#lapis love | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

stayarmytinyzenmoa-l · 2 years

Text

Lapis Love [Ch. 2]

Nobility AU; Fantasy AU

TW: Language, Implications of an Abusive Household, Gaslighting, Manipulation, Descriptions of a Panic Attack

CW: Arranged/Political Marriage, Politcial Turmoil

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy

Pairing: Mercenary!Liu Yangyang x Noblity!Reader

Y/N Pronouns: Female (She/Her)

Summary: When hit with the sudden news that you’d be married you freaked out and with the help of your brother you ran away to avoid becoming embroiled in a political war. However, your betrothed was just as freaked out as you were and sent a mercenary after you. When you’re two paths cross unknowingly, suddenly your month journey to refuge becomes that much more interesting.

(2/?) [Previous] | [Next]

[NCT Masterlist] | [Other Groups Masterlist] | [Lapis Love Masterlist]

Word Count: 5.6K

Notes: Y'all have no idea the rage I felt editing this lmfao first Tumblr eats this entire post then as soon as I press post on the new version it fucking deletes the whole thing evil evil site WAAAH it's okay it's here now! I hope you enjoy <3

Disclaimer: Please remember that this is an AU and a work of fiction, obviously the idols mentioned/written about in this story would never partake in these actions. The idols mentioned in this work are meant to be seen more as face claims rather than the actual idols themselves.

Feedback is greatly appreciated!! Thank you for reading!

“Okay, all packed?” Kevin asks, patting your shoulder and readjusting your bag straps.

“Yeah, I’ve got everything,” you stumbled slightly under the weight.

“Extra clothes? Cloak? Some pocket change? Journal and pen? Extra shoes? Snacks? Sleeping bag? Pillows?”

“Kevin! I have everything,” you stopped him before he could say anything more. He took a deep breath. You slipped your bag off to show him the contents, seeing everything that he mentioned packed in there.

“You know… I’d come with you if I could,” he says, “and I really really want to,” his voice was now heavy with melancholy.

“Kev, I’ll be fine,” you offered him the widest smile you could. You didn’t want to leave. But you didn’t want to be a pawn meant to be thrown away either. Kevin’s hand never left your shoulder, instead he pulled you into a tight hug, as if this would be the last time he’d be able to hold you at all. With his arms around your shoulders, he pressed his head against yours, and you could only wrap your arms around him too. Would this be the last time you saw him?

The reality of the situation just came crashing down on you. Once you get to Stardenn, no doubt, you wouldn't be able to leave. In fact, the possibility of you starting an all-out war between the Qian and the Huang families is entirely probable. You'd have to change your name, your appearance, your story, and everything else about you. Would you ever see any of your family members again after that? The only other possibility is that you make your way to Bleakgate, to your fiance who is waiting to meet you, and to sign your name and your abilities away to that family.

Either way... you lose who you are. If you could hold your brother any tighter, you did just now. Your only regret, well, actually there are many, are that your last conversation with your parents was an argument and that you didn't get to say goodbye to your other siblings. What kind of cruel trick of fate is this?

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, (Y/N), I’m sorry I failed you as a brother,” he cried into your shoulder. You held him tight to you.

“No, don’t be sorry, Kev, it was out of your control,” you reassured him.

“Please, please be safe on your way to Stardenn,” he says it more like a prayer to whatever god is above you rather than a request to you. “It’s dangerous out there, (Y/N), you can only trust yourself and please, by god, do not reveal your abilities. It’ll give you away in an instant,” he pleads.

“I know that! I’m not going to go around freezing people, Kev!”

“At least I can hide my abilities, you know? Stardenn is going south, there’s no snow down there,” he says.

“I know, I know, Kev! I’ll be okay,” you reassured him again. “I’ll write as soon as I get to Stardenn, I promise,” you held his hand tightly and picked up your bag with your other hand. “But… Kev, let me know if anything happens. I know you have the ability to find me, so if the situation suddenly turns you need to tell me and I’ll change due course to Bleakgate,” you said solemnly. Kevin only shook his head.

“Whatever alternative you face out there will be much more favorable than what House Huang has planned for you,” he says. He takes a deep breath and holds open the door for you. You both had to leave quickly and in secret, thus, the only likely exit was through the servants’ exit in the kitchens. You looked out the door. It was a chilled night with not a single cloud in the sky and with miles of stars to light your path. “Are you… are you ready to go?” He asks again. You looked down, gone were your riches and silks and instead they had been replaced with common clothes taken from the servants’ quarters. You adjusted your cap and nodded your head. “Okay, one more thing,” Kevin leans forward and tucks your hair under your cap. “It’s infinitely harder for a woman to be traveling on her own, until you make it to Stardenn, you must pretend to be a man, can you do that? You cannot reveal your identity, your abilities, or your gender. It’s just a precaution to make it safely to Stardenn, then you can deck out in all the dresses you want,” he adds with a weak laugh. Kevin knew much more about the world than you did, you had nothing else to go upon.

"Okay, yes, I can do that," you nodded unsurely. Kevin was hiding something from you. Something about your situation, your marriage to House Huang, you could tell from the way he was trying to avoid your eyes. Kevin, who was always the more expressive of the four children, was hiding a huge secret about your political marriage, and for him to do that, you know, it must be something horrible, something he's chosen to spare you the fear of knowing. It must be something horrific if he's decided to go through such lengths to prevent your marriage to the militaristic house, to try to offer himself first in your stead. You owe him so much, and you haven't the slightest idea how to pay him back.

“If it’s hard… just pretend to be me, okay? It’s easier to pretend than it is to lie,” he says. You nodded your head again, making sure all the stray hairs were tucked and hidden securely. “Oh, and this too,” he unbuckles his belt and clasps it around you instead, your left hip weighing down. You looked at the new addition and shook your head.

“No! Oh, no, Kevin, I can’t take this,” you reached to unsheathe the sword at your hip, but Kevin stops you.

“(Y/N), I can’t be there to protect you, so… this is the best that I can do,” he says.

“But I know next to nothing about swordsmanship,” your hands wrapped around the hilt and he shook his head.

“What do you mean? You watched Byul and I spar every day,” he says. “Don’t pretend that you didn’t mirror our moves with a quill,” he laughs. “Keep it, (Y/N), and it will keep you safe,” he insists. You look down at it again, seeing the orange calcite gem glimmer back at you. You looked at the bracelet around your wrist, the lapis lazuli gem seemed to react with the sword. The manifestations of two seasons with one person. “I can always get another one,” Kevin senses your unease. You sighed, there was so much more you wanted to say, but you only had so much time to leave before the guards would begin their morning rounds.

“Thank you, Kevin, I owe you so much that I can’t even begin to fathom how I’m going to repay you once I’m safe,” you said with a soft smile. Kevin only shook his head.

“Any good brother would help his sister this way,” he refutes. "If you want to repay me back so soon then... then I'd better get a letter from you with a postal stamp from Stardenn within the next month, alright?" He says, playfully nudging your shoulder.

"I will do that then," you nodded. “Then, I will see you soon, I promise,” your eyes held sincerity in them and Kevin’s shoulders relaxed.

“Be safe, (Y/N), and may the Fates bless your journey,” he watches you step out into the vast.

“Your highness! You need to calm down!” Doyoung shouts. Renjun’s shoulders hiked up for a moment, his hands continuing to squeeze each other.

“Your highness… you’re bleeding,” Ningning steps forward and pulls Renjun’s hands apart. He hadn’t even realized that they were hurting. “I’ll return with bandages,” she runs off before Renjun could say another word. He looks to Doyoung, the family’s advisor, who was deep in thought himself.

“It just doesn’t add up, why would the Winter Noble run off?” Doyoung clicks his tongue. “There would be no reason to, unless… unless House Moon was aware of our intentions,” he unrolls a parchment over the table. “But that should be impossible, we’ve played our cards right all this time, there’s no way they could know,” he continues to mutter.

“Doyoung… what will I do? What will happen to me?” Renjun asks. Doyoung looks up from his plans, focus and intensity etched into his features.

“You will not do anything, we’ll hire a mercenary to find her instead,” he says. “We have to leave as little traces as we can back to House Huang or else it’d look suspicious,” he says. He taps on the table absently. “Renjun, your friend from military academy, the one who dropped out, what was his name again?” Renjun froze at this.

“Y-Yangyang, his name is Yangyang,” he answers.

“And this Yangyang, it is to my knowledge that he took up mercenary work following his withdrawal from academy?”

“That is correct, Doyoung.”

“How good is he at tracking?”

“Not bad, if I say so myself,” Yangyang responds. Both nobles turned to the door immediately, seeing Yangyang leaning against the doorframe with a knife twirling in his hands. “Need me to find a runaway noble? Easy,” he says while he pushes off the frame. He stands next to Renjun and rests his palms on the table in front of him. “How much?” He asks. Doyoung’s eyes glowered.

“Name your price and we will negotiate. The master is in an unfit state to rule due to his… anger, I am working as the lord regent in the meantime,” he explains. Renjun blinks, regent? His father never mentioned anything about a regent taking over, and if there was it wouldn’t be Doyoung, it would be either him or his siblings. However, Doyoung paid no mind to Renjun’s suspicions.

“I’ll take down and charge any damages, how about that?” Yangyang answers.

“And the down payment?”

“Let’s say… two million gold pieces,” Yangyang held up two fingers and Doyoung’s eye twitched in annoyance.

“Done.”

“I sup— Wait, seriously?” Yangyang seems taken aback while Doyoung nods.

“It is imperative that the Winter Noble is in our control,” Doyoung says. “House Huang is willing to pay any price to ensure her safe arrival,” he emphasizes. Yangyang nods.

“Alright, give me a description, and I’ll find her,” he nods.

“I’m afraid there’s not much to go on, House Moon was very careful in keeping their children from nobles’ eyes for a while, we had only met three of them two years ago, after all. Just look for someone with a talent in ice. In a life or death situation, I doubt any of the four siblings would be able to hide their powers.”

“Viscount Kim!” A gruff voice enters the conversation, the three redirect their attention and a soldier stands at attention.

“At ease, soldier,” Doyoung dismisses. The soldier steps forward, a letter in hand.

“This was intercepted by the messenger line, there is no return address, but there is a destination,” he says. Doyoung takes the letter, examining it carefully. There was no design on the wax seal and the paper looked old. He turns it over and reads the delivery address.

“It’s addressed to the Qian Duchy.”

“Correct, we found the letter in Kilvein, meaning that it’s possible origins were either Evercairn, Fairham, or Emberhaven,” the soldier says. Renjun listens carefully, all three territories were under House Moon, to his knowledge, while Evercairn was where the manor was located. “It’s only a hunch, sir, but it’s the best lead we got,” he says.

“The master of the house must not hear of this at all, am I clear,” Doyoung says with a dark stare. The soldier nods.

“Stardenn, then?” Yangyang cuts in. Doyoung raises an eyebrow.

“Do you intend on going alone?” Renjun asks.

“Well, this is just hypothetical, by the way, but if I were a noble lady running away from a forced marriage—”

“Arranged marriage,” Doyoung corrects.

“Tomato, tomahto,” Yangyang waves his hand, “and I saw a militia awaiting the place I was hypothetically going to take refuge in, I would turn tail and hide somewhere else,” Yangyang postulates. “A month, give me a month to find and return the Winter Noble.”

“And if you fail?” Doyoung asks.

“Shoot, do whatever then! Send our military, execute me, whatever!” Yangyang shrugs and Renjun gasps.

“We will hold you to those words, mercenary,” Doyoung says with a hint of warning in his voice. Yangyang only grins. “When will you be ready to leave?”

“Right now is fine,” Yangyang nods his head and pivots on his heel, walking out of the meeting room.

“Wait… wait! Yangyang!” Renjun stumbles after him, but not before nodding his head to Doyoung out of respect. Renjun just barely catches up with Yangyang as they turn into the armory. “Yangyang—”

“Can I borrow this?” Yangyang takes one of the swords leaning against the wall.

“Yes, go ahead,” Renjun nods. “I need to—”

“Okay, sweet, how about this one?” He takes two daggers.

“If you need it, then be my guest,” Renjun says. “I have to—”

“Should I take this too?” Yangyang holds a shield up.

“Oh, goodness, no, I know your fighting style well enough to know that a shield would just weigh you down, at most, just take an arm guard,” Renjun hands him the latter and the shield clatters to the ground. “Anyway, Yangyang—”

“So, since the Winter Noble uses elemental magic, maybe I should take a protective piece with me instead? Winter, meaning ice? Okay, what protects against ice?”

“Lapis lazuli, none of which we have in this territory, you’ll probably find more in Evercairn, but your journey won’t take you there, just avoid getting frozen,” Renjun answers. “Now, before I forget—”

“I guess I’ll travel lightly, no telling when the lady took off, so I’ll have to catch up as soon as I can,” Yangyang wonder aloud.

“Yangyang!” Renjun shouts and Yangyang looks surprised.

“Damn, no need to raise your voice, what’s up?” Yangyang asks.

“I’m coming with you!”

“Oh, no, absolutely not,” Yangyang shakes his head. Renjun looks around him before grabbing Yangyang’s arm.

“Yangyang, please, you can’t leave me here with… with them,” he whispers.

“Jun, are you kidding me? If I could take you, I would, hell, it’s your wife-to-be that I’m tracking down, but it is exactly because of your parents that I can’t take you,” Yangyang whispers back. “Your dad’s already on the brink of madness, imagine what would happen when the last of his kids who lives with him up and disappeared?” He says.

“But, Yangyang…” Renjun pleads, but he soon catches himself. Yangyang was right. The punishment for him leaving his duties here would be much more severe than if he didn’t leave at all. “Okay, I trust you, Yangyang,” Renjun says. He reaches into his pocket and hands him a small piece of parchment. “House Moon are very secretive, not much is known of them. We only know the visages of the elder three because they’ve been in public eye. Taeil is top of his class in military academy, Byulyi may be in line for a ministerial role, and Kevin… well, he’s Kevin, everyone knows him and his extravagant lifestyle,” Renjun shakes his head as he says this. “Then there’s (Y/N).”

“Ooh, wifey, huh?”

“It’s not funny, Yangyang,” Renjun grimaces. “There’s not much anyone knows about her, other than the fact that she can be rude and cruel to people,” he shivers. “So we only have a basic description of her, she was a real homebody, apparently,” he says. Yangyang unfolds the paper and reads through it. His eyebrows furrowed together.

“This is literally just her hair, skin, and eye color,” he deadpans.

“Exactly,” Renjun drags a tired hand down his face.

“Well, whatever, I just have to find the first ice magic user, right?” Yangyang shrugs.

“Well, yes, but it can’t be that simple,” Renjun shakes his head.

“What do you mean? From what you told me, her highness is sheltered. She’s never been to the outside world. So what I’m looking for is a noble woman with an insane amount of naivety who can freeze things,” Yangyang says with a confident smile. “Easier than sharpening a sword,” he reassures his friend. “I’ll be back in a month, hell, maybe even earlier,” Yangyang says.

“You… you shouldn’t have said that back there, Yangyang,” Renjun mumbles.

“Said what?”

“You gave Doyoung permission to execute you, Yangyang, he takes those things very seriously,” Renjun bites his nails.

“Oh, pish posh, I’ll be fine, have I ever failed you?”

“You dropped out of military academy!”

“Okay, well, that was more of failing myself.”

“You left me alone, Yangyang!”

“Come on, you’re fine!”

“I am now! Yangyang! Yuta and his goons shoved me into chests!”

“They what?!” Yangyang’s jaw dropped and Renjun hung his head low.

“They…” he takes a deep breath. “It’s fine, it was in the past… just… be safe, okay? You’re my only friend,” Renjun says sadly. Yangyang sighs, a small frown settling on his lips.

“Hey, come on, don’t talk like I’m going to die so easily, what did they call me back in academy?”

“Hard-headed?”

“Yeah! And I’m literally hard headed! Johnny used to try to bash my skull against a wall and the wall would crack instead!”

“Your tenacity is… outstanding,” Renjun says with concern. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop worrying about you, if anyone can handle this, you could,” Renjun backs off.

“Cool, cool, see? Your best friend’s got this job in the bag,” Yangyang laughs. “I’ll be back before you notice that I’m gone!” Yangyang attaches the weapons to his harness.

“Just be careful, Yangyang! I heard… I heard that there’s strange beasts around the roads now… you’ll never know,” Renjun reaches around his neck and pulls out charm of his necklace from beneath his shirt.. “Take this with you too, it’s a protective amulet but… I don’t know, maybe I got scammed, it hasn’t done much protecting,” Renjun laughed. Yangyang spotted the dark bruise under Renjun’s collar when he unclasped the necklace to hand it to him.

“Geez, that’s one way to get rid of trash,” Yangyang chuckles while he clasps it around his neck. “Sure, I’ll keep it safe for you, but I’m returning it as soon as I get back,” Yangyang says. “Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone,” he says.

“Oh, please, you’re taking all the stupid with you,” Renjun rolls his eyes.

“There’s the Renjun I know,” Yangyang grins. “See you in a month!” And then Yangyang took off. Renjun held his hand up a little bit longer, a strange sense of foreboding in his heart. Something bad was going to happen. Renjun shook his head. If anything bad was going to happen, it would be to him. Yangyang’s got this uncanny ability to slip out of trouble easily, after all. Renjun took a deep breath. The wedding has been delayed a month.

Maybe he could still escape.

“Eek!” You jumped up as soon as you heard a bush rustle next to you. Your hands were clasped over your heart and you could feel it pumping against your chest at an ungodly pace. No way, you’d just been out for no later than an hour, imagine the embarrassment you’d have to live through in the afterlife if you’d died so quickly. Soon, a mere bunny hopped out of the shrubbery and you let out a sigh or relief.

“Ah, just a bunny,” you muttered. You relaxed and stumbled forward. You looked down and pulled Kevin’s sword from where it had gotten stuck. Sword. Right, you had a weapon and yet you hadn’t thought of using it even once so far in your journey. You pulled it out of its sheath, the gemstone at the bottom glimmering against the ornate silver hilt.

Kevin had received it as a gift from your father on his eighteenth birthday. Each of the siblings had received a gift like this at that age, Taeil’s were a pair of gloves adorned with green aventurine and Byulyi's were a set of claw rings with carnelian. Yours, meanwhile, was a simple bracelet with a beautifully carved lapis lazuli. The purpose of these charms were to keep your powers in check, and the fact that Kevin so readily handed his to you… he must trust you a great deal as well as himself. Growing up, Kevin had a nasty habit of accidentally setting things on fire, and thus was one of the first to wear the appropriate gemstone, then as a brooch, and had so far been the only exception to the eighteenth birthday rule. He was happy enough when he got upgraded, though, 'carrying a sword looked much cooler than wearing a gaudy pin,' he would say.

You looked at the way the sword glimmered in the sunlight, naturally, it reacted well. It was heavy in your hands, and while it took one hand for Kevin to wield, it took you both to hold it steady. Whatever possessed Kevin’s mind to give this to you, you were sure you’d curse it as soon as you saw him again. If anything, it was just weighing down your travels, but you couldn’t shrug away his kind intentions. You gave it a small twirl, the sword weighing your hand down enough to make it ache. True, you watched him spar with Byulyi a number of times, you understood swordsmanship in theory, but not in practice. Byulyi, namely, was gifted in fencing. Parries, lunges, and ripostes, true to Kevin’s words, you practiced all of these with a quill. Same in Kevin’s case, militant swordsmanship. Slices, thrusts, and counters, you knew all of the basics yet you lacked the ability to apply them practically.

“What use is a sword if I can barely use it?” You frowned. You sheathed it again and continued down the path to Kilvein, it was the closest town to Evercairn on the way to Stardenn. After that, you would make way to Rosebreak, and after that Hazelfall. Then, finally, your destination of Stardenn. It was a long road ahead of you, but one you were determined to take in order to ensure your safety and, if not that, your own independence. Kilvein shouldn’t be much further away, in fact, if you squinted a little, you could just barely make out the outline of the town already.

It was as if you were invigorated once more, finally seeing civilization just as the sun began to rise. You approached with a skip in your step to the town gate. The gate wasn’t manned at the moment, and you took the liberty of slipping in. Despite the early morning, the streets were busy with people bustling about the morning market, no doubt buying ingredients for breakfast. Breakfast, your stomach rumbled quietly and you glanced around, being sure that no one heard. You pulled out your small purse, counting the coins concealed in it. With a small smile, you approached the baker’s stand.

“Good morning, ma'am,” you grinned. The baker matched your smile.

“Good morning, fair lady,” she says. “Would you like any of my goods?” She inquires. You nodded, looking down at the collection.

“Just this one, please,” you pointed to the braided bread and she nods, grabbing a basket to place them inside of.

“Anything else?” She asks.

“Ah, no, it’s quite alright,” you nodded, shuffling through your coin purse to pull out the appropriate amount. Then, suddenly, a young boy bumps into you. “Goodness!” You just barely catch yourself, but once you’ve finally regained your composure, you realized a grave problem.

“That urchin, he stole your purse!” The baker looked more shocked than you.

“Why, I…” you blinked a few times, trying to process what just happened. “I’ll be right back!” You said to the baker before taking off after the boy, but, as you were running, someone else ran past you at a much faster speed, catching up to the boy in no time and grabbing him by the collar to hoist him up. The boy squeaked in surprise and the man sighs.

“You little brat give back what you stole!” The man shouts. The boy cries for a moment before dropping two bags. You just barely catch up with them. “You the owner of this one?” The man asks, holding up your purse. You could only nod, just barely catching your breath.

“That’s mine!” The boy refutes.

“Sure it is, and I’m the crown prince’s lover,” the man laughs. “Ugh, it’s too early in the morning for this,” he drops the boy and hands you your purse. The boy kicks a stone under him while the man continues to tell him off.

“Ah, this may be awkward but,” you cut in and the boy and man turn to you. You just felt so bad for the young boy, he must’ve been hungry. He was so thin and dirty, you could only imagine what he had been going through. “This is actually my younger brother,” you said suddenly. The man looked unamused but the boy’s eyes shone.

“Sure.”

“Big brother!” The boy clings to you. “I barely recognized you! Since you were accepted into academy, I thought I’d never see you again!” The boy plays along easily.

“I apologize for my brother’s rashness, please look kindly upon him,” you continued, ushering the boy out of the alleyway and into the market. As soon as the man was out of earshot, you grabbed onto the boys ear harshly.

“Ow! What the heck, mister?! I thought you were on my side!” The boy grimaces.

“Why would I be on the side of a petty thief?”

“Then why did you help?”

“Didn’t you see the sword at that man’s side? He could’ve cut you down where you stood,” you narrowed your glance.

“But… you have a sword too, mister,” the boy frowns.

“Luckily for you, I don’t intend on using it,” you continued and tugged him along with you back to the baker stand, pulling out an extra gold coin. “Miss baker, I’ll take an extra loaf of…” you looked at the young boy, who only looked back at you with surprise.

“Uh… cinnamon swirl… please,” the boy mutters.

“Cinnamon swirl it is,” the baker adds the loaf to the basket and hands it to you in exchange for three gold coins. You hand the boy his loaf and you could practically see him start to salivate.

“Th… Thank you, mister!” He looks up at you with shining eyes. “You really didn’t have to,” he quickly regains his rugged composure and you laughed.

“Please, it’s nothing, consider it a lesson for stealing from people, not everyone will be as nice as me, you lucked out this time, but it would do you well not to do it again,” you pointed your finger at him and the boy nodded his head.

“Thank you,” he muttered quickly before running off. You looked at your purse. Looks like you’ll have to keep a stronger hold on it from now on, it’s a bit embarrassing that such a young child was able to pull it from your grasp so quickly. You stepped away, ready to indulge in the freshly baked bread, when someone spoke up behind you.

“You know, you shouldn’t do that,” you turned to the voice that addressed you, seeing the man from earlier. “You feed one of them and then they all run to you,” he says.

“Well, I have no intentions on staying in town any longer than today, I have a friend to meet within the month,” you crossed your arms. “And, dare I say, what I do is none of your business.”

“None of my business, huh?” He asks. His arm flies out, grabbing the arm of a child about to run past you. He shakes them lightly and your purse drops to the ground. You stare at it for a short while before the man sighs and picks it up. “You should really hold on to this tighter,” he holds it towards you.

“Noted,” you took it from him, being sure to hold it more securely. “Now, if you have no more inquiries, I must be on my way,” you walked around him.

“Where to?”

“Stardenn.”

“First rule of travel, my friend, never share your destination,” he catches up with you.

“You’re tenacious, and I find that bothersome,” you stopped to make your point before continuing.

“Hey, come on now,” he easily keeps up with you. “You’re heading to Stardenn, right? Well, guess what? You’re headed the wrong way,” he says. You stop again and look at your map briefly before pivoting on your heel to turn the other way. Still, the man keeps up with you. “Come on, you’re heading to Stardenn, I’m heading to Stardenn, let’s go together,” he insists. You ignore him yet again before he whistles to catch your attention.

“What in the heavens do you want from me?!” You shout. He holds your wallet in his hand again.

“Look, man, if you’re going to get pickpocketed at least three times in every town, you’re going to die of poverty before you do of starvation,” he says. “Let me help you out.”

“Why?” Kevin’s warning echoes in your head, trust no one. But… maybe you could keep this one in check. If worse comes to worse, you could probably just freeze him over in some secluded area in the woods. You watch him cross his arms.

“Why not? Can’t a guy do a good deed?” You’re not that naive to fall for that one.

“Good deed? Likely,” you walk up to him and attempt to take your wallet back, something which he easily moves out of your grasp. He takes a deep breath.

“Okay, let’s start over then, shall we?” He still keeps your purse out of reach as he does this. “My name’s Liu Yangyang,” he holds his hand out for you to shake it. You hesitated for a moment, wondering how you should go about this. Wait, shit, you need a fake name. You said the first one that came to mind.

“Kevin.” As soon as you said it, it took every fiber in your body not to scream. “Kevin… Sohn,” you continued. You hoped up and down that he’d fall for it and, as luck would have it, it did.

“Well, Kevin, I’m a knight in training and I’m on my way to meet a close friend in Stardenn. We have similar goals here, right? And, I'm sure you know, one of the practical exams for a knight is the safe passage of a traveler. And that would be you! All I have to do is show the captain proof at Stardenn and ba da boom ba da bang, I'm a full-fledged knight!” He explains. You, still skeptical, mull over his words while giving him a quick look down. He did have the build of a knight, something you were very familiar with in more ways than one. And, so far, he’s proved to be useful to you. "It's a good deal, right? You clearly have money and I don't. Let's work together!"

“What’s in it for me then?” You ask.

“What do you want?” He answers your question with one of his own and you huff. You really only needed safe passage to Stardenn, and you were perfectly ready to brave it on your own, but… your eyes settled on the sword at his side.

“How good are you with a sword?” You ask. Yangyang looks at you quizzically. What good is a blade if its owner couldn’t wield it? Being a knight in training, certainly, he must know his way around it. If you were to go against the wishes of the Huang family it would do you well to know how to defend yourself and, who knows, maybe a month would be the perfect time to learn the basics? Kun wasn’t so bad a swordsman himself if your memories served you correctly, whatever Yangyang taught you here would only serve to benefit you. All you had to do was to become his main sponsor and, luckily, Kevin had convinced you to travel with extra funds as a just in case.

“Considering I would’ve been kicked out of academy otherwise, pretty damn good. Why?”

“During our passage to Stardenn… teach me how to wield a sword, and then I’ll call our transaction equal,” you say. “If you think about it intuitively, it only makes sense. If I’m to fund our excursion, you teaching me the way of the sword is nothing,” you explain. Yangyang looks you over.

“Okay, sure. I can agree to those terms,” he holds his hand out and you take it, both of you sharing a firm handshake. “So… Stardenn. It’s about a three week journey, give or take, if we plan our route carefully. We’ll leave in the morning, make sure you have everything stocked up,” he says.

“Done, I can do that,” you nod. “And when do I begin my first lesson?”

“Next town over,” he says. He tosses your wallet back to you and holds a gold coin between his index and middle fingers. “I’ll take this as my first allowance,” he tosses it in the air and catches it in his fist and walks off to the nearest tavern. You stood dumbfounded for a moment. Was it really that easy to rob you?! You swallowed harshly. You had a long way to go. “Well, aren’t you coming?” Yangyang cuts through your thoughts.

“Sorry?”

“What? Were you planning to sleep on the streets tonight? Let’s go,” he waits for you to catch up with him before entering the tavern.

General Tag List: @stopeatread @bat-shark-repellant @raeincitizen @umbralhelwolf @yangsrose @kazooms

NCT Tag List: @cherrylovr @minjiville @resonantcherry

Lapis Love: @billboard-singer @awakey

If you want to be added to either tag list or removed just send me a reply to this post, and ask, or a DM and I’ll add you as soon as possible!

#nct #nct x reader #nct x you #nct x yn #nct u #nct u x reader #nct u x you #nct u x yn #wayv #wayv x reader #wayv x you #wayv x yn #yangyang x reader #yangyang x you #yangyang x yn #my writings #lapis love

25 notes · View notes

stayarmytinyzenmoa-l · 2 years

Text

Lapis Love [Ch. 1]

NobilityAU; Fantasy AU

TW: Language, Implications of an Abusive Household, Gaslighting, Manipulation, Descriptions of a Panic Attack

CW: Arranged/Political Marriage, Politcial Turmoil

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy

Pairing: Mercenary!Liu Yangyang x Noblity!Reader

Y/N Pronouns: Female (She/Her)

Summary: When hit with the sudden news that you'd be married you freaked out and with the help of your brother you ran away to avoid becoming embroiled in a political war. However, your betrothed was just as freaked out as you were and sent a mercenary after you. When you're two paths cross unknowingly, suddenly your month journey to refuge becomes that much more interesting.

(1/?) [Previous] | [Next]

[NCT Masterlist] | [Other Groups Masterlist] | [Lapis Love Masterlist]

Word Count: 4.9K

Notes: I hope you all enjoy! I really loved writing this fic <3

Feedback is greatly appreciated!! Thank you for reading <3

“Marriage?!” Your voice seemed to echo across the hall and your attending servants outside shivered. Your parents only sighed in front of you. Your brother glanced to the side awkwardly, it seems like they’d been talking about it with him longer than with you. Shocking, your brother had been traveling for the past year, to think this is how a reunion would be established.

“(Y/N), my dear,” your father tries to console you. “It is what is best for our territory. The Huang domain has many resources that we both lack and desperately need. Likewise, we have resources for them that they are also in need of, I’m sure you understand,” he explains.

Of course, you understand. You knew your family’s predicament quite well, you’d always been hovering between a state of poverty and a state of riches since you’d been born. House Moon has been on a steady decline for years now, it would only make sense for your parents to consolidate power with another noble house. It didn’t help that House Moon was essentially a self isolated noble house, choosing to stay out of imperial politics to stay in full control of a unique power that its descendants possess. But, as a direct consequence of that, hardly anyone knew of the family at all and hardly the family knew anything of the surrounding nobles until recently, when the eldest two of the four children attended academia and the next went traveling.

Assholes, all of them. Leaving you behind to get the brunt of learning how to run an entire region. If you weren’t so close to them you’d resent them for sure.

“I understand,” you answered, but you couldn’t hide your annoyance, “but, father, of all the houses to betroth me to why on earth did you choose House Huang?!” You argued. “Surely, there are better houses to be wed to! House Jung, House Suh, House Choi, hell, I’d even take House Qian, however strange that marriage would be—”

“They’re the only house who agreed to wed!” Your mother interrupted. You fell silent. Were you that unworthy a candidate? “(Y/N), we raised you in a way that you could choose who to be. You know us, we’re not active in politics and we’re not interested in the crown, but because of that… I’m sorry, we may have contributed to the downfall of your marriage prospects,” she says.

Brash, unruly, and bratty. That’s what you’d heard many people call you before, or at least, that’s what all the rumors said. With no chance to defend yourself, what with being isolated in your region for so long, you weren’t aware of the full extent of them until now. You could’ve been like one of those prim and proper noble girls who probably to make fun of you, but good god why would you ever want to be in their circle? Your territory was much too far away from theirs anyway to make proper friends. Friends. You scoffed, not only did your parents unrelenting support of however you acted ruin your marriage prospects, it seemed to have put a dent on your ability to befriend others as well. The only person coming to mind was the noble boy living in Stardenn of House Qian, and even then, he was more of an older brother to you than anything, he was Taeil’s friend before he was yours, after all.

“What… what does Taeil have to say about this?” You asked. Your parents looked to each other. Your eldest brother tended to be the more reasonable one of the four, anyway, if he heard something as outrageous as marriage to House Huang, you were certain that he’d intervene.

“Taeil was the one who recommended the idea to us,” your mother responds. Well, forget that. Your brother, who has been absent for the past two years because of military academy, for some reason thought that he had a say in your marriage. You almost laughed again. You would’ve resented his words but… he had a point. Your noble house is wavering in power, you needed this marriage of convenience to keep whatever favor you had left with the imperial family.

“And Byulyi?” Your older sister, of course. She was away in academy as well, studying politics in the capitol.

“We haven’t heard back from her yet.” You weren’t talking about her approval. But, then again, Byulyi would never be considered a marriage candidate for the family, not when she’s been accomplished enough to stand on her own. Not to mention, she was oddly close to the crown prince. You shook your head.

“House Huang…” you muttered. Many people would call them the disgrace of the noble vassals, their sons were always up to no good, according to what you’d heard here and there. But, their territory was vast and happened to be right next to yours. With or without marriage, they would’ve likely encroached onto your vast territory of Evercairn anyway. “Of which of the brothers am I to be married to, then?” You asked. You weren’t necessarily giving in, but at the same time, know your enemy.

“Their youngest, Renjun.”

Renjun. He’s the scholarly one, to your knowledge, proficient in the mystic arts and well read, a stark difference compared to his siblings. One of military prowess and another of social ability. What Renjun lacked in physical ability he made up for in mental capacity. But, according to what you’ve heard, he could be rather arrogant. This marriage was beginning to sound more like a chore than that of a political agreement.

“Do I at least get to meet him?” You probe.

“A week before the wedding, yes,” your mother says. A week. Hardly enough time to get to know a man you were to spend the rest of your life with. Even your brother, who had remained silent this whole time, was shocked at her words. Your mother, sensing your unease, speaks up again. “(Y/N), dear, you don’t need to like him, you know? The marriage is really more for the papers.”

“Did you think that way with father?” You asked.

“Goodness, no, your father and I are a special case,” she says. Their marriage was one out of love and, likely, the reason why your family has been in decline. Your father fell in love with the sweet village florist who captivated his heart the moment she spilled a few dozen roses. It was straight out of a fairy tale, and one that you used to swoon over every night with your siblings. Taeil kept his head in the clouds when it came to romance, Byulyi agreed to only marry for love, your idiot brother in front of you agreed to stay a bachelor his whole life, and you… you understood that love… is an unknown and dangerous frontier.

Yes, this is true, this is how you earned the apparently popular moniker of the Winter Noble while Taeil was known as the Spring Noble, complete opposites the two of you were. Your older sister, of course, was the Fall Noble and your other brother was the Summer Noble. This, naturally, was one of the only reasons why your noble house had some sway despite its decline. Although it was each siblings’ demeanor that granted these titles, it was only a coincidence that they matched each of their birthright abilities. Your attitudes that were famous across the vast empire. Your brothers, for example, were so easily swayed by the people around them that you ended up growing up faster to be sure that they wouldn’t get into trouble and dig your family into further trouble. Sure, they’d matured enough now, but before he would’ve fallen for the most obvious of scams without you. One of you had to be the smart sibling, and that ended up being you.

“Why… why couldn’t you have just betrothed Kevin?!” You shouted. Kevin jumped up in his seat. “Of course! Choose the deadbeat of the family to marry off, why don’t you, what else am I good for? That’s what you’re all thinking, isn’t it?!” You argued.

“(Y/N)! Calm down!” You didn’t even realize that Kevin was on his feet until he was holding your wrists. You looked down at them, the ice that covered them slowly melting away. You pulled your hands from him and Kevin backed away.

“Kevin is a far better marriage candidate than I am! People actually like him. No one likes me! Hell, most of the other nobles forgot about me!” You continued to shout. “Who’s going to run Evercairn when I’m off playing housewife in Bleakgate?! Kevin just barely learned basic arithmetic!”

“Hey!”

“Silence! Byulyi is off trying to enter politics and Taeil’s about to be knighted! I’m the only one who knows how to run anything around here while you’re gone! Seriously, marriage, and to think that all three of you had the gall to bring it up to me in such a fashion—”

“Don’t you think we tried?” Your father suddenly snapped and you backed down immediately. This wasn’t something you were used to, your father was always the more patient one, he had to be with four children. Kevin, again, looks down at his hands.

“I… I really didn’t want this to happen to you, (Y/N),” Kevin says. You staggered back.

“That’s why you were gone so long, wasn’t it?” You muttered. Kevin could only nod. “How… how could no one have chosen you, Kev? You’re the best one of us all,” you looked down at the marbled floors.

“Please, (Y/N), you are our last hope,” your mother pleads. “I know, I know we raised you saying you could choose your partner, we know that, but, (Y/N), we are so desperate,” your mother stands up and holds your hands in hers. You’d never seen her beg this way. If your father was mellow then your mother held the family’s pride. She had to. She wasn’t of noble upbringing. You wondered how much that changed her, being entered into a society of high class without having any prior knowledge to it. To see her beg like this… she really was serious.

“O… Okay,” you nodded your head and answered with a shaky breath.

But, if you were anxious about this wedding, your soon to be husband was in a worse state.

“I can’t marry the Winter Noble! Have you lost your minds?!” Renjun’s hands dug into his hair and his parents frowned in front of him. He didn’t even know you. Now, Renjun was no one to be privy to rumors, but they’re all he had of this Winter Noble. And, to say the least, it sounded more like his parents were punishing him rather than using him.

“You can, and you must,” his father growls. “I’ve already had another one of my sons fail me, will you do the same, Renjun?” He looks down on him. Renjun flinches, looking down at his twiddling thumbs instead.

“But… of all the nobles… why… why her?” He asks. Even the Fall Noble would’ve been more suitable, they’d met in academy despite him being her junior. She even had more power in the royal court than any of her siblings.

“I thought you were supposed to be the smart one, Renjun,” his mother chides. “We need the abilities of House Moon if we’re going to take over the imperial family,” she says with a strict voice. Insurrection. Was this his fate? This was all he was good for, wasn’t it? Just a tool in his parents’ arsenal to be used against the crown. It only made sense, of course they’d want the supernatural abilities of House Moon, it was the only way for them to gain power over the imperial family, House Lee. Not to mention there was a certain compatibility factor in the lineage of House Moon, given that he’d always been gifted in magic… it’s no wonder his parents sentenced him to this rather than Hendery.

Now, House Huang wasn’t one to be trifled with either. They were known for their military prowess, after all. The Huang family was descendant of the first great general who aided the first emperor in unifying the whole nation. Military capability was nearly genetic. Even his sister, Xingqiao, showed incredible abilities in strategy that he could only dream of. Renjun, despite his lack in physical strength, made up for it in his capabilities in magic, something which House Huang was regretfully new to, and something his mother had a hard time explaining to his father. After all, until him, no Huang has had the ability to conjure magic.

Renjun thought that was the end of it. After it became proven that he wasn’t his father’s son, his father wanted nothing to do with him. He lived a significantly freer life than his siblings, and he was okay with that. But thanks to Hendery’s fuck up… now he’s his father’s new target.

Gods, if only Hendery hadn’t deserted the front lines.

As soon as Renjun finds him, surely, he won’t hold back his rage. Renjun shook his head.

“But… they would never agree to such a thing… their abilities are the whole reason why they’ve locked themselves away from the empire,” Renjun says.

“Bold of you to say that, considering it was them who came to us,” his mother grins with a proud disposition. “It seems that they are in a similar boat to us, their power is dwindling.”

“But—”

“Shut up and listen, would you, Renjun? Be smart,” his mother snaps “They need power, and so do we. You will marry the Winter Noble and we are expecting your first child to have one of four of the abilities, any will work,” she says. Renjun swallows harshly.

“Are House Moon aware of your intentions?” He asks.

“Don’t be stupid, Renjun. Of course they aren’t, all they think is that we’re in dire need of their farmland,” his father says. “Renjun, be a good boy, do you understand? You do know what would happen if anyone in House Moon were to find out of our intentions, right?” He asks. Renjun remained silent.

“The… you would repeat the duckling incident… right?” He asks. His parents nod, almost too casually given the weight of what they did to him. Ducklings. Renjun didn’t have many friends growing up, and so he’d spend time in the gardens instead, feeding the ducks in the pond and the other animals around him. Around that time, the duck eggs had all hatched into adorable baby ducklings, something which Renjun excitedly told the maids when he walked into the kitchen to pick up the usual duck feed.

Then, around that time as well, Renjun had made a friend in military academy. A very important friend, Lee Jeno. One of the many princes of the Lee family in line for the throne. Renjun had made a hasty mistake of warning Jeno against his family, stating that he had reason to believe that his parents weren’t fond of him. Needless to say, his father overheard their conversation.

The next day, all the ducklings in the pond had been slaughtered.

Of course, Renjun knew who it was. This was a warning not to make a mistake again, or else the consequences would be more grave.

“Good, so you do still remember,” his father has a sadistic grin. “You will meet your betrothed soon, fear not. The wedding is two weeks from now, she will arrive in a week.” Renjun’s shoulders slumped.

“Okay…” he nods his head.

“Good, now leave, Renjun,” his mother shoos him away and Renjun could only nod, walking out with his tail between his legs. Marriage. He doesn’t want this, he never thought it would be him to marry, he was just a half son, after all, the laughing stock amongst other nobles, why would it be him who needed to get married?

He didn’t know when he got to his room, but when he did, he felt the sudden weight of every emotion pile up on him. He couldn’t even make it to his bed, he just collapsed on the floor right there, holding his hands to his chest. Was this his fate? To be betrothed to the Winter Noble, known for her cruel behavior and even colder attitude? Renjun could feel his entire body tremble, he didn’t want this. Would she be as cold as his parents? He thought that since he was just a half son, that he could get by without ever having to deal with such a thing as this, but he was wrong, he was so wrong.

“I… I don’t want this,” Renjun mumbles, trying to console himself. He heard rapid knocks behind him and he knew who it was immediately as soon as the door swung open and shut without him even saying anything. Only one person would be insolent enough to do that.

“Hey, high, ho, groom to be!” Yangyang laughs. Renjun lets out a shaky breath. “Renjun?” An uncharacteristic concern laces the mercenary’s voice, and in no time at all, Yangyang was crouching in front of him. “Hey, hold on, man, take steady breaths now. Do it with me, okay? Breathe in, and breathe out,” he spoke steadily. This wasn’t the first time he had walked him through a panic attack. “Good, one more time, okay? In, then out,” he says. Renjun, although still worried, was noticeably calmer now. “What the hell happened in there, Renjun?”

“I’m… I’m getting married,” he looks at Yangyang. “To the Winter Noble.”

“Winter… from House Moon?” Yangyang asks. Renjun nods. Even commoners know of the four Moon children, after all.

“Yes,” was all Renjun could muster out. It was clear that Yangyang was working out all the details in his head, he was bright like that. If only Yangyang had been born into a noble family, Renjun was certain, he would’ve been the most successful of all these snobby houses. Yangyang is Renjun’s best friend, they had always been close growing up, they were each other’s confidant. They knew everything about each other, Renjun knew about how hard things had been for Yangyang growing up in the orphanage, and Yangyang knew all about the abuse coming from the heads of House Huang. But marriage was a prospect neither of them thought they’d ever be talking about.

“Hey, it can’t be all that bad, Renjun, you don’t have to like her. This marriage is just for the papers, right?” He asks.

“I wish it was, Yangyang, it would’ve been so much easier if it was just that,” Renjun shook his head. The one thing Yangyang didn’t know, however, was his parents’ plan to usurp the throne. A plan that required him to have an heir with the woman from House Moon, in hopes their first child will inherit one of four abilities. And, if they didn’t, he’s certain that his father would make whatever fate fell upon that child look like an accident. Renjun shivered, feeling his vision blacking at the edges.

“Renjun, calm down, it’s okay, we have a week, we can figure something out in a week,” he says. Renjun nods.

“One week… one week… one week…” he kept repeating to himself. Could he escape within a week? But, if he doesn’t take the fall… his breathing stuttered, how could he leave you with the repercussions? His father was a cruel man, and his mother even worse. If he ran, certainly, they’d take it out on you instead. He could only wonder how you were taking this news.

One week. One week of freedom. You sprawled yourself over the bed, pulling your pillow over your face and shrieking into it. You hated this. Your family was never into politics before, how could they set you up with one of the most political houses of the entire damn kingdom?

“Miss, did you call for me?” Your maid pokes her head into your room and you handed her a letter from your spot in bed.

“Have this sent to the Qian Duchy as soon as possible, please,” you said.

“I will be sure it arrives safely,” she curtseys before leaving. The Qian Duchy, home to the one man you could call your friend. Stardenn was quite a ways from Evercairn even with an express path, taking about three days on express and nearly a week without, hopefully, you’d hear back from him soon, you’d at least want to hear his opinion on the matter, maybe some words of consolation. You hated throwing yourself a pity party but… who else could you confide in? There was another knock at your door.

“It’s open,” you rolled over so your back would be towards the door. You felt your bed dip down and a quiet sigh.

“Been awhile since I’ve been in here,” Kevin says. You rolled your eyes, scooting away from him. “(Y/N), don’t be like that,” he says. You didn’t answer. “(Y/N), I’m sorry, I really am,” he says. “I really tried hard, I didn’t want you to be the family’s scapegoat but… I didn’t win anyone over in the end, I’m sorry, (Y/N),” he keeps apologizing.

“Quit saying that you’re sorry,” you bit back. “There’s nothing you could do anyway, if none of those pretentious women like you then they’re all good for nothing, they couldn’t see someone who was genuine if he was right in front of them, and you were,” you said. Kevin, of all the nobles you had the displeasure of meeting, had to be one of the only good ones to exist. He was known as the Summer Noble, sunny in disposition, kind, likable, genuine, he was friends with everyone and yet with no one at the same time. Sometimes you were certain that only you could see it, the loneliness in his eyes. This must’ve been as big as a blow to his pride as it was to yours. Yet, despite those lonely eyes, he still seemed to smile at you.

“Look at you though, about to get married. Didn’t think it’d be you,” he says.

“Maybe if Byulyi wasn’t so picky, it would’ve been her,” you mumbled.

“Or if Taeil wasn’t so busy,” Kevin laughed. “Hey, (Y/N)…” he pulls you so that you could look at him. He hands you a letter. “I… I need to tell you something important,” he stands up briefly and puts his hand on the door. The area beneath it glows with a warm light and, immediately, his expression darkens. “House Huang cannot be trusted,” he says, approaching you again. You sat up quickly now.

“What… what do you mean?” Of course they couldn’t, who agrees to a sudden marriage? And in two weeks? They had to be mad.

“I have reason to believe that they agreed to the engagement with malevolent intent,” he says. “See, (Y/N), I wasn’t just out looking for a wife,” he says. “I work for the crown now,” he pulls out a badge for proof.

“You… you’re part of the Crownsguard?” You asked with wide eyes.

“His imperial majesty Taeyong approached me himself in academy and asked me to join. They desperately needed the power of House Moon.”

“Does mother—”

“They don’t know, I haven’t told them. And no one knows I’m part of the Crownsguard either,” he says while adjusting the gloves around his hands. “It would be breaking House Moon’s century of neutrality, but… I owed the crown prince a favor, this is how I’m paying for it,” he says. “I’ve known that mother and father have had their eyes set on House Huang for a while now, so, while I was in the capitol, I did some digging,” he says.

“Go on,” you moved so you could sit next to him.

“I think… I think they want to gain control of our abilities,” he says. “And in order to do that, they need one of their children to marry one of us,” he says. “Do you understand what I’m saying, (Y/N)?”

“They just want one of the seasons,” you confirmed. Kevin nods.

“They do, obviously, Xingqiao is caught up in a military campaign in the east, so neither me nor Taeil would be candidates. Byulyi is said to be consorting the crown prince, so she’s off the table too. That leaves you, (Y/N). And, considering the other children of House Huang, your likely groom would be Renjun,” he says.

“You’re telling me things I already know, Kevin.”

“That’s the thing, I figured it out before you were made aware, mom and dad told me about it as soon as I got home last night,” he says. He hands you the letter again. “So… I decided to pay Kun a visit.”

“You…” you hesitated.

“Read that letter first, and really really think about it. Because… if you accept those terms, you would have to go alone,” he says.

“What, what do you mean?” Kevin stands up.

“I trust you, (Y/N). If you decide to marry into the Huang family, I’m coming with you. Because like hell I’d leave you with those monsters. Dad will have to drag me out half dead if he has a problem with it. If not… this is the safest alternative,” he says. He walks towards the door. “Think about it carefully.”

“I will,” and with that, Kevin left. You opened the letter as soon as the door shut.

(Y/N),

I heard the news. I’m sure Kevin will have given this to you after you found out, so I will be presumptuous and congratulate you on your engagement. Although, I know you well enough to know that you won’t take this sitting down. House Huang is on the Anti-Imperial faction, as I’m sure you’re aware. Marrying into that house would break House Moon’s century of neutrality. I’m not sure of the details, Kevin only told me so much, but I know you’re anxious right now. As Duke of Stardenn, I would like to offer you refuge within these borders. House Qian has long been neutral, staying here would both maintain neutrality and keep you from House Huang’s clutches. As long as you are a resident of Stardenn, you’d be under House Qian’s security, of course. It shouldn’t raise too many concerns, our families have been friends for decades. I am also willing to provide some financial support to House Moon, actually, I’ve been trying to send aid, but due to distance it hasn’t been the easiest and, as I’m sure you know, your mother is a proud woman. I had to decline your parents’ initial offer for marriage, most out of respect to you and partially due to the minor power struggle we had just gone through, but things have since settled down, you needn’t worry. Please, take my offer into consideration. I need not a reply, I’m aware that time is of the essence. I will instead await your arrival within the month, once that has past, I will assume your decision was in favor of House Huang, and no ill born feelings will arise from it. Be safe, (Y/N), and I will see you soon.

Qian Kun

Leave it to Kevin to be ahead of the game. Sure, Byulyi was heralded as the smartest of the four, but Kevin was the cleverest. It was no wonder he was scouted for the Crownsguard. You looked to the door. If you accepted Kun’s help, then that means that you’d have to leave for Stardenn on your own. And if you declined then… you could very well be turned into a pawn used by House Huang to usurp the throne. Although, you’d be lying if you didn’t feel awkward yourself walking into the Qian Duchy, now armed with the knowledge that he was one of many nobles your parents tried to marry you off to. Kun was a close friend of Taeil’s growing up, he was someone you knew well enough to trust, and he was someone Kevin went to for help. It may not seem like it, but of the siblings, the one with the best judge of character was Kevin, there were many times when he’d been able to snuff out insurrections before they had a chance, which is yet another reason why the emperor was so keen on adding him to the Crownsguard. You swallowed harshly.

Your choice was obvious.

“Your grace! Your grace, it’s an emergency!” A soldier barged into the dining hall.

“What now?” Master Huang bites back.

“Her highness… The Winter Noble has gone missing!” The messenger shrieks. The fork in Renjun’s hands falls and clatters onto the plate beneath him just as two pairs of angry eyes turn to him. Him, oh god, why him? Why does this have to happen to him?

“You… what did you do?” His mother seethes. Renjun shakes his head.

“Nothing, mother, I didn’t do anything, I swear,” he swallows dryly.

“Find her, find that noble if it’s the last thing you do. We need the power of House Moon!” The master shouts and Renjun could feel his heart drop. He had to find you, he had to find you or else he’d be the one to pay for it.

General Tag List: @stopeatread @bat-shark-repellant @raeincitizen @umbralhelwolf @yangsrose @kazooms

NCT Tag List: @cherrylovr @minjiville @resonantcherry

Lapis Love Tag List: None Yet

If you want to be added to either tag list or removed just send me a reply to this post, and ask, or a DM and I’ll add you as soon as possible!

27 notes · View notes