Chapter Text
"The hour grows late, my laird." The man with the golden mask informed Yoongi. "I would be left in anguish if I never laid my eyes upon your enrapturing face."
Yoongi bit his lip shyly before nodding, giving him permission to remove his mask. The man slowly lifted the obstacle from Yoongi's face, eyes widening once he was able to see Yoongi's sharp yet soft features in full. "Does this satisfy?"
"Indeed." The man nodded. "But alas, I still do not know your name."
A smile slowly spread across the omega's face. "Yoongi."
"Yoongi…" The man repeated softly. "Tis as sweet as honey on my tongue."
"Honey, you say?" Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps I should have a taste then." Before the man could respond to his flirting, a clock tower in the distance chimed 12 times. "I'm afraid I must go."
"Wait!" The man took his hand to prevent him from running off. "How am I to find you? You have not told me your house!"
Yoongi tilted his head. "Have you not guessed?" The mysterious man shook his head. "House Min."
"I should have known." The man mused. "What with the amount of wit you carry." Yoongi let out a quiet laugh. "I only wish this night did not have to end." The omega nodded in agreement. "Perhaps you would allow me just one kiss before you must go?"
Yoongi's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded, slowly leaning in, his eyelids fluttering closed…
"Ow!" Yoongi cried out, rubbing his head as he looked up from his book to see the head librarian, Mingyu, glaring down at him with a ruler in hand.
"Yoongi, how nice of you to join us. I hope your dreams weren't too badly interrupted by your work." He smacked the ruler against the palm of his hand. "Master Lee's collection of essays on soil fertility will not transcribe themselves.
Yoongi laughed nervously. "Well, you see-"
"That doesn't look like the essays at all!" Mingyu exclaimed, ripping the book Yoongi had been reading before he'd fallen asleep off the table. "Whispers in Adoration? What is this romantic drivel?!" He glared at him once more. "Min Yoongi, you may have been raised by a family of some renown, but you belong to the library now. And that means doing as I say!" Yoongi bit his lip and avoided the librarian's gaze. "As punishment for your dawdling, you will finish this transcription and then produce a second transcription by morning!"
"More work?!" Yoongi exclaimed in disbelief. "But that will take all night! I won't be able to-"
"Watch the Royal Masquerade Ball from the astronomy tower?" Mingyu barked out a laugh. "No, I don't think you'll be able to do that. Now take your dinner and get to work!" He dropped a single roll of bread on the table in front of Yoongi before stalking off.
Yoongi sighed as he picked up the stale bread that served as his meal. As he chewed the tough, flaky object, he picked up his quill and began to write.
A shadow fell across Yoongi's desk, distracting him from the cramping of his wrist. "I'm working this time, Mingyu."
"Good." Yoongi paused in his transcribing at the familiar voice. "Now don't stop until you've worn your fingers to the bone!" He didn't even get the chance to look up before his older, adoptive brother pulled him into a hug.
"Seokjin!" He exclaimed in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm making sure this place hasn't driven my little brother insane yet." Seokjin stated.
Yoongi groaned. "I'm losing my mind! No person should have to do this much work."
Seokjin hummed in sympathy. "What of the gift I sent you? Tell me you've read it."
Yoongi sighed. "I've ready most of it, which is why I'm still working past dinner."
"Did the Perpetually Displeased One catch you reading again?"
"Yes." Yoongi sighed again. "So we must keep your visit short tonight. This entire tome must be copied out twice by morning."
Yoongi began to write again as Seokjin responded. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I doubt you'll be able to do that while attending tonight's ball." Yoongi froze, slowly looking back at the older omega. "You'll be far too busy dancing and flirting with handsome nobles to-"
"What have you done?" Yoongi cut him off.
"Oh, nothing much." Seokjin replied much too nonchalantly. "Just forged you an invitation to the Royal Masquerade and arranged a carriage for the both of us. Of course, if you're too busy…"
Yoongi put his head in his hands. "Mingyu will have me hanged!"
As if summoned, the librarian's voice boomed from down the hall, the short, angry beta appearing not much later. "Yoongi! You had better hope I was only hearing things, because if I find that you're socializing instead of working, I swear to the queen that I'll-"
"Swear to the queen that you'll what, exactly?" Seokjin glared at the beta.
The beta's eyes widened as he stammered. "L-l-laird Seokjin! I-I didn't know that-"
"That I was taking my beloved brother away from here on important family business?" Seokjin tilted his head innocently. "Of course not! How could you? Now, do be a darling and finish this work for him while he's gone. I hear the library requires two copies, isn't that right?"
"O-of course." Mingyu bowed his head deeply as Seokjin confidently ushered Yoongi out the door and into a beautiful carriage.
Yoongi sighed happily as the carriage came to a stop in front of the Min home. "It's been so long since I've seen home."
"Drink up the sight." Seokjin smiled before nudging Yoongi out of the carriage so they could head inside.
As they stepped into the parlor, their aunt Yoonyoung immediately began scolding Seokjin. "Where did you go? You should be preparing for your audience tonight."
"Oh, he probably returned to apply more perfume." Their other aunt, Jiyong waved her hand through the air. "You know how libertine he is with alphas."
Seokjin narrowed his eyes at them in irritation. "Shouldn't you two have left to tour our lands? I'm sure our subordinate's furniture would welcome the opportunity to support you."
Yoonyoung returned the disdained expression. "We will depart once you explain why you brought Yoongi here." He looked the other omega over as if he were a dead spider stuck to the bottom of her shoe.
"He's coming with me to the Masquerade Ball." Seokjin stated.
"Return him to the library at once!" Yoonyoung huffed. "We'll look like bumpkins if court sees us shepherding around our black sheep.
Seokjin's glare deepened. "Do not tell me how to treat my brother."
"He is no more your brother than an adopted stray." Yoonyoung replied. "One your parents made the mistake of taking in."
Yoongi stepped forward, unable to take anymore insults. "Do not speak of me that way."
Yoonyoung scoffed as if she couldn't believe he would even dare address her. "I will speak of you however I please."
"Not while I’m present." Seokjin retorted.
"We are your aunts and-"
"I am the head of House Min." Seokjin cut her off. "And as long as you leech from my success, you will hold your tongue."
Jiyong let out a dainty laugh. "Oh, let them have their fun, Yoonyoung. Tonight's a night for celebration and relaxation."
Yoonyoung glared at her sister. "Quiet your tongue." She turned to Seokjin as if she wanted to say more, but changed her mind, returning to her chair.
Seokjin wrapped his arm around Yoongi and led him into his bedroom. "The years have not softened Yoonyoung's demeanor." Yoongi commented.
"They've made it worse, if anything." Seokjin giggled. "But don't worry about them. We've got to get you ready for your big night!"
As if on cue, a dignified older beta knocked against the doorframe before stepping into the room, holding out a small object wrapped in red silk. "Laird Seokjin, you asked that I present this upon your return?"
"Yes, thank you, Kyungsoo." Seokjin smiled at the beta. "But it's for Yoongi, not me."
Kyungsoo nodded before offering Yoongi the object. The omega accepted it with a small bow of his head and removed the cloth, revealing an ornate silver mirror swirling with magical energy. "This is a charm!" Yoongi exclaimed, looking the mirror over in awe. "Only nobles are supposed to have magical artifacts!"
Seokjin hummed in confirmation. "House Lee may have their Warrior's Stone, House Kim their Scarlet Cloth, House Park their Sun Pendant, and House Jeon their Sapphire Comb, but Queen Yonghee saw fit to gift House Min the Jade Mirror."
Yoongi quickly shook his head. "Then I can't use this, Seokjin. It's yours by right!"
"And by right, I say that my brother shall enjoy one of the world's few surviving vestiges of magic for his magical night." Seokjin smiled sincerely. "Go on, look into the mirror and imagine the finest robes of your dreams for the night. The mirror will make them appear on you."
Yoongi hesitated before finally agreeing, turning to the mirror as the jade embedded at the top began to glow. In no time, Yoongi was dressed in midnight blue and gold robes, his hair falling in perfect waves over his forehead. Once the magic settled, Seokjin squealed while Kyungsoo just smiled fondly at Yoongi. "It's hard to believe that such a lovely young omega is the same pup who snuck books under the banquet table to read in his lap during dinner."
"I guess I was meant for a life at the royal library even before I was sent to Mingyu." Yoongi chuckled.
Seokjin then placed his hands on Yoongi's shoulders and looked him directly in the eyes. "None of use are meant for anything, Yoongi. Had I been the adopted child, I have no doubt that you'd have been a clever omega of House Min, perhaps even more capable than myself."
Yoongi shook his head. "I could never be more capable than you."
"But you can." Seokjin insisted. "You are clever like the fox. I've seen it in you."
"Do you really mean that?" A small smile appeared on Yoongi's face as he thanked his brother sincerely.
"You deserve it, Yoongi." Seokjin responded before turning to Kyungsoo. "Do you have the invitations prepared?"
Kyungsoo nodded before holding out a card. "Here is the invitation for you to deliver to the queen in person."
"You're handing what to who now?" Yoongi asked with wide eyes.
"An invitation to Queen Yonghee for our House's Noble Debut." Seokjin explained. "It's courteous after Her Majesty recognizes us as one of Korea's Noble Houses.
Yoongi's eyes widened even more. "Her Majesty's recognizing us?! But we're commoners, not nobles."
"Our shrewd parents amassed land and wealth." Seokjin shrugged. "I amassed the queen's favor."
Yoongi laughed in delight. "We're going to be nobles!"
"Not just any nobles." Seokjin smiled. "Our House will be Queen Yonghee's ally in court who can advocate for the commoners."
"Korea will be better for your perspective." Kyungsoo added on.
"I would hope so." Seokjin mused. "But Korea can wait one more night. Tonight is for House Min, so let's make it one we will always remember."
"I can't believe this is happening!" Yoongi exclaimed as he watched the palace grow larger in the distance. "I should be back at the library dying of boredom right now!"
"Despite our aunts' opinions, you are part of House Min." Seokjin informed him. "Our ascension to the nobility would feel hollow if you couldn't celebrate with me."
Yoongi smiled at his brother. "Fortunately, that will not be the case. I will be right next to you the whole time, albeit behind a mask."
Seokjin giggled. "You don't have to be with me the entire time. You might happen to find yourself between a noble's sheets along the way…" Yoongi gasped, cheeks flushing. "I'm serious! When you're behind the mask, you're free to live your life to the fullest."
Yoongi sighed. "I want to be in control of my life for once."
"The night is yours." Seokjin reminded him before laughing. He picked up a pair of masks, handing one to Yoongi before putting on the other. "We're almost there. It's time to become mysteriously alluring."
Yoongi quickly slipped on his blue, feathered mask. "How do I look?"
"Happier than I've seen you in years." Seokjin answered honestly as a wave of torchlight washed into the carriage. As it came to a stop, Seokjin took Yoongi's hand in his so they could step out together.
"It's so big up close." Yoongi stared at the palace in awe.
Seokjin squeezed Yoongi's hand. "Let's have a night neither of us will forget."