Chapter Text
Baekhyun’s hands shook as he entered the throne room, biting his bottom lip as he and Jung Mingyu -a merchant chosen as the representative of their village- followed the guards, guiding them forward. Thankfully, his entire body was hidden under heavy robes, his head covered with a sheer material that allowed him to scrutinize his surroundings. The room was packed with royals, all of different immortal species, who watched him walk by with hungry gazes. He tried to calm himself, knowing most of them could hear his heart, but he couldn’t will his body to do so. Not when he knew what kind of destiny awaited him.
When the guards stopped in front of the throne and knelt down. Baekhyun took a deep breath and did the same, knowing that not following along to the rules of etiquette would be seen as an act of rebellion and thus, would lead to his death and that of his family. He took that moment as a slight chance to give himself a small pep talk. He would be okay. He had to believe so. What happened to him didn’t matter, he had to keep telling himself that everything would be alright. As long as his mother’s medication was delivered and his siblings were safe, he could go through anything.
He waited until the guards stood up to do the same. He kept his gaze stuck to the marble floor, knowing all too well that he shouldn’t look at the king without being given permission.
Baekhyun heard people speaking, but he was so nervous he couldn’t listen to what they were saying. He could hear his blood pumping in his ears as sweat formed on his forehead.
“What’s his name?” Asked a rough, deep voice.
Baekhyun kept his head lowered. “Baekhyun, your majesty,” said Mingyu. “He’s of great beauty. My people made sure to search for the most suitable amongst us. I can assure you he will be to your liking.”
Silence permeated the room for a moment, and Baekhyun gulped, feeling the need to look up. But he was too scared to actually do so, even if the veil would protect him from getting in trouble.
“Take him to his bed chambers and tell Sooyoung to prepare him for tonight,” the rough voice said, earning the murmurs from everyone around them. Two guards stepped forward and guided Baekhyun out of the throne room.
Baekhyun could hear Mingyu speaking, but Baekhyun completely ignored him as he walked away. He hoped to never be in the man’s presence ever again. He was cruel and disgusting, having enjoyed making the brunet uncomfortable on various occasions before. Either way, Baekhyun now had more important matters to worry about, like the fact that he would now have to get ready for the king. He had to seduce him and feed him and… Bed him.
The thought made Baekhyun’s heartbeat pick up. He wasn’t exactly pleased with the thought of losing his virginity in such a matter, but it was far better than the fate that possibly awaited him if he were to go back. After all, several men and women had been eyeing him already for… Shady business he wanted no part of, but that he’d been considering getting himself into because of his mother’s delicate condition.
Money was money, many would say, and considering how tied Baekhyun’s hands were, he would’ve dived into that world if he had to. And yeah, being the king’s concubine went somewhere along that line of work too, but it was under far better conditions than what he’d been offered before.
…Or so he hoped.
++++
The following hours passed by in a blur, Baekhyun not paying attention to what was done to him as people around him got him ready for the king. Sooyoung -one of the king’s current concubines that had been with him for years- had taken control of the entire ordeal, barking orders and pushing Baekhyun around. First came a thorough bath. Every crevice of Baekhyun’s body was cleaned and every inch of exposed skin was lathered with expensive body washes and scents that were apparently alluring to vampires. Baekhyun didn’t know if it was true since he smelled nothing, but he figured it was best to keep his mouth closed and opt to believe it was true.
Servants surrounded him as they got rid of any hairs on his body that weren’t on his head while also exfoliating and moisturizing his skin with expensive oils and ointments. His nails were also cleaned to ensure they would look nice and presentable for the king. The woman who cleaned them grimaced when she first saw their initial state. His hands were taken care of before his feet, which had been in an even more deplorable state than his hands, since he could never acquire any form of footwear before.
Baekhyun simply allowed them to do whatever was necessary, preferring to focus more on the impending anxiety building up inside him the more time passed by. His heart was beating fast as his mind became foggy, thoughts of his mother and of his young siblings fleeting through his mind as the only source of comfort he had left.
‘It’s for them, Baek. For Sehun, Kyungsoo and mother. It’s for them,’ he reminded himself as someone worked on his hair. ‘It’s all for them.’
By the time he was ready, with expensive robes covering his body and his feet clad in a pair of soft leather shoes for the first time in his life, Baekhyun felt exhausted. The anxiety was truly eating him up inside and draining him of whatever remaining energy he had in his body.
“Your people really outdid themselves this time by choosing you, huh? You’re truly gorgeous,” said Sooyoung as she stood behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders and gently pushing him towards the full body mirror in the corner. “You’re a piece of art, little one.”
Baekhyun’s eyes widened as he studied himself closely in the mirror. Yes, he knew he had to be appealing if the people in the village chose him as their offer to the Vampire King. He just didn’t think he could look… This good. The villagers had gathered and cleaned him up, but not to this level. The King’s concubines had used products that were far too expensive for the villagers to get their hands on.
Never in his life had his skin looked so… perfect… so unblemished and smooth. It had a nice shine to it that made him look fresh, while the black outline of his eyes made him look regal and mature, taking away some of the childish innocence that remained in his features despite having hit maturity weeks prior. Small orangey-yellow precious stones were scattered around the corners of his eyes, accentuating the surrounding coal. More of the stones were strategically placed on the brunet’s neck and upper chest area.
As for his clothes, black robes covered his body, the material sheer and virtually see-through, leaving nothing to the imagination. It was loose around the chest area, tightening on the waist and then falling in a soft cascade down his legs.
“Beautiful,” said Sooyoung with a satisfied smile. “The King is going to be pleased.”
Baekhyun blushed, having never felt like that.
… Beautiful.
He’d been called that before, yeah, but mostly by the people looking for him to fulfill their dirty business. Be it the lady that owned the most renowned brothel in town or the various men that had approached him offering money for his services, they’d all used the word to describe him. Even the villagers had said so when they asked -more like forced- Baekhyun to accept becoming a royal concubine.
But never had Baekhyun felt remotely attractive.
He always had grime on his face. Dirt was constantly on his fingers. He managed to find various jobs to at least buy his family some food to survive.
But in that moment, seeing himself in that mirror, he felt like perhaps… he wasn’t so ugly after all.
However, he does not consider himself to be beautiful.
“Remember, don’t look at the King unless he says so. Don’t speak until he tells you to. Don’t move, don’t ask questions, don’t go against his wishes, and don’t raise your voice,” said Sooyoung.
‘Can I breathe?’ He wanted to ask, but bit his tongue before he did something so foolish.
“Yes, I understand,” he replied instead.
“And don’t remove the veil until the King says so,” she added as she placed the said piece of clothing over his head, careful not to mess up his hair.
Baekhyun only nodded, taking a deep breath before a guard guided him down the hall towards his bedroom.
Inside, he took a seat on the bed. He needed a moment to gather himself before the king arrived.
“It’s for them,” he murmured. “You’re giving them a good life like this. Remember that. It’s all for them.”
Being the firstborn of three, Baekhyun was responsible for looking after his brothers, a job he took very seriously. With his father leaving them when the youngest was barely three months old, Baekhyun, who was barely eight, took it upon himself to find any jobs he could to help his mother. But then she fell ill when Baekhyun was barely sixteen and he became even more diligent. He looked for more taxing jobs, spent hours working hard on anything he could find, and used all the money he earned to make sure food was on the table.
Nevertheless, it hadn’t been enough, especially with the medication fees becoming more expensive with every day that passed by.
“It’s all for them,” he repeated under his breath, knowing that the money offered to him in exchange for becoming the king’s concubine would not only cover his family’s expenses, but would also leave them extra money they could use to indulge, something they had never done.
Baekhyun heard voices outside his bed chambers and knew it was time. Taking one final breath, he stood up and placed himself in the spot and the position Sooyoung had indicated, his head lowered and his hands behind his back in a gesture of submissiveness. Trying his best to control his breathing, he bit his bottom lip as the door opened and then subsequently closed. He kept himself as still as possible, gulping when the uncertainty got too much. He could feel another presence in the room and he knew he was being watched, which was unnerving because that was the feared, revered Vampire King.
What felt like minutes went by, with no one moving, Baekhyun’s heartbeat picking up its pace. He was unsure of what was going on and he felt the need to look up, but he knew he couldn’t. Despite the veil that covered his face, he still couldn’t find himself defying any of the rules given to him.
Instead of pushing through with such a foolish action, he focused on himself, on trying (and failing) to ease the anxiety in his body.
“You smell nice,” said the voice he heard in the throne room murmur next to his covered ear. “Sooyoung knows me well.”
Baekhyun tensed up at that, having forgotten for a moment how fast and silent vampires could be. He tried to stop his heart, but it only continued to fasten its beat as the king ran his fingers over his clothed shoulders and down his arms.
“I thought your people would send me fine silks, as they do every season,” continued speaking the king as he rounded Baekhyun’s body slowly. “Imagine my surprise when you were presented to me instead.”
Baekhyun felt the king inch closer to his covered face, his fingers grabbing the veil and slowly slipping it off. Then, his icy fingers cupped his chin and slowly tilted his face up. Baekhyun kept his lids lowered, knowing he didn’t have permission to look at the king.
“You truly are beautiful,” he murmured, making Baekhyun’s insides melt. “They chose well.”
Baekhyun gulped, slightly relieved, knowing that the king thought so. If he didn’t, Baekhyun wouldn’t only feel humiliated, but he would have to return to his town, back to his people, and all his hopes of giving his family a better life would be gone.
“You may look at me,” murmured the King.
Baekhyun took one deep breath, taking in the enticing scent of the King, before doing as he was told, his eyes instantly meeting the King’s. And he was immediately taken aback.
Of course, everyone knew vampires were ethereal, but that still didn’t stop Baekhyun from becoming breathless with the King.
Never had Baekhyun seen anyone more enticing in his life. From his wide dark eyes to his chiseled features, the famed Vampire King Baekhyun had heard of his entire life went beyond the word ‘beautiful.’
However, Baekhyun had heard of the King’s cruelty, of the endless battles he’d fought and of the amount of bodies he’d left behind at his wake. He’d also heard of the humans that had been offered to him, only for him to dismiss them when they didn’t satisfy him.
What would happen if the king did the same to Baekhyun? What if Baekhyun couldn’t satisfy him in bed the way he was expected to because of his lack of experience? What if he was sent back to his village, discarded after being used once by the King?
The humiliation that would bring not only to him, but to his family, made his blood run cold.
“There’s something about you…” mumbled the King as he ran his thumb over Baekhyun’s bottom lip softly. “I can’t wait to taste you.”
Baekhyun felt his body flush at those words. From all the lewd words he’d been told before, none made him feel so… Flustered.
The King’s free hand glided down Baekhyun’s body slowly until it reached the knot keeping his robes closed. With deft fingers, he undid it, his other hand still holding onto Baekhyun’s chin, their eyes still stuck as the robes covering Baekhyun’s body fell down to the floor with the help of the King’s hand, pooling at the human’s feet.
“Your skin is so soft,” he murmured as his free hand caressed the human’s stomach.
Slowly, the King leaned closer, his lips brushing Baekhyun’s softly. Baekhyun tried his best to hide his surprise, but his speeding heart, along with his lack of response, must’ve been a dead giveaway since the King pulled back to study Baekhyun’s eyes.
“Is this your first time?”
Horrified, Baekhyun gulped as he tried to come up with a believable lie, but he knew nothing he said would convince the king otherwise. So in the end, defeated, he nodded.
The King remained silent. Instead, he leaned closer once again and Baekhyun was ready to give back, to kiss him and do anything else the King demanded. But the King didn’t kiss him. He pressed his face against Baekhyun’s neck and took a deep breath.
“You smell amazing,” he murmured before Baekhyun felt something moist and warm caressing his skin ‘His tongue?’ “And it isn’t only the oil Sooyoung used. I wonder…”
Baekhyun felt something sharp and pointy scratch his neck. His fangs. He gulped, knowing exactly what it meant. He tried to control his breathing, closing his hands into tight fists to stop them from shaking.
What he didn’t expect was for the King to grab his hand instead and lift it up, his face detaching from the human’s neck. His lips left a gentle kiss on his wrist before he sunk his teeth into the soft skin. Apart from the slight sting Baekhyun felt - and the undeniable pleasure that followed because of the endorphins in the King’s saliva- he felt shocked at the King’s actions.
Wasn’t the King supposed to bite his neck and take him as he did so? Wasn’t that part of the process? Wasn’t sex while feeding the King what was expected of him as a royal concubine?
Was he being… Rejected?
Dread filled Baekhyun as tears gathered in his eyes. He’d failed and now he would bring shame to his family. He would be sent back and would most likely be forced to do things he wouldn’t want to, but that he would have to to make up for his mistake.
Baekhyun remained still, allowing the King to take all the blood he wanted from him, his mind frantically looking for a solution, for a way to have the King give him a chance. Even if it was humiliating, he had to do something. He couldn’t allow his family to be harmed because of his stupidity.
It felt like hours had passed when the King detached from Baekhyun’s wrist, his tongue licking the punctures left by his fangs in a soothing manner before he straightened his back. “Wonderful taste,” he said before he met Baekhyun’s eyes. “Thank you.”
Baekhyun lowered his head in acknowledgement, keeping in mind that he still didn't have permission to speak.
Quietly, the King knelt down and grabbed the black robes at Baekhyun’s feet before getting up again and helping the human dress. Shocked, Baekhyun allowed it, not having expected such a gesture. But when the King turned around to leave, Baekhyun’s panicked mind acted out of instinct, pushing him to grab the King’s arm. “Please don’t leave yet!”
The King turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. And yes, Baekhyun knew he had broken two rules, but he didn’t care, not when his family’s wellbeing was at stake. “A-allow m-me to please you, your Majesty.”
With a somber expression, the King gently touched his cheek and wiped away the tears that started to trickle down. “You’re scared and I’m not one to force myself on anyone.”
Baekhyun felt more tears fall. “B-But that’s what I’m here for. I m-must please you. That’s my duty.”
“Not when you’re not ready.”
Baekhyun hadn’t expected that. “W-what?”
“I prefer to bed people who aren’t terrified of me,” said the King as he stepped back.
“B-but then… d-do I have to l-leave the palace?”
The King smiled slightly as he shook his head. “I’ll visit you again soon. Sleep well, Baekhyun.”
And with that, the King left, leaving Baekhyun frozen and shell-shocked.
What had just happened? From all the scenarios he’d imagined before, none came close to this.
Gulping, Baekhyun looked down at his wrist and stared at the two tiny red dots there, biting his bottom lip. Maybe everything would be okay.
Smiling softly, he lay down on the bed, still staring at his wrist like a fool and recalling the way the King had said his name.
Feeling a strange sensation in his stomach at the thought, he focused on the night’s events and promised himself not to fail next time. He would do his duty as concubine, he would please the King and he would keep his family protected.
And with that in mind, he managed to fall asleep after hours of pondering and promising.