Chapter Text
"It has failed once more, my King."
The man frowned, shifting in his seat at his Queen's side. The large scepter in his hands seemed to glow with magical powers, reacting to his emotions and rising, furious pheromones. The Omega was teary-eyed, unable to say anything in the face of his failure. He couldn't even bring himself to look at the larger man, who was merely staring at the doctor before them.
An old man of questionable reputation with a horrendous cut on his face, the doctor merely bowed lower to keep the rage of the King as far from him as possible. "I… As this has been the fourth time, it might be time to look at… other options. May I… Suggest a proposal?"
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The sun peeked from its perch behind the dark clouds, the thick and puffiness of them threatening rain. As the sky began to darken, people in the small village ran inside, wanting to escape the impending storm. One such creature merely stared above him, feeling something twist inside his stomach at the oppressiveness of the ominous sky. Shadows of unimaginable size seemed to cast down on them, shaped with wings and tails. It was frightening to see, though most tried to deny what they saw.
Something was coming, and as he finally turned and fled to his home, he tried not to ponder such feelings. It was better not to; not when he barely made enough to live. He was hardly able to purchase the medicines needed for his cycles with the shambles he called his job. Working in the fields as an Omega was not pleasant with the delicacy of his frame, but it was the only work available to someone unmated and unclaimed.
Dan Kim's hand moved the flap away from his hut, crawling in to lay on the small field of old, thrown-out blankets against the wall. They were pushed as far from the entrance as possible, to keep dry when the rainwater leaked in during storms. There were small shelves against the opposite wall, with dried meats and bowls of cleaned and purified waters.
He found himself too tired to feed himself, especially with the constant feeling of doom in his belly. It curbed his hunger, allowing him to lay there without care of rhyme or reason. Twisting onto his back, Dan stared at the ceiling, wondering if today was finally the day that the roof collapsed and dug his grave.
No one would care…
No one would miss him.
He was but a mere fleck of dirt on the earth, barely paid attention to within his own home village. The brewing storm above held nothing against the raging fire within, one that had him turning on his side. The splattering of water across his face soon started, making him wince. His knee ached, as did the knuckles on his left hand.
Lifting his fingers, he squeezed them, wincing at the pain that flared up his arm. The devastating ache served as nothing more than a furious reminder of what had conspired. The moment his village officially lost all semblance of safety for him, turning their backs against him.
As the rain pelted against his creaking roof, the sound of yelling and horses soon seemed to surround his hut. Dan sat up, confused and wondering why anyone would be out in the storm. That sinking feeling returned, but before he could do anything, the flap of his hut flew open and the person he dreaded most rushed in.
The Omega shot up, rushing over to the shelves to grab a sharpened stick. Whirling around, he attempted to hold it up in protection, but only had his arm grabbed and twisted. Dan screamed, being tossed to the ground as the fear practically suffocated him. His throat was tight, the memories of a few days before clouding his mind.
Being pinned down…
A hand under his dress…
His fist against old, wrinkly skin…
It was a messy flurry of movement as he was held on the ground, the old man pressed against his back, and snarling at him. He froze, beginning to cry as the flap moved once more.
"This is him?"
The voice of a new, unfamiliar person had him turning his head as best he could, his cheek smashed against the dirty floor. He met light brown eyes, narrowed as the newcomer took in the scene before him. With Dan held against the ground, the old man leering over him, it was not the picture he planned to see.
"I have a hard time believing our King would approve of such a situation."
Almost immediately, the old man released his grip on Dan, who twisted and shuffled as far away as the tiny hut allowed. He brought his hands up to cover himself, eyes wide and shifting from person to person. Both of the men were unwanted, but the stranger seemed not to care of anything. His gaze was locked on Dan, and after a moment, he smiled.
"Hello!" The Omega flinched, carefully pulling his legs up to his chest. The man was unbothered, merely stepping forward until he was mere inches from Dan. Squatting down, he held out a hand, which was strangely manicured. Dan caught a glimpse of the sword hanging from his waist, almost jerking back before realizing there was nowhere for him to run. "I am Heesung Choi, the Right-Hand and Confidant of King Joo."
The moment the introduction fell from the man's lips, Dan's mouth fell open. For whatever reason, the best friend of the country's ruler was in his tiny hut, staring at him with a cheesy grin. At his shock, the man merely smiled more, waving his hand in the Omega’s face.
"Quite rude to not shake an Alpha’s hand, hm?"
That jerked Dan from his stupor. With a grimace, he reached out, gripping the man's fingers in a weak handshake. Heesung didn't seem too disappointed, but when Dan tried to pull away, the Alpha suddenly grabbed his hand and held it up to his lips, sniffing a few times before humming.
Before Dan could do anything, the man stood, brushing the dust off his pants. Heesung reached into his armour, pulling a thin scroll from within. Unraveling it, he cleared his throat, shooting another shining grin at the Omega.
"The King hereby decrees that Dan Kim, Omega, shall be taken into custody and brought before His Majesty within three days time. Should the summoned party decline or refuse, the agreement between the King and the doctor, Sir Min-Jun Lee, shall be henceforth disbanded."
With that, the Alpha rolled the scroll back up, shoving it in his clothes. His smile never faded, and when he refocused his attention back on Dan, he took in the shocked look. "You, Dan Kim, are the ticket for the new generation. You should be honored."
It was quiet for a moment, the old man in the corner with a manic grin on his face. Seeing this, Dan’s hand flattened across his heart in an attempt to quell the unease and fear he felt.
"W-What am I to do? Have I-I broken a law?"
The first words he spoke to Heesung being ones of fright was not missed. The man brought a hand to his face and tapped his mouth with a finger, raising an eyebrow as he stared at the Omega.
"Well, you are not in trouble, if that is your concern. In fact, your life is about to change for the better, if I say so myself!"
That only had the Omega frowning harder, but when Heesung held a hand out once more, he carefully, slowly took it. He was pulled to his feet and steadied, casting a distrustful look at everyone in his tiny home. The Alpha wrapped an arm around his shoulders, tucking him in the crook of his elbow as he began to guide him away. Dan had no choice but to follow, knowing that he was too weak to fight.
"Oh!" Heesung's sudden interjection had the Omega looking up. The flap of his home opened once more, and three knights walked in. The Alpha let out a small chuckle, his hand lifting to cover Dan’s eyes. "Doctor, I know we had a deal, but…"
The sound of a sword being drawn had the Omega gasping, but he was tugged out before he could hear anything else other than the old man's sudden screaming. His eyes widened, the sound of Heesung's chucking growing louder in an effort to cover the sounds within the hut.
Dan was led to a large horse, the whiteness of the hair so beautiful that he almost gasped. It shuffled in place, huffing a bit as Heesung gently rubbed the length of the horse's head. He kept his other hand on the flat of the Omega’s back, ensuring there was no room to escape.
"Why… Why have you come for me?"
As Dan asked, he turned to find the flap of his home opening, the knights walking out. They were covered in blood, with one carrying a bag dripping in it. Dan’s head almost snapped with how fast he looked away, a shuttering breath leaving his chest.
"That, Dan, was the initial deposit." Heesung’s words brought the Omega’s attention back to the man, who had long lost his smile. His fae was now stern, eyes blinking slowly. "A… promise… Of what rewards the King has in store for you should you agree. Or rather, when you agree. Getting rid of a filthy pest like him was noting but child's play for us."
The man then grabbed Dan’s hips, lifting him onto the horse. Heesung placed one foot in the stirrup, climbing up behind him. Looking up, the Omega found himself at a loss, unsure of what he had to do.
"W-What… What is is you want from me? I have no money, no status, and—"
"Ha!" Heesung laughed, grabbing the reins and snapping them. Before they stormed from the only home Dan had known, the words of the man sent a chill down his spine.
"You are going to birth the King's child."
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They rode furiously for two days straight, without stopping for anything other than quick breaks for the horse. Heesung didn't say much, despite seeming to have numerous things to say, which did not hep Dan settle.
By the time they could see the castle walls, Dan was a curled, bottle of errant nerves. He couldn't sleep, though the movements of the horse would have only hindered such attempts. The sight of the enormous fortress was daunting, and when they dashed within the walls, he winced.
Everything was extravagant and over-the-top, which was far beyond his comfort level. Even just the short trip to the steps of the palace was enough to make him feel inferior. People stared, obviously confused as to why the Right Hand had such a plain, dirty Omega on his horse.
And frankly, Dan wondered the same.
He was quickly tugged off the horse, placed on the ground none-too-gently by an errant knight. His wrist was then grabbed and he was yanked up the stairs and into the castle. There wasn't much time for him to take anything in, but a quick glance behind him found Heesung yawning as he lazily followed.
A dark-haired youth, more than likely the same age as Dan, if not a year or so younger, ran up to the man, wrapping his hands around Heesung’s arm. The Alpha’s attention was immediately diverted, and as Dan was pulled down a different hall, he frowned.
The youth was so… youthfully plain, but it only made him more radiant. It left a sour and bitter taste in Dan's mouth, making him mourn what could have been had he been born under different circumstances.
The knight wasted no time, tugging him down different halls before shoving him into a room. It was dark and quiet, with a small chair for him to sit on. He did so, hunching over with a great sigh.
Dan wasn't sure how long he sat there, staring at the floor. Time seemed endless, yet moving more slowly than ever before as he was trapped in the castle. He could do nothing but sit there in silence until the sound of the door unlocking caught his attention.
A different knight walked in, not saying anything as he stepped forward and grabbed Dan's arm. The Omega let out a grunt, not expecting to suddenly be pulled to his feet in such a manner, but barely able to process it with how fast he was dragged from the room. He stumbled every few steps, gasping for breath at the quick pace they took down various halls that grew more and more extravagant.
Paintings of the finest quality hung on the walls, with statues and plants amongst the expensive decor. Shelves behind glass held weapons and jewelry, as expected with castle life. It almost made the Omega envious, but he found that there wasn't much time to take everything in when he was suddenly placed in front of a large, double door. More knights guarded it, all of their eyes watching his every movement behind the metal plates on the helms that hid their faces.
The man holding his arm tugged him forward once more, the doors parting to reveal a grand throne room. His breath was blown away by the enormous columns that seemed to touch the sky, intricately marbled and cut. The grounds were of polished marble, as well; the ceiling allowing the sunlight to dance seductively through the stained-glass.
Jeweled flashes of greens, blues, and purples sparkled with each movement within the room, further illuminating the expensive taste of the kingdom. Along the walls were murals of the country's history, with hand-painted depictions of the violence, victory, and despair their lands faced throughout the years. Winged creatures decorated the mural's skies, captivating him for the brief moment he could take the art in. Their home had a rich, bloodied history, but had known peace within the last hundred years, shown with the fiery colours and muted pastels splattered across the walls.
And at the forefront of it all, elevated on a dais of gold and stones, was the very throne from which their ruler imparted his wisdom from. Though empty, the seat screamed sophistication, beauty…
Power.
The empty throne and all its glory was power personified, with fabric stitched along the back of the seat. Forged from mahogany and marble, the pure white colouring spoke of virtuosic might, with gems and a large diamond situated at the top. A long blanket covered the seat, made of pure silk of the finest material. The throne sat in the middle of a circular design on the ground, with swords pointed towards the seat to further illuminate the potency of the powerful visual. A second throne, similar in sizing and colouring, but not as daunting, sat off to the side.
The air seemed to shift when they walked in, the Omega feeling the heaviness in the aura of the room. A large banner, with the country's sigil, hung above the throne, proud and lavish. The tassels of the banner seemed to shake with each breath Dan took, the only disturbance within the room. Even the knights were unnaturally still, not breathing, not moving, just…
Frozen.
Looking around, he took in the shining armor and swords, feeling an unsettling pit form in his stomach. Whatever he was here for, it wasn't good. It couldn't be good.
As he thought this, a set of doors behind the pillar closest to the throne opened. A young man, small and pert, walked in, stepping across the carpet that led up to the smaller seat. His dress, a deep blue with a long train, trailed behind him, a servant following to ensure the dress was left undisturbed.
His face, sharp, yet round in a strange way, was pulled in a frown, one that marred his pretty features. Soft hair was carefully brushed to the side, matching everything about his aura. Nothing about him was out of place. Nothing shifted, even as he sat down in his throne, crossing his legs with slow, deliberate movements. He was practically a statue, devoid of any life.
But, the only flicker of a soul within him was the glare in his eyes as he stared at Dan.
The Omega almost flinched at the lock, not expecting it and unsure of how he should react. Thankfully, the knight yanked him down to his knees, and he fell, collapsing onto the ground in a heap of limbs. The back of his head was grabbed and held in place, rendering him frozen and unable to move.
The sound of the doors opening once more was the only thing he could hear next, with the knights around the room calling out a low, soft greeting.
"My King…"
Dan gasped, the hand holding him tightening for a moment. He didn't dare to move, but felt himself tremble at the mere presence he felt within the throne room. Though he couldn't see the man, the raw aura of the King was suffocating, a rich scent permeating the air. The Omega felt himself shiver once more, the quietness of the situation setting in.
"Rise."
The Omega squeaked as he was pulled up by his neck, the hand gripping him so tight that he gagged. His hands went to his neck, grimacing as he finally, finally looked up and met the gaze of the King. If he hadn't been squeezed so tightly, he would have choked at the raw power in the man's gaze as it practically bore into his entire being.
The King sat, perched on his throne with his ankle resting on his knee. A scepter, grander than anything Dan could ever imagine, was in his hand. An encrusted emerald, shining and radiant, was encapsulated within a peculiar gem, resting on the top of the stick. The man, by far, was the biggest man Dan had ever seen, with thighs thicker than his waist and hands larger than his face. Of course, Dan could have been exaggerating, but in the moment, he felt he was nothing less than truthful in his observations.
An elbow held his propped head up as the King leaned against the arm of the throne, eyes fixated on the Omega. He was the picture of elegance and power, a coldness wafting from him that had Dan trembling. His sharp jawbone was clenched in what seemed to be annoyance, his thick, dark eyebrows furrowed on his chiseled face. His voice, when he spoke, rattled the Omega with its deep richness, oozing with sophistication that only a King could hold.
"This is the Omega, Heesung?"
In his stupor, Dan hadn't even taken notice of the man standing to the side. That same, dark-haired youth was not far behind, leaning against a pillar and staring shrewdly at him. Heesung lifted a hand, waving it at the knight. Almost immediately, the Omega was released, falling to the ground with a gasping breath.
Looking up, he watched as everyone gazed at him, feeling inferior with his dirty disposition. The King merely gazed back at him, unfazed by the proceedings and waiting for an answer from Heesung. Said man cocked his hip, a dazzling smile on his face.
"That's him."
"He's quite filthy, is he not?" This time, the male in the smaller throne spoke, eyebrow raised and twisting his features. "Plain, dirty… this is the best that disgusting doctor could come up with?"
Dan looked down at the ground, clenching his fists at the insults. He said nothing, despite the hurtful words. They were nothing but true, though he hated that they were even spoken into existence.
"But, my Queen! I think he's quite beautiful…" This time, the voice came from the small male leaning against the pillar, a quiet calm settling Dan. "What do you think, my King?"
Dan looked over at the Queen, baffled at the knowledge of who he was. The Queen, hailing from a distant land, was sent to their country in an arranged marriage for the King's lineage. The Omega, in the three years he had been married, lived a lavish lifestyle of shopping and spending the kingdom's coin, much to the chagrin of the entire country.
"He will do."
The coldness of the King's tone sent a chill down Dan’s spine. His gaze swept over the Omega once, then twice, before finally settling on his eyes. The man's own, dark orbs were penetrating, peering into Dan with such a piercing look that captivated him. He couldn't tear his gaze away, rendered frozen as something stirred within his stomach. It wasn't the crippling fear that had ransacked his body for the past few days. Rather, it was warm, in a strange way.
Warm enough to make his cheeks flush and his fingers twitch.
"Oh, wonderful!" Heesung's cheery tone interrupted them, the Omega’s head snapping over to stare at him. "Then it's settled. You," he pointed at Dan, the dark-haired male stepping forward to place a scroll in his free hand. "You, my friend, will give birth to the King's heir."
Dan flinched, a look of shock marring his features. "A-An heir!? The K-King's heir? Are you daft? How can I, a peasant, ever dare to consider that?"
The man frowned, his cheeriness now completely evaporated from the room. Everything became colder, and in that moment, the Omega realized that he was in the presence of the Crown.
"For reasons that do not concern you, an heir has not been produced as of yet. After discussion and a deal with the King's private doctor, it was determined that surrogacy from a chosen concubine would be the best route. You were given to us by the doctor with promises—"
"That old man was a doctor?" Dan was beside himself with panic, beginning to struggle from the grip that bound him. "He was a filthy, dirty, old man, who cared only for himself! He had no right! I can't be given away or bought!"
The King, having heard enough, slowly rose from his seat, commanding all the attention to his person. Everyone was silenced, staring at the man who placed a hand on the hilt of the scepter. "You forget, boy, of your place. If the King commands a child of you, there is nothing for you to say but follow as directed."
"You expect me to give up nine months?" Dan was almost screaming, still tugging at the hand holding his neck. "Nine months of my life… For a child that I will never raise? To put my body through immense changes that could kill me, for nothing?"
Cocking his head, the King contemplated the response. All was silent, until the man finally spoke. "Fine. In exchange for birthing the heir to the throne, you shall receive plentiful compensation. One of my homes on the outskirts of the city is grand, with access to a small lake and waterfall. It shall be yours, and will be fully furnished with chests of gold and gems to last generations. Do you consider this to be fair compensation?"
Dan’s mouth fell open at the rewards practically thrown in his face. He couldn't find the words to even utter a response, which the King took as his acceptance. Looking over at Heesung, the man nodded, which had the Right Hand clapping, a pleased look on his face.
"Wonderful! Now, of course, the best way to ensure conception is…" At this, the man shot a sympathetic look at the Omega, which him bristling. "You will have to spend a heat cycle together. We will supply you with midnight flowers, which will trigger the heat."
At the sound of this, the Omega shrank, seeming to give up. "I h-have no choice in this matter, do I? I… A child will be taken from my body, and in turn, I will be alone. A used Omega, that no one would bat an eye at, if they ever would."
The King, who had been in the process of gathering himself to leave, froze. The words were small and hopeless, and for some reason, they bothered him. He looked at the thin Omega, covered in rags and dirty, with tears leaking down his cheeks, and frowned.
"I will ensure you are not alone after. You can receive my seed once more and raise your own child."
As if that made it any better. Dan let out a watery scoff, slowly sinking in on himself. He was saved the chance to reply by the Queen, who shot out of his seat with fury all over his face.
"How dare you! It's enough of a sham to have this peasant boy giving birth to the heir, and now you want to just pup him for no better reason than because he will be 'lonely?' What mockery is this, Jaekyung?"
Hearing the King's name for the first time sent a jolt down Dan’s spine. He watched the man turn to his wife, a look of unveiled disgust in his eyes.
"Had you done your duty in producing an heir, we would never be standing here in this 'mockery.' Alas, what is done is done, and he will birth my children. I will hear nothing more of it from you."
Jaekyung turned away, as if to remove himself from the situation, only to have his arm grabbed by his wife. "I have stipulations," the Queen interjected, a panicked desperation written all over his face. "You have humiliated me so, and as such, I have the right to lay out ground commands!"
The King shut his eyes, letting out a deep breath through his nose. He didn't move for almost a full minute, his fingers twitching at his side. When he finally acknowledged the Queen, it was with a weary sigh, as if he were exhausted of the entire situation. His wife took advantage of this, his fingers reaching out to curl in the fabric of the royal mantle Jaekyung wore.
"You are forbidden to kiss him. If… If he can't produce, you can't try again. This time only, Jaekyung, and if it fails, you send him away! There will be no comfort, only sex. That is it, my love, please! Promise me!"
It was obvious the Queen was immensely threatened by the prospect of an Omega carrying the King's child. A desperate attempt at placating his fears, but all the man did was look over at Dan. This seemed to upset the Queen even more, and he turned and waved his arm.
"Get out. Get out! Out, all of you!"
The desperate Queen screamed at them, and Dan was dragged up and out of the room. He was a mess of stumbling limbs, but he looked back over his shoulder, meeting the King's gaze. It pierced the deepest part of him, and even with all of the unsurety of the future, Dan found that he couldn't look away.
Those dark, narrowed eyes stared at him until the doors shut, only then releasing the Omega from the stupor he was in.