"What's Joong doing here?" Yeosang asked after everybody had greeted him.
"Why can't I be here?" Hongjoong raised a brow. He was a little irritated since it seemed everybody was upset with him again and he didn't know why.
"I didn't say you can't," Yeosang remarked.
"You just said 'what's Joong doing here?'"
"Yes. Joong," he pointed to Seonghwa.
Hongjoong smiled.
"Is that what he told you his name was?"
Yeosang nodded. "Is it not?"
The alpha shook his head.
"His name's Seonghwa. Park Seonghwa."
Yeosang nodded. He already knew the boy was lying about his name.
"Have you tried letting go of his hand yet? We all tried but he wouldn't let go," Wooyoung told him.
Yeosang awed at the little aura surrounding their hands. He tugged his hand away but the older wouldn't let go. He softly placed his other hand on Seonghwa's and caressed it. He tried again and the beta slowly let go. Yeosang smiled and stroked his hair.
"See. You just have to be gentle," the King commented. Everybody knew who the comment was meant for and the alpha rolled his eyes.
"But why is Seonghwa here. He told me he didn't want to come to the castle."
"He went to save you," Hongjoong informed.
"Save me from what?"
They all looked at each other bemused.
"You don't remember?" Jongho asked.
"Remember what?" Yeosang chortled. Wooyoung was surprised because that wasn't a reaction he would have normally had.
"You were ab-"
"What's the last thing you remember?" The King interjected his son.
"I was going to go practice with Seonghwa and.. Yes Tae Oh was with me!"
"Then what happened?"
"Hmm I'm not sure," he shrugged.
"Did something happen?"
"No. Not really," the King lied. Wooyoung stared at him like he just committed a felony.
"Alright," Yeosang giggled.
"But why's his hair blond?" He asked looking at everybody.
"Wait! The war is over?! Hmm?" He looked outside.
"When did you get back?"
"Not too long ago. They won!" The King said.
"Really? That's great!" Yeosang exclaimed. He stood up and went to hug his soulmate taking the younger by surprise. Jongho was flustered but eventually hugged back.
"This is great! Why do you all seem so bored? Well you must be tired. That's alright! We can all celebrate tomorrow," Yeosang spoke excitedly.
They all looked at him incredibly confused. Hongjoong was sure he's never even heard the omega speak that much.
Yeosang sat on Jongho's lap and scented him. Everybody gawked at them knowing something was definitely peculiar about his behavior.
"I missed you," he whispered making the alpha turn completely red. Yeosang gasped and stood up to look at him.
"Oh my heavens! What happened to your hair?!" He took a quick look at everybody else.
"Hongjoong and San too? What's going on?"
Everybody just stared at him a little confused if they should tell him the truth or continue the lie the King had started.
"You really don't remember anything?" Hongjoong asked and the King glared at him.
"Am I supposed to remember something?"
"You were abducted by Bae-"
"Kim Hongjoong!" The King raised his voice startling everyone in the room. Yeosang turned to his father a little frightened.
"What's wrong father? What's going on?" He asked, starting to become worried.
"Nothing Sangie. Don't worry. You should rest. You were asleep for a long time. I'll have Mari come check on you ok?" He said softly whilst patting his son's head.
Wooyoung grimaced at that. He always got goosebumps whenever his dad went from 'scary alpha' mode to 'soft father' mode.
He urged everybody to exit the room but Yeosang whined.
"But I want Jongho to stay with me."
Said alpha placed his palm over his face to hide his blush and the fact that he was smiling.
"Tomorrow. He'll come tomorrow. Besides you have a guest. Seonghwa needs to rest," the King convinced him. Yeosang relented with a small 'ok,' and everybody exited the room.
"I want everybody in my quarters. Except you!" He glowered at Hongjoong.
"Don't even show your face in front of me. You and that deathly scent," the King seethed. He stomped away and Jongho exhaled loudly. The King's scent when he was angry felt very suffocating. Wooyoung looked between his father who was already far away and Hongjoong who just stood there like he had been stabbed. He wanted to comfort the older but Yunho tugged on his shirt.
"Your duty is to the King," he whispered. Wooyoung hated that word, 'duty.'
Hongjoong glanced at everybody and ran away. He didn't want to have to see them turn their backs on him as well. He didn't know where he was going but it didn't matter. He ran until his legs gave out and he found it hard to breath.
Hongjoong didn't know where he was but it didn't matter. He fell to his knees, tears spilling from the impact. The sudden warmth on his cheeks surprised him. He couldn't believe he was crying. Even after all these years.
It hurt. A lot. He was sad. But for some reason, he felt the sudden need to laugh. He laughed through his pain and the tears. His hair began to turn white and his eyes flashed red. He stopped laughing and ran to a nearby stream to see his reflection. When he saw that he was in his Snow form, he began to scream and punch the water.
It's your fault! It's all your fault. Go away! Leave me alone. Why won't you just go away!
He saw his reflection again and only became angrier when he swore that it smiled at him. He began to cry and punch the ground. His knuckles started to bleed but he didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore.
It's been a few years since he's heard that. The reason why Hongjoong was feared by many was not only because of his Snow White hair and red eyes, but also because of his scent. Whenever he became angry, his scent would spike and intoxicate those around him that weren't strong enough to handle it.
That's also how he became known as the Snow Reaper. He didn't only cause death but also smelled like it.
Yeosang laid in his bed. He felt happy for some reason. Everybody had returned and none of them were hurt. Seonghwa had decided to come to the castle and was even comfortable enough to sleep with him. Everything felt right..until it didn't.
He gazed at the beta's hair curiously and began to think.
What happened? Even Jongho's hair was different. They were also acting a little weird.
He subconsciously moved his hand to his neck to grab onto his necklace and gasped when it wasn't there. He sat up and touched all around his neck and began to panic when he realized he wasn't wearing it.
Yeosang stood up and checked the bed but he couldn't find it. He looked around his room and noticed his quiver was gone too as his bow sat alone.
Before he started to feel afraid, a knock came on the door. Mari entered when there was no reply and beamed when she saw the prince.
"Yeosang! How are you doing?" She asked cheerfully. The omega smiled at her, his previous anxiousness depleting.
She pat a spot on the bed and sat on the chair.
"Let's see how that body of yours is holding up," she said.
Mari took her time, performing all different types of tests and activities. She checked the Prince's heart rate and matched it to before, very pleased with the results.
She pulled out a syringe and Yeosang gave her a wary expression.
"Oh come on. You're a big boy now," she chuckled.
The prince looked away so she could administer the drug and he slightly winced in pain when he felt the needle poke him. Since she hadn't gotten enough blood last time, she decided to try and get some now. She took her scalpel and cut the prince's arm. Yeosang squirmed and tried not to cry.
Only a few drops of blood spilled as the cut began to heal. Mari took a quick look at the prince and saw that he was a few inches away from Seonghwa. She cut him again and the same thing happened.
How is that possible? She thought.
"Are you done?" Yeosang asked prying his eye open.
"Oh yes," Mari answered and wiped his blood.
"I guess Seonghwa really saved your life."
"What do you mean?"
"You just healed," she told him when she realized he wasn't looking.
"Heal? Heal what? How did I heal? And what does that have to do with Seonghwa?" Yeosang poured the questions out his mind.
"Seonghwa..I heard he went to save you."
"Why does everyone keep saying that? Save me from what?" Yeosang asked.
"My! You don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
Mari gaped at him. She wasn't sure if it was her place to tell him. He had just woken up, she didn't want to shock him and risk his health.
"I'm not really sure of the details so ask your father tomorrow. He'll tell you. For now just rest," she told him.
"I have been resting. My body is tired of resting," he complained.
"This time let your mind rest. You'll need it."
She curtly exited the room not wanting to be questioned again.
Yeosang didn't understand what she meant but when the clock told him it was already a half hour passed 11, he decided to just listen and go to sleep. He felt weird not having his necklace to tug on so instead he held Seonghwa's hand, and soon enough, sleep came to him.
"Father! How could you say that?!" Wooyoung raised his voice.
"I don't have time for you right now. You're free to go if you don't want to stay," the King spoke quickly. It was clear that he was upset. The rest of the boys were seated respectfully on their shins, their knees facing the king. San eyed Wooyoung and used his lips to motion for the boy to sit down. Wooyoung wanted to retaliate but the King began speaking.
"So it seems Yeosang doesn't remember anything of his abduction and I really hope, it's just his mind that told him to forget. But he's probably already caught on now thanks to that idiot," he grumbled the last word. Wooyoung smacked his hand against the wall where he was standing jolting everybody in the room except the King.
"Don't call him that!"
The King ignored him.
"So I don't want any of you to say anything to him until he asks me. If we dump all the information onto him, he'll be scared, especially since he doesn't remember anything right now," the King explained.
"I want to break it down to him so he doesn't take it too hard. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" They all replied. As soon as the King put his clasped hands down, Wooyoung ran out the room in search of the alpha.
"Wooy-"
"Just leave him alone. He won't listen," the King spoke over his son trying to save him the headache.
There were loud footsteps approaching and soon enough, a disquieted Mari appeared in front of him.
"Your majesty!" She exclaimed.
"Yeosang, he-"
"I know. He doesn't remember," the King interrupted her.
"No sir. That's not it. He's doing well. Maybe even too well. I'm not sure."
"What do you mean? Explain so I can understand."
"He's perfectly healthy. It's almost scary. And when I cut him for some blood work, it healed!" She expounded.
Everybody's eyes widened at that.
"Was he touching Seonghwa?" The King asked.
"No sir. And I didn't realize it before, but it didn't even look like it healed. It was odd. It seemed like it just..erased. Disappeared."
Everybody in the room was puzzled.
"In the beginning, I thought it was just because of emotional distress that had caused him to forget but.." she hesitated.
"But what?" The King urged, his tone harsh and stricken with worry.
"What if it was the beta?" She posed.
"What if..what if Seonghwa erased his memory as well. I mean it is pain. I doubt anybody would want to remember when they were abducted especially since he got hurt, so what if.. he potentially 'healed' his memory as well?"
The boys gawked at her like she had just spoken gibberish while the King placed his clasped hands back to where they were previously.
"Is that all? Or did you find anything else?" He asked not wanting anymore surprises.
"Uhm there is but I'd like some privacy."
The King glanced at her and understood. He dismissed the boys and turned back to the doctor for her to speak.
"It's about his condition."
A/N: I promise I love Hongjoong. With all my heart. He's the bestest boy please🥺😭
-K.