dowager enters, wearing the ceremonial red Wonsam. Her ladies in waiting also wearing their ceremonial clothing, the Dowager, however, stood out brightly among the rest. The sight of the woman took your breath away, your body subconsciously standing taller. The ladies surrounding the Dowager separated, moving to form a line behind the woman as she joined the Supreme Commissioner on the podium. Everyone bowed deeply before her.

"Good luck" was all she said, before moving off of the podium with her ladies. Moving to return to where she had previously stood. "Now ladies," Seokjin spoke, "Now is the time to enter your palanquins, remove your outer robes, accessories and jewellery and return to your spot". A moment is held in the air before the first women moved to their boxes, the rest following suit once the first had moved.

You move into your palanquin, leaving your hair braided with the daenggi tied in your hair. You undo the goreum, that held the two sides of your jeogori together, letting it slip off of your shoulders. You then take off your chima, before folding it and placing it on the seat that you had spent the last few hours sitting upon. A short anxious breath escapes from your lips before you leave your palanquin once again. You make eye contact with the boys standing near you, both of them throwing a thumbs up your way, making you feel slightly at ease.

More and more women entered back into the courtyard, standing where they once were. It only took a minute or two before everyone had returned. Another stomp is heard, along with the yells, before the Queen Dowager is standing in front of you all again. "As I stated earlier, we will be going row by row, starting with the first row." Seokjin states, before moving down the stairs at the front of the podium that you had not seen before, he turns, holding his hand up for the Dowager. She takes his large-looking hand, moving gracefully down the steps. The ladies who had come back out with her, moved in a row behind her, as the group moved to the woman who introduced herself first. The group began talking amongst themselves as they passed through each trio. Once they reached the end of each line, they would turn to each other, talking almost silently among each other, before turning back to Seokjin, mentioning something, he would write it down, and they would continue to the next row.

Your heart pounded inside your chest as she eventually reached your row. She began to the right of you, moving what felt both slow yet fast, closer and closer to you. She soon reached you. You bowed deeply to the woman in front of you, bowing as low as your body would possibly let you. "You may rise," she says, you bow your head, before returning to your standing position. "What is your name?" she asks you, staring into your eyes, making you feel nervous as you answer "Seo Y/N, Your Royal Highness" you respond. "Your age? And seal?" she questions "22, Your Royal Highness, and my seal is the tiger, My Queen" you finish. She lets out a small laugh, a sweet smile gracing her pink lips.

"Why do you want to become Queen?" The older woman continues her questions. You take a moment to respond, making the Queen Dowager raise her eyebrow slightly. "I want to make my family proud of me, to make a difference when and where I can" you answer finally. Your answer makes the woman smile. "A beautiful answer" she responds. Turning, nodding to her women, and continuing on to the woman next to you.

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Around 15 minutes later, all rows had been gone through, and now was the moment of truth. You would find out if you made it through to the next stage of the first test.

"When I call your name, please step forward" Seokjin starts, then looking down at his list, he beings

"Row one; Kim Si-Hyeon, Row two; Ahn So-Hee, Row three; Bae Suzy, Row four; Cho Mi-Yeon, Row five; Nam Da-Won Row six; Jung Eun-Bi, Row seven; Go Woo-ri" He counts, announcing each girl "Row eight" hearing your row makes your heart stop and your body freeze. "Hwang Yeji" a short pause follows "and Seo Y/n". If your heart hadn't stopped before when hearing your row, it definitely would have, hearing your name falling from the plump pink lips of the Supreme Commissioner.

You. Had. Passed.

"Row Nine; Kim Seol-Hyun AND Kwon Eun-Bi, Row ten; Han Sun-Hwa, Row Eleven; Lee Ji-Eun, Row twelve; Jang Won-Young, Row thirteen; Kang Mi-Na, Row Fourteen; Kim Si-Jeong, Row fifteen; Lee Hye-Ri" He finishes his list of names before returning his vision to the crowd. "Thank you to those who did not pass, your marriage ban has lifted, and we humbly ask for you to return to your cities, towns or villages. Those who did pass, please gather at the front, we will have men escort your palanquins and manservants to your accommodations and they will meet you there, as they will be assigned by the Queen Dowager once you have completed the next test". You wait a moment, turning to Chan and Changbin behind you muttering a quiet "see you later" to them, before placing your hands together and moving towards the front. On your way, however, the women who you had identified as your childhood bullies, decide to bash their shoulders into yours, making you nearly fall to the ground, a small hand catches you, making you turn around. You see Yeji glaring at the women in front of you. Clasping onto her hand, you straighten yourself up, trying to ignore the pink flush that has risen to your cheeks in embarrassment.

"Wonder how fatty got through," the taller bully says to the shorter one, the other quickly responding "must have bribed her, there's no other way someone of her size would have gotten through to this second part"

"The same could be said about you, don't you think," Yeji says, speaking again before they could open their mouths "you must have had a pretty big bribe to get through, there's no way the Queen Dowager would allow someone as spiteful and rude as you through her walls otherwise". A short silence is held between the four of you before Yeji grips your hand and pulls you to the front.

"Congratulations on passing the first half" Min Yoongi begins speaking surprising you all. "The second half of the test begins in a few moments. We ask that you enter through that door, single file, to enter the smaller courtyard where the test is set up for you. Each of you will take a spot in front of a tray. Once you reach your tray, you will see a stick. Use this to right your father's name, before taking your stick, placing it next to it, and standing behind it with your tray. More instructions will follow". Smiling towards Yeji, you both let go of each other's hands, you stand just behind her as you walk to the door that the blonde-haired man had pointed to during his explanation. Close to the door, you saw the pot lid that you knew you would need to stand on. The sight of it, makes your stomach turn, anxiety spike and your fingers clasp at each other in anxiety. The first girl goes, and steps on it, it doesn't move, and she carries on. The process continues until it reaches you. You stand in front of it, place the middle of your foot on the handle, place as little weight on it as you can, and then place your other foot on the front side of the pan. To your surprise, the lid does not move. This makes you let out a small breath, with a quiet laugh of surprise. You carry on towards the smaller square that had been mentioned. Here you see another man standing on the podium, alongside the dowager and her women.

Taking a spot next to Yeji at the end of the row, you crouch down as elegantly as you could, trying to remember all the lessons your mother taught you on how to be as ladylike as possible doing things that most times aren't considered ladylike. Briefly looking up, you notice that most of the other girls are hesitant to crouch down as you were, especially Seol-Hyun and Eun-bi. The sight of this makes you smile slightly to yourself, picking up the stick that was on the tray. You're about to write your father's name, when you realised your tray was in the way, so you move it, before writing your father's name in hangeul. Then you take the tray that you had placed to the side, standing up and waiting for the next instructions.

Whilst the others finish writing their father's names on the ground, another young man who you don't recognise walks around with a piece of hanji in his hand and a long black writing brush in his hand, writing something down about the writings that had been finished.

"We will begin the next part of the test. I have had another person go around and write who completed their task first, and this test will be going in order of who finished it first. Once the name has been called out, that person will come to the podium with their tray, they will have a pot of tea, and six very special tea cups placed on their tray. You will need to take the filled tray to the Queen Dowager and her ladies and serve them tea. You are being judged on your basic etiquette. Once this is completed, you will return to your spot." the unknown man speaks. "Once everyone has completed this test. You will be assigned to the accommodations, that our gracious Queen Dowager has selected for each of you. Good Luck, let's begin. Seo Y/n"

As your heart pounds in your chest, you take your tray in both hands, keeping it as straight as possible, moving towards the podium. Once you reach the podium you wait at the steps, "you may enter the podium" the man who had given you instructions tells you. You knew more than anything that right now, you would need to rely on your manners and etiquette more than your style, hoping that these would shine through to the Queen Dowager. Taking one step at a time until you reached the top, you tried to remind yourself to breathe in and out. It takes mere seconds for you to reach the man at the top of the podium. You bow, again as low as you can, to the man in front of you He nods his head briefly back at you, before nodding to the men to the side, themselves holding teapots and teacups. They begin to come over to you, placing the teapot and teacups on your tray. You bow slightly towards them, careful not to tip the tray over. Once all the items were on the tray, you took a careful first step towards the Queen Dowager and her ladies in waiting. It took only a few steps before you reached their table. You tried to place the tray down on the table in the centre as you could before kneeling in front of the table. Bowing once more to the Queen Dowager, and then bowing slightly higher to the Queen's ladies, you took the teapot off of the tray, holding it with both hands, careful not to let any spill. You place it down, before moving to take the teacups. First the Queen Dowager, then the ladies next to her, slowly going out more and more until you reached the ladies on the end. Retaking the teapot, you pick it up before returning to the Queen Dowager "Would you like some tea, Your Royal Highness?" You ask. She nods her head slightly at you, letting you pour her tea. You make sure not to pour too much tea, but enough to fill the teacup to a reasonable standard, trying to remember all the lessons your mother had taught you growing up. You turn to the lady next to her, asking her the same question, repeating the process until each lady had a tea. After the final lady had received her teacup of tea, you return the teapot to the tray, bowing once more before you stand up. "Please enjoy your tea Your Royal Highness and her gracious ladies" you state. You take a step to the right before turning and moving back towards where the unknown man was standing.

Once you do, the man nods to the menservants to come back over, and they do, taking the teapot from you. "Please return to your spot," the man says, you nod and bow towards the man, descending the stairs and returning to your spot.

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It took what felt like an age before everyone had finished, some spilling their tea on the floor in nervousness, one girl even breaking a teacup before she could even reach the Queen Dowager. However, worst of all was one of the ladies, whose name you found out to Jung Eun-bi, from the sixth row, spilt her tea and broke a teacup between the Queen Dowager and the lady next to her. It finally came to the time when it would be announced who would pass through to the next round. The square fell silent once again when the still un-named man spoke again.

"I feel that it is time for introductions into who myself and the other man are. My name is Jung Hoseok, the young man who was walking around earlier is Jeon Jungkook. Our jobs, respectively, are The Chief Councillor and High Councillor. The Queen Dowager and her ladies have come to the decision on the ladies she would like to pass through onto the next stage, which is called Jaegantaek, and those who passed will receive further instructions as to what it is. However, now is time to talk about the ladies who passed.". The other man who you could now identify as Jeon Jungkook, came forward "Those who did pass, please make a formerly line at the front. Those of you who have not passed, please return to your manservants and return to your homes. Your marriage ban has been lifted and we thank you for your cooperation within the process."

" Kim Si-Jeong" one.

"Bae Suzy" two.

"Cho Mi-Yeon" three.

"Hwang Yeji" four.

"Kim Seol-Hyun" five.

"Han Sun-Hwa" six

"Kwon Eun-Bi" seven.

Shit. That's seven. There was barely ever more than that. It was such an unheard-of occasion for it to actually be more than seven. And your name wasn't part of that seven. Do you feel relieved or happy? Yeji sends a small smile your way before moving into the line. Your bullies send you a smirk and walk smugly over to the line.

"And on a very rare occasion, we have an eighth candidate" Jung Hoseok lets the information fill the air, everyone taking a breath.

"Seo Y/n"

Posting Schedule

So, you guys, when do you think I should post?

A) Once a week?

B) Every other day?

C)Once every four days?

D)Other?

What words mean

This will be updated as the chapters progress!!

'Omo!' - Often used in Korea instead of 'OMG'

'Annyeonghaseyo' - Polite hello in Korean

'Imnida'- "I am" in Korean

'Pabo' - Idiot/fool

'Hanji'- Ancient Korean word for paper, usually handmade

'Agi'- baby

'Nae Sarang/Salang' - My love

'Cheonsa' - angel

Eomma- mum/mom

Appa - dad

Auspicious - conducive to success; favourable.

Hangeul - Korean written language

Chima- The skirt part of a woman's hanbok

Jeogri- The jacket part of a women's hanbok

Goreum- The ribbon that ties the two sides of the jacket together

Palanquin -  a covered litter for one passenger, consisting of a large box carried on two horizontal poles by four or six bearers.

Samgyetang - Samgye-tang or ginseng chicken soup, meaning ginseng - chicken - soup in Korean, consists primarily of a whole young chicken filled with garlic, rice, jujube, and ginseng. Samgye-tang is a Korean traditional soup for body health. Samgye-tang is a representative summer health food.

'Eolin-I' - little one

Wonsam- The ceremonial robe worn by the Queen dowager, royal concubines and members of the royal court. The colour and shape of the robe differed depending on the position of the wearer.

Daenggi's - ribbon for hair

Beoseon - a type of paired socks worn with the hanbok

The Lullaby - Hey doggie, don’t bark, Our baby sleeps so well, Hey chickie, don’t bark, You’ll wake our child’s sweet sleep, Hush hush our baby, Our baby sleeps so well, A baby more beautiful than the moon, A baby more beautiful than the stars, Hush hush our baby, Our baby sleeps so well

친애하는/ chin-aehaneun - this means dear, but in a loving, kind or affectionate way.

Noona- affectionate term used for men when addressing woman older than them. Sometimes used in couples.

Yeonji- a Korean name for rouge, which was used to colour the lips and cheeks. It could be made from safflower

Chingu- Korean word for friend

Signet ring- A signet ring is set apart from other rings based on an engraved or raised symbol, series of words or letters, or image on the top half of the ring

Gat- The gat, a traditional Korean hat made by carefully threading horsehair and strips of bamboo, was first produced during the Joseon Dynasty 

Norigae- pendants that hang on the goreum of a jeogori or her chima

Cheopji- a traditional hairpin

Gomusin - traditional Korean shoes made out of rubber

Eomeoni- formal and respectful way of saying mum/mom/mother

Gamsahabnida - a formal way of saying thank you

Luncheon- formal lunch or formal way of saying lunch

Angojiki- Angojiki is both a hinged and slideable door.

Chest band- essentially an ancient Korean bra. based off of this

Gongju (공주) -Translates to princess (according to Google)

Chapter Five- Royal Residences Part One

warnings: mentions of weight, AFAB character, mentions of female body parts, references to the weight of M/C, loosely based on my own research of the ancient Korean royalty system, bullying, loneliness, anxiety, money problems, mentions of how other people view characters body

message me if you feel I need more warnings

3.4k words

You made your way to the front, the sound of your name, leaving nearly everyone shocked but your best friend, who had the biggest grin on her beautiful face. No one had expected you to get through, not even yourself. A blush blankets your face as you make your way to the line at the front. A moment passes as everyone waits for the ladies who did not get through to leave the smaller courtyard.

"Congratulations ladies" you hear Hoseok speak, breaking the silence, whilst looking over each and every one of you. You don't know if you were just imagining it, but the tall and handsome man had sent an almost imperceptible smile your way, making your eyes go wide. "Now, myself and Jungkook will tell you your residences, and we will also assign you 2 maids and a manservant for you to use at your convenience"

"Let's start with the furthest away from this little courtyard shall we?" Jungkook questioned, though the question was rhetorical.

"Bae Suzy, You are in the Sapphire Apartment. Along with the manservants, you brought along with you, you are also being assigned Shin Won-ho as your manservant and Kim Tae-Yeon and Chou Tzu-yu as your maids. Please proceed to your apartment"

"Next we have the Chariote Apartment, the person who will be staying there is Han Sun-Hwa. You are being assigned Lee Jong-Hyun, Jeon So-Yeon and Kwon Yu-Ri. Please proceed."

The process carried on.

"Ruby Apartment is for Hwang Yeji, You are assigned Kang Dong-Ho, Ahn Sol-Bin and An Yu-Jin. Please proceed.

"Opal Apartment. Kim Seol-Hyun. Woo Ji-Ho, Son Chae-Young, Cho Seung-Hee"

"Carnelian Apartment. Kwon Eun-Bi. Yoo Ki-Hyun, Lee Hae-in and Lee Young-Yoo"

"Amber Apartment. Choi Mi-Young. Doh Kyung-Soo, Bae Woo-He, Baek A-Yeon"

"Azurite Apartment. Kim Si-Jeong. Lee Byung-Hun, Go Woo-Ri and Park Hye-Won"

At this point, everyone had left apart from you. "Miss Seo, as you were an unexpected candidate, your apartment is still getting ready and the maids needed a few more moments, so we were trying to prolong this for as long as possible. You have been assigned Moon Jong-Up, Ahn Hye-Jin who goes by Maria or Hwa-Sa and Jun Hyo-Seong. I hope that they treat you well. To prolong this even longer as we have not received the signal that they are ready, we are going to give you a tour, are you okay with that?" The pair asked.

"Perfectly." You responded. "It would be my honour" You carried on with a smile. "Please, Lead the way". The two young men smiled at you, before moving down the stairs towards you. Suddenly, you felt incredibly nervous, these incredibly attractive young men were looking directly at you, with no signs of distate anywhere on their faces or bodies. The men took a space on either side on your, Hoseok moving his arms to point the way out of the courtyard. "Do you have a flower that you appreciate the most?" Jungkook asked "Good question Kookie" Hoseok said, the nickname making your eyes widen again, almost not expecting the men to be so close that they were using nicknames. "We might have your favourite here in one of the gardens"

"Cherry blossoms, Chief State Councillor and High Councillor. My most appreciated flower of all is Cherry Blossom." The two men share a look between each other. "That is our Gracious King's favourite, so much that he has a garden dedicated to it, coincidentally, the garden is right next to your apartment" A small gasp left your lips, the excitement evident not just on your face but on your whole body as you turned to both of them, your hands clasping together joyfully. "Really!?! Can we go there?" You asked hopefully. Both men smiled at your excited state before telling you that you could, and led the way, right to the entrance of the garden. There was a small bridge to cross before you would actually be in the park, and you ran quickly across it, accidentally forgetting about the two men behind you. You span round quickly, a giant smile on your face, trying to look everywhere at everything.

"I take it that you like the garden," a voice behind you, which you quickly identified as Hoseok, spoke. "Almost more than anything in the world," You said without thinking. Both men let out a laugh, which made you look at them with a questioning gaze. "You have almost the same reaction as the Good King". This very sentence made you stop in your spot, your face dropping, looking almost horrified to be compared to the King. "Omo, I am not worthy of being compared to our gracious King" You spoke, anxiously wringing your hands together. "My apologies Lady Seo, we didn't mean to make you anxious," Jungkook said. You noticed a young woman run up to the two men and yourself. She spoke quietly to the men, before bowing and turning away. The two men turned to you, smiling slightly "Your apartment is ready Lady Seo, let us lead you there" Hoseok said. Nodding, you spoke gently "Please do lead the way". You bow gently, allowing the men to turn around and lead the way out of the garden that you had fallen in love with, and almost didn't want to leave.

It took barely two minutes before you arrived in front of the apartment. "This is the Emerald apartment. Next to you, there is the Queen Dowager's Garden, you are not allowed to enter that space without her explicit permission" Jungkook stated sternly. "And on your other side is Lady Hwang" Hoseok finished. This made you smile, your apartments here, being closer to each other than the houses in your town were. "Lady Hwang Yeji is my best friend," You spoke gently, a small but warm smile on your face at the mention of your best friend. "We have known each other since we were born, my eomma likes to say that I have two sets of parents, both our parents raised both of us..." you paused, your smile turning into a frown "well my eomma and Yeji's parents, my appa..." you spoke again, your frown becoming bigger. "You don't need to tell us, Lady Seo" Hoseok said calmly, laying a gentle hand on your shoulder. You look up, and into the handsome man's eyes, your eyes slightly blurry with tears, making something flash in Hoseok's eyes. "I feel like I almost need to" you spoke "My appa, he used to be a good man, until he fell from grace, he lost a lot of his respect, and therefore money, and the money he did keep, he used to drink. He would blame me for his drinking, he would tell me it was my fault, that he wished it was I who died and not my sister. Before I left, he attacked me for the first time, he dragged me by my hair to the floor and yelled at me. My eomma, she's a wonderful woman, she grabbed him by the ear and dragged him out of the house once she realised he was in my room and harming me. Appa had a bruise on his ear still, when I left for the procession. My bruises still remain intact too, but when I remember what my eomma did, the fire in her eyes, I feel proud to be her descendant" You finally finished your story.

You could see anger clearly on both men's faces. "I know I need not worry about my eomma whilst I'm here, she is as fierce as the summer in the sky in the summer sky." The warm smile lay on your lips, remembering your eomma. "She sounds like a wonderful woman" Jungkook spoke, a smile that could be perceived as genuine if there were someone looking on from the outside in.

"Anyway's my Chief Councillor and High Councillor, I must leave your warm presence and settle myself into my apartments. I hope to see you soon Your Honours. May the sun warm your cheeks, and the food fills your bellies" You speak eloquently, bowing low before the two handsome men, before turning and leaving their presence to enter your apartments.

The apartment that you entered was spacious and homely. In the room stood your friends Chan and Changbin with large grins on their faces, along with your assigned manservant and maids.

"My Lady, Your room is this way, would you like me to help you redress" Hyo-Seong spoke, her hand pointing to an area separate from the room you all stood in. The room was separated from the room you were in by a wall of sliding doors. The entire apartment was decorated in green and brown, the sliding doors were made of oak, and the cloth was painted with the seal of the kingdom in the colours your apartment was named after. It was a beautiful sight to behold, and you knew that if you had any spare time, you would ask your maids to retrieve any painting items they could get a hold of so that you could show this image to your eomma when you got home again. You knew that she would take great delight in your painting, and knowing how an apartment within the royal castle looked and would love the painting even more so, knowing it came from her daughter.

"That would be lovely Miss Jun" you spoke to the woman. She nodded her head as a slight bow, walking to the room you now identified as your bedroom. In the room, there was a large box placed near the window, on top of it was a new hanbok ready for you to wear. "Would you like a bath Lady Seo?" Hyo-Seong asked. You shook your head, a feeling of exhaustion coming over you in a quick wave. "Do you think it would be possible to sleep for a short period Miss Jun?" You asked hopefully. "Unfortunately not, My Lady, there is much to do. As you have reached the second stage, you must prepare for a meeting with Queen Dowager. You will soon also be accepting gifts from the royal family, of which I am unsure, but you must prepare to receive them. We must also start preparing you for your interview, and the luncheon that is happening tomorrow. There is also a Royal Banquet that we must prepare you for. I assume you have attended a banquet before, but a royal banquet is much more different to the ones of the high class" The maid in front of you explained your schedule for the coming potential one to two weeks that you would be residing in a royal apartment.

"Very well, then we must begin," You say a small polite smile on your face. "What's first?" you ask. "First My Lady, we must dress you," she says, returning your attention back to the box that had caught your attention when you first walked into the room. You didn't recognise the hanbok, remembering all the ones that you owned. "I apologise, but this is not my hanbok," you tell your maid "No My Lady, the Queen Dowager sent this. It's the first gift from the royal family." Excitement fills your body, knowing that this was something that the Queen Dowager herself had someone make and be sent. "But only 6-7 were predicted, and I'm not the average size", you questioned slightly, the anxiety that you had felt earlier in the day returning in full force. "The Queen Dowager had this one sent specifically, it was a hanbok she had in her storage, she wore it when she was pregnant with the King. She sent a letter along with it" you were told before being handed the letter

Dear Lady Seo,

The Royal Family apologises for not having anything prepared for you. I did not have a gift prepared for you, however, your crest is a crest that has a long line, and the crest on your hanbok is a phoenix. This was my family crest before I married King Sejong, the King's late father. It was a hanbok I wore when I was pregnant with the King. I hope that it does you well, as it is now yours. Please meet me in my gardens at 3.

Sincerely,

Her Royal Highness, The Queen Dowager Kim Eun-Ji

"What time is it?" You ask loudly, waiting for anyone in the household to respond. "2:30" you hear someone yell, unsure of who it was due to the closed doors between you. You feel your face pale. Turning to your maid you speak again "We must hurry, please call Miss Ahn in, time is not on our side". The maid nods, before running the door and calling in the other woman.

Within 20 minutes, your hair had been brushed and moved into a restyled updo, behind held back with a purple dwikkoji, your under clothes being changed for cleaner ones, and then the gifted hanbok was placed onto your body. It fit almost like a glove like it was made for you. The jeogori was a gorgeous dark purple colour, decorated with golden detailing featuring a phoenix, the goreum was also in an off-gold colour. The chima was a black colour with the same golden detail. Your beoseons were black as well as your shoes which were decorated in the same gold detailing. With a few minutes to spare, your maids applied some basic makeup consisting of plant ash to apply a dark brown colour to your eyebrows, safflower was used to apply a light rouge to your lips and cheeks and cherry blossom petals took right from the very cherry blossom garden you had just been in (it was a perfume that was on the dressing table when you got here, you had just assumed it was a gift everyone received) mixed with water was used to make a delicious spelling perfume.

With exactly 10 minutes left before the Queen Dowager wanted to see you, you left your apartment, your manservant Moon Jong-Up directing you, almost acting as your guard as well as your guide. When you arrived outside the Queen Dowagers garden, which only took moments as you quickly found out was right next to your apartment, Mr Moon stepped aside to let you enter first, before following you slightly behind, allowing you to look like you had found the garden yourself.

It doesn't take long to notice the Queen Dowager, it shocked you slightly when you saw that she was wearing the same colours just the other way around. The lady in front of you turns towards you, hearing your footsteps. She waits at the top of the stairs of the Pavilion she was standing in. Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, you bow as low as possible to the elegant woman before you. "You're early Lady Seo" the woman speaks. "My apologies Your Majesty, I was excited to meet you once again." You speak, not allowing your nerves to take over your anxiety.

“Don’t be, it is a good thing for a woman to have, to have time management perfected, especially for a woman. Especially for a woman who may be the future mother of the kingdom, the future queen.” She says, her very words making you blush.

“You speak of me too highly My Queen,” you say. “I am eternally grateful for your gracious gift. The fabric is the softest thing I have ever had touch my skin. If there is anything I can do to show my thankfulness, please allow me to do it. Would you like some tea, Your Royal Highness?” you ask, noticing the teapot and teacups whilst you were looking around in nervousness. 

“You need not worry Lady Seo, this is no longer a test, you do not need to pour my tea for me,” she says, her voice full of authority, before nodding slightly to a man that you almost hadn’t seen when you entered the pavilion. “You intrigue me, Lady Seo, you are so unlike the other candidates, both in looks and mentality. Most of your candidates, when I had asked them why they were doing this, responded with generic answers” she speaks “For his Royal Highness the King’s happiness, to get to know you Your Highness” she carries on, her voice changing to mimic the people she was speaking about, at the sound of her change in voice you let out a giggle, covering your mouth. “But your answer, it was different, you wanted to make your family proud. This was something I wanted when I was a candidate to marry the King's late father” she finishes, the words turning the mood serious once more. A lady, small and almost meek approached the table, taking the teapot and pouring tea into both the cups on the table, before retreating to her spot against the wall of the garden. “You have a beautiful garden My Queen,” you tell her trying to achieve the once jovial mood the pavilion had a matter of minutes ago. “I spent a few brief minutes in the cherry blossom garden, and I truly believe that it was the happiest moment of my life,” you tell her, allowing the smile to fill your face as your mind retrieves the memory you were talking of. 

“The King’s favourite spot is also in the cherry blossom garden, he begged his father to plant the trees when he was still King, persuading him by telling him that he would propose to his future queen in that very garden,” the Queen Dowager tells you, allowing you a little into the past of the King, who you were yet to set eyes upon. 

Before thinking, you blurt out “Were you scared when you made the application to become the late King Se-Jeong’s wife?” A few moments pass, and just as you go to open your mouth to apologise, the dowager stops you. “I was, in fact, I was terrified, to tell you the truth, I never wanted it, but I needed to do it for the pride of my family. I was lucky that I fell in love with the King eventually, and we had a good, long and happy life,” she answers with a small smile on her face, reminiscing on the memories of her past. “I actually have a few questions for you myself if you don't mind”

“It would be my honour to answer your questions My Queen” you respond, nervousness filling your body even more. 

“The king is very… uh… close with his closest men. Would that be a problem with you?” she starts. “Of course not, if our Great King is happy, then I myself shall be happy,” you respond, hoping your answer satisfies her. She nods, with a small hum of approval. 

“And concubines? What are your opinions on the concubines?” she continues her questioning. 

You pause, this was something you had thought about. “Well My Queen, I have a feeling that if I was ever to become Queen, the other two candidates that would have gotten through, would be my school bullies-” the queen cuts you off after hearing of your bullies “Your bullies are in the palace?” She questions with an eyebrow raised. 

“Yes Your Highness, Kim Seol-Hyun and Kwon Eun-Bi, their apartments are Carnelian and Opal if I remember correctly”, the Queen Dowager nods again. “So what would you do if you became Queen and them the concubines?” She asks, her interest even more peaked. 

“Part of me would want to through them into the dungeons like they had threatened they would do with me earlier today. Another part of me would want all of the king's concubines gone but the biggest part of me wants the King to be happy, and if the concubines make My Great King happy, then I shall live with the concubines.” The Queen Dowager looks almost shocked. “The Kings happiness, at the end of the day, will always be my source of happiness, whether I get through to the final round, or I don’t. The King, from what I have heard in rumours spread across cities and towns, near and far, is that when the King is happy, the land thrives, and the people are well. My family are part of his people, and as well as making them proud, I desperately want them to be happy… even my father.” you tell her.

“Your father?"

Another BIG question for you all!

Should i include my puppy as a character in the story. Still as a puppy, but just involve her in it. Let me know what you think!

So my aim when writing TSOTD was for it to be as historical as possible, with creative leaneancy (sp?) for the plot. I'm taking some time, for this chapter, to make sure it's historically accurate as history is something I deeply love, and it is something I think should be appreciated.

I am working on the next chapter, but life is hectic as well, so I hope you all enjoy the next chapter

The Seal Of The Dragon Masterlist

Chapter One - Trials and Tribulations Chapter Two - Taking the Plunge Chapter Three - The Application Chapter Four - Enter If You Dare Chapter Five - Royal Residences Pt 1 Royal Residences Pt 2 Royal Residences pt 3 Chapter Six - The Royal Announcement Chapter Seven- The Move Chapter Eight- Cherry Blossom Courtyard

Extras: What Words Mean Seokjin's Gift Yoongi's Gift Hobi's Gift Jimin's Gift Taehyung's Gift Jungkooks Gift Namjoon's Gift Taglist

Chapter Five- Royal Residences Part 2

warnings: mentions of weight, AFAB character, mentions of female body parts, references to the weight of M/C, loosely based on my own research of the ancient Korean royalty system, bullying, loneliness, anxiety, money problems, mentions of how other people view characters body

message me if you feel I need more warnings

3,098 Words

There will be small blurbs following this for the next few days, letting you know what the gifts they receive from each of the boys, each boy getting their own blurb.

"Your father?"

“Indeed, my Queen” you started, taking a slow breath, trying to work up the courage to discuss your father with the intrigued woman in front of you. “My father used to be a good man. A kind man even. But then we lost a lot of money in one go, and he turned to drink. He would waste away the money we did have every night, and when he would come home…” you felt your eyes begin to water, but you couldn’t allow yourself to cry in front of the Queen Dowager. “The night before I left to begin this process, my father attacked me for the first time” you tried carrying on. The look on the woman’s face turned from intrigue to horror within seconds, flashes of anger passing through her eyes, which she tried to hide away from you with quick blinks. 

“He attacked you?” The Dowager responded, trying to keep her voice stable, not wanting to make you more upset than you already clearly were.

“I had come home with the application and had told him that all eligible ladies had to apply. He did not want me to. He knew the money he used on drinking would have to go towards the preparations, and he wasn’t happy with that. I feel I may have aggravated him slightly however, he had told me that I wasn’t permitted to apply for this process, and I told him that he had no say in it, that the king himself requested it, and the repercussions that we would face if we didn't. And he quickly fell silent in anger. My mother on the other hand quickly began preparations, trying to raise my confidence in myself. We were meant to have dinner that night with a family we were friends with, my best friend, she's even here, as part of the process." you began your story

"She's here?" the Queen Dowager probed

"Hwang Yeji, my Queen" you responded. The Queen Dowager nodded in recognition. Her silence queuing you to speak once again

"so my mother had sent me to my room to begin sorting out my hair and readjusting my clothes for dinner. And that is what I had started doing when I heard a knock on the door. I stupidly assumed it was just my mother, as she's the only one usually to knock on my door. My father usually only spoke to me in distaste, blaming me for his drinking, that it was all my fault, and that he was using this money for my future. I still don't know what he meant by that" you carried on, letting out a dry laugh. The Queen Dowager showed a tight smile.

"It was never your fault. I hope you know that" she told you.

"You sound like my eomma," you told the older woman, looking at her and giving her a small smile, the dowager responding with a similar smile. A small silence passed again, letting you carry on your story.

"Anyways, he had stormed in, his voice was this weird level where it wasn't yelling but it wasn't speaking at a normal decibel. I remember every word he told me that night. Every. Single. One." the tears welling in your eyes again. "how dare you tell me that I have no choice in this matter, I am the parent, not you, DO NOT treat me as a child" 

Remember to take a breath a voice inside you reminded you. So you took a deep breath, continuing your story "He grabbed what was left of the braids that were still in, and yanked on them slightly, and then he yanked it even further and threw me to the floor by my hair" your voice wavered as you began to cry. but you carried on "He began yelling "I am the man of this house" he had yelled in my face" you wipe a tear that had made its way to your chin "and then he continued "I make the rules, not a fat little girl who won't even make it past the first stage" and then his voice returned to normal before he grabbed my hair and told me the thing that hurt the most" more tears fell down your face, you couldn't even look at the Dowager. "He grabbed my hair for the final time and got so close to my face I could smell the beer that he had drunk earlier in the day and said "I wish you were never born, you should have died, not your sister. You're a disgrace" and then he shoved my head into the ground again"

"But, no matter what he has done, he is still my father. I still love him, despite his aggression towards me. At the end of the day, I have always wanted him to tell me that he was proud of me, though I know that will never happen. I just hope that by getting this far, by doing this much, maybe just maybe, he will be proud of me, even if he doesn't say so" you finished. You heard the Dowager taking a deep breath and sniffing slightly, trying to subtly wipe away the tears that had fallen during your story. She turned towards you more and took your hands in her own. A knowing smile on her lips. "I went through a similar thing to yourself before I became the Queen," she told you "my father was a heavy drinker, and although we didn't lose our money, he just didn't treat me the way he treated my siblings. He would always tell me when others couldn't hear that I was a disappointment and that anything that went wrong for our family was my fault" her story began. You could almost picture the woman in front of you, younger and looking the same way you had just weeks before.

"He never physically abused me, the dressers I had would have seen it and reported it to my mother, who would have been beyond furious with my father. My mother never knew about what he told me on a daily basis either. At least that's what I tell myself, it's the only way I can heal" her story carried on, "But when Namjoon could speak, he would always run up to me and call me the 'Bestest eomma in the world' and it was always he kind words that made me so happy and allowed me to slowly heal. Healing is a slow process that only you and time can heal. You are worth more than what your father told you and I hold hope for you and what you can do in the future. I almost see me in you" her words spilt out of her mouth, her hands still holding yours tightly in her own. “Would you like to join a luncheon between my ladies and me tomorrow afternoon?” the Queen Dowager suddenly blurted out. 

“Me?” You responded quickly, shock evident on your face at the Dowager’s question. “Are you questioning me?” the Dowager retorted “Of course not!” You quickly responded “I just cannot believe that you want me to attend an event as prestigious as a luncheon between the Dowager and her ladies. It is an event well spoken of throughout the kingdom” you explained. 

“My dear I was only jesting. I can understand your shock” she laughed “Meet my guards, any one of the four, and don’t worry, I’ll have someone write their names down for you, in front of my apartment tomorrow, they will bring you to the luncheon. Wear something purple, chin-aehaneun, I truly believe that it is to be your colour” she said. “Now, let us finish our tea before dinner is to be served” she grinned, the happy twinkle back in her eyes. She guides your hands back to your teacup and lets go of them once they reached where she wanted. You smiled back, lifting your teacup to your lips, letting the sweet liquid ease down your throat. This had to be the best tea that you had ever had the pleasure of drinking. You look around you, finally taking in the beauty that surrounded you, allowing a content sigh to leave your lips. 

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Anxiety ran through you again the next day when you were ready and leaving your apartment to find the Queen Dowager’s guard. Once again, it took only a few minutes to arrive at the Dowager’s apartment. This time, you walked past her personal garden and to the front of her apartment. And when you did, you saw two people, one man and one woman, both beautiful. 

Before you could reach the beautiful people ahead of you, you heard a voice that immediately changed your mood. 

“Don’t you think it’s a bit desperate to be hanging around the Dowager’s apartment?” Kwon Eun-Bi snarled. 

“As if she would want to even be in your presence” Kim Seol-Hyun continued.

What none of you realised, however, was that the two guards you had previously been approaching, had been listening in to the conversation. And that they would definitely be relaying this to their boss, the Dowager. 

“As fun as this conversation is, I’m afraid I have someplace to be. If you’ll excuse me” You respond, keeping your voice calm and composed despite the anxiety heightening inside your mind and body. 

“Oh please, be our guest” they responded sarcastically. Pretending to be letting you go from their conversation. You begin to move away from them, truly thinking that they were letting you go. But before you could even take two steps forward, one of the ‘lovely’ ladies had stuck their foot out, tripping you over. Seeing you on the floor, they giggled and walked off.

Seeing that the two ladies had finally walked off, the two other people there, ran towards you on the ground. 

“Lady Seo! Are you okay?” A female voice said, making you look up from your place on the floor. Entranced by her beauty, you forget to respond. The woman in front of you becoming more worried about your lack of response. “Lady Seo?” She asked again shaking you out of your trance, reminding you to nod your head. Both of the people standing, let out a huff of laughter at your response to them. The woman, whose name you didn’t know, offered you her hand, and you took it, letting it help you to stand. 

“Thank you, Lady…” you spoke, hoping that she would tell you who she was, that she would take your hint. She smiled, bowing deeply to you before speaking “I am no lady, Lady Seo, my name is Kim Hyun-ah, and this is my husband Kim Hyo-Jong, but everyone calls him Dawn.” hearing his name, Dawn bows deeply with a smile on his face. 

Dawn finally speaks “We're here to bring you to the Queen Dowager’s luncheon. Would you be okay with me using this handkerchief to dust you off Lady Seo?” the man asks, waiting for your consent before doing anything. You nod slightly, a blush covering your face. The man pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and uses it to wipe off the sand and dust that had covered your chima due to your ‘fall’. It took a few moments before he had wiped it all from your clothing. Well, he had wiped most of it, not daring to go near your chest area. He passes the handkerchief to you “There is some on your chest my lady” he says. “Thank you,” you say, taking it from his hands with both of yours, trying to show your respect, not knowing their age. Using it, you wiped off the last of it, that had been laying on your chest. 

“Beautiful Lady Seo” Kim Hyun-ah speaks, a large smile covering her angelic-looking face. “Let us go,” she said, taking Dawn's hand, before briefly turning to you “And please call me Hyuna” turning back, she begins walking towards a building you had not yet been into. 

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The luncheon, once you had arrived, had gone very well. You had even been invited to another one the day after. This process happens for the next four days, each time, you enjoy yourself more and more, allowing yourself to open up about the subjects that mattered the most to you, to the ladies who found themselves resonating with you. On the fifth day, the Queen Dowager decided to skip the luncheon that day, and as much as you enjoyed the luncheons, you desperately wanted to revisit the cherry blossom garden that you had entered on your first day in the palace. 

So this is how you spent your day, happily pondering around the cherry blossom garden. You wore a pale pink jeogori, with a slightly darker goreum. Your chima was the same colour as your goreum, and you had a cherry blossom tree embroidered onto the back of the jeogori, your beoseon’s were white, as were your gomusin’s, though they did have the delicate detail of cherry blossoms engraved across the fabric. You even had a pale pink parasol with painted cherry blossom petals painted across it. This outfit made you feel confident and happy and you couldn’t wait to spend the day in it, walking around the most beautiful place you had ever seen. 

What you didn’t know, was that one of the kings closest men was sitting on a palladiom, painting the scenery before him, before he noticed you wandering around. And before the man had known it, he had painted you, so engrossed in you and your beauty that he didn’t notice that one of his boyfriends had wandered up behind him. 

“I hope you’ve gotten her consent to paint her nae sarang, it’s a bit creepy otherwise” the older man joked. 

“Taehyung! OMO! You made me jump!” the young man said, grateful that his paintbrush hadn’t been on the paper when he had jumped. 

“Sorry Kookie. Your painting is exquisite. You have captured a beauty, I know the other boys will appreciate the… scenery” Taehyung snickered making Jungkook blush. “Anyways, aegi, I have things to do” he grins, his smile boxy. “Maybe you can paint me in with ‘things’” he says before winking and walking off before the younger man could realise what he was on about. 

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Whilst staring across the small lake infront of you, you registered steps heading towards you. Not wanting to be a bother to anyone and risk being kicked out of the beautiful area, you put your head down, staring at the water just ahead of you. 

“You must be one of the King’s candidates. I haven’t seen you yet. What’s your name?” the unknown man said, making you finally look up. ‘What was it with everyone in this palace being so ATTRACTIVE’ you thought to yourself. The man infront of you had deep brown hair, swept across his forehead, allowing you to see his milk chocolate brown eyes that sparkled in the sun. His jaw was as sharp as the swords that the guards around the kingdom carried. And finally, you noticed his large boxy smile, waiting happily for you to respond. 

“Indeed I am sir, Lady Seo, pleasure to meet you” you spoke, your voice surprisingly clear, and after your brief introduction, you bow deeply to the man. 

“A beautiful name for a beautiful lady, how is most comfortable for me to address you?” he asks, shocking you into silence once again. The first silence was due to his attractiveness, the second due to his words. 

“Y/N, if that pleases you my Lord” you respond, a gentle smile on your lips. 

“And how old are you… y/n” his questions continue. 

“24 sir”

“Ah. So that makes you my…” his sentence begins, a smirk working its way onto his face “noona”

His words make you cough out a breath, blush taking over every part of your face that it could. 

“If that is what my lord would prefer to call me, i can only oblige to his request” you almost stutter out, making the man throw his head back in laughter. 

“Would you like to go for a walk noona?” he asks, making the blush that had been receding, return. 

“I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon my Lord” you respond, your words almost sounding like flirtation. 

“Please, call me Tae” he responds, offering up his arm to the shorter woman. 

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The two thoroughly enjoyed their walk, bonding over various topics, jokes flowing between them, laughter filling the air. They had quickly become friends. 

Before either of them knew it, nightfall had arrived and it was time for dinner in the hall once again. 

“May I accompany you to the dining hall noona?” Tae asks, turning slightly to you, waiting for your answer. 

“The dining hall? Of course you can. I have been looking forward to dinner for the last few hours.” you laughed, your tummy rumbling as a response to your words, making Tae laugh. 

“Then let’s go!” he speaks, before running with your arm still in his towards the dining hall. 

- * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * 

After every luncheon that you attended over the next three days, Taehyung met you after, taking you on tours of the palace, showing you places you couldn’t wait to see more of in detail. Your days quickly becoming filled with laughter and happiness, making you never want to go back to your home again. 

The Queen Dowager had noticed your quick friendship between the two of you, and had smiled, knowing that if you were chosen, you would fit right in. 

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Today was the day when the ladies would begin receiving gifts. The ladies were gathered in the small courtyard that they had been in during the first stage. Large screens between each set of cushions. On the small stage, sat two seats, one more elegant than the other. 

Standing in front of your cushions, you waited for whoever was to occupy the seats to sit in them. And while you were stuck in your thoughts, a man who you had not seen since the first stage entered, sitting in the less elegant seat on the right hand side of the stage. You bow deeply to him, before standing upright again. Seconds later the Queen Dowager was announced, and she also entered the stage, sitting on the more regal looking chair. Again you bow deeply, waiting for the confirmation that you could rest on the cushions behind you. She nods, and you let out a smile, plopping down onto the cushions.

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Seokjin's Gift

487 words

Seokjin 

His heart suddenly warms when he sees the reaction to a simple pot of moisturiser. 

Then he feels confused about his reaction 

And then he’s smirking, cause he’s the one who made you smile so big

He will definitely tell the boys later on about your reaction to the boys 

Defo boasts about it 

And he will continue to boast about it for 24 hours until it's yoongi’s turn to give his gifts.

He suddenly for some reason feels attached to you

Will definitely watch your reaction over the next few days as you receive gifts from the other boys 

Is definitely the type to get excited if he notices that your smile is a fraction of a bit smaller to one of the other boys presents than it was to his.

That is until jungkook and then namjoon’s, and he knows he’s well and truly lost. 

His heart for sure beats faster when he sees you smile 

On the final day he realises he has a crush on you, and you are the one he wants to get through to the final stage, he wants you. 

He 

Wants 

You. 

Seokjin stands once again. “Today, we are gathered here for you to receive your first gift. The first gift is mine. I hope that you love your first gift as much as you love me” the man says with a wink, walking down the stairs towards a guard who had a cart with eight boxes placed on it. He started with Bae Suzy, gifting her Yeonji, repeating the process for the next few ladies, Si-Jeong, Mi-Yeon and Sun-Hwa receiving their gift with large smiles of appreciation. Yeji is next and she receives camellia oil for her gorgeous black hair. You knew that the smile on her face would be even bigger than her usual smile. The next two to receive their gifts were Seol-Hyun and Eun-Bi, who received plant ash for their eyebrows. Their high pitched giggles of fake happiness make your ears hurt. And finally, Seokjin appears in front of you. “I hear you’ve become friends with my Taehyung '' the man smirks, personally handing you your gift, waiting for you to open it. And when you do, and peak inside, you see a medium size pot of moisturiser with small golden flecks within it. The smile that covers your face, making your mouth hurt. You bow deeply, thanking the man repeatedly. You almost felt unworthy of the gift that you had just received. The gift being the most luxurious thing you had ever received and would be the most luxurious thing that would ever grace your skin. 

You knew that this was something that you would use every day, and never let another person use. This was something that was yours and only yours. You couldn't help but let the feelings of joy, happiness and warmth fill your chest at the gift you had received.

Yoongi's Gift 

795 Words

Yoongi 

Very subtly proud of his gift

He had his gifts prepared before he even met the girls who got through

But he had 3 gifts prepared for his top 3. 

Once he had met you, he knew you were going to get the best out of the three

But he had a lot of trouble choosing the other two to give the better gifts too. 

He only decided on seol-hyun and eun-bi because the eunuchs ‘liked’ them 

But after hearing stories from the other boys who had spent time you, he knew that if he was to win your favour, he would also have to gift your friend something nice, and as he only had 7 gifts prepared, and there was 8 of you, he had a new gift prepared, for yeji 

When he gives you his gift, he has the same reaction as jin 

His heart goes BOOM, fireworks exploding everywhere

Not that he’d tell anyone, he had a reputation to uphold

The very next day, it was Min Yoongi’s turn to hand out his gifts to the ladies, each one staying in the same spot that they had chosen the day before. Again, everyone waited for the Dowager and the man to arrive before they sat down. And once they had, everyone finally sat down. 

“As you all know, I am Min Yoongi, and I am sure that you know why you are all here. Today you receive my gift.” he says, a barely there smile on his pale face. His outfit is much the same as the time before. He wore a black hanbok with golden detailing of a dragon on the edges, his hair in his usual ponytail, and the mesh band covering his forehead. He looked enthralling. You couldn’t stop looking at him.Once he finishes his introductions, he makes his way down the stairs in much the same way that Jin had, although quicker. Again, they started on the furthest edge, Suzy receiving her gift of a hand held fan in black, decorated with the same golden dragon detail on his hanbok. The ladies next to her (Si-Jeong, Mi-Yeon and Sun-Hwa), all receive the same gift. Then it was Yeji, who received a dainty golden ring with the royal name engraved within the band. Seol-Hyun and Eun-bi were next, receiving a dainty gold necklace with a small golden dragon hanging off of the end of it. The looks on their faces when they received it, made it obvious that they thought they were the ‘chosen ones’. Finally it was your turn for your gift. Yoongi stood in front of you, perched comfortably on the pillows before him. 

“Lady Seo, I sincerely hope you find your gift as beautiful as yourself” he told you, handing you his gift himself. You opened the box excitedly to find the most beautiful pair of golden earrings you had ever seen. You looked up with a giant smile on your face, when something shiny caught your eyes. You noticed that Yoongi himself was wearing earrings, and when you inspected further, you noticed that they were almost identical to the ones you were just gifted. In your happiness and excitement, you nearly forgot to thank the man, so you quickly smile at the man, bowing as low as you can, and thanking him deeply and graciously for your present. He nods, and returns to his spot on the stage, taking his seat once again to watch the ladies inspect their presents further. 

Looking down at your gift, you decide what better time to wear them than the present, you were already wearing Seokjin’s moisturiser, why not wear Yoongi’s earrings. Carefully, you take out the small earrings that you had been wearing and replace them with the large yet delicate earrings that were in the box. Once on, you desperately wanted to look in the mirror, but you didn’t have anything near you that you could use. So you sat there happily, waiting to be given the instruction to go about your day again. 

Whilst waiting, someone you recognised as one of the Queen Dowagers guards approached you with a small piece of Hanji. 

“Lady Seo, 

The earrings become you chin-aehaneun. I believe the Head Directorate agrees with me. The smile on his face is one rarely seen. Please join me for a luncheon with my ladies again today. The man who gave you this letter will be waiting for you outside the courtyard should you accept my request to join me. 

And please, call me Eomma. 

Kim Eun-Ji, Queen Dowager of the Kim Empire”

You read the letter quickly, and told and nodded at the man, signalling that you would join the dowager at her luncheon once more. Today felt like a good day. 

Jungkooks Gift

Words: 1571

Jungkook

He is definitely the proudest of his gift 

He had decided on his gift when Tae had told him about your childhood and something that you deeply missed from it 

And he knew his gift would absolutely win you over 

Because how couldn't it?

Unless you were allergic…

And so he definitely overthought his gift 

And on the day he was so nervous, he even blushed more than usual when the boys teased him 

Refilled with excitement from the day before, wearing the gifts you had received, the only gift not being on your person, being Hoseoks as you didn’t to risk breaking it, the gift already means so much to you. The hanbok fit you perfectly as did the accessories that went with it. The whole outfit making you feel like a princess and you knew that even if you didn’t get through to the next round that these gifts would be treasured forever. You had asked Ahn Hye-Jin, who you had quickly become friends with and now called the woman by her nickname Hwasa, to style your hair to include the cheopji you had received. The hairpin accentuated the details of the hanbok and went stunningly with the golden earrings and the ring that she had received the days before. The confidence that you felt when wearing this outfit was unmistakable. 

Walking into the courtyard, you make quick eye contact with Yeji, who sees your outfit and drops her jaw in shock. She had never seen you so confident within yourself before, and she had certainly never seen this hanbok or accessories before. You smile at your best friend and go to sit in your seat before the evil twins decided to make a comment about your clothing for the day. 

“What gives you the right to wear the royal seal on both your clothing and jewellery, who do you think you are?” the taller one started. Your confidence however was unwavering, and you simply smiled. And just as you were about to respond, you felt another presence near you, and that presence spoke. 

“What gives her the right, is the right that she’s the kingdom’s favourite. Something you could never achieve” the unknown voice speaks. Your face morphs from a smile to the same look that Yeji had given you. Trying to regain your composure, you turn to the voice, and any composure you had regained, you lost immediately. There, standing right next to you, with a smirk on his face, was one of the men you had been introduced to on the first day, alongside Hoseok, you had been introduced to Jungkook. He had a face you couldn’t forget. Your breath left you as quickly as your composure had. “Now, if you two… ladies… have finished making your unfavourable remarks, please return to your seats, the ceremony begins in a few moments. Lady Seo, please allow me to walk you to your seat” the tall man spoke, offering you his arm. 

Not having the confidence to do anything else in front of the man whose beauty was as ethereal as the men before him, you nod and slip your hand through the space he had made, and rest your hand on his bicep. With your other hand, you grasped part of your chima, not wanting it to ever get dirty, and also wanted to make sure you didn’t make a fool out of yourself and fall face first. 

Once you have sat down on the cushions for the penultimate time, Jungkook speaks again “I hope you like your gift” his voice becoming more nervous as the sentence continues “I had many conversations with many different people to try and find you the perfect gift” he tells you, bowing low to you before smiling a toothy grin and practically running to the stage. His sentence had you sat there in confusion and shock. How many people could he have possibly talked to? Nevertheless, you are brought out of your thoughts by the same voice. 

“Welcome everyone, to this gift ceremony. I sincerely hope you appreciate your gifts, and I desperately hope that I can get to know you all better” he tells the crowd, and you could swear that he looked at you when he said that, making your heart beat deeply in your chest, feeling it in your ears. “Ah!” he yells suddenly making everyone jump, including you. “I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Jeon Jungkook, I am a high councillor for the Kim Empire, pleased to make all of your acquaintances” he finally finishes and tops it all off with a small bow to the crowd.

Unlike the other boys who had walked down the stairs, or taken every other step, Jungkook just jumped off of the stage and almost bounced like a bunny towards the guard who was smiling at the man. The whole sight made a large smile fall onto your face. The happiness and easiness of the situation make your heart warm. Once Jungkook reached the guard he took the first four boxes off of the trolley. The process started once again, the first four girls receiving their gift with large genuine smiles, each receiving a stamp with their first and last names on it, making their gift personal to them. Then it was Yeji’s turn, who Jungkook handed the gift to with a smile almost as large as the one he had given you. Yeji received a rolled-up scroll, but when she opened it, she let out a small happy gasp. Inside the scroll was a detailed painting of a butterfly in purples, pinks and golds, the painting was truly a masterpiece. Then it was the ladies who he had previously supported you against’s turn, each received a very small painting of their family seal. Both receive their gifts with a frown, but do not say anything, and bow to the man. But when they look at the trolley that had been following behind Jungkook as he went down the line, and found it empty, they couldn’t help but let out a small snicker, thinking that you had been forgotten despite what Jungkook had said to them earlier.

And within seconds, Jungkook stood before her, noticing her worried glances at the empty trolley. “There is nothing for you to worry about Lady Seo, your gift is being brought by one of your dear friends, Bang Chan if I remember rightly,” he said before letting out a short but loud whistle that lasted all of around five seconds. And with that whistle, another person entered the courtyard, that person being the man that Jungkook had just mentioned. But chan was holding something that you couldn’t quite work out until he was closer. In his arms, he was holding a small puppy, that couldn’t have been any bigger than the size of your forearm. Your hands fly to your mouth in happiness, not knowing whether to stand up and retrieve the gift or not. “My gift to you Lady Seo, is the gift of a puppy, I spoke with Taehyung and he told me about a memory you had shared with him about a puppy you had as a child whose breed you didn’t know of but described it. So I had some people scour the kingdom from edge to edge to see if they could find a dog of that description, and that's when they brought back this puppy. The puppy had been neglected and left on the streets when she was found, and when she was brought back here, we found out her breed due to some studies that the library had. This happy little pup is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, she must have been imported from England and then abandoned. But judging by the description you gave Taehyung, this is similar to the dog you had as a child. I hope you love her as much as I-” he cut himself off from his ramble. He then takes the puppy from Chan’s arms and hands her to you. Sitting down on the ground before you, inviting chan to do the same. 

Once he is sat down, he gives a signal to his guards that they must have previously talked about as the guard moves to the spot where Jungkook had stood earlier when addressing them all, and telling them that they could return to their apartments. Most of the ladies do. The first four, linking arms once again, smiling and laughing as they go about their plans for the day once more. Yeji excitedly runs up to you, but noticing the puppy, she tries not to spook it and sits down gently next to you. And finally, the two spiteful women walk past, making sure to glare at the group sitting on the ground fawning over the puppy in your lap. You don’t let their glares affect you, and you happily stroke your new addition, smiling. Suddenly, your hair shoots up like a lightbulb just turned on above your head. 

“Can I name her?” You ask Jungkook, hopeful that she hasn’t been named already. 

“Of course, she is yours after all” he giggles back. 

“Luna” you state.

“Huh?” Everyone asks almost at the same time confused about your statement. 

“Her name” you smile. “Her name is Luna” you repeat, bringing the puppy up to your face and placing a small kiss on the puppy's head. 

Things are good. 

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Namjoon's Gift

1912 Word Count

Namjoon was the most nervous about his gift, he feels like it has to be the best, as he is the king. 

He handmade his gift, so the gift has even more meaning to him 

He knows the person that the eunuchs want him to give the gift to, but he also knows who the boys want him to give the gift to

And who is he to deny his boys what they want, he loves them, and what they want they get. 

So that’s partially what his thought process is when deciding who to make his future queen. 

He also had to compete against Jungkook’s gift, and he knows that JK’s gift will be a hard gift to beat. 

Today is the final day, the day where you find out who goes back home, and who goes on to the final three. Today you decide to wear a pale lilac chima, with a pale pink jeogri, the goreum being the same lilac as the chima, and the gomusin matching the jeogri. You had the cheopji that Jimin had gifted you placed delicately between the braids of your hair that Hwasa had taken her time braiding this morning. 

Everybody in the palace was nervous. It was the final day and you were silently hoping that you’d get through to the next stage. You had quickly become friends with the boys, speaking and spending time with at least one of them each day. Even Yeji was sure you were going through to the next round, but you both knew that it was likely that Seol-Hyun and Eun-bi would also be going through, you just hoped that they wouldn’t. 

Your outfit made you feel so confident, and as you walked towards the courtyard with the breeze in your hair, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment along with the nerves. You kept telling yourself that if you went home today, it wouldn’t be a bad thing, you’d get to see your family again, and you even had your new puppy. But there was also a sense of sadness in your heart, that if you went home you wouldn’t get to talk to the boys every day like you had been all week, you wouldn’t have your luncheons with the Queen Dowager and her ladies, your days would feel meaningless compared to what they have been. 

Lost in your thoughts, you arrived at the courtyard entrance quicker than expected, and it took a call from your best friend Yeji to bring you back into the world. Hearing her yell, you look up at her, and see her wearing an outfit similar to your own, just with the colours the other way. This wasn’t something that you had planned, but it brought a giant smile to your lips anyway. She was wearing the jewellery gifts that she had received, much like yourself and you couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh at how similar the two of you were. 

“Are you ready for the last gift-giving ceremony?” Yeji asks, linking her arm with yours once you reached her. “Ready as I could ever be” you respond, smiling at her happy face. The two of you keep your arms latched as you walk to your spots for the final time. You walk Yeji to her spot and then walk past the two spiteful women in their spots on the way back. You hear them snicker, but you are feeling too good about yourself today to let them get to you. 

Just moments after you sat down, the guards arrived, announcing the king's arrival. This was the first time any of you were going to be seeing the King, and you couldn’t help but feel both nervous and excited. 

“Please stand for the entrance of His Royal Highness, King Kim Namjoon” the guards yelled in sync, followed by everyone listening to the command and standing. A tall man walked into the courtyard, surrounded by men in black and red uniforms. This uniform was different to any of the other uniforms that you had seen the guards wearing, the only place you had seen guards with a similar uniform was in the queen dowager’s quarters. The man himself was the most attractive man you had ever seen. He had slightly long black hair that framed his face perfectly, slightly larger brown eyes and a jawline that could cut a piece of ramen right in half. He had large shoulders and a broad chest, and his lips… His lips were plump like the pillows provided in your rooms.  This man was attractive beyond any belief. And you’re pulled from your adoration but your mother’s voice in your head telling you to bow. 

As gracefully as you can, you place yourself on your knees. Pushing your hands in front of you and putting yourself in the most respectful bow you possibly can. Little do you know that this doesn’t go unnoticed by the king himself, and he tries to smile as subtly as he can. The realisation hits him as to why his boys adore you so much. He looks across at all the other girls and see’s them on their knees, heads bowed, noticing that not even the eunuch’s favourites were bowing as respectfully as you. This brings an evident smirk to his face, which he doesn’t bother to hide. 

“Welcome to the final gift-giving ceremony” the man speaks. And before you can stop it you find yourself thinking that even his voice is attractive, but you don’t let yourself stay in that thought for too long, and you pull your attention back to the king and his words. “Thank you all for being patient with us whilst we held the interviews. After everyone has received the gifts, I will be back to announce those of you who will be going home. I sincerely hope that you have all enjoyed your time here and please accept my deepest gratitude for your attendance.” He bows his head slightly towards the crowd. 

He waits for his guards to take the stairs down first, before following them and walking over to the first lady, gifting her a box, telling her that the box was filled with his favourite cakes and sweets handmade by his cooks”. He repeats this with the next three ladies. Then it’s Yeji’s turn, and he hands her a long thin box, inside of it is a butterfly necklace, and he smiles slightly at the thought of when the boys had come in talking about you and winning you over by befriending your best friend. Even his mother had talked about you and your friendship with Yeji, so he knew that this gift to her had to mean something. 

The next two ladies were the ones he dreaded the most Seol-Hyun and Eun-Bi. They may have been the eunuch's favourites but nobody else in the palace liked them. His mother had been told by her ladies that they had heard them bullying you, even the boys had heard them bullying you. He had even heard his maids talking about them, one of them even crying after being yelled at by them. He didn’t want them in the palace any longer but he knew he had to keep his eunuchs happy in some way. And it wasn’t that the eunuchs didn’t like you, they enjoyed your presence in the palace, and the happiness it seemed to bring the palace, it was that the other ladies were of a higher class than you, and they knew that had better training. 

Walking slightly slower than he should of, he walked to their tents. Gifting them each a small hairpin with their respective family animals made out of gold. He saw their smirks as they received their gifts, and he couldn’t help but feel a sinking feeling in his stomach and a frown place itself on his lips. But that feeling changed to nerves when he knew that your tent was next. 

Arriving at your tent, he sees you bowing as low to the ground as possible once again. The frown changed to a smile in an instant. And he used his right hand to beckon to his guards to bring your gift in. The guards jumped to attention and left the courtyard, coming back moments later with a large bookcase made from rosewood. He stood to the side so that the guards could place it in front of you, and watched your reaction. 

You were confused when the king came to your tent without the guard following behind him with the trolley filled with gifts. Your anxiety filled you until you saw the King beckon his guards to do something with his right hand. And your thoughts left you again, as you thought once again at how attractive that simple movement was. Your heart filled with excitement and joy when you saw what they brought in and placed in front of you. A smile filled your face almost immediately. You adored your books, and to finally have something beautiful to put them on made your heart soar. 

“I built it myself,” the king says almost nervously “I wanted my future wife to have something that I made from hand. I am known as clumsy, so it’s also partially to show that not everything I touch, I break” he jokes.  

A laugh leaves your lips as a tear leaves your eye. “Goodness, do you not like it? I can get the guards to take it back if you don’t like it” he rambles, and you quickly rise to your feet so you stand before the man. 

“NO!” you accidentally yell, your face falling once you realise your mistake. “My sincerest apologies, I did not mean to offend His Highness by raising my voice. I love this gift, I have a mountain of books at home that are piling up like my very own mountain” you speak, trying to make the king laugh, and succeeding. The man smiles and goes to walk back to the stage, but before he can leave the tent, you call out to him “Wait!”. The man turns around, shock gracing his handsome features slightly. “Did you say future wife?” you almost whisper. 

Namjoon smirks and turns around once again, walking back to the stage. 

“Now that the gifts have been handed out, it’s time to announce who will be proceeding to the next stage. If I announce your name, you are to leave in three days, but you are to return for the royal wedding in two months. You will receive formal invites.” The king announces before receiving a piece of hanji from one of his guards. 

“ Bae Suzy”

“ Kim Si-Jeong”

“ Cho Mi-Yeon”

“Han Sun-Hwa” 

“That will be all for going home. However, I know that five people are meant to go home. Hwang Yeji, you will be staying here to accompany Seo Y/N” He speaks  “Finally, Seo Y/N, Kim Seol Hyun and Kwon Eun-Bi. The three of you are through to the final stage. However, I have already decided on my future bride. But I will not announce that until the banquet in two days. The seven of you are all invited and your attendance is compulsory. I look forward to seeing you there.” The king announces, before bowing his head slightly once more and leaving the courtyard.

But he makes sure to connect with your eyes before leaving, sending you a knowing smile. 

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Hey guys,

I am so sorry for not posting, when I thought my health was getting better, it wasn't so it took me a bit longer to get back on my feet. The next chapter shouldn't be too much longer and will be much longer than the blurbs. Anyways, I hope that you enjoy this! If you would like to be added to either taglist, please let me know

Another update should be up by the end of the week. I was in hospital yesterday ( they thought it was appendicitis, but now they're currently thinking that it's due to my medication, so they've added more medication...). There has also been lots of birthdays this week, but I promise there will be an extra long chapter coming out by the end of the week to make up for it!

I'm so sorry.

I have been trying so hard over the last few days to write a chapter for you, but I'm either having writers block or something comes up. I desperately want to get a chapter out for you all as you deserve it, but I'm struggling at the moment

Chapter 5 - Part 3- Royal Residences

Warnings: female identifying character, brief mentions of nudity, bullying, a heck load of fluff and clothing envy (at least for me)

Word Count: 3.8k

It was knowing that the banquet was in two days that filled you with nerves and excitement. Knowing that you were in the final three, filled you with dread and joy. On one hand, you had come to make friends with plenty of the people in the palace and not being able to see them again as easily as you had been, made your heart hurt. But on the other hand, if you weren’t chosen, you would become a concubine and would never be able to find the love that you deserved as you would be branded the king’s woman. Another thing that you knew, if you were to become a concubine, was that the women who had caused you so much annoyance and hurt in your life, would be the queen, and they would get rid of you, right to the lowest position, and you would be stuck at the bottom of the pile for the rest of your life. This scared you more than you thought it did, and as the thoughts came to your head, so did the realisation of where you were. So, you tried to distract yourself, thinking about all of the good times that you had, especially that day. You had finally met the king! 

The thought of the king brought a gentle smile to your face, a blush blanketing your already rosy cheeks. You couldn’t help but look at the bookshelf that had been placed in your apartment before you even got home. Some of your other gifts lay around it, such as your hanbok and accessories, and even some of the gifts that the Queen Dowager had gifted you during your days together. 

 *a few days before * 

Today, you were meeting with the Queen Dowager and her ladies again for a meeting. These events had quickly become something that you deeply enjoyed and looked forward to. You received a note from her this morning, letting you know that she wanted to have a separate meeting with you after the meeting, and letting you know that she wanted to have the luncheon with just you. To which you of course obliged, sending a quick letter back, alerting the Queen Dowager that you were excited and would meet her later. 

The meeting ended quicker than you had expected and before you knew it, you were back in the cherry blossom garden, in the palladium that overlooked the small lake that sat in the middle, sat across from the Queen Dowager. You had decided today that there was no better day than to wear the hanbok that she had gifted to you, allowing the both of you to reminisce on the memories of the past two weeks. You had spent plenty of time together whether it be luncheons or part of the process. You could even say that you were closer with the Queen Dowager than you were with your family members. 

“I have another gift for you, chin-aehaneun. I hope that you love it as much as I loved it. It was the wedding outfit I wore when I married Namjoon’s father.” The older woman speaks, beckoning a number of servants towards the two of you, each holding a box and placing it at your feet. Before thinking about your actions, you leapt up and moved towards the woman, throwing your arms around her. 

“eomeoni gamsahabnida, I can’t thank you enough for this, but surely it should go to the future queen?” you spoke, still hugging the woman as she hugged you back. However, at the end of the sentence she pulled back and looked at you before speaking “ttal, you have passed the interviews, and I know that you are a favourite of all of the boys, I have a feeling that you will be wearing that hanbok, should you choose to, within a few months” you couldn’t help but let the tears fill up in your eyes, never having felt as loved and welcomed as you had been the last two weeks. 

Memories of the past two weeks began to come to you one by one, each bringing a smile to your face. Remembering meeting each of the boys, from the youngest to the oldest. It didn’t matter what situation you had met them in, every time you met them, happiness overpowered wherever you were. You remembered walking through the gardens with your best friend Yeji, and wandering the library with the cat-like Yoongi. Nearly every moment that you had spent in the royal grounds was a happy one, and to think of leaving it, leaving those people, made you feel sick to your stomach. 

A knock at the door to your chambers brought you out of your memories. You quickly shook your head and stood, racing to your front door, wondering who could possibly be at your door. It wasn’t like it was late or anything, you just weren’t expecting anyone till later on, when you were expecting your best friend Yeji to arrive to sleep over. Opening up the door, you saw one of the servants that followed Kim Namjoon around, tending to his requests. He stood there in a monochrome white outfit, each piece of white clothing being a different white to the rest. In his hands, he held a large black box with gold dragon details engraved and painted onto the sides. The man was red in the face and it was a stark contrast to his outfit, the colour only returning to his face once he had placed the box down just inside the door to your chamber. “This is a gift from the King and his closest companions, they request that you wear it to the banquet in 2 days time” he tells you before bowing and retreating. You call out to Chan and Changbin hoping that one of them would be in your chamber, resting in their rooms, and to your luck, both men were in. All it took was a smile and a point to the box for them to understand what you were asking of them. 

Once the box was in your room, you eagerly opened the lid, not expecting what was inside the box. It had to be the most beautiful piece of clothing that you had ever seen, even more beautiful than the previous hanbok that you had been gifted. At the top of the box there was a crimson red jeogori, the goreum being an almost shiny golden material with dragons embroidered into the ribbon. The jeogori itself had threads of gold stitched into it, so that when the light shined onto it the right way, it was an even more stunning sight to behold.  Pulling out the jeogori out of the box, you place it carefully to the side on a spare cushion and move onto the chima, which was equally as stunning. The majority of the chima was the same gorgeous red, with gold stitched into the fabric. However, at the very bottom of the chima, there was a gold band that went all the way around and went down until the hem. On this strip of gold, there were the same dragons embroidered as part of the goreum. Tears began to well up your eyes, as you pulled the chima out of the box and noticed that there were even more items inside the box. This was the most beautiful thing you had ever received and yet the things coming out of the box seemed to be getting more and more beautiful. 

Next out of the box was a smaller box, pulling the lid off of that, there was a pair of red gomusin, with dragons painted onto the toe area of the shoes in black and gold. Tucked neatly beside them was a pair of red beoseons, a small dragon embroidered in a golden thread on the inside of each sock. Peeking into the box once again, you noticed 3 more boxes. You decided to go for the next biggest box. Repeating the same move of opening the lid and peering in. Inside this box was a jewellery set, which included earrings, rings, necklace and even a set of cheopji. The pair of cheopji each had a dragon made of gold with red gems placed where the eyes should be. The necklace was a dainty chain with a dragon head pendant hanging from it. The earrings matched the hair pins, two dragon heads, although smaller, with red gems where the eyes should be. And as you placed the ring on your pointer finger you realised that it looked like the dragon was wrapping itself around your finger, and a small giggle left your mouth. You placed all of the items into the box and moved onto the next box. 

The third box that you picked up was again, smaller than the last. Inside this one, held a small bracelet. This box however held a note inside. The note read: 

“Eolin-I, I can’t wait to welcome you into our family, wear this hanbok with pride, you deserve it. Eomma” 

The note made the tears that were gathering in your eyes, finally fall. Even the Queen Dowager had added something into the box of beautiful gifts. Your heart felt full with happiness. 

Inside the last and final box there was a norigae and another note. This note read “Chin-aehaneun, we hope that you adore our gift as much as we adore you. We all look forward to you wearing it. Sincerely, King Kim Namjoon and boys”. 

Moving the note to the side, you stared at the exquisite piece of fabrics before you, that had been crafted to form a norigae. The main ornament was a gorgeous red jasper crystal shaped into a dragon head. But there were two smaller ornaments hanging underneath it, made of a crystal like stone, engraved into butterfly shapes. This made you smile, reminding you of the conversations you had with the boys about your best friend, and her nickname. The knot that both attached to the goreum and held the ornaments was the same red and gold fabric that the hanbok was made out of. The knots that held the ornaments were rather small, but they only made to make the beauty of the ornaments stand out. And finally, the tassels that hang underneath the butterfly ornaments, were the same gold and red fabrics that were used. Everything in the box was stunning, and you couldn’t believe that you were lucky enough to be able to wear something as stunning as what was before you. 

Your heart filled with joy as your eyes fell with tears that once again fell with happiness, as you held the hanbok close to you. 

— * — * — *— * — * — *— * — * — * fast forward — * — * — *— * — * — *— * — * — *

Today was the day of the banquet. You had barely slept during the night, being filled with both nervousness and excitement. The last few days, you had been spending time with Yeji, the Queen Dowager, and secretly with the King himself, hidden away in the shelves of the library. The banquet was to begin in the early evening, and the three remaining ladies were to arrive after the King and his men. Each one would be announced one by one, and once all the ladies were in the room, the ladies would be told to come forward in turn. And finally, music would begin playing and the King would step forward and that is how the kingdom would announce who would be the new Queen. The process had been drilled into you by the Queen Dowager, who would also drop hints that it would be you. She wouldn’t let you make a single mistake, as she already saw you as her daughter, and she adored you, and despised the other two contenders. 

Within 10 minutes of being awake, one of your ladies had knocked on your door to the bedroom. With your consent, she opens the door, bows deeply towards you, and announces that she has prepared a bath for you. You smile at the woman, getting out of your pool of comfort and follow her towards the bathroom. 

The bathroom was much more different to the one you had at home. The bathroom at home was almost cold, with dark colours, and stone details. But the bathroom in this chamber was full of light and colours. The bath was built into the ground and had an outer barrier of stones around it other than where the steps into the bath were. Inside the bath, the water was almost white, and you guessed that they had probably added some milk to make the water even better for your skin. Once you got to the edge of the bath, Hwasa turned around allowing you some privacy to unrobe and get into the bath. Once you were in the bath, you noticed that there were rose petals floating around the water. You kept your hair up at Hwasa’s request, and found a ledge in the bath to sit on, and let your body sink into the water until it reached your shoulders. You let out a gentle sigh, notifying Hwasa that she could turn back around. Once she did, she made her way to the door, bowing once more before leaving. 

You sat in the bath for around 30 minutes, allowing the water to cool and calm your nerves. The realisation that your calming bath was over, was Hwasa re-entering the room along with Hyo-Seong. One handed you a robe, and the other placed a towel at the edge of the bath so that you could dry your feet once you stepped out of the bath and reduce the risk of slipping over. You pulled the robe shut around you and followed them out of the room and into the main room, where your hanbok was placed onto a wooden figure, the accessories being placed on the dressing table, and the shoes being placed next to the clothing. Makeup and other styling accessories were also placed on the dressing table, such as combs and gels to keep your hair together. You were placed into some underwear and then the robe was wrapped back around you, before you were placed into the chair. Hwasa began to comb your hair, trying not to hurt you when detangling any knots you had in your hair, whilst Hyo-Seong sat next to you, using a dye similar to the colour of your hanbok to dye your nails to match them. Once Hwasa had finished detangling and Hyo-Seong had finished one hand, they moved onto another job. Hwasa moved on to braiding your hair with multiple different braids of different types. And Hyo-Seong moved to your other hand, continuing her job. Hyo-Seong finished her job first, and moved to stand up, helping Hwasa with your hair. Once your hair was braided, with multiple intricate braids across your head, the cheopji were placed on either side of your head, piercing through one of the braids in your hair that was formed in the shape of a bun. Both ladies take a step back and admire their work with large grins on their faces, making brief eye contact with you in the mirror that was placed above the dressing table. 

Next the ladies moved onto the makeup. They used a plant ash that was used with a delicate brush to create eyeliner, defining your eyes. A slightly inky like powder that looked clumpy yet watery, was used along with a spikey looking brush, was combed along your eyelashes, elongating them, and defining them with the dark black colour. Next they used a fluffy brush along with a yeonji powder, and brushed it lightly across your cheeks, allowing them to look naturally healthy and rosey. Then they added a small amount of water and picked up another brush, swiping it across your lips, darkening them to become almost the same colour as your hanbok.

Once all the makeup was completed, they began placing the majority of your jewellery. Placing in the earrings and doing the necklace up at the back of your neck. Then they turned you around, placing the socks onto your previously cold feet. Once the socks were on they pulled you up from the seat and moved you towards the wooden figure. They took the chima off of the figure and placed it on the ground before you stepped into it. Once you had stepped into it, they pulled it up to your bust. It took you a few moments to realise that it was a dress-like chima, and you needed to put your arms through the straps. There was a slight ribbon detail at the back of the dress that allowed them to tighten the chima to fit you perfectly. Then the jeogori was placed onto your body, the sleeves reaching your wrists, and the length covering the top part of your chima. Hyo-Seong then tied up the goreum, before placing the norigae onto the ribbon of the goreum. Hwasa follows this action by placing the remaining jewellery onto your body. Finally, the shoes were placed in front of you, as both ladies took a hold of your hands allowing you to hold onto them as you balanced on one foot to put the other into the shoe. 

By this time, it was almost time to make your way to where the banquet was being held. The walk to this building would be a short 5 minute walk. So you took the moment of peace that you had to rest and admire your outfit, everything from your clothing to your jewellery to your nails to your makeup. Before you knew it, it was time for you to leave. You opened up the door to your chambers and made your way out of it, Yeji waiting for you outside of the door, dressed in a beautiful peach colour, with butterfly shaped accessories. 

“OMO!” Yeji practically screams at you.”You look like the future queen eolin-i. You look so yeppeoyo! Everyone is going to have their eyes on you all night! Gajah!”

You can't help but smile and blush at your best friend's words, as you link arms with her. The walk to the room felt like it passed in a few brief seconds with the constant chatting between you and your best friend, rather than the five minutes it took to get there. Once you arrived you noticed Eun-bi and Seol-Hyun also waiting outside of the entrance, dressed in purples and pinks. Yeji squeezed your arm before bowing ever so slightly towards the women and entering the hall. A guard dressed in all black began towards your group announcing that the king and his men were on the way and that it was tradition that the women would hide until they had entered so that they couldn't see them. With a nod, you all moved to hide behind a wall away from any peeking eyes. Once the three of you had hidden out of sight, Eun-Bi turned to you with a sneer on her face “Why on earth would you wear the royal wedding colour, and with dragon details, who do you think you are? Don’t you think you’re a bit full of yourself for someone who looks the way that you do?” Seol-Hyun laughed at the comment before adding “It’s almost like you're asking for everyone to laugh at you”. Before you had the chance to respond, the same guard who had asked you to hide appeared again, alerting you that you could now enter the room, and the order that you would be going into the room. To Seol-Hyun’s joy, she was first, followed by Eun-Bi and then you. Seol-Hyun moved towards the large doors, and waited for them to be opened. You couldn’t see what was in the room, but you could hear the claps and music as the first lady was welcomed into the room. The doors were kept open as Eun-Bi moved toward the door, and entered. The noise of music and clapping continued. 

With a breath, you took a step towards the door,  it was your time to enter the room. You kept your head high and level, and stepped into the room. You walked as elegantly as you could towards the front of the room where the other ladies were waiting. On your way to the front, you made eye contact with Yeji, sending her a small grin before moving your eyesight towards the front, before accidentally making eye contact with the Queen Dowager, who gave you a loving smile and a wink that you would have missed if you blinked. Before you knew it, you were at the front of the room, standing next to Eun-Bi, in front of the king. 

The King looked even more handsome than he did in his last ceremonial robes that he wore when handing out his gifts just two days ago. Namjoon stood up and smiled at the crowd, the crowd growing silent within moments, eagerly waiting for his announcement. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for attending the announcement banquet. Today I will be announcing my future bride, your future queen, in front of you all. I hope you all love her as much as I have begun to. Now for the announcement”. He took a few steps forward until he stood in front of the three of you. He first stood in front of Seol-Hyun. The crowd remained silent. Namjoon spoke again “Thank you for being a part of this process but you will not continue through to the next stage. Please step off to the side, someone will be along soon to talk to you about what will happen next.” He told her, before moving to Eun-Bi, who turned briefly to you, smirking at you as if to say haha I win. After this look, Namjoon also made brief eye contact with you, sending an almost hidden smile your way. “Eun-Bi, thank you. However, you also won’t be entering the next level, please join your friend to the side, someone will also be along to speak to you”. The look on her face nearly made you laugh out loud, but you held it in. Eun-Bi begrudgingly moved to the side, joining the crowd and standing next to her friend. Namjoon then moves to stand in front of you. He cautiously takes your hands in his larger ones, looks you in the eyes before looking around at the crowd. He straightens his back, and smiles before speaking “This is Lady Seo Y/N. Over the past two weeks, myself, my closest friends and even my familys have gotten to know this beautiful young woman before us. I have fallen a little more in love each day, and I would be honoured if Lady Seo would accept my request to become both the Queen and the Royal Bride”.

“Yes, My King, I accept”

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