Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Keeping his back straight, Chan knew this day was going to be long. 

And it was just the beginning of the rest of his life. 

He swallowed down the sigh and whine that wanted to fight their way out of his throat, instead keeping his posture and his eyes on the carriage driving up the road towards the castle. 

The whole capitol was here to witness the arrival of Levanter’s Prince. And of course, all of them were either staring at the sleek black carriage or at the royal family, standing on the top of the stairs of their castle, decked out in their most ostentatious clothes. 

As if demanding the Prince as spoil of war wasn’t humiliation enough.

Straightening his back even more, no matter that it felt like Chan was trying to break his own back, Chan was glad he was standing two steps behind and to the side of his parents.

Just for this moment right now, he would not be in the focus of the crowd. Just for a moment longer, he could pretend this was not going to affect him at all.

No matter how cowardly that was. 

Chan had known today was going to come. He’d known for three months, ever since his father, Taeyoung, High King of Miroh, had declared to their people that they had won against Levanter and that they would make them pay in flesh. 

No matter that others had demanded that they would kill their spoil of war, Chan had known his father wouldn’t do that. Chan had also known that his father wouldn’t take someone younger than his own son into his harem. 

When all of that had clicked for him, Chan, for just a heartbeat, had hoped they hadn’t won. Had wished that Changbin, Jisung, and he hadn’t fought so hard on their front lines. It had just been a fleeting moment because he would never endanger his kingdom, his people, or his Thunder. But for one moment, he had wished that he wouldn’t be forced to mate someone who would come to them as a spoil of war.

It didn’t matter because there was nothing in this world Chan wouldn’t do for his people, but that didn’t change the fact that sometimes, he wished he didn’t have to sacrifice himself. 

It also didn’t change that sometimes, he wanted to strangle some of them.

“You think he’s ugly?” Jisung whispered right beside him, just loud enough for Chan and Changbin to hear it. 

If Seungmin had been here, he would have stared Jisung down. Again. And then Chan would have been told to keep his servants under control. Again.

“Isn’t he supposed to be some kind of beauty?” Changbin whispered back, both of them totally ignoring protocol. “Too beautiful for the war effort or something?”

Again.

“That’s what they told us, but what were they going to say? That their prince is weak and ugly?” Jisung asked back, and Chan had to bite his tongue to not laugh. 

He couldn’t laugh. That was his betrothed they were talking about. 

Also, his mother would skin all of them alive if he laughed right now.

Not that that didn’t seem like a better fate than becoming quite literally the oppressor of some poor prince who had no way to refuse this mating if he didn’t want his whole kingdom to suffer.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Changbin whispered back, mimicking Seungmin at his most haughty.

“Oh, sure. Ten silver says he’ll wear a veil.” Jisung hissed back, knowing full well that Changbin could never refuse a bet.

“Ten gold says we’re all going to spend the night in the dungeons if you don’t shut up.” Chan murmured back, keeping his lips as closed as he could, while watching the carriage stop in front of the massive stairs leading to their castle.

“Sure, flex your wealth on us, your Majesty.” Jisung murmured back, pushing as much mockery in his tone as he could. 

Trying to make all of this at least a little more bearable. Trying to help Chan stay calm. Stay sane, while watching as the person who Chan was forced to forsake all of his morals for, stepped out of his carriage.

The man who stepped first out of the carriage was small and slim, wrapped in white gowns and frills that made him look more like a puppet or a present than an actual person. 

A proper spoil of war should be decorated like a gift, shouldn’t it?

Swallowing the bile rising in his throat at the sight, Chan stood his ground. 

If this was bad for him, he had no idea how it would be for the other Prince. To be forced to leave his home and present himself like a thing to someone who, just three months ago, would have killed him on the battlefield. 

The Prince was flanked by two guards, both wearing white uniforms, and another man, also dressed in white, who followed two steps behind the guards. He was probably the personal servant to the Prince.

It seemed almost brazen for the Prince to bring two guards and a servant, but Chan was glad for it, watching the small procession walk up the stairs in silence as the whole courtyard held its breath.

“Hah, I knew it!” Jisung whispered when they saw the veil covering most of the Prince’s hair and face.

“It’s not a full veil.” Changbin argued immediately, as if that was relevant at all right now.

“At least the guards are something to look at.” Jisung whispered back, not even acknowledging Changbin’s quiet hiss.

Jisung was right. When Chan managed to rip his eyes away from the Prince, who walked up the stairs with the grace of a dancer, Chan had to admit that both guards looked stunning. The guard on the Prince’s right had red hair and a piercing gaze. He was taller than the Prince but moved with the same grace. The other guard had hair the color of lavender, while his eyes seemed to have kept his dragon shape. He, too, was graceful, but there was something almost violent about him that immediately got Chan’s attention. The violence was contained, but it was obviously there, just waiting to be unleashed. 

Good. The Levanter Kingdom hadn’t sent its Prince here to die. They had actually sent guards with him who would protect him. If the Prince was lucky, it was even his Thunder.

They might have lost the war they started, but they hadn’t lost their pride. Not that many people in Miroh would see this as a slight against Levanter. After all, Chan had decided not to kill the Prince but to take him as his mate, or at least offer him a place in his harem. That was a huge honor, wasn’t it?

Watching the veiled young man take the last few steps with the same grace but slower than the first - Chan did not believe it was because he started to tire already, even if the Prince was rumored to be weak - he couldn’t agree with it. Not only because Chan, too, did not want this, but also because being handed over like a piece of meat could never be an honor.

The fact that the Prince’s guards were clearly of the same opinion and seemed to be loyal to their Prince meant that they would need to keep an eye on them because even if the Prince was rumored to be weak, those two guards weren’t - and judging by their expressions, they were not happy to be here. 

Chan couldn’t fault them for it. They were quite literally on enemy territory, being forced to hand over their Prince. Maybe even one of their Thunder. And maybe their loyalty even demanded they stay, which would make it much worse, Chan was sure. 

Then again, Chan almost wished they would stay. He didn’t even know if the Prince would know their language - and Chan could barely say enough in the tongue of Levanter to properly introduce himself.

The Prince stopped in front of the High King and High Queen, bowing his head, before he knelt down gracefully, allowing his forehead to touch the stone in front of them. The guards and the servant stopped at a respectful distance behind their prince and bowed their heads in unison, their hands now intertwined behind their backs.

Watching it, Chan bit down on his lower lip, keeping his posture, as the seconds ticked by. Neither the prince, the guards, nor his servant moved. Glancing around the courtyard, no one moved. All of them were waiting for the High King to allow the kneeling prince to move. 

As if he wasn’t punished enough for the crimes of his sister by being forced to come here decorated like a gift.

“Stand up, Prince.” The King’s rich voice said, ripping Chan’s focus back to the kneeling man. 

The Prince kept his posture for a moment longer before he stood up, as graceful as he had knelt down, his face still lowered in deference.

The King cocked his head to the side in deliberation before he stepped forward. 

The two guards and the servant stiffened immediately, the Prince tensing, too, when the King reached up, unveiling his face. 

The Prince was, in one word, beautiful. There was blond hair teasing under the veil, his skin a bit lighter than Chan’s, his eyes blue with a lilac shimmer over them, and a scatter of freckles decorating his nose and cheeks. His lips were painted red.

“Damn.” Jisung whispered beside him, making Changbin snicker almost noiselessly.

Chan couldn’t focus on that, as he was still staring at the Prince, whose face showed no emotion.

“What is your name, Prince?” The King asked, taking one step back, not that that relaxed the Prince.

“My name is Lee Felix Yongbok, Jusang Jeonha.” The Prince - Felix - said in the tongue of Miroh, in a very low voice. It was obvious that he was not used to the language, but at least he knew enough of it to address the King correctly.

Maybe he had just learned some phrases to be able to survive here, and the most important titles and honorifics.

Chan would need to get him a tutor. 

The King nodded once at Felix before he looked past him to the courtyard. “People of Miroh, let this be a day of peace. The Kingdom of Levanter sent us their Prince as their sign of… surrender, and promise to honor their oath of loyalty to our crown.” 

Glancing at the Prince, Chan noted that he hadn’t moved, didn’t look out to the people all around. He also didn’t react to the words. Didn’t react to the fact that the King actually seemed to see him as nothing more than a spoil of war.

Then again, his own Kingdom had dressed him like a present. Maybe Prince Felix hadn’t imagined anything else.

“Let it be known that Felix of Levanter is now living in our glorious kingdom and, by the grace and goodwill of my son, Seja Jehoa, will become one of his harem.” 

Gritting his teeth, Chan didn’t react. And not only because Jisung pressed his finger into his back. The High King knew Chan’s intentions. He had even given Chan his blessing. Yes, he had also warned Chan about the traditionalists, who would also complain if Chan would just take the Prince as a concubine and nothing more. They had already expressed their explicit disapproval for Chan taking the Prince into his harem. They would lose their minds when they found out that Chan was going to make the Prince his first mate. 

Which was why Chan, even if he still hated the thought, would mate with the Prince - with Felix - as soon as possible. To make sure that he could not be humiliated even further. To make sure that the Prince was as protected in Miroh as Chan could make him. 

Those thoughts might make him weak in the eyes of the traditionalists, but Chan didn’t care. The prince - Felix - had not even participated in the war. It wasn’t his fault that he had been born as the prince of Levanter. It wasn’t his fault that his sister had taken over the Throne of Levanter and decided to wage war against Miroh. And still it was he who had to pay the price.

“By the grace of the high heavens that favored us with strength and victory, rejoice on this day.” The King looked back at the Prince - Felix - who was still keeping his posture, his eyes respectfully on the marble in front of the King’s feet. 

Despite everything the King had just said. Chan had no idea if the Prince was that timid, that broken down, or that resigned.

The King turned, walking back inside the castle, without acknowledging the Prince again.

Fuck.

Looking over the crowd, Chan stopped when he saw Seungmin’s purple hair. Seungmin, of course, was already looking at Chan, nodding before Chan could do anything but meet his gaze. 

Nodding at Seungmin, allowing him to show some of the deep-felt gratitude that was blooming in his chest, Chan turned, right after the Queen had, following the procession inside.

The next couple of hours were torturous. Not only because Chan had another conversation with his parents about all the implications, and the reminder that he needed to mate with the prince before the official announcement of Felix’s status in the court in three days time - which, by this point, Chan was rather sure was his parent’s revenge for all the shit he had done as a teenager - and he had been ambushed by several noblemen and noblewomen, reminding him that the prince was nothing more than a plaything, and a subpar one at that - Chan had kept gritting his teeth at that so hard he was almost sure he had destroyed something permanently. 

That was before the fact that waiting for the evening, when he had invited the prince - Felix - to dine with him, was torture in itself. 

Even without the constant teasing from people that he normally valued as members of his Thunder. Not right now, though. 

“Oh come on, Hyung, he looked like a nymph! Are we sure he is a Dragon?” Jisung asked, lounging on one of the chairs around Chan’s table. “I mean, he didn’t even bite the King’s hand off when he unveiled him.”

Looking up at that comment, Chan didn’t even have the time to open his mouth.

“He is basically a prisoner of war, Sung; he would have to be stupid to do anything that could get him in trouble.” Changbin said, his eyes on Seungmin, who was ordering scrolls on Chan’s desk.

“Yeah, yeah, but I just checked in with the librarian, while you were with the King,” Jisung gestured halfheartedly at Chan, “because all of the Levanters were acting suspicious when the King unveiled him. Turns out, it’s apparently tradition that only the intended mate is allowed to unveil the To-be-Bitten. I am guessing they thought the prince would go into the King’s harem - and then realized it was just a massive insult.” He shrugged. “At least in their eyes.”

Pressing his lips together, Chan didn’t say anything. He hadn’t known that, so there was a chance his father hadn’t either. But he didn’t really believe that. 

And either way, how bad must the prince have felt to believe he would become part of the King’s harem, a man quite literally old enough to be his father.

That, of course, was also not unheard of; there were enough nobles who did that, but it was wrong in Chan’s eyes, and he did not like at all that the King was just tolerating it because of traditions.

“This really is the worst possible start, isn’t it?” 

Seungmin turned to Chan, his expression so judgmental that it should be enough to slay him on the spot. “Tell me one thing that could have gone worse.”

Chan had known it was a bad idea to voice that thought, but it was worse to realize there was nothing he could say to that. 

Felix had openly submitted, trying to show as much grace as was possible in an impossible situation. And in return, he’d been humiliated and left on the steps by the King, who had done all of that to him.

Chan loved his parents, he did, but he hated this behavior of theirs - especially because he knew it was influenced by some of the traditionalist advisers that held too much power to just dismiss them. 

Which wouldn’t mean shit if they tried to humiliate Felix further. He was a prince, and it was not his fault that he was here. 

“Someone could have thrown rotting food at him.” Jisung said, grinning at Seungmin, while Changbin, almost simultaneously, said, “People could have yelled slurs at him.”

“Hey, someone could have tried to assassinate him.” Jisung leaned forward on the chair. “Or someone could have iced his carriage.” 

“Isn’t that the same?” Changbin asked, before rapping his knuckles on the table. “He could have been put in the stocks! Or his servants could have been sent away!”

“I think it might be a good idea to have those idiots not around when Xiat Felix comes for dinner tonight, Hyung.” Seungmin ignored the outraged exclamations from Jisung and his mate. “It could be humiliating for you.” 

“Don’t call him that, Minnie.” Chan said, ignoring the pouting from Jisung and Changbin. Everything else would just encourage their bad behavior more.

“He is a nobleman from another country, Hyung. Even if you mate with him tomorrow, today he is just a nobleman from Levanter. This is the politest way he will have been addressed today.” 

Chan’s head snapped up at that, now narrowing his eyes at Seungmin. “Did something happen?”

Seungmin raised his eyebrow at Chan, while Changbin sighed heavily. “He is the Levantian Prince, Hyung. Almost everyone in the Capitol has lost someone to that war. Even if people were rational, there are too many people here who want revenge.” 

Pressing his lips together again, Chan met Jisung’s eyes, who just shrugged. “We were lucky, Hyung.” It was as much the truth as it was a cruel reminder of what the war had cost them all. 

But what almost no one seemed to consider - or worse, even welcomed - was that Prince Felix would have lost people to the war as well. He had lost his home. And now he was here, forced to get mated to Chan, a person Felix didn’t know and would have to fear would, if not outright abuse him, treat him not like his station demanded. If he didn’t fear that Chan would clip his wings and send him out into the cold if he did anything that displeased Chan.

Prince Felix, no matter his former station, had no say in his fate anymore. There was nothing he could do to protect himself. Nothing he could do but accept his fate.

Chan wouldn’t allow that. As long as Felix was willing to work for Miroh, Chan would make sure Felix would have a good life here.

“Felix will be my first mate. He will be mine, and he will become part of our Thunder. You will not allow anyone to disrespect him.” Chan could hear the demand in his voice, making Seungmin, Jisung, and Changbin straighten. 

“Yes, Hyung.” All three of them said, bowing their heads - even if Jisung looked up at Chan a moment later. 

“You do know, Hyung, that you cannot force the whole of Miroh to accept him, right?”

“I can try.” 

There was a moment of silence before Seungmin sighed. “I will make sure dinner is prepared and that our revered guests will be punctual. You two make sure that Hyung doesn’t start a revolution before dinner, please.” 

“Of course, Minnie.” Changbin said, catching Seungmin’s hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it. 

Seungmin didn’t react to it, but he also didn’t rip his hand out of Changbin’s grasp.

Jisung waited, thankfully, for Seungmin to leave the room before he turned back to Chan, all of the humor gone from his expression. “You do know that Felix might be here to take revenge as well, right? And if not the Prince, one of the guards could as well. Just because you are honorable, Chan-hyung, doesn’t mean they are.”

Exhaling slowly, Chan nodded. He knew that. They had had this discussion before. Often. It was the reason why he had agreed to have the first dinner with everyone present, to give Jisung, Changbin, and Seungmin the opportunity to vet the Prince and his entourage before Chan would mate him. And it would also offer them the opportunity to impress on the Prince and his people that Chan was willing to offer his hand in peace, which did not mean he wouldn’t retaliate swiftly and with prejudice if they tried to undermine or harm Miroh. 

But it didn’t change that Chan was not willing to treat Felix any worse, just on the off chance that he might take revenge. It was just as likely that the Prince wanted to protect his Kingdom, wasn’t it?

Chan didn’t hope that Felix wouldn’t hate him, he just hoped that they would be able to find mutual respect over time for each other. And who knew, they might even be able to find friendship one day. 

Closing his eyes for a moment, Chan ignored the thrumming disappointment in his veins. It wouldn’t help him to be disappointed about a childhood dream he’d always known would stay just a dream for him.

-o0o- 

Pacing through his private dining room about an hour later, Chan ignored his Thunder. At this rate, he would build a new Thunder with Prince Felix. Jisung just tried to rile him up to distract him, and Changbin, being mated to someone he loved deeply, tried for optimism and reassurance that almost sounded delusional. 

And that was before Jisung always stepped in, reminding them that the prince and his entourage could be blood thirsty killers sent to burn down Miroh. Something that none of the others dismissed.

None of that helped with Chan’s stress, which had only gotten worse since Seungmin had left to guide the Prince and his entourage to Chan’s dining room. 

It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, but it felt like a torturous eternity. 

When the knock finally came, Chan wanted to run. Just jump out of the window, shift, and fly as far away as his wings would carry him.

Seungmin, although on the other side of the door, must have known Chan wouldn’t be able to call them in, because he opened the door wide before Chan even knew what to do aside from panic. 

“Prince Felix, Seja Jeoha.” Seungmin bowed respectfully, even using Chan’s full title as Crown Prince, as he did in official settings, before he stepped to the side, allowing Felix to step forward. 

The Prince was still dressed in the white gown, decorated with lace, the veil now framing his face.

Because the King had unveiled him in front of the whole Capitol.

Straightening his back even more, Chan bowed his head in greeting, watching as Felix bowed significantly lower, his guards and personal servant following his example. Chan stood back, but Felix didn’t. 

“Please, stand up.” Chan said in the tongue of Levanter, even if he was pretty sure his pronunciation was off, but as long as he didn’t know how much Felix understood the tongue of Miroh, he wouldn’t rely on that. 

Felix’s eyes snapped up to him before he stood up, his shoulders slightly relaxing. The guards and the servant stood up a moment later.

Chan barely realized that, for a moment caught in Felix’s intense stare. 

“Thank you, Seja Jeoha.” Felix’s voice sounded even lower than it had earlier today. His pronunciation was not perfect, but much better than Chan’s would have been. “If it would please you, I am sufficient enough in the tongue of Miroh to partake in conversation.”

Not looking over his shoulder, Chan knew that the other three would make fun of him the second Felix had left tonight. 

“That is very kind of you, Prince Felix. Please come in.” Chan made an inviting hand gesture and took one step back.

Felix inhaled slowly before he stepped forward.

Chan’s personal dining room was small in comparison to most other dining rooms in the castle, but it was still big enough to host twenty people. As Chan seldom entertained that many people in his private dining room, the table standing in the middle, decorated and already decked with food, was just for ten people.

It would make for a much less awkward situation, even if they would still be sitting far apart.

Then again, looking at the stiff body of Felix and his blank expression, that might relax him a little.

Jisung and Changbin were visibly placed standing on the far wall, framing Chan’s chair, as Seungmin stood to the side, waiting to serve them. 

“You can keep your servants with you tonight if you trust them to be part of a conversation.” Chan said, waiting for Felix’s reaction.

It was immediate, as Felix’s eyes flashed to him again, slightly narrowing, before he bowed his head, hiding his eyes. “I trust them with my life and my secrets, Seja Jeoha. They are my Thunder.” 

“Good.” In that case, Chan was going to let them stay. Not only tonight but indefinitely. No matter how horrible this had to be for Felix, at least he wasn’t alone.

Felix nodded again, only walking to his intended chair when Chan invited him to. 

That was either a show of impeccable manners, crippling fear, or both. 

Even though Chan had seen nobles for all his life, he’d never seen someone sit down as gracefully as Felix, making sure his gown fell favorably around him, as his guards positioned themselves to either side of him, as stony-faced as Felix was, while the servant stepped to the opposite side of the table than Seungmin.

All four of them looked beautiful and almost delicate, thin in a way that might be a result of too little food for too long, but that didn’t take away from their intensity. 

Where Felix and one of the guards were all but blank, the other guard and the servant were strictly contained anger. But that was Changbin’s and Jisung’s concern for now.

Looking back at Felix, the other prince kept his eyes on the table right above his plate. Like a Bitten was supposed to. Like a good spoil of war should.

That was not going to fly.

“I know my reputation in Levanter must be… horrible.” It spoke to his Thunder’s professionalism that they didn’t start laughing. It spoke to his reputation that the others didn’t react. Not even Felix. 

“The people of Levanter know about your strength, Seja Jeoha.” Felix answered, his eyes still on the table. “We all heard about your deeds during the war.” 

The perfect answer. Distant and not saying anything, even using Chan’s full title.

It was that moment that Chan realized that Felix wouldn’t even know his name, if Seungmin hadn’t told him - and chances were high that he had not.

“My name is Chan.” 

Felix glanced up, his eyes barely meeting Chan’s before he bowed his head even lower. “Please excuse my ignorance, I don’t know the etiquette and honorifics, Seja Jeoha.” 

Pressing his lips together, Chan forced a calm smile on his lips. Like he did with the new servants who were terrified of him. “Can you please look at me, Prince Felix?” 

Felix held his position for a moment longer before he looked up, his back straight and his expression still blank. 

“I know you must fear me, and I know I can’t do anything right now to prove to you that I will treat you honorably, but I swear to you, Prince Felix, as long as you will not betray Miroh, I will take you as my first mate and I will treat you with respect and kindness as long as I live.”

Felix stared at him, his expression not betraying any of his emotions, but Chan had expected that. Felix seemed to be very adept at hiding his emotions and playing the political game. If Chan was honest, Felix seemed better at it than he, himself, could ever be.

“About my name, I offer it to you to use. To show respect, you could say Seja Chan or outside of official settings Chan-nim. In private, you could call me Chan-ssi. And when you feel comfortable with me, you can call me Chan-hyung.” Chan smiled his most winning smile. “These three are my Thunder. I trust them with my life and with my secrets. They will keep you safe, because as soon as we share a piece with each other, you will be one of mine.”

Felix inhaled, slowly and measuredly, almost as if to calm himself. “Yes, Chan-nim?” It sounded more like a question than anything else.

“Here you can call me Chan-ssi, Prince Felix.”

“Yes, Chan-ssi.” Felix bowed his head for a moment before he looked back at Chan. “Please talk to me… informal?” It was another question, but at least Felix was talking. 

“Thank you, Felix-ssi. Just as an explanation, in official settings I will call you Daeguon, outside of them I will call you Prince Felix or Felix-nim. In private, like right here, I will call you Felix-ssi, and if you are more comfortable with me, I will call you Felix-ah. Is that okay?”

“Yes, Chan-ssi.” 

Swallowing the immediate response on his tongue, Chan just smiled. “I am not sure what you were told, but just to reassure you; I plan to mate you tomorrow, to secure your standing in this court.” This might sound like a lie to Felix, and Chan did plan to explain the inner politics to Felix, but not tonight. 

Not while he looked blank and was probably overwhelmed with everything. 

“I know you must hate all of this. I…” Chan shook his head, pressing his lips together. There was no way he would make this about him. “I don’t blame you if you hate this. I don’t blame you if you hate me.” Chan wouldn’t. He couldn’t.

Felix was still just looking at him, his shoulders tense and his expression still almost eerily blank.

“Despite how this came to be, I hope that we might find common ground. I am not asking for any promises. I am just hoping that we can find a way to at least co-exist peacefully.” It was the best he could hope for right now. 

And Chan was not going to push for anything the day before he was mating with him against his will.

“Yes, Chan-ssi.” Felix hesitated before he bowed his head. “Thank you for your kindness, Chan-ssi.”

“We’re going to carry a piece of each other, Felix-ssi. It is the least that I can do.” 

Felix froze, moving his head to the side, almost as if he had been slapped.

Chan didn’t have to look behind himself to know that Changbin and Jisung would have tensed. Instead, he looked at Felix’s guards, who looked ready to jump forward. 

“May I please say something, Chan-nim?” Felix asked, his voice sounding even lower, as he looked back at Chan, his eyes were all but hollow. 

“Of course, Felix-ssi.” Chan kept his smile where it was, because that was what he had been trained to. Because no matter what Felix would say right now, he needed to hear it. No matter how little he might want to.

“Thank you, Chan-nim.” Felix all but whispered before he stood up abruptly from his chair, stepping beside the table and sinking to his knees.

“Felix-ssi, what-” Chan asked, also standing up from his chair, but he froze when Felix bowed forward, pressing his forehead to the floor, his body looking so small in the white gown on the floor.

“Seja Jeoha, I must confess a sin that was never intended to be a slight to you. My Kingdom doesn’t know and never intended to betray or insult you. They don’t know that someone is already carrying a piece of mine.”

Chan barely noticed that both Changbin and Jisung moved behind him, or that Felix’s guards had stepped forward. His focus was solely on Felix. 

Felix was already mated.

“My people are innocent. I gave the first piece of mine away without telling my family. When my Queen agreed to send me here, she didn’t know I was… I couldn’t become your first mate. This is all my fault. Any punishment you see fit, I will happily carry myself, but my Kingdom is innocent, and so are the people of my Thunder.” Felix’s voice broke, and it was that little detail that hit Chan’s chest like a shard to the heart.

“Please, Seja Jeoha, I know I have no right to beg for it, but please, please allow me to carry the punishment. Please spare my people.” 

Felix had come here to die. 

Swallowing, Chan could all but feel the panic that must be thrumming through Felix’s soul. After the way he had been dragged here like an object, and then disrespected by the King in front of the whole Capitol, he must believe that the best-case scenario was that he got clipped and exiled. 

Taking a step to the side, Chan locked eyes with the angry guard. Both of Felix’s guards had stepped forward, and so had his servant. He didn’t have to look behind himself to know Changbin and Jisung would have already drawn their weapons, which the other guards didn’t have.

But just one glance at them, Chan knew without the shadow of a doubt that they would throw themselves over Felix, to protect him with their lives. 

Raising his hands, to order all of them to stay back, Chan stopped his movement when Felix’s personal servant moved, not towards Chan, though, but towards his Prince. He sank down beside Felix, wrapping one arm around him and placing half of his body over Felix, clearly trying to cover as much of Felix as he could. 

“No, Innie.” Felix begged, his voice sounding devastated.

Chan didn’t understand the next sentence, but it didn’t matter. Even without the way Felix tried to push the servant away without losing his position, it was more than obvious that he didn’t want his servant to take his place. 

Ready to lay down his life for his Kingdom because of something that should have been celebrated.

Taking another step forward, Chan ignored that everyone else tensed even more. Ignored that the servant pressed himself closer to Felix, placing his head over Felix’s as if he thought Chan was going to behead Felix right here and now.

They all had expected Felix to die today. They had expected to die with their Prince. 

Chan took another step, and he could watch Felix stop fighting. But he didn’t stop begging.

“Please, Seja Jeoha, forgive my servant, I- I ordered them not to intervene. Please-”

Chan knelt down in front of Felix, gingerly touching the servant's shoulder, to make him look up, but the servant just pressed himself closer to his Prince, as if he was worried Chan was about to rip him away. 

And why wouldn’t he think that? 

“Please sit up, Felix-ssi.” Chan tried to make his voice sound calm, but it didn’t, even to himself.

There was a moment when nothing happened. Because Felix was collecting himself? Because he was expecting Chan to yell at him? To curse him? To condemn him? To hurt him? 

To kill him right here, cowering on the floor in his pretty white clothes?

When Felix moved, so did the servant, still holding onto Felix and not moving away. And it did not escape Chan’s notice that Felix held onto the servant’s hand so tightly that his knuckles were white.

“Please look at me, Felix-ssi.” 

Raising his head, Felix met Chan’s eyes. There were no tears on his face but more life in them than Chan had seen before. Between the fear and the pain was the fire of a Dragon. 

Felix wouldn’t fight him. He would beg. He would plead. But not for himself. 

“You mated for love?” It was over Chan’s lips before he could stop himself. 

“Yes.” Felix answered, raising his chin by a fraction. “It was no slight against you. I gave a piece of mine to them a little over two years ago. We always planned to make our bond public after the war, but…”

“But you were forced to mate me.” Chan whispered, seeing the agony flash over Felix’s face. 

Because he had a mate. Because he had already given a piece of himself to a person he genuinely loved. A person he loved enough to risk being exiled from his own Kingdom. 

“Are you sure that you want to do this?” Chan asked, not able to not ask him. Even if he could guess the answer.

Of course, Felix didn’t want this.

Felix exhaled, before an agonized smile played over his lips. “I would do anything for my people. I will endure anything and accept any punishment you see fit. Just please spare my people.”

The servant glared at Felix at that, the same fire in his eyes that Felix showed, holding him even closer. Because the servant was ready to die for his Prince, even though he had betrayed his kingdom.

“I always wanted to mate for love.” Chan would have never admitted that to Felix, but right now, it seemed like the only way to explain. “I will not punish you for doing what I always dreamed of.”

Felix stared at him, and now, the servant also stared at him, his eyes still suspicious.

“I will mate you. I will make sure your people will not suffer because of… because you fell in love. But no one can know that you gave a piece of yours to someone else.”

“I know.” Felix whispered immediately, desperation burning in his eyes. “No one will ever find out. I will never shift again, and I will never… I will never touch my mate again.” Felix whispered, raspy in a way as if he was choking on the words. “They know and they… they understand.”

Holding his gaze, Chan seriously doubted that. He wouldn’t. Then again, looking at Prince Felix, cowering and begging before him, he showed more strength of character than most of Chan’s court had combined.

Would someone like Felix fall in love with someone who wouldn’t honor his decision to protect his people? Would he fall in love with someone who would be any less kind-hearted? 

Chan couldn’t know any of that. It was more reasonable to believe that Felix was lying to him, but staring into his eyes, Chan couldn’t believe that. 

He might not know the Prince of Levanter at all, but Chan knew people. Had been forced to learn how to read them and how to spot their intentions, and all he could see in Felix was the desire to protect his people at any cost. 

“You will stay loyal to me, and Miroh.” It hurt to say those words, but Chan needed to say them regardless. Needed to see Felix’s reaction to them. 

To his credit, Felix didn’t look down, didn’t evade his eyes. “Yes, Chan-nim. I will be whatever you want me to be. I will be loyal to you and to Miroh as long as my people are safe.”

Despite the heaviness dragging Chan down, he couldn’t help the honest smile sneaking onto his lips.

“I swear to you, Felix, Prince of Levanter and Miroh, that I will not harm any of your people or wage another war against them as long as you stay loyal to me, and Miroh.”

Felix stared at him for a moment longer before his shoulders relaxed and he leaned more into the touch of his servant. “It sounds so insufficient, but it is all I can tell you right now; thank you, Chan-nim.”

“Chan-ssi. We’re still in private.” Chan said, smiling reassuringly at Felix, who now looked beyond exhausted.

“Yes, Chan-ssi. Please excuse my mistakes. They are not done maliciously.” 

As if Chan would think Felix would use more polite honorifics to disrespect him. 

“No worries, Felix-ssi. You will learn soon enough.” Chan glanced up, seeing the guards still at their positions, their expressions calmer but still alert. 

If they were Felix’s Thunder, how must it feel to them to see their Prince begging their oppressor? They must know Felix’s first mate. Must have witnessed Felix’s last goodbye. Had followed him here, accepting their deaths. 

It reminded him of a tidbit of information he’d heard before, but right now, it was more important to get some food into Felix and to get him off the ground. 

“Will you allow me to help you to your chair?” Chan asked, his voice warm and kind.

Before Felix could say anything, his servant adjusted his arms around Felix, dragging him into a standing position and moving them both two steps away, while also bowing his head respectfully to Chan. 

The message couldn’t have been clearer.

Standing up himself, Chan kept his smile in check. “I am glad you have such loyal people around you, Felix-ssi.”

Felix, still being supported by his servant, glanced at him before he looked at Chan, already opening his lips to most likely beg for the servant again.

“It is a compliment, Felix-ssi. You can tell a lot about a person by watching their servants act around them. You must be very well loved by your people.” It said even more about them if their servants were part of their Thunder, but Chan knew better than to mention that in front of his own Thunder.

Felix swallowed before he bowed his head. “Your servant only spoke the highest praise of you, Chan-ssi.” It was little more than a whisper, but even now, Felix tried his best.

“Did he?” Chan looked over at Seungmin, who kept his eyes straight ahead. “As soon as they are more comfortable around you, you will learn that that is not how they treat me to my face.” 

“I don’t-” Felix, who had been carefully placed onto his chair, his servants standing now right beside him, while the angry-looking guard had pushed the chair in for Felix, glanced at Chan’s Thunder, something like worry fluttering over his face.

“Don’t worry, Felix-ssi. They are my Thunder. They are loyal. They also like to tease me.” He smiled at Felix. “Aren’t you teased by your Thunder?” Even while saying it out loud and watching the way the three people were protectively standing around Felix, Chan knew the answer.

“Not really.” Felix swallowed. “They take care of me.” 

Watching the almost frail-looking man, no matter that Chan had also seen the fire in his eyes and his resolve, he could understand why Felix’s Thunder would take care of him.

“I am glad for that.” And he was. Felix should be taken care of. “If you will allow me, I and my Thunder will also take care of you.” 

Felix bowed his head to that.

“Let me introduce them. You already met Seungmin, he is my personal servant. These two,” Chan gestured behind himself, “are Jisung and Changbin, who carries a piece of Seungmin.” 

Felix’s eyes flashed from Changbin to Seungmin, his lips twitching in a smile before his face went blank.

That pain was Chan’s fault. Maybe not fully, but enough for Chan to feel the heavy weight of guilt settle in his stomach. He knew better than to voice it, of course. He’d been told over and over that it was Levanter’s fault, for starting the war in the first place, but sitting here, in front of Felix, Chan still felt guilty. More now, that he knew Felix already had a mate. 

“May I introduce my Thunder?” Felix asked, waiting for Chan to nod encouragingly at him. “This is Jeongin, my personal servant, and these are Minho and Hyunjin.” 

The guards bowed their heads forward at their name. 

“Welcome. I have no desire to break up your Thunder, so I assume over time our Thunders will combine.” Chan said, meeting the angry guards, Minho’s eyes. “I am very glad Felix-ssi has such loyal servants.” 

“Thank you, Chan-ssi.” Felix said, bowing his head forward again. Not giving away any information.

“I am curious.” Chan leaned a little forward, trying to look innocent, knowing full well his own Thunder would make fun of him for that later. “I’ve heard that in Levanter, servants are trained already knowing who they will serve one day. Is that true?”

“Yes, Chan-ssi.” Felix nodded. “It is normal for them to start their training when they are seven years old, and from that day on, they are a part of the life of their future charge. Minho has been part of my life since I was five, Hyunjin since we were both seven, and Jeongin since I was eight years old.” 

“That is interesting. I started training to become a knight when I was seven as well, and was shortly after joined by Changbin and Jisung, who excelled so much, I claimed them as my knights.”

Felix nodded to that as well, not offering more information.

Which might be because he was exhausted from everything that had happened today, but Chan was almost sure that Felix was just good at keeping his thoughts hidden.

“Is this what you envisioned for your life?” Chan asked, his eyes now on Minho, who was stoically looking ahead. 

“It is my desire and my honor to serve My Prince.” Minho answered, his voice quiet and melodic.

Another perfect answer.

“Please speak freely, Minho.” Chan smiled at him. “In these chambers, there is no need for politeness.” 

Felix stiffened while Minho met Chan’s eyes, and the fire in them was like ice. 

“We always knew we would one day follow Our Prince out of Levanter wherever he would be sent.” Minho’s voice now was cold, the anger barely contained. “But no, Seja Jeoha, we never even imagined we would have to watch Our Prince degrade himself like he had to today.” 

“Min!” Felix jumped up from his chair, now turned to Minho, the growl beautifully extenuating his deep voice. “Apologize!” 

“Apologies, My Prince, I am humbled by the sacrifice you are willing to make for all of us.” Minho’s voice was back to melodic and kind, but the words were an obvious jab against Chan.

Interesting. 

“Show respect to Seja Jehoa. We might not have chosen this, but he will be-” Felix faltered before he straightened even more, his voice enforced with a growl. “He will carry a piece of mine, and you will treat him with respect.” 

The silence that followed was heavy, and Chan didn’t need to look at anyone but Minho to know everyone was thinking the same. Felix meant every word, would fight his own guard over it, no matter that it was ripping him apart. 

“My apologies.” Minho bowed to Felix again, before he met Chan’s eyes and bowed even lower. “My apologies, Seja Jeoha. I was out of line. Please forgive my disrespect.”

Chan smiled. “In our private chambers, without anyone but us eight present, it is quite alright. I did ask you to speak freely. But with other people present, I would have had no choice but to punish you.”

“I understand.” Minho bowed again. “Please do not take this as a reflection of My Prince’s character.”

Felix, now supported by his personal servant Jeongin again, looked pained, but not for himself.

“I won’t, Minho. As I said, I am glad Felix has people with him who want to protect him. Please know that we want that, too.” 

Minho nodded to that, his face a blank mask now, just like the others were wearing. 

“Thank you for your kindness, Chan-ssi.” Felix said, allowing Jeongin to help him sit down again, looking even more exhausted now. 

“It is the least I can do.” Chan meant it. Which made the way Felix looked up at him at that even more painful. 

“It is not. Please accept my gratitude.” Felix’s voice was quiet, but the steel in it was unmistakable.

“If you manage to get Chan-hyung to accept your gratitude, Felix-nim, I will swear my loyalty to you, and you alone.” Jisung said, his voice light and teasing.

Which did not change that Chan groaned, bowing his head forward. “Jisung.”

“What? If he manages that, I’d rather serve him. Someone with that power would definitely break you.” 

Looking back up, Chan saw Felix staring at Jisung with a mixture of shock and worry.

“As I said. They like to tease me.”

“That wasn’t a tease, Hyung. I’d follow Felix-nim as well.” Changbin said, the grin obvious in his voice.

“On that note of treason, may I serve some food?” Seungmin asked, deliberately turning away from Chan and towards Felix.

If that continued, Chan was lucky if Felix ruled benevolently after he overthrew Miroh with the help of Chan’s own Thunder.