Chapter Text
It had started just like any other ordinary day. Namjoon had been in the fields helping his father and the farm hands bring in the last of the wheat from the harvest. The following day they would load the wagons with as much wheat, fruits, and vegetables as possible to begin selling their yearly crop. His father had noticed the figure off in the distance first, saying to his son, “Who could that be?” Namjoon turned to look towards the east, seeing someone riding a horse from the road towards the path that led to the farm house.
“He wears palace colors,” Namjoon stated in disbelief. He couldn’t imagine what anyone from the palace would want from his family and was afraid to find out. The worry was also showing on his father's face as he gestured for Namjoon to join him and told the men to continue.
Walking at a brisk pace, they arrived at the house not too long after the stranger had, finding him sitting in the kitchen, sipping a cup of tea that Namjoon's mother had prepared. The man seemed to be a royal guard, dressed in fine red and black robes, a long sword at his side, and hair pulled back from his face. The guard stood once the two men entered and said, "Good day. I come from the palace with a message for Kim Namjoon." His mother and father both looked as shocked as Namjoon felt. He was a mere farm boy, a nobody; what could all this be about? But he kept his composure and bowed to the guard, saying, "I'm Kim Namjoon." The other man pulled an envelope from the back of his belt and handed it over. Namjoon took a few seconds to just stare at it, to marvel at the impressive red seal on the back and to enjoy the feel of paper for the first time; he had only seen it before at the market. He wasn't quite sure what to do, not wanting to destroy the beautiful seal or sully the creamy white paper with his dirty hands, so he just said sheepishly, "I cannot read, sir."
"Oh," the young guard said, shaking his head a little as if he was thinking of course he can't read. But he smiled gently at Namjoon and said, "You are to move into the palace at the request of his royal highness, Prince Seokjin, as his future consort. You have two days to pack your belongings and say your goodbyes. I will be back for you then." Before any of the stunned commoners could respond, the guard quickly bowed, thanked them for the tea, and left. The sound of hooves beating on the path seemed to bring the family out of their daze.
"Th-the prince's consort?" Namjoon's mother stuttered with wide eyes. "But how? How does the prince even know who you are?" Namjoon just shook his head and sat down at the table. He stared at the envelope in his shaking hands as if it were a dream and if he could just concentrate hard enough, he would wake up.
"Namjoon? Have you ever seen the prince before? Has he ever been near the farm?" his father asked. Even though Namjoon was struggling with the reality of the situation, he still tried to answer.
"I've only ever seen the royal carriage when it passes on the road. Perhaps I've seen him riding a horse in front of the procession without realizing it? I just don't know...why me?" There would be no answers for the family that evening, gathered around the table in shock.
Two days flew by like mere hours. Of course Namjoon barely had anything to pack, it was just saying goodbye that seemed rushed. He didn't know when he would have the opportunity to see his parents again. At the wedding? Would they be able to attend? Namjoon helped load up the wagons, bidding farewell to all the other men he'd worked side by side with, some since he'd been a child. Then he paid brief visits to the families on the neighboring farms, probably seeing his friends for the last time, unable to even stay for a meal together. Everyone was just as flabbergasted as he was, trying to imagine the tan, lanky farm boy as the consort of the future king. They all asked, "Why? How?" and Namjoon just had to shrug and shake his head, wondering if he would ever find the answer.
After breakfast on the third day, Namjoon sat on the front step of his family home, quietly reflecting on his life there. He never thought he'd have to leave the farm because of a selfish prince's request. As a small boy, he'd dreamed of going on far away adventures just like the ones in the tales his mother told him at bedtime. But Namjoon's father instilled more practicality in him, gave the young man a love and appreciation of the land. As he grew, Namjoon got so much pleasure from reaping the harvest he'd worked hard to grow, raising the animals from newborns, or simply riding his horses any chance he got. He grew up thinking that he'd keep that simple life, caring for his parents as they got old, maybe having a family of his own one day. He'd never let his mind wander beyond the farm since he was a small child. Namjoon had never even traveled further than the market on the edge of the city where his father had gone at sunrise. As Namjoon looked out on the only world he'd ever known, a feeling of panic threatened to overtake him. His future had changed in a matter of days and now it was just a terrifying, unknown void.
The citizens of the country never said it openly, but there had always been whispers of the king's paranoia, his brutality with those around him. Anyone who spoke against him, whether of high or low birth, might suffer a mysterious accident or disappear entirely, never heard from again. Since these things had never affected Namjoon before, he'd paid very little attention and passed the stories off as rumors. But now the young man would be living in the palace from that day forward... what if the rumors were true? What if the prince was just like his father? How could an innocent, uneducated commoner like Namjoon survive in such a starkly different environment? What might happen to him or his family if he displeased his future spouse? He was both terrified and furious. Namjoon wondered how he would ever get along with the man who had caused all of this disruption in his life.
Suddenly, Namjoon noticed the growing dot on the horizon, coming from the east. He knew it must be the guard, coming to take him away to a new, uncertain life. Namjoon sighed and got up to walk back into the house. He found his mother sitting in her worn, creaky rocking chair beside the fireplace, holding her sewing but not working on it.
"He's coming, mother," Namjoon said quietly. She looked up at her son with tears already gleaming in her eyes, setting aside the shirt that needed mending. Namjoon hugged his mother tightly the moment she stood up, trying to be strong and not begin crying himself. The woman sniffed and backed away, saying, "I don't want to get your shirt wet."
"It will be dry by the time I get to the palace," Namjoon replied with a smile. His mother reached up to hold Namjoon's face in her hands, smiling back at him despite the tears streaking her face.
"You'll make us proud, Namjoon. You were always meant for better things." The sound of hooves finally reached their ears and she withdrew her hands. "Go, darling. Be a good boy. We love you." Namjoon was afraid if he opened his mouth to respond, he would burst into tears, so he just nodded and turned away. Namjoon grabbed his bundle of possessions, not even sure he should bother bringing anything, and headed out the door.
"Good morning, Kim Namjoon," the guard greeted him with a smile. Namjoon couldn't bring himself to return the smile as the man dismounted, but did say, "Good morning."
"I realize I hadn't introduced myself before," the guard continued, looking up at Namjoon. "My name is Min Yoongi, I'm Prince Seokjin's head guard. If you see me around the palace, you may feel free to say hello or ask for any help you might need." Namjoon merely nodded, nervously clutching his bundle to his chest. Yoongi's expression softened as he gazed at the tall farm boy who probably looked as frightened as he felt. The guard lowered his voice and said, "I know this is strange for you, but I'll tell you something right now, between us, alright? Do not let your displeasure show once we reach the palace. The prince was gracious enough to wait until the harvest was over before taking you from the farm. Becoming a royal consort is a huge honor and must be treated that way, do you understand?"
"Yes," Namjoon replied. Yoongi's words did nothing to reassure him. He thought about every story he'd heard over the years and shivered, but Yoongi didn't notice as he pulled out some sheer, black material. "What is that?"
"A veil for you to wear," Yoongi answered. "No one is to see you until you're formally presented at court."
"No one?" Namjoon asked. He bent down so the shorter man could arrange the veil over his head, muting the sunlight and slightly blurring his view.
"Well, you've been assigned an attendant to take care of you and of course you'll see the household servants, but no one else is allowed to look at you. There, now we're ready to be on our way." Namjoon mounted the horse, leaving room for Yoongi in front of him to take the reins. As he loosely wrapped an arm around the guard, Namjoon commented, "Is there a reason I couldn't ride a horse of my own? I'm more than capable."
"I'm sure you are," Yoongi chuckled. "But when you're right here with me, you can't run away." Namjoon gulped and held his bundle tightly as they took off to the palace. He forced himself not to look back.
The ride seemed to take forever until they finally made it to the city. Namjoon was actually grateful for the dark veil as they rode along through the streets. He felt his face flush while people looked up at him passing by, pointing and whispering. The crowds dispersed when they reached the imposing white walls surrounding the palace and Yoongi greeted the other guards. When the gates opened and they finally passed through, Namjoon couldn't hold back his loud gasp. The palace was larger and more beautiful than he ever could have imagined a building could be, surrounded by a vast courtyard. Namjoon had never seen such a structural marvel in his life, had never seen so many vibrant colors all at once. He felt more than heard Yoongi's chuckle at his amazement and the guard walked the horse over to the side of the building where another young man seemed to be waiting for them. The man wasn't dressed the same as the guards, but still wore flowing robes of red and black.
"Good day, Yoongi," the man called out as a wide smile grew on his face. "And greetings to you, Kim Namjoon. Welcome." He bowed when Namjoon dismounted the horse and then held his hand out. "I'll carry your things and show you to your quarters. My name is Hoseok, I'll be your personal attendant."
"Hello," Namjoon managed to say in a fairly pleasant tone. He remembered Yoongi's warning and resolved to do his best at putting up a happy facade. It was embarrassing to hand over his simple bundle wrapped in burlap, but Hoseok's smile didn't diminish when he took it.
"You may follow me please," the attendant said. Namjoon began to walk behind him, but quickly turned back to wave at Yoongi, who politely waved back. As they entered the palace, Namjoon tried to pay attention to Hoseok's words while also taking in the grandeur around him. He wished he could take the dark veil off to get the full effect of the beautiful, spacious hallway lined with red columns and giant vases. The ceilings were painted in gorgeous, intricate designs that made the young man's head spin.
"You'll be staying in the guest quarters of the main house until you're formally presented," Hoseok was saying. "Then you'll move to Prince Seokjin's house."
"He...has his own house?" Namjoon couldn't imagine any more than the gigantic palace. Wasn't there plenty of room already?
"Yes," Hoseok answered, turning the corner into another hallway that looked very similar to the last one. Namjoon thought he could easily get lost if he didn't have the attendant to guide him. "Each of the princes has their own separate house. There are several on the grounds that are used as needed, including housing for all the guards and staff...here we are!" Hoseok slid the door open and moved aside for Namjoon to enter. The room was bigger than his family's entire house had been and looked so pristine that Namjoon wondered if anyone had ever lived there before. There was a futon laid out on a raised platform on one side of the room, a large wooden armoire beside it, a low table at the center with cushions around it, and another door that presumably led outdoors.
"You may take your veil off now if you wish," Hoseok said after closing the door behind him. Namjoon was glad to be rid of the thing and began folding it up when Hoseok offered, "I'll take that." The attendant tucked the material away somewhere in his robes and set down the bundle he'd been carrying on the table. He turned to Namjoon and asked, "Is the room satisfactory?"
"Oh, yes. Of course." In fact, the room seemed too perfect, cold, and impersonal. Namjoon was almost afraid to touch anything. It was a far cry from the warm, cozy farm house, but there was nothing Hoseok could possibly do about that.
"The guest baths are farther down the hallway," the attendant continued. "We'll go there next, find you some temporary clothing, and then I'm sure you'll want to have a meal after that." Again, Hoseok opened the door for Namjoon to exit first and then led the way.
"Pardon me," Namjoon said quietly. "When exactly will I be presented to the prince?"
"Well, that depends on how much needs to be done," Hoseok answered. "You'll need etiquette lessons...at least enough to get you through the ceremony. We'll need to get you cleaned up and presentable...the tailor needs time to make your new wardrobe...so at least two weeks I would think."
Namjoon couldn't have imagined how complicated and tedious life in the palace was. He actually felt pity towards Hoseok for having to teach him all the rules (there were so many rules) and having to constantly correct what Namjoon thought of as normal behavior. Namjoon had grown up knowing his place in the world, confident in his knowledge and skill, but now he always felt awkward and oafish, uncomfortable and restless.
Namjoon had never given much thought to his appearance, bathing once a week like everyone else did, keeping his hair tied up and out of the way. He would only see his reflection in the animals' water troughs or the river. In the palace, he was bathed everyday and wasn't even trusted enough to do it himself. He would just sit there, face red, and eyes shut in humiliation while no less than three female servants worked on him. One washed the bottom, one took the top, and they scrubbed every inch of his body, trying to soften his rough, calloused skin. The third woman washed, oiled, and brushed his hair. She even cut the front to frame Namjoon's face in a way that would hopefully appease the prince. Namjoon would go back to his room to look in the mirror and barely recognized himself; changing so much for a man he hadn't even met yet.
For some reason, probably just nostalgia for his old life, Namjoon kept the two outfits he'd brought with him - after they'd been washed and returned to him of course. They went with his other meager possessions to the bottom drawer of the armoire while the rest of the space was gradually filled with delicate, colorful robes made just for him.
Everyday, Hoseok would come in to wake Namjoon up and guide him throughout the day as if Namjoon were a small child. Hoseok dressed him, but made sure Namjoon knew how to do it himself in case he had to dress or undress when it was just him and the prince alone. The connotations made the innocent young man blush; he wasn't ready to think about such things yet. During breakfast, Namjoon learned how to hold his utensils the proper way, how to slow down and not inhale the rich food that his stomach was still getting used to, and even how to sit the right way. After the meal, Hoseok would review how to behave and properly address the members of the royal family, actively role-playing and quizzing Namjoon. They would eat lunch together, repeating the same routine as they did for every meal, and then went over the tea ceremony. Hoseok's eagle eyes were focused on every subtle nuance, from the way Namjoon poured, held the cup, even how he sipped. They would practice until the tea in the pot ran out and Namjoon's bladder was about to burst. Hoseok would always ease up on the rigidity by dinnertime, probably from exhaustion, then he left Namjoon to be bathed and groomed by the other servants. Hoseok would be ready to change Namjoon out of his bath robe and into his sleeping gown, which made no sense to Namjoon because his bath robe was only worn for a few minutes, but who was he to question protocol? Nearly everything he was learning seemed ridiculously unnecessary. Once Namjoon was ready to get into bed, Hoseok would give him brief history lessons instead of bedtime stories. The attendant also went over the royal family tree of the current dynasty so Namjoon would become familiar with the family he would be marrying into. Shortly after Hoseok would snuff out the lights and leave the room, Namjoon would succumb to the sleepiness he'd been fighting all day. Working from dawn to dusk on the farm had been tiring work, but learning a whole new way of living with every move under scrutiny drained his body and mind.
Not everything was so bad about living in the palace. Namjoon tried hard to find joy in anything he could so he wouldn't go crazy. Despite the weather becoming cooler, Namjoon was always nice and warm inside the palace. His bed was like a cloud compared to the straw-stuffed futon he'd been used to sleeping on. The food tasted incredible even if it gave him stomach aches for the first week. Despite the constant scrubbing and prodding in the bath, the water was always hot and the soap and oils smelled lovely. Everyone that Namjoon interacted with was so nice and seemed happy, making him start thinking it might actually be a nice place to live. But the thing Namjoon enjoyed most of all was when he had a rare moment alone and he could open the back door to gaze outside. On clear, sunny days, Namjoon could see the beautiful garden off in the distance and hoped he would get to see it up close someday. Namjoon didn't know if he was allowed to walk the palace grounds and was too afraid to ask. But he enjoyed looking out, watching the rain or staring up at the night sky as he wondered how his parents were doing on the farm.
The day had finally come for Namjoon to be presented and then moved into Prince Seokjin's house. Namjoon tried his best to keep a cool head when Hoseok woke him at sunrise to eat a light breakfast before getting groomed and dressed for the ceremony. But even the staff seemed less calm than usual as they made sure Namjoon looked perfect, pulling half of his hair up with delicate ornaments and dressing him in the most beautiful robes he'd yet worn. The black and silver material seemed to match nicely with his tanned skin and Namjoon found that he actually liked the way he looked, feeling rather handsome.
In the early afternoon, Hoseok ushered Namjon towards the throne room, reminding him of any detail that came to mind. "Remember, once the prince removes your veil, you are only to make eye contact with him. Avert your eyes from anyone else and speak only when spoken to. You will address Prince Seokjin as..."
"My lord," Namjoon replied automatically. They had gone over that a hundred times at least.
"And Prince Taehyung?"
"Your highness."
"And the king?"
"Your majesty."
"Very good," Hoseok said. They stopped in front of the doors so the attendant could cover Namjoon's head with the black veil he'd worn before while he whispered, "Prince Seokjin will lead you into the tea room. As long as you remember everything you've been taught, you'll be fine." Hoseok gave Namjoon one last look and hummed in approval before turning to the guards and nodding. Then the attendant went off and left Namjoon standing there alone.
Namjoon gulped when the guards opened the doors to the grand throne room. He didn't allow himself the distraction of looking around the space or at any of the many members of court standing witness. Namjoon focused on walking steadily to the cushion that had been placed before the thrones for him, taking his time to carefully kneel without slipping and bow all the way down to the floor as he'd practiced. The king's voice called out, "Who comes before us today?" Namjoon raised his head up and spoke as clearly as he could.
"Kim Namjoon, your majesty."
"Who is responsible for this man?"
"I am, your majesty," spoke Prince Seokjin. Namjoon finally glanced up at his future husband, the man who had torn his life apart, the only person he'd ever felt real hatred towards, sitting on the right side of the king. The young man didn't look real; shining black hair framing an impossibly beautiful face with large, soft brown eyes. He was dressed to match Namjoon in black and silver robes.
"You may present him," the king commanded. Prince Seokjin got up from his throne to walk over to Namjoon. He offered his hands to help Namjoon back up to his feet and Namjoon was self-conscious of his rough hands touching the prince's. He barely had time to think about it before the prince took his hands away and removed the veil. Namjoon nervously met Seokjin's eyes and was surprised by the look on the prince's handsome face. Seokjin stared intensely at Namjoon as a soft smile grew on his full, pink lips and Namjoon struggled not to look away. He had secretly hoped the prince would take one look at him, change his mind, and send Namjoon back home. But Seokjin looked genuinely happy to see him, as if it was a relief that Namjoon was finally there. Once more, Namjoon was mystified, wondering how the prince chose him of all people. They faced the throne together and Seokjin said, "May we ask for your blessing, your majesty?"
"My blessing is yours," the kind said, sounding rather disinterested. "You may marry at your discretion. Let us have the tea." The king and younger prince led the way to the adjacent room as everyone in attendance bowed. Namjoon followed closely behind Seokjin, noticing how broad the other man's shoulders were and thinking to himself what a strong farm hand he would've made.
Once the servants laid the tea out on the table and closed the door, there were just the four of them sitting there. Namjoon sat next to Seokjin, across from the king and Prince Taehyung. Namjoon didn't say a word and took long, calming breaths to keep his hands from shaking too obviously while he poured tea for his future family. It was the most nerve-wracking moment of his life, with the other men quietly staring at him until he put the pot back on the tray.
"Thank you, Namjoon," Seokjin said politely and gave him an encouraging smile. Just that small gesture gave Namjoon some relief, reminding himself that the prince wanted him there, that he'd been practicing for weeks, and that it would be over soon enough. They all waited for the king to begin sipping his tea before they drank. After a few moments of silence, the king spoke. "You did well today, Kim Namjoon. No one would know that you're a commoner just by looking at you."
"Thank you, your majesty," Namjoon replied, keeping his gaze just below the monarch's face and trying to keep his voice pleasant and steady.
"Hoseok has done very well with you then, has he?"
"Yes, your majesty. He is an excellent teacher."
"You still have much to learn before your wedding day, young man. Listen well to my son and your attendant."
"I will, your majesty." The king finished his tea and excused himself before Namjoon could refill his cup. There was a palpable change in the air as both of the princes sighed with relief when the door closed again. Prince Taehyung turned to Namjoon with a wide smile on his face and said, "Our father was absolutely right, you know. You carry yourself like a nobleman and I must say, you're far better looking than anyone else Jinnie had to choose from."
"Th-thank you...your highness," Namjoon managed to reply. He wasn't expecting such comments from a prince he'd just met and wondered if his face was turning red.
"Don't embarrass him with such familiarity, Tae," Seokjin admonished his brother. "People need time to get used to your behavior."
"Of course you're right, dear brother," Taehyung said with a laugh. "I'll leave the two of you alone now. It was lovely to meet you, Namjoon. I hope you'll feel welcome here."
"Thank you, your highness," Namjoon said, bowing his head as the young prince left. Then it was just the two of them; the crown prince and his consort-to-be. Namjoon had no idea how to act around his future spouse or what to say, but he knew the prince would set the tone for their relationship.
"Namjoon," Seokjin called out to him quietly. Namjoon turned his head and once again met eyes with the beautiful man.
"Yes, my lord?"
"I want you to know that I'm very happy you're here," Seokjin began, that same gentle smile appearing on his face. "I know this has been a monumental change for you, but I hope that in time you can be happy being here with me." Namjoon didn't know how to respond to that, wondering how he could possibly be happy again. How could he smile or laugh with the man who had taken him away from the only joy he'd ever known? Namjoon wanted to scream, wanted to ask why. Why him? But his mother's words rang out in the back of his head. Be a good boy. So he just replied, "Yes, my lord."
"Namjoon, when we're alone, just the two of us, you may call me by my name. I would appreciate that."
"As you wish...Seokjin." Namjoon struggled to address the prince so informally; it went against everything Hoseok had taught him. Seokjin's smile grew and he looked entirely too pleased just by hearing his name on Namjoon's lips. Then he stood and said, "Come. I'll walk you to your new home." Namjoon followed the prince outside to the courtyard, seeing that Yoongi stood there at attention, waiting to escort them. As soon as Seokjin passed him by, Yoongi quickly gave Namjoon a smile and wink before falling in step behind them. It was very reassuring knowing that Yoongi was there, someone familiar to look out for him. He knew Hoseok would be there for him too, so he tried to think positive thoughts as they walked along. Namjoon's hopes rose as they got closer to the garden, the leaves now turning bright shades of red, orange, and yellow. He was pleased when they arrived at a large house that looked like a smaller version of the palace on the perimeter of the scenic garden and thought he might finally get to see it. Yoongi stopped at the main entrance while Seokjin led Namjoon inside. All of a sudden, Namjoon was overcome with worry. Was he meant to stay in the same room with the prince? Would they be sharing the same bed? Hoseok hadn't prepared him for any of that, so Namjoon didn't know what was expected of him when he was all alone with Seokjin. His fears were soon calmed when the prince reached a door that Hoseok was waiting in front of. The attendant opened the door for the both of them and Seokjin walked inside saying, "This will be your room for the time being." He stood closer to Namjoon and lowered his voice to add, "So you don't have to look so worried." Namjoon lowered his head in embarrassment, not realizing his inner turmoil was obvious.
"Look at me, Namjoon," the prince said. He obeyed, seeing a kind smile on Seokjin's lips. "I do want you to be happy here and I wish for us to be very close. I understand that won't happen overnight, but I am a very patient man." There was an intimidating look of determination in his eyes, the smile on his face turning into more of a smirk. "We will be married in the spring, so we should try to make the best of things, shouldn't we?"
"Yes, my lord," Namjoon answered, knowing Hoseok was still in the room.
"Very good," the prince replied, still staring at Namjoon like he could see right through him. "I have some things to attend to now. My room is right next to yours." Seokjin gestured to another door on the side of the room and Namjoon gulped. "You are free to come in anytime you please." The prince got close enough to lean up to Namjoon's ear and whisper, "I promise that I will not touch you until you want me to, but you may touch me any time you wish." With a little wink, Seokjin bid him farewell and left Namjoon standing there, absolutely bewildered.