inspired by
this photo, written for
wookiescookie all the best of luck for your exams bb!
1.
Baekhyun had expected that day to be a busy one, as it was the day when his sister's engagement with the prince of the Park tribe was officially announced. He had expected to represent his tribe at the tables full of guests from all the nearby tribes, being the second son of the leader and all.
Never would he ever imagine sitting in front of his sister's mirror, being dolled up as a pseudo bride.
Three hours ago, he was woken up by his brother storming into his tent, stating that his elder sister had disappeared. With her personal guard, apparently, since Minseok was also no where to be found. She left a note that read you all don't care about my feelings, so I'm gonna go seek for happiness on my own, good luck clearing up the mess, which made Baekhyun curse under his breath.
"How are we dealing with this, brother?"
Suho sighed. "Father has sent out guards to find Minah, but it seems that she has left for a long time now. We are not sure whether we could catch up with her."
"And what if, I'm saying this hypothetically, what if we could not find her?"
"I don't know, to be honest. It's not like we can put off the ceremony. The Park tribe have traveled all the way from the north, we cannot make them wait."
"Can we feign sickness?"
"Kinda too late now. Just yesterday, when they met our parents, our father declared that Minah was in the best condition. There's no way she falls sick just within a few hours."
"We can tell them she ate something stale as her supper?"
Suho frowned. "And make them think of our princess as someone with a voracious appetite? Baekhyun, don't be stupid."
Baekhyun pouted. "What do you suggest then? You keep insisting that the ceremony has to be carried out today."
"Yes, the schedule cannot be changed. Our shamans and theirs had to work really hard to specifically pick this lucky day for the engagement. So I'm thinking..." he paused, suddenly glancing at Baekhyun. "... maybe we could do it without her."
"How?"
"By having someone disguise as Minah and attend the ceremony. The wedding is two weeks from now, I think... I hope we can find her in time for it."
Baekhyun beamed at his brother. "Wow, Suho, you're smart. Who will receive the role? Is it one of her maids?"
"Her face has to be shown, so it has to be someone who looks like her." Suho stepped towards Baekhyun, put a hand on his left shoulder and squeezed. "You know what I mean, right."
The look of dread on Baekhyun's face told Suho he did. "No I don't understand what you mean. I am going to change and then search for Minah, I'm sure we can find her before nine." He tried to get out of Suho's grasp, but no avail. Fuck my life.
"Wufan will handle the searching. You stay here and get ready. Minah's maids are outside your tent, they will help you with the clothes and Luhan will work his magic on your face. I'm guarding you, so don't even think of running away; or else I will have my way with you."
The older prince clapped twice, and a group of maids led by a grinning Luhan entered Baekhyun's tent. Luhan's angelic face and cheery voice had never annoyed Baekhyun so much. "Ah Baekhyun, don't worry, I will make sure you're the best looking fiancee ever!"
Baekhyun looked down. "At least let me have a proper bath first."
2.
To say Baekhyun had never crossdressed would be a lie. But the last time he did it was ten years ago, when he was nine, and lost a bet with Luhan. Puberty came, and the dressing up game was put to an end, Baekhyun had enough with all the teasing about his soft features. He was a man with pride, even if he was attracted to both genders.
After the bath (which he couldn't have in peace because Suho and Luhan kept nagging him to hurry up), Baekhyun had to put on layers and layers of clothes. "There are seven in total," Luhan chirped "and ten for the actual wedding. It's October, the weather is getting cold."
The prince frowned. "Can you stop looking so gleeful? Don't you understand I'm in a misery? I'm not even supposed to wear any of these!" He pulled at the baby blue robe, only to be swatted away by Luhan.
"You have to anyway, so better stop complaining." His friend pushed Baekhyun down on a chair and lifted his face by the chin. "I've always wanted to touch your face... you know, somehow I think you'll work the makeup better than your sister."
"Nonsense, everyone knows Minah's the prettiest girl of our tribe."
"Well, for one, you are not a girl. And two, no one has seen you with makeup on since you were nine, which was ten years ago. So the judgement's not necessarily fair."
"Whatever, Luhan, whatever."
3.
Chanyeol had seen paintings of his fiance-to-be, the princess of tribe Byun, and admitted that she was a really beautiful girl. He should really feel grateful, because he would have a pretty wife along with a strong alliance. But Chanyeol had always been a lady killer, so the fact that he was going to be tied down with a single one disappointed him a bit.
The representatives of his tribe were warmly welcomed in a large tent by the leader of Byun tribe, his wife who was a true beauty (Chanyeol could see whose genes the princess inherited) and his eldest son who was a polite man not much older than Chanyeol. They apologized for the absence of their second oldest son, who was away on a hunting trip or something. Not like Chanyeol would care about such a nobody.
The prince of tribe Park only listened absent-mindedly to what the parents said, which he found extremely boring. Watching the people attending was much more appealing to him. He had been to the south for several times before, and the women of tribe Byun were truly the most good-looking of all. Their young men were just as fine, their oldest prince was an example. He had dark eyes and jet black hair, contrasting nicely with his fair skin, though Chanyeol would have preferred if he had some pink on his cheeks.
Said prince kept stealing glances at a white tent decorated with red flowers, which Chanyeol assumed belonged to his sister, or Chanyeol's soon-to-be fiancee. Overprotective much? That kind of reminded Chanyeol of his own behaviors when his elder sister got married (he got scolded for several days after that, how could he forget?)
Finally, the lengthy speech ended, and tribe Byun's leader announced that the princess was to be led out of her tent. Chanyeol was asked to stand up with his back facing the entrance, to make sure he did not glance at the fiancee (well he was going to see her face in a few minutes anyway, so what's the point?). Cheers and shouts were heard, and not long after, Chanyeol was allowed to take a ninety degree turn to face his fiancee.
He bowed immediately, so it was only after he looked up did he see the girl's face. Chanyeol was simply stunned. The princess was even more beautiful in person, and more beautiful than any woman Chanyeol had courted before. Her sparkling eyes were rimmed with dark kohl, her skin was as fair as her brother, but there was an enticing shade of blush on her cheeks, which could be noticed even under a thin layer of voile covering the lower half of her face. Dear lord, I got lucky today.
It was time they exchanged betrothal gifts, a dagger from tribe Byun and a necklace by tribe Park. Chanyeol received his gift first, at the same time noticing how soft and dainty her fingers were. When his fingers touched hers, she quickly retreated her hands and glanced up at him, blushing. Before Chanyeol could even react, she turned around, a cue for him to give her the necklace. A task which Chanyeol enjoyed nevertheless, her slender neck was inviting, and the northern prince had to bite back the urge to run his calloused fingers on the pale smooth skin there.
They were facing each other again for the last step to seal the deal. Chanyeol's favorite part, actually. The mere thought of getting to touch this beauty got him all excited. "Prince Park, you may now kiss your fiancee."
Chanyeol smiled while gently lifting the voile off the princess's face, revealing her whole beauty. She seemed taken aback, but the confused look in her eyes only fascinated Chanyeol even more. Her pink lips slightly parted, and the prince swore he had never witnessed any sight that was more alluring. What was he even waiting for?
He leaned down to capture those lips in a chaste kiss, which turned rather heated when he felt hands grabbing on his shoulders for balance and decided to use his tongue. The girl lightly pushed him away, but clearly she was no as experienced as her partner: Chanyeol trapped her by his hands set firmly on her waist.
He only pulled away in the need for oxygen, but never broke eye contact with the princess. She seemed slightly embarrassed as the crowd cheered and whistled loudly, and Chanyeol couldn't help but steal a peck on her now glistening lips.
He could definitely live through this politically arranged marriage.
4.
"Oh my god Baekhyun, that was so freaking hot!"
"Shut up, Luhan!" Baekhyun glared at his giggling friend, which only made Luhan laugh even louder. "Nobody told me there would be a kiss!"
"Well you wouldn't have agreed if you had known, so Suho tried to keep it hush hush. You looked like you were enjoying it though." Luhan winked, and Baekhyun hurled a shoe at him. "I did not!"
"Yeah, try to tell yourself that. Oh by the way, Suho told me to remind you that tribe Park will be staying for the next week, so until we find your sister, Baekhyun's still on his trip and you are still Minah." Luhan said before leaving Baekhyun alone in Minah's tent (currently his, Baekhyun thought bitterly)
Baekhyun had half a mind to snap, but decided against it. He and Suho had spent the whole day to show the people from tribe Park around, and even if he was allowed to get rid of the extra layers of clothes after the ceremony, female clothing still made him uncomfortable. Trying to keep a distance from prince Park was exhausting, too, as the man refused to let go of Baekhyun's hand for most of the tour. Just thinking of him caused Baekhyun to blush. Who kissed a girl he met for the first time like that? He was a great kisser though, really, it was certainly not Baekhyun's first kiss, but no one had ever made him tingle in all the right places like that. Park Chanyeol was also handsome and, dang it, hot. No wonder there were rumors of him being a playboy everywhere.
Before his mind could wander into dangerous territories, Baekhyun shook his head and went for a hot bath. After cleaning himself thoroughly, especially his makeup (how did women wear this thing all day long?), he plopped on Minah's comfy bed and let sleep claim him immediately.
But of course, he couldn't even have a peaceful slumber. The prince was woken up in the middle of the night when he felt an arm sneaking around his waist and jumped at the touch. "Who the fuck are you???" He kicked at the intruder, frantically searching for his dagger under the pillow, only to remember that this is not his bed.
The man almost fell off the bed, but managed to grab at the hem of Baekhyun's night gown just in time to balance himself. Baekhyun's eyes, now used to darkness, started to find the figure familiar looking. "If you do not tell me who you are, I'm gonna scream!"
The man groan. "It's me, Chanyeol. I'm sorry."
Baekhyun recognized the deep voice in an instant. "Oh my god, I apologize for kicking you, but what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to sleep?" He scrambled off the bed to light up the room. Chanyeol was sitting on his bed with disheveled hair and clothes, but still looked as sexy as ever. Suddenly the room felt too hot for Baekhyun.
"I couldn't sleep." Chanyeol drawled, his fingers ran through his hair and mussed it up. "I was thinking of you."
"Prince Park..." Baekhyun didn't manage to finish his sentence, as Chanyeol pulled him down to his lap and kissed him. Just like the one they share earlier, it started with chaste pecks and ended with messy tongues and both of them breathless. However, this time, Chanyeol didn't let go of Baekhyun. Leaving the latter gasp for oxygen, he moved on to drop kisses on Baekhyun's jaw.
"Prince Park..."
"Call me Chanyeol." He whispered lowly while nibbling on Baekhyun's earlobe. "I am allowed to called you Minah, right?"
Baekhyun suddenly felt a pang of disappointment in his heart. That's right, Chanyeol was here for Minah and not Baekhyun. "Why aren't you saying anything, princess?" Another nibble, this time on his neck. "Gosh, you are so sexy."
And that was when Baekhyun felt the hot palm of Chanyeol's left hand hovering over the collar of his night gown, the other still held him firmly by the waist. Frightened, he pushed Chanyeol away as hard as he could and crossed his arms together to cover his chest. "I... Chanyeol, I..."
The prince looked baffled for a second, before his eyes widened in realization. "Oh no, Minah, I'm truly sorry for my brazen behaviors! It's just that... I don't know, fuck, I just want you so much."
"It's... okay." Baekhyun's voice was still shaking. He said he wanted me. "We will get married in two weeks anyway, you can... wait, right?"
"Of course I can wait. I'm so stupid, of course you're not like those women." Chanyeol's hair was tousled by his own fingers again. "I'm so sorry."
Still holding his clothes together, careful not to let anything slip, Baekhyun crawled towards Chanyeol on the other side of the bed and gave him a peck on the lips. "You are forgiven. Now go back to sleep, Suho would kill you if he saw you in my room."
"I doubt he would. I'm your fiance, after all." Chanyeol grinned, and kissed Baekhyun again before he left.
5.
It had been a week, and Minah still hadn't been found.
But Baekhyun found himself not caring much, because his time and mind was then occupied by a certain prince of tribe Park. They wandered around the villages during the day: sometimes on foot, sometimes on horseback, and occasionally sneaked out to their secret rendezvouses at night. The longer Baekhyun was around the prince of tribe Park, the more he liked him. Not only did Chanyeol have good looks, he also showed a great sense of chivalry which made Baekhyun's heart flutter.
Luhan teased him at first, but then started to show his concerns. "Baekhyun, you're falling for that prince, and it will not be good."
Baekhyun avoided his gaze. "You're just being a worrywart, Luhan."
"I wish I were. But I'm serious, Baekhyun. Have you ever seen the look in your eyes when you stare at him? What if Minah comes back? He will get married to her, and you will end up with a heartbreak! Please, Baekhyun, don't let things get out of hands, or you are gonna regret it."
Luhan did not give out advice on a daily basis. In fact, whenever Baekhyun looked at his pixie face and heard the cute voice, he wondered who was the older between the two of them. Only at times like this was Baekhyun reminded that Luhan had always been watching out for him as a senior. "I know, Lu. It's just... I just want to be happy."
Luhan sighed. "I want nothing but happiness for you too."