Chapter Text
Seonghwa looked at the council members bring reports of grain, gold, livestock, and trade routes. His throne today was pinching something in his back. He tried to keep his straight posture but wished to curl in on himself the way his brother Wooyoung does when sitting. He could get away with though a broody alpha.
Wooyoung grunts next to him as one lord finishes before leaning to Seonghwa.
“Gods, I wished they just hurry up. I’m itching to spar Jongho in the courtyard. He has grown cocky since he has beaten me twice.” Wooyoung whispered.
“My back hurts.” Seonghwa whispered back.
“We should have them look at your throne.” Wooyoung eyes scan the back of the throne. He pulls back in the next Lord comes up to speak.
The man drowns on and on. Seonghwa didn’t mean to but he had zoned out half way through his long winded speech.
“What do you think about it, your majesties.” Lord Kang looked for their response. Seonghwa glance at Wooyoung in hopes his brother had been paying attention. Wooyoung gave a knowing smirk.
“I want you to work the numbers then have them audited by Lord Jeong.” Wooyoung looked at Kang.
The lord looked stunned.
“My graces I assure you the numbers are correct. My personal accountant checked it multiple times”. Kang stuttered out.
“Then I don’t see a problem with having Lord Jeong review. This meeting is dismissed.” Wooyoung commands.
Lord and council members bow before exiting.
Seonghwa finally slouched a bit letting out a slight of relief.
“They look at us like they believe we are incompetent.” Seonghwa muttered.
“Let them believe that.” Wooyoung turns to Seonghwa.
The twin princes turned twin kings.
Their father had two mates. Seonghwa’s papa Prince Consort Jiwon and Wooyoung’s eomma Queen Consort Misun. He always said his heart was too big to love only one person.
His precious sons born at the same exact time. The King’s mates in a large bed laboring together being each others comfort and support as the King had left their summer castle to visit a neighboring village. His mates already well into their labor after their fastest guard left on horse to give him the news.
Their lives as a pack and family was normal for the first few years. The boy raised side by side learning the same skills. The Prince and Queen chasing after the little princes through the hallways of their estates. One of them always being there one of the omegas tucking their children in and telling them tales of far lands and the brave battles and conquests of their father.
Then their kingdom was blessed once again when the princes were six. it was announced the Prince Consort was with child. There were celebrations and feast held honor of the announcement.
Both omegas began nesting preparations as the birth of the new pup grew near. The king commissioning a new crib convinced this pup was a princess. He has consulted all of the midwives, clergymen, and any one who claimed they could see the future, all agreeing they believe a baby girl was on the way.
One night long after the princes were tucked into bed, an ear piercing scream rattled the castle.
Midwives and maid rushing to the bedroom of the omegas in a panic, every one knew it was too early yet for the Prince to be in labor. The King awoken as men pounded on his bedroom door alerting him to his mate preparing to give birth.
When the king finally entered the omega room, he saw blood soaking in the bed. The Queen desperately scenting the Prince whispering him words of encouragement and crying. Midwives rushing around the room trying to tend to the Prince who laid their weakly drenched in sweat weakly pushing.
“What in the Gods is going on here?!” The king looks to the first maid who was carrying blood soaked rags.
“Your m..majesty.” She bows the rags stain her dress. “The..the.. Prince in went into labor a few hours ago. He requested to you not to be awoken until he was further along..I…I’m sorry there is just so much blood.” The girl let out a little sob the rags dripping on to the floor.
The king gently touched the girl’s shoulder. As she exited the room and quickly walks the the nest, everyone quickly bowing before continuing their work.
“My love..” The king crawled on the other side of the Prince. The queen still buried deeply in the his neck.
“My king.” The Prince turns weakly to look at his mate. “It looks like our pup has the stubbornness of their father.” He smiled weakly before turning his head back to gently rubbing his cheek on her head.
“Why didn’t you call for me Jiwon?” The king grabs his hand.
“I know these things can take awhile, I wanted you to rest.” Jiwon says weakly.
“Your graces.” The oldest midwife comes in front of the nest before crawling in. She slips her hand under the Prince’s nightgown performing some check. “Let’s trying pushing again, I think the pup may have moved a bit.
Misun finally comes out of her hiding spot to hold Jiwon’s other hand.
Jiwon tries to find the strength to push. The King and Queen encouraging him as the midwife tried different techniques to help assist in getting the pup out.
“Your majesty may I have a word with you?” The midwife asks stepping out of the nest.
“Of course.” The King turns to Jiwon. “I will be back my love.” He kisses his cheek and walks to where the midwife stood near the window.
“Your grace. The pup appears to be stuck. They are not moving as they should. The Prince was bleeding heavily but we have now controlled it for the time being. The Prince is weak and exhausted.”
“What are you saying?” The King looks back at his mates.
“I believe we need to call a doctor or healer. We will continue to try but the Prince needs rest.” The midwife tried to keep eye contact with the King but it became difficult when she had to mention the next concern.
“I will call for the best ones. What else?”
“We need to know, if the Prince continues to progress poorly, if you would like us to save the Prince or the pup.” She glances at the ground then back at the King.
“What are you saying?” He stared slightly in shock at the woman.
“When..these things have happened before, your grace, if we don’t not choose both the Prince and pup could end up dying.”
By noon the next day, blood had soaked the nest. The Queen laying next to her omega mate, his body long gone cold, quietly asking for him to wake up. The King had gone to the holy room in the north wing of the castle which had been long abandoned since his father had ruled. The bassinet quiet held the little Princess. They had named her Eunha. The Queen and King holding her as she tried to hang on to life for a few hours.
The little princes sat quietly in chairs in the opposite side of the bed. Seonghwa had finally stopped crying looking at his papa who laid there still. He looked like he had when he slept during the naps he would take with the boys.
Their maids finally taking them out of the room to fed and changed them into their mourning robes.
The walk back to their quarters was filled with sniffling and sobs from both staff and guards alike.
Their maids tried to keep the little boys distracted as the day went on.
The funeral for Prince Jiwon and Princess Eunha was elaborate and grand. They spared no expense.
In the few weeks following the death of their mate Misun refused to leave the omega room. The King spent more time out of the castle and when he was around he was angry and bitter. The princes were left in the care of their maids and staff for care and comfort.
Seonghwa stood up to stretch his back.
“Tell me again why we didn’t make our thrones?” He rubs one of his shoulders.
“Father. You know how he loved papa’s and eomma’s thrones.” Wooyoung join Seonghwa in standing.
“Papa was much smaller than me.” Seonghwa smiled.
Seonghwa turned to look at the portrait that sat behind them in the throne room. It was of their family including their sister commissioned after papa’s death.
Wooyoung had headed to the courtyard for his sparring session with Jongho. Seonghwa decided to head on a walk in the violet garden in hopes it would loosen his back.
Yeosang walked in step with him as their ladies and maids walked behind them.
“You know they are looking to ask when you and Wooyoung will be married.” Yeosang said softly. Yeosang, their cousin, had moved to the palace as a teenager becoming Seonghwa’s right hand and confidant.
“Yes. I’m surprised they haven’t already brought it up.”
“I suppose mourning helps that.”
The staff of the castle had finally been allowed to stop wearing black as the one year anniversary passed a month ago. The typical royal mourning period had only been 3 months but after Prince Jiwon and Princess Eunha died, the King and Queen made a decree that a mourning period must last one year.
“I have no desire to marry at this time.” Seonghwa said curtly.
“Yes your grace, but it will happen sooner or later. The council will be expecting an heir soon.”
Seonghwa shivered. He’d hoped that Wooyoung would marry an omega who could birth the royal heir. The thought of going through childbirth made Seonghwa violently ill and he had no plans to do so. No one could blame him, childbirth took his papa from him and sent eomma into a depression she could never leave. His father no longer laid with eomma for fear of getting her pregnant and losing her too.
When the little princes had turned 13, their eomma could not longer take the way she was feeling despite the desperate attempts from the king to help her since papa’s death. She took her own life in her and papa’s room. She was found by maids when they brought her meal in the morning.
The king was told by the final healer he had brought from a far land to help his mate, that she believed that Jiwon was her fated mate. Yes she loved and was mated to the King but her relationship with Jiwon was different. Their bond transcended anything in the mortal world. That is what their father loved most of his mates. He loved their bond to each other. Losing Jiwon was losing Misun’s other half. Half of her life. Half of her heart. Half of her soul were all gone in a slow painful death.
She had left letters, one to the King, one to each of the boys and one to her personal staff.
She begged the boys to forgive for what she did and that she tried to hang on for them but now that they had presented and were becoming young men, she felt that they would be okay without her. She explained to Wooyoung how proud she was that he had started to embrace his role as an Alpha and the same with Seonghwa as an Omega. The princes never knew what was in their eomma’s letter to their father. They had tried to search for it after his death last year but we unable to find it. One of his advisors stated they believe they saw him put it in the fire after he read it.
“Then we shall find a mate for Wooyoung and they can bare the heir.”
“If that is what you truly want you know I will support you.” Yeosang smiled at the King.
“Thank you.” Seonghwa smiled as they reached the small gazebo in the middle of the violet garden. Tea already set up and waiting for them.
As he and Yeosang get comfortable, the sound of his brother’s laugh rings through the grounds. Both Seonghwa and Yeosang let out quiet small laughs.
“His sparring session must be going well.” Seonghwa pours their tea.
Yeosang gives all of the palace gossip he had heard.
“And, she was literally in the closet with a guard.” Yeosang was in the middle of finishing a story when one of Seonghwa’s ladies approached him with an envelope in her hands.
“Your grace and my lord.” She bowed to Seonghwa and Yeosang. She handed Seonghwa the letter. He flipped it over and there sat the black seal of their once ally in the south. The kingdom that controlled the seas. The Kims. They completed a successful coup of the crown. Pirates and outlaws. Scum. Criminals. Seonghwa’s father had severed ties once the coup was completed. They remained at a distance but never saw each other as a threat.
Seonghwa opened the seal and read the letter.
“What does it say?” Yeosang tried to peak at the letters contents.
“They want to speak about a new alliance.” Seonghwa got up quickly Yeosang and his ladies following behind him.
He found his brother still in the courtyard with Jongho. His best friend and the head of the royal guard. He stopped and immediately bowed to Seonghwa and Yeosang.
“Your grace and my lord.” He comes back up and glances at Yeosang but quickly looks away.
“What has gotten you in such a hurry brother?” Wooyoung asked approaching Seonghwa. Seonghwa handed the letter to Wooyoung.
He read the letter and then gave a devilish smile.
“So pirates want to speak? Looks like we are going to be going on a trip, brother.”
Three weeks later, Seonghwa and Wooyoung were on one of the few royal ships of central kingdom.
Yeosang had been tending to a sea sick Seonghwa for days.
“Tell me again why we couldn’t go by carriage?” Seonghwa looks up at Yeosang who is dabbing his forehead with a rag.
“Because this is quicker plus when was the last time we have gotten to use our ships?” Wooyoung smiles coming into the quarters where Seonghwa laid ill.
“There is a reason for that.”
The ship rocks suddenly and Seonghwa was reaching for the bucket again.
After days at sea, the Jiwon, named after their papa pulled into port in the city of Desire.
Yeosang helped Seonghwa dress before the exited the ship. He still looked pale and a bit green but wanted walk off the ship with his brother. He was already an omega King, he didn’t need any other reason for them to weaponize his second gender against him.
“Such a sinful name.” Seonghwa grumbled. “Of course pirates would rename their cities to something disgusting. And who on Gods earth would want to live somewhere so hot and humid by choice.”
Seonghwa joined Wooyoung on the deck as their men readied their departure.
The twin Kings walk off the ship together walking in step. They were of equal power and displayed it as such.
They are greeted by a tall man with navy blue hair. He bowed to them.
“Your highnesses. I’m Lord Song Mingi, I’m the personal advisor to King Kim. He sends his apologies that he was unable to you himself. I shall take you to the palace.” Mingi offered his arm to the omegian King who looked at him trying to keep his emotions in check.
The pair of Kings are guided to a carriage. Yeosang, Wooyoung and Seonghwa sat in one while the rest of their staff loads wagons. Jongho was provided a horse to ride a long side the carriage.
Seonghwa and Wooyoung look out the windows seeing not the world of debauchery their father had told them about in stories but a village similar to their own that laid outside of the place gates. Children played in the street. There were no whores that stay on corners but old men playing cards.
When they arrive to the palace, Jongho spoke with their head of the guard before assisting Yeosang and Seonghwa out of the carriage, Wooyoung following behind them.
Lord Song took them up to the palace to the doors were a short younger man stood next to a man with shoulders as wide as a mountain.
“Your highnesses.” The man bows. “I’m King Kim Hongjoong. This is my brother San.” The other man bows.
“Hello, your highness.” Seonghwa leads the conversation as their group bows. “I’m King Park Seonghwa and this is my brother King Jung Wooyoung.” Seonghwa looks to his brother.
“Welcome to Desire and the kingdom by the sea. Please let us know if we can do anything to make your stay more comfortable.” King Hongjoong says.
Their group is taken to an apartment in the southern wing meant for guests. It was an area of adjoining rooms one for each of them as well a dining area and parlor.
“Wow, who know pirates had such good taste?” Yeosang looks around the apartment.
“Probably left over from the previous royal family.” Seonghwa rolled his eyes. “I need to lay down and freshen up, I still feel sick from earlier.” Seonghwa retired to one of the larger rooms, Yeosang following before he re-exits and heads to hall to find a servant to get a bath ready for the King.
After Seonghwa’s bath and nap, they are called to the east wing of the King to have tea.
Hongjoong sits lazily in the chair looking at Mingi and San.
“Are we sure breaking bread with them now is a good idea? Could we have not just warned them and kept our distance?” San looks at Hongjoong.
“They would have never believed us. We need to convince them an alliance between us is the best path for both of our Kingdoms. We need their forests and grain to help our people come winter. I will not allow our people to starve again.The East and North have their sites set on the Central kingdom. They believe the Kings are weaknesses. They want to turn him against each other.” Hongjoong straightens the table cloth.
“And the proposed marriage?” San asks.
“Don’t worry little brother, I will ensure by the time they leave you will be engaged to King Wooyoung, he is an alpha after all. Who could resist a beautiful omega like yourself.”
There is a knock on the door and Wooyoung, Jongho, Seonghwa and Yeosang are announced.
Seonghwa took the seat farthest from Hongjoong. Yeosang joining.
Wooyoung sits a bit closer and Jongho opts to stand next to him.
“Your majesties.” Hongjoong looks to Seonghwa then Wooyoung. “I wanted to give my deepest condolences regarding your father. I never met him but I heard he was a peaceful man and good ruler.”
“Thank you. We find solace in the fact he is in the great beyond with our papa, Eomma and the princess.” Seonghwa speaks before Wooyoung can.
“The fact that you are both King is quite progressive. Gossip around the Kingdoms that all though you were both named Crown Prince the throne would revert to you King Wooyoung being an alpha.” Hongjoong was trying to sense if the siblings had any animosity towards each other.
“We would never disrespect our father, gods rest his soul, in that way.” Wooyoung’s eyes flick over to San who was looking at his tea cup.
“Of course. I’m not one to speak politics over tea but the reason I called you here was quiet urgent.” Hongjoong leans rests his elbows on his knees.
“What troubles you?” Seonghwa asks.
“My brother, Prince San, he is an unwed and unmated omega, he has not had many prospects given we have been mostly exiled by the other Kingdoms included yours. Also my brother here isn’t a traditional omega.” Hongjoong relaxes back in the chair. Seonghwa looks to Wooyoung then to San.
“So you brought us here to sell your omega brother off?” Seonghwa grits his teeth. “Have you even the decency to consider what he may want?!”
“Hwa, calm.” Wooyoung goes over to his brother rubbing his knee.
“Well your grace why I don’t you ask himself yourself?” Hongjoong gestures to San.
“Prince San, is this an arrangement you are okay with?” Wooyoung looks over to him. San looks at the ground.
“I really want pups. I do. And a mate. I want the traditional omega things but no one wants a strong omega who can fight and does manual labor. With all respect King Seonghwa, you are more the omega alphas look for.” San finishes. Wooyoung smiles at him.
“I’ve never be one for traditional omegas.”
San ears go flush.
“So, if King Wooyoung agrees to mate Prince San, what do we get in turn?” Seonghwa looks to Hongjoong.
“A part from San’s dowry, we will give 1/8 of all taxes we collect on porting vessels, you will have protection at sea if needed and we can also provide seafood, tropical fruits that grow throughout the realm and a powerful alliance. You can call upon us if needed. However we do ask for one additional thing in return. That you help supplement our food supplies.” Hongjoong moves to grab a scroll to place it on the table. “We have removed a section here.” Hongjoong points. “This was a clause that we originally had when explore new potential alliances however since you don’t have any immediate unmated omegan family members in your direct line beside yourself King Seonghwa, we removed it. It was stating that you would offer myself as King a potential mate. We replace it with the food storage clause.”
Seonghwa looks a Yeosang. Who goes pale then looks to Jongho. Either King Hongjoong was not aware of Yeosang relationship to the twin Kings or knew and removed it anyway
Until either Seonghwa or Wooyoung have a pup, if anything were to happen to them Yeosang would take the crown.
“I see. We will need to discuss this before any deals are made.” Wooyoung looks to Hongjoong.
“That is fine. You are welcome to stay in Desire as long as you need to make your decision.” Hongjoong picked up his cup of tea again.
The group sat in silence drinking their tea. Hongjoong and Wooyoung nibbing on snacks.
“King Kim.” Seonghwa stands.
“Yes, your grace?”
“I would like to go for a walk around your grounds.”
“Of course, anything you like. San can go with you and show you around.” Hongjoong refilled his tea as San quickly got up.
“I would be an honor, your majesty.” San smiled
“Jongho, go with him. I’d like to discuss some more things regarding the potential mate ship.” Wooyoung looks back to Jongho who bows.
San and Seonghwa walk side by side with Yeosang and Jongho following closely behind and behind them attendants and San personal guards.
“Sorry about all the people following us. Hongjoong is a bit protective of me.” San says quietly.
“That is quiet all right. I understand.” Seonghwa smiled.
The sounds of palace chatter and birds fills the quiet walk. Seonghwa had to change into his summer robes as the humidity was too much not liking the sensation of thick heavy fabric sticking to his skin.
“What is it like to be King and an omega? You are like the first one in I don’t know 200 years?” San looks to Seonghwa.
“237 years actually. And it’s hard. Old lords and council members still look at me like I’m a delicate flower. They always have. I can fight just as well as my brother. I’m quiet handy with a blade and I’d say I’m stronger than my brother at times. Yet, they still act is if I’m perpetually in an irrational heat fog unable to make smart decisions.”
“That is awful.”
“It is but I stand strong. Wooyoung tends to put them in their place.” Seonghwa smiles.
“Is he a good alpha?” San turns slightly pink.
“Well, I am his brother but as he is my pack mate, I would say that he is. He will provide for you. You’ll never have to want for anything. He would go to hell and back with a demons head on a stick if it made you happy.” Seonghwa smiled.
“I would like to get to know him. It would be an honor to be his mate.” San shyly smiled.
“You shall. I believe my brother is ready to mate but he can be quiet particular in what he likes.”
“What about you, your grace? Have you thought of mating?” San stopped to guide them in to a maze of shrubbery. Seonghwa thought a moment.
“No. I would prefer not to mate or have pups. I’m quiet content with my life now.”
“Do you have a particular reason?”
San and Hongjoong’s father had taken over only a decade ago. His sons raised on the seas not need to learn the history of not only their own kingdom but the others. This boy was probably unaware of what happened to papa.
“My papa, Prince Jiwon, died giving birth to our sister Princess Eunha. I would prefer the same not happen to myself.” Seonghwa tried to not be too cold with San.
“Forgive me for asking. That is horrible.”
“You did not know. You are a son of the sea. You would have not had to traditional education of a prince. Losing my papa that way, I made a vow that I will never bare pups.”
San didn’t respond they just continued walking. He didn’t understand how this traditional perfect omega did not have the biological instincts that tied them to their second gender. San wanted a mate and pups since he presented to everyone’s surprise as an omega.