Chapter Text
The colour felt odd against his skin, not the fabric nor the way it was sewn, but the colour itself. It was the darkest colour he had ever worn and it felt uncomfortable wearing such a depressing shade. The clouds hung heavy and low above like it was about to rain; he wondered if all the mourning and crying was the cause for the change of weather.
Once the ceremony was over, he was escorted back inside the palace with the councils of his country and a few of the representatives from the alpha kingdom- his fiance’s country. The servants scurried around, serving them hot tea and freshly baked snacks as council member and representatives sat around the table in the meeting room.
“Again, we are sorry for your loss, your highness. Our king wished to be here for the service but duty calls,” one of the representative spoke up in Seokjin’s native tongue.
“Thank you,” Seokjin replied, in their tongue.
“The king’s death was a tragedy, but let us focus on the bigger problem at hand, shall we?” one of the advisors from his father’s country spoke up.
“Yes, all of the countries that were under the king is vulnerable for an invasion without an alpha on the throne. I suggest that we move the wedding to as soon as possible,” one of the advisors from his country said.
“I second that,” another one of his advisors said.
And another and another.
But there was another set of commotion with objections.
“King Kwon can’t afford to leave Seoul right now! We are at war with Ilsan! The wedding has to wait!” one argued.
The room got louder with arguments from both sides disagreeing and yelling their opinions. Seokjin felt his head throb from all the noise, he could feel an oncoming migraine.
“Silence!” he finally said, loud enough for everyone to hear but not quite yeling. The council went silent for a moment and Seokjin kept his face passive but still authoritative, he was in charge of his country until the marriage after all.
“My main concern right now is the safety of my country and to reassure the people that we won’t get invaded in the dead of the night,” he said, once he was sure everyone was listening to him.
“There is nothing to worry about, your highness. Our king is very capable, of course. Need I remind you that he has beaten five alphas and took over all of their countries,” another representative answered proudly in their own tongue.
“I’ll assume that you’re still suggesting that the wedding be held off until the end of the war?” Seokjin raised an eyebrow challengingly.
“Yes, you’re free to plan the wedding as you like. The king will send someone over for the detail,” another advisor said sweetly.
He could see his advisors whispering to each other and he watched the advisors from his fiance’s country carefully.
“How long will this war last? From my knowledge, it has been going on for at least two years, yes?” the representatives were getting agitated, shifting in their seats.
“Please, your highness, have some faith. We’re on the winning side, it will be over soon enough,” it was close to a plead.
“Prince Seokjin, keep in mind that there are also other countries that are under our king alpha Kwon. It is not only your country that is at risk of attack but also at least five other omega countries and six beta countries,” the head representative said authoritatively, standing up to make his point.
Seokjin stared up at him hard, he won’t let anyone look down at him like that, as he considered all the possibilities.
“There is really no other way to make them comply, your highness,” Jungkook whispered to him from behind.
“Of course,” he said simply to the council and the head representative sat down again.
“I am simply asking out of concern for the protection of my country and my people. As you all might be aware that they have taken my neighbouring countries and it is just a matter of time before they come knocking on my door as well,” Seokjin said and stood up.
“Excuse me gentlemen, I have to rest now,” he turned around and left the room gracefully, leaving all the betas in the room speechless.
Jimin and Jungkook followed him out, “I bet he was just busy with his new omega princess or something,” Jimin said and made a face at the distasteful notion.
“Isn’t that like a good thing? More omegas means more countries. More countries means more power and more money,” Jungkook said.
It was only logical assumption, whenever an alpha took over another alpha’s kingdom, all of their countries goes to the alpha who won the war. That also meant all of their omega lands and omega prince or princess will belong to the new alpha. It was only logical to marry all of the ruling omega of the omega countries under their rule to gain full control of the omega lands too.
“It is only tradition, Jimin,” Seokjin said as they walked upstairs to his room.
“A tradition that I don’t agree with,” Jimin sulked.
“It’s not like you’re the one who is going to have to marry some old guy who already has like five omegas already,” Jungkook joked.
“He's not that old, isn't he like only a few years older than you, hyung?”
“We have been through this,” Seokjin said pointedly,his tone was harsher than his usual, making both the betas immediately quiet down.
“Sorry, hyung,” they both said in unison, head lowered guiltily.
It was a lot to process and a lot of things were going to change; with the ruling alpha of his country, who was also his father, dead, the countries that was under his father's ruling were all defenseless until the next alpha takes over. But there was no alpha in line, only the omega prince- only Seokjin. The only way to solve this problem was to marry the omega prince off to an alpha king.
Another problem however, was the size of his father's countries. With its size, agriculture and large wealth, only be the best of the best should be the alpha of the country. The person, his father thought of entrusting the care and well being of the countries and his only son, Seokjin, was an alpha named Jiyong.
There were a lot of songs, stories and plays written about the legendary alpha; about how capable he was, how young he was when Jiyong took over his father's country and conquered so many other countries and defeated all who opposed him. Not only was he intelligent and tactical, there were sonnets written about how beautiful the alpha was, with his sharp jaws and full lips and unique choice of clothes.
They have told Seokjin how lucky he was to be engaged to such a powerful alpha just as soon as he presented as an omega and how fortunate he was that the alpha was kind and handsome and perfect . He was taught since young how to please the alpha, what the alpha likes, what the alpha dislike. He was kept up to date about the latest accomplishments of the alpha, who was only four years older than him and yet he has never seen or heard from the alpha himself.
Seokjin let the servants help him take off the dark, depressing silk and change into his comfortable sleeping wear. Once the servants left, he sat down on his chair near the window and silently watched the grey weather.
He doesn’t know when he fell asleep on the chair but he was woken up by his two closest friends with tea and a warm shawl around him.
“We’re sorry, hyung. We know you’re going through a lot right now, we shouldn’t be so childish,” Jimin said sincerely.
Jungkook was close behind, pouring the tea into three elegant cups, his favourite white cups with gold and soft pink of roses inscribed on them.
“Sorry, Jin hyung,” the other said, head ducking away.
“It’s okay,” he sat up properly and wrapped the shawl around him. Jimin held him up and lead him to the wooden table for tea and food.
“Jungkookie made your favourite soup, noodle with lobster meat,” Jimin said, a cute smile graced his face, the he always uses when he wants to charm someone. It worked way too well.
“You brats,” he said even though he had already forgiven them. Seokjin pulled them into a tight hug, awkward from their position but the other two grinned and sat around him at the table.
“I didn’t get to tell you all the latest gossips!” Jimin said and they talked about the princesses and princes that were closer and about the balls they were throwing, who was spotted having a secret affair.
“What about the golden dragon?” it was a nickname that the public started using for his fiance. As all the king alphas were born with a dragon tattoo on their body. It was said that his fiance’s was golden, the Kwon family’s colour.
“There… were rumours,” Jimin started hesitantly. There were always rumours.
Seokjin knew that his fiance already has five omegas, all married to him after he took over their alpha’s countries. It was a traditional and a political must and there was nothing he could say or do even if he was unhappy with it. But there has always been rumours about the love affairs outside of the palace claiming that the golden dragon has more lovers than just his married omegas.
“Lately, they said that he was caught sleeping with another alpha, his second in command,” Jungkook supplied.
“That is absurd!” Seokjin didn’t even sound defensive, it was more of a shock. Alpha and alpha relationship was almost unheard of.
“Just rumours, hyung,” Jungkook said, more to himself than Seokjin.
“Did you guys hear anything about the war?” That was the pressing matter.
His country was in danger until he was married and the alpha took over. He really needed to get the wedding over with and to do that, the war needed to end.
“Like we said before, we only know that the war was with the Ilsan Jegug.”
“And from what little we know about Ilsan, the country was really small and cold but has grown tremendously over the past 4 years. Words on the street was that the new alpha has at least fifteen omegas, with the amount of countries he conquered.”
“They call him the Monster ,” Jimin whispered. “They say he was ruthless and cold blooded. He has to be, I mean his country was so small and it’s winter all year long.”
“Seriously, it was kinda scary at how fast he defeated all the countries. I think the only person that stands a chance against him now is the golden dragon himself,” Jungkook said.
“You guys think he really stands a chance?” Seokjin asked boldly, immediately getting shushed by his two best friends.
“That’s felonious, hyung!” Jimin whisper-shouted, turning around the large room as if somebody was there.
“Don’t speak ill of the new king!” Jungkook added, eyes wide.
Seokjin found it all funny and sad but that it was his life. “No matter who wins this war, I am still going to get married to a complete stranger anyways,” he shrugged, trying to brush off the fact.
“But the dragon will win and look at how handsome he is! Your children are going to be so cute!” Jimin tried to cheer him up, a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.
Jungkook took out a painting of his fiance, a gift from some time ago, and the three of them admired the beautifully painted portrait of his king to be, in a golden silk covered with badges that symbolised the countries and alphas he defeated, standing tall and handsome and brave.
He just wanted the war to be over so his people can live in peace.