<Choi Palace>

The palace was decorated like heaven, yet again. And why not? The long awaited day was here after all. The crowns of the empire were going to be transferred to the new hiers.

Seungcheol, Seokmin and Dino were sitting beside their parents. Jeonghan and Joshua weren't in the hall yet while the others were sitting at the special round table. Taeri had decided to stay with her father.

Several relatives, royalties of different kingdoms were also invited. Some were genuinely happy for the Choi Clan while a few were fuming with jealousy because of several stupid reasons, one of them being, the two princes of the lineage getting married to someone apart of their children.

It was when Jeonghan and Joshua began to descend down the stairs followed by the guards.

"Seokmin's jaw needs to be picked up from the floor." Mingyu laughed while whispering to everyone.

"We know he's down bad for Shua hyung." Hoshi chuckled, "So Mingyu, you better look at Dino who can't stop staring at your beloved sister."

"And his beloved sister is blushing." Woozi added.

"You all are her brothers too, how can you say that?" Mingyu frowned.

"If you really consider us as her brothers then we accept Dino as our brother in law." Jun declared.

"Guys, it's still okay but-" Wonwoo gasped, "Look at Seungcheol hyung."

"Damn he's staring at Jeonghan hyung as if no one else exists except for him." Minghao muttered.

"Wasn't Hari's chapter already closed?" Vernon stated.

"Which means-" Seungkwan's eyes widened, "Is he down for Jeonghan hyung?"

"Ay that would be so early." Woozi scrunched his brows.

"But hyung, remember how he took charge of taking care of him so authoritatively?" Seungkwan recalled the day when Jeonghan had fallen sick.

"That's his responsibility though." Mingyu shrugged.

"But staring at him like that is not at all a responsibility." Hoshi intervened.

"He must be mesmerized, of course, it's Jeonghan hyung after all, can't blame him." Wonwoo nodded.

"It's better if he is." Jun chuckled.

"Okay enough everyone, focus on the ceremony now." Minghao stated.

Jeonghan took his seat beside Seungcheol and Joshua sat beside Seokmin.

"You look absolutely stunning, love." Seokmin whispered to Joshua, "For a moment, I was so lost that I thought I was in paradise."

"As if you're not looking so freaking handsome." Joshua chuckled.

"I can't really focus on myself when you're with me." Seokmin stated.

They kept admiring each other while Seungcheol was staring at his husband who had a formal smile plastered on his face. At that time, Seungcheol realised, Jeonghan was definitely the most gorgeous person he had ever laid his eyes on.

"What?" Jeonghan mumbled.

Seungcheol smiled while looking away, "Nothing."

"Stop staring at me." Jeonghan warned.

"My eyes, my will, my husband." Seungcheol whispered.

"And you forgot something." Jeonghan intervened, "Your pathetic drama."

"That's your belief." Seungcheol sighed.

Finally the ceremony of the morning began and it was time for Sunwoo to address the guests and the people of the kingdom.

"A very beautiful morning to everyone." Sunwoo chuckled, "The weather today, seems to be willing to bless this empire which me and my ancestors have treasured. I know, you all adore Seungcheol, Seokmin, Dino as much as you've loved me as a ruler. Not only them, but my majestic son in laws and extraordinary trusted kids.

So, today is the day when you all will get your much awaited arsenal. My soul is worn out and old now. These new kids will handle the system better now. Let's not waste much time and begin the ceremony."

Loud applauses echoed in the hall as the main event began.

First, Woozi and Seungkwan took their vows as the supreme healers of the kingdom, followed by Vernon and Minghao as the Chief Finance Advisors. Wonwoo and Jun were crowned as the Chief Advisors while Hoshi as the Chief Commander. Next in line, was Mingyu as the Wise Chancellor.

After that, the royalties were in line. Dino, Seokmin and Joshua were crowned as Supreme Chiefs who were granted immense powers and authority.

Now, it was Ara's turn to transfer her throne to Jeonghan who was called up to attain the spotlight. As he stood up, Seungcheol offered his palm. As they were under so many gazes, Jeonghan had to accept his hand and walk with him.

Ara got emotional as she held Jeonghan's shoulders, "Son, I feel really blessed that this crown is going to you. I really couldn't ask for son in laws better than you and Joshua. Today, I'm really happy."

"Thank you mom. I hope I'll make you proud." Jeonghan stated.

"We're already very proud of you son." Sunwoo intervened, "We trust you."

The spells were recited as Ara transferred the crown to Jeonghan and seated him at the throne beside the empty throne of the Emperor who was yet to be crowned.

And the moment arrived when Seungcheol was standing in front of his father.

Sunwoo patted his shoulder, "I've been waiting for this day since forever. And I'm happy that you're sharing the throne with the right person. I trust you, the entire kingdom trusts you, you'll be a great ruler and an extraordinary leader. Never lose your path, son, from today, this kingdom's people should be your priority.

With great powers, come great responsibilities. Now, your priority list will always start AFTER this kingdom's people, your people. You're not just their ruler, you've to be their father and nurture them."

"Of course dad." Seungcheol nodded, "I'll take care of them, don't worry."

"I trust you." Sunwoo chuckled as he placed the crown over his eldest son's head. A tears escaped through his eyes after which he embraced Seungcheol.

"I promise dad, I'll never repeat those pathetic mistakes." Seungcheol mumbled, "I'll be my actual self and fix everything. I'll be the Seungcheol you and mom had nurtured, not the one who got swayed away with some cheap spells."

"I'm glad to get my son back." Sunwoo broke the hug as he wiped his tears, "Thank you for blessing me, son!"

"Thank him." Seungcheol chuckled as he referred to Jeonghan who was completely unaware of the conversation, "Also, Seokmin, Dino and Joshua."

Sunwoo patted his cheeks with a proud smile as finally, Seungcheol attained his throne, right beside Jeonghan.

Everyone applauded for the thirteen men with their whole hearts after which the main event ended and everyone was scattered here and there, enjoying the celebration. But Seungcheol and Jeonghan were supposed to be seated on their throne while their friends went away to have fun after congratulating them.

"Ara! My dearest darling, pretty lady!" Kim Areum, the queen of a neighbouring kingdom greeted her.

"So nice to see you after such a long time, Areum." Ara chuckled. Although they were very good friends, Ara knew that Areum had always wanted her daughter to marry Seungcheol.

"Of course." Areum scoffed, "I thought we could be relatives but for you, a mark matters the most."

"No?" Ara stated, "Do you think the former empress of the Choi Dynasty would hand this much power to someone on the basis of a mark?"

"Then what made you fix Seungcheol's wedding with a non-royal blood?" Areum raised a brow.

"Just like a mark doesn't matter to me, royal blood doesn't matter either." Ara grinned, "Personality and capabilities to handle such responsibilities matter."

"What made you think my daughter wasn't capable enough?" Areum directly asked.

"Your daughter is very precious, Areum." Ara paused, "But no one has impressed me the way Jeonghan did WITHOUT even trying. Let's not hold these useless grudges and be good friends."

"Of course." Areum chuckled as Ara left to interact with other guests. Areum made her way to the throne where the kings were seated. Seungcheol immediately stoodup to greet her and so did Jeonghan.

"Jeonghan, you might know her as the queen but she's also a very good friend of mom." Seungcheol introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kim." Jeonghan grinned.

"Congratulations to both of you." Areum stated.

"Thankyou so much."

"Sorry, I couldn't attend the wedding." Areum chuckled, "Or else, I really wanted to see how a wedding based on a design goes on."

Seungcheol and Jeonghan felt uncomfortable as their smiles faded away.

"Umm- what was your name again? Jeonghan, right?" Areum pretended to think, "Sorry I didn't know because you came into the picture literally out of nowhere."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you Aunt but if you really knew the important people of this kingdom-"

"I don't need to know anyone except for the royal blood." Areum cut off Seungcheol's sentence, "Because at the end of the day, only they are important.

Nevermind, so what was I saying? Yeah, Jeonghan, is it really true that you got that mark? Or you just got it tattooed on your body by yourself because you knew it's worth?"

"I knew." Jeonghan smiled, "That it has no worth against the respect my husband has for me. It would be better if you don't trust on useless rumours, ma'am. Everyday, he takes care of me, not the mark. He has married me, definitely not the mark.

Plus, about the royal blood thing, I'm not aware of your kingdom but for the Choi Empire, we don't discriminate against people for where they were born.

You must already know how the warriors who died protecting the kingdom have higher memorial statues than the actual rulers of the kingdom. If our ancestors believed that royal blood is less valuable than courage, then who are we to defy their ideology?"

"So you're exactly whom I heard about under the name of Yoon Jeonghan." Areum chuckled in defeat.

"Depends on what you've heard of me." Jeonghan bowed slightly, "I'm not that famous because I'm not royal blooded afterall."

"Spare me." Areum laughed as she patted his head, "I was just too blinded by my own desires. Ara was right when she said you're one of a kind. I know, Seungcheol will treat you right and so will you."

"Okay then, I'll take my leave." Areum stated, "Bless you both." She left with no grudges left in her heart.

"I didn't really expect that." Seungcheol gasped, "Why did you defend me?"

"You don't know me at all, Seungcheol." Jeonghan chuckled without humour, "My personal life is not a public show that I'll let anyone seek entertainment and gossip from it. What's between us, should remain between us only."

"So you accept that there's something between us." Seungcheol grinned.

"Yeah, there is." Jeonghan looked at him, "A marriage for the sake of formality, forced strings of vows and pure hatred from my side."

"And you forgot one thing." Seungcheol retorted, "My ultimate vow to fix everything."

"That won't happen." Jeonghan looked away.

"It definitely will." Seungcheol assured.

Jeonghan didn't answer anymore because he believed that there was no point in arguing with the older at all.

Seungcheol slowly intertwined his hand with the younger, "Jeonghan? I know I don't deserve this at all but can I ask for something?"

"What?" Jeonghan uninterestingly muttered.

"You can go to any extent to make me repent for my sins but please-" Seungcheol gulped the lump in his throat, "Don't leave me. Ever."

"Shouldn't I be the one to say that?" Jeonghan chuckled bitterly, "I can't leave you even if I want to. You know? I'm that helpless."

"You aren't." Seungcheol nodded, "You've the rights to cut this string and-"

"I've already told you my decision over that, your highness."

"I know. That's not at all your helplessness. You hate me but you don't want me to suffer." Seungcheol grinned, "That's not hatred Jeonghan. If I work hard, you'll definitely forgive me."

"And then?" Jeonghan retracted his hand from the older, "You'll leave me when your needs will be satisfied, right? But mind you, I won't let my worth go that low, at least not for you."

"You don't have to? When did I say that I'm going to leave you, there's no chance of that." Seungcheol got serious.

"About that." Jeonghan stared at the older, "We'll see when the time will come."

"Sure, your majesty." Seungcheol raised a brow with a confident grin, "I bet you won't have to remind me about this when the so-called time will come."

•Choi Palace•

It was night as everyone was extremely tired after the ceremony. All the guests had left the palace and the royal family had attained their own rooms.

Seungcheol and Jeonghan were preparing to sleep when a knock was heard at the door.

A staff was standing restlessly when Seungcheol opened the door, "Hail the majesty! Queen Mother has urgently summoned you."

"What happened?" Seungcheol frowned.

"She has asked me to not say anything except for the message." The staff bowed and left.

Seungcheol looked back at Jeonghan who was equally confused.

"He looked worried." Jeonghan stepped forward, "Let's go."

Seungcheol nodded as both if them rushed to the former king and queen's room.

Seokmin and Joshua arrived along with them while Dino was already there.

"Does anyone know what happened?" Jeonghan asked as Seungcheol knocked at the door.

"Mom asked us to stay out." Dino informed, "Woozi hyung and Seungkwan hyung came to check on dad."

"What?" Seungcheol and Seokmin reacted together.

"Why were they needed?" Joshua asked, "Is dad alright?"

"I don't know either." Dino worriedly stated.

Jeonghan stood beside Seungcheol while knocking at the door, "Mom! Woozi! Seungkwan! Open up!"

Soon enough, Ara stepped out of the room while wiping her tears. She almost stumbled as Seungcheol and Jeonghan held her while the other three also helped her to sit at the chair kept nearby.

"Mom? What happened?" Dino asked immediately.

"There are a few things I need to tell you all before you go in." Ara calmed herself and her tears, "I don't want you to freak out inside."

"What's wrong?" Seungcheol worriedly asked.

"You dad is punished with an exile." Ara revealed.

"What?" Seokmin collapsed on the floor as Joshua supported him.

"He's unconscious because his presence is required at the place of the punishment." Ara explained, "He has to come back within seventeen hours or else- uh- you know."

"But why is he given this exile?" Dino frowned, "What did he do wrong?"

"Because-" Ara hesitated, "He kept the throne to himself longer than he was supposed to."

"WHAT?!"

Ara nodded as she wiped her tears, "He'll be tested now. His good and bad deeds will be weighed. He will have to fight for his life."

"M-mom!" Seungcheol held her hand, "Is it happening because I didn't attain the throne on time? Please? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Because we aren't supposed to!" Ara looked away, "There are a few rules you can know only after getting crowned. Might sound ridiculous but we can't help it. Everyone needs to be tested if they're abiding by their duties with their will or because of the consequences of some rules. I can tell this in front of all of you because you all are crowned now. It's not your fault son, you just didn't know."

Seungcheol clutched his chest tightly. Just how much people were going to suffer because of him?

Now he understood why everyone was so reluctant for him to attain the throne. Why they were pressuring him to get the crown.

Being the younger one, Seokmin couldn't be the emperor until Seungcheol was either no more or had given up on his royal life.

He stumbled on his feet but a hand held his arm. And it was the most unexpected person to do so, his husband.

Jeonghan supported his shoulders as Seungcheol slowly slipped down on the floor while tears started flowing through his eyes.

"Can I just-" Seungcheol muttered to himself, "Can I just kill myself?"

"Seungcheol? Don't say ridiculous things right now." Jeonghan whispered to him.

"But it's all happening because of me!" Seungcheol raised his voice, "Mom! Can I go on exile in place of him? Can I sacrifice myself to save him?"

"That will not happen." Ara mumbled lowly.

Seungcheol looked at Seokmin and Dino, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry! Everyone is suffering because of me."

"Hyung, please?" Seokmin inhaled a deep breath, "Dad is already in a critical condition. We can't see you suffer as well, we don't blame you."

"Right." Dino sniffled as Ara consoled him, "You're not at fault."

"Everyone knows that I am definitely at fault and-" Seungcheol was cut off by Jeonghan embracing him from the side.

Jeonghan just found this situation a bit too familiar. Seungcheol was blaming himself for Sunwoo's condition just like he used to hate himself for his mother's demise.

No one could understand Seungcheol's condition better than him.

"It's not your fault, Seungcheol." Jeonghan muttered to him while patting his back, "I just know, you wouldn't have delayed your crowning if you knew all this."

"Really?" Seungcheol vulnerably questioned.

Jeonghan looked up at him and wiped his tears with his thumb, "Really. Do you know what's your duty now? To stay by him and provide him strength, which he needs.

Don't waste time in blaming yourself, it's useless. Dad needs you. Mom needs you. Your brothers need you. You need yourself. Let's make everything in the present better instead of looking back, shall we?"

Seungcheol found himself drowning in Jeonghan's assuring voice. He never knew he would ever get to see this side of the younger.

Without giving a thought, Seungcheol leaped into his arms while hugging him tightly as tears made their way through his cheeks.

Jeonghan didn't know how to react to the sudden gesture as the older was clinging onto him.

"Uh- Seungcheol-" Jeonghan lightly patted his arms, trying to break the hug, "It will be fine."

Seungcheol slowly parted away unwillingly while looking down and calming himself.

Jeonghan helped him to stand up while Joshua supported Seokmin.

"Let's go in." Seungcheol stated as everyone stepped into the room and gathered around Sunwoo's bed.

Seungcheol, Seokmin and Dino were holding his arm while Ara, Woozi and Seungkwan were seated on the other side.

Jeonghan and Joshua were standing behind the Choi brothers. Jeonghan was constantly patting Seungcheol's and Dino's shoulder while Joshua was doing the same with Seokmin as well as Dino.

It was when Joshua looked at his brother. Even he was shocked with the way Jeonghan was treating Seungcheol. How was he being all soft for him and consoling him?

Of course Joshua would love to see a healthy relationship between the two. But it was just too early to witness that.

"Is everything- uh- you know?" Joshua whispered to him hesitantly.

Jeonghan nodded in denial, "But this is not the time to hate him, is it? I've vowed to stay by his side in difficult times so I've to."

"Are you sure it's just the obligation of the vows?"

"Probably not? I've been through it, Joshua." Jeonghan chuckled bitterly, "And I don't want anyone to be at my place. Self hatred is a silent killer, it just ruins all your potential at once.

Seungcheol is the emperor now, everyone loves him. Beside my vow in this marriage, I had once vowed to protect this kingdom along with you and our team, remember? He needs to value himself and not hate himself for something he didn't even have an idea about."

"You're right. I hope dad comes back all fine." Joshua worried.

"Don't worry, he will." Jeonghan assured, "He had been a great ruler. He was always true to his people. No way anyone would ignore that."

"I trust your words." Joshua nodded.

A/n : Nah don't assume anything . Isn't it way too early? Or is it just me being cruel? Idk. 💀

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo