•Choi Kingdom - Phoenix Ashes Border, 4 AM•

"Everyone! Attention!" A man gained the spotlight among the troops, "I, Ha Jiyoung, the trustee of Phoenix Rulers, demand your utmost dedication to this mission. We will ruin a major part of the Choi Empire today. Are you ready?"

"Yes sir!" The army stated in unison.

"Let's review the map one last time." A man suggested as the huge map was laid on the ground for everyone to get a look.

It was when the map suddenly caught fire as it started to burn into ashes.

"What the hell?" Jiyoung yelled, "Save it!"

"Save yourself first."

A voice echoed as everyone snapped their heads towards the source. And there stood, ten fine men with a challenging grin plastered on their faces as they held onto their swords.

The supreme arsenal of the Choi Kingdom, the ultimate masters.

"I thought Phoenix has finally rented some braincells but I was wrong." Jeonghan walked forward, "You all are too eager to die and guess what, we're too eager to kill."

"Yoon Jeonghan." Jiyoung laughed, "You're still that egoistic person, aren't you?"

"Yeah because I at least have some achievements to be egoistic about." Jeonghan retorted, "But you- nevermind."

"What nevermind hyung?" Hoshi chuckled, "He's the person who's too shameless to sit down after getting thrashed by us multiple times."

"Give us orders sir!!" A man from the phonix army stated.

[🔴 VIOLENCE WARNING🔴]

"I'll use him to set an example." Jeonghan summoned a red hot iron chain which got wrapped around that man's neck, "3...2...1-" He pulled the chain towards himself to which the man's head got separated from his body.

Jiyoung clenched his jaw, "GUYS! ATTACK!"

The troops of Phoenix rushed towards the ten men who got ready to thrash them all.

Jeonghan and Joshua created a huge volcano of fire which skilfully burnt a considerable amount of enemies, alive. Hoshi and Mingyu summoned the loud echoing thunderstorms which struck the bodies of the enemies to explode them.

A fast moving whirlpool of clouds and rain created by Vernon and Minghao made a bunch of troops disappear in thin air. Wonwoo and Jun hypnotized the enemies to kill themselves in the most brutal way possible.

Woozi and Seungkwan's spells summoned a huge amount of bombs and explode them right over the enemies. Within a while, the entire manforce of the phoenix ashes was swiped out as Jiyoung remained the sole survivor.

He tried his best to fight back but at the end was captured by the supreme powers as they stood around their prey.

"This bitch will carry our message to his boss." Seungkwan kicked his feet to which he fell down.

"First of all, slice his tongue apart, I don't want him to speak." Jeonghan crossed his arms.

"Hands too, he shouldn't be speaking sign language either." Joshua added.

"N-no-! Please- n-" Jiyoung's beggings were of no use as the next moment Woozi and Hoshi cut off his tongue and arms.

"Great." Wonwoo chuckled.

"My turn." Mingyu summoned a thunderbolt which sent electric shivers through Jiyoung's entire body but remained cautious as to not to kill him.

"Final move." Jeonghan approached the half dead soul and tore his shirt completely. He grabbed his neck to push him on the ground. Jeonghan summoned a pen like thing which had a tip of blazing hot red iron.

He pressed the tip on Jiyoung's bare back as he wrote a message, Will see you soon, Park Jaejun and his bitches.

Jeonghan pierced the tip against Jiyoung's back to which he couldn't even scream. He pulled his hairs to make him look into his eyes, "Now go to your boss and show them this message."

He kicked him for one last time and then joined the others.

[🔴WARNING ENDS🔴]

"Let's go." Mingyu nodded, "It's morning already."

"You all, come to our place for breakfast." Joshua insisted.

"I'm in." Jun stated followed by everyone.

"Vernon, pour some rainwater on us." Seungkwan whined while looking at the dirt and blood over his clothes.

"As you say." Vernon nodded as a brief amount of rain water mixed with some spells cleaned everyone from the bloodshed act they had just commited.

•Yoon Mansion•

"The empress is here." Minghao pointed out the cars and security of the queen outside the Yoon Mansion as soon as the ten of them reached there.

Jeonghan's breath hitched as he stopped walking. He recalled his last encounter with Seungcheol which was filled with unnecessary revelations.

"Let's go." Jun stated as everyone walked in and saw Jaebyeom talking to Ara while Dino was silently listening to them.

"Greetings to the highness." The men bowed in unison.

"Bless you all." Ara chuckled but soon frowned, "Where are you all coming from?"

Jeonghan cleared his throat as Jaebyeom nodded to him and sent all the staff away.

"There was a small dispute at the Phoenix border." Joshua explained.

"What?" Jaebyeom asked, "Are you all okay?"

"Yeah don't worry uncle, it's all settled now." Woozi assured.

"Why wasn't I informed about it?" Dino intervened.

"You're the prince, Dino." Jeonghan explained, "You're not supposed to be involved in these small disputes."

"I'm proud of you all." Ara chuckled, "Mingyu, come to the palace and explain everything to the majesty later on."

"For sure." Mingyu nodded.

"Anyways, let's come to the main topic." Ara inhaled a deep breath, "Jeonghan, come sit here." She pointed at the seat in front of her and beside Jaebyeom.

The others took their seats on the side as the staff was summoned again to serve some refreshments.

"I've talked to your father, not as an empress but as a mother." Ara began, "I know whatever had happened yesterday night and the majesty has asked me to prepare for the wedding."

Wedding? Slow down y'all-

Jeonghan glanced at Joshua while eveybody else was clueless.

"Your father has no problem with it, all we need is your consent." Ara stated.

As if my consent matters.

Jeonghan remained silent. What was he supposed to say? The formal drama that was going on was suffocating him. All because of that one person, Choi Seungcheol.

Yes, they used to bicker a lot but they never hated each other. But now, Jeonghan definitely hated him because he had a solid reason for it.

"I think, we should let the kids talk for a while." Jaebyeom insisted.

"I understand." Ara nodded, "You all can go in."

Everyone stood up and left along with Dino.

"Hyung? What's going on?" Hoshi immediately asked.

"Joshua come with me." Jeonghan muttered in a tired voice without looking at anyone.

"But-"

"I'll tell you all, let them be." Dino intervened, "Is it okay, hyung?"

"What's there to hide anyways?" Jeonghan chuckled bitterly as he left with his brother.

"I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN." Jeonghan collapsed on the bed, "This stupid scar."

"It's not a scar." Joshua intervened.

"For me, it is." Jeonghan scoffed.

"If you don't want this marriage, just go and say no?" Joshua raised a brow.

"Say no to the highness?" Jeonghan sat up, "You know damn well that it ain't possible."

"Then why are you throwing tantrums, just accept the reality." Joshua rolled his eyes, "You wanted an arranged marriage anyways."

"Not with HIM." Jeonghan yelled, "He's argh- Do you even know he doesn't see me as Yoon Jeonghan? My existence doesn't matter to him. I'm Kim Hari for him which I'm NOT. My past life or whatever this bullshit is, I'm not going to give up my present for it. I don't want to marry a person who's going to force an unknown identity over me."

"Jeonghan you can just talk it out-"

"As if he'll listen." Jeonghan inhaled a deep breath as he stood up. He ignited a small fire on his hand, "I swear on my powers Choi Seungcheol, if you dare to fuck with my life, I swear I'll fuck it a greater time for you. You're messing with my existence right? I'LL MAKE YOU QUESTION YOUR WHOLE DAMN USELESS LIFE."

"Jeonghan STOP! THE FIRE IS RISING." Joshua immediately discarded Jeonghan's rage, "Calm down, please."

Jeonghan embraced his brother, "I don't want this, Joshua. I don't want to lose my individuality. I'm not Kim Hari, you know it right?"

"Yes Jeonghan, don't worry, we won't let anyone do it, okay?" Joshua patted his back, "I trust you."

"How?" Jeonghan chuckled bitterly, "This is not a marriage, Joshua. This is a mere fulfilment of obsession. Can't you see? He didn't even bother to come here to talk? To ask me personally if I was okay with all this or not?

Do you know why? Because in this relationship, Yoon Jeonghan is nowhere. It's just Choi Seungcheol and Kim Hari. I know what he's up to. He just wants me to act as his departed soulmate, why? Because I've this pathetic mark. He isn't marrying me, he's marrying this mark."

Joshua almost teared up. So much pain, dejection and disappointed even before the wedding? How was it supposed to sail after the wedding? Jeonghan was hurt, it was visible.

Joshua knew that Jeonghan was a very objective person and he always preferred to live in the moment. He didn't deserve all this. He deserved true love, of his own part, not of some reincarnation or whatsoever.

"What are the main things of a marriage, tell me?" Jeonghan asked.

"Love, trust, respect." Joshua muttered.

"Do I have any one of them in it?" Jeonghan scoffed, "What if this mark disappears? What will happen to this marriage after that? I would have had no problem with this if it was a normal arranged marriage. But the actual motive behind this is completely ruining me."

"It's over Joshua. The day I'll marry him, my life will be over." Jeonghan paused, "I never knew that one day I'll have to except my own destruction. And I obviously didn't know that it would be through him."

"Jeonghan, I'll talk to him." Joshua suggested, "I'll ask him to talk to you."

"There's no point of that. If he didn't consider talking to me, there's no need to force him. Because I'm not like him, to force my decisions on someone without their will." Jeonghan inhaled a deep breath, "Let's go. I'm ready to walk into hell."

Joshua patted his back as both of them walked out of the room. Now, everyone was well aware of the situation, all thanks to Dino. They moved back to the hall as Jeonghan sat in front of Ara with Joshua by his side.

"I'm blessed to have such a son in law." Ara chuckled, "If you want to say anything, please speak Jeonghan."

Yeah, I want to say no, will you ever agree with that?

"Jeonghan?" Ara asked again.

"My utmost respect to you, your highness." Jeonghan cleared his throat, "But I've two conditions for this wedding."

"Yeah, feel free to say it." Ara assured but Joshua and Jaebyeom were worried. They were well aware of Jeonghan's wit. And him putting conditions or bets? Game over.

"First of all, no one would refer to me by anything except for YOON JEONGHAN. I hope you're getting my point."

"I understand you son." Ara nodded, "I promise, no one will dare to. And by no one, I mean no one."

"Thanks." Jeonghan paused as he turned towards his father, "Dad, I know I'm going to say this without discussing with you but please trust me."

"Yeah, I trust you son."

"My second wish is." Jeonghan looked at Ara, "The day I'll take vows with Seungcheol would be the same day when Joshua will marry Seokmin."

"WHAT?"

"What day is today?" Hoshi muttered to Mingyu, "Should I ask Woozi to marry me today? Will he agree?"

"Hyung please shut up." Mingyu whispered back, "A bomb has just exploded and here you are."

"Jeonghan-" Jaebyeom was taken aback, "All of a sudden?"

"No, not all of a sudden." Jeonghan nodded, "They have been dating for four years now. We all know."

"All?" Ara asked.

"Uh-" Jeonghan pointed at the friends, "All of us."

"Wow." Ara turned towards Dino, "You too?"

"Seungcheol hyung knew as well." Dino immediately answered.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ara frowned, "I'll be blessed to have Joshua as my son in law. And Seokmin? I thought he was the least secretive among my three sons. If he hid such a huge thing from me, I don't even want to imagine how much the other two are hiding."

"Actually, Joshua was hesitating because Seokmin is the prince of the dynasty." Jeonghan looked down.

"So what?" Ara sighed, "Jaebyeom? Do you have any problem?"

"If the kids are ready then why would I've any problem?" Jaebyeom stated.

"Fine then." Ara stood up as she handed a royal box to Jaebyeom which was a present, "We'll invite you to the palace to fix the dates soon. The two weddings are fixed."

Everyone bowed as the queen and the youngest prince left. The other friends also excused themselves as the two brothers remained alone with their father.

Jaebyeom scoffed as he left without saying anything.

"Jeonghan why would you do that?" Joshua immediately blew up.

"For your good." Jeonghan stood up, "You would've never said it so I did. I don't want you and Seokmin to lose your love because of stupid reasons."

Joshua sighed, "But dad?"

"Don't worry, he's not upset, he's just dejected that he came to know like this." Jeonghan assured, "We will talk to him later on."

Joshua embraced the older, "You're yourself so hurt yet you thought about me first. Thankyou Jeonghan!"

"Yah shut up, stop being emotional." Jeonghan patted his back.

Soon enough, night had fallen. Jaebyeom was sitting by the window of his room, looking at the fireworks in the dark sky. Those were for the celebration because the two princes of the dynasty were going to get married. Expensive presents were being distributed among the public like they were nothing.

It was when he heard a knock at the door, "Oh Jeonghan, come in son!"

Jeonghan stepped in and sat down beside him, "Dad? Are you upset? Because of Joshua's-"

"No, son. Why would I be upset over my son's happiness? Seokmin is a good guy, I know him personally. He's not one of those egoistic princes, none of them are. All three of them are really humble." Jaebyeom stated, "I was just thinking why was Joshua not able to talk to me over this."

"Because of your aversion to being a family with the royalty." Jeonghan held his hand, "I know dad, that picture is clear in my head more than anyone else. But we're self sufficient, we can protect ourselves. And you used to say right? If your time will come, no one can stop it from taking away your life."

"I know son." Jaebyeom nodded, "Please take care if yourself and Joshua. And- I'm sorry to you."

"Why?"

"I fixed your wedding without your knowledge. But you yourself know that we can't really say no to them no matter how close we are, right?" Jaebyeom felt guilty.

Jeonghan just nodded.

"But I'm always with you. I promise if the empress fails to fulfil her promise of keeping your identity's glory, I'll bring you back to your dad's home." Jaebyeom assured, "I won't let anyone touch your existence at any cost."

"I trust you dad." Jeonghan chuckled lightly.

"Joshua?" Jaebyeom grinned without looking back at the door, "Stop listening to us secretively and come here."

"How did you know?" Joshua widened his eyes.

"I'm your father."

Joshua walked in as Jaebyeom embraced him, "You chose the best person for yourself. I know, he'll always keep you happy and in turn you'll also keep him happy."

Jeonghan admired the two but the agony in his heart didn't seem to lessen. For the first time in his life, Yoon Jeonghan was scared, of his future, of his own life.

A/n : Weddings, fixed. Trust the process.

Y'all were too happy in chapter two, weren't you?

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo