Chapter Text
☾☾☾ ღ ☽☽☽
“But father, what about me?!” Jimin cries in terror and heartbreak, “you cannot do this to me! You know he is a hybrid! An inferior race and worst of all, a predator!”
“A predator who defeated us in war,” his father, king Jaesuk, is as calm as ever with a hint of frustration and a tinge of sadness that he tries hard to suppress, “you’re the prince of Seleneven. It is your duty to protect its people as the prince. This marriage is your sacrifice for your land!”
Jimin goes quiet at that. He grew up knowing he will never have a love match, unlike some of his cousins. He was a prince who would fulfil his destiny by marrying someone for political reasons. Tying Seleneven with a stronger kingdom to form an alliance. A shield of protection for his kingdom and the people in it. And it was planned that way, too. He is betrothed to the crowned prince of Sakura, who is travelling for his higher education at the moment. Jimin was not in love with the prince, as he only met the alpha five or so times in his life, but he made his peace with it. At least, the alpha was a pure-blood royalty who would respect Jimin and had the ethics Jimin wants in his alpha. It was a sacrifice too, but Jimin had all the time in the world to come to terms with it, as he had learned about that promise at an early age. He was ready for that sacrifice, where he did not get to choose his partner or get to fall in love.
But he never thought he would have to sacrifice himself to a hybrid king whose brutality and bloodshed were made into songs that’d make grown men shudder with fear and disgust. He never thought he would have to, not only sacrifice his life but his pride and dignity too.
Jimin looks at his father and then turns his pleading gaze on his papa who looks at him with barely concealed sadness. Jimin’s lips quiver with frustration and hurt. He hated how his father was treating him like an object. Hated the fact that his hand was promised to someone without his permission and now snatched and given to another to protect the land.
Even if he were to sacrifice himself like this, it’d hurt less if he were included in the decision-making. If he was aware of this for as long as his parents were and had the time to compose himself. Come to terms with the fact that he, indeed, was to marry off to a damn hybrid.
Instead, he was informed today, when the hybrid king was to visit them in a few hours with his family to arrange the marriage. A marriage that will take place in two days because the brute wanted to go back to his kingdom as soon as possible now that he knew Jimin’s father’s kingdom was tied to his in a political marriage treaty.
“Can we not write to the king of Sakura?” Jimin begs almost, “can we not ask for their help to resist the Sabertooth of Erebus?! I am sure—”
“The king of Sakura refused to help, Jimin,” Jaesuk curses, “I wrote to him the day we saw the army of the Erebus on the horizon! They do not wish to face the Sabertooth’s wrath!”
“That is the king’s words!” Jimin tries again, “what about the crowned prince? Maybe we can write to wherever he is, and he will come to our aid! Of course, he would. He is to protect my virtue! He is my promised alpha—”
“Jimin…” Kwan, his papa, tries in a sad but pointed voice, matching his frantic eyes with his calm and sad ones, “we wrote to him, too,” his lips quiver, voice cracking, “there was no answer from him. We know he received the letter, even then.”
Jimin’s shoulders sag. The disappointment and hopelessness almost forcing his knees to give out and for him to fall on his knees on the floor. He looks down at his trembling and clammy hands with blurred vision. All his hopes and fights slowly start to leave him when he looks at his parents and realises that they tried everything before coming to him with this last resort.
Jimin blinks back the angry tears and straightens, “very well then. I have something you two must agree to, now that you almost threw me in that beast’s face to save Seleneven. Before marriage, I have a few conditions I need the king to accept. Once and if he does, only then shall I marry him.”
His father looks at him as if he has lost his mind, “Jimin! He is not here to ask your hand in marriage. I went to him to plead with him to marry you and spare our kingdom! He was planning on shredding every living being in this kingdom and turning it into a desert instead. You cannot attach conditions to a charity that he is doing to us!”
Jimin shrugs in cold fury and frustration, “either he accepts my conditions or I take my life with my bare hands, father. I do not care what you think but I am not a property you can trade off for your kingdom! I am a person and I have my wishes! I am not asking for much. I will marry him for my people and sacrifice my life,” tears spring to his eyes, making his glare waver, “but I deserve the acknowledgement of my wishes, and I will not let you deny me that!”
Kwan puts a hand on his father’s thigh, and the king lets out a sigh. Looking at his mate and back at Jimin with a grim nod. His brows crease with worry, those thin lips tightening with displeasure, but he nods anyway.
Jimin leaves the king’s wing with solidified determination and a heavy heart. He is to marry a beast whose name evokes nightmares in almost all the pure-blood royal’s head and if Jimin is to sacrifice himself to that beast, then he needs to try to set some boundaries beforehand.
☾☾☾ ღ ☽☽☽
His maids are rushing around his room with quick steps and a certain purpose. Some are carrying in racks and racks of clothes. Some are with gold trays full of jewelleries. Some carries in the fragrances and bottles after bottles of scented oils. Jars and jars of herbs to put in the prince’s bath. Milk in barrels that Jimin would bath in. Piles of flowers litter the floor where maids are pulling out the petals to soak in the bathing tub. Some are ground to make rouge for his lips and cheeks.
The maids are talking among themselves, creating a soothing hum that sounds like bees flying across the honeycombs.
Jimin sits on the bed with his empty eyes staring out through the vast window. His eyes don’t waver from the mountain ranges he can see. Beyond it lies the brute’s kingdom.
His father was naïve enough to think king Agust will never cross the mountains to attack them. Or maybe he was trying not to voice the fact that Seleneven was never strong enough to withstand Erebus. It was proven true when Erebus finally turned its leering eyes on them.
The snow-white mountains grew darker as rows and rows of soldiers marched down the ranges to rain on their kingdom. Surrounding it and setting camps all around the boundaries to trap Seleneven. The war was unfair from the beginning. King Jaesuk’s commanders were nothing in front of king Agust’s army. Also, Seleneven could not seek outside help because Erebus surrounded them from all sides. Slowly, rations started to cease in the kingdom because all the outside trades would not pass the Erebus army. The subjects started to protest against king Jaesuk and the war. They wanted peace; they wanted the trades to start fairly quickly so they could go back to their normal lives. So, they could live in peace and not fear for their lives or their loved ones who were fighting against Erebus.
King Jaesuk still held on. He knew, in his mind, if he did not hold on then the last resort was losing his son. That too, if the king accepted that offer. He trusted the king would because prince Jimin was a treasure all across the lands. Everyone knew about his beauty and wished to mate him. King Jaesuk knew that and that is why he wanted to prolong the inevitable. He wanted his son to have the match he chose for the omega, not a brute like king Agust. He even tried to sneak out messengers for the kingdom of Sakura, the king was his friend, for help. He trusted that help because he promised his king Lee that Jimin would marry his son once they were of age, did he not? Yet, no help came. The king feared king Agust and did not want to face the beast.
King Jaesuk was left helpless at the end, growing desperate with each passing day.
King Agust tore into the kingdom with brutal force and laughed at Jaesuk’s weak resistance. He moved forward, leaving behind piles and piles of corpses with blood draining out of them to mix in the river. Turning the water bloodied in its path.
His army raided the stored rations of Seleneven, carrying away whatever they needed to sustain their people. In return, Seleneven’s people started to starve, rushing to king Jaesuk once again to plead for a treaty that’d save them from this ‘king Agust’ named epidemic.
So, king Jaesuk reached out to the brute’s mother when he finally felt the wall behind his back. Cornered and concerned for his people, his throne and his life.
Min Yeseo, the queen of Erebus, Agust’s mother, she was kind enough to accept the offer of marriage because of her worry that her son would never take a mate willingly and their bloodline would come to an end with the king’s life someday.
What she didn’t know was her son’s sudden urge for Seleneven when the man never once turned his head towards this kingdom before. She didn’t know that her son did not want that damn throne of Seleneven, at all. Instead…
She accepted king Jaesuk’s proposal once she made sure Jimin was in good health and would be able to birth Agust an heir when the time comes.
“My prince,” Jungkook’s voice brings Jimin back to the present, “your mother asked you to rush a little. The king and his mother are to reach the palace any moment now.”
Jimin glances at the alpha who grew up as his friend and took over the task of being his personal guard once he was of age. His heart tightens with the thought that he would have to leave his childhood best friend and companion behind too.
Jungkook looks just as sad. The alpha’s eyes search his face for discomfort that Jimin is sure, Jungkook found easily.
Jungkook swallows, “is there something else you’d rather I do, my prince?”
Jimin knows what Jungkook is asking. If Jimin tells the younger alpha, Jungkook would go against the entire kingdom for him. The alpha vowed to solely obey Jimin’s orders as his best friend. Jimin can ask the alpha to help him escape and Jungkook will find a way.
Jimin stays silent though. He knows if he leaves Agust will burn this kingdom and behead his parents. Also, when he finds them, he’d tear Jungkook apart just for daring to take away what was promised to him.
Jimin doesn’t fear what would happen to him, but he cannot let anything happen to Jungkook or his parents. These three are the only people he cared about the most. Even more than himself.
“I’ll haste,” he settles for with a weak smile, “Jungkookie, can you do me a favour?”
Jungkook nods eagerly, “say the words, my prince, and I will do whatever you ask of me.”
Jimin gives a small smile while desperately blinking back tears, “I requested an audience with Agust,” he refuses to call that beast a ‘king,’ for as long as he can, “if he grants me that, I want you to stay alert near me. If he tries something foolish, promise me your protection.”
“I will lay down my life for you, my prince,” Jungkook bends half to bow to him, his jaw hardening, “Agust won’t leave that room unscratched if he tries to do something to you against your will.”
Jimin blows out a sigh of relief, but the heaviness still imposes itself on his heart. He nods at Jungkook and watches the alpha leave the room.
Jungkook will save him today if Agust tries something but how would the alpha save him once Jimin is married to the king? Then he will be locked up in Erebus, spread out for the king’s pleasure and no one will bat an eye if he screams and cries to be freed.
Jimin feels the nausea coiling deep in his stomach and tries to suppress it. He gets off the bed to go and take the bath that his maids are so eagerly waiting for.
☾☾☾ ღ ☽☽☽
Too many people are milling around the garden, Jimin can see from the window of the meeting room. Seleneven’s soldiers are lining up the walls of the palace. There are troops marching on the ground he can see from the window. Everyone’s face is grim and taut with nerves. Jimin can hear the commanders’ authoritative but tense voices as they guide the troops through the march.
Agust and his mother reached the palace an hour ago. Jimin was notified through his chambermaids who came running to inform him about the brute’s audacity to show up with his army as if, if he didn’t like anything in this meeting, he would behead king Jaesuk and take over the palace without a second thought. He did not have the decency to come to talk about something as personal as marriage on his own with his army left behind. He could not help but show off his power even as he entered the heart of Seleneven.
Jimin closes his eyes and straightens himself when he hears the guards’ loud voices announcing Agust’s presence outside. He risks a glance at Jungkook who stands at the corner of the room. His face a mask of indifference, spine straight and posture taut. If not for the way his throat bobs, Jimin would confuse him for a marbled statue.
Jimin ignores his aunt, who is here as his chaperone, her quiet reminder for him to be proper with his words and turns to face the door of the meeting room.
Jimin goes rigid as soon as the guards open the doors for Agust. Not because of the man but because of the man’s scent. Agust smells of smoke. A smoke thick enough to clog Jimin’s lungs and make him struggle for air. It takes a razor to his throat, scraping it until it burns.
The sun hits Agust’s back as he enters the room, leaving his features in the shadows. He is broad in a way every hybrid is. They are a mix of two races, and it shows which race dominates the hybrid’s genes.
In Agust’s case, it’s the tiger’s genes that dominate him and it’s clear in the way he stands. He is not too tall, but he is broad. His shoulders are meaty and wide. Arms heavy enough to show the strength they hold to tear into enemies. His narrow waist is wrapped with leather belts from which two swords hang. Knives lining up the belt that gleam threateningly.
Agust is not dressed in royal attire as Jimin expected him to be. Instead, he is wearing a black shirt that fits him just right and a tight, black breeches that disappear into the knee-length black, leather boots.
Even his shoulder-length, raven hair is tied up in a messy bun. Quite a few strands escaped to fall around his shockingly pale face to frame it quite excellently, if Jimin can be honest.
Jimin realises with mortification that, in his shock, he forgot to greet the king.
His aunt speaks from where she is kneeling, much to Jimin’s chagrin, “your majesty, thank you for taking the time to grant our prince this visit.”
Jimin’s nostrils flare to see her like that. On her knees with her head bowed. Thanking the king for his time, as if Jimin is not worth having any of that precious time the king would rather spend taking lives. He snaps his eyes away from her to glare at the man. Finally looking at that statue-like face.
“I am capable enough to speak for myself, dear aunt,” Jimin tries not to let his irritation blend into his voice when he addresses his aunt, “please go and stand by the wall. Do not speak until spoken to!”
He doesn’t want to be so harsh, but he hates how she made it sound like Agust is doing him a favour by simply visiting him.
When Jimin looks at the man again, really looking at the hybrid, he realises Agust is watching him and not his aunt.
A cold shiver runs down Jimin’s spine as those feline-like eyes sharpen on his face when their eyes finally match.
The man says nothing. Doesn’t even greet him or utter a single word of acknowledgement.
With irritation and a dollop of fear, Jimin inclines his head a little, “your majesty,” his mouth turns sour to address the brute like this, “I am thankful for your visit,” he tries to look as grateful as he can, “I wanted to speak to you before our wedding.”
Again, Agust says nothing. He doesn’t acknowledge Jimin with a nod or urge him to carry on either. He stands with his piercing eyes on Jimin’s face that seem to read Jimin’s thoughts that even he doesn’t indulge in.
Jimin clears his throat, “if you’d grace me with some of your time and join me for a cup of tea,” he gestures at the tray on the table near the window, “I’d be under your debt.”
“Your father already is,” Agust says in a calm and raspy voice.
Jimin would think about that rasp for the coming nights, sleeplessly twisting and turning on his bed, but for now all he feels is a spark of anger at the mention of his father’s helplessness.
“My father’s debts aren’t mine to pay,” Jimin steels himself and ignores his aunt’s hiss of protest, “I am my own person, and this meeting is about me.”
Agust seems to contemplate it for a moment before he gives a curt nod and quietly follows Jimin to the two chairs near the window. The alpha stands by his chair once Jimin gestures towards it. Jimin looks at the chair and back at the alpha in confusion.
Agust’s eyes flicker to Jimin’s chair and he reaches, stopping midway when Jimin flinches and steps back from his outstretched hand. Jimin quickly composes himself, ducking his head in sheer embarrassment but he can’t hide how his heart still thrums in his ribcage. He looks at the alpha’s advanced hand curiously.
Agust pulls the chair without a word, and Jimin, with his cheeks turning a dusty shade of pink, sinks on it.
Agust takes the chair across from him after that. Easing himself on it and looking at the arrangements of the tea.
Jimin picks up the pot and pours the liquid for them in the hope that the mundane action will stir his mind away from the anxious voices in his head as he starts to speak.
“I know my father went to your mother with the wedding proposal but he didn’t wait for my approval,” he opens the pot with sugar and glances at the alpha who shakes his head, “it is not like my words would have changed a lot but I would have liked to be informed about such a monumental shift in my life, anyway.” Jimin takes a spoonful of sugar to mix in his own tea, “but I do have one or two conditions—”
“Conditions?” Agust’s voice drips with curiosity while his brows pull closer on his forehead in either displeasure or disbelief.
Disbelief, Jimin thinks with a sour taste in his mouth, that a mere omega can have conditions to accept the gracious favour Agust is doing by marrying him.
Jimin stops on his track and matches those hooded eyes, “conditions,” his throat bobs with hopelessness because he now knows the king will never accept his conditions; instead, he might get angry, which will result in more bloodshed, “if you would be generous enough to listen?”
Agust’s jaw tightens, but he gives a nod, nonetheless.
Jimin lets out a wavering breath he didn’t know he was holding, “first, I will bring my personal guard with me to your kingdom after the wedding. I want, at least, one familiar face around me because I am to uproot myself from everything familiar and accept a foreign land and its people as mine,” Jimin gestures at Jungkook at the farthest corner of the room.
Agust’s eyes shift to find Jungkook before he glances at Jimin. Waiting for Jimin to continue.
Jimin picks up the milk with his trembling hands, “second,” he stops when Agust shakes his head about the offered milk too, “I’d like to initiate the intimacy between us when I am comfortable.”
His face turns scarlet when Agust’s brows arch. The alpha’s lips move, but no words come out from him. Yet, Jimin can see the mirth in those eyes.
The hair on the back of Jimin’s neck stands up in mortification, he pours a splash of milk in his cup, spilling some in the process, “I know your mother, the queen, accepted the proposal because of the sole reason that I’d provide the crown a healthy heir but…” Jimin’s voice wavers again, and when he looks at Agust, he knows his eyes gloss over with urgency, “I want to have a say in it. I want to…”
“I do not enjoy unwilling omegas in my bed,” Agust’s voice comes out clear and confident, quieting Jimin at once.
Jimin ducks his head again with a relieved breath escaping him. He closes his eyes for a moment to absorb the relief for as long as it lasts.
“Anything else?”
Jimin’s gaze snaps onto the alpha’s face and his teeth sink onto his lower lip in nervousness, “yes. It is about Seleneven and its people.” He hurries when Agust’s eyes darken, “I want you to promise that you will not acquire my father’s kingdom by force. Instead, you will protect the royal family and the subjects with your power if they are ever under attack. Let the Park family rule Seleneven until, of course, the heir takes over.”
The room goes quiet. Too quiet. Jimin can hear the soldiers marching outside. He can hear the commanders’ loud voices calling orders. He can, above all, hear his own heartbeats ringing in his ears.
Agust looks at him with those hooded eyes as if he is contemplating what Jimin said. He crosses his arms over his chest, the biceps bulge under the flimsy shirt as he does so. His jaw works around words for a few minutes before he voices a single question.
“Is that all?”
Jimin’s heart lurches to his mouth and he nods wordlessly. That is all. He knows he is asking for a verbal promise from a man who is notorious for breaking written rules. These promises will mean nothing to the brute if he chooses to cross a line. Jimin knows the man can deny him everything and drag him out of this kingdom by his hair if he wishes to. He knows his father’s army is not strong enough to stop Agust.
He knows the alpha can force him in this very room and except for Jungkook, no one would bat an eye in fear of going against Agust. He knows the alpha can wipe out his entire kingdom with a flick of his fingers.
Yet, for some godforsaken reason, Jimin wants to have this man’s words as if the man values such sentiments of ‘promises.’
Agust stands up and Jimin follows. His heart slamming against his ribcage. He looks at the alpha with worry and clutches the trousers he wore in anticipation.
His aunt comes rushing, “what is wrong, your majesty? Is the tea not up to your liking?” she clicks her tongue, “I shall make it just the way you like. Forgive this poor boy,” she grips Jimin’s wrist, “he is not in his best health today!”
Agust pays no mind to her and turns to leave the room.
“No,” Jimin pulls his hand away from his aunt’s and steps around Agust in urgency to stop him from leaving without a promise, “no. You cannot leave without telling me what you think. You have to give me your word—”
“You have my word,” Agust’s voice quiets him and his aunt, “I accept your conditions.”
Jimin’s breath catches in his chest when the alpha inclines his head towards him before pinning him with those piercing eyes again. For a stranded moment, they are both quiet. Agust watches him with a blank expression and Jimin is too winded to speak.
Then the alpha turns on his feet and marches out of the room.
As soon as the door closes after the alpha, Jimin’s shoulders droop. All the tension leaves his body and he is going limp. Jungkook is quick on his feet. He holds Jimin upright and helps him onto the chair where two cups of tea sit.
Untouched.
“He is so handsome,” his aunt whispers in a giddy voice, “and that aura? No wonder every soul that he comes across is terrified of him.” Her eyes shift on Jimin, “you’re about to be the prince consort of ‘the Sabertooth of Erebus,’ Jimin. No one on this land will be as shielded as you!”
Jimin looks at the lukewarm cups of tea. One pale with milk and sugar as the day. The other as dark as midnight.
His chest tightens.
Yes, he will be shielded from the outward dangers, but who’d protect him from the Sabertooth himself?
☾☾☾ ღ ☽☽☽
The wedding is in the morrow.
Jimin lies in his bed with his eyelids refusing to close. He twists and turns on the bed while his meeting with Agust plays in his head.
Agust didn’t call off the wedding. He didn’t get upset and called for the war to continue, either. Instead, he went back to his camps outside the palace to rest and prepare for the wedding with his mother. Even after king Jaesuk offered the guest palace, Agust refused to stay in the heart of the kingdom.
Apparently, it’s their custom to not take shelter in the would-be spouse’s palace until you really belong there. Jimin doesn’t think Agust cares about those customs. He thinks the alpha simply didn’t trust the Selenvians enough to let his guard down like that. Jimin doesn’t blame the alpha. After the wreckage Agust brought on the kingdom, he won’t be surprised if someone tries to take the alpha’s life in some cunning way.
Though Jimin is not thinking about all that tonight. He is thinking about the man himself. Thinking about how quiet and composed the alpha was. How confident in his movements, even in an unknown king’s palace. As if he already owned this kingdom. As if he knew no one would be foolish enough to attack him.
Jimin chews his lips with worry about his upcoming nuptials. He recalls his papa’s words from that evening when he invited Jimin to his chamber. His papa talked to him about his duties as Agust’s helpmate.
‘Not only will you bear his cubs,’ Kwan said in a quiet voice, ‘you will have to learn how to please him. I’ve heard the kings of Erebus do take more than one spouse officially, but they also have harems like us. Just as your grandfather had.’
Jimin’s grandfather had more than sixty concubines in his harem. Some of them he loved more than Jimin’s grandmother. It is quite common for kings to have more than one consort, too. Jimin’s father only had Kwan, Jimin’s papa, as they were a love match, but it is not the case for most monarchs around here.
‘You have to know how to keep him interested,’ Kwan said while folding clothes, both of them awkward to hold an eye-contact, ‘there are ways an alpha would need you. Not just to produce an heir, that will happen anyway, but just for the physical pleasure. You have to pay attention. Learn what pleases him the most—”
“What about my pleasures?” Jimin was bold enough to ask, and his papa stopped midway to look at him with a quiet, a little rueful smile.
‘You shall be pleased by pleasing your alpha,’ he said matter-of-factly, ‘learn to expect less, my baby. You shall accept him with open arms and offer yourself eagerly for him. Keep him happy. Alphas are led by their knots, try to show him that his touches are enough. Even if they aren’t. You have to settle for whatever he can give you because that is your mate. Do not let your heart take over your head. Know one thing by heart, you are of importance as long as you can keep your alpha pleased with you.”
Jimin hates everything about that advice. Why is it his duty to keep the alpha happy and how come the alpha doesn’t owe him an equal amount of submission? How come he is to spread himself for the alpha whenever Agust wanted but he cannot demand the same from the alpha? How come his papa looked mortified when he asked about his pleasure, but the alpha’s pleasure is something of importance? Why was his papa so adamant about Jimin keeping the alpha’s attention on him by pleasing him? If an alpha cannot stick to their mate, it is not the mate’s fault. It’s the alpha’s loose sense of morals at fault.
Jimin wonders how many concubines Agust had. How many people in that palace are already envious of him even without knowing that Jimin wants nothing to do with their Agust. He wonders how those people will treat him. He wonders how he would ever accept the alpha in his bed to produce an heir when the thought of it made something twist in his guts.
“Just endure until you give him a strong alpha heir,” Kwan had said, squeezing his hands in his, “and then your pup cub will be the crowned prince, and you will have nothing to worry about. Your position as the luna of Erebus will be secured. You will live a peaceful life then, my child. Just endure till then.”
Jimin feels his eyes water, and he closes them. He does not want to endure. He does not want to lie in his nest, the safest place for an omega, and get mounted by an alpha he would never want for himself. He does not want to carry Agust’s child.
Jimin sniffles, whimpering into the pillow. He has no choice, though. So, all he can do is pray that somehow things work out for him. He looks at the moon through the open window and prays for just that before letting sleep pull him away from the worries for a few hours.
☾☾☾ ღ ☽☽☽
The wedding is a grand occasion. Probably the biggest occasion for Seleneven in decades. His parents rush around with a flurry of maids and servants following them. While his father looks pale as a ghost as he tries to arrange the soldiers to welcome the groom’s side. His papa looks more at ease but surely tensed as he takes care of the decorations and food for the feast.
Jimin, for his part, just sits quietly in front of the mirror as the maids dress him. Sejun, his chamberman, quietly works. His expert hands move quickly with the pastes that he smears on Jimin’s face to brighten it. Then he applies the rouge to bring a little flush to his cheeks. So, his face looks lively and not as pale as it originally was.
Sejun applies the same colour to Jimin’s lips, smearing it with scented oil to bring in some glossiness to them.
Jimin stands up to put on the corset and struggles to breathe when the maids tighten it impossibly. The wedding gown is simple. A flushed pink, A-line wedding gown with sweetheart neckline and the sleeves falling off of his shoulders in a teasing manner. Jimin looks at the choker his mother-in-law sent for him to wear with Agust’s emblem on it. A roaring Sabertooth tiger in the middle of a circle. Jimin lets out a deep breath before nodding at Sejun.
Sejun ties it around his throat until it hurts Jimin to swallow. Then another maid puts the maroon cloak with the moon-phases etched on it over his shoulder. The emblem of the Selenevians.
After the wedding Jimin’s cloak will change to match Agust’s. He frowns at the thought that, unlike his father, Agust didn’t wear his cloak. He doesn’t get to dwell on it because Sejun is rushing him towards the door. Apparently, it’s late and everyone’s waiting.
Jimin takes one last look at the room where he grew up. The next time he sees this room, he will belong to another kingdom. He will be a hybrid’s mate. A shapeshifter. A two-faced creature he grew up hating.
Jimin turns away with his eyes blinking back tears.
☾☾☾ ღ ☽☽☽
The courtroom is brimming with too many people. Their murmurs ringing in the air, colliding with the walls and returning to Jimin as a greeting.
Jimin nervously looks at the front of the hall where his in-laws were. One woman, around his parent’s age, with her entourage. Then there is another man with a face that looks like he is waiting to break into a wide smile. He stands behind Agust on the altar with his eager eyes skimming over the crowd gathered.
Jimin finally looks at Agust.
The alpha stands straight. Looking ahead with no expression on his pale face. His hair is still tied in a half-bun. Raven locks still falling around his face. But this time, he is wearing his royal robes. A black jacket that is tailored to fit him just right. With ironed lapels, straight and sharp till the end. Beneath it is a crisp black shirt with golden buttons. It disappears in the waistcoat that pulls tight over Agust’s broad chest and narrows down to his waist. Jimin’s eyes trail down to see the trousers starting beneath the leather belt and ending over the leather boots the man wore.
Agust looks fine, Jimin settles in his head. Presentable.
He’d have preferred his groom to wear some other colour though. Not black. But black and golden are the colours of Erebus, and Jimin thinks his opinions don’t matter.
He flinches back to reality when he feels a hand on the small of his back. He looks to his side to see his father standing there already. King Jaesuk looks at him with love and a tinge of sadness. His eyes roam over Jimin before he leans in to kiss Jimin on the forehead.
“My brave Jiminie,” he whispers, “you are the biggest blessing in my life,” he takes Jimin’s hand in his, blinking back tears, “not just mine, in fact, the biggest blessing for this kingdom. I know you will make us all proud of you. Remember, Seleneven’s reputation lies in your hands now. I hope you always remember that before doing anything from here on. You’re not just a prince anymore. You’re the great Agust’s prince consort. Remember your role and what is expected of you.”
His papa comes to stand on his other side, taking Jimin’s other hand in his with a watery smile, “make us proud, son,” he leans in to kiss Jimin’s forehead, “make goddess Selene and her kingdom proud of her prince.”
Jimin feels the choker tighten around his throat somehow. He can barely breathe. His palms feel clammy in his parents’ holds. He feels lightheaded as the quiet, melancholic melody of the instruments starts to fill the courtroom. The guests turn to look at him; everyone’s eyes shift to focus on him.
He keeps his eyes ahead at the throne behind Agust where the altar is. He keeps his head high and forces himself to walk towards the alpha with his head held high. He feels those piercing eyes on him, but he refuses to look. Instead, he looks at his father’s throne. The heart of the entire Seleneven. The reason he is doing this. Sacrificing himself to the ‘Sabertooth of Erebus.’ So that his people, the Selenevians, can live in peace.
Jimin stops when his parents stop. His father gives a small bow to Agust and holds out Jimin’s hand. Jimin keeps his eyes on his trembling hand. Holding his breath.
That large palm comes to wait underneath his and Jimin’s father gently rests Jimin’s palm on top of that one. Jimin sucks in a breath when that calloused palm curls around his, covering his palm entirely. Engulfing his hand and giving it a gentle pull.
Jimin lets himself be guided by that pull. He gets up, one step at a time, on the altar to finally stand across from Agust. His would-be husband.
The priest comes to stand in his place. The book held in his hands as he murmured verses to please the gods so they would bless the couple.
Jimin doesn’t look at the alpha. His eyes stay glued to a golden button on Agust’s chest.
He only opens his mouth when he is asked if he takes Agust as his husband. As the alpha he would give his heart, body and soul to.
Jimin gives a small nod, his eyes still stuck on Agust’s button, “I do,” he can barely recognise his own voice when he utters those two words.
“I do,” Agust says when the priest asks him if Agust takes Jimin as his omega consort.
Jimin looks down at his hand when Agust pushes a ring on his finger. He takes the one his father nudges into his hand and puts it on Agust. Then he turns to face the crowd. Letting their cheers and claps wash over him.
He is married now, Jimin thinks with a pain in his chest. He is really married to the brute who is feared all across the lands and the seas surrounding those lands.
Agust can climb the last step and sit on the throne of Seleneven if he pleases now. After all, Seleneven is, technically, his now, too. Jimin’s heir will own it, but Jimin knows now the beast has all the rights over his kingdom. He can very well kick Jaesuk off the throne and put someone else there. He can, in fact, throw Jimin in his harem and take many other consorts for himself. No one will question him or point a finger at him. Jimin is, in glorious fonts, almost enslaved to the king now.
Jimin’s eyes water. He blinks back the tears with a wavering breath.
For Seleneven.
He thinks to himself. This is his sacrifice for his people.
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