Third Person’s P.O.V.

The old monastery hidden among the range of mountains that covered the north of Eulan was where the forgotten prince of Eulan had been sent to live his life away from the common eye.

“Slow down Seokjin! You will hurt yourself!” A voice cried behind him as he skidded down the very familiar steep slope to hop onto the next stone wall, balancing himself on the thin space as he ran ahead of more loud warnings to hop onto another wall, slipping his step as a dozen gasps were heard in the background till he climbed back up grinning at then to resume his running and winked at their concerns as he giggled heartily.

“You know this is the problem about an omega being brought up by betas...he has no sense of what being an omega really should look like” one among them spoke as they watched him vanish out of sight as he slid down another slope to jump onto the huge open courtyard as he ran, hopping and stepping around the little betas drowsily doing their morning practice and hastily headed towards the chamber of the old master under whose care he had lived and grown till now.

“Master! Master! Master!”

He barged in throwing the doors open to the damp little chamber, his over-excited eyes wide as he beamed to see his Master grumble and turn the other way, enjoying his first morning tea. He had hoped to start the day in peace but well now it didn’t look like it’ll be much peaceful anymore.

“You won’t believe! You won’t believe! You will never ever ever believe the message that came!!” Seokjin hopped about in utter glee, prancing and giggling on his own.

His master had however received the same message as well, but held his silence feeling oddly sad thinking about the other going away as he watched the young boy jump around in delight.

“You are a mistake for an omega” he grumbled instead sipping on his tea “gentle…be more gentle, and calm” he inhaled loudly closing his eyes and exhaled opening his eyes to get a little heart attack as he saw the beaming face of an overjoyed Seokjin right in front, staring at him with big brown eyes.

“I. Am. Going. Back. To. The. Palace!” He jumped up making his master lose his grip on his cup due to his over excitement, spilling the tea all over.

“I’m so happy…so happy…so happy” his eyes twinkled as he barely could hold his joy “oh! I need to get dressed” he suddenly realised, grimacing at his discoloured brown tunic that had odd stitches on the knees because he kept ripping those open during training with the other betas.

“I need new clothes!” He turned about looking distressed, fidgeting as he thought how embarrassing it would be to go to the palace in such crude clothes.

“Calm down Seokjin, they will be sending everything for you to prepare you as a proper omega” he sighed thinking back to the letter he had received from a secret missive of the princess before the royal summon for Seokjin’s return to the palace had arrived.

“Now off you go, don’t waste the morning dillydallying like this…its your last day here, spend it wisely” he grumbled at the sprightful young omega, hiding away his concerns and the care under his gruff sour attitude.

And Seokjin stepped out of the chamber, looking about the large compound where the little ones scurried about till their teacher came to reprimand, the tall spruces surrounding the monastery effectively hid it away from the eyes of the passers-by being created at a desolate edge of a less frequented mountain.

Sure he was a prince, and definitely there has been numerous nights he had cried himself to sleep for the curse he had been born with, the curse which made him unwanted to even his own father.

But this place was what home was to him, the place that protected him, the place that taught him that he could be anything he wanted doesn’t matter if the world labelled him as a weakling.

He stepped into the open compound and instantly the children gathered “why are you not practicing? You’ll get scolded when the teacher comes you know” he warned as they tailed him, nudging him to play with them as he denied to get distracted by them today.

“Hyung-nim please play with us” “Hyung-nim I found a new stone, see!” “Hyung-nim there’s a new nest behind the farm, it has three eggs!” “Hyung-nim please show us your magic trick again please!” Seokjin's eyes widened a bit as he sushed them to keep it low or else he'd get rebuked too as they kept requesting him about 'magic trick'.

“Yes please magic trick! Please! We’ll train quietly all day!” All of them voiced together now.

The magic tricks were what made Seokjin their favourite and he couldn’t deny them this, since although everyone told him never to use his unique powers, he couldn’t help it because it felt wonderful. The only problem was he had no idea how to actually use it, neither had he any idea on how to control it. Nobody ever taught him about it and threatened him calling it a curse that could ruin him.

“Only once, okay” he chewed on his lip debating, his master got furious when he caught him using his powers so he briskly checked left and right before doing it.

“I need a volunteer” he whispered and three tiny hands popped “I just need two” he spoke setting his palms against two tiny hands as he let his body do what naturally came, and he felt his energy surge and watched the boys shiver and swoon and instantly drew his palms away fearing to hurt them.

“T-That should be enough” he said walking to the dead rose bush dryly sitting at the other corner of the courtyard. He crouched down close as all the little boys waited to see the magic with wide eyes.

Seokjin set his palms around the bush and within seconds gasps and happy little giggles erupted from the children who watched the bush slowly come alive, its leaves turning a fresh green from the dusky black and tiny pink buds erupted. Seokjin beamed, a light blue tinting his irises as he watched in great wonder his own powers still not knowing why people called it a curse when he could actually do so much good with it.

It was only one time he had lost control, although he didn't really remember it but every one said he was close to destroying the kingdom. It happened when his mother had died and as a young child he had lost himself to reveal his inner grief n rage against the injustice, every one else had their mothers why couldn't he? Especially when she was the only one who cared about him.

Only one mistake it took for his family to name him as a curse.  

He stopped watching the children touch the bush with wonderous eyes.

“You’re amazing Hyung-nim, I wish I could do something like that too”
And Seokjin sadly smiled to those words, reminding himself he'd give it away in a heartbeat if he could have a normal life like the others. He stood up looking away from the bushes and the children and across the distance to see Eulan waiting down for him.

A long awaited return indeed, and he was hopefully excited and fearful as well.

What if he made another mistake of revealing his powers again, would they send him back here again?

“Prince” a stern voice stole his attention as he swiftly turned around to see Commander Namjoon bowing before looking at him with thoughtful eyes “let them help you, we need to get you ready as soon as possible”.

Jin bowed respectfully, smiling as he saw two handmaidens from the court had come to assist him in getting ready to present at court. He watched with twinkling eyes as they carried loads of stuff into the inner halls where his chamber was.

“Please come along young Prince, we have lots of stuff to do” they nudged and urged him into his chamber.

Seokjin felt oddly naked and awfully uncomfortable as they pleaded to him to let them bathe him, shying and fumbling and panicking more than a few times as they tried to rub his back with a washcloth or massage his shoulders or to put scented oils on his blushing skin. He had been used to chopping his hair off whenever it grew too long or covered his face too much and the maids realized how un-omega-like the beautiful prince actually was in his actions.

It wasn’t his fault though, he had purposefully been kept solely around betas who could not trace his uniquely mystifying scent and except for his sister who came to see him once a year, Seokjin had never been around an alpha and had been taught to severely stay away from those blood-thirsty hooligans all his life. Neither had he learnt the delicate and entrancing ways of an omega because he had never been around one except his long dead mother.

He was a perfect example of a misfit, having no idea how the world worked or how a status defined a man or a woman or how being an omega made him vulnerable.

Because he had never been near an alpha or didn’t have a mate his heats have been painful but survivable, he would trap himself in his chamber not coming out, majorly because he felt humiliated for craving for sexual favours so much while he literally lived in a monastery among people who had chosen the path of abstinence and penance and nirvana.

They left outside his chamber food and drink and balms and herbs to help him as they could through those tough times, and he would profusely thank them later for their help.

But one thing everyone noted and couldn’t deny even if they tried. No matter how un-omega-like the young prince was, he had a dazzling charm, of course the prettiest face in the monastery, some even dared to say that Eulan had never seen a more beautiful royal because they said he had been blessed by the Moon Goddess herself, that is the reason for his curse, and his unparalleled beauty. He had a heart as jovial and free like the winds, a laugh as nimble as the rush of the stream and eyes as wonderful as the first soothing rays of a new morning.

And most importantly, he knew no evil for he had never come across any.

“Mesmerizing” one of his friends spoke watching dumbly as they saw Seokjin come out of his chamber draped in pristine white robes, studded with tiny lavender stones and a thin trail of ocean blue flowers were embroidered along the folds of his attire.

Seokjin stumbled once too often being uneasy and unused to wearing such flowy clothes, the folds kept getting stuck between his legs whenever he tried to walk fast and was hence limited to moving slowly, counting his steps as he crossed the open yard. His handmaidens rushing to hold up the trail fearing he was going to get it dirty walking through the dusty courtyard.

“Master!” He hollered loudly, startling the two women by his side who were unused to his wild actions, and Namjoon smiled a little to himself seeing the other look unbelievably enchanting being dressed as a proper royal omega yet acted uniquely himself.

The old man denied to come out as the women began nudging him towards the carriage waiting to take him back and he resisted them, feeling teary to think that his teacher won’t even say goodbye to him when he had loved and respected him so ardently for so long. It was the old man who no matter how much he had rebuked the omega for being a reckless disaster of an omega but it was also the same man who had taught him that there was nothing to be ashamed about being an omega, but it was shameful to call yourself weak.

It was this belief that taught Seokjin to train as any other beta did, in fact he learnt that he was more agile and flexible than the betas and that made him a master in his training. He learnt that it wasn’t right to cry over what he didn’t have, a higher stature, a stronger build but it was what he did with what he had that made him who he is, a powerful omega.

All the little ones, and all of his friends had come to see him off, gawking with heart eyes to see how the overzealous omega looked surreally handsome in his new robes.

“My prince, we need to leave…we cannot be late, your Father is waiting” Namjoon spoke trying to make Seokjin turn about now as he urged him to get inside the carriage, who still huffed feeling agitated now.

“Fine! You dreadful old man! I am leaving! And I hope I will never see you again!” He yelled to see no one emerging from the chamber, his heart hurt for being treated so unkindly as he sniffled, tears spilling in streaks down his eyes. “Ugly old man with his stupid ugly tea!”

He turned about angrily stepping onto the steps to get inside.

“Be gone pest! I tolerated you for seventeen years! Finally some peace!”

He heard the words behind him and turned about, caught a look of absolute disbelief and insult on Namjoon’s face as he glared at the old rotund man, although knowing that the moody hermit didn’t care at all about Seokjin’s royal status and yet loved the young omega boundlessly.

Seokjin rushed through the dirt, half stumbling over his robes to grab his master in a hug, crying loudly as the other embraced him with a laugh to see the boy be so emotional.

“Go on Jin-ah, this is the day your life begins…this old man will be right here if ever you need him” he patted his back to calm his gasping cries and rubbed the tears away “now off you go, but remember to always check your ground before you step and you will never fall” he spoke confusing Seokjin a little.

“I’ll take care of the roses you revived” he whispered and Seokjin stilled, fearfully picking his eyes up to look at his teacher “may you forever remember your strength and never misuse it” he warned patting at his shoulder and Seokjin hugged him again.

 
The ride was silent, Seokjin stared wide-eyed at everything as they passed from the calm tree fringed stone path of the mountains to the farmlands and little unkempt communities that were populated by the less fortunate of the society. He could see traces of death here and there, people palely working to mend broken houses or wailed and fought amongst themselves to scrape whatever little they could save among the ruins. He felt more scared when the carriage rolled into the stones streets of the elite localities, the houses larger and grander here, but they had also faced a greater havoc as entire roads lay blocked with signs of destruction, dead bodies stalely rotting by the side of the roads made him look away as his heart pained.

“What happened here?” He asked dumbfounded to see the awful state of the kingdom, and Namjoon chose to keep silence instead of trying to answer him.

Seokjin could see no horse carriages and colourful shops since all were left empty without the usual rich people bustling in and out, who had money enough to happily spend. He gazed feeling pitifully helpless and pained to see such devastation until they passed the largely decorated palace gates as the horses trotted to halt before the grand building that he had once called his home.

“Wait” Namjoon spoke, stopping Seokjin as he tried to open the carriage door “wear this, and do not open it until you feel safe enough no matter who asks you to…remember, until safe enough” he repeated looking into his eyes as he handed him a veil to cover his face.

“And the next thing is, no prince opens their carriage door Seokjin. I will do it for you” he smiled seeing the omega prince’s ignorance of royal decorum.

“But I know how to open it , and it’s easier” he spoke stating facts and unlocked the door, swiftly stepping down the carriage and turned to see Namjoon blink at him open mouthed “see! I told you it’d be faster than you opening it for me.”

He tugged at the robes again trying to fix those as best as he could because he did not want to stumble in front of his father, it’s very embarrassing to stumble in court. He felt sweaty remembering how everyone gathered at court, and the way he remembered his father commanding proudly over all and all the important people watching him with such reverence it made Seokjin feel tiny.

“Do I look okay?” He asked fumbling with his veil, brushing his bangs a bit away from his eyes as he tried to clear his appearance feeling jittery.

“You’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen…Eulan has never known a greater beauty” Namjoon spoke gazing into those joyous brown eyes of Seokjin, who looked down feeling a little bit too conscious of the other’s eyes on him.

Only Namjoon knew the heaviness in his heart with which he led Seokjin into the palace, the court awaiting the presence of the beautiful omega prince and although he was a beta, Namjoon was aware of the instant change among everyone the minute he had led Seokjin to tread down the hallways. Every eye glancing curiously, the alpha courtiers sighing heavily at the new alluring scent in the air as they followed behind Seokjin unaware of what they were doing.

The doors to the court opened and Namjoon urged Seokjin to enter, the entire court breaking into a murmur as heavy sighs and actual gasps could be heard. Seokjin gulped fearfully although their scent wasn’t affecting him much but their odd attitudes were as he found people closing in on him till he realized they were only trying to greet him for showing up after such a long absence.

He weakly smiled, looking for familiar faces but it had been so long that he could barely recognize anyone other than his sister, catching only a faint hint of his father's n sisters long familiar scents. He had lived among betas for such a long time that his omega had gone dormant, it was also another reason why his powers had become frail n snubbed as well. His omega was yet to fully evolve and he realised that now that he was among alphas he'd need to be more careful as he remembered his mother's words about never letting anyone take control over him.

“Brother” Jisoo stood up from her seat, coming close to embrace him, and trying to scent him with her own pheromones in the process because it was enraging her to see all those hungry alpha pheromones pool in the courtroom. She was aware that her brother was different, he could protect himself and she could tell from his smiling face that he possibly could not sense the loud overwhelming alpha pheromones in the room at the moment because any other omega would probably cower and whine for attention due to such amounts of pheromones in the air.

“The city looks awful, what happened here?” Seokjin asked with wide concerned eyes and Jisoo could see he had already sensed that there must be a reason why he had been suddenly brought back to the palace.

“We were attacked” she spoke, silently glancing at their father to see him taking counsel from his trusted advisors. Her gaze then moved to the waiting eyes of the General, who sat shamelessly gazing at them with a smirk pulling at his lips. She glared at him unable to hold back her alpha rage and instinct to protect his omega brother from whatever intentions they had for him.

“Seokjin” a heavy voice boomed to settle down the court, and Seokjin flinched vehemently to snap up and gaze at his father. It was the same booming voice that had once exiled him to live in secrecy.

“I have made a decision on your behalf, and I am hoping it will be followed by you as has been intended” he spoke throwing Seokjin as if in a trance as he nodded not knowing what had been decided for him.

It had been so long and yet he still couldn't find it in himself to disregard that authority in his father's voice.

“There has been a negotiation” his voice the only sound while the court was an echoing silence otherwise “between us and a neighbouring kingdom, and they promise to leave in peace if you go with them. They will not destroy any more lives, they will not harm anyone else and they will sign a peace treaty with us” he stopped, eyes keenly judging his son’s as he hoped he could trace the plea in there “the only clause being I let an heir of mine accompany them”

“I-I understand” Seokjin tried to sound strong but faltered, he was confused, scared, had a thousand question but knew nobody would pay attention enough to answer to him “Noona has to stay here because she is the alpha heir to the throne” he recounted what he knew with a heavy heart.

The King felt pride bubble to see the omega prince be brave enough to take up the responsibility, his heart was full with the way his son had grown thoughtful and did not cower away like an omega would in the face of such uncertain fate. He pitied himself for doing this to his own son and secretly begged for forgiveness from the Goddess for the sacrifice he’d have to be.

“General Hoseok will guide you to their ship, and you will accompany them to Kleon” the King’s order was final making Seokjin gulp as he felt his stomach drop to understand it was happening right now as he watched a tall slim man dressed in fine clothes stand up to bow at him as he edged closer, his bright smile a gesture of camaraderie as he urged the omega to follow him.

Seokjin swiftly nodded, his eyes brimming without his consent as he realized he hadn’t really been called back to the palace but for this ‘negotiation’ as his father termed it.

At least it was better than being trapped in a forest because he was ashamed of him, at least he was trusting him with a real responsibility this time.

A responsibility given to him as an heir of Eulan.

At least this time he wasn’t shunned by the people at court as a curse to their peace.

But it did feel like he had been chosen to be sent away because they really didn't want him in Eulan.

“Yes Father” his voice was brittle but he tried to muster as much strength as he could, pushing Jisoo’s iron grip away from his arm to turn around and followed behind the General walking towards the door. The court watched in utter silence to the King shed a tear, his lips twitching momentarily before his jaw turned stiff and he hit at the arm with his fist, not knowing how else to cater to the utter rage n guilt building within him.

Jisoo couldn’t stand and watch, as she broke into a run when she could break out of the pain to realise this was actually happening, dashing through the hallway hoping to get to say goodbye to his brother at least and finally saw then cross the large doors to head for the carriage that awaited to take him to the port.

“Jin-ah!” She grabbed at his arm again, pulling him back as the General rolled his eyes assessing their emotions as heightened dramatics.

“Please I just want to bid him goodbye, he will shortly join you in the carriage” she spoke ardently, her alpha pride torn in her frenzy to see her brother be the bait in the name of peace. The General gave a short nod to head towards the carriage, and Jisoo hastily dragged Seokjin aside from prying eyes.

“Keep this” she spoke in hushed tones handing a shiny slim dagger “protect yourself if anyone, I mean anyone tries to harm you in any way.” Seokjin took it, hurrying to hide it beneath his robes as she nodded to him and turned to go join the man in the carriage.

“Wait!” She cried huffing as she felt panic rise within “stay away from alphas, they’re dangerous for you”

Seokjin listened to her wide-eyed, panic palpable in his gaze as well “but-but not all of them! You’re an alpha too!” He reasoned trying to still hold on to hope.

“No! Listen hard, and listen clear! We’re monsters! All of us! Each one! Alphas are bad, very bad and you must stay far far away! You cannot let anyone mark you Jin-ah! If they can control you then imagine what they can do with your powers!”

Seokjin’s eyes grew wider with fright now, realising how difficult and unknown and scary the world outside might be to see his alpha sister be this fearful for him. She hugged him dearly, holding back the blaring voices to stop him that rallied inside her head. Seokjin hugged her back, fear growing within because he barely had any idea about how alpha-omega dynamic actually worked, only knowing that a mate was for life, and that didn’t sound too bad to his naïve little head.

But it was only now as he stepped outside of his lifelong seclusion to venture out into the world that he began to understand that the world was huge, and what awaited him was probably more bad than good.

á na márië

[A\N] yeah I know it's taking time but I promise I'll get them(TaeJin) to meet soon 💜🤐