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“You’re lucky you survived.” The knight commander of the royal order spat, face void of any respect as he regarded the King sitting crossed-legged on the bed with a bowl of tasteless porridge on his lap.
Had it not been Choi Soobin, Beomgyu’s most trusted confidant and childhood friend, their head would’ve been chopped off for their crude behavior towards the King.
Or maybe not. After all, Beomgyu was no tyrant. Perhaps, other monarchs would, but Beomgyu had never liked unnecessary bloodshed. He wouldn’t throw a childish fit just because some unremarkable person rolled their eyes at him.
“You know how I am,” Beomgyu grinned, placing down the untouched bowl of food on the bedside table. “Wait, how does the saying goes again?”
He put a finger below his chin, eyes going up to the ceiling in deep thought. Then like a candle flickering to life, Beomgyu gasped, clapping in delight as the words he was searching for came to mind.
“Bad weeds never die!”
The frown on Soobin’s face deepened. Amused, Beomgyu thought of the knight’s resemblance to an upset bunny.
“Anything that comes out of your mouth damages my head.” the tall man let out a dramatized sigh, earning a snort from the royalty. “I take pity on your subjects.”
Beomgyu shrugged, an easy smile playing on his lips. “Anyway, what exactly happened to me?”
Soobin gave him an incredulous look; the one that screamed ‘you’re a fucking idiot’ in bold capital letters.
“Aren’t I supposed to be the one asking that?” The Knight asked, voice cracking at the end of his sentence. “You gave the whole palace the shock of the century after getting yourself poisoned and you didn’t even know what happened!”
Not that Beomgyu wasn’t aware of that already, but seeing Soobin went on a tangent about it was hilarious to witness.
“Are you an idiot? Of course, I remember that. I’m asking what happened to me afterward!” Beomgyu said, amplifying the playful innocence antics in his words and facial expression for show. Though, he wasn’t really lying about it. All he could remember was entering a heavily prohibited area after stealing the keys from another heavily prohibited room.
Said prohibited room that happened to belong to a certain winter elf.
“You were found unconscious outside the frosted garden,” Soobin grumbled, not pleased at all. “The court mage found you just in time. If he was seconds late, our kingdom would’ve fallen into chaos.”
“Oh.”
Beomgyu’s skin prickled at the mention of the court mage, and suddenly his mind was filled with only the thoughts of him and the reason why he decided to breach the forbidden garden in the first place.
“You have a lot to thank him for. Not only was he the one who found you, but he was also the one who saved your life.”
The King jolted, the new information filling his body with a warm sensation. The mage found him, saved him. He felt giddy, and knowing he shouldn’t be feeling that way made him guilty.
“Of course, I would!” Beomgyu cleared his throat. Soobin rolled his eyes to the heavens. “Can you summon him here for me?”
“No need,” the knight answered. “That’s actually the main reason why I’m here.”
Beomgyu’s heart thumped wildly inside his chest. The distress was evident on his face, eliciting a chuckle and a wicked smile from Soobin.
“Kang Taehyun wishes to speak with you.”
“What.” Beomgyu blinked, the sound of his own heartbeat loud and distracting in his ears. “Like, right now? This instant?”
It wasn’t as if he’d be seeing the mage for the first time in a while; in fact, they meet each other almost every day, mostly the doing of the King, pulling out all kinds of excuses and reasoning from his ass just so he could catch a glimpse of the elf.
However, it was different this time. Beomgyu royally fucked up, and to make matters worse, his sole reason behind it was directly related to the mage. Something the younger boy wouldn’t be elated to hear. And the fact that he was saved by Taehyun himself, hadn’t fully processed in his mind yet.
“Should I send him away?” Soobin asked, asshole personified with the smug grin on his mug.
“No.” Beomgyu glared at his friend, fighting the urge to slip off his bed and strangle the taller boy across him. “Let him in.”
The knight shrugged before turning in the direction of the door. But before leaving the room, Soobin faced the King one last time.
“Good luck.” Soobin cackled. “Hope he doesn’t talk your ears off again. You have more in store from Yeonjun later.”
Before Beomgyu’s hand could reach for the nearest item to chuck at the knight, Soobin had already dashed out of the room, dignity, and grace of a royal guard completely absent with how he laughed on his way out.
“Great!” The King groaned, throwing both hands in the air. Of course, Yeonjun, head of the King’s court, would have a shit ton to say about his actions. If Soobin wasn’t naggy enough, then Yeonjun perfectly covered up that part. Beomgyu could manage that though, he’d conditioned himself to block out the words coming out of his adviser’s mouth. He’d get extra griping from Yeonjun the moment he noticed him zoning out, but that too, he could tolerate.
But if there was someone he couldn’t ignore, no matter how much they berate and scold Beomgyu, then it would be Taehyun.
It wasn’t a known fact for all, but Taehyun was a bigger nag than Yeonjun could ever be. Now, Beomgyu wasn’t only worried about seeing the mage, he was also slightly dreading the inevitable reprimanding from the younger boy.
He hadn’t composed himself yet when he heard a series of soft knocks on his door. Beomgyu held back a scream.
The King didn’t need to make a signal for the mage to enter. Though Beomgyu wished he waited for him to say something first, that way he would have more time to calm his beating heart and mentally prepare himself for what was about to come.
The huge double door was thrown open revealing the figure of the mage donned in white. As he entered the room, Taehyun’s steps were light and easy, almost as if he owned the King’s chamber.
Elves were known for two things; their enchanting beauty and profound wisdom, and Kang Taehyun perfectly encapsulate both of those. But, in Beomgyu’s lense, those words were not enough to describe the elf. Taehyun was far prettier and smarter than any other elves, or anyone else for that matter. And in that very moment, with his breath caught in his throat, Beomgyu knew he was right.
Clad in white multilayered robes made the silver-haired elf appear lovelier than he already was. There was something so pure and sweet with how he looked, almost getting swallowed whole by his oversized robes and fluffy winter cape.
As Taehyun got closer, a glint on the side of his head caught Beomgyu’s attention. He recognized then, that the mage was wearing a piece of gold dangling jewelry on his left ear, matching the small flower ornament on his hair.
Beomgyu’s heart nearly leaped out of his throat.
It was the gift Beomgyu had given him for his eighteenth birthday. He’d never seen Taehyun wear it before; an unfortunate thing that Beomgyu had no right to be mad about. After all, it was in their tradition that only the King’s Queen or legal partner could wear and use the King’s gifts out in the public. A person could accept a King’s present or reward, but to boldly flaunt it around others is a violation of decorum. Beomgyu was baffled Taehyun accepted his gift in the first place when he had expressed his dislike towards excessive luxury many times before.
Which begged the question; why was he wearing it now of all times?
Beomgyu met a pair of round blue eyes.
“Greetings, your majesty.” Taehyun bowed down, earning a frown from the King.
They had known each other for quite some time, not to the extent of Beomgyu and Soobin’s friendship, but still long enough for them to drop the facade of propriety around each other. Taehyun was there when he received the crown, Taehyun was there during his first battle, and Taehyun was also there when his parents passed.
Taehyun had always been there, with his sourpuss attitude and warm heart that allowed him to tolerate all of Beomgyu’s nonsense.
Taehyun would only speak to him all formal and proper when there was an audience, or if he was pissed.
“Drop the formalities, please,” Beomgyu said, a pout behind his voice. Taehyun threw him an unimpressed look. The King held the stare for a moment before a sheepish smile appeared on his face,
Taehyun sighed in exasperation. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but had I not explicitly stated time and time again not to enter the frosted garden?”
As the new guardian of the garden, the mage never failed to remind him and everyone in the palace of that rule at least once a month. Beomgyu's sure everyone was tired of hearing it by now.
“Uh, yeah I think you did.” He nodded, before crossing his arms. “That doesn’t apply to me though, I’m the King.”
“Yes, it does, ” Taehyun stressed, lips turned downwards. “Do you have any idea why I forbid anyone from entering that place in the first place?”
“Because it’s dangerous?” Beomgyu answered slowly. Despite being within the perimeter of the royal palace, the King had no power over the frosted garden. It was described as a paradise on land, its beauty surpassing the capabilities of a mere mortal’s mind. However, that was only a front for its vicious and unforgiving nature; an enclosed white garden filled with all kinds of poisonous rare flowers and plants, populated by vile insects and wild animals carrying the most known fatal venom in their kingdom. It was such a place that only the bravest of the fools would dare enter it.
“And can kill you, almost killed you,” the mage spoke through gritted teeth. Beomgyu recognized the flash of frustration in his eyes. “Even winter elves such as myself can’t handle the creatures of that garden. No living thing in that place is amiable to outsiders.”
He was right. Although Taehyun was the newly appointed guardian of the frosted garden, he had all the self-preservation that Beomgyu had none.
“But it’s tempting, isn’t it? Few people dared to enter it, and fewer were the people who escaped it alive. Now, I’m one of them.” Beomgyu gestured vaguely, trying to lift up the mood. Of course, it didn’t work, going by the way Taehyun glared at him.
“Was that your only reason?”
It would’ve been a lot easier if it was. He’d get more scolding from Taehyun, but at least the possibility of ruining his relationship with the elf would be nonexistent.
Yeonjun’s voice rang in his head. “O venerated, celebrated King of the northern lands! Considered mortal god of victory by foes and allies alike. Who would’ve thought that the very same man lacks the balls to confess his feelings to his beloved?”
Beomgyu gulped. “Yes?”
Taehyun’s face fell blank and Beomgyu waited for a second, then two, three, four, five…
The mage exploded.
“You’re a King, for god’s sake! You should know better when and when not to do ridiculous things!” There he was, face red as he fumed and went on about the King’s dumbassery, his voice louder, pitch higher than before. The angry lit in his eyes was no different when he would face a gravely wounded Beomgyu after a hard-fought battle.
In Beomgyu’s defense, he did try his best to take in the younger’s words and reflect on his actions, but that didn’t last long when his sight landed on the elf’s plump red lips, parting every now and then as he continued on with his rambling. It looked so inviting, so kissable. Beomgyu wondered if he tastes the same way he smelled; strawberries and vanilla.
God, he was beyond saving.
“Choi Beomgyu, you are no longer a child. You’re now the ruler of your own Kingdom. What would the people do if their King perished from something dumb as entering a lethal place when clearly told not to? I’d rather die at the hands of my enemy than associate myself with that kind of King!”
Beomgyu would’ve been mildly hurt at that if he hadn’t noticed the trembling of Taehyun’s hands first. It hit him, like rocks falling from the sky, that they couldn’t go on like this any longer. He couldn’t keep fooling anyone, not Taehyun, not himself. He would rather lose a friend than lose Taehyun’s trust in him, not when the boy was visibly worried and distraught over his actions.
It was long overdue anyway. He’d rather get it done with one final sharp rejection from the mage than prolong the agony of his unrequited love.
“I’m sorry.” Beomgyu sighed, no trace of playfulness on his face and voice. “Don’t worry, my intention isn’t as shallow as it seems.”
Taehyun looked at him in confusion. “What?”
He avoided the mage’s eyes, choosing to focus on the patterns on the floor. “I was looking for the serpent rose.”
A deafening silence fell over them, and even without looking at the other person in the room, Beomgyu can already sense his anger.
Taehyun took a sharp inhale.
“You imbecile!” the mage yelled, disbelief evident in his voice. “What would you even use that for? Among the many floras in the frosted garden, serpent rose stands out for its exquisite beauty, but it’s absolutely useless for anything else!”
Of course, Beomgyu knew that. Everyone knew that almost all of the flowers and plants within the garden have the value of a nation’s treasure; from a flower that can reverse all kinds of curse to herbs said to prolong a human’s lifespan by a century. Perhaps that was the reason, the garden had locked itself away from humanity, preventing anyone from exploiting its creation.
The serpent rose was different, it had no other merit to it aside from its illustrious beauty and undying nature. Fair to say, it was nothing but a useless piece of decoration, not too different from the regular flowers.
A tiny flower with all the color in the world painted on its petals. Beomgyu had seen it before in the hands of his mother, and now in the former Queen’s empty chambers, sitting lonely and untouched on the porcelain vase.
“I know,” Beomgyu huffed. “But it’s big deal to elves, right?”
Taehyun raised his brow and asked crossly. “What do you mean?”
“A symbol of eternal love and unwavering devotion, that’s what it is for your kind, is it not?” Beomgyu tilted his head up and finally met the younger’s eyes.
Something familiar yet indecipherable appeared on Taehyun’s face before his expression returned back to neutral. “You’re not wrong, but how is that relevant to this?”
Beomgyu wanted to roll his eyes. He already dropped the big hint in front of the elf’s eyes. At this point, he was certain Taehyun was only playing dumb. He couldn’t actually be that dense, could he…?
“The former King acquired the flower and gave it to the Queen along with the ring he proposed with,” Beomgyu paused, the vivid smiles of his father and mother passing through his mind, a fond smile bloomed on his face. “It’s a lovely story if you ask me.”
His mother was a spring elf, brought up in the frozen lands of the north. Quite the anomaly, with a population full of humans, winter elves, and fairies. Still, fate found a way to tie the Winter King’s destiny to the spring elf, and the rest was history. The Queen brightened up the barren palace with her colorful flowers and her jolly laughter, melting the heart of the people and its King.
People around Beomgyu would often say that he was more alike to his mother, having inherited her bright disposition and soft features. But all of that changed after the death of his parents and the defeat of their Kingdom. Being closer to his mother, her death left an irreplaceable hole in his heart. The Queen’s flowers died along with her and after that, Beomgyu could no longer smile.
The world was shaken to witness the coldness behind the new King’s delicate facade as he took the sword and brought victory back to their kingdom and to his parents’ grave. Yet the King still didn’t smile.
Everyone, even himself thought he was ruined for good; numbed and blank. A dead man King. But Taehyun was a hard worker, so much that he worked a miracle into existence.
The ice in his heart thawed as the sight of the winter elf greeted him, relief in his eyes and azalea flowers in his small hands. While he was on the battlefield, Taehyun fought his own war inside the palace. He had brought back to life the Spring Queen’s garden, once again filling the palace with color.
Spring returned as a smile bloomed on the Winter Flower King’s face.
Thinking back about it, Beomgyu had a lifetime to thank Taehyun for. That was probably the moment he realized the gravity of his feelings towards the mage.
“Yes, your majesty. The whole Kingdom and the neighboring lands are aware of that story.” Taehyun frowned, confused and impatient. “That still doesn’t explain why you-”
Despite the inevitable heartbreak, he’d be facing soon, Beomgyu let a fond smile slip on his face. “For someone as smart as you, you’re a little slow to catch on, huh?”
Taehyun blinked, more perplexed than he’d been before. “What are you saying?”
“I want to give it to you, Taehyun,” Beomgyu said with his eyes full of intent and sincerity. He watched as shock took over the younger’s face before he cast his gaze downward, forehead forming a crease, his hands on his side clenched in a fist.
Beomgyu expected a burst of anger but was taken aback when Taehyun spoke with a small, almost inaudible voice. “Your majesty, do not fool around.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Beomgyu pouted, forcing himself to swallow the anxiety away. “You’re not even looking at me.”
“This is ridiculous.” Taehyun snapped, still avoiding eye contact. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “You’re ridiculous.”
That stung, but Beomgyu didn’t let it show on his face. Maybe if he wasn’t coming apart at that time, he would’ve noticed the slight tremble in the elf’s voice and the subtle glistening of his eyes.
“I didn’t expect to get bitten by a snake the very moment I stepped foot in the garden.” Beomgyu chuckled dryly. It was getting harder to keep the smile on his face. “All my plan is ruined. All the splendor and romantics for my grand confession gone in a flash.”
“And for that, I’m sorry.”
Taehyun let out a peal of broken laughter, making Beomgyu flinched. The elf placed a hand over his eyes, shoulders shaking.
Beomgyu worried his lower lips, conflicted and hurt.
“You’re so…” Taehyun said in between gasps for air. He shook his head again, hand still covering his eyes. “Choi, you people are the most foolish of them all.”
He frowned, noticing that Taehyun’s voice was a little strange. It almost sounded like he was crying, instead of laughing. But Beomgyu didn't need to speculate, because, in the next second, Taehyun removed the hand covering half of his face, revealing a pair of sparkling bright eyes brimming with unshed tears.
“I’d rather have you propose to me empty-handed with a beating heart than with a stupid flower in your cold hands.” The mage laughed again, eyes turning into lovely crescents, a deep flush now covering his face. “How else would you hear my response if you’re already dead by then?”
Beomgyu froze, yet his whole body was heating up. Hope was in his heart, and in his heart was Taehyun. Only Taehyun. Always had been Taehyun.
“I made a gamble, see.” Taehyun started, taking a small step closer to where he was. “If you made it out alive after a bite from the most venomous snake in our land, then I’ll stop hiding what I feel and present my bare heart to you. After all, I don’t think I’ll be able to stay sane keeping it to myself when the thought of you disappearing at any given moment lingers in my head.”
Beomgyu’s eyes landed on the flower ornament on the younger’s hair and it all made sense now.
“Is that why you’re wearing…”
Taehyun nodded, eyes gleaming with so much love and happiness that Beomgyu couldn’t help but gasp. “I have the full intention of returning this to you. If you had rejected me,”
”Why must I fall in love with a person like you, I wonder,” the younger sighed, teasing. “Fate is too cruel to me.”
Beomgyu didn’t have the mental capacity to process anything Taehyun said. His mind clung on a single word Taehyun had spoken. Love, love, love, love.
“You love me?” He asked with his heart and mind both in mayhem.
Taehyun chuckled. “Yes.”
“Kang Taehyun, your joke isn’t funny.” Beomgyu scowled. It was too good to be true. Sure Soobin, and occasionally Yeonjun, would blabber nonsense about the mage liking him back, but he’d never taken them seriously. He’d always thought it was just a cheap jab to his fragile feelings for the younger boy. He had never entertained the idea of having his love returned.
But now with Taehyun standing in front of him, smiling fondly as he gazed at him as if he was the most treasured thing in the entire world, Beomyu couldn’t help but yearn.
“Is loving an unhinged king a kind of a joke now?” A pondering look appeared on Taehyun’s face, unaware of the damage he had caused to the King. “I guess it is-hey!”
Beomgyu wasted no time and pulled Taehyun in his lap, ignoring the boy’s squealing. He wrapped his arms around the mage and buried his face on his chest. In this position, he could hear Taehyun’s loud pounding heart, and that alone erased every doubt in his body.
“I love you so much, I could die.”
“Please don’t.” Taehyun scoffed, placing a hand on his head and running his finger through it. Beomgyu was prepared to ascend to the heavens anytime soon. “I literally just saved you from death’s door. At least don’t let my hard work go to waste.”
“You’re so annoying.” He tilted his head up a bit to look up at the mage’s face. Beomgyu pursed his lips, resembling a clingy puppy more than a proper King. “I still feel bad about it, though. I couldn’t get it for you, I’m sorry.”
“Your majesty, I don’t need the serpent rose, or any other flower of some sort, no matter how rare or beautiful they are.” Taehyun giggled as he put a distance between them. Beomgyu whined but was instantly cut off when the younger cupped his cheeks with his delicate hands.
“I already have the prettiest flower in front of me.”
The King spluttered, face quickly heating up.
“Oh my god.” Beomgyu groaned, holding the hands cradling his face. “You’re going to kill me.”
“That’s a nicer death than dying from a snake’s venom, I suppose.” Taehyun hummed and Beomgyu was endlessly endeared.
“Absolutely.” He would’ve never expected things to turn out this way. Scenarios like these only happened in his wildest dreams and imagination. Yet, here he was, holding Taehyun in his arms. The world around him had never felt so right, so bright and colorful.
The winter elf brought the colors back into the King’s life.
“I guess, I’ll have to resketch my proposal plan then,” Beomgyu mumbled, nuzzling into Taehyun’s hand.
“Don’t let me beat you to it.” Taehyun huffed, equally enamored. “Either way, my answer is already decided.”
The King challenged. “And the answer is?”
Taehyun’s face turned crimson, but the smile on his face didn’t falter. He slowly leaned down and pressed a short chaste kiss on Beomgyu’s lips.
“Yes, your majesty.”