San was mad. No he was angry. The one thing San hated the most was being awaken from his sleep, and that's exactly what happened.
"WAKE UP!!" Soojin screamed in her sons ear, jolting him awake. The poor boy was scared and confused.
"Great. Now that you're up, I need you to deliver this to the Jung Kingdom before noon," the Queen said, handing the half asleep boy a scroll. He looked at her questionably. When he didn't take the scroll from her, she placed it on his bedside.
"You don't have all day. It's already 9," she checked her time.
When San realized that she was actually serious, he spoke.
"What in the name of- There's literally messengers that get paid for this. Why do I have to do it? Besides, it's Saturday for Celestials sake!" He argued.
"The message in there is very important and must be delivered personally or it'll lose its value," the Queen said.
"Then you deliver it!" He raised his voice slightly annoyed.
"I can't. I'm busy. You're the only one sleeping in on a Saturday," Soojin shot back before leaving the room.
So there San was, on horseback, beginning his journey to the Jung kingdom with a huge scowl on his face. By the time he reached there, it was already a little past noon but he didn't care. His mom probably only said that to get him to hurry up.
When he tried to enter the gate, the guards asked for his name and where he was coming from.
"Choi San. First prince of the Choi kingdom," he stated simply.
The guards laughed. "And do you have proof?" The man who San assumed to be an alpha asked.
He reached into his pocket feeling for his emblem but there was nothing there. He started to panic. He dug in deeper, checking the other pocket as well and patting himself down but there was nothing. He suddenly remembered that in a rush to leave, he had grabbed the scroll off the table instead, completely forgetting about the emblem.
"Fuck!" He cursed under his breath but it didn't go unheard by the guards, and they laughed even harder. If they weren't sure before, they were clearly sure now, since the man just cursed, and everyone knew Royals were 'above' cursing.
Realizing why they were laughing made San feel anxious as he realized that he just made the situation worse for himself. He couldn't go home and come back because that would take another 4 hours or so. He sighed and turned back to them.
"I swear on the Celestials I am the prince. Please let me in! I have something to deliver to the King," San pleaded.
"Hey!" The other guard said sternly. "Swearing on the Celestials isn't a joking matter. Now go on home boy," she dismissed him assertively.
San groaned. He didn't know what to do.
"I'm sorry but I'm really serious. I need to get this message delivered to the King."
The guard looked at San in the eyes and relented.
"Alright then give it to me. I'll make sure the King receives it," she said, holding her hand out.
The beta sighed knowing this was going to be hard.
"I can't. I was given information to tell him personally as well," he said meekly.
The guard scoffed. "You must think we're idiots! Listen kid! Unless you have proof that you're the prince, which you clearly don't cause you're not him, then I can't let you in," she said harshly.
The other guard laughed. "We would have even let you in if you just said you were a refugee, but you chose to lie." The female guard snickered along with him.
San checked the time and it was already an hour past noon. His mom was going to kill him. He breathed in and out, calming his nerves.
I didn't want to have to do this but it seems I have no choice, he thought to himself. He looked up at the guards one more time and frowned. He walked away slowly like he was returning to his horse, then quickly ran straight for the entrance trying to break his way through.
He managed to step a foot inside before the female guard grabbed him. He used his leg to trip her, sending her straight to the ground, face front. The alpha guard pulled onto the cloak he was wearing, so San simply untied the string and ran forward, revealing his fancy clothes under it.
He wasn't fast enough as he couldn't even get past the documentation desk, before the alpha punched him down.
It's been a while since San got into a fight, more specifically, since he's gotten hurt. If he thought he was angry before he was wrong. Because now he was furious!
He stood up, wiping his cheek that was now smeared with blood. The female guard tried to attack him from behind but he quickly evaded her, kicking her hind legs tripping her once again. He grabbed his cloak again and wore it, not wanting to soil his clothes.
When he saw the female guard getting up again, he kicked her from behind using her as coverage to surprise attack the alpha, punching him senseless. He quickly attempted to run, but the alpha guard grabbed his feat even as he was down, pulling him, causing his face to meet the floor.
He winced in pain. Fuckin' alphas! He cursed to himself. That was my best punch. He groaned when the female guard held him in a choke hold.
"I knew you were a beta! Fucking fool! Did you really think you could beat an alpha?! Hah! And you even lied and claimed you were a prince when you're just a beta?!" She laughed in amusement, blood running down her nose.
San was suddenly brought back to reality when she said that. His brother and mothers had made him feel so special and accepted when he had presented. Now he remembered why he was originally disappointed in being a beta. Because he was a disappointment. A beta born into a family of Royals? How embarrassing.
Before his self esteem could diminish completely, he heard a loud voice.
"What in the land of Pyeonghwa is going on here?!" Wooyoung shouted, as he saw his two guards looking like they were trying to kill someone.
"Your majesty!" The guards exclaimed, quickly standing up to bow their heads.
"I told y'all to watch the gate not kill someone!" He spoke too quickly letting his casual tongue slip out.
"He's a liar and an impersonator sir! He claimed he was a prince from the Choi kingdom and couldn't even prove it. He's even a beta!" The female guard retorted.
San wanted to cry. He hated being weak. He hated that he was born weak and he hated being a beta. He was happy he decided to wear a cloak on top because now his face was covered.
"And what in Celestials is wrong with being a beta?!" Wooyoung yelled causing San to flinch. "Just because it's uncommon doesn't make it bad! And you know I've yet to present. What if I were to present as a beta? Would I automatically be unworthy of being a prince?!" He roared with anger. The guards were shocked as they've never seen the cheerful boy angry.
"But..he.. he attacked us first sir," the alpha guard said timidly, a line of blood dripping down his face.
"So if he was a simple civilian who lied, you would've killed him??!" Wooyoung grew angrier.
"And what if he is the prince? What will you do then?!" There was complete silence.
Wooyoung glared at the guards and moved closer towards the boy as he was worried for him.
"Are you ok? I apologize for my guards. They don't know any better," Wooyoung said, not touching the boy in fear he could have been in pain.
Wooyoung's little lecture made San feel a lot better for some reason as he slowly stood up and dusted his cloak.
"I'm ok," San answered softly.
"You said you were the prince of Choi kingdom?" Wooyoung asked, trying his best not to peek under the boys hood.
"Yes," San said in a whisper. He slowly removed his hood, revealing his bruised cheek and a bump on his forehead.
Wooyoung didn't know what he was expecting to see but it definitely wasn't this. Even with the boys bruised face, all Wooyoung could think was, Wow! He's beautiful!
San looked up and locked eyes with his savior, surprised with how good looking the boy in front of him was. But what did he expect from a prince?
He started to become shy under Wooyoung's intense gaze so he decided to speak.
"I- I'm.. I'm the first prince of the Choi kingdom. My name is Choi San. I was sent to deliver a personal message to the King," he said delicately, surprising himself.
Why the fuck do I sound like that?
Wooyoung continued to stare at him in complete awe.
He's so cute!
San pulled out the scroll from his pocket thankful that he had managed to keep it safe. When Wooyoung saw the scroll, he snapped out of his little trance becoming serious. He suddenly felt worse knowing what kind of scroll it was. It was a scroll for an alliance.
"Can I see it..San?" Wooyoung asked.
The boy was a little hesitant to give it to him and Wooyoung understood. If he had to deliver a personal message, he wouldn't allow anyone else to look through it.
"Ok, can you just open the bottom part so I can see the signed emblem? I'm sorry but I just need to make sure," Wooyoung reasoned.
San mentally slapped himself.
Why didn't I think of that?
He pulled the bottom part of the scroll and sure enough was the Choi kingdom's emblem. Even though he's only seen it once, Wooyoung recognized it immediately.
He immediately bowed his head apologizing once more.
"I'm so sorry for what my guards did to you."
"No no it's alright. Like you said, they don't know better," San shook his head and smiled at Wooyoung.
"But can we please be on our way? I was actually on a time limit," San explained.
"Oh, for what time?" Wooyoung asked.
"Noon.." San replied sheepishly. Wooyoung chuckled. "It's already a quarter to 3."
"Besides, Father is probably taking his midday nap right now. We should get you cleaned up first. Those look like they hurt," Wooyoung said pointing to San's bruises.
"But.." San tried to counter back but Wooyoung spoke again.
"Don't worry about it," he smiled. "And if I'm being honest, even if you delivered it on time, that would have been the last thing my father would have checked," Wooyoung rolled his eyes knowingly. San smiled.
Wooyoung noticed the two guards still standing there, so he snapped to grab their attention.
"I want both of you to apologize right now! On your knees!!" Wooyoung barked, startling San.
Even though Soojin, San's mother, was typically loud, it wasn't like this. Seeing Wooyoung be so soft spoken with him, then witnessing him being so harsh and commanding with his guards, sent a rush down San's spine, making his stomach twist and his heart beat a little faster.
"We're truly sorry your majesty. We've committed a huge mistake," the guards said in in unison.
A few minutes ago, San went through a roller coaster of emotions, from being anxious, to furious, and even feeling worthless but now, it all felt so foreign, like it happened a month ago.
"It's alright," he said. "You were just doing your duty," he forced a fake smile. The guards sighed internally thinking they were saved.
"No they weren't! They're duty was to guard the gate and document whoever entered. If there was a problem, they should have called for me," Wooyoung said sternly, mostly to the guards.
"You're lucky, he's so forgiving because I wouldn't be," Wooyoung scolded.
"Was there anybody else that came in today?" He asked.
"No sir," they both replied.
"Ok then close the gate for the day and go home. I'll deal with both of you tomorrow!" He said not waiting for their reply.
He turned to San and smiled, pointing his hand out to the direction of the palace.
"Oh! My name is Wooyoung!" He said enthusiastically smiling at him.
A/N: This was not supposed to be this long 😭
I didn't even get to finish so now I have to continue it into the next chapter.
And I know this story is taking its sweet time but please go easy on me. I decided to write this because I love stories that are detailed and immerse the reader so I guess I'm just projecting.
Also I promise I'm not Ot7. It's just that Seonghwa's role is vital so we don't really get to see him until towards the middle/end. I'm sorry😭 but I'll make it up. Promise!
-K.