Practically Royalty [1/?]
Title: Practically Royalty (or, Oh My Princess!) [1/?]
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, drama, AU
Pairing: 2min
Word count: 1331
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summary: Taemin finds himself becoming the prince consort of Silla due to an old family agreement. Loosely based on Princess hours/goong, this part for the picture prompt, challenge 009 @ shawol_haven
“Wait. What?”
“I’m really really sorry son.” His mother must have been half-hysterical; laughing but with genuine tears in her eyes.
“No umma, repeat what you just said.” Taemin felt his hands quivering. If his hearing did not fail him, he could have sworn that his mother said,
“Your grandfather promised you to the King even before you were born.” She said; voice barely in a whisper.
Taemin blinked; once, twice.
There was a strange hollow buzzing in his ears.
His mother reached out for him, her small hand gripping his arm gently for support.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean promise? Since when do we even have connections to the court?” he sat down on the nearby armchair, his legs didn’t feel like they were actually capable of supporting him.
“The old King and your grandfather were long-time friends, from back in the war era. Before the old King passed on, he wanted for our families to be one, so he made a contract for your grandfather betroth his first grandchild to his grandson.”
The hollow buzzing got worse, his mother’s words were echoing in his head, he didn’t think he could exactly process it and he felt like passing out.
Taemin gripped the edge of the chair.
“Okay. So I’m obviously the first grandchild in question. Hasn’t the old King passed away almost twenty years ago? Grandpa himself has been gone for about eight and nobody bothered to tell me till now?” he spat, the only coherent and most important thought that came to mind.
“Your dad and I- we forgot. We’ve never seen the contract you see. We thought your grandpa was only joking when he came back from visiting the palace all those years ago and told us that our unborn child was going to be the future prince consort. It was only until he was ill in hospital that he reminded us. The palace itself has only recently re-verified the contract with us, since your birthday has passed.”
Forgot.
His 20th birthday had just passed a week ago. By country law, he was legal.
“But… that was when grandpa had assumed that I was to be a daughter; so I would be princess. I am however, not female.”
Yet, the moment the words left his mouth, he knew that it was an invalid argument. The royal court of Silla had allowed same-sex marriages in the Yong-In dynasty- half a century ago- when the west recognized it and when the second prince (the old King’s brother; current King’s uncle) was found to be homosexual.
The idea didn’t faze him; he’d been exposed to it plenty. It was the idea of marriage itself that scared him witless. He was only twenty, for goodness sake.
What would happen to his dreams and all that jazz? Did he even have a choice?
Looking at his mother’s tear-streaked face, he guessed not.
Minho really had no idea what to expect.
The court advisors and council could be best summed up as ‘dubious’. They’d brought before him all sorts of people previously.
They brought Yuri- beautiful, elegant daughter of the immensely wealthy Kwon family. That was supposed to be a wonderful match; if they weren’t all of sixteen and not at all compatible. They remained good friends though; even till this day.
Princess Su Ji, daughter of one of the minor princes was sweet and lovely, albeit a bit too adorable and naïve.
Lady Victoria on the other hand, was too mature and clever and her heart belonged to someone else, a foreign prince who was also brought to him. He’d hit off with Nichkhun quite well actually, but they were too similar, it was hard to imagine. So when they got married, he was sincerely happy for them.
The court also brought Lord Donghae, a hyung he adored; a family friend- but he knew it would never work. Donghae was probably the last person one would put into the position of prince consort.
So when the head advisor came up to him and told him actually, his grandfather, the revered late King had a marriage agreement for him, he almost sighed in relief.
Of course, anger at not being told earlier came into play eventually, but in essence he was sort of glad he didn’t have to choose. He’d always known he wouldn’t and didn’t have to marry somebody he’d really fancied- as long as they fit the royal mold, it was okay.
He didn’t know anything about the person, wasn’t exactly very bothered to check either- eventually he’d find out- anyway. He hoped the person was agreeable at least; both in terms of personality and looks.
“Announcing the arrival of His Royal Highness, Prince Minho.”
He walked grandly into the room, quickly scanning it. His eyes fell on a slender figure with golden hair, flanked by a couple seated at the mahogany table opposite his parents. The trio rose quickly at his arrival.
Was that…?
The room was almost competely silent as he stood next to his father, where he got to see his betrothed directly. He studied the person, taking in details quickly.
His betrothed was a boy?
He was- the adam’s apple was distinct- but he was beautiful with feminine features and a slender frame clad in a fitting grey suit. His dyed blonde hair was soft and straight and the ends clung to his creamy neck.
He looked up; their eyes met for the briefest moment and Minho immediately decided the boy was younger than himself. And that he had really nice eyes.
“Minho, these are the Lees- the late Chunghyuk-sshi’s son and daughter-in-law as well as his grandson. His name is Taemin.”
They bowed deeply and Minho lowered his head slightly in response. Recovering into standing position, Taemin stole a few looks at the crown prince.
He’d always heard that he was good-looking- most of the girls and some of the boys in his class declared him gorgeous and their ideal man- but the crown prince really was mind-blowingly handsome, especially so up close.
The crown prince was dressed in an immaculate bespoke black suit that emphasized an excellent physique; he was almost half a head taller in comparison and much broader than himself. Dark eyes with equally dark hair lent him an air of dangerousness to his princely aura.
Personally though, Taemin secretly thought the prince’s previous longer, curly brown hair was prettier but he was a lot more masculine now. He tried to peek again but it was hard to do so, without making it overtly obvious- the prince was just sitting right in front of him.
And said royal figure was looking at him, it was as if he was carefully studying him.
Taemin felt slightly discomfited, looked down at the table and tried to listen to the King instead.
“As everybody present here is well aware, the contract is valid and in effect. However, the wedding will take place only next year once Taemin-sshi settles in well here at the palace and at Cheonan where the prince is studying.”
There was a slight pause as Taemin scrambled to catch up on what he was saying.
He was going to have to live at the palace and transfer schools with immediate notice? But…
Yet, with a sinking feeling, he realized that this was to be expected. He clenched his fist slightly under the table.
“He’ll live with me at Soonmigung.”
The queen looked at her son for a moment; then at her husband. The King did not look particularly pleased at the prince’s sudden statement but said nothing. Taemin suspected that there was some power play involved between father and son, but bit his tongue.
“He’s my consort, so he lives with me. Lee-sshi, I’m pleased to meet the two of you.”
He gave Taemin one last considering look but just silently bowed and left the room; the same smart, crisp way as he had entered.
Oh what was he in for?
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, drama, AU
Pairing: 2min
Word count: 1331
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summary: Taemin finds himself becoming the prince consort of Silla due to an old family agreement. Loosely based on Princess hours/goong, this part for the picture prompt, challenge 009 @ shawol_haven
“Wait. What?”
“I’m really really sorry son.” His mother must have been half-hysterical; laughing but with genuine tears in her eyes.
“No umma, repeat what you just said.” Taemin felt his hands quivering. If his hearing did not fail him, he could have sworn that his mother said,
“Your grandfather promised you to the King even before you were born.” She said; voice barely in a whisper.
Taemin blinked; once, twice.
There was a strange hollow buzzing in his ears.
His mother reached out for him, her small hand gripping his arm gently for support.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean promise? Since when do we even have connections to the court?” he sat down on the nearby armchair, his legs didn’t feel like they were actually capable of supporting him.
“The old King and your grandfather were long-time friends, from back in the war era. Before the old King passed on, he wanted for our families to be one, so he made a contract for your grandfather betroth his first grandchild to his grandson.”
The hollow buzzing got worse, his mother’s words were echoing in his head, he didn’t think he could exactly process it and he felt like passing out.
Taemin gripped the edge of the chair.
“Okay. So I’m obviously the first grandchild in question. Hasn’t the old King passed away almost twenty years ago? Grandpa himself has been gone for about eight and nobody bothered to tell me till now?” he spat, the only coherent and most important thought that came to mind.
“Your dad and I- we forgot. We’ve never seen the contract you see. We thought your grandpa was only joking when he came back from visiting the palace all those years ago and told us that our unborn child was going to be the future prince consort. It was only until he was ill in hospital that he reminded us. The palace itself has only recently re-verified the contract with us, since your birthday has passed.”
Forgot.
His 20th birthday had just passed a week ago. By country law, he was legal.
“But… that was when grandpa had assumed that I was to be a daughter; so I would be princess. I am however, not female.”
Yet, the moment the words left his mouth, he knew that it was an invalid argument. The royal court of Silla had allowed same-sex marriages in the Yong-In dynasty- half a century ago- when the west recognized it and when the second prince (the old King’s brother; current King’s uncle) was found to be homosexual.
The idea didn’t faze him; he’d been exposed to it plenty. It was the idea of marriage itself that scared him witless. He was only twenty, for goodness sake.
What would happen to his dreams and all that jazz? Did he even have a choice?
Looking at his mother’s tear-streaked face, he guessed not.
Minho really had no idea what to expect.
The court advisors and council could be best summed up as ‘dubious’. They’d brought before him all sorts of people previously.
They brought Yuri- beautiful, elegant daughter of the immensely wealthy Kwon family. That was supposed to be a wonderful match; if they weren’t all of sixteen and not at all compatible. They remained good friends though; even till this day.
Princess Su Ji, daughter of one of the minor princes was sweet and lovely, albeit a bit too adorable and naïve.
Lady Victoria on the other hand, was too mature and clever and her heart belonged to someone else, a foreign prince who was also brought to him. He’d hit off with Nichkhun quite well actually, but they were too similar, it was hard to imagine. So when they got married, he was sincerely happy for them.
The court also brought Lord Donghae, a hyung he adored; a family friend- but he knew it would never work. Donghae was probably the last person one would put into the position of prince consort.
So when the head advisor came up to him and told him actually, his grandfather, the revered late King had a marriage agreement for him, he almost sighed in relief.
Of course, anger at not being told earlier came into play eventually, but in essence he was sort of glad he didn’t have to choose. He’d always known he wouldn’t and didn’t have to marry somebody he’d really fancied- as long as they fit the royal mold, it was okay.
He didn’t know anything about the person, wasn’t exactly very bothered to check either- eventually he’d find out- anyway. He hoped the person was agreeable at least; both in terms of personality and looks.
“Announcing the arrival of His Royal Highness, Prince Minho.”
He walked grandly into the room, quickly scanning it. His eyes fell on a slender figure with golden hair, flanked by a couple seated at the mahogany table opposite his parents. The trio rose quickly at his arrival.
Was that…?
The room was almost competely silent as he stood next to his father, where he got to see his betrothed directly. He studied the person, taking in details quickly.
His betrothed was a boy?
He was- the adam’s apple was distinct- but he was beautiful with feminine features and a slender frame clad in a fitting grey suit. His dyed blonde hair was soft and straight and the ends clung to his creamy neck.
He looked up; their eyes met for the briefest moment and Minho immediately decided the boy was younger than himself. And that he had really nice eyes.
“Minho, these are the Lees- the late Chunghyuk-sshi’s son and daughter-in-law as well as his grandson. His name is Taemin.”
They bowed deeply and Minho lowered his head slightly in response. Recovering into standing position, Taemin stole a few looks at the crown prince.
He’d always heard that he was good-looking- most of the girls and some of the boys in his class declared him gorgeous and their ideal man- but the crown prince really was mind-blowingly handsome, especially so up close.
The crown prince was dressed in an immaculate bespoke black suit that emphasized an excellent physique; he was almost half a head taller in comparison and much broader than himself. Dark eyes with equally dark hair lent him an air of dangerousness to his princely aura.
Personally though, Taemin secretly thought the prince’s previous longer, curly brown hair was prettier but he was a lot more masculine now. He tried to peek again but it was hard to do so, without making it overtly obvious- the prince was just sitting right in front of him.
And said royal figure was looking at him, it was as if he was carefully studying him.
Taemin felt slightly discomfited, looked down at the table and tried to listen to the King instead.
“As everybody present here is well aware, the contract is valid and in effect. However, the wedding will take place only next year once Taemin-sshi settles in well here at the palace and at Cheonan where the prince is studying.”
There was a slight pause as Taemin scrambled to catch up on what he was saying.
He was going to have to live at the palace and transfer schools with immediate notice? But…
Yet, with a sinking feeling, he realized that this was to be expected. He clenched his fist slightly under the table.
“He’ll live with me at Soonmigung.”
The queen looked at her son for a moment; then at her husband. The King did not look particularly pleased at the prince’s sudden statement but said nothing. Taemin suspected that there was some power play involved between father and son, but bit his tongue.
“He’s my consort, so he lives with me. Lee-sshi, I’m pleased to meet the two of you.”
He gave Taemin one last considering look but just silently bowed and left the room; the same smart, crisp way as he had entered.
Oh what was he in for?