TW: Smut towards the end of the chapter, painful sex, some blood.

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The night was chilly, so San shivered in his thin clothes with fewer layers by the time Seonghwa and he arrived at the king's quarters. Seonghwa opened the door to the main palace with the same grand gesture as before, one that stretched his shoulders and had his clothes flare around him from the gust of air he summoned. Intimidated, San followed him into the corridor. To the left, light shone through the rice paper covering the doors. The warm orange glow reminded San of the fires humans sometimes created in the forest to keep themselves warm during the night. They cooked meat and laughed while sitting around those. San had always found it intriguing to watch.

Elegant paper lanterns showed them the path and danced on Seonghwa's hair as he led San down the corridor. He halted next to a door as subtle as the others and bowed politely.

"For tonight, worry not about your regal duties. I will guide you through them starting in the morning." The shaman's voice was smooth like silk as it caressed San's skin. The dragon guessed some spirits must have blessed Seonghwa with an otherworldly beauty, for his refinement was unlike any human San had met.

San bowed back before Seonghwa introduced him loudly to the person inhabiting the chamber behind the door. The king's voice called for him to enter.

Seonghwa shut the door behind him after San nervously made his way in. His claws fumbled with each other under his sleeves as he drew closer.

King Hongjoong had changed into casual day clothes as well. His blue robe was decorated with silver patterns, and his white pants and socks softened the intimidation of his regal look. His long, black hair was hidden under yet another crown and a hairpin that showed his status. A blue ribbon dangled from the hairdo and brushed his shoulders.

On the table in front of him, an array of dishes had gathered. Meat and rice were joined by radish, bean sprouts, kimchi, and cooked eggs. Some items were for dessert, like the sweet rice cakes and the fruit. The amount was plentiful, though the meat wasn't too heavy, given the late hour and their upcoming duties.

Hongjoong beckoned San to sit. While San knelt in a mirror of the king, Hongjoong poured them drinks. Once the cups clicked on the table, Hongjoong allowed his sleeves to cover his hands once more as he folded them in front of his stomach. Hesitantly, San kept his back straight when the king bowed before him.

"Amiable dragon king. Now that we are in the privacy of my chambers, I shall convey my oath to you personally rather than to the royal scriptures. I thank you for your grace of being by the side of my kingdom. I shall treasure and welcome your might. Anything you may ask for shall be provided."

A rush of power filled San that had him hiding behind his hair. Other than Hongjoong, he wore only half of it tied back.

When the king rose, it was San's time to bow.

"I promise my blessings to be granted upon your land if I deem it worthy to receive them. Until the night of the ritual, I may gaze upon you and your people favourably and make a just judgment about your reward."

San rose. He noticed Hongjoong's gaze on the rivulets of white hair that had cascaded over his shoulders with the bow. Enthralled, as if he were gazing upon the light of a star trapped within San's hair, the king nodded.

"Then let us drink in favour of a fruitful marriage." Hongjoong handed San his cup with both hands and San handed Hongjoong his back in a similar fashion.

San was aware he didn't need to be as courteous as he was. While he gained wisdom and maturity from this ritual, it was the king asking for his favour rather than the other way around. San's elders had taught him dignity and virtue, and in such, they had advised a polite mannerism towards the king. Other imoogis swore to themselves never to become the slave of a human king, but San didn't find Hongjoong too appalling. His eyes were intelligent but didn't hold the unmistakable glint of greed. San already saw his qualities as an excellent king.

As San tasted the drink, his body adjusted comfortably on the ground. It was heated, and the warmth against his tail had his scales tingle in satisfaction. He didn't like the dryness, but Hongjoong's room offered luxury.

Upon the king's beckon, they went to eat. Since they were strangers, they had nothing much to say, and despite San's curiosity, not a single question formed in his mind. From time to time, Hongjoong assured himself that San enjoyed his food, and San agreed every time. Then they fell silent again.

After the rich meal cooked by the best cooks in the country, Hongjoong rose to his feet. A faint smile spread across his lips when San hastened to do the same.

"We shall conclude the marriage ritual by sharing a bed. In the room behind you, you may change your clothes and prepare. If you need Seonghwa's help, don't be afraid to ask for him." The king said it so evenly, but a blush crept into San's cheeks. The simmering nervosity in his stomach hadn't forgotten about this part. It was soothed by Hongjoong's age and his placid demeanour, but anxious for the strangeness of the situation.

San scurried off while the king did the same. Behind them, servants cleared the table while they were gone.

In the small chamber he entered, San found white sleepwear, a bowl of water, and a jar of oil. As he undressed, he eyed the unsuspecting brass container uneasily. He knew how the theory of this worked, but he had never tried it on himself. He supposed for the king; he was required to do a good job.

San knelt on the warm ground and let his tail stretch out behind him for the most comfort. His claws dipped into the oil and then found their way between his legs. He felt for his entrance, helpless with how nervosity clenched him up.

For a moment, San breathed deeply and asked his body to loosen up. He didn't know how much time he had before Hongjoong would get impatient. He didn't want to disappoint the king on their first night.

San wriggled his claw inside. The rough exterior of his scales against his sensitive insides had him clamp harder, but he stayed in position stubbornly. His heated forehead was drawn with concentration.

Pulling the finger back out to add oil was difficult. His body resisted any movement and it hurt. As San gazed upon his claw, he found it dirtied and smelly, but there was no blood.

San washed the claw and did it again. He tried to scratch out all the nasties that could displease Hongjoong, but his body disliked it a great deal. Once he was done, San forced a second finger inside just to be sure. The stretch was painful, and he stifled a whimper in his sleeve, but after a few moments of resting his digits, it had to be enough. After another wash, San hurried to put on his clothes and slipped outside.

Hongjoong rested on the bed. He was propped up on his side so he could see when San emerged, and his tanned skin contrasted with his white clothes. His hair was open, and no more royal emblems signalled his status over San. Finally, they met as equals.

San walked over to join the ruler in his place. As he neared, Hongjoong scooted aside to make space for him on his bed that stood on a platform and was rounded by a carved wooden railing that towered against the adjoining wall like a mountain. The hanji-paper behind it were painted with the sun and the moon, and the Five Peaks. San's yearning for home was interrupted when Hongjoong sat up to gaze at him. In the dim light of his chamber, his long lashes fanned over his cheeks as they framed his dark eyes.

"Does an imoogi have places he doesn't want to be touched?" Hongjoong asked as he extended his arms for San. Heat surged in San's belly when their bodies aligned and he felt Hongjoong's breath on his cheek. When San shook his head, the king's hands touched San's antlers. With awe, they caressed the dips and arches and outlined the shapes. Shuddering at the gentle touch, San leaned into him, head drooping.

Hongjoong kissed San's jaw, then his neck. His lips lingered every so often, leaving marks in their wake that would become evidence of their shared night. Their warmth lulled San as he sunk into the king's embrace.

When Hongjoong's fingers found the bow on San's shirt, San let him draw it open. The white fabric pooled around San's arms and showed off the faint blue shine of his sides and shoulders. As Hongjoong's lips kissed over those places on him, San squeezed his legs together with a shudder. Since it was his first time in such proximity to another person, every sensation overwhelmed him and translated into aching arousal.

When Hongjoong pulled the bodkin from San's hair, white strands cascaded over his shoulders. Hongjoong's fingers skimmed through them as if through water.

San was reluctant to undress the king, but he hoped they were on the same page as his fingers brushed the bulge in the man's pants. The hot, hard flesh sent a mixture of excitement and trouble through San as he imagined it entering him.

Hongjoong slipped out of his shirt after San had opened it and brushed back the dragon's hair to distract him with kisses to his chest as his hand reached for his middle. Breath hitching, San clung to the king's shoulders when his hand wrapped around San's straining arousal. San had always thought this part of him was mostly human, but he found it was darker than what he found in Hongjoong's pants and had more ridges under its scaled surface.

When they were entirely naked, Hongjoong turned San around to face the room. They sunk into the sheets together with their bodies aligned. San's tail was in the way, but Hongjoong didn't mind it as he coaxed it to rest over his hip instead. With the access free, San felt him rubbing against his behind. He stifled a needy moan as his tip leaked over the mattress.

"Bear with me," Hongjoong pleaded as he reached for San's hip. His fingers spread over scales as his tip nudged against the dragon's entrance. San gritted his teeth when it penetrated him.

It hurt. Despite the slippery slide from Hongjoong's fluids and the leftover oil, the big intrusion had San swallow a pained whimper. His claws dug into the sheets, careful not to break them as Hongjoong slid far deeper than San's claws. Discomfort shot through San's body at the depth and the way the tip nudged at walls protesting the movement. He thought he had to throw up, and he desperately wanted to beg Hongjoong to pull out.

Sweat pearled on San's forehead as he resisted the urge to withdraw. Tense, he laid in the king's arm while he whispered praises about how wonderful San's body felt.

The first careful thrust tugged on San's insides painfully. He nearly yelled out in pain, but pressed his claws to his mouth to keep it in. He felt as if Hongjoong had broken something; as if the pressure in his behind threatened to rip his guts apart even when he knew Hongjoong wasn't too big for it to work.

Tears brimmed in San's eyes as he clenched his eyes shut and waited through it. Hongjoong rocked into him and when he picked up the pace, the stabbing pain doubled, but San could survive it through broken groans. The wet pants of the king against his shoulder distracted him.

As his orgasm approached to promise relief from the pain, Hongjoong reached for San's middle. When he found his arousal softened and shrivelled, he grabbed his hip bone instead for purchase.

"You already came?"

San whimpered at a harsh thrust, feeling as if he would die.

"Y-yes."

Hongjoong chuckled breathlessly, as if proud. When his hips stilled in San, warmth flooded him. He barely felt its pressure, too relieved that the pain stopped.

Spent, San collapsed. His skin was clammy and cold as Hongjoong pulled out of him. A throbbing pain stayed behind as San subtly wiped his eyes against the sheets. He had heard first times were painful, but he hadn't imagined it to be this bad. Would next time be just as horrible? He didn't know if he could do this voluntarily again.

Hongjoong kissed his shoulder blade as his arm wrapped around San's hips.

"There is some blood, but that is normal for virgins. Are you alright?"

Terrified, San nodded. He was bleeding. He shouldn't be bleeding in that place. What if Hongjoong had destroyed something?

It took San a while to fall asleep as worries and pain kept him up. When he finally drifted off in Hongjoong's arm, he prayed he had overcome the worst.