Of French Customs and Old Times. Part 2
Title: Of French Customs and Old Times.
Status: Part 2 of ?
Author: xxqod
Pairing: Jonghyun/Taemin/Minho
Rating: PG-15
A/N: For bopeep_achu who requested this, it takes place in France of the 18th Century. Incorrect use of the French language XD lol, I only had basic French. It's not historically correct and I used their Korean names, cause I can't bring myself to change them. (Don't bash me for it! >.< )
~There's a wordlist at the end of each part, stating the French words and their translation.~
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Go back to the first Chapter
~Flasback~
Jonghyun and Taemin have been childhood friends since Taemin was five years old. Their parents were royalty, so they lived a generous life, not to far from each other. Lackeys would accompany them when they went to play and their relationship grew day by day. They were always seen together and learnt to play flute together. They also had their etiquette lessons at the same time, despite Jonghyun being older by 3 years. Something they both wanted to learn was horse-riding. Their first lesson at the respective age of twelve and fifteen, was also the start of a lot unhappier moments for the two of them.
"Young master Taemin, your father has summoned you to the hall." Taemin who just mounted the horse without falling off, was surprised but followed the lackey nonetheless. Jonghyun wanted to follow, but a glance from the lackey made him stay behind, watching the retreating figures, before his horse jumped and threw him off. He cursed his horse who neighed at him almost mockingly.
"Father, I'm here to see you." Taemin bowed slightly when he entered the large room, eyeing the tall strangers standing beside his father. He bowed again slightly to give them his respect.
"Taemin, these persons are Roi Choi and his son Minho." His father gave him an apologetic look while he introduced his guests.
"He is indeed very pretty. I made up my mind. It's a deal." Taemin eyed the old man suspiciously.
"Son, you know I have trouble with the funding of our fief right?" His father heaved a deep sigh, "Roi Choi decided to help me."
"But that is good news father, why do you look so gloom?" Taemin asked.
"Roi Choi wants to help on one condition. He wants you to be his son's wife." The boy's eyes widened and he looked shocked between the people in the room. He snapped.
"How do you want to do that?! I'm a man!" Taemin angrily shouted at the three in front of him.
Roi Choi walked forwards to Taemin, "Your beauty is greater than that of most women and don't worry. It’s only for the formal parties and receptions. Everybody will think Minho has the loveliest young lady as his wife. It will do both our families good. Especially since Minho is going to take over the crown when he marries, I don't have long to live anymore."
Taemin's hands shook as the king spoke, anger boiled in his body and he tried hard not to punch the king in his face.
"Father, tell them you're not doing this!" His father hung his head and Taemin felt dread overtake him like a blanket of ice cold water.
"The wedding is next week. The maids will dress you prettily."
"NO! No, no! You can't do this!" Tears rolled of his cheeks when Taemin heard his father speak. He turned abruptly and ran out the hall, searching for Jonghyun to comfort him.
"JONGHYUN!" Said boy turned around when he heard his name, his horse Tonnerre munching on his sleeve, wanting the attention back. Taemin's horse Foudre nudged Tonnerre with his head, which made the horse let go of Jonghyun, just in time for Jonghyun to catch a crying Taemin in his arms.
Many soothing words from Jonghyun and a vaguely speaking Taemin later, Jonghyun finally grasped what Taemin meant with 'girl, marriage and Minho'.
"They what?! Merde!" Jonghyun kicked the wooden door to the stall, scaring the horses who neighed annoyed at him. Jonghyun felt cheated, they were just going to take his best friend from him and turn him into a girl. He clenched his fists and punched the tree next to him, making his hand bleed. He looked over to Taemin who sat like a lifeless shell against the tree trunk, staring into the blue sky, moisture still flowing from his eyes.
"Taemin. Taemin! Snap out of it! I won't let them do anything to you." Lifeless eyes turned towards him and Jonghyun could feel the hurt Taemin felt.
"Take my life away." It was nothing but a whisper, but Jonghyun heard it clearly. He knelt beside Taemin, brushing his long hair out of his face, wiping the tears with his sleeve.
"I'm selfish. I'm not taking your life away. I want to be together forever." He squeezed Taemin's hand with his own before he leaned in to kiss those pink lips. When he pulled away there shone a little light in the younger boy's eyes.
"Let's run away together. The horses are right here and I have my sword from practice still with me. Food won't be a problem, we can steal of the farms." Jonghyun hauled Taemin back on his feet and they went to their horses. This would be difficult since they didn't really ride a horse before, but they'll manage somehow.
Jonghyun helped Taemin on Foudre, before walking over to Tonnerre. But he hadn't even his hands on the reins and several lances were pointed at him and he saw Taemin getting pulled of his horse by some other guards. Well, that sucked. Taemin looked with big eyes at him while they were roughly separated. Jonghyun was brought back to Château de Saint-Cloud where he lived together with Taemin's family after his parents died in an accident and Taemin was brought to a carriage where Minho and Roi Choi were waiting for him.
Taemin kicked and screamed, crying all the while the guards carried him to the carriage. He shot a death glare in the king's direction and spat at Minho, who looked really pained by his actions. He didn't see the hand coming down and he only noticed the sting in his cheek when his head snapped to the side.
"I hope you learn how to behave as the future queen. I'll make sure you are a fine young lady the day you marry to Minho." Taemin held his cheek and his eyes were still brimming with tears but he refused to give in. He held his breath and when Minho opened the carriage for him to climb in his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell on the ground. Last thing he heard was his name being called by a deep voice.
A sudden jerk woke him up and he bolted upright. Minho sat next to him his arm still around Taemin's waist and he just looked at him with these big eyes. Taemin turned his head away and saw the king sitting on the bench opposite of him. He was in the carriage taken to Château de Versailles where the Royal Family lived.
When the vehicle stopped and he had to get out he shouted again clung to everything on his way. Eventually it took three guards to bring him inside the castle and shut him into his room. He fell on the bed, crying his eyes out, wishing he was more muscular like Jonghyun, then this wouldn't have happened. He rolled on his back hugging the pillow to his chest. The knock on the door made him jump, but he scowled when Minho came into the room with another boy behind him.
"Taemin, this is Kibum, he's going to be your personal servant. He's the only one apart from me and my father who knows you're actually going to be my bride. Those guards are just too stupid to notice the difference and the other lackeys don’t need to know. We don't want any rumours to spread. Kibum will teach you everything you need to know. And if he doesn't succeed he'll lose his head. So let that be a warning for you. And another thing, I don't talk much." With that Minho left Taemin and Kibum behind.
"Doesn't talk much, right…" Taemin huffed and Kibum laughed a little. "Come on, let's start with the things you already know, so I see what I need to learn you."
They rolled through the schedule Kibum made and Taemin learned everything again, but this time in a feminine manner.
"How old is Minho?" Taemin asked Kibum, who answered him he was fourteen years. He let his hands slide through Taemin's hair, saying he needed it to grow a little more and it was enough for him to pass as a female. The dressmakers came in to measure his sizes, saying he needed a whole new wardrobe.
The week passed rather quick and Kibum announced that tomorrow was his big day. Getting married, it made Taemin depressed just thinking about it. He didn't even know anything about Minho, his future husband. He scrunched up his nose and Kibum flicked him in the forehead, saying they should go to sleep, because it takes ages to put on the whole dress tomorrow.
The next morning Taemin woke up to a hand stroking his face and he first thought it was Key who coaxed him into a state of awareness, but he flinched back when he saw Minho.
"D-don't." He stammered out and the hand fell back to Minho's side.
"I wanted to tell you. I love you from the moment I saw you four years ago at the ball in this castle. I told my father with my silly ten years old, I wanted you to be my wife and he said I would grow out of it. But I just found myself loving you more, thinking more of you, it took me long enough to convince my father of my feelings. I was so happy when my father said he would get you as my bride, but it's clear you hate me. I make sure you will come to love me." With that Minho stood up from the chair at the side of the bed and walked away, leaving Taemin confused on the bed.
"Not talking much, right..."
It took him three hours just to dress with Kibum's help and then he had to wear this hideous wig, which really didn't suit him. He whined about it, but Kibum just said that with his skills he will make it look better. He whitened Taemin's face with make-up powder, giving his cheeks a little rouge and he painted his lips red. Kibum cocked his head to the side and examined the result before removing some make-up. He nodded satisfied and Taemin slowly walked to the mirror. His jaw dropped when he saw a perfect female copy of himself staring back at him.
"How?" Taemin gaped and Kibum laughed. He shrugged his shoulders, before he ushered Taemin out the door into the arms of Minho who was waiting outside of his room. Kibum looked a little shocked and Taemin staggered back.
"Taemin…?" His eyes widened at the girl, boy, in front of him. "You look absolutely stunning." He brought his hand up to touch Taemin's cheek, smiling a little.
"Don't touch me." Taemin gritted through clenched teeth, before running, as best as he could, to the stairs going to the carriage.
"What do I have to do Kibum?" Minho asked said boy with the saddest voice he had ever used. Kibum looked sympathetic when he patted Minho on the shoulder.
"Just give him time, he will grow to love you eventually."
The ride to the Notre Dame was silent and Taemin tried to sit as far away as possible from Minho, which proved highly difficult with the size of the dress.
The ceremony was attended by most of the royalty and Taemin saw his own parents, he smiled, but they didn't even recognize him. Jonghyun however dropped his jaw when he saw Taemin coming through the door, his mind was screaming how in the world a boy could look so good as a girl. He pulled at the sleeve of Taemin's father.
"T-that's Tae…min…" Jonghyun swallowed hard, his throat had gone dry seeing his friend dressed so prettily and feminine, he thought back to their kiss. Taemin's lips were soft, like a girl's lips would be, but he wouldn't know because he never kissed a girl before.
Taemin's father and mother had tears in their eyes when they finally realized that beautiful girl was their son. Jonghyun didn't know if it was from happiness or something else, but they had both huge smiles plastered on their faces. Jonghyun scoffed.
The ceremony went smoothly, except for the single tear sliding down Taemin's cheek. Nobody noticed but Jonghyun was angered, feeling the urge to punch that bastard in the face for making Taemin cry. His insides boiled when Minho leaned in to kiss Taemin, but he did a mental victory yell when Taemin slightly turned his head, so Minho's lips landed on his cheek.
Now they only had to watch how the archbishop crowned Minho as 'Roi de France', and he crowned Taemin as 'Reine de France'.
On their way out Taemin caught a tuft of brown hair and he excused himself, walking in the direction where the mysteriously familiar head disappeared to. When he walked around the corner he was roughly pinned against the wall by a crying Jonghyun. Taemin just let him cry, holding his own tears, his face a mask of indifference. He was a little shocked when he was kissed again by Jonghyun, but he held his façade and didn't respond back, oh, how much he wanted to. His heart hurt seeing the desperate look in Jonghyun's eyes, pleading him not to go away, but be with him instead.
"I can't love you, Jonghyun." It came out hoarse and croaked. "I belong to Minho now." The grip on his arms holding him in place loosened and Taemin pushed himself away, ignoring the sobs coming from his best friend, the person he loved.
"Sorry for the wait." He climbed into the carriage, waiting to get back and get this heavy feeling of his chest by finding Kibum. He felt Minho's eyes on him with this fierce gaze. He smiled a little, but jolted when he heard a loud bang. Minho's hand had connected with the side of the carriage.
"So tell me why your lips are all smeared?!" Taemin's eyes widened and he brought his fingers to his lips. He hadn't really thought about that when Jonghyun kissed him.
"I…I…" Taemin knew he was caught. He breathed in, "My lips were itchy." He tried to look convincing, but Minho didn't take it.
"Who kissed you?! Like I don't know you went to see that person when you excused yourself!" Taemin was nervous, he shifted his gaze to look at his hands.
"It was nobody, I don’t love that person." Taemin whispered, he knew he was lying to Minho and himself.
"Good, because if you loved him back, he would have lost his head this very day." Cold took over Taemin and he was scared of Minho, what his jealousy could make him do. He didn’t caught on Minho mentioning only a 'he' as the person he kissed. In fact, he didn’t know Minho saw and heard everything.
Back in his room he fell into Kibum's arms, crying his heart out, telling everything about Jonghyun and Minho. How he felt about it. And Kibum could do nothing but whisper reassurances and stroke his back.
"Let’s clean you up." Kibum tugged on the ribbons and laces of the dress, effectively stripping Taemin in mere minutes. He guided him to the washroom where he took off the wig and got a cloth to clean Taemin's face. He washed him up and tucked him in bed, smoothening his hair out one last time before going to his own room. Kibum turned in the door stand, "Just give him a chance."
A week later Minho's father died a natural cause. Taemin is left with the promise to the old man of loving Minho and be by his side forever. If he only could have said no to the dying man. Minho did cry the whole day and that night he came to Taemin's room after Kibum left and crawled on top of him. He was still crying and Taemin didn’t know what do to and waited. After a minute he patted Minho on the shoulder but this resulted in something he didn't want.
His nightgown was taken off and Minho pushed his legs violently apart, manhandling him and Taemin just let it happen. He blocked out all of his own emotions and tried not to scream in pain. The tears on Minho's face were too sincere as he roughly thrust into him, still down from the loss of his father. When he came, he rolled off Taemin and wrapped his arms around the younger boy, falling asleep. The tears still running down over his face.
[His first kiss was Jonghyun. His first time was Minho.]
Go to the next Part
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A/N: So this is the first half of the flashback XD and I thought this was a good part to split it up XD *being evil* Please let me know if something is not clear!
Comments are love! :)
List of French words with translation:
- mademoiselle - young lady / miss
- le roi - King
- la reine - Queen
- Tonnerre - Thunder
- Foudre - Lightning
- Merde! - Shit! / Damn! (I love my cuss words XD )