Chapter Text
been a long and busy day, but it was nowhere near over. Truthfully, the day was just starting for those of royal blood, as well as others who had indulged in their affairs. Reasons as to why the Crown Prince’s quarters were bustling with servants, as well as the most talented artists who could paint not just on canvases but on living faces, too. Mingi sat back on the futon as he watched his friend get pampered, covered with lotions and then face paint, so that he’d look even more handsome than he already was.
The heir’s naturally blond hair had been just trimmed to better fit his preferences, the front strands longer and framing his forehead. His skin was fair and looked to be made of porcelain as it glimmered under the oil lamps' light, the shimmer applied over his cheekbones making him all the more glowing. The seelie was a sight to behold, almost too beautiful for his own good. Every man and woman turned their head to admire his beauty, his light eyes immersive to the point you felt bewitched when he looked at you too long. Fae have tried courting him from both courts, but the Crown Prince was a hard nut to crack; it seemed that nobody had managed to catch his attention so far.
With each passing season, he was getting older, and the Queen and King were pressuring him into finding a noble suitor, softly suggesting that he choose the unseelie Crown Prince, the firstborn son of the Sunset Kingdom. His Highness bated not even an eyelash at those remarks – or rather coercive suggestions – as he carried on with the conversation like his parents hadn’t even mentioned the topic.
Mingi chuckled when the heir made a disapproving sound, raising his hand to stop the servant from buffing his face with too much white powder that would hide his little imperfection, which on the Seelie Crown Prince looked anything like it. The red, heart-shaped discolouration around his temple added something special to the prince, a charm not many possessed. It adorably matched the reddish hue of his irises, too, which were impressively soft-hued underneath the sunlight. His small but perky nose was to be envied, as was the sharpness of his jawline. The seelie was not just an ethereal being, but ethereal looking as well, a perfect representation of what being of royal blood just meant.
Mingi had never even tried comparing himself to the Crown Prince, but how could he when he was nothing but a simple commoner? There was nothing special about Mingi. Yes, he had an intellect to be jealous of, and yes, he ran hotter than most seelie who yielded summer in their palms, but he was just Mingi. An opportunist who had gotten lucky, who was at the right place at the right time.
His long hair was dishevelled and fell into his sharp, dark eyes, which had always made him look intimidating. His nose was considered too long by some, and his big lips hid teeth which were visibly uneven at just one fleeting glance if he were to smile. He was nothing but a speck of dust compared to the royal family, but it bothered Mingi not.
His role in the Court was not to turn heads left and right, but to be the King’s most trusted advisor, his Hand if you will. Mingi was more than ready to immerse himself in the shadows and let the future King shine, the two of them fulfilling their duties as future leaders of their Court.
“Well, I think this is enough.” The Crown Prince spoke up, his voice deep despite his soft appearance. It always surprised the fae who hadn’t met him before, and it always made Mingi giggle as he watched their eyes widen before they bowed in front of the prince.
The servants all took a step back as they abided by the Crown Prince’s wish, bowing their heads as the seelie stood to lean closer to the mirror. It was half the height of the tall wall, much bigger than what a vanity needed, but the seelie liked looking at himself just as much as Mingi did, so he couldn’t reproach him for it.
“Your Highness, let me just apply this gloss to your lips, and then you are all set.” The head servant spoke up as the Crown Prince looked at her through the mirror, and Mingi nodded in agreement as the seelie sat back down so that the servant wouldn’t have to stand on her tiptoes.
The Crown Prince wasn’t a very tall seelie, but his servants were almost tiny next to him, as if his parents had chosen them so their son would feel superior to the inferior class. A feat which had never happened as the Crown Prince was the humblest fae Mingi had encountered so far in his life.
Standing from the futon, Mingi quickly dusted his hands off as he walked to the round table positioned in front of the hearth to retrieve the mask from inside the small box.
The Seelie Court has been invited to celebrate Choi San’s, Crown Prince of the Unseelie Court, 25th birthday on the night of the Buck Moon, to honour not only their treaty of peace, but to bring the courts together in a cordial – and supposedly affable – union. Nothing but a farce, if anyone were to ask Mingi, but he couldn’t outright say that and get away without being accused of treason.
The unseelie were untrustworthy beings. They enjoyed playing a game of pushing and pulling, deceiving and lying to the unfortunate, which, upon reading a history chronicle, would reveal the seelie as the most delectable target for their manipulations.
The mask inside the box was impeccable, just as royal as the Crown Prince. The white base of it highlighted the Seelie’s purity and impartiality, but also his openness and friendliness towards the unseelie. It didn’t suggest defencelessness, however, as the piece grew tall and pointy in the middle, shielding the forehead with an empty spot for a gem, had the Crown Prince’s hand already been promised to someone. One could interpret it as a weapon, for if it were yanked off the head, it could easily be used as a dagger. The swirls decorating it with an intricate design were gilded, highlighting the fae’s blue blood, had someone dared forget his status at the unseelie Crown Prince’s birth celebration.
Mingi walked over to his friend as the servant finished reddening the heir’s lips even more, and the seelie glanced up at Mingi through the mirror with a small smile. The white shimmer on his eyelids and cheekbones complemented his warm blond hair well; his lips were now the same colour as his birthmark. He was beautiful.
Mingi returned the smile as he stopped behind the Crown Prince and brought the mask over his head, placing it across his eyes as the piece seemed to mould perfectly against the seelie’s head shape. It fitted perfectly against his nose and forehead, the sharp middle of it rising just slightly higher than his head.
Mingi tied the silky ribbons tightly against the Crown Prince’s head to make sure it stayed in place the whole night, so that it didn’t slip, so the unseelie couldn't accuse the seelie Crown Prince of being improper and disrespecting their own heir’s wishes for his birth celebration. A masquerade ball, one which Mingi wasn’t keen on but had no choice but to attend.
He hummed as he stood back, pleased to see just how well the mask fit the Crown Prince. His hair blended almost perfectly with the mask, and Mingi saw the pleased smile on his friend’s face as he nodded, turning his head left and right, admiring himself.
“Hmm, yes, this is what I have envisioned.” He muttered under his breath, not accepted of a Crown Prince, but he had no one to pretend for at the moment. The seelie turned to face his servants, who watched with bated breath, so the Crown Prince’s smile spread wider, “You have outdone yourselves once again. Thank you! I feel beautiful.”
The servants sighed in relief, and Mingi chuckled as he leaned against the back of the Crown Prince’s chair, propping an arm up, “Well, you can head out now, except the head servant. I’ll help her if needed. Thank you for your dedication, good job tonight.”
The servants bowed as they followed Mingi’s order, and left the room one by one as the Crown Prince pouted, still standing in front of his vanity as he eyed Mingi, “When are you getting ready? We are supposed to leave in mere minutes, Sir Song.”
“Why, Your Highness, worried you’ll be late because of a lowlife like me?” Mingi’s tone was cheeky as the best friends teased each other, while the servant entered the heir’s wardrobe to fetch his vest and coat.
The prince was already wearing the rest of his clothing, which only consisted of his white, silky pants. The Crown Prince wasn’t shy of showing off skin, certainly not in front of Mingi and the servants who bathed him daily.
“Not quite, just excited to arrive at the castle.” Mingi’s expression fell at that when he realised his friend was being truthful. Mingi didn’t quite hate the unseelie; it was a harsh and strong word to use, but he was certainly close to loathing them. He knew too much about the horrors they’ve caused throughout centuries, as he also had first-hand experience with their kind.
Yes, well, Mingi did loathe them.
“You cannot be serious, Yeosang.” Mingi frowned as the servant returned with the sleeveless vest and the long coat. They were white with golden accents to match his mask. Mingi had picked it out and run it through with the Queen and King to make sure they approved of the prince’s looks for the celebration.
“Why not?” Yeosang asked with a shrug as he stood and took the vest from the servant, thanking her quietly, “I find events like this fun. They are entertaining if you find the right crowd, besides, free drinks and food, no?”
Mingi rolled his eyes as he walked to the vanity and glanced down at all the face paint the servants would sort out later. Maybe he could smudge some on his eyelids or something, make them look even more intimidating. Darker, sharper, so that no one spoke to him tonight.
“You can have anything you wish for at any given time,” Mingi muttered under his breath as he picked up a black pencil-like thing. It was for the eyes; he’s seen the servants apply it to Yeosang’s eyes before.
“That’s besides the point,” Yeosang huffed like Mingi didn’t understand his thought process, and Mingi really didn’t, “This is better because I also get to dance. And speak to others.”
“You can make your servants dance after dinner if you so wish. As for conversation, I thought I was a good conversationalist.” Mingi answered as he leaned closely into the mirror and widened his eyes so he could smudge the dark stick against his waterline.
It stung a little, and it made Mingi blink fast, his eyebrows furrowing as his dark eyes swirled with embers in them, the black ink seemingly a good contrast against his eye colour. Huh, maybe he could borrow it from Yeosang sometime.
“I’m no brute, Mingi. You are a good conversationalist, but you tend to speak about yourself a lot.” Yeosang huffed as he came to stand next to Mingi, arms crossed in front of his chest as the vest was tied together at his hip.
The servant had made a pretty ribbon out of the silk, and Mingi thumbed at it before looking at Yeosang. The Crown Prince smiled at him and reached up to ruffle Mingi’s already messy hair, long and not exactly cut in an even pattern.
“You know my parents will make you get rid of this mess once you become my Hand?” Yeosang raised an eyebrow, and Mingi’s eyes narrowed at the seelie.
“Well, you’ll be my King then, and I only listen to the King’s orders.” He snapped back without bite, and Yeosang laughed, his voice still deep as it made Mingi smile in amusement. The Crown Prince couldn’t even rebuke that since Mingi was right.
“Fair enough, I won’t make you cut it, but I’ll kindly suggest you trim it a little…try to make it look less like a wild animal’s winter coat.” Mingi huffed, offended, walking away from the vanity to fetch his mask from the futon so they could leave. Being late wasn’t really tolerated by the unseelie, despite them being late all the time to conjoined meetings.
“By kindly suggesting…I know you mean a direct order. You can’t fool me, I know you best.” Mingi winked at Yeosang, and he shook his head in response, calling his servant over as he was ready to wear his coat now.
Mingi leaned down and grabbed his black mask, the edges sharp as the lower part looked like the metal was melting off his face. It had golden accents to match Yeosang’s mask, to show that the two belonged together and were not to be separated by the unseelie unless the two initiated the action.
The mask wasn’t as tailored to his face like Yeosang’s, but Mingi wasn’t royalty, so it wasn’t necessary. Fae weren’t supposed to ogle him, and so he didn’t care if it slightly dug into his temples, which made him pull his hair together behind the mask so it wouldn’t accidentally yank on the long strands. Perhaps he should tie it in a half-up ponytail.
“You should tie your hair up. It’ll make the mask more visible.” Yeosang noted as Mingi faced him, as if he had read Mingi’s mind. He hummed and nodded in agreement as he gathered half of his hair and pulled it into a bun without trying to make it look neat, and Yeosang huffed before he turned to look at himself one last time.
Mingi didn’t forget to fetch his most important item of the night, his trustworthy sword, as Yeosang was under his protection for the night. Mingi was no soldier, but he was a good swordsman, as expected from a Hand in training. He was supposed to be good at many things.
“Ready to head out, Your Highness?” Mingi asked with a bow, curtsying a little mockingly to make Yeosang laugh. The Crown Prince nodded his head in excitement, but paused before they took off towards the door.
“Mingi, a reminder, if you will…please don’t engage in any dispute tonight. And try to ignore the vexatious unseelie, we can’t afford to cause a political disturbance, my parents would exile us both.”
Mingi snorted, “They’d exile me, not the Crown Prince, so you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Promise me you’ll behave.” Yeosang pressed, his eyes serious behind his mask. Mingi sighed. He wasn’t a child anymore; Yeosang really needed not to worry so much.
“When have I not?” Mingi questioned with a shrug, both of them well-aware of his flaming personality. Yeosang threw him a deadpanned look before he shook his head and took the lead, the servant hurrying to open the door for the Crown Prince.
Mingi chuckled under his breath, but knew Yeosang was right. He couldn’t really misbehave tonight when the unseelie court was there to witness and study not only the seelie Crown Prince, but his future advisor as well. Mingi had to forget about all the hostility he felt towards a certain unseelie soldier, who would most likely find a way to push his buttons tonight. Like he always did.
𖣂
And well, they weren’t terribly late as the carriage pulled up to the Castle – used by both kinds, more of a middle ground to show support for the treaty and hide the animosity as best as possible between the seelie and unseelie – but the seelie Crown Prince and his Hand-in-training were still welcomed by displeased looks from many unseelie.
Mingi huffed under his breath as he led Yeosang inside the Castle, eyeing the soldiers positioned outside the gates, their sharp eyes trained on every fae who entered. The only fact bringing reassurance to Mingi was the fact that the Castle of Sirius was guarded by both seelie and unseelie soldiers, which implied that both kinds were safe.
Injustice or discrimination was strictly forbidden on common and neutral lands – something the unseelie always tried pushing their luck at, and Mingi would be the first one to report any misdeed. He was the future Hand of the Seelie Court; he was supposed to be observant and outspoken, quick-witted and intelligent, always one step ahead of others besides his own King.
The night has had a slow pace, one that drove Mingi nearly insane as he was forced through awkward after awkward conversation with other royals and nobles, always one step behind Yeosang to keep an eye on their surroundings – and possible threats – but never detached enough to be seen as rude and unengaged.
Mingi didn’t mind the seelie coming over to pay their respects to their future King, nor did he mind having to entertain drunken lads as long as they were of his kin. The real issue started when Mingi was supposed to have a soft smile on his lips as he listened to Yeosang giggle under his breath, completely ignoring the backhanded compliment of an unseelie nobleman.
Mingi’s jaw clenched as Yeosang raised his flute of champagne and clinked it gently against the unseelie’s. The nobleman’s eyes were hungry as he looked at Yeosang like he could touch him – Mingi would’ve sliced him in half just for daring to look at his future King like that, had it not been for the treaty – so Mingi cleared his throat to gain Yeosang’s attention.
He looked unassuming, but Mingi knew the Crown Prince wasn’t dumb. Yeosang’s quietness was often mistaken for weakness, as an inability to speak up for himself. Many had tried using it against the Seelie Crown Prince, until he finally had had enough and showed them just how cunning and clever Kang Yeosang of the Seelie Court was.
“Your Highness, if I’m not mistaken, the desert table has just been refilled with your favourite.” Mingi leaned in close to Yeosang’s ear to fake the importance of their conversation. The unseelie nobleman watched them with slight irritation, eyes fixated on Mingi with a displeased glint for daring to interrupt their conversation, “Shall we go now, Your Highness?”
Yeosang smiled, mostly amused but thankful too, and nodded with a hum, “Yes, of course, Sir Song. I have had my eyes on the strawberry shortcakes the whole evening, but they always run out so fast! Lord Byun, would you like to accompany us?”
“I’m afraid I do not have a sweet tooth, Your Highness.” The nobleman was sharp with his tone, and Mingi nearly rolled his eyes underneath his mask. He offered Yeosang his arm as he tilted his head, staring the nobleman down.
“Good riddance.” He muttered under his breath, making Yeosang clear his throat as he bowed swiftly, practically dragging Mingi away as the unseelie nobleman huffed, offended, glaring daggers at the advisor’s back.
Mingi smirked to himself as he felt Yeosang’s sharp stare on the side of his head, but he was more than delighted to be away from that farce of a creature. Yeosang clearly wasn’t pleased, as it wasn’t Mingi’s first offence for the night.
The advisor had his own limit at tolerating the unseelie, and he was rapidly running out of his patience. Truthfully, Mingi really wanted to head back to Vega and throw himself into his bed, fall into a deep sleep without bothering to take his mask off or even change into something more comfortable. He was tired after having spent his whole day in the Library of Stars, studying the ethics of the Unseelie and their previous war strategies. Mingi needed to be prepared for everything.
They stopped short at the corner of the desert table, Yeosang making no moves to take any cake. He didn’t like sweets at all; it was Mingi’s way of getting them away from the unseelie. Mingi, on the other hand, was no prude as he reached for a blueberry tart, deliberately ignoring Yeosang’s glare now.
He was lucky he was the man’s best friend; otherwise, he would’ve never gotten away with so many of his tantrums and attitude towards the unseelie. Mingi liked to think it wasn’t his own fault that he couldn’t stand the others, not when he’s been given a reason his whole life to hate them. Damn that unseelie soldier, he’s been Mingi’s tormentor since he could count and read. And that’s been for a long time now.
“Mingi, must I remind you where we are?” Yeosang spoke in a way only Mingi could hear him, as if not every single fae in the ballroom around them didn’t have sharp hearing. It was a thing they all often opted to ignore, having learned not to eavesdrop on others’ conversations unless they really wanted to.
“My, my, Your Highness. This tart is delicious!” Mingi hummed, pleased with a mouthful of the delicacy, crumbs in the corners of his mouth, “You should have some! It’s not poisoned.”
“Well, I sure hope it isn’t.” Yeosang huffed, trying to hide his smile as he turned his head away when Mingi looked at him, “I would hate to lose my future advisor.”
“But not your best friend?” Mingi pouted, blinking at Yeosang innocently, like his skin didn’t crawl when an unseelie breezed past them. Mingi ignored him once he realised they weren’t a threat and were just passing by.
“Well, that depends. How can my best friend serve our Court and me if he’s being a pain in the arse, Sir Song?” Mingi huffed at Yeosang’s teasing words, rolling his eyes when Yeosang dared chuckle at his own jab.
Mingi wasn’t a pain in the arse. He was just terribly prejudiced, stubborn, and hot-headed. He did not stand injustice or abuse of power, nor double-meaning jabs which in a different context could be taken as threats.
“Your best friend just wants what’s best for Your Highness, which is why I saved us from that terrible attempt at a conversation you were having with that pathetic unseelie nobleman,” Mingi muttered under his breath as he stepped closer to Yeosang, quickly snagging another blueberry tart when he noticed an unseelie reaching for it. The older fae gave Mingi a scandalised look before she turned around and stormed off, making Mingi giggle as Yeosang groaned beside him.
“I thought we were grown-ups.” But even Yeosang sounded amused, “Which is why I brought you along. Well…besides the fact that I’m obliged to, and would rather not spend the night alone.”
“So, I am useful as long as you can use me somehow, ha!” Mingi pretended to be hurt around another mouthful of blueberry tart, and Yeosang gave him a grimace. For someone who was raised inside the walls of a noble Court, surrounded by royalty, Mingi sure lacked basic manners – as long as he was on unseelie soil, of course – on the common grounds, it seemed so, “I can’t even be offended by that. I’d rather be here and watch over you than stay back in Vega and wonder what is happening to you.”
“What terrible thing could happen to me here, Mingi?” Yeosang pointed around themselves, raising his eyebrows. Guards lined all walls of the ballroom, watching with scrutiny. Mingi huffed and quickly chewed the last of his tart before he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He needed another flute of champagne; all that tart made him thirsty now.
“Oh, many terrible things. Did you forget we are in enemy territory?” Mingi whispered close to Yeosang’s ear, making the Crown Prince groan loudly.
“This is neutral ground. Will I have to remind you every time we are in Sirius?” Mingi nodded then and crossed his arms in front of his chest, making Yeosang sigh loudly and long, “You are not being a very good or trustworthy Hand right now, Mingi. Aren’t you supposed to stay neutral?”
“Hah! As if!” Mingi scoffed and turned his full attention to Yeosang, “Should I give you examples of why not being neutral is more useful than being that? Lord Jongho is a terrific scholar and has passed down his wisdom thoroughly.”
“Yes, right. I doubt Lord Jongho is teaching you to hate the unseelie.” Yeosang grumbled under his breath as he snatched two freshly filled flutes of champagne from a passing servant’s tray and handed one to Mingi. He took it with a small grin, downing half of it in just one sip. Unethical, but the manners flew out the second Mingi stepped off that carriage earlier in the night.
“Have been hating them way before I met the man,” Mingi chuckled under his breath, then frowned. He threw Yeosang a glance and wondered if they were really on such opposite ends about the Unseelie Court.
There was nothing likeable about those creatures, so Mingi made sure to remind Yeosang of that. He cleared his throat and faced the dance floor, easily finding an unseelie to psychoanalyse in an attempt to convince Yeosang. Mingi knew he wouldn’t get too far, as these tactics of his never worked much on Yeosang, but tonight was the perfect chance to try and show him their true nature.
Spotting an unseelie nearly needed no effort as they stood out like sore thumbs in a crowd. Unlike the seelie, they stood rather tall and rigid, their expressions always stoic – even in each other’s company – their words nothing but a cynical slur, eyes sharp and observing, calculating. Their clothing was thicker and darker in colour, while their hair was a very light colour, varying in hues and warmth.
Yeosang, a seelie heir, having blond hair, had shocked the public at first, but the Crown Prince was keen on showing his support for the treaty, spreading the message that he viewed each fae as equals. Mingi begged to differ as he kept his hair as dark as the night, making sure everyone knew his kind, had they not heard about him before.
Even now, in a crowded ballroom, Mingi watched as the unseelie moved swiftly, their heads held high in a show of arrogance, their steps swift but purposeful, their stance defensive. They didn’t even try to be more polite or friendly, they glared down everyone – especially the seelie – before they’d turn their backs on them and find something else to do.
Mingi scoffed and sipped more of his champagne, watching a Count he knew too well not even trying to engage in a conversation he had walked himself into. The seelie around him were smiling and asking questions of each other, glancing at the unseelie with unsure looks as he kept staring at the ground, unbothered and rude.
Mingi pointed the Count out to Yeosang and shook his head, displeased. “He walked up to them, and now he’s not even trying to make conversation. Isn’t that so rude?”
“Perhaps he felt alone and is now shy.” Yeosang shrugged, and Mingi rolled his eyes, looking for someone else. He found another unseelie quickly; the woman had been upsetting the seelie for a while now after she walked over to his table. He pointed at her, and Yeosang raised an eyebrow.
“That seelie was just enjoying his snacks before the unseelie walked over and started teasing him for it.” Yeosang shrugged, and Mingi knew he wouldn’t like his answer before the Crown Prince even said it.
“Yes, well, that sounds to me like what good friends do.” But Mingi wasn’t about to give up and kept looking for more unseelie, pointing out their flaws and listing off reasons as to why they were so awful.
The frustrating part was that Yeosang seemed to always have a reasonable explanation for all of Mingi’s observations, and it was becoming frustrating. When Mingi had pointed out the sixth unseelie, and Yeosang was still taking their side, Mingi huffed and rounded on Yeosang, glaring at the future King.
“Alright! You think everyone around us is so perfect and innocent, then explain the unseelie heir’s absence. He threw this ball to honour his 25th birth, and yet he’s nowhere to be seen. We’ve been here for hours, Yeosang, and quite frankly, I’m ready to head home any minute now.” Mingi knew he wasn’t speaking low enough, but he didn’t really care, as he was frustrated with his best friend.
“He’s a royal. You know first-hand how dramatic we are.” Mingi nearly screamed when Yeosang defended the unseelie Crown Prince. Mingi’s jaw clenched as he narrowed his eyes at Yeosang.
“I dare you to name at least three occasions when the seelie were so late to their own ball that everyone was considering just going home.” The words had barely left Mingi’s mouth when he felt a shift in the air. It was always colder around the unseelie, and his exposed arms prickled as he grew tense, hand going to the handle of his sword at the proximity of the unseelie who had approached them without either seelie noticing him.
“Ah, careful, Song. Trying to instigate another war? Wouldn’t it be so terrible to start something your kin wouldn’t be able to handle?” The fae’s voice was much too familiar and much too aggravating as Mingi’s fingers curled around the handle of his sword, images of slashing the unseelie in half flooding his mind, “It’s dangerous playing with ice when your fire can be put out so easily.”
Mingi rounded on the unseelie, his eyes ablaze as he felt his own blood run so hot he saw red in front of his eyes. The unseelie was provoking him, threatening him even, in front of a Crown Prince nonetheless.
Mingi could call this a direct threat, but what would he solve with that? A reprimanding and sanctioning from the Seelie Queen and King, and Mingi couldn’t afford to make such mistakes at the moment. Besides, the unseelie was doing this on purpose, provoking him to instigate something bigger than them.
“Careful, Jeong. Fire melts ice faster than the ice could do us any harm.” Mingi hissed back, staring the unseelie dead in the eyes. They were about the same height, the unseelie just slightly taller than Mingi, something which he hated. There was no need for the unseelie to feel more superior than he already did; his pride was through the roof as he smirked, pleased.
His small fangs looked sharp as Mingi eyed them, hidden behind plush red lips, pouty and annoyingly pink. The unseelie had round eyes, but they weren’t soft. They were sharp and stared into your soul, darker than even Mingi’s own eyes.
The unseelie soldier’s hair was platinum blond and reached just under his shoulder blades, usually tied and braided in intricate ways Mingi wouldn’t have had patience to sit through. His fair skin was glowing under the large candlelit chandeliers hanging over their heads, pale and cold even to the eyes.
Small swirls of silver moved under the unseelie’s skin like blood, easily a giveaway of his kind and strength. He was a skilful user of winter’s gift, much like Mingi was of summer’s. His lifelong enemy in almost everything. Mingi loathed the unseelie soldier, his blood warming in his vicinity like it was getting ready to burn everything down with him.
Yeosang snapped Mingi out of his glare as he glanced at the Crown Prince from the corner of his eye, watching as Yunho’s smirk turned smug, knowing well that Mingi couldn’t really retort to him like usual in the heir’s presence. He was supposed to uphold an image tonight, and no matter how hard Yunho pushed him, Mingi couldn’t react.
“Well, good evening, Sir Jeong. It’s been a long minute since I last saw you.” Yeosang, always gracious and kind, bowed his head to the unseelie. Yunho didn’t bow back; he just grunted and nodded his head slightly, pissing Mingi off even more at the blatant disrespect. He wasn’t above the Seelie Crown Prince, yet he seemed to think so.
“Still blond? Are you trying to appeal to the Unseelie Court, Yeosang—”
“It’s Your Highness to you, Jeong.” Mingi swiftly snapped, cutting the unseelie off. Yunho just chuckled but nodded, clearly sarcastic as he cleared his throat.
“I’m not trying to appeal to anyone. I just quite like this colour, it softens my face.” All three knew that was a lie, but neither commented on it. Yunho hummed, glancing at Mingi, who was still clutching the handle of his sword, not about to let go of it…not unless the unseelie soldier was gone.
“Stand down, seelie, I’m not here to cause trouble.” Yunho scoffed, raising his arms in a show of harmlessness. “Aren’t you just always so defensive?”
“Don’t you have anything better to do, Jeong?” Mingi snapped. The unseelie chuckled, hands behind his back as he straightened up, gaining another millimetre or so on Mingi.
“You are right, I was on my way to fetch Your Highness.” He then winked and slipped off before Mingi could say anything. So now the unseelie heir has decided to finally join them?
Mingi rolled his eyes, forgetting for a second that Yeosang was watching him as he huffed under his breath and released the handle of his sword, flexing his fingers. All saints, Mingi loathed Yunho so much that sometimes he’d dream he was standing over a bloody unseelie, who was just taking in his last breath.
A brutal image, but one which deeply satisfied Mingi’s twisted soul. Just because he was Seelie, it didn’t mean that he was so much better than the Unseelie. But he wasn’t going to admit that out loud to anyone. Not even to Yeosang.
“You should be more cordial with him.”
“Over my dead body.”
𖣂
When Yunho had said that he was on his way to fetch the unseelie heir, Mingi should have known that he wouldn’t see the prince for another hour or so. It was pure torment as the time dragged on just barely. Mingi was perched outside on the balcony, inhaling the fresh night air deeply.
At Sirius, it was neither too cold nor too warm, just the perfect temperature, hence they had made it their neutral zone. It was also the brightest point of Aurora’s Kingdom; the stars were splendid at night. Mingi loved gazing up at them, trying to find Sirius, as it was the brightest in their universe.
His elbow was propped up on the marble, a thick railing, eyes cast upon the sky, when he felt movement next to him. Mingi has heard Yeosang approach him after he excused himself from the conversation, leaving his cousin to himself with a tap on his back. Mingi could hear the sudden commotion inside, the shrill sound of silverware hitting the empty champagne flute, but Mingi didn’t want to head in at all.
Yeosang stopped right next to him, a hand slipping onto Mingi’s shoulder as he was hunched over. He hummed in acknowledgement, and Yeosang returned the sound, gently tugging Mingi to stand upright, “The prince just walked in. Let’s head inside, Mingi-ya.”
“I don’t want to,” Mingi grumbled under his breath, but easily went with Yeosang, knowing that he could absolutely not miss the unseelie Crown Prince’s speech. It wasn’t just disrespectful, it was almost the equivalent of a war crime, “I wish we could go home already, Yeosang. Let’s borrow two horses and ride back to Vega. I don’t think I’ll last even another second, and your parents won’t send the carriage after us before dawn.”
“We’ll head home after we dance a little. And converse some more, with the royals too.” Yeosang then leaned in close to Mingi as they joined the buzzing crowd. The unseelie Crown Prince had just walked outside, Yunho following close behind him, “I’ve been avoiding them because I know how much you hate the Unseelie Queen and King. But I’m afraid I can’t do so for much longer.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” Mingi was aware that he was acting highly inadequate tonight, but there was just something about tonight that not only made him antsy, but prickly too. He wanted to shove his middle finger at every conceited unseelie before he stormed off, dragging Yeosang with him.
It also didn’t help that Yunho had shown his face around now, their eyes meeting the second he had joined the unseelie Crown Prince. Mingi hated that he could see the smug look on Yunho’s face even from a distance since Yeosang and he didn’t stand at the front, lost in the mixed crowd. And yet, Mingi knew for sure that Yunho was looking at him, taunting him with those dark and cold eyes.
The Unseelie Crown Prince cleared his throat, a warm smile slipping onto his lips. He’s always been a weird one. Mingi has always assumed there was something wrong with him, which the Unseelie Queen and King were trying very hard to hide, and they were succeeding at it splendidly.
The Crown Prince was too warm and smiled too much for someone who was an unseelie, but Mingi never got over the coldness inside his sharp eyes. When the Crown Prince’s mouth smiled, his eyes didn’t. His happiness never extended through his body, which was sturdy and strong, with a distant look in his eyes.
Mingi dreaded the day Yeosang’s parents proposed that he marry the unseelie Crown Prince. Mingi would never let it happen. Yeosang deserved a genuine and loving partner, not someone like Choi San.
“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to my 25th birth celebration!” San’s voice dripped with honey as it rang through the vast ballroom, his grin wide and a little cunning. It made Mingi shiver as he narrowed his eyes at the unseelie, “Unseelie and Seelie, thank you for attending this important ceremony, for I have aged another year and have become wiser too. It is an honour to have all of you at Sirius, in this room. It doesn’t just show our joviality and eagerness to come together as one, but also the respect for our treaty.
“I know I shouldn’t be bringing up such a thing on such a joyous night, but it’s been just a little over two-hundred years since we had put down our weapons and shaken hands, putting an end to the endless war between our kinds. Had that not happened, I wouldn’t be able to celebrate tonight with so many beloved fae – some family, others friends, some even nobles I had the luck of meeting on my adventures. I do not want to extend this speech and withhold the celebrities for any longer, so I will keep it short. May we cheer to me, and may the dances begin!”
The crowd called out in loud hoots, flutes raised high as they echoed may the heir live another year, may the heir celebrate his day. Mingi only mumbled the words half-heartedly, groaning when Yeosang nudged him hard in the ribs in warning. It was rude enough that they didn’t have flutes to raise since they had joined the others in the last moment, but not wishing San a lengthy life was another unforgivable offence.
Mingi thanked the skies when the orchestra behind San suddenly kicked off a hearty note, the song much familiar as it was of Seelie origins. The two best friends looked at each other at once, wide grins on their faces. Now this was the part of the night Mingi had been waiting for before he’d go home; the real celebration was just now starting.
“Will his Highness offer me the first dance of the night?” Mingi asked with a bow as he extended his hand to Yeosang, and he took it firmly with a giggle. He didn’t give Mingi an answer as he dragged him to the crowd, which was already gathering in the middle of the ballroom to dance, all Seelie as Mingi felt giddy, joining their circle.
He held Yeosang’s hand firmly as the circle danced around, feet hitting the marble floor loudly, reverberating under the soles of their shoes, keeping up with the lively rhythm of the song. Mingi’s smile was wide as he detached from the crowd on their next turn, dragging Yeosang along with himself into the middle of the circle.
The Seelie cheered and hooted loudly as Mingi held Yeosang by the waist firmly, twisting him this and that way, easily lifting the Crown Prince off the ground to twirl him around as the circle closed in around them, just to drag out again, then close in.
It was a beautiful dance of harmony, an accumulation of thrill one only felt in moments like this of union. Mingi felt like he belonged, even under the watchful eyes of the Unseelie waiting for their own turn. They found at least an ounce of respect when it came to their traditions, and they never butted in or drove them away when they danced. Besides, the seelie looked much too beautiful in their colourful attire and joyous demeanour to be shunned. Mingi knew they were eye candy to the unseelie, even if they would never admit such a thing.
During his next twirl, unsurprisingly, he caught Yunho’s gaze. Their eyes locked for a second, and despite the unseelie’s expression being unfazed and cold, his eyes continued to follow Mingi’s movements, his lips just slightly upturned as if he was trying to withhold a smile. Mingi scoffed before he turned his back to the soldier and grabbed Yeosang by the arm, their circle dispersing as the elderly led their rhythm now. Arms around each other, their legs kicking up high as the melody grew faster and louder. Mingi felt his blood simmer as the sun does during summer on one’s skin.
Slowly pulling apart, opening the circle until it couldn’t even be defined as one, their steps grew smaller and quieter, the melody mellowing out into something a bit sinister, rather calm than the jovial tunes the seelie have danced to. Mingi watched as the unseelie stepped forward, heads nodding in a rare show of gratitude for being handed over the dance floor, and Mingi gulped when Yunho’s chest brushed against his shoulder as he passed him. They nodded at each other – a rare sense of camaraderie passing between them – but Yunho’s face remained unreadable, as did Mingi’s.
He watched as the unseelie stood in a circle, bodies not touching, their hands behind their backs, standing at a respectable distance from each other. Yeosang’s breathing was levelled as he stood next to Mingi, fanning himself as he watched the unseelie with fascination. Mingi found nothing beautiful or entertaining in their repetitive steps, their patterns so easily memorable that Mingi, unfortunately, knew them by heart due to the many balls he’d attended as the future king’s advisor in training.
One step to the right, then two forward, bend your body like you were blown by the Boreas – cold and icy like the unseelie – then flow towards the left like you are water, followed by three steps backwards.
It looked like a marching band, ready for war as their bodies moved at once, not one fae missing the beat. Mingi gulped as he watched the back of Yunho’s head, his shoulders pulled back tightly, his usually rigid body bending and flowing easily with the music. It was peculiarly satisfying to see the unseelie soldier out of his element, his frigidity broken for the sake of respecting tradition.
Yeosang sighed next to Mingi dreamily, like the unseelies’ dance was the prettiest he’s ever seen, and Mingi fought an eye roll as he nudged the Crown Prince’s arm. He frowned at Yeosang when he looked at Mingi with an excited smile, but they exchanged no words as the music grew louder once more, a disruptive amalgamation of both tunes for a second until it eased into something both seelie and unseelie were familiar with.
“Let’s go! Let’s join them!” Before Mingi could come up with the excuse of finding the desert table again to slip away, Yeosang’s hand had already curled around his elbow and was pulling him in with the rest of the fae. The two courts suddenly came together as one, uncaring who their partners were as long as they got to dance. As long as, for the sake of music and goodness, they put aside their animosity to enjoy their night.
Mingi clung to Yeosang viciously as he refused to dance with an unseelie, his sharp eyes vigilant as he looked around them, deterring anyone he did not like by just a glance. Mingi could not allow just any seelie or unseelie to dance with Yeosang. He was the Crown Prince, and very few attending tonight were worthy enough to touch such royalty. So, Mingi continued to hold onto Yeosang and steer him away from potential dance partners as the blond just giggled, shorter but easily keeping up with Mingi’s long strides.
Dance circles still formed in the outer parts of the dance floor, but Mingi kept Yeosang close to the heart of it as their feet followed steps they had learned while much too young to even speak. It coursed through their veins, the warmth of the melody, the flush on their cheeks. And Mingi had just started enjoying the night when his skin prickled again, unsurprisingly attuned to one fae he never seemed to escape in gatherings as such tonight.
Mingi’s head turned just as Yunho neared them, someone even more despicable hanging off his arm. The second prince of the Sunset Kingdom was the complete opposite of the unseelie Crown Prince. Where’s San tried to appear friendly and approachable, gentle and calculated with his words, Wooyoung has never tried for such a thing. Perhaps it was the lack of responsibility as the second heir which granted him such freedom, or the second prince simply chose to be vulgar and despicable for no apparent reason.
Mingi groaned when the second prince’s eyes landed on Yeosang, and he held onto the Crown Prince tighter as Yunho smirked when they stopped next to them.
“Good evening, Your Highness.” Wooyoung was never nice to anyone, unless he wanted something. And as he looked at Yeosang, Mingi realised he wanted something right now too, “May you grant me a dance, Crown Prince? For the sake of the treaty, of course.”
And before Mingi could speak for Yeosang and deny the request, his best friend was pushing him away like he had burned him, leaving Mingi to stand alone and blink like a fool. He lowered his arms and looked at Yeosang, betrayed. But the Crown Prince looked a bit too eager to be in the arms of the second unseelie prince, whose smirk was sly and his eyes glinted with mischief.
“Yeosang—”
“Why don’t you dance with Sir Jeong?” Yeosang proposed, making Yunho frown deeply as Wooyoung then cackled and shoved Yunho forward so hard that had Mingi not steadied him – because he would have knocked them both to the floor if Mingi hadn’t done that – the unseelie soldier would’ve faceplanted on the marble floor.
“Ah, yes! Why don’t you twirl each other around a bit?” Wooyoung snorted as he spoke in his usual snobby tone, “Perhaps resolve some of that tension, too, while you’re at it.”
“Your Highness,” Yunho’s eyes narrowed as he surprisingly spoke up before Mingi could, “Why don’t you make sure the Crown Prince is entertained thoroughly before you run your mouth like that?”
Yeosang grinned while Wooyoung rolled his eyes, shooting Mingi a glance as he was glaring at Yeosang, trying to get him to step away from Wooyoung’s oddly possessive grip. Mingi did not like that, not one bit, as he watched the second prince’s hand curl into Yeosang’s hip, something which didn’t seem to bother the Crown Prince.
Mingi would have to lecture Yeosang about being so accepting of an unseelie’s closeness back on their way home, but not now, because the two royals were walking away from them while conversing. Mingi didn’t want to eavesdrop and breach Yeosang’s trust, but he was burning to know what possibly made him laugh so heartily while Wooyoung continued to grin.
Just before Mingi could get immersed in his thoughts, a chill raked through his body, and he frowned, looking to his left. He flinched when he realised he was still holding onto Yunho since having stopped his fall, and he released the unseelie soldier as if his skin had been frostbitten. Yunho quirked an eyebrow at Mingi, but before he could storm away, a strong hold on his hip yanked him forward, and he stumbled towards Yunho, his eyes widening.
“Will you turn down my proposal, Song?” Yunho taunted with a grin, his chilly fingers curling into Mingi’s hip as his other hand found Mingi’s nape, “Risk a scandal? An accusation of inciting a call for political warfare?”
Mingi’s jaw clenched as his lips twisted downwards, irritated by the smugness in Yunho’s tone, his glimmering eyes under the candle lights. But he gave in begrudgingly, holding Yunho similarly but not gently as his fingers curled into the unseelie’s long and soft hair. It was much too soft. Mingi hadn’t touched his fair hair before.
“You wish, Jeong. You can taunt me all you want, but you’ll never get the upper hand on me.” Mingi scoffed, “I’m much too intelligent for that.”
Yunho hummed, then yanked him along and gave Mingi no second to find his footing. Of course, it was a fight for who would take the lead, if they’d engage with the seelie or the unseelie beats of the loud melody echoing in the ballroom.
Mingi refused to give in to Yunho, and Yunho only pushed him further as he refused to yield to the seelie. That quickly resulted in the two twirling around the room messily, their feet tangling multiple times, nearly sending them to the marble floor.
Mingi’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing when he felt Yunho’s cold hand slip underneath his coat, nails digging into his skin. It made him shiver as his eyes snapped up to Yunho’s, pale grey swirls dancing under the skin of his neck as if they were trying to copy their dance steps. The unseelie’s face was unsurprisingly inexpressive, but his eyes searched Mingi’s face like he was looking for something.
“You are a terrible dancer, Song.” He broke the silence at last, making Mingi scoff as his fingers tangled tighter into Yunho’s hair. The unseelie didn’t seem to mind; his smirk just widened.
“You speak as if you are much better, Jeong.” Mingi fired back dryly, feeling heat prickle underneath his skin where Yunho’s hand slipped towards his lower back underneath his coat.
“If you didn’t have two left feet, perhaps we would be able to follow the rhythm like everyone around us does.” Yunho shrugged.
“Then stop trying to lead us. I will not dance an unseelie dance.” Mingi scoffed.
“Isn’t a Hand-in-training supposed to be neutral, impartial to the courts? Because if yes…you will not graduate and debut as the Crown Prince’s Hand.” The jab was clear, even if Yunho said it with a smile on his face. His tone was condescending, this tilted head getting under Mingi’s skin as his jaw clenched.
“What does a brute know about what is required of a Hand? All you do is lift your sword and learn how to slay all day long. At least I’m not being led by my nose blindly by the royals.” Mingi fired back, glaring into Yunho’s dark eyes. The unseelie’s smirk did not falter, but it turned more sinister, a little pleased as if Mingi had slipped up and said something wrong. But he hadn’t. Everyone knew soldiers followed their queens and kings blindly without taking a second to judge their judgment. Hands, on the other hand, were calculating and did not have to yield if they found the orders destructive.
“Are you admitting to manipulating the royals, then? Calling them no goods and empty-headed?” Mingi’s skin burned for a second, pulsing underneath his heart as he rolled his eyes, then glared some more at a smug Yunho.
“Don’t put words in my mouth, Jeong.” Mingi snapped, sneering.
“No, Song?” Yunho raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer until their foreheads nearly touched, “Then how about you start using that sharp tongue of yours for other than just running it mindlessly?”
Mingi’s body burned, the fire simmering in his stomach spreading like wildfire all over his skin, making Yunho hiss as he yanked his hand from underneath Mingi’s coat. His palm was a pinkish hue, far from being burned, but hot enough for Yunho to feel it for a few hours later, too.
“Perhaps think with your head instead of your sword the next time you say something so foolish.” Mingi hissed, stepping away from the unseelie soldier as he felt a weird mix of anger and arousal swirl inside his stomach at the insinuations.
They rarely said such things to each other, but whenever they did, it left Mingi’s skin hot and crawling, an unpleasant taste remaining inside his mouth, too. Yunho chuckled as he let his eyes run up and down Mingi’s body, his smirk extending even wider as Mingi scoffed, turning his back to the unseelie soldier, planning on finding the Crown Prince.
“Running away so soon, Song? Afraid your blade will break in half once your tongue tires?” Yunho’s mocking laugh stopped Mingi dead in his tracks, and he was storming back to the unseelie and saying things he shouldn’t have even before he could think them through.
“If you are so confident, why don’t you show me how long until yours breaks, huh, Jeong?”
“Careful, Song, I’ve always liked a challenge.” Yunho hummed, long fingers dancing along the handle of his sword. His eyes were as sharp as the ends of his silver mask, representative of blades as they curved down over his left eye, but upwards over his right eye. Mingi wouldn’t have been surprised if the unseelie were masochistic enough to have made the tips so sharp that they dug into his skin painfully, drawing blood at any wrong movement.
“I do not waste my time on unworthy unseelie.” Mingi huffed and watched, distracted for a second, as the silver swirls travelled underneath Yunho’s exposed skin like they had a mind of their own, responding to Mingi’s fire as they shone slightly brighter on the hand Mingi had tried to burn. It was captivating until he snapped out of it, until Mingi realised he was almost admiring the unseelie.
Their shared glance was an unspoken agreement, one loaded with gloating and arrogance as the two turned their backs to each other, going their own ways to make it look less obvious they were headed the same path. Duels, not approved by any court, were highly forbidden and heavily sanctioned. Mingi could lose his chance of becoming the Crown Prince’s Hand. Yunho could lose his chance of becoming the second prince’s personal guard. That is, if they were discovered by anyone. And the thing was, they both knew the Castle of Sirius like the back of their hands.
The corridor was narrow and small, forcing both tall fae to hunch down as they passed through it. It led to an opening – still not spacious enough for a duel – with stairs going down into darkness. It was one of the secret escapes for the kitchen staff, down in the cellar and rarely used since the end of the war. Mingi, having played enough hide and seek as a child, knew that there was a small chance of anyone coming this way. Not unless they were doing something forbidden like Mingi and Yunho, their swords drawn as they circled each other, the oil lamps casting shadows over their faces.
It wouldn’t be the first time the two duelled, but it was the first time there was no supervisor, no sergeant to watch them and give them pointers where they were lacking. Mingi’s heartbeat was steady as he watched Yunho closely, attuned to his every step, every breath, every skip of the heart. It was hard to tell what the unseelie was thinking when his heartbeat remained steady like Mingi’s, his body relaxed but alert, his expression cold like the rest of his body.
Mingi gulped, fingers tightening around the handle of his sword, refusing to attack first. He would not give Yunho the satisfaction of striking first, for it would mean he was weak and rushing, fearful. He wasn’t unfamiliar with Yunho’s brute force, of his fierceness in combat, but the unseelie was swift and clever; he always found new ways to disarm Mingi, and he wouldn’t let that happen tonight. These feelings of resentment and vexation have been accumulating over the years, and Mingi refused to have his pride hurt by an unseelie, let alone Jeong Yunho, who had gotten under his skin the very first time they met.
“Well, what are you waiting for, Song?” Yunho asked with a lopsided smirk, tilting his head as they took slow and steady steps.
“I could ask you the same thing, Jeong.” Mingi huffed, his eyes narrowing, “You are not so brave suddenly?”
“I’m usually not the one to unnecessarily run my mouth, no?” Mingi’s jaw clenched at the jab, but he didn’t react. It was a provocation on purpose; he knew better than that.
“At least I still have value if I put my sword down.” And just like that, Yunho’s face twisted into something more akin to fury. Mingi smirked, but did not expect Yunho to break so easily and nearly got sliced by the sharp tip of his silver sword. The runes carved into it glinted a light blue under the dim lights, as if charged by the winter running through Yunho’s veins. His skin glowed white too, the swirls more visible as his lips pulled into a snarl.
Mingi said nothing else, knowing he didn’t want to aggravate their situation further. Yunho had already fallen into his trap. So, bracing himself and grabbing the handle with both hands, he took a defensive stance as Yunho didn’t waste any more time and struck again.
Metal clashed against metal, loud in the small opening, the chatter from the party muffled down so deep into the cellar. Mingi could hear his own breathing, laboured, as he twisted left before swinging forward, showing Yunho that he wasn’t weak just because he didn’t necessarily fight back. He’s always found taking the defence more comfortable, easier to bend and twist, especially when Yunho’s offence was so brash and strong. It gave Mingi the chance to try and guess his next move, to twist his body and raise his sword whenever it came closer to his skin.
Yunho was growing more and more frustrated the longer Mingi managed to sneak away from his sword at the last second, his frown deepening as he stopped for a minute. He was breathing hard, and Mingi smirked as he stood up straight, twirling his sword in one hand. He was arrogant, provocative with it, and felt anticipation as Yunho studied him closely. Taking the chance to take Yunho off guard, Mingi sprang forward and twisted his wrist skilfully, his sword swinging left and right before plunging forward, towards Yunho’s cold heart. The unseelie twisted his body away a bit slower than Mingi had expected him to, but he had managed to block his attack.
It felt similar to when they were dancing, their steps memorised and rehearsed, the melody being of the metal on metal echoing around them. Both were fighting to lead, too stubborn and proud to succumb to the other. It made Mingi smile without meaning to, easily amused by how predictable both of them had become.
He sprang forward while Yunho stepped backwards, dangerously close to tumbling down the stairs, then they moved to the left as their swords swung and hit, their arms tensing to block the blow. A twist to the right to put distance between them again, but there was no moment to take a breather before the next blow came, harsher and more frustrated.
There was something different in Yunho’s gaze tonight. Mingi could feel his impatience, his irritation, and he wondered if it was all of his doing. It wouldn’t have been surprising if yes, because Mingi always spoke lowly of the unseelie, and he knew Yunho wasn’t moral enough to not listen in on others' conversations, especially Mingi’s. He was also overly protective of the royals, and Mingi surely hadn’t tried being nice about them tonight.
His right arm was starting to strain, his chest heaving like Yunho’s, their glares deepening when they realised neither was backing down anytime soon. Mingi struck again and again, rushing forward in an attempt to corner Yunho, to get him to drop his sword and surrender. Yunho wasn’t as good on the defensive as on the offensive, used to always attacking first, but he was holding out well against Mingi. That is, until he ventured too close to the stone stairs leading down into the darkness and lost his footing on the top step.
Yunho’s eyes widened as he gasped sharply, his balance wobbly, and Mingi could see him tumbling down the stairs before it even happened. Except, Mingi didn’t allow it to happen as he dropped his sword and sprang forward, fisting the collar of Yunho’s vest and yanking him towards himself. Yunho’s sword clattered onto the stone ground loudly, too, his arms coming around Mingi’s torso to steady himself. Their hold felt oddly like an embrace, and Mingi couldn’t recall a time they had stood so close before.
And then, he was being pushed back, up against the cold wall as surprisingly warm lips crashed against his, stealing Mingi’s breath. His eyes widened underneath his mask, which got weirdly caught in Yunho’s sharp one. So, Mingi had been right about the unseelie being a masochist; it didn’t even surprise him anymore.
His fingers tightened more into the fabric of Yunho’s vest as the fae’s cold body melted into Mingi’s, pinning him against the wall, his lips impatient as they pressed firmer when Mingi didn’t reciprocate right away. He was too surprised to do anything; suddenly, the unseelie’s thundering heartbeat was the only thing Mingi could hear.
His eyes fluttered shut as he tentatively kissed Yunho back, for no other reason than curiosity, as this was unlikely behaviour for the unseelie. Mingi wondered what had prompted him to act so uncharacteristically, but his wondering thoughts were silenced when Yunho’s teeth sank into his bottom lip, tearing a shaky breath from Mingi’s mouth.
They parted for a millisecond, just breathing in the other – Yunho weirdly smelled like snowdrop and burnt wood – hot breaths fanning each other’s faces, until it was Mingi closing the distance this time. He was far braver than Yunho, lips parted enough to let his tongue slip past, not asking nor waiting for permission as he pushed it past Yunho’s lips, licking inside his mouth with newfound fervour. It must have been the effect of the champagne Mingi had been drinking throughout the night, but everything felt sweet and a little too warm despite the usual coldness of Yunho’s body.
The unseelie hummed against Mingi’s lips, deep and shaky, as his tongue dragged against Mingi’s, a hand tangling into his hair, while his other slipped underneath Mingi’s coat again, finding the small of his back. Mingi shivered against the cold touch and sighed into Yunho’s mouth, one hand smoothening out to hold onto his nape as they tilted their heads for a better angle. It felt hot and cold at the same time, like it was travelling inside and outside his body too, turning him helpless against the unseelie he claimed to detest so much.
Their hearts raced from the duel, but their skins burned from their lips. Mingi felt a shiver run under his skin like a wildfire, igniting his body in a way like nothing else as he pressed himself into Yunho firmer, not even realising he had let a small, whiny sound escape his lips when Yunho’s teeth sank into his bottom lip again. He kissed at it, pulled and nipped, and Mingi’s fingers trembled from the attention, his knees weak a little as he sneaked his hand further up Yunho’s head, cradling his hair, running his fingers through his smooth hair.
Mingi felt his lips tingle when Yunho tilted his head back, those same surprisingly warm lips travelling down his neck, kissing and licking, pressing open mouthed kisses against his jaw, behind his ear, at the junction of his neck where Mingi’s breath hitched and made Yunho linger until Mingi was veering him back towards his lips, suddenly confused whether he was drunk on Yunho’s kisses or if the champagne was at fault.
They weirdly fit well together as if they were created to, but Mingi knew he could never accept an unseelie. They have caused too much despair and pain for his kind. Mingi’s pride did not let him succumb fully to the desire crawling through his body, trying to surface with every desperate press of Yunho’s lips against his. Yunho’s crotch had just started pressing against Mingi’s, making both fae groan when they realised they were a lot more bothered by their current predicament, when a door slammed shut just above them, making them jolt apart.
Yunho’s eyes were wide as he watched Mingi with bated breath, his chest rising and falling quickly, just like Mingi’s. His lips throbbed, and his fingers trembled as he suddenly released Yunho like he had been struck by an icicle, gasping for air while his lungs refused to fill to the brim. He pushed the unseelie away with a sneer, hating the sweet taste of him which lingered on his lips, in his mouth, the chill which had somehow wedged itself between Mingi’s warm ribcage.
He shoved Yunho further back for good measure, jaw clenched and a hotness filling Mingi’s body that he could barely contain. Rage. He was mad, and he wanted to burn the unseelie, but too much damage had already been done tonight.
Before Mingi could do something brash – attack the unseelie or perhaps kiss him again – Mingi swiftly picked up his sword off the ground and fled the abandoned opening before Yunho could say something, before more damage could be done.
‧₊˚ ☾. ⋅
been irate since this morning, which was very unlikely for him. His head throbbed since the moment he lifted his head off the pillow, the light only making his eyes ache as he shielded them while frantically trying to close the curtains. In Vega, everything was brighter, warmer and more colourful, too. Mingi loved it, and he’d never exchange it for anything else – certainly not for the coldness and greyness of Polaris – but today he couldn’t deal with loud noises and bright lights.
He had been much too foolhardy last night. He had drunk without measure, especially after emerging from the cellar with an askew mask and swollen, red lips, his sword unsheathed. At least he hadn’t run into Yeosang straight away, which gave Mingi the perfect chance to slip to the washroom and try to fix his appearance. He hated the tremble of his irises as he looked at himself in the mirror, his breathing still shallow as the ghost of Yunho’s lips haunted him still.
Mingi could not stay put. His bottom lip was between his teeth, fingers prodding at his jaw as he walked up and down in a darker corner of the library. It was his own personal, small library, designed by the royal family after they had adopted Mingi and allowed him to live in the castle with them. He had collected many chronicles, papyrus and notebooks over the years, half a wall still empty as he had plenty of time to fill it up once he became the Hand. Yeosang was somewhere around, too, as they were supposed to be studying wild animals today, but Mingi was glad when the Crown Prince had excused himself to the kitchens.
All day, Mingi hadn’t been able to find peace, not after he had spotted Yunho and Wooyoung at the market back in Sirius. Mingi hadn’t wanted to go, but he couldn’t say no to the Crown Prince under the watchful eyes of the Queen and King. So, sipping on his black tea – strong enough to wake the dead – Mingi was forced to smile and nod in agreement. He had done his best to conceal himself so that his cape would keep the sunlight away from his sensitive eyes, hanging low into his dark eyes, but also so that he wouldn’t have to look at faces he didn’t want to see today.
Which he hadn’t been successful at, as after twenty minutes of browsing the aisles and Yeosang refusing to tell Mingi what he was looking for, Mingi felt a chill run down his spine. It was abrupt, and it made him stand up straighter as it hadn’t been cold at all at Sirius, not unless…not unless an unseelie was in the vicinity. Mingi had gulped before his eyes scooped out the place, looking for the last face he wanted to see today.
And right there, past the main entrance and the hen the poor creature was trying to sell, stood Yunho with Wooyoung by his side, the second prince cooing at a small chick. Yunho’s eyes weren’t on the unseelie he was supposed to watch and protect at all times, but on Mingi.
The unseelie looked just as rattled as Mingi felt, his eyes widening when they made eye contact over the heads of the crowd, and Mingi turned his head away sharply before the unseelie could get any brash ideas, or worse, Wooyoung could notice them.
Linking his arm with Yeosang’s, Mingi had been swift as he veered the Crown Prince towards the back of the market, where the secondary entrance was. Even if they’d have to walk a bit to reach their horses, Mingi didn’t care if it meant he’d avoid an encounter with the infuriating unseelies.
Yeosang, unassuming of Mingi’s turmoil as the chill wedged between his ribcage made him shudder, continued to recall all the fae he’d danced with last night, giggling about confusing his parents whether he had chosen a suitor for himself or not. If he hadn’t handed over a sunflower to anyone, then no courting would have happened, but Yeosang was mischievous, and Mingi wouldn’t put it past him that, just to have fun, he had given sunflowers to everyone who had danced with him.
Now, as Mingi paced up and down, his ribcage felt uncomfortable as he rubbed just underneath his heart; his eyebrows furrowed. He heard the door open and close, lazy and heavy, and then his best friend’s approaching footsteps. Mingi felt like fleeing, like finding a small, dark alcove to hide in and not face Yeosang, who had been eyeing Mingi suspiciously ever since they had gotten back to the castle.
The Crown Prince held a tray, carrying two mugs of chamomile tea and crackers as he approached Mingi, an eyebrow raised, “Well, will you not come and sit with me?”
“I should be looking for another book,” Mingi muttered, turning his back to Yeosang as his cheeks had started burning. Of course, he had to recall those soft and warm lips just as Yeosang returned, because Yunho’s lips against his were the only thing Mingi could think about since he had woken up.
“Come sit with me, Mingi.” It wasn’t an order, but it held finality, and Mingi knew he didn’t have much of a choice as he followed Yeosang to the round table in the middle of the library. It was dark and heavy; just the two of them wouldn’t be able to lift it and move it if they wanted to. “Well, speak to me. What’s on your mind? You’ve been awfully distracted since last night, when I couldn’t find you for quite a bit. Where were you?”
“Please don’t tell your parents!” Mingi rushed out in a whisper, knowing that his chances of becoming Hand would fly out the window the second the Seelie Queen and King found out that Mingi hadn’t fulfilled his duty as the Crown Prince’s guard for the night.
“If I promise I won’t, will you tell me what’s been bothering you?” Then, a cheeky smile appeared on Yeosang’s lips, “I know you detest the unseelie, but you’ve never fled before when we crossed their paths, no?”
Mingi’s heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened. He leaned in closer like their secret mustn’t be heard by anyone under no circumstance, “You noticed them too?! You must not tell anyone!”
“That Yunho and Wooyoung were at the market with us?” Yeosang asked with a frown. Mingi nodded, then paused, his eyebrows furrowing.
“Well, yes! But also…not that!” He gulped, then groaned as he rested his forehead against the table, “I may have…kissed Yunho. Last night.”
“What?!” Yeosang’s exclamation made Mingi groan loudly, banging his head against the table before Yeosang swiftly slipped his hand between his forehead and the wood, “My apologies. I meant to say…that is something very unlikely of you. But, well, was it good?”
“Yeosang!” Mingi groaned even louder, his eyes slightly desperate as he looked at his best friend, who wasn’t even trying his best to hide his amusement. Mingi felt heat crawling up his neck, perching on the tips of his pointy ears and then settling in his cheeks too. Yeosang giggled as he watched his best friend flush, who was once more reminded of the small gasps Yunho made against his lips, the way his nails sank into his warm skin.
“Speak up, Mingi. You cannot expect me not to be curious after you said something so unexpected!” Yeosang rested his chin in his palm as he reached for his mug of tea. “How did it even happen?”
“I cannot tell you the full details of that, I apologise, Your Highness.” Mingi averted his eyes and gently bowed his head. They had their own secrets, and it was best if Yeosang didn’t know about the unlawful things he was doing in case of being found out. Mingi couldn’t sabotage the future of the Crown Prince, “But it happened in the heat of the moment. I tried to stop him from tumbling down the stairs, and then we were embracing, sort of, and he just…kissed me.”
“And you slapped him and told him to piss off?” Yeosang crooked an eyebrow, and Mingi gulped, reaching for his own mug of chamomile tea.
“No,” He whispered so quietly, had their hearing not been excellent, Yeosang wouldn’t have heard him, “No, I…I kissed him back, didn’t even try to stop him. It’s utterly shameful and infuriating. It must have been the champagne clouding my judgement.”
“Right,” Yeosang frowned, tilting his head at Mingi, “But is it so terrible that you kissed an unseelie?”
“Of course, it is, Yeosang!” Mingi’s voice rose, revolted as the mug felt shaky in his hand, “It is my duty to preserve our legacy, to look out for the Seelie! What kind of example am I setting by…by fraternising with the enemy?!”
“Alright, for someone as intelligent as you are, Mingi, you surely have gotten your facts wrong.” Yeosang snorted, clearly unfazed by Mingi’s growing dread, “Firstly, I’m the one supposed to look out for the Seelie; you just have to make sure I’m stirred the right way by the people around me. As for preserving our legacy…Yunho should have been a she for us to be talking about that, and Mingi, the unseelie aren’t our enemy anymore. Try giving them a chance.”
“No.” Mingi deadpanned, turning his head away from Yeosang as he inhaled the herbal scent of his chamomile tea. Yeosang sighed heavily, throwing Mingi a tired look.
“Perhaps one day, then…” Mingi pretended he didn’t hear Yeosang’s crestfallen whisper, pretended that his friend didn’t sound hurt on behalf of the unseelies. And Mingi pretended he couldn’t feel the coldness underneath his ribs, that his body was just as warm as before he allowed Yunho to kiss him.