#sunghoon historical au

[enwonz]

kingmaker | p.sh

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CHAPTER II

As an assassin working for the Hwangs, you have proven your loyalty to your benefactors for more than a decade. But when Lady Hwang's plans for a rebellion land you in a bride selection for the Crown Prince, you find yourself at a loss. Unfamiliar with the ways of the gentry, your reliance on a previously unknown informant is your only source of hope. And yet, you learn very quickly that no one in high society can be trusted, including yourself. Because who else but you is there to assassinate the King?

WARNING: please do check the masterlist for potential triggers/themes you feel uncomfortable with! this chapter contains graphic depictions of blood, as well as a fairly unhealthy dynamic resembling slavery between reader and another character (for the purpose of historical accuracy and plot).

The late afternoon sun beats down on the nape of your neck, rivulet after rivulet of sweat rolling down your skin. Your grip on the wooden training sword is firm, grounding you despite the heavy pants you breathe out. Across you, your opponent mimics your stance. It’s been at least an hour, but neither of you are letting up. Trust Riki to hold his own against you, whose sword is your bread and butter.

Riki makes his move, surging forward once again. Your parry is solid, a hard thwack echoing through the training grounds as your swords meet. His eyes goad you as you meet his gaze, as though daring you to pull all the stops with him. 

Gladly.

In a flash, you swing your blade towards his head in a single practised movement. His return is swift, but it lags a second behind you. You have to admit, this is slightly unfair, considering he’s always been better with a pair of knives, gifted to him by Hyunjin when he was ten years old.

The pang of envy that strikes your chest at the thought is thoroughly embarrassing. 

“So, how is your fiancee?” 

The deep blush that fills his cheeks, along with the falter in his step, is completely worth it. As the youngest of the Hwang siblings, his older sister isn’t too keen on his joining the family business. The roots of Yeji’s vengeance had begun while Riki was still too young to understand. The extent of his grief did not reach that of his older siblings’, hence Yeji’s reluctance to involve him in a cause he might feel nothing for. No matter how you looked at it, Riki was proof of the remnants of his siblings’ humanity. Having said that, his freedom to be engaged to a lady of his choice was not out of the blue. 

“Lady Hwayoung is well, if that is your question.” There’s a sharp edge to his voice, and you don’t miss it. Don’t push it.

You smirk. “And what of the wedding date? The Lord and Lady must be eager to see you married.” Lady Hwayoung is, by all means, a wonderful marriage partner for Riki. You’d previously done some background checks for Lady Hwang, and from what you’d gathered she shared his love for the sword. By Riki’s standards, that was more than enough.

Without warning, you kick your leg out, sweeping Riki off his feet. He lands on his back not painfully, but hard enough for him to shoot a glare up at you. “Not fair!” You’d laugh if you hadn’t heard the distinct click of dress shoes behind you.

Lord Hyunjin watches silently as you hoist Riki to his feet, an amused glint in his eyes. He has never disapproved of your training with his younger brother, and yet you cannot help the shudder that runs down your limbs.

Luckily, Riki is a rather perceptive person despite his young age, and quickly takes his leave, leaving you to stand dumbly before his brother. You swear you catch a snicker as Riki passes you.

A breeze lilts by, lightly rustling the leaves on the surrounding trees. The weather has been good, making for quite a pleasantly calming atmosphere, save for your Lord’s…almost eerie presence.

You bow hastily. “My Lord, is there something you wish to say?”

He doesn’t reply immediately, instead extricating the slightly splintered training sword from you. Turning it in his hands, he hums quietly. “Unfortunately for him, I taught him to wield a sword the proper way. You must feel sorry that your opponent is such a stickler for the rules, unlike you.”

Sometimes, it is very, very difficult to tell if Hwang Hyunjin is complimenting you or insulting you.

“Even if I were to play by the rules, my Lord, there is no doubt that I would win, for I have dedicated my life to being in your family’s service.” You deepen your bow, hoping you appear polite enough. 

He huffs out a laugh. “Rise, girl. You need not exercise such propriety in my presence. It might do you better to treat me as your older brother from here on,” he assures, not unkindly. It is increasingly difficult to understand his intentions, considering he has always been more indifferent than this. Then again, change is happening. “Walk with me.”

You oblige, adjusting your pace to fall behind him. His long limbs make for a regal gait, albeit a rather fast walking speed. “Your profile?”

“Hwang Eunji. Third child of the Hwangs, who was sickly in childhood, slightly spoiled by her - my siblings.” You recite it by heart, having been briefed by Yeji for hours on end the previous day. “Ambitious, albeit naive, a rather ditzy girl.” Honestly, it’s a description that has nothing in common with your own. You question your own capabilities in embodying this nonexistent girl. 

Lord Hwang nods, deep in thought, judging by the tension in his eyebrows. His prominent dark undereye circles lead you to suspect Lady Hwang of keeping him awake far longer than he should be. 

It is harder to read Hyunjin than it is Yeji. Where Yeji is a tempestuous soul, Hyunjin is the eye of the storm, dangerously still. Both are forces to be reckoned with, more so since they are working in tandem.

You stroll through a small apple orchard in silence. Long ago, this whole orchard was your training grounds. You’d swing from branch to branch, scaling each trunk as you learned the hard way to evade every kind of projectile. Your fingers absently hover over a scar on your side, where you were once grazed by an arrow — Hyunjin’s doing.

Lord Hwang sighs, his footsteps slowing as he turns his gaze to an unripe flower on one of the trees. Likely, he is recalling the same things you are, but definitely not in the same way. Till now, you are unsure of how he truly sees you. His sister sees you as her pawn and blade. His brother holds you in high regard as his strongest opponent, and occasionally a confidante. To you, Hyunjin is a mentor of sorts, and above all else your benefactor. You are not sure if he even remembers your name, considering it has not been uttered by anyone in this family for years. 

“Eunji?”

The name sounds awkward on his tongue, unfamiliar and unpractised. To your own ears, too, it is odd. The thought of you having to respond to this name feels…wrong, almost. Yet you swallow it all down and give him the fondest grin you can muster. “Yes, brother?”

“…Y/n?”

You freeze. The last time he called you by name, it was to scold you for the grip on your blade, for your inability to dodge, when you were a weak, malnourished child. This is a test. It must be. 

“Your grace.”

Hyunjin’s gaze on you often feels like hundreds of icicles hovering just above your skin, threatening to pierce through for every wrong move. This time, however, there is a certain melancholy to it. When has he ever pitied you? “Have you…have you ever regretted putting yourself in our debt?”

You steady your breathing. It is an odd question, especially from him. “Would you like the correct answer or the honest answer, my Lord?”

He ponders for a bit. “The honest one.”

“Then, Your Grace, my answer is this: I didn’t have a choice.”

Days later, you stand before the Hwangs, dressed in a pale lilac gown — the colour of the Hwangs’ crest. Allegedly, this is the dress they intend to send you off to the palace in.

“Eunji, twirl for us,” Yeji commands. Obediently, you spin slowly, the pale fabric billowing at your ankles.

The look on Riki’s face is bordering on disgust. “You cannot be serious. She won’t last a day in the palace. Look at her! Do her hands look like those of a noble lady’s?”

“And how would you know what a noble lady’s hands look like? I hope you haven’t been indulging yourself in any unbecoming acts with your fiancée, dear brother,” Yeji snaps back. At this, Riki scowls, flopping into an armchair sullenly. You almost feel sorry for him. 

Hyunjin studies your appearance. Out of all the siblings, it is Riki who has the eye for fashion and decorum, but it doesn’t stop Hyunjin from pretending he knows something. “Yeji, are you proud of yourself? Because I certainly am not. The fabric is far too tight on her arms. And haven’t you talked to the tailor about adding pockets for her weapons? Terribly done, sister. I expected more from you.”

Yeji rolls her eyes. “You do it then. I’m busy with the palace blueprints.”

“And I’m busy ordering all her weapons!” Hyunjin turns to you, shaking his head. “By the way, you’ve been keeping up with your mithridatism, haven’t you? Courtiers are at high risk of assassination. You’re there as our assassin, so it won’t be in our interests for you to get yourself killed.” Right. Because that’s your only purpose in life.

“Yes, My Lord. I started administering doses of lycorine to myself a few weeks ago.”

Riki claps his hands together. “Enough said. Since none of you have any sense of style, I am going to enlist the help of Lady Hwayoung. We’ll sort something out.” He takes you by the arm, dragging you out of Yeji’s chambers and into the hallway. 

“Good on you for leaving those two to bicker amongst themselves,” you quip, a little half-heartedly. Truth be told, Hyunjin was right. The gown, elaborate as it was, had a rather tight collar that was threatening to kill you via extreme discomfort. You sighed, unlacing the corset quickly, stripping down to the inner layer. “I assume you’ll be keeping it safe for me until I leave for the palace?”

Draping the gauzy fabric over his arm, Riki nods. “Yes. I’m sure Lady Hwayoung will have some opinions on how to customise the dress to accommodate your needs. For now, just…”

“Take note of all the information I have? Look out for any openings to make my move?”

“No,’ he scoffs, turning to head back to his chambers. “Practise your etiquette. There’s only so much you can get away with by going under the guise of a spoiled brat of a sister.” He grins. “Try not to embarrass us, Eunji.”

Right. Ignorance will not be tolerated, especially in an esteemed place like the palace. The longer you stay on in the selection, the better your chances of an opening to complete your task. And the only way to stay on is to prove you are capable of becoming the consort of the Crown Prince.

Even if you really aren’t.

a/n: chapter 2!! i don't really know who's reading this, but for reference, mithridatism is tolerance to a poison acquired by taking gradually increased doses of it (via a dictionary). see you next week!

taglist (open!)

@viagumi @stariikis

#enhypen #enhypen sunghoon #park sunghoon #sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x y/n #sunghoon x you #enhypen fanfic #enhypen imagines #sunghoon historical au #sunghoon fanfic #sunghoon imagines #enhypen niki #enhypen nishimura riki #itzy yeji #skz hyunjin #skz #itzy #enhypen royalty au #kpop

[heedeungism]

synopsis: the duke loves you dearly, yes, but how could you possibly know that? includes: bridgerton au, suggestive, profanity , hoon is a rake

as duke and duchess of hastings, it was expected that you produce an heir within the year. being the notorious love match of the season, the diamond and the duke, the image of your family back in london was counting on your ability to ‘perform your duty’, as the ton loved to put it.

sunghoon, your husband, the duke, had been the one to propose the deal. you’d been told your whole life that your interests meant nothing if your husband did not share them, yet he had asked you what your favorite color was. you had been told that horse riding wasn’t ladylike, yet he had shown you his favorite mare and asked you if you’d ever ridden.

he was all the right things, you’d thought. though truthfully, he had one quality you couldn't look past. he was a rake. he frequented brothels, fucked whores, but called on you and gave you the most expensive flowers, and spoke the sweetest of nothings. it was almost enough to look past. you’d thought that you’d be able to get past it, that if he was in love with you enough to propose he’d be in love enough to stop visiting the brothels.

that hope was shattered the moment he’d proposed. it wasn’t romantic, nor was it anything you wanted.

“a deal?” you remember asking when he had looked at you with eyes you had never seen so unfeeling, “or a marriage?”

“you will be allowed the estate. every luxury you desire will be yours.” he had stated, “while i—“

“spend your nights at your beloved brothels?” his face when you had spoken those words had sent your heart into its own frozen hell. “you do not have to explain yourself, your grace.”

and so, the two of you married. you knew that despite the pieces he had left your heart in he would keep his word, and he did. you’d never worn such luxurious gowns nor felt fabric so soft and breathable as your nightdress.

your mama had told you little about what the night of your wedding entailed, only that if a certain event did not transpire the marriage would be null. that event was never described in full to you by your mother, only hinted at by jane austen, and yet it had been nearly a month since your nuptials and the duke had left the space between the two of you alarmingly obvious. the large bed that while you both slept on you did not share, the avoidance of eye contact, and the heat of his hand on yours only for him to pull away before you can let it pool.

on mornings that you allow yourself to sleep in, you are unsure if the ghostly touch along your cheekbone and the gentle tucking of your hair out of your face is your imagination or just the breeze coming from the open window. on nights that you are plagued by the feeling of being undesirable, you can feel his gaze on your back when he thinks you’re asleep.

on a night like this one, you find yourself reaching a point of exhaustion. “your grace.” you greet as you enter his study, the place he would keep to himself and even eat on most nights.

he barely glances up from his paperwork, “do you need something?”

shaking your head, you pull the shawl you have over your shoulders to cover the skin that your nightdress didn’t. the pink color of the fabric was what you had described as your favorite when the duke had asked. it’s the color of nearly every dress you have been provided with since moving into clyvedon. “no, i simply came to inform you that i am having the maids move my things into the duchess’s chambers.”

his interest is piqued, and he finally looks at you. “why ever would you have them do that?”

“is reason needed to move into my own chambers?”

your response garners a look from your husband, “separate rooms shall not be suffered.”

his words cause you to scoff, “yet a silent marriage will be?”

he is silent for a moment before he speaks, “jones.” the butler standing by the door straightens up, “inform the maids that they will under no circumstances move the duchess’ belongings from our chambers.”

“sir.” the man nods, exiting the room and leaving you with your husband.

“will you continue to go about your days acting as if i do not exist?” you question goes unanswered as sunghoon resumes his paperwork. “fine, i will move them myself.”

“you will do no such thing.”

“oh, i believe i will.” you retort and sunghoon stands, hands placed on the desk as his jaw shifts.

“i forbid you.”

the audacity baffles you, frustration turning into fury within the second, “you forbid me?”

sunghoon walks out from behind his desk, stopping beside it, “you are my wife. your hatred i can tolerate but i will not allow the agony of separate rooms.”

“am i your wife?” you ask, watching his hands twitch at his sides and his eyes darken, “we had a wedding, yes, but if we did not spend that night together are we truly married?”

“you speak nonsense.” he dismisses, eyes no longer on you as he turns away, “go to bed.”

“do not speak to me like i am a child—“

“i said-“ he starts, voice raising as he turns back toward you with a darkness in his gaze, “go. to. bed.”

his eyes pierce your own as his voice is low and nearly breathless, you lower your chin just the slightest as your heart aches, “i am not a child, nor am i a fool. i know you do not love me but i did not think you cruel enough for trickery.”

“trickery?” he asks, seemingly clueless as the what you mean.

you begin, “the day we met in that garden i thought you different, kind. you led me to believe such lies, you knew i could not say no to you, you trapped me in a loveless marriage that you knew i did not desire—“

“loveless? if that is what you believe this marriage to be, it is not i who is the cause,” he argues, and you narrow your eyes.

“am i to believe that you love me? have your actions up to this very moment warranted such beliefs?” your question causes your husband’s jaw to shift.

“go to bed.” he looks down at his desk again.

“do not tell me what to do.”

“what do you want from me?” he whips around to look at you. “i have given you riches, i have given you every gown you could possibly desire, i have had the finest soaps imported from india and yet you continue to oppose me. what. do. you. want?”

“i want a husband. not a stranger that i share a bed with, not a keeper.” you state, “i know you do not love me, but if I am to be duchess and produce an heir i deserve better than an absent duke.”

sunghoon remains silent for a moment before his hands clench into fists and his cold eyes meet your own. “call me a stranger, loathe my existence for the rest of your life but never think for even a moment that i do not love you.”

you are stunned into silence, and he continues, stepping closer and closer until your breaths mingle as he says, “i have spent the past fortnights in agony. suffering through the nights i cannot touch you. speaking to you is not enough, nor is being in your company. i have never in my life felt as though i cannot inhale what another does not exhale and yet i find myself suffocating with every moment i am not by your side.”

his fingers ghost over your cheekbone and you find your breath caught in your throat. “i have loved you ever since i saw you in that garden. do not dare question that.”

your lips part and his eyes follow them. your chest rises as you inhale sharply and deeply, attempting to process the words leaving his lips as well as their close proximity to your own. “you…love me.”

your tone is not one of question, and his pleasure in that fact is shown through both his actions and the three words you had yearned to leave his lips since he’d proposed. the same lips that capture yours in a hungry and insatiable kiss that has you in shambles.

your knees buckle, legs turning to jelly, and like he had expected it his arms wrap around you and pulls you closer. his tongue meets yours the moment your lips part and as he brings you to sit on his desk, the pressure of his body between your legs sends a jolt of pleasure you have never experienced before up your body, prompting a choked whimper to escape between the mess of lips and tongue.

“your grace.” you exhale against him, quickly silenced by his lips once again as he breathes you in like you’re the last atom of oxygen on earth.

“your grace.” he responds in kind, hand trailing up your thigh under your nightdress. then, there’s contact and a loud keen that like the rest of them, he swallows with ease.

©heedeungism : do not rewrite, copy, repost, or translate any of my works without my permission.

#enhypen #park sunghoon #park sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x yn #bridgerton au #historical au #marriage of convenience #sunghoon smut #sunghoon enhypen #sunghoon drabble #enhypen drabbles #enhypen x reader #enhypen x yn #sunghoon bridgerton au #suggestive #romance #bridgerton #hoonie 🩷

[jooniesficrecs]

enhypen fic recs

favourites marked with a ♥

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idol!enha x idol!fem!reader

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✦ — hyung line

no nut november — @jayflrt ♥

contains smut !!

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✦ — lee heeseung

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idol!riki x fem!reader

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slytherin!riki x fem!reader, modernhogwarts!au, strangers2lovers

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#enhypen fic recs #enhypen #enhypen x reader #park jongseong x reader #lee heeseung x reader #sim jake x reader #park sunghoon x reader #kim sunoo x reader #yang jungwon x reader #nishimura riki x reader #jooniesficrecs !!

[rinbowaman]

S E R I E S M A S T E R L I S T S

ꕥ M Y G I R L F R I E N D S R O O M M A T E M A S T E R L I S T ( M G R )

ꕥ M Y R O O M M A T E S   E X  M A S T E R L I S T ( M R E )

ꕥ H I S  A N D  H E R    P E R S P E C T I V E S  M A S T E R L I S T            ( H H P )

ꕥ M E R M A I D S   T A L E  :  T H E  D E S C E N D E N T S   M A S T E R L I S T  (M T )

ꕥ A   T A L E   O F   Y U A N   S E R I E S M A S T E R L I S T

ꕥ S E 7 E N   M A S T E R L I S T

ꕥ ↀ O U B L E    II R O U B L E

ꕥ T H E    O T H E R S I D E 

ꕥ O N E S H O T S A N D R E Q U E S T S

#heeseung x reader #heeseung scenarios #heeseung smut #enha x reader #heeseung hard hours #heeseung hard thoughts #heeseung fanfic #enhypen hard hours #enha heeseung #enhypen smut #jay smut #jungwon fluff #jake imagines #enhypen jake #jake enhypen #jake sim smut #jake smut #jake x reader #enhypen sunghoon #park sunghoon #sunghoon imagines #sunghoon hard hours #sunghoon smut #sunghoon x reader #sunoo x reader #sunoo hard hours #niki x reader #niki enhypen #niki fanfic #yandere enhypen

[knwsoft]

my damnation | psh

— member. park sunghoon

— genre(s). fluff, angst, suggestive, alternative universe!au, vampire!au

— warnings. blood, violence, mention of death, kidnapping, suggestive content

— words. 17,8k

— summary. if judgement awaits you two at death, perhaps you will both have a lot to repent for. but, you’ll deal with that when it comes. for you, damnation was being without him.

— parts. one

— a/n. this actually used to be an old fic i planned for other boy group in my other blog. but losing idea and motivation made me unpublish it for good. now, after months sitting in my draft without any further plan on finishing it, this fic has finally sees the light again with some revision. this fic is also inspired by an old game i used to play, so some of you might find it familiar. please note that this fic hasn't been proofread yet, therefore if you find any grammatical errors or typos, please inform me.

i.

You always hate the summer for some reasons, since it either means the weather becomes hotter than you can handle or more assignments from college to finish. Overall, summer sucked. However, just for today you might reconsider it for once. Special thanks to the history project that allowed you to run away from other stressful assignments that might have locked you up all summer in your dorm—that's right, you didn't go back to your hometown for this summer break.

After taking a 2 hours trip by Uber, you have finally arrived at The Musee Pavillion, the well known museum for its historic background and building in the town. You couldn't stop looking at the grand museum beauty in awe —sparkling in dappled light reflected from the calm river around it—as you took pictures around for documentation. It was breathtaking.

No wonder many people recommend this museum as one of the tourist attractions you must go to in Warlington.

Going around the museum, you’re looking around for a while and accidentally clash with a person. After apologising and smiling to each other, you continue to one of your main highlights - rent a historical dress. It somehow looks much prettier than what you imagined.

“Um… excuse me,” A sudden clear voice makes you turn your direction towards the source, realising that a gentleman in a tuxedo stands next to you. From the language he used and the accent, you know he is a local. He somewhat gives an aura of a noble within a picture though the clothes he wears aren't in accordance with the place. “I think you dropped this earlier.”

Then the man uncurls his hand, showing a familiar [colour] hairpin. You touch your hair and find your hairpin indeed missing.

“I knew it. This hairpin belongs to you.”

“Oh, when did I lose it…?”

“I believe it was when that woman bumped into you.” He smiles before adding, “I happened to spot it as it fell. I was looking for a chance to return it to you.”

“Thank you very much.”

The man offers to help you wear your hairpin back, despite you feeling shy and trying to refuse, you accept it at last since the man assures her that he’s doing that to avoid the hairpin from dropping back.

When the man brings you close to your face to help you with the hairpin, you can’t help but be surprised and charmed by the man’s brown eyes. He brushes some of your hair with fingers that could have belonged to one of the graceful sculptures in the historical museum. Then you hear what the man says at your ear.

“… You have a sweet scent.”

“Thank you. I got that perfume from my hometown.” You mindlessly thanked him. Failed to catch the hidden meaning from those words.

“Oh… But I wasn’t referring to your perfume.” His voice was soft and rich, yet you couldn’t place his accent. It was like a mix of a hundred different lands.

He stepped away with a perfectly natural smile before saying his farewell. Whatever the spell you imagined yourself under is finally broken. You think of him somewhat strange, like an inhuman being from the movies you watched, especially with how fair his skin was. Though it’s impossible.

You then realize it’s only 30 minutes left before you need to visit the next exhibition.

Going in the man’s direction, you notice a big old rustic door. From the slightly open door, you can see some antique furnishings, thinking those are part of the exhibition. You’re somewhat feeling a weird attraction to the door and things behind it, and decide to have around them before leaving.

Going ahead to the far narrow hall with antiques placed inside, your feet just move forward as if invited. Before you arrive at the end of the hall, suddenly a white light hits your eyes. You shut them close as they are too dazzling. However, when you open them back, you’re somehow at an unfamiliar place.

Bedroom door on one side, windows on the other. It doesn’t look like a part of the museum you saw just now. It looks more like a private mansion that doesn’t make sense.

“What the… hell?”

You’re shocked to see that it’s night already outside while your cell phone shows it’s still 14:30.

Cooling yourself down who’s starting to get anxious, you give a light slap to both of your cheeks and go back to the door from where you came. But as you’re just turning around, everything was white. Your arms are being grabbed and caught into a shadow. You’re trying to escape but to no avail. Fingertips of someone you cannot see grab your hair and slides them into your nape.

“Quietly, submit to me.”

“Stop!”

Suddenly, you regain your consciousness, and nudge this person in the stomach and run away with all the strength you have. The anxiety is gradually getting into you again and you rush to find the door back.

You place your hand upon the cold handle and pull, but nothing happens. No matter how hard you try, the door won’t budge and—

“What are you doing there?”

Turning back your head, a tall man is standing nearby. Something about this man reminded you of your nightmare. But there wasn’t anything frightening about him.

“Uh, how do you open this door? It won’t open no matter how much strength I use.”

“No way, don’t tell me you came here through this door?”

“That’s exactly what I did. I come toward the museum behind this door, the one with many antiques.” He seems surprised before turns severe.

“Who are yo-”

Before he could finish asking, footsteps could be heard coming toward them, making you feel kinda relieved. You’re trying to raise your voice but he closes your mouth with powerful force and brings you behind a curtain on a grand scale, and glues your bodies together to hide your shadows. That sudden act makes your body stiffen.

Softly putting his hand on your shoulder, he whispers in low, “Don’t be alert. I won’t do anything for you… So, let’s keep silent for now.”

While being close together, you analyse your saviour as it illuminates by moonlight. Glossy and beautiful brown hair as if wet and well-featured look, along with large eyes that stares at you seriously.

He does not seem to be lying or else he won’t do straight-up things like this.

Nodding to him, he slowly releases his hand from your mouth. Your mind is wondering the reasons for such action. While deep in thought, he slowly murmurs that the footsteps sound has gone already.

There are so many questions you want to ask him. But, before you can open your mouth, he beats you to it first.

“Save the minor details for later, You need to leave this place before you are being found by other guys.” Gripping your hand strongly once again, you two quickly increase your pace in the corridor.

Even he says to leave…where can you go actually? What kind of things are bad if you’re being found out? You would be lying if you say that you aren’t anxious, but the heat transmitted through your connected hands somehow gives you a sense of relief.

However, the sound of the door opening could be heard, announcing the appearance of a brown haired guy with a sheepish smile. Small clicking tongue sound from your saviour reaches your ears.

“I don’t understand why there’s a girl inside this mansion. But somehow, looking at the situation, it seems like you’re trying to help her escape, right Sunghoon?”

“It’s none of your business, Jake.”

The mysterious man smoothly blocked off your exit. His eyes fastened on you with obvious fascination.

“Such a waste, then. She looks delicious tho!” Jake's eyes now full of glee as he approaches you and seems like wanting to make fun of you. He seizes your face. “I don’t know about anyone else, but this kind of grim face looks cute too, right?”

Sunghoon, the name of your saviour who you just learned, immediately put you behind him protectively.

“I have an idea! Why don’t you invite her to the dinner party? It’s just around the corner.” Jake happily suggests.

“That’s not for you to decide as you please.”

Feeling more confused with the terms like 'mansion' and 'dinner party' being thrown off to you, suddenly a girl with a maid appearance walks towards all of you.

“It’s time for the assembly, please go to the dining hall.”

Looking at you, she adds “Of course, you too.”

At first, you hesitate and want to refuse, but the maid tells you the owner of the mansion is waiting to meet you and you must have lots of questions to ask yourself. Plus, you enter here without permission. You walk ahead and come downstairs with the others following behind, and someone unexpectedly awaits them down there, shocking you.

“You are…!”

Looking ahead after going downstairs is a familiar brown-eyed man who you meet at the museum.

The moment your eyes meet, he smiles at you.

“Oh, Heeseung hyung, you know her?” Jake asks.

“We happened to meet this morning.” After Heeseung clarifies he remembers you, you feel so glad as he might be the mansion’s owner and could lead you to the way out. Before you could ask further, someone interrupts you.

“She told me she came in through the door you used…did you bring her along?” Sunghoon asks.

“No no, I could swear it’s not me who brought her in. I'm even surprised by her presence here.”

Listening to those unknown exchanges, you feel even more uncomfortable. You tried to ask him to tell you how to go back, but he could only give you a troubled smile. He invites you to the dinner party, and promises to explain everything after it’s done to avoid your further confusion.

As you arrive at the dining hall, the maid opens up the door for all of you. Warmly lit with chandeliers and candlebars. High-backed wooden chairs framing the massive table. A man was already seated there, raising his head noticing your arrival.

“Guest?”

He got the briefest look at me before returning to the table in front of him. He spoke, but you weren’t sure if it was to you, as he wouldn’t meet your eyes.

“Whoever you are, have you considered sitting down? There’s a queue behind you waiting to get in.” He seems to not care and tells you to take seats already, as it’s troublesome to do nothing.

“Jay, you do care!” tease Jake.

To rebuke further argument, Heeseung claps his hand and smiles towards all of the people who've been attending, asking for a toast. After the champagne toast and dishes are brought one by one, you still could not bring yourself to eat. Too many thoughts in your mind. You then indulge yourself with all delicious dishes, you feel the tense out from your shoulder a bit, and less wary.

It should be at quarter past three, and you should be at The Musee Pavillion now. But it’s nighttime and you’re seated at dinner. You couldn’t solve the puzzle right now, so you turn your head to your companions.

As Heeseung is glad you’re liking them, he greets the whole room, leading everyone’s gaze to him.

‘Who are all these men?’

“Since we have this opportunity, how about we introduced ourselves to the young lady?” Just like reading your mind, Heesung smiles as he introduces himself first followed by the others. “My name is Lee Heeseung. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure’s all mine.” You stiffen, realising belatedly you could’ve been making a better impression of yourself. “I’m… [Name].”

“That’s such a pretty name for a pretty girl.” Says the dark brown haired flirt from before, gaining your attention. Don't forget to wink at you. “The name is Jake Sim and you don't need to be formal with me, just Jake is fine as long as I get to call you [Name].”

“I think that’s enough, Jake. You make her uncomfortable,” warns Heeseung.

You look to the next in line. Sitting to the right of Heeseung is Jay. You haven’t met Jay’s eyes for a moment before he looks away from you again. ‘What? Does he hate me or something?’

“… I’m Jay, Jay Park.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“I believe that leave you.” Heeseung’s voice arrests your fantasies.

Only one man left.

Your saviour.

He wanted you to get out of this place, and promised to answer your questions as soon as you two were gone. For some reason, you’d instantly trusted him, more than anyone else. He looks at you with those eyes that hide nothing and says, “Sunghoon. Park Sunghoon.”

After the dinner party ends without you still not knowing and understanding anything, you go to Heeseung’s room to seek explanations. You ask him ways to return since the door does not budge at all, is there switches or keys needed to open. However, his answers kinda disappoint you

“The door isn’t locked. Opening it is easy, however, it only opens under very specific conditions.”

“What’s the condition?”

“The specifics are difficult to explain.” Heeseung gets up from his chair and stops in front of an oversized hourglass. The top half is full of sand. “It will open when all the sand in this hourglass has fallen. It’s quite precise, and I rely on its timing myself.”

“I see. Approximately how long does that hourglass run for?”

“It takes a month, on average,” he says calmly. ‘A month!? On average?’

“We're still in Warlington, right?” If you are still in Warlington, that means there’s no need to fixate on that strange door. You could just go back using the front door. You don’t know how it became night without you knowing, but you still can return to your dorm.

“We are indeed still in Warlington, but in a different world. What you see here isn't the town you know.”

Heeseung sadly smiles as he tells Miyoung, the maid, to open the curtain and let you look over the city from his window’s room. Like in the set of a movie, a carriage runs along the old street and ladies put on a dress, other than that, the city still looks the same. You even change direction over and over, still see the same view and reality gradually hits.

“No… way.”

He explains that the mansion’s door has the power to connect between two different worlds. No matter if it's him or anyone, it still takes around one month to open the door. Once it’s close, it would take around that much time to open again.

“By the way, other residents are also gathered here through that door. So, people from different times and countries, including you, are meeting each other in this mansion. ”

Trying to clear more of your head, you ask further about the mansion and real identity of the Heeseung, but he tells you to rest for tonight since you seem tired already as he prepares a room for you to stay for the month. He also promises to answer more of your questions tomorrow and would tell the other residents about your stay in the mansion.

Alone in your prepared room, you’re thinking back about all the occurrences that happen the whole day. Hoping all of these are only dreams, you’re remembering back all the men you met, still not believing much in this whole different world story. You couldn’t picture he’s lying about it and your instincts told you he was telling the truth.

Besides, what would Heeseung gain from lying to you? You’re not rich or influential. There’s no benefit to it. Then it’s all real? As real as this place is.

Exhaustion overwhelming you. You immediately fell asleep as your head hit the pillow. But then, you wake up to the soft crumple of the thick duvet, followed by the creak of the bed-frame. There is a stranger in your room.

“Who is that?”

Before you could escape, a strong force pulls you back to bed. They were on top of you, holding you down. As your body falls to the bed, strong hands pinned yours to the sheets. Your legs are trapped under theirs.

“Don’t move.”

You feel the figure’s heat close to you, body tensed as their breath is on your ear. Sharp teeth sink into your neck. It stung for only a moment. No, not even that long. What you feel can’t be described as pain. Feverish heat starts running to your nape of the neck, your vision is shaking and you feel low in power. Each warm breath billowing over your neck fills you with insatiable longing.

You groan in a voice laden with ecstasy. Does that voice even belong to you?

As you’re surprised by your sweet voice unlike yourself, your reason is slowly melting. Your sight follows a circular red stain on the white sheet.

As your consciousness fades, the figure says something.

“I want it all. Your body, your heart… and your destiny.”

You scramble out of the bed, clutching your neck. There’s no puncture wound nor pain, and there’s no one when you’re looking around the room. The dream was unusual but yet familiar, you recall the mysterious daydream you had when you first set foot in the mansion, like a warning.

What do you put yourself into?

Trying to calm yourself, you decided to take a walk at the hall for a bit. Wan moonlight streamed in through the hallway like a ghostly ribbon. It was beautiful, yet unnerving in the dead of night.

You still couldn’t believe that you are stuck here, in another version of Warlington—the town you visit for study—with four men. Even if they could have world-travelled, why would they leave their own world? Why stay here when they have a life to live? Shouldn’t they be just as eager to return as you are?

It didn’t make sense.

Looks like you need to find out the truth from Heeseung tomorrow. For now, you need to get back to your room and hopefully back to sleep.

That’s when you saw him, standing at the border of the light and shadow, looking as if he embodied both. Sunghoon stood with his back to the wall, arms folded, but not in a peaceful way. His eyes were fixed on the window as if it were the bars of an old familiar cage.

“Sunghoon?”

The moment he heard your voice, his eyes left the crescent moon and looked at you. You were suddenly overcome with a familiar sensation. Your vision shrank to pinholes.

“I want it all. Your body, your heart… and your destiny.” It was your dream. It came fresh to your mind, along with all the sensations you’d felt. You took a steadying breath, only to realise Sunghoon had left the wall and was now onto your side.

“Are you all right?” He worriedly asks which you answer with a nod. He sighs before continuing, “You shouldn’t be out and about. I heard you’re going to stay here until the door opens.”

It seemed like Heeseung had told them about it like he said he would. You confirmed what Sunghoon had heard.

“Then you’ll want to stay in your room at night. Especially if you’re going to be alone.”

“Why? Is there something here I should worry about?”

“…It’s not my place to tell you. But, please, just take the advice.”

There was a finality to his answer. Whatever the unspoken deal you’d had before, your agreement to stay here changed it. With that, you return to your room and shut the door.

Once more, you slip into the bed and find yourself surrounded by its soft sheets. Thankfully, there were no more dreams. You couldn’t have known at the time how important that night would become to you.

The next morning, not a moment after you’d freshened up, Heeseung had you seated in his supercar. He was taking you out for a tour around the unfamiliar Warlington. It took a quarter-of-an-hour to arrive in the city.

It’s a completely different view when you’re on the street. The vestiges of the past that you couldn’t find in the museum can still be seen in this world. The buildings and scenery look the same, but it holds a different vibe. The way people dressed here showed a classical and yet trendy feel. There are also not many cars on the road—Heeseung said only people with high status or money can afford it in this world.

Heeseung gives a little nod toward the driver and smiles, as indicating you two should go.

He offers you his arm and you take it, only to find yourself suddenly close to him. You were surprised, but then found it was a common thing here since the other ladies around you were being escorted the same way.

“Now that the last of your doubts have been quelled, let me welcome you again to this world.” He shows you his eye smile before continuing. “First, we need to go shopping. You’ll need a variety of things.”

“Shopping? But I don’t ha—”

He wouldn’t listen to your protest and so you shopped. He led the way, and you could go along, wide-eyed.

This tour of the city lasted until evening.

As soon the two of you arrived at the mansion, Heeseung excused himself as Miyoung appeared to help you with carrying box after box of dresses, perfumes, and more into the mansion.

In the end, you didn’t get the chance to ask your questions. But, you’ve learned something about him: his status here was high, though you don’t know what it was yet. Everything he has told you so far is true.

“Oh, isn’t it [Name]?”

That voice. You recognized him before turning around.

“Jake.”

“You remembered my name. Fantastic!” Jaemin takes an insouciant stance and grinned. “Out larking about, are we?”

“Heeseung was showing me the town.”

“How do you fancy Warlington? Still find it unbelievable?” You could only nod. Though you finally saw it yourself you still can’t believe the whole different world travel concept.

Something then caught your attention. A red stain on Jake's shirt, too dark to be just any beverage.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to stare, but I think you spilled something on your shirt.”

“Ah, that?” Jake glanced at the stain right below his collar and gave it a tug, “I suppose I did spill my beverage.”

However, it doesn't seem like a normal beverage—the colour, the consistency—that was unmistakably like… blood.

Your head was clanging like an old-fashioned alarm bell. ‘Did he just say ‘beverage’? There’s an explanation for this, there has to be.’

"W-what kind of beverage?"

“Came from that pretty neck I fed off just now, I suspect. Nothing stains like blood. A real bother to get out, too.” Jake spoke up, preternaturally seizing upon the exact moment reality was slipping through your fingers. He was talking about it as if it might have been lipstick, or wine, or coffee.

You've experienced many strange phenomena since you arrived. Haunting dreams. Visions. But, this was the most shocking thing that ever happened to you. Jake could see the colour of your face drained at the realisation.

“I see now. You didn’t know we were vampires, did you?”

“That’s… unbelievable!”

“What a load of rubbish, right? You’re a sceptic. Fair enough. But it’s all true.” Your eyes locked at his, feet frozen in place due to fear. You couldn’t run. “Do you want to know what a true vampire is like, [Name]? I’ll let in on a secret.”

“What.. do you mean by that?”

“It only takes a little bite.”

“Cease that, Jake. You’ve gone too far.” Just when Jake is about to come close, someone interposes between Jake and you like a shadow manifesting from a sudden stream light.

Sunghoon glared at Jake as he pushed you behind him. He was trying to protect you from the older man for a few months.

“Don’t give me that sour face, Hoonie! We’re just having a bit of fun.”

“We? I doubt it.” Jake put his hand on the heart, pretending to be hurt by Sunghoon's harsh words. Sunghoon sighs and turns to face you.

“This is why you shouldn’t be alone at night. Come with me.”

You are unable to let out any protest as he took your hand away from Jake. Though you don’t know if you could trust him anymore or not, it’s better than being alone with Jake after what is about to happen. Yet, looking at Sunghoon did nothing to release the knots in your stomach.

Now that you realise, Sunghoon was going to get you out of here because he knew. He knew there were vampires here. He was a part of them.

“Sunghoon.”

“What is it?”

“Let go of my hand, please.”

He did so. Immediately. You stepped away, measuring the distance from the gardens back to the mansion. Jake said they were all vampires. Did that mean Sunghoon is one of them too?

“I know what you want to ask me. Go on, ask.” In his eyes, you saw that he wanted you to know.

Daring, you take a step closer. “You’re one of them, right? You’re a vampire.”

Silence. It is strange. You couldn’t shake the feeling you’d somehow said the wrong thing.

He suddenly moves forward like a shadow, then falls upon you like the inexorable morning light. You feel his chest rise and fall, feel his breath against your face. He is breathing. Alive. But when you looked into his eyes that had been so honest with you, you saw fear. Your fear. He wants you to answer your own question.

“Look at me,” He cups your hair. Telling you, begging you, not to turn away yet. “I’m not like the others. I’m just like you. Please, stop looking at me like I’m going to bite you.”

No monster out of fiction, you thought, could stir your heart the way his voice did.

ii.

You finally found a chance to talk with Heeseung. First thing in the morning, you went to see him. He would not evade your question again. Or so you thought. He insisted on breakfast. You sat in the garden, at a table laden with sandwiches, eggs, and a plate of mandarin oranges.

“Miss, your tea.” Miyoung pours the hot tea. You thank her before taking a sip of it. Judging by the aroma and the taste, it is black tea with an infusion of milk. It tastes just like a milk tea, maybe with a little bit bitter at the after taste.

Heeseung smiles, his eyes fastening on you as you enjoy the silence and peace breakfast. But it doesn’t last for long.

“You must have many questions about this mansion and the other residents here. And there are things I must explain to you. That’s why I asked Miyoung to prepare breakfast in the garden.”

You clear your throat and put down the teacup on your hand, “Yes. Though I will only stay here for a month, I still need to know the truth. At least to protect myself.”

“What would you like to ask first?”

You have so many questions, but you know which of them is the most important.

“Is it true that all your residents are vampires?”

“What made you think that?” He asked back calmly.

“I ran into Jake after you went inside yesterday. We got talking and—”

You shuddered at the flash of yesterday's event. When Jaemin told you the secret of the residents. When he walked closer and looked at you like a meal. If it is not because of Sunghoon, you might not be able to enjoy a breakfast like this anymore.

“…Jake. How I’m not surprised anymore.” Your sudden silence made him understand where this went.

“Anyway, I’m curious, why was that alone enough to convince you? You seem so sceptical about travelling through the world and of the residence here.”

To be honest, two days ago you would’ve been more sceptical about the blood too. However, there comes a time where rationality is stretched too thin. Past that point, the fantasy must be true.

“Seeing is believing. I don’t doubt what I see with my own eyes. Moreover, I’ve experienced a number of inexplicable things since I opened that door. At this point, I’m ready to listen.”

No more scepticism. You’d decided. Whatever Heeseung or Miyoung told you now, you would accept. Experienced one near death experience was enough for you.

“Let’s start from the beginning.”

Apparently, you’re the only person that comes here through that door. The moment the other residents woke up, they were already here—it was his doing. Everyone who Heeesung brought here has agreed to a certain condition of his, and it was a taste of eternity. They all were human until they arrived at this mansion, died with regrets, or left with something unfinished.

They were offered a second chance. They might have died in their world, but they are alive here. As a vampire.

“Onto my next question: Are you two vampires as well?”

“Miyoung is the only human other than you in this mansion. We met while abroad and invited her to stay,” said Heeseung.

“Rest assured. I’ve never once died.”

“How about you?” The man only smiled, purposely leaving that question unanswered. One flash of those red eyes and you found yourself unable to press him further.

He said Miyoung is the only other human. But, that’s not right, is it? The words Sunghoon said last night ringing inside your head. You thought he was telling you he was human. Were you wrong?

“What about Sunghoon?” Heeseung frowned. Your question made him pause.

“He’s… an exception. I did not offer him any contract; I have no memory of inviting him here at all.”

“That means he shouldn't be alive in this world, right? How did he get here?”

“He simply arrived one day, out of the blue. In fact, it shouldn’t be possible that he’s here with all of us. It surprised the rest of us. He doesn’t know why he is alive again and he’s incomplete.”

Incomplete—physically trapped between human and vampire. A demi-vampire. That explains why he said he was like you. He must see himself more like a human than a vampire.

“That’s enough!” You turned, hearing that familiar deep voice. “Who said you could talk about me behind my back?”

Heeseung calmly looks at Sunghoon as the demi-vampire walks toward the table, glares at the pureblood vampire across you with hate.

“She was going to learn the truth eventually. You could say I saved you the trouble. Unless… you were attempting to hide the information from her for some reason?”

“Stop insinuating when you know I wasn’t.” Sunghoon sighs as he turns away from Heeseung to you. “Glad you took my advice about not being alone.”

Not after what happened last night. Nope, you’re not going to get yourself in that situation anymore. Something about that cocky smile on Sunghoon's face just now irked you.

“Sunghoon, I have a proposal.”

“… I’m not gonna like this.” Sunghoon frowned even before Heeseung said his request.

After the breakfast with Heeseung finished, you follow right behind Sunghoon back to the mansion. Your newly appointed guardian had been silent since he accepted Heeseung's proposal. He was fast, but his black tuxedo stood in stark contrast to the green garden verge.

“Wait, Sunghoon!” You run toward him as Sunghoon halts. He waits while you catch your breath. A jog shouldn’t have winded you. But with the long feet he has, you really had to chase him down. “There’s something that I wanted to tell you.”

“What’s it?”

“First, I needed to say thank you. Second, I’ll try my best to not be a chore for you. I’d like us to get along.”

You automatically bow. But you realised it wouldn’t mean much to him. Will a handshake do? You thrust out your hand.

“Lift your head.” You raise your eyes to his brown undeniably human eyes. Sunghoon accepts your hand—not to shake it, but kiss it, like the gentleman in those movies. It was a slow, purposely action. “Since I’ve accepted the job, I swear to protect you. So, make sure you don’t get into trouble, chore.”

“You indeed think of me as a chore!?”

“You’re welcome to prove me wrong.” He grins and begins to walk off.

You don’t like that imperious attitude, earned or not. And yet, you couldn’t forget the gentlemanly kiss he’d placed on your hand. Your hand still tingles from the touch of his lips. Lips that then curved into a confident smile.

Why do you find him so frustrating?

On the other hand, Sunghoon couldn’t help but find you quite amusing. It’s been a while since the last time he met someone as interesting as you. A clap suddenly interrupted Sunghoon's though, making him stops and turns to the culprit.

“What a good show back there.”

Jake don’t stop clapping until Heeseung glares at him. “What do you want now?”

“‘First, I needed to say thank you. Second, I’ll try my best to not be a chore for you’. She’s good. Nice and sweet to the point I just want to sink my fangs right into her!”

“Try it and lose them,” warns Sunghoon.

However, Jake being Jake, he ignores the warning and still playfully teases the demi-vampire.

“Anger doesn't look great on your face, you know. Say Hoonie, you never answer me why were you trying to help [Name] at that night? She was a stranger to you and thought it would be more fun if we fed on her.” Jake’s eyes sparkled; he was enjoying his little game.

Sunghoon pulls Jake’s collar shirt and grips it tightly. If he was angry before, he is furious now.

“It was to keep her away from you. Satisfied?”

“Looks like the lion is waking up~”

“…You can’t stop turning everything into one of your little games, can you?”

Sunghoon shoves him away before he walks away. Jake touches his lips in thought. You’re defenceless, and Sunghoon has a history of learning how to protect the defenceless. But is it really the reason? He couldn’t help but think Sunghoon must be wanting to set you free because you’re human, in terms of himself.

iii.

You had finally come to terms with this mansion and its supernatural residents. Though you are Heeseung's guest, you persistently want to assist Miyoung in her duties. At least, it is the only thing you could do besides doing nothing for a month and maybe paying back for Heeseung's hospitality, you thought.

Miyoung has told you a few things that you need to know about the residents, in case you happen to face them under some circumstance.

Though vampires appear human, physiologically, they are different creatures with their own needs and aversions. Garlic and holy objects didn’t have any effects on them. They’re just sensitive to sunlight; they can stay under the sunlight but not for a long time. They also take nourishment from blood and they have extended life spans.

She also presented you with a cart with two decanters; one was filled with what looked like a white wine called ‘Blanc’ that served as a blood substitute, the other contained an opaque red liquid which is real blood. These are only consumed when they’re starting to feel thirsty, better than having to drink blood straight from the body.

Your first task of the day was to wake Sunghoon who’d miss breakfast. You raise your hand to knock on the door but hesitate. Miyoung had warned you, there is a time when the demi-vampire can’t be woken up by a mere knock on the door. If he doesn’t answer after the third knock, you can just enter his room and wake him up.

You knocked once, in case you’d got the wrong door before knocking it twice more. Hearing no response, you opened it.

Surprised was written on your face as you saw Sunghoon's room. It was impeccably clean, and though he had shelves of books and papers, everything was put away properly. The demi-vampire himself was found still sleeping on the table in an uncomfortable position. He must have fallen asleep while reading.

“Sunghoon? Sunghoon!” He’s not even stirring. You try to call his name again, this time while shaking his body.

“Mm… mmm?” You could tell he sensed daylight because he scrunched his eyes harder. You shake him again, but this time with more gentleness. “Hey, wake up!”

“What is it?” He blinked at you. “Oh, morning [Name].”

“Morning? It’s already noon! A few more hours and I’d be saying good evening," scold you. "Anyway, doesn’t your back hurt from sleeping like that?”

“[Name]…” He shushed you and raised up just enough to curl his arm around the back of your head. “… Seals that mouth of you.”

Sunghoon pulls you with surprising strength and kisses you. You push at his chest, but you might as well have push on a wall. His lips locked onto yours. It quite shocked you. Just as you’d had enough— he let you go.

“You… you…” You touched your lips, and they were warm. Nowhere near the temperature of your rage.

Sunghoon has stolen your first kiss!

“What are you doing here?” Sobered up, he asks you casually before gazes at you, mystified. “You look feverish.”

“I’m certainly sick of you. How can you-! Urgh, just get up already.”

Still boiling over, you march out of his room. Leaving the demi-vampire confused, “What’s her problem, huh?”

The rest of the day, you busied yourself with work. You went to wash the dishes, then did the laundry. When even that wasn’t enough to work out your anger, you spent your time in the library where a whole forest of books to dust. This should keep you busy for a week. Just four week of this and you’re home!

“You’re trying to kill those books or clean them?”

You recognize the speaker, who was sitting on the floor though there were couches and chairs nearby. He is no other than Jay, one of the residents that almost rarely interacted with you but always spent his time bricking with Sunghoon.

“I might have been imagining the books as a certain someone. I’m sorry to disturb you.”

“You’re not disturbing me. What happened?” Jay asks. “It’s not that important.”

“Right. However, it looks to me like you want to talk about it.”

Something about his eyes makes it feels like he already knows everything that’s wrong. If that was the case. then what was the harm in telling him, right? You ended up telling him everything, everything that makes you mad, including the incident with Sunghoon.

“I see. You ran into one of his bad habits.”

“Bad habit? You mean…”

“Yeah, he’ll kiss anyone like that in the morning. Back then, I’m the one who used to wake him up, and I often annoyed him while pretending to kiss him if he didn't wake up to the point he was not scared to kiss anyone he found annoying. So, yeah, it’s kinda my fault too.”

He laughs a little before continuing, “Everyone tried to pass the job off to someone else. Looks like it was your turn now.”

“I see…”

“Anyway, I’ll tell you something good about this place,” Jay speaks like a man excited to share the secret location of a cavern of jewels. He looks different from the quiet impression you got on the first day. “Everyone here can be a handful. So we developed this system-”

But then he smirks, eyes indicating the library door the very moment it opened. You turn around only to see Sunghoon strides up to you. He just pulls your hand, taking you away from Jay without letting you throw any protest.

Though he doesn’t say anything, his eyes tell you how badly he wants you to come with him.

Jay stands and watches as Sunghoon led you out. But, you could have sworn you heard him say, “enjoy your trip.”

Sunghoon briskly guides you out of the mansion, which reminds you of the time when you two were back in that first night. The night where he was just the brown-haired saviour that promised to help you escape.

“Get on,” Sunghoon instructs you.

You look at the horse and then back to him in confusion. You clearly don’t want to, still not understanding the situation you got into. It kinda made him frustrated. He sighs before grips your waist and hoists you up.

The next thing you knew, you were on the horse with Sunghoon, sitting in his lap. “And we’re off.”

“Huh? Wait, we’re going somewhere? Where?”

“Somewhere. Just hold on tight, this will not be a smooth road trip.”

Accompanied by the clop of steel-shod hoofbeats, Sunghoon and you left the stables to the opposite road to get to the city. You two are now racing into the countryside.

Though Sunghoon held you tight, the wind was strong to the point it seemed to cut your cheeks. You aren't safe riding like this at all. You grip his clothes for dear life, but daring yourself, you turn to face forward.

He seems to notice your fear. But fear isn’t a constant state, and without you noticing, it faded away. It was around that time that the ride ended.

“We’re here.”

Sunghoon helps you to get down. Then you follow him a few steps until you reach the top of a hill. Flowers carpeted the field below you, blooming as far as the eye could see. You couldn't help but be amazed in awe, unconsciously letting a little “wow”.

“I’m glad this could cheer you up.”

His eyes search the field, finding a spot where the flowers are thin to sit. It is like sinking into a fantasy world. The flowers are so much larger, so much more beautiful when sitting among them.

“Finally, you’re smiling,” he mutters.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” He’d been looking at you, now he looks up at the dark sky and the stars above.

“Why did you bring me here?”

It takes a moment until he finally speaks. “This morning, well…”

He still doesn’t dare to look you in the eyes. His ears turn red as he says, “I brought you here to apologise for accidentally kissing you this morning. Living with someone like Jake and Jay planted a bad habit in me. You might have heard it from Jay about it, right?”

You nod. You also have something more relevant to ask.

“Which one of them told you?”

“Miyoung did. Right after she saw what you were doing to Jake's laundry.“

You sure didn’t say anything to Miyoung, yet she found out anyway.

Wait. She had to have known about Sunghoon’s kissing tendencies when she asked you to go wake him up. But, she still asked you to do it without giving any warning.

Before you have the chance to be mad at Miyoung, Sunghoon holds up a hand and begin ticking down fingers. “Jake told me because of the laundry. Jay saw you during lunch. And Heeseung cornered me afterwards-”

“Hold on.” You cut him up. “It sounds like everyone knew. How did they all find out?”

“You can’t keep a secret in this place.”

It’s not like you’re upset that everyone knows about the kiss. Especially if Sunghoon's gotten the rest of them once already. Not being able to keep a secret around here sounds more dangerous anyway. You got a good look at his eyes and the poor man actually looked a little panicked.

Come to think of it, he is a man of few words. Action first questions later. When you first met, he’d taken your hand as if that told you everything you needed to know. What you felt for him was warm, but it most definitely wasn’t anger. Not anymore.

You are, you daresay, comfortable with the idea of being around him again. Happy, even.

“You’re forgiven. For all of it.” He smiles at the fact you forgave him. “As long as you slow down on the ride back.”

“The hardest treaty I’ve ever made.”

“Don’t make fun of me, I got horse-sick.”

“…Horse-sick?” He can't help but laugh hard. And once he started laughing, he couldn’t stop. He doesn’t know why but it had been a while since the last time he heard a word like that.

You frown at him for about one second and then laugh too.

A Park Sunghoon who sometimes sleeps all day and kisses whoever tries to wake him, who couldn’t even apologise to someone without a long horse-ride first, and who has the most delightful laugh you’ve heard in a long time. You are glad to have been able to meet him on this journey.

In a meadow stippled with wildflowers, the azure sky turned night-dark above you as Sunghoon and you keep talking. It was perhaps the first real conversation you’d had since meeting each other.

iv.

That's it. You’d completed your work for the day and couldn’t wait to get to your journal. Getting used to the environment you lived in this world, you’d started keeping more notes of your time here. Today, you had so much to write about, especially at the new discovery of Warlington you learned from Miyoung.

As you walk back to the mansion, you see Jay waiting by the door.

It’s rare to see him outside, you thought. Or anywhere, really. He was looking longingly at the driver. You knew you guys had a private driver who lived just outside the mansion—in fact, he was currently drowsing in his seat.

It looks like Jay wanted to go somewhere, but felt bad to bother the tired man.

“Jay?” Jay looks up from the man as he hears his name being called. He looks flustered.

“Huh? Oh, It’s you. Don’t startle me like that. And don’t tell anyone about it, too.” You couldn’t help but chuckle. If he hadn’t been fixated on the driver, you wouldn’t have been surprised. Who would have thought you would have a chance to see the infamous prankster Jay surprised like that.

Jay wakes up the driver and gets into the car, then asks you, “Are you done with work?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Are you doing anything else?” He asks again.

“I was going to… Actually, no, never mind.” There is no way you would tell him about the journal. “Is there something you need?”

“Do you want to come? I’m going to see Sunghoon.” At the mention of Sunghoon's name, your eyes lit and it didn't go unnoticed by Jay. Which makes him raise his eyebrow in a teasing manner. No one in this mansion doesn’t know about how close you two were lately.

“You two are always together, so I thought, You know…”

“I will pretend to not hear the last one, but, sure. I’ll come with you.”

The car takes off at a brisk pace toward the city. While on the way to your destination, you couldn’t help but wonder. Sunghoon did disappear for a few hours every day.

You tried to ask Jay about it, but the only answer you got was a sarcastic reply.

“You’ll find out as soon as we get there.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“… Agreeing with me again. I still can’t get used to it.”

Amusingly, he smiles. Too bad the ride wasn’t long enough to figure out Jay's contrary conversational patterns. The car stopped at the entrance of a dingy alley which made you confused.

They are going to meet Sunghoon here?

As soon as you got out, you heard voices—

“Sunghoon hyung! Over here!” A child pulled Sunghoon's right hand as his other hand held the wooden sword you saw in his room before.

“Patience! I’m only one man.”

“Hyung, me next! I need some help with my stance.”

Where the alley widened, you saw Sunghoon, surrounded by children, young and old. Apparently, he spends his afternoon coming here to teach the children the basics of swordsmanship.

“Hyung!!! Look! I just mastered the technique you teach me!” A child that seemed older than most of the children there suddenly ran toward Sunghoon. The other children started to cry in protest on how it was not his turn yet.

Sunghoon looks at the child before letting out a sigh. What you didn’t expect from him is a flick on the forehead. It was not that hard, but you could see how the child’s forehead turned red.

“Nikki, that’s not exactly how I teach you to swing your sword. It will only hurt your hand before you are able to hit your enemy. And next time, wait for your turn. Understand?”

The boy named Nikki nods while pouting at Sunghoon. You’d see him stubborn, boyish, teasing, friendly. Now there was caring, with an almost paternal gentleness.

Jay looks at the eager young children with pity and sympathy as he explained to you. They were the children of the unfortunate and underprivileged. Pauper, in a word. Different from your world, they couldn’t go to school nor get any education here.

“Do you teach them something too?” You ask Jay.

“…I actually do. Since I used to be a singer, I teach them some basics. It wasn’t my idea, in case you’re curious.”

You two stand talking at the mouth of the alley when the man of the talk himself approaches.

“Jay, you’re here!” Sunghoon happily greets Jay before his eyes land at you. “And [Name]?”

“I brought her-”

“Oh, look! Jay hyung is here!!!” The children cut him off and ran to him. They drag him away from you and Sunghoon to teach them new songs.

Jay said it wasn’t his idea. But though he seems a little overwhelmed, you got the feeling he doesn’t mind. Setting in with the music, surrounded by children and their boundless, boisterous curiosity, he looked unexpectedly content.

“So, how did you end up coming here with him?”

“Jay invited me out of nowhere. Because, and I quote, you and I are ‘always together’.” Sunghoon looks at you in confusion for a second.

"Do we?"

"Well, it was your job to be my bodyguard after all."

While you two are talking, the oldest of the children who was scolded by Sunghoon before comes over. He looks at you with wide eyes. But then turned into cheeky, childish glee, before letting out an unexpected question.

“Are you two lovers?” Your breath hitch in surprise.

What was Sunghoon teaching him, exactly? How was that the first thing he asks when he meets a woman?

“You see, Nikki, we’re just-”

“Yes, we’re lovers.” You glances at Sunghoon in confusion.

He doesn't just cut you but also lie to a child. He even seems doesn’t mind your glare. He leans over to whisper to you, telling you that it was easier to lie than tell him the truth though you do not agree with him. Your heated whisper only seemed to affirm Nikki's guess about you two.

“Heh, I knew it! Mom and dad talk just like you do. Only lovers argue like that.”

“Did you hear that, sweetheart? I think so too, Nikki. But we always make up afterwards.”

You feel a chill at the nickname he used for you. He shot you a sly smile, and you wonder how he isn't bent over backwards with laughter at this point. He obviously enjoyed this too much.

Uninterested in continuing the conversation with 'your lover', you turned to Nikki. You notice the messy drawing at the handle of his wooden sword. Curiously, you point at the drawing and ask.

“What did you draw?”

“Oh, this?” Nikki looks at his wooden sword's handle before letting out an awkward smile. “This was supposed to be a gem like those in real swords. But yeah, somehow it turned out into something abstract. Just like how my other painting turned out.”

Ah, he actually has some interest in drawing.

“Anyway, shouldn’t you go to Jay? He was about to start now.” Nikki jolts in surprise as he confirms what Sunghoon just said. Without wasting any more time, he bids you goodbye and goes to Jay.

“That’s new.” You look at Sunghoon in confusion. His eyes still follow Nikki who was busy observing Jay.

What did he mean by new?

“Nikki was the oldest of the group. He is rarely willing to approach or talk to anyone besides me, Jay, and his group of friends. And usually, it takes weeks for him to be able to open up. So, seeing him talk with you comfortably like that was something new to me.”

You could only smile. Seeing how happy Nikki and the other children from a distance like this make you kinda understand how Sunghoon feels about them. They are precious and you want no other than to protect their little happiness.

Sunghoon's gentle eyes look into the distance. But whether it was the past or the future he was seeing, you couldn’t tell.

"Nikki actually reminds me of my past."

Apparently, Sungoon's childhood wasn’t the brightest like you thought, where he needed to work hard to be able to pay his own tuition and living expenses. He didn’t manage to enrol in a good school like what he was hoping for, but still, he met someone great and was able to learn more from them.

As you listen to Sunghoon, you realise that he was opening up about his past to you for the first time. He smiles painfully at the last memories he remembered about that good man as he looked at you apologetically. Before he could let out what he wanted to say, a pitiful strained-sounding plea interrupted you two for help.

“Yah! Sunghoon! A little bit… assistance, please!”

Jay is surrounded by a lot of boys and gripping on one of the wooden swords with both of his hands.

“Why is Jay holding a sword?”

“You must never let children get bored. Let’s save him before he hurts himself. Let’s go, our little school could use a third teacher.” Sunghoon grins and grabs your hand, not letting you make any protest.

And ever since that day, you started to spend your free time visiting the children. Sometimes alone, sometimes accompanied by Sunghoon. You even didn’t forget to bring the kids some snacks that you made with the help of Miyoung which they enjoyed very much.

“Noona, you come!”

“Eonnie!”

The moment you arrived with a basket of bread, their eyes always lit up as they ran toward you. You happily greet them, handing them the bread one by one. However, it didn’t take you long to notice the leftover bread. Who hadn’t gotten the bread yet?

“Nikki didn't come today.” You look up as Sunghoon answers your question. He knew you were wondering about the oldest kid.

Then the two of you found it weird. Nikki never missed any training before. He even promised you to come today to show you something cool. So, why? Why did you feel uneasy about it?

“Guys, I don’t think you would like to hear this,” You two turned your head to Jay in surprise. “But this is about Nikki.”

Jay takes you and Sunghoon to Nikki's house. It is located not far from the alley, not more than 10 minutes by run. You just had to go straight, turn left around the corner, and if you see the simplest and cosy house on your right side, that means you have arrive.

However, the boys suddenly stop on their track, looking at each other with a nod and pull you behind them protectively. You might not be able to smell it, but they clearly knew what the smell hitting their nose was.

Blood. And it wasn’t in a small quantity.

Something was wrong.

The way Jay and Sunghoon acted made you feel that something wrong must have happened inside the house.

“Is everything alright?” You ask.

“Stay behind us.”

Jay pushes the door lightly and notices that it wasn’t locked. He enters the house cautiously, followed by Sunghoon and you. The house is completely empty without any sign of a human being. A tense, palpable silence hung in the room and you looked around the room. That was a big mistake.

Right in front of you, a man was lying lifeless in his own pool of blood. You are stumbling back in shock and almost falling down had it not been for Sunghoon holding onto you quickly.

“Mr. Nishimura!” Jay's eyes widen as he runs toward the body and examines it. “His death was caused by blood loss. Someone must have attacked him with a knife since the wound around his lower back doesn’t match any weapons I know.”

“Are you alright?” Sunghoon asks as he hugs you, shielding you from the horrid sight. “You don’t look good.”

You don’t. The stench of Mr. Nishimura's blood was overpowering your olfactory senses. You could feel yourself ready to throw up any minute just from recalling it. But then, you remembered your purpose for coming here.

“Nikki! We need to find him!”

Two horses took off, like arrows released from a bow. Worry could be seen on your face as the sky grew dark as you rode around the city to search Nikki. After all, he was just a kid and it must have traumatised him.

You three stop riding and running. Run until you reach the door of an old library that you hadn’t checked yet. Sunghoon pushed them open-.

Rows of an evenly spaced bookshelf filled the floor around you. The stained-glass window looks down at you as it allows the moonlight to illuminate the dark library. In the centre of all, stood Nikki with a mysterious man dressed in black.

His small face twisted in wrath.

“Nikki!” You are about to run toward Nikki, to pull him away from a potential murderer, but Sunghoon stops you. “[Name], don’t move.”

"But, Nikki—"

“Look at his hands.”

Nikki holds something that had been almost invisible in the glimmer of the moonlight. A weapon. It is a long-bladed knife. The red eyes and dried tears on his cheek tells you that he had been crying. He was so focused on the man before him to the point he doesn’t even notice your arrival.

However, the man did. His eyes languidly moving to the open door where three of you stand.

“… Customers? I’m sorry, but the library closed earlier today. You can visit again tomorrow morning.”

“Who is-?” Nikki's innocent eyes opened wide when he saw you all, and for a moment, he was once more the child you remembered.

“Hyung… Noona…”

“Nikki, I want you to come over to us. Slowly, carefully now.”

You look at him with a smile and extend your arm to him. But it doesn’t work. He shakes his head and looks at the man again, “I won’t! This man killed my dad.”

“… I believe he’s right about the culprit. Observe his neck.”

There’s a ring of red around his neck, marks on his flesh, just like what Jay pointed out. It looked like someone had tried to strangle him.

When you three visited the murder scene, Jay found signs of a struggle, Nikki's father fought back after being stabbed. It seemed he grabbed the man’s hood and tried to choke him, in a last attempt to stop his attacker. The man even made no attempt to conceal the bruise. Moreover, the smell of Mr. Nishimura's blood could be smelt on this mysterious man's body.

Some of the blood must have splattered on his clothes.

“It was an accident.” The man muttered. “Killing him, that is. But after I stabbed him, he was just so persistent. The others—they all thought to run or play dead. But, with this one, well, I had to defend myself. You understand, surely?”

“You claim self-defence against a man you stabbed?” It makes Jay scoff in disbelief.

“Why my dad? Why did you attack him?”

“Out of the people in this city, you mean?” He titled his head, looking at Nikki as if he was faced with some impossible puzzle. “Because he was the one I happened to pass by this morning, and he cluelessly invited me to his house. That’s all.”

“That’s it?” Nikki curls his fist in anger.

“By chance, my grandfather’s family was sent to prison. ‘By chance.’ It’s a fascinating thought, isn’t it? I like to imagine having that power—only imagine. That’s why I never killed anyone. I only wanted to see how they’d look.”

What a sick bastard. The casual way he talked about hurting people makes your stomach churn.

The man giggles. A muted, broken laugh. He looks down at Nikki with a sick smile, “Killing your father gave me a lot of pleasure. I never had this much fun before.”

Sunghoon is perfectly still. None of you was moving.

The truth of his dad’s death made the knife rattle in Nikki's trembling hands. His blood completely boiled in anger and hatred toward this man. A sick bastard who found killing was fun.

Jay glances at Sunghoon, giving him a look that clearly asks him to do something about Nikki. He was afraid something bad might happen to the child. But Sunghoon just stares at the scene before you, eyes utterly unreadable.

What ishe waiting for? Why does he seem ready to watch these tragic proceedings play out?

“Are you going to let Nikki commit murder? Do something, Sunghoon! Or else, I will stop him myself.” Jay raises his voice.

“He won’t do it. He can’t do it.” Sunghoon's eyes are on Nikki.

As he spoke, Nikki clutches the knife and steps forward on trembling legs. A gut-wrecking wail issued from his tear-streaked face. He runs toward the man.

Just as you thought Nikki would stab him, he slows down and comes to a stop. His arms fall to his sides, head bows-like a puppet whose strings had been cut. And he sobs with shaking hands tightening on the knife.

Sunghoon chooses that moment to speak. “Why did you stop, Nikki? Don’t you want to kill this man?”

“… I do.”

“Very well.” Nikki walks up the floor, his heavy boots leaving an impression on it like frozen ripples upon a lake of blood. He grabs Nikki by the shoulders and pulls him away. “Step back.”

Sunghoon withdraws a baton and swiftly kicks the man, bringing pain to his knee. When the man raises his head, Sunghoon’s baton tip is at his cheek. His eyes are empty of emotion as he looks at the man, cold as the steel of his weapon. Seeing a man’s vulnerable face and nothing else.

“All it would take is a few swings from me and this man would die.”

The tip was already prodding the man’s flesh. Though this baton couldn’t kill the man on the spot, with Sunghoon's strength it was enough to make the man suffer the unbelievable pain ‘till death.

“Say the words. Say 'Kill this man’, and I will kill him.”

Who was he? Where was the man you thought you knew?

All the horror you’d held back since arriving in this world came to you at once, unbidden, when you look in Sunghoon's eyes. You couldn’t seem to breathe.

Everyone was still. Except for the demi-vampire.

“Nikki is just a child!” You want to shout, but can’t due to your horror. While Jay could only whisper a prayer under his breath.

No one seems able to stop him.

Nikki let go of the knife he’d held. It drops to the floor with a thud. He turns away. From the man. From Sunghoon. From all of you. His body started to shake.

Sunghoon looks at him and opens his mouth, “Listen to me. Do not pull a blade on someone if you have not the intention nor the will to kill them. But, if you do kill, know that you forever carry the soul of the man whose life you took.”

The man laughed a dry, high-pitched laugh.

“I can’t believe it. You’re not going to kill me! You can’t do it any more than he can. Of course, a man who’s never killed before can’t possibly bring himself to—”

“Oh, I’ve killed before. I’ve killed more than you could kill in a lifetime.”

From relieved laughter, the man’s face shifts back into terror. So does yours. The fact that he had killed someone before made you shudder more in fear.

The library’s door suddenly opens with a loud bang. A shout and a dozen footsteps of police stomping up the library steps, followed by Jake in the back. He sends you a wink before pointing at the man to the police.

Everything happened so fast. The man was arrested and Nikki was taken in as a witness. When it was all done, the group of you were once more alone.

“Jake, thank you for having the good sense to call the police.”

“It’s fine, Jay. Sorry I didn’t get here earlier.”

It was a blur to you, you didn’t move. You weren’t sure you were able to. Until a tall shadow fell over you. Sunghoon. Blocking out the moon-light.

“Sunghoon…” He notices how pale you are and worries. You feel his hand come closer; you shivered. “Don’t-”

The word leapt out of you. Sunghoon's hand hangs empty in the air. You search for something, anything else to say to him. But you couldn’t find anything. Your hands were trembling and with that he left you with Jay and Jake.

That night, you all went back safely. You didn’t try to talk or even make eye contact with Sunghoon, completely avoiding him after what you just witnessed at the library.

Everyone seems to notice the tension between you two. Because the next day, while busy mopping the floor, Miyoung suddenly stops you and calls the driver. She pushes you inside the car to do a more important task and answers none of your questions, though you heard she say something to the driver.

“Where are you sending me?”

“To master Sunghoon, obviously. He’s been walking around with an air of utter gloom since last night.” You feel a pang of guilt and sorrow. “You two better solve your problems or don’t come back at all!”

With that, the car starts to move and leaves the mansion.

Looking out the car window, you see the sky grow madder red. You know you should use this time to figure out what you want to say to him, but you couldn’t think. It isn’t long at all before the car stops in town and in a blink of an eye, you are in a familiar back alley, painted with tall shadow casted by the sunset between buildings.

Out of the darkness, there is he. Speaking softly to Nikki—too soft for you to hear the words. You got closer and heard the sound of crying. He isn't alone, of course. There is Nikki too.

Sunghoon is kneeling by a weeping Nikki, curls up small and trembling before him. Even from this distance, you could clearly see the tears running down the child's face. Nikki couldn’t stop apologising to the demi-vampire even though he didn’t do anything wrong.

“What are you apologising for?” Sunghoon asks him.

“I hated him enough to kill him, but I was a coward! I couldn’t do it. I was too scared-”

“Of course you were scared.” Sunghoon puts an arm around Nikki and holds him gently as the boy cries. “Don’t say you are a coward. You’re exactly the way you are supposed to be.”

“What do you mean?”

You stand very still so as to not miss a single one of Sunghoon's soft-spoken words.

“Killing someone is no applaudable act. And I didn’t want you to kill him. I don’t want you to ever have to kill anyone.” His voice was gentle. The tenderness with which he spoke to Nikki almost broke your heart.

But Nikki, in his grief, didn’t see Sunghoon's face like you did. He had the look of the one who’d give up so much. Too much. You recognized that expression.

“Don’t-” Outside the moment, his face when you spoke was so clear to you. His shock. “All right… Let’s return.”

It was the first time you’d heard such grief and such sad resignation in Sunghoon's voice. He expects people to fear him. That’s why he spoke so harshly in the library and why he smiled so sadly after.

The smile of a man who knows he’s seen as a villain, and who counts the second until people make him pay for imagined sins. You’d fallen into that trap, and you regretted it. So much more than you could say.

Sunghoon knew. He knew that sadness. He knew crushing, hopeless despair. Right now, he looks so completely alone.

Yesterday, you got a glimpse of the kind of man desperate despair had made of him. And if you were fortunate, you would never have to understand that feeling completely. But you never wanted him to feel it again.

The reluctance you feel melts away when you see Sunghoon's smile as he watches Nikki run towards home. He stayed like that until the child left his sight.

“Sunghoon!” You begin to walk toward him once more.

Sunghoon looked up at you slowly, as if doubting what he’d heard. “[Name]? I didn’t expect to see you.”

You take a step toward him. Another. Preparing what you would say with each step. You want to talk. You want you two to talk again. Comfortably.

However, little did you know, something that is easy to obtain will easily disappear as well.

In the blink of eyes, there were two weeks left before the door to your world could be opened. Though you are happy to know that, deep inside your heart, you feel a little bit sad. Back to your own world means you wouldn’t be able to meet the boys, Miyoung, Nikki, and Sunghoon anymore.

Something about leaving Sunghoon alone didn’t sit quite well in your heart.

It makes you not want to go back to your world. But, could you?

Everything started to go normal again that day. Your routines, your relationship with the children, and the relationship with Sunghoon. Actually, it actually went better than you thought.

There was a time when Sunghoon wanted to try to make you some food from your hometown since you two and Miyoung were the only ones that could enjoy human food. He would spend his time in the kitchen with Miyoung to prepare everything while you sat in the garden, waiting for them to finish. Because of it, Jay often would say that the demi-vampire was so whipped for you.

But you knew better than anyone that it wasn’t true. Right?

At the entrance to the garden, Jay starts at his folded hands to avoid watching the sweetly smiling and giggling couple. He only could sigh, praying for a break in the conversation to call out either of you two.

“Oh, what’s this? Is it spring already?” Jake shows right beside Jay as he looks at Sunghoon and you. “It must be. Look, love is in the air.”

“Y’know what, I’ve never felt so glad to see you here.”

Jake chuckles, “I was starting to think that you hate me right before they became close like this.”

“Don’t make me change my mind, Jake.”

v.

Lately, Sunghoon felt something strange happen to his body.

He couldn’t describe it, but he did feel more irritable than usual. And no matter how many times he ate some food, he would still feel hungry and lethargic. He found it hard for him to stay around you. But, what else could he do?

He was your bodyguard and he couldn’t trust Jake enough to leave you alone whenever the flirtatious vampire was around.

Spending most of his time with you also made him have a soft spot for you, where he couldn’t deny your request whenever you gave him those puppy eyes. And look where it took him? Nowhere else but your side.

Just like any other day, Sunghoon had taken you to the flower field you visited before to watch the sunset. You are so happy to finally be able to escape the town and the mansion for a breather. You stay there with him until the sky turns dark, watching the sun slowly disappear between the mountains.

“Hey, [Name], could I ask you for something?” You look at him in wonder before nodding. Well, as long as it was not something ridiculous, you don’t mind. “Please don’t change.”

“What do you mean by don’t change? Please be more specific, Park Sunghoon.”

He chuckles while looking at the flower field in the distance, something that he rarely did even when he was alone. “I like having dinner with you, spending time with you in this flower field, and also at how you laugh just from a little silly thing. That’s what I mean as ‘don’t change’. Please stay as who you are right now. That's all.”

“I understand. We should get back now. It's almost time for dinner and I still need to help Miyoung prepare the meal.”

There is no response from Sunghoon. He just sat there, looking at the flower field like there would be no time for this anymore.

“I’m going to go back alone and leave you here without a horse. I really will!”

“… You know you would never do that.” He finally snaps out from his trance and walks toward the horse.

He looks at you with gorgeous eyes and delightfully wide smirk. Standing up slowly, you brush the grass off your skirt and pack up your picnic.

The whole journey to the mansion was silent. A comfortable silence. Neither of you had the initiation to start a conversation until you arrived at the mansion.

You quickly bid him goodbye and left him alone at the stables, missing the pained look that he couldn’t keep in anymore. He had been hiding it for a while now, at least not showing it in front of you.

“Sunghoon? Are you okay?” Heeseung, who happened to pass by, heard the cries and went to check the stables. He doesn’t expect to see Sunghoon in this state.

“I… thirsty. It feels painful. Make it stop!”

Heeseung quickly takes out the emergency rogue he had with him and shoves it towards Sunghoon. But, being stubborn he was, he pushed the rogue away from his sight. No matter how thirsty he was, Sunghoon would never touch or even drink that.

“Drink. You will only make it more painful if you refuse.”

“No. You know clearly what will happen if I drink it.” He firmly says. “It will make me lose the last humanity I have in me.”

And that means he would lose you, too. Sunghoon doesn’t want that to happen.

“You know sooner or later you need to let her go, right?” The older vampire paused as he looked at Sunghoon. “She will-”

“I KNOW.” He shouted.

“I know that, hyung. That’s also why I can’t let her know about this. Just let me endure it a little longer, at least until she goes back safely to her world.”

“…You’re stubborn.” Heeseung could only look at his friend with a sigh. “If you keep being stubborn like this, you will lose yourself first before you are able to send her back.”

"Don't worry. It will never happen to me," assures Sunghoon.

After the little runaway you had with Sunghoon last night, somehow you started to can’t sleep well—resulting in a throbbing headache as you woke up the next morning. Something about the blur nightmare you had made you a little bit worried. It wasn’t a normal nightmare like you had before, living in this world for almost three weeks made you sure of it. It felt like a warning, though you couldn’t remember it well what it was about.

Hoping the fresh air could help your head, you grab a broom and sweep the balcony. However, despite the throbbing headache you got, you couldn’t help but wonder about a certain person.

Sunghoon. He was nowhere to be found all day. You also find him acting a little bit strange lately like he was trying to distance himself from you. Heeseung even had taken it upon himself to wake him up this morning, and went to meet the children a little bit earlier today with Jay without you.

Was it your fault? Or had you done something wrong? Your fingers tightened around the broomstick at those thoughts. Let’s hope that was not the case.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Sunghoon was putting more attention to the children’s self-defence technique to the point he didn’t notice the playful gaze from Jay. He clearly notices something was occupying his friend's thought which obviously concerned you—if not, why else the demi-vampire has been avoiding you as much as he could?

Jay waits until all the children had scamp off to play and sat beside Sunghoon who appears lost in his thoughts. He waves his hand in front of Sunghoon's face a few times before deciding to shout his name again directly in the ear.

It not only successfully snapped Sunghoon out of his thoughts but also attracted some attention from people around the alley. Embarrassed, Sunghoon bows apologetically before raising his fist to Jay.

“I still can hear you clearly, Jay.”

“Where have you been for the last dozen minutes? It’s too early in the day for your head to be lost in the stars,” Jay pauses. “Wait, not a star, but someone.”

“Stop your nonsense. I’m not thinking about her.”

“Her? I didn’t say anyone though.” It takes a few seconds until Sunghoon's ear reddened at the realisation and shoves the laughing Jay away in embarrassment.

“No, I mean— Ugh… Stop laughing!” Jay calmed down a little before meet Sunghoon's eyes. “You’re in love with [Name], aren’t you?"

To say that Sunghoon was caught off guard by Jay's question was understandable. It must be written all over his face. However, there was more. He couldn’t help but repeat the gist of his conversation with Jake a few days ago.

Love is a gift until you have to part. "So, why are you trying so hard to push her away?”

Sunghoon know where this conversation is gonna take him. Looking at the blueish sky above him, he could only sigh. “I do love her.”

In his heart, you were clever and cute. Everything about you made him able to smile, even just with a thought of your smile. He was never able to understand the way your thought works. And before he knew it, you became all he thinks about.

But, did you feel the same way? Will you still choose him when the door connected to your world opens?

“Then, don’t let her go,” Jay breathes. “Tell her you love her, then the two of you can stay here in the mansion-”

“That’s not my decision to make.”

Sunghoon knew how much you missed your old life. Asking you to not open it means you will throw away your life and… you will regret it one day. He doesn’t want you to live in regret just because of his selfishness. He couldn’t bear it.

“…You love her that much.”

“I’ve decided to not play a hand in her decision. Even if it means she chooses to leave for good. And that-” Sunghoon points his finger at Jay. “-isn’t an invitation for you to ask her to stay on my behalf.”

“You know I can’t do that to you. I know my limit to interfere with people's lives.”

Sunghoon smiles sadly. When he opened his mouth next, it was with resignation. “The most important thing to do now is to treasure the present.”

Before you arrived, he wouldn’t have cared if he became a full vampire or not. He could barely tell the difference between a full and demi-vampire, so it didn’t matter to him. Until he met you. Your arrival made him think more about what it meant to stay human.

Treating time as if it was a precious commodity: eating meals together and feeling satisfied when they were over; talking about arts and drawing together, he could only do that because he was a demi-vampire. He hasn’t yet changed. And so he began to appreciate what he still had left from his human life. He wanted to stay human for you.

Sunghoon frowns, distressed. You and he don’t have much time left.

Little that they know, at the entrance to the alley, a car parked with two men inside. They watched Sunghoon and Jay talk to each other before going to play with the children.

The eyes of a mysterious man in light brown tuxedo widen at the sight in front of him. He grips the window so hard it seems he might break it. While the other male, who looked younger than his age, watched with hand-folded like a spectator at a playhouse. “… that’s him, Sunghoon!”

“You see, I spoke the truth. Park Sunghoon still lives.”

“But… how?” The man in light brown clutches his head, his fingers digging into his dark hair, face twisted in pain. “How can he be smiling like that?”

“I fear Sunghoon’s become sanguine in spirit, not in appetite. Do you wish to see him? Or do you wish to see the man who has taken his name?”

“…How do I reach him? How do I wake him, Jungwon?”

The younger male smiles, “Shall I offer you advice? Whether you find my advice fair or foul, it is certain to help. For inciting passions in men is my stock in trade.”

Jungwon studied Sunghoon as if he were words on-page. He mimed taking a pen in hand and drawing a line through him. But no one, not even this man in light brown, knew how Sunghoon's tale would end.

No one knew how cruel fate could be.

vi.

That noon, you are writing in your room when someone knocks twice on your door. You couldn’t help but wonder who it might be. You unlock the door and see Sunghoon there.

“Did I disturb you?” He asks while peeking inside your room.

“Of course not. What is it?”

“I have something to give you. Hold out your hand.”

Curious, you did as he asked. He places a stuffed toy dog in your hands. It was small and black, with buttons holding it together, and it was cute. You also didn’t fail to notice the folded paper that was attached to it.

“What’s this?”

“A little dog.”

“I can see that, Honnie.” You roll your eyes and chuckle. It’s not like you hate it, but Sunghoon has been giving you so many gifts lately. “What is this one for? Where did you find it?”

“Now you’re asking too many questions.” Most people were content with guessing, but you, only you went out of your way to ask. Not that he hates it, on the contrary, he likes it.

“I can’t help it. I want to know what the man in front of me is thinking.”

“Don’t you know curiosity killed the cat? Anyway, It’s not for anything particular. Jay and I passed a shop on the way back, and I happened to see this stuffed toy. It reminds me of you.”

“Is it because I’m cute?” You playfully asked him. “No, you’re annoying. Like Jay, but more endurable.”

You pout at his remark. While the culprit himself just laughed, letting you shove his body with a weak attempt until you thought it was enough. He looks at you with the eyes that keep captivating your mind and pinches your cheeks.

“Don’t be cranky,” He coos you. “You’re cute, okay. Now I want to see your pretty smile.”

Though you were still mad with his teasing, you couldn’t help but smile. The last words, it was the answer your heart hoped for and dreaded. He stops pinching your cheeks and lets out a yawn.

He then bids you goodbye and walks away toward his room. After losing sight of him, you close the door and lean back against it. Still holding the stuffed toy dog in your hands, you unfold the paper he gave you and smile. It was a drawing of you from the side, smiling brightly at something or someone.

It looks like returning home is going to be hard. Your heart was beating so fast that it ached. You were flushed and warm just at the thought of him. Why does he have to make it harder for you to not fall in love with him?

Time, as it turned out, doesn’t care that you were deeply conflicted. The day moved forward. A day closer to going home.

That morning you are busy talking with Jake about something when the door to the dining room creaks open, showing the confused Sunghoon as he walks toward you two.

“Morning! You slept in pretty late today, even for you.”

“I didn’t expect you to wake up on your own,” You agreed with Jake.

Yawning, Sunghoon glances at the tea sandwich you made on the table, grabs one of it and takes a bite. Immediately, he put his hand over his mouth with an odd look.

That’s a weird reaction, you thought.

“I think he doesn’t have the words to describe how good your sandwich is.” Jake chuckles at Sunghoon before bumped his shoulder to his friends, signalling him to say something to you.

“…Yes. Just like Jake said.”

“If you like it so much, you can have another. There are plenty.”

“I just remember that I have something to do. But I'll come back later for the sandwich.” Sunghoon shoots you a grin and turns to go. Stiffly, he closes the door behind him.

He went straight from the dining hall to Heeseung's room. And without a knock or something, he opens the door harshly. Heeseung calmly faces Sunghoon with a smile, like he had been waiting for his arrival.

“It’s rare to see you here, Sunghoon.”

“I need to ask you something, hyung. It’s very important to tell me everything you know.”

“You have my full attention.”

The last few days, Sunghoon has gone to sleep hungry though he remembered eating normally throughout the day. Not only that, but his throat was also so dry that it was painful and the thirst he felt before became worse from time to time. Even worse from the night when you two just back from the flower field.

Heeseung says nothing, his eyes observing Sunghoon dispassionately. He knew exactly what happened to the demi-vampire in front of him. But, even if he tells him the truth, Sunghoon would only deny it like last time.

Sunghoon meets Heeseung’s eyes with his own, pleading for an answer he could live with.

“You already know the answer.”

“Am I becoming a vampire? Am I changing after all this time?”

“To be honest, I have lived a long time, yet I have never encountered a vampire like yourself. Thus, all I can do is speculate.” Heeseung sighs before continuing.

“There is a reason Jay and Jake require a steady intake of blood. Call it ‘payment’ for their renewed life. That’s the natural law of the vampire world. You too have outlived your original lifespan. You understand it, right?”

It was not the reassurance Sunghoon had wanted to hear. “How do I stop it?”

“Too bad, you can’t stop it. You can only slow the process by avoiding consuming rogue in any form, including drinking for the living.” Heeseung's hands drop to his sides.

After a moment, Sunghoon manages a smile, though his balled fists were bone-white. With that, he left the room.

vii.

The weekend finally came. Jake and you went out to the city for some artistic inspiration. The sky was clear; the street lit with natural light—you were the only gloomy cloud.

Unlike what Sunghoon promised you, he didn’t come back to the dining room for the sandwich. He even didn’t eat much that day, which kinda worried you.

“You, okay?” Jake askes in worry. His gentle voice called you back to the present.

“Yeah, just thinking about something. It didn’t matter.” Jake smiled softly at you.

From outside, Jake might look like someone that is annoying. His flirting nature made people around him feel uncomfortable sometimes. However, once you know him better, you will understand that it was his way to show people how much he cared for them. He was a caring person that loves piano and photography, liked to hang out with Heeseung, and occasionally annoyed Sunghoon or Jay whenever he pleased. You even became his recent victim.

One more thing about Jake that you notice, he has an irresistible smile. Most women are drawn to him like a moth because of it. If you weren’t in love with Sunghoon and the bad impression you had about him, you might become one of those women.

“Anyway, let’s go to that bookstore. I think I saw the book that I had been looking for.”

Thanks to Jake, you could forget about Sunghoon for a while. Your mind feels more refreshed as the walk continues.

Just then, someone grabs you away from the main road. You were thrown over a car before you could react. It takes the breath right out of you. You tried to see who’d grabbed you but failed to get any detail of your kidnapper’s face. A dark hood and the light behind his head conspired to shadow his features.

“Put me down!”

“You better shut your mouth if you don’t want to lose your precious life.” A deep familiar accent. But not a voice you know.

“I don’t know who you are, but release her immediately!” You look at Jake with panicked eyes.

“Jake, run! Get help!” You plead and tell him to go. But, he seems to have another plan in his mind.

“Begone.”

“I’m not going anywhere, not until you let go my friend.” Jake swung his bag of music sheets at the hoodie man’s face. The attack catches the man by surprise, and Jake uses this moment to grab his arm, trying to pull the man off the car before the engine turns on.

Suddenly, there was a clicking sound. The man had drawn a gun to Jake’s face.

You stop him right before he could pull the trigger. “Stop… I’ll go with you.”

“[Name]!”

“Just do as he said, Jake. I’ll be fine.”

You know what Jake is capable of. He might be a vampire, but it is still dangerous to show it in public. Moreover, he was unarmed. He's just gonna get hurt if he stays. Instead, Jake needs to get out of here and tell the others about this.

Leaving his supplies behind, Jake runs at full speed to your waiting car. He told the driver where Sunghoon was supposed to be. Soon, he found him at Leeum Museum of Art.

“Sunghoon!”

“Jake? What are you doing here?” Sunghoon looks at Jake.

“[Name], she—” Jake explains the whole situation in panic. He even sent the driver to alert the police, but he doesn’t know if they couldn't help find you.

Sunghoon listened with a grim expression, fists unconsciously balled in anger. Without wasting any more time, he thanks Jake and runs off the museum art.

On the other side, your kidnapper just unceremoniously tosses you to the floor. Not care even a bit about the impact that went all through your body.

Where are you? You are not even sure how long you ride. You are so disoriented. Eventually, your eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room you found yourself in.

It looks like an old cabin or maybe a warehouse. It was dusty with disuse. The hoodie man comes in after you and stands in the doorway to block the exit. He draws his gun once more and points it at your face. He walks closer to you until it touches your forehead and loaded the gun.

“You better not think of getting away just because I don’t tie both your hands and feet. You might not be able to do it because these bullets will kill you first.”

You want to say, “there is a first time for everything.” but you know you are at a disadvantage with this one.

The way he holds the gun shows that he had experience in this matter. You need some other advantage. You begin to talk, though your voice shakes.

“Why did you kidnap me?

“If you think you can ransom me with money, you’re wrong. I’m not interested in that,” says the man.

“Then, what are you interested in?”

“… inspiring wrath. There is a man I need to awaken. And you’re the key to doing so.” He’s not making any sense, you thought. Why would you be the key to something you didn’t understand? “I’m going to wake him up by killing you.”

What?

A glint. That is the only warning you got. The man pulls the trigger and lucky enough, you darts out of the way just in time before the bullet hits your head.

“Don’t run or you will make your death more painful than it was supposed to be.”

You backed away. One step. Two steps. You do your best to avoid the bullets. Your legs are like useless sticks. You push yourself along the wall with your hands, only for the man to back you into the corner. You want to look for an escape, but your eyes are fixed on the gun in the man’s hand as he loads the gun and aims at you.

The last thing you do is flinch. In your fear, you barely hear the sound—

Someone sweeps into the room, and for a moment, it's as time stops. You hear your shallow breath in the stillness. Nothing came to you, not even a sound of the gun could be heard.

You open your eyes and see your saviour there.

“Sunghoon…” Sunghoon has his arms around you, shielding you. “Sorry, I’m late.”

Seeing is believing. Yet, you still can’t believe it. It was a miracle that Sunghoon came right before death greets you. You didn’t miss the glare he sent to the man like he knew and despite him to the bone.

“You came after me, Park? Don’t you remember what a mistake it is? Almost as grievous as showing your back to the enemy!” The hoodie man pulled the trigger at Sunghoon who has his back to him, protecting you. You can see how much pain he feels just from the groan he let out, arms still locked tightly around you.

“Are you going to stand there while I make holes into your body?” He keeps shooting at Sunghoon, again and again.

“You’re a disgrace, Park. Choosing to spend your life by drawing and devote it to a mere human like her. Do you forget who you are!?”

Sunghoon grits his teeth, unflinching as the hoodie man shoots him again.

Blood. You can feel your hand full of Sunghoon's blood as you accidentally touch his now blood-soaked clothes. He can’t move without putting you in danger. But that also means he is gonna die soon or later if this continues.

“Sunghoon… stop, please” You plead to him to not scarify himself for you anymore. He only smiles and tells you that everything is okay.

Of course, you know it’s not.

The moment the man pulls the trigger again, you grab Sunghoon's outer, just like you’d grabbed his bed sheet so many times, and throw it over the man. Your plan worked. The man steps back to rip the outer off himself.

Sunghoon, with his speed, has his baton out and drops the gun away from the man’s hand with it.

“You-”

“Don’t move.” A boot scuffed the floor as the man took a step back. “I said don’t move.”

Sunghoon sweeps his baton up, just as the hoodie man moves out of his way. But the baton gets caught inside the hoodie and tugs down the hoodie of his head.

A glimpse in the darkness. You glimpse the man’s eyes, shining with unnatural light and filled with mad rage. He stared at a moment before disappearing faster than your human eyes could see.

But your attention quickly diverted at the sudden hissed in pain that Sunghoon let out. He fell to his knees.

“Sunghoon!” You catch and ease him to the floor, holding him in your arms. His back is slick and wet from the blood. Your hands are slick too with the same horrible liquid.

“[Name]… are you hurt?”

“I’m not. You’re protecting me the whole time, don’t you remember? And now you’re hurt because of me.” Your heart is beating too loud for you to think. You wish you could yell at it to shut up.

Stay calm. Remember the emergency first aid. You remind yourself.

Looking around, you try to find a cloth to staunch the blood with. Sunghoon is bleeding too badly to move and there isn’t any sign his wound would heal any sooner.

The second you try to stand up, Sunghoon howls in pain as if your leaving his side caused him agony. He grabs at you, catches your arms. With his other hand, he grabs your collar and pulls you to him with wild desperation. he is panting, hissing through the clenched teeth. And that’s when you see it.

Fangs. With his laboured breathing, they are unmistakable. He is in pain, and he has a look in his eyes you’d seen before. It reminded you of the first encounter between you and Jake, like how predators look at their prey.

“Sunghoon, I need you to answer me,” You breathe. “Do you need blood? Will it help you?”

“N-no… I don’t… I don’t need blood.” He shakes his head in denial. But his eyes tell you a different story. He is still bleeding out in your hands.

Vampires require fresh blood when they suffer injury. If blood wouldn’t save him, you didn’t know how else to keep him alive.

“Tell me the truth.” He says nothing.

“Please, Sunghoon, let me save you!” You don't want to let him die like this, especially after all the times he protected you. “You saved my life! Please, don’t make me watch you do this to yourself!”

He finally looks up at you, sadly. He leans closer and whispers. “Listen… [Name]… I’ve been… changing. I’m becoming a vampire. If I drink blood… there will be no more holding it back.”

Is that why he didn’t want to drink? But what could be so horrible about becoming a vampire that he'd rather died? You’d lived with vampires. You’re rather here with a vampire Sunghoon than a dead one.

Was it because of you?

“Look, I can’t speak for you. But I know I’d prefer you to do anything, even become a vampire, if it means living!”

“Do not say that!” You are shocked into silence. You’d never heard him sound like that. So rawly vulnerable.

His hand is shaking. “I don’t… want to become… a full vampire. I’m… I’m afraid.”

“But why?” There are so many questions you want to ask. What was he possibly afraid of to the point he doesn’t want to change?

“Because I met you… and I’m afraid of losing this. If I become a full vampire, time will stop passing for me the way it does for you. We will never be able to share the same meal and smile when we are satisfied…” His breath is ragged.

“It may sound silly to you, but… I love doing those things with you.”

But why, why would he die for these things?

Memories of that night in the flower field to your mind to answer your questions.

“Hey, [Name], could I ask you for something?” You looked at him in wonder before nodding. Well, as long as it was not something ridiculous, you didn’t mind. “Please don’t change.” “What do you mean by don’t change? Please be more specific, Park Sunghoon.” He chuckles while looking at the flower field in the distance, something that he rarely does even when he is alone. “I like having dinner with you, spending time with you in this flower field, and also at how you laugh just from a little silly thing. That’s what I mean as ‘don’t change’. Please stay as who you are right now. That's all.”

You now understand why it’s important to him. You haven’t realised just how much he’d poured out his heart to you that night. The little joys of everyday life. The nice things, but they’re so commonplace you stop paying attention to them for a while.

Sunghoon had lost those a long time ago. Trying his best to forget his painful past alone.

“[Name]… I know I will have to part soon…” He touches your cheek with a bloody hand, pushes himself up until he could look you in the eyes. “…I only wanted to stay the same as you… until that time came. I… love you.”

Sunghoon completely stole your heart with those words. He had so often teased you about love, with a laugh, with a smile. To say it and mean it now was too cruel.

“ I love you too much… That's why I can’t drink your blood. Do you understand me?”

“No! Never! And I don’t ever want to understand” Your desperate breath mingled with his.

You do understand how much he loves you. Which is why you aren't backing down. You clasp the bloodstained hand that cupped your cheek with your blood hand.

“I don’t care about your past, no matter what it was, you were just the man in front of me. Whether the man is a vampire or not! I don’t care if you become what you think is a monster. Nothing can change my feelings for you. As long as you live, no matter what form you take, the time we spend together will not change. I promise you, I won’t let it.”

You want to ignore your feelings. But you couldn’t, not when you are so close to losing him. You are in life with Sunghoon, and you are not gonna deny it again. You shouldn’t fight it in the first place. Your love was destined, just as you were drawn to that door, you were drawn to him.

“Park Sunghoon, I love you too. I love you more than you think and I’m not ready to let you go.” Your voice trembles with love for him. “Take my blood. Now.”

Sunghoon refuses to bite you and speeds his change to a vampire because he loves you. Whereas you would do anything to keep him alive in any form because you love him. Though they are different, both your wishes come from the same place.

“Do it.” You unbutton your shirt and brush aside your hair, exposing your neck to him. “Drink my blood.”

Though he tries his best to restrain himself, his instincts slowly take control over his body. He strains and snarls like a hungry wolf. Sharp fangs glistened; his breath on your skin was hot. He swore to protect you, and you know he would never hurt you; you trust him.

“…And whatever you happen to become afterwards- just continue protecting me. Keep living for my sake.”

“You know… I never break my promise.”

“I don’t want you to. Which is why I said it.” He laughs a bitter laugh; you see blood trickled down his lips. It’s now or never.

Sunghoon leans down and draws his fangs down your neck as if to get used to the idea. The rake of his warm teeth across your skin. You shudder, then begin to tremble.

“Tell me, can you do the unspeakable?”

Is it an unspeakable act to drink the blood of another mortal to live? Or is it a true taboo falling in love with someone from another world—someone you never should meet? Which of these fit his definition of unspeakable? You have committed one sin and are on the cusp of another.

If judgement awaits you two at death, perhaps you will both have a lot to repent for. But, you’ll deal with that when it comes. For you, damnation was being without him.

“At least, we will be damned together.”

His fangs sank into you. Two sharp pin pricks of pain. A soft cry slipped out of you. The pain becomes more intense as he sinks deeper. Warmblood seeps out of you from the wound. Which he laps up, warm tongue caress on your neck. He sucks hungrily where he had bitten.

Your blood flowed faster into him, nourishing him, sustaining his life. And you feel something else. A subtitle warmth, starting from your neck, gaining power as it rapidly coursed through your body. You gasp.

The heat grow, turns into fire. Every nerve in your body is awake and affected. You couldn’t describe this feeling. Pleasure like you’d never felt before.

“Are you okay? Do I need to stop?” You shake your head no. “It just feels a little bit weird. Like I’m not myself.”

Sunghoon is panting, not in pain, but in his passion, another need now in his eyes. He pulls you close, whispering your name with a stern, yet soft voice. You look into each other's eyes and for a moment, he couldn’t hold himself anymore. He finally lets out all his desire that he had pent up for you and kisses you. You close your eyes, letting yourself drown to the feeling of his soft lips.

It was nothing like his sleepy morning kiss. His lips are warm, alive, and knowing. Deep into each other until you lost to all but your long-suppressed passion.

How could the touch of lips connect two people so perfectly?

You open hazy eyes to see him once more. Sunghoon brushes a spot of blood off your lips with his thumb and kisses it. Then, he embraces you. He holds you so tightly it's almost painful.

As you lose the fight to stay awake, you distantly hear someone speak.

“…Forgave me.”

© 2022 knwsoft

#enhypenwriters #park sunghoon imagines #park sunghoon scenarios #park sunghoon drabbles #park sunghoon x reader #sunghoon imagines #sunghoon scenarios #sunghoon drabbles #sunghoon x reader #enhypen imagines #enhypen scenarios #enhypen drabbles #enhypen x reader

[restlessmaknae]

yes!!! what are these wips??

Oh, I have a loooot!

Let's just stick to the ones that are kind of more put together in my head:

dystopian + clones au ft. Hoyoung (VERIVERY) - this is for my own collab

punk-rock band member + co-worker!Hwiyoung (SF9) - this is the last part of my kids in the dark series which revolves around two fictional instrumental bands

kinda bad boy!Hwiyoung (SF9)

spiderman au ft. Yuchan (A.C.E)

kind of classmates to strangers to lovers ft. Jay (ENHYPEN)

childhood best friends to lovers ft. medic's son!Jake (ENHYPEN) x princess!reader - it's a royalty au plus somewhat historical

another best friends to lovers ft. Jake (ENHYPEN), but it's set in the modern days, actually thinking of an Australian setting

rugby player!Sunghoon (ENHYPEN) x cheerleader!reader - this would be a spin-off to my Jake story 'how to cross the line?'

dancing on ice-inspired au ft. ice skater!Sunghoon (ENHYPEN) x actress!reader

small town au ft. fitness trainer!Jangjun (Golden Child)

step up au ft. Ten (NCT)

guardian angel!Xiaojun (NCT)

prince!Hwanwoong (ONEUS)

soulmate au ft. Seoho (ONEUS)

p1harmony beginning of the new world-inspired au ft. Intak (P1Harmony)

starstruck au ft. solo singer!Yeonjun (TXT)

soldier!Yeonjun (TXT) x princess!reader

barista!Yeonjun (TXT)

travel au ft. Jacob (THE BOYZ)

flame tamer!Hoyoung (VERIVERY)

gang member!Subin (VICTON) - spin-off to my Sejun story 'loving you is a losing game'

practice teacher!Yohan (WEi) - also middle school classmates to lovers, he would be a taekwondo practice teacher for reader's little sister

And I have many others for which I only have a specific au or a fleeting idea, but for these, at least I know where I would like to go with them, so there are already notes taken or some kind of a plot put together. :D

So yeah, feel free to ask if anything interests you (anyone!), and I'm willing to share some more details. 💖

#ask #reply #thank you for taking interest in the idea :D #wip game #can i call it that?

[jishyucks]

        wips.

used mainly for me to keep up with myself bc im the type to start stories but sucks literal ass at finishing them

active = currently working on them

inactive = sitting in my docs & rotting but i don't wanna throw it out just yet

titles in quotations are just stand-in titles

might not be updated all the time

    ˗ˏˋactive wips. ˊˎ˗

‹𝟹 Untitled One.

synopsis: you're sent to help prince donghyuck get his shit together after driving away all the available princesses genre: prince!donghyuck x matchmaker!reader; royal au, kind of beauty and beast inspired status: writing/planning

‹𝟹 Make it With You

synopsis: No words can express how excited you were when your best friend, Yeri, asked you to be her maid of honour. You were looking forward to all the wedding planning – picking a venue, shopping for dresses, and crafting invitations… hell, Yeri even mentioned something about dancing and you were still looking forward to it all. But when you find out that you had to team up with Mark's best man, Donghyuck, for some of these tasks, you wonder if you’re even going to make it to the wedding. (what a suckass summary) genre: best-man!donghyuck x maid-of-honour!reader; pests to lovers status: writing/partially planning

‹𝟹 No Pain, No Gain

synopsis: gym goer taehyun keeps barging into your aid room with (poor excuses for) injuries and it's a matter of time before you realize why he's been doing so genre: gym-rat!taehyun x first-aider(?)reader status: writing—70% done

‹𝟹 Untitled Two.

synopsis: the many times jeno's early, and the one time he's too late genre: co-worker!jeno x reader; office au, idiots-to-lovers status: writing

‹𝟹 In a Different Light

still planning!

    ˗ˏˋ inactive wips.ˊˎ˗

‹𝟹 "Counting My Fingers"

synopsis: the times building up to your realization for your feelings for sunghoon genre: brother’s-best-friend!sunghoon x reader; idiots-to-lovers-ish status: writing/planning

‹𝟹 "Safe Haven"

synopsis: you keep meeting the same boy at your secret spot at the park genre: renjun x reader, meet-ugly, strangers-to-lovers status: planning

‹𝟹 "My Wingman"

synopsis: we get an answer to jeno's question of why assists in basketball were so valued genre: bff!jeno x reader, f2l, basketball-player!jeno, idiots-to-lovers, fluff status: writing/planning

‹𝟹 "Cuffed"

synopsis: you're handcuffed to your frenemy, choi yeonjun, and you can't get uncuffed until you're out of this stupid maze genre: yeonjun x reader, e2l/frenemies to lovers, crack, fluff status: writing/planning

‹𝟹 Untitled Three.

synopsis: you and donghyuck decide to fake a relationship for your own benefit. it's a win-win situation, right? genre: dance-captain!donghyuck x student-government-member!reader, fake dating au, low-key e2l (not rly they just don't vibe with each other at first) status: writing/planning

‹𝟹 Untitled Four.

synopsis: a boy washes up on shore with no memory of who he is and where he's from, so you and your family take him in until he recovers genre: beomgyu x reader, possibly royal au or historical au, strangers-to-lovers status: writing/planning

‹𝟹 "Better"

synopsis: jaemin's in a toxic relationship, you're doing horrible in the dating field—maybe... you're meant for each other? genre: f2l, angst, fluff status: writing

if you're super interested in one, please let me know! it really motivates me to write!

© 2023 jishyucks. pls do not copy/repost, translate, or claim as your own!

#wips

[enwonz]

kingmaker | p.sh

prev | masterlist | next

CHAPTER IV

As an assassin working for the Hwangs, you have proven your loyalty to your benefactors for more than a decade. But when Lady Hwang's plans for a rebellion land you in a bride selection for the Crown Prince, you find yourself at a loss. Unfamiliar with the ways of the gentry, your reliance on a previously unknown informant is your only source of hope. And yet, you learn very quickly that no one in high society can be trusted, including yourself. Because who else but you is there to assassinate the King?

WARNING: this chapter has very graphic depictions of blood and fighting. please do check the masterlist for potential triggers/themes you feel uncomfortable with!

Dinner has never, never felt this awkward. It certainly proves that good food can’t beat good company. And right now, you’re sorely lacking in the latter department.

All the candidates seated themselves at the table, with a sort of hierarchy already formed — the girls with more influence had gone straight to seats nearer to the royals, while the less influential had been shoved down the end of the table. You are somewhere near the middle, and as you pick apart your meat you can’t help but think that you’d rather be anywhere else. As delicious as it must be, having been prepared by a royal chef, the taste is lost on you, as you’re so focused on your surroundings and that courtier that you haven’t got the capacity to be enjoying a meal.

The cacophony of clinking forks echoes through the dining room, void of conversation of any sort. Other than inviting you all to eat, the royals have not spoken. From your etiquette lessons with Yeji, you’ve learnt that it would be a grave sin to speak before one is spoken to in the presence of someone of a higher rank. To even initiate a conversation with royalty would have you sent straight to the gallows.

Finally, Crown Prince Jay speaks. “As we begin, I’d like to explain some conditions I have set for our selection process.” He glances around, surveying the long table and the faces residing it. “Firstly, your title no longer matters from here on. You will only be addressed as a candidate, which takes precedence over any title you are set to inherit.”

Clear as day, there is a change in demeanour of the highest of the highborns. To be lumped into the same category as the daughter of a mere baron would be a faux pas of the highest order in any other case, yet you suppose it is necessary for a fair competition.

Although you have to admit, fairness is not something you expected of the crown.

As the prince clears his throat, you turn back to the head of the table. “Second of all, sabotage of other candidates is strictly prohibited. If you are to be discovered, you will automatically be disqualified, and your household will be stripped of its title for attempting to damage property of the crown.”

Property. The word leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, though you aren’t even the person who said it. From the moment you set foot in this palace, you have become mere dolled-up goods, subject to Prince Jay’s evaluation. To be picked apart like you are nothing more than livestock in a dress is a price, however, worth paying for if one’s a mere baron, with little land and power. Ladies of the court as you may be, but the reality is that you are no less than glamorised pawns of the nobility.

Still, you force a serene smile, as you notice most of the girls have started doing, if they are wise. Swallowing down the food, your throat burning like land in a drought, you can only focus on a spot near the prince’s plate.

You have spent your night observing the prince with whatever view your bowed head can give you. He is arrogant, that much is certain, what with his chin tilted upwards as he gazes down on each girl, seated at the table just for him. He is handsome, you concede. Would that you were any less focused, you might be like any other girl in the kingdom, captivated by his honeyed skin and sharpened features, with an equally piercing gaze to match. He is every bit the haughty prince you had pictured him to be.

But ogling is for the free.

The queen finally decides to be hospitable, eyes landing on a young girl at the foot of the table – a pretty thing by the name of Jin Sol. “Lady Bae, you have barely touched your food. Are you well?”

As she stammers out a reply, the atmosphere finally lightens, and conversation begins to pick up amongst the candidates. The men of the family pointedly do not speak with you, but Prince Jay’s glare seem to soften ever so slightly.

And still, the courtier has his eyes on you.

Night falls as the dinner goes on, and after an excruciatingly tense meal, you are finally released from your prison of pie and miniature cakes. An aide leads the girls to a wing of the palace, much deeper in than the dining hall you were in before. As you move towards what you guess is meant to be the candidates’ quarters, you pass a quiet rose garden, complete with a hedge maze. Judging by the bubbling of running water, there must be a fountain of some sort within the maze, if not at the centre. According to the information provided in the letter sent to every household in the running, the prince will likely invite different girls who catch his eye to every picturesque spot in the palace, not excluding this one.

You are on constant alert, committing your surroundings to memory. Tonight is a good opportunity for a stakeout, for you to get a clear idea of the palace’s layout. Not all of the architecture is covered in the blueprints you were provided with.

As it turns out, your private room is absolutely luxurious, with marbled floors and fixtures. Even the tap is gold-plated. A little ostentatious, but reflective of the nature of royalty. A canopy bed sits in the middle of the room, along with brilliant red bed covers. Such extravagance is foreign to you, who has called the communal servants’ quarters home for most of your life. There’s a voice in your head, telling you you don’t belong here.

But Hwang Eunji does. And as long as that aide continues to ramble on about the palace’s six-hundred-and-thirty lavatories, you are Hwang Eunji.

“You will be assigned a lady-in-waiting in the morning. Until then, you may rest for the night. Should you require any assistance, you may call for a servant.” And with that, he finally leaves you alone in your chambers.

As the door shuts behind him, you heave a sigh of utter relief. The wardrobes are filled with gowns and slippers, some from the palace, others supplied by the duchy. As a duchess, Lady Hwang would never allow her “sister” to be caught wearing clothes of subpar quality, hence you were shipped off with the collection.

But right now, the article of clothing you need sits hidden in a tiny wooden trunk. As planned, you find it safely tucked away at the very back of the wardrobe. It opens with a click, and you quickly change into a dark tunic and pants, with a heavy hooded cloak. You swap your gleaming heels for a lightweight pair of boots. Sticking your hand into your pocket, your fingers connect with the original blueprints provided by your informant. There’s been no news from the informant since you left the duchy, and your only option is to hope they’re waiting for you tonight, somewhere in the palace.

You are pleased to find a balcony with a rather low vantage point. With a view of some paths within the palace, it’s a decent place to start. You attach a rope to the balcony’s barrier, swinging your legs over as you begin to lower yourself along the walls. Palace guards are stationed at each entrance, and you have to take caution to avoid them sensing your presence.

It seems this wing of the palace is a little less imperious than the exterior. Based on the lush ivy creeping up the walls, it certainly feels less…cold. It serves as a good grip too, lest you lose your balance and go hurtling to your death.

Finally, you reach the bottom, your feet connecting with the ground in a soundless motion. Taking soft footsteps, you make your way into the shadows of a grand arch. The bits and pieces of a conversation drift through the cool night air, something about “underbaked pie”. You must be near the candidates’ kitchens, then.

If your memory serves you correctly, that fountain you heard earlier is nearby. It would be the best meetup point, considering the frothy gurgling would drown out any conversation you were having. And if this informant’s as clever as you think they are, they’ll be there waiting for you.

In a flash, you’re sprinting towards the sweet scent of roses, careful to keep your footsteps silent. Despite the guards milling about, they’re no match for your stealth. You manage to slip into the hedge maze within minutes. The problem now is to navigate your way through.

It turns out that you find little difficulty in finding the centre, simply following the rushing water’s call. It takes little to no time for you to get through the neatly-trimmed hedges, each dotted with blood red roses that remain striking despite the dark of night. But it isn’t the flowers that steal your breath away; rather it’s a familiar head of silvery hair.

Before the fountain stands a man, his tall and lean figure casting a shadow at your feet. Each strand of his hair shines as though it were woven by the moonlight, catching whatever faint light that bleeds through the leaves of the maze. With his back facing you, you cannot tell whether he has sensed your presence. Although something tells you he has, and he’s been expecting your arrival, just as you’d predicted.

Unless he’s here to catch you red-handed, all evidence points to the crown prince’s courtier being the duchess’ informant.

You sift through your memory for his name, but you cannot recall Lord Hwang’s warnings of this man. He might be revered throughout the palace, but in no way could your masters and mistress have ever expected someone at the crown prince’s very side to be your source of information. And you, for the life of you, cannot remember his name, through no fault of your own.

Still, you quickly regain your composure. “We’ve met.”

The courtier finally lifts his head, and you see a rich cobalt mask, studded with pearls, obscuring the top half of his face, not that it matters anymore. “Oh? That is indeed strange. I do not recall ever meeting you, stranger.” His voice is low, but you can hear the hint of amusement regardless. “If I asked for your name, would you give it to me?”

“A name means too much in our line of work. You should know this, or are you simply the crown prince’s lapdog?” Tit-for-tat. With your voice muffled by the fabric across your face, he will find it hard to determine your gender at all. There is power in knowing everything about the other party, while they know nothing about you at all.

Prince Jay’s courtier simply chuckles, his hands fidgeting with what you think is the stalk of a rose, its head lopped off and floating in the fountain like a decapitated swan. Did he do that himself? “As expected of the Hwangs’ finest. Though I must admit, I am indeed surprised to find that they’ve sent their right-hand man. Are your masters so desperate?”

You clench your fists. “What have you to say?”

“My name, for one.” The courtier sighs, mock-wistfully as he eyes you. “Park Sunghoon, although I’m sure you already knew it. And you…” He pauses, the ghost of a smirk on his lips. “I have heard of you. The Hwangs’ blade, a bloodthirsty pawn in a grand game of rebellion. Tell me, why are you here?”

“You ask too many questions.”

“If we are to form an alliance, it is necessary, no?” It’s a hard guess, but even if he’s not on your side, it will be no effort to prevent him from revealing your presence.

There’s a moment of silence as Park Sunghoon ponders on your words. “True. But I know you do not trust me, and it goes both ways. It seems we will have to earn each other’s favour, after all.”

Your hand moves towards the hilt of your blade. “Then so be it. First test: prove your skill to me.” You barely give him time to react before you’re taking a swing at him with your sword, but he dodges out of the way with finesse to rival yours. Interesting.

He runs, first up a pipe, then hoisting himself onto the layered roof tiles. With a smirk, he beckons towards you.

Under a cloudy sky, he takes you on, parrying your every attack. He’s strong, and quick on his feet. He’s got experience, to boot, enough to go head-to-head with you and not get knocked down easily. As his blade catches the moonlight, the silvery glint gives him a deadly aura. The chill that runs through you does little to shake you on the outside, but in your mind you know one thing: Park Sunghoon is not as simple as you think he is.

There is little to no sound as your blades slice through the air, a little like a dance. You do not intend to hurt him, and he knows this. Yet your reputation must precede you, seeing as he hasn’t shown any sign of weakness up to this point. Simply put, he fears you, maybe even much more than he’s letting on.

It takes a surprising amount of effort to parry his blade. Adrenaline courses through your veins as you feel your muscles burn with every onslaught of blows he launches at you. The metallic clang of your swords colliding rings in your ears, and you’re thankful he picked a spot far away from the guards, or you would be impaled by hundreds of arrows by now.

It’s about time you end it, you think to yourself, as you finally force him backwards in a series of vicious strikes. By now, he’s starting to run out of steam, clearly not used to drawn-out fights. And as his foot reaches the edge of the roof, you shove him onto his back. You bring your weapon down, stopping abruptly right at his throat. But simultaneously, the iron’s cold kiss through the fabric of your clothes on your chest registers. His blade is ready to plunge into your heart, yours ready to slice his neck off. He’s drawn with you.

No one has ever drawn with you, not since you bested Lord Hyunjin years ago.

With a sigh, you give him your hand, pulling him off the edge. “It seems you’re more capable than I imagined.”

”Our line of work, as you said.” He takes your hand with a grin, dusting himself off as he sheathes his sword. “I hardly expected to come out of a battle with you alive, you know. You are a formidable foe.”

“That I am, Park Sunghoon. Luckily for you, I have yet to make full use of you.”

“How comforting.”

You scoff, but you take out a small blade, creating a small gash on the palm of your hand. You hold out your bleeding hand again. “From this moment forth, we are allies, you and I. Do not harm me, and I will see that no harm comes to you. Our common cause shall bring us together despite our differences. Do you swear it?”

Sunghoon doesn’t know this, but you need this blood oath to happen. You cannot allow any room for betrayal of any sort. Much as you know it is unwise, you have no other ally in this palace of lies and trickery, and you need him to guide you through it all.

Yet he takes the knife from your other hand, slicing a much larger wound into his own palm. With full confidence, he grasps your right hand, the fresh blood mixing as his grip tightens. “I swear it. I will trust you, right hand of your masters. May our alliance be a fruitful one, and may our joined hands never part in times of need.” The moon peeks out of the clouds, bearing witness to your newly-formed alliance.

You release his hand, tossing him a bundle of bandages as you wrangle with your own. There’s blood flowing down your forearms, and you hasten to staunch the bleeding. “We shall correspond in your private quarters next. Out here would be far too dangerous. Keep an eye out for my arrival.” You watch as he nods, turning to leave, but he hesitates. “One moment.”

”What is it?”

”I never caught your name.”

”In due time, Park Sunghoon.”

And as he disappears down the side of the walls, you sigh. There is much to be done, and little you know. But the thought of a single ally you’ve made…

Well, you suppose there’s some hope after all.

a/n: well!! supremely late, i am soooo so sorry TT life is so sfkhbks. can you tell i’m a severely addicted webcomic reader who only knows how to imagine fight scenes HAHA…anyway i’m really hoping you’ll like this one <3 see you guys in two weeks! (might do a double update if i’m free, we shall see)

taglist (open!)

@stariikis @viagumi @chenfleur @ilovejeongin007

#enhypen #park sunghoon #enhypen sunghoon #sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x y/n #sunghoon x you #enhypen x reader #enhypen x y/n #enhypen x you #enhypen fanfic #enhypen fanfiction #enhypen au #enhypen historical au #enhypen jay #park jongseong #jay park #jay fanfic #park jongseong fanfic #jay fanfiction #park jongseong fanfiction

[heedeungism]

prompt: “confessing in the heat of the moment, leading to a kiss” w/ bridgerton!sunghoon includes: kissing, arguments?, branding(in the poetic sense), fem!reader, lowercase

“i do not understand.” you say, voice soft and unsure.

sunghoon huffs out a sigh of frustration, “i do not know how i can make myself clearer.”

he runs a hand through his messy hair, a look unfit for a duke but ever so alluring on him. it was only moments ago that he tossed stones at your window, beckoning you to join him outside, panting like he had run from the danbury estate he had been staying at during his visit all the way here just to speak to you.

your concerns were well placed, he looked rather underdressed for a night out, his coat left behind and with it his sense. seriously, if scandal does not follow this night you are unsure if lady whistledown truly is as all-knowing as she claims.

“do you love me?” he had questioned the moment you had asked what on earth he was thinking, visiting you at such an hour, covering yourself with the soft pink robe your dear sister had gifted you for your birthday. it was indecent but he had regrettably seen you in much less over the years of friendship. though, the childish sleepovers stopped occurring after your 17th, when it finally started sinking in that both of you had duties to your family.

“why are you—“ you nearly ask, instead shaking your head and saying, “you’re flushed, your grace.”

“answer me.” he says—no, he orders. “do you love me?”

“i cannot.” you say, visibly recoiling back into yourself as he steps forward. “you cannot ask me such things, your grace.”

“why do you call me that?” he questions so softly, and when you look up from where you had averted your gaze, you find his centered on you with an emotion foreign to your mind but so familiar to your heart. 

a shaking hand smooths down your dress, and you swallow the nerves down your throat, “it is your title, is it not?”

“you…” he trails off, and you swear you see his jaw shift in the darkness, only illuminated by the far lamps lining the gardens. “apologies for waking you, i will take my leave.”

his change in tone strikes you, “you are cross.”

“i am not.” he denies with a click of his tongue.

shaking your head you step closer, knowing him well enough to know the sound he makes is telling of his lies, “yes, you are. why are you angry?”

“because i burn for you, and you cannot say the same.” he buries his face in his hands the moment the words leave his lips with such unrestrained passion and heartbreak that your chest aches.

you watch him with little control of your breathing, how he runs a hand down his face and shakes his head, the other dropping to his side limply, until finally you find your breath, “you burn…for me?”

he looks at you, and you assume the years of knowing each other, learning feelings from expressions and easing pain through body language, that he sees exactly how you feel about his confession. he continues, stepping close with every word, “there is not a word in this world that can truly express my feelings, but you are the torch that brands my heart.”

“sunghoon.” you exhale, chest moving with your breaths.

“will you answer?” he asks, his body so close now that you feel his warmth. “i do not wish to keep you from sleep any longer.”

a lie. you can tell by the way he exhales so sharply through his nose. from this close, you can see that his pupils are dilated, his eyes lidded.

“i do,” you say. the three simple words that you had said to him countless times yet had never allowed yourself to mean in the way they do now hang on your tongue, your lips parting to speak them out loud yet the duke has grown too impatient to wait.

his hand spears into your hair, pulling you as close as the cloth between your bodies would allow, his lips claiming yours with an intensity you had never experienced. he knew this, and you knew that despite his approach, the hand on your waist remained unmoving as did the one in your hair because he was holding back. 

you had never tasted another’s desire, only fantasized. yet, if this is what it felt like all along you wish he had snuck into the gardens earlier. following his pace was a challenge that you took in stride, sucking in a breath every fleeting moment that he pulled away to change his angle. 

“let me…” he whispers through the fraction of space between you, “court you properly.”

his name leaves your lips and a low groan is what his answer with before claiming their rightful place once again.

©heedeungism : do not rewrite, copy, repost, or translate any of my works without my permission.

#enhypen #park sunghoon #park sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x yn #bridgerton au #historical au #sunghoon fluff #sunghoon enhypen #sunghoon drabble #enhypen drabbles #enhypen x reader #enhypen x yn #sunghoon bridgerton au #romance #hoonie 🩷 #bridgerton

[jayflrt]

burn for you

❝ if it were me courting you, all i would need is five minutes with you in a drawing room. ❞

PAIRING ▸ sim jaeyun x fem!reader

GENRES ▸ smut (minors dni), some fluff, regency (bridgerton) au, best friends to lovers

WARNINGS ▸ profanity, reader is a catch !! and jake is a rake (i thought i was so funny for that bye), bridgerton references, mutual pining, pure self-indulgence for my self-indulgent queen, sexual tension, corruption kink !!!! (your fav), oral (f. receiving), fingering, public sex, unprotected sex (bc i looked up what they used for birth control in the regency era and it was not sexy...... but pls wrap before u tap)

SUMMARY ▸ regency london’s competitive marriage market is no match for you, who brings suitors to their knees with a simple bat of your eyelashes. however, the issue is that you only care for your best friend, sim jaeyun, and your competition is a princess.

WORD COUNT ▸ 4015 words

PLAYLIST ▸ wildest dreams by duomo • vienna blood, op. 354 by johann strauss ii, eugene ormandy • young and beautiful - dh orchestral version by lana del rey

TAG LIST ▸ @msxflower​ @fiantomartell​ @baekhyunstruly​ @mykalon​ @heelariously​ @hobistigma​ @simplyxlea​ @wntrsgf​ @person-standing​ @ja4hyvn​ @dnyamight​ @candidupped​ @shmooooo​

AUTHOR’S NOTE ▸ hello !! this fic is a present for @heetendo​ happy birthday fia ♡ ik ur a whore for jake and the regency era so i put them together for u in this little oneshot !! btw this was difficult to write bc i couldn’t consult my historical au expert :/

IT PISSED YOU OFF—THE WAY JAEYUN WAS BEING FUSSED OVER BY YOUR OWN MOTHER.

“A princess!” she gushed, hands pressed to her chest as if she was trying to calm her heartbeat. “Why, you would become a prince, then! Whatever was the reason for the princess deciding to marry down?”

You were sick of hearing the news over and over again. The Duke of Richmond, Sim Jaeyun, was being pursued by a princess—something that was absolutely bizarre and had the town buzzing with gossip. You were sure your best friend enjoyed being the talk of the town, however, and he indulged in how heads turned with both admiration and jealousy whenever he walked past.

You, on the other hand, were finding it hard to push down the jealousy you felt. All was fair in love and war, and especially during the season of courtship, but you found yourself outmatched once the princess made her appearance. Although, that didn’t mean that you were lacking this season; in fact, you had suitors lined up down the block.

Your mother was overjoyed by the amount of attention you had gotten, and she would spend her mornings answering calls and receiving flowers and gifts from the men who were trying to court you. You should’ve been happy; your future was secured with this. Even with the affections from the Duke of Bedford, Lee Heeseung, and the compliments from the Earl of Berkshire, Park Sunghoon, you still found yourself unsatisfied.

You didn’t want to get married if it wasn’t with Jaeyun.

Despite the both of you being from different social strata, you and Jaeyun had been best friends for most of your life. For you, your fondness for him had morphed into something deeper—something you read about once in a book.

They called it love. A drive so powerful and uncontrollable that you couldn’t even take hold of its reins. It wasn’t a choice you could make, because if it was, you never would’ve chosen someone you couldn’t have.

“I’m not sure,” Jaeyun answered your mother with a lighthearted laugh, adjusting the lapels of his coat as he checked himself out in your full-length mirror. “She’s quite lovely, though, isn’t she?” His eyes met yours for a brief moment before clarifying, “The princess, of course.”

You scoffed. “Mother, it’s obvious that the princess is only lusting after him because he’s a rake,” you said haughtily, turning your eyes away from your friend. “Also, isn’t it unbecoming for Jaeyun to be in my drawing room when a suitor could walk in at any moment?”

“I’m not a rake!” Jaeyun argued, though you caught the amused tug of his lips just in time.

“Y/N,” your mother chided, coming to your friend’s defense far too quickly, “you shouldn’t be calling Duke Sim such disparaging words.” She turned on her heel to walk out of the drawing room, sending you one last sharp look over her shoulder. “Please be courteous at the very least when he’s to become a prince.”

You let out a reserved sigh, resting your head on the arm of your loveseat. You felt so high-strung lately, and while part of it had to do with the stress of looking exquisite at the ball, another part was because you were dreading to see Jaeyun with the princess tonight. No matter whose arm you were holding onto, you longed for your best friend.

“Y/N,” Jaeyun called, that authoritative voice of his taking over. He tugged his cuffs over his wrists and took a seat right next to you. “What’s bothering you?”

You supposed you could get over Jaeyun eventually, but moments like these made it hard. He was so receptive of your emotions—so doting on your actions—that it made it hard for you to distance yourself from him. However, for the sake of your friendship, you would eventually have to let go so that you wouldn’t ruin his future with the princess.

“Nothing,” you lied smoothly. “I just need to look exquisite for the ball.” You stood up without sparing him a glance, walking over to your full-length mirror so that you could tighten the strings on the back of your emerald dress. “And you are a rake, by the way. No man in their right mind would sit around in a lady’s dressing room like this, especially when they have a princess trying to win their affections.”

“Consider me mad, then,” Jaeyun replied with a chuckle, walking over to you. You stilled when his hands brushed against yours, taking the strings from your fingers so he could tighten the strings for you. Your best friend sucked in a shallow breath. “And about the ball—you look beautiful.”

“You always say so,” you replied, “but I’d much prefer to hear that from someone actually courting me.” You fought down the urge to roll your eyes. “You don’t even dance with me at the balls.”

“You know I’ve always found you absolutely irresistible,” he muttered.

“Jaeyun—”

“Your suitors have been vying for your affections for months.” Vain as ever, the duke let out a scoff. “If it were me courting you, all I would need is five minutes with you in a drawing room.”

Your cheeks felt hot when you realized the implication of his words. The sexual undertones left you hyperaware of Jaeyun’s hands at your waist, pulling at your strings the same way he was tugging at your heart. You wondered if he could feel the tension that was making your head feel foggy, but Jaeyun just wore that sickeningly cocky smile on his face.

“Then what’s stopping you, Your Grace?” you whispered.

Your Grace. You had always called him by his name—Jaeyun. Never the formality.

The drawing room was completely silent, and you couldn’t even focus on whether you were breathing or not. Now, you were sure that he had felt the same tension you were feeling. Jaeyun’s hands were still for a moment before tying the back of your dress securely.

You couldn’t bring yourself to look into the mirror, to look at what expression was clouding over his face. Instead, your shyness was making you twiddle your fingers and find an interest in the color of the marble flooring.

A lightest gasp escaped your lips when you felt Jaeyun’s large hand slide across your waist, to your stomach, and then lower. Before you could find out what he’d do next, though, your mother knocked at the door and Jaeyun pulled away too quickly. Faster than it had happened.

“Y/N! Are you ready yet?” your mother called.

Trying to swallow down your strangled voice in exchange for a bolder one, you cried, “Yes, mother! I-I’ll be there in a second!”

You weren’t sure what you expected, but your best friend cleared his throat as you turned to face him. Without meeting your eyes, as if he was ashamed, Jaeyun bowed courteously. You were distraught by his sudden etiquette, feeling as if he was forcing some distance between you.

“I apologize,” he murmured, and when straightened, he headed for the door. “I’ll see you at the ball, Y/N.”

You just stared at the space where he once stood, hardly flinching when the door shut behind you. The ball. That sick feeling of jealousy twisted in your gut again; you had no idea how you would be able to withstand seeing Jaeyun and the princess tonight.

The queen’s ball was on a much grander scale compared to the other events you had been to. As you expected, the ballroom was the pinnacle of extravagance, extending its facilities into the royal gardens. You were caught up eyeing the pieces of artwork on the walls when your mother nudged your side, gesturing to the center of the room.

There you saw Jaeyun with the princess.

It was funny how seeing them together chipped at your heart, but you still felt butterflies whenever you saw that smile on your best friend’s face.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” your mother gushed. “You keep your chin up, though, my dear. Your beauty is unmatched tonight.”

You swallowed thickly and nodded. You did look rather divine tonight, especially with your family’s diamonds glittering on your neck for everyone to see. From where you were standing on the staircase, you could see several of your suitors with a competitive fire in their eyes, determined to be the first to dance with you.

However, all that attention dissipated when a chorus of gasps rose from the crowd. Your gaze flitted back to Jaeyun, who had rejected a dance from Your Highness herself. Although the princess took it gracefully, moving onto the next suitor who had eyes for her, Jaeyun’s unexpected refusal would be the talk of the town for months.

With a courteous bow, Jaeyun excused himself from the floor, retreating to the royal gardens. You wondered what had come upon him to act out in such a defamatory way.

You weren’t sure if there were people talking to you with your focus zeroed in on Jaeyun, but you glanced at your mother and said, “I’ll be right back, mother. I’m going to check on something.”

That something was your best friend, but you couldn’t tell anyone that you were sneaking into the gardens to see the duke. If anyone caught word of you both meeting privately, they would twist the affair into something scandalous and damage your family name.

The crowd had gone back to courting and dancing while you were sneaking away from your suitors and everyone else. You knew that things would turn sour if you were caught, but that didn’t stop you from looking for Jaeyun. The cool bite of the wind prickled goosebumps along your arms, but you walked through the gardens, trying to see if Jaeyun was hiding amongst the hedges.

“Jaeyun?” you called when you heard rustling along the path. “Your Grace?”

His sudden appearance from behind one of the arches got a yelp out of you, and you pressed a hand over your chest to ease your racing heart. While you were coming down from your shock, however, Jaeyun merely chuckled, amused.

“Since when did you start using ‘Your Grace’ for me, Y/N? I thought we had dropped such formalities,” he replied. Jaeyun let his gaze rack over your body, and you immediately felt self-conscious. “What are you doing out here? It’s dangerous for a lady to be caught like this with a suitor.”

“I came to look for you,” you explained. “Unbecoming as it is, I had to make sure you were okay.”

Jaeyun’s face turned stony. The piercing look in his eyes bore into you, but you couldn’t turn away, not even when he asked in the softest, most agonizing voice, “Why?”

Your voice was stilted. “Jaeyun?”

“I told the princess I couldn’t marry her,” Jaeyun started firmly, steely eyes never leaving yours. “I couldn’t spend the rest of my life with someone I don’t long to be with.”

“Then who do you long to be with?” you asked in a small voice, as if you were almost scared of the answer.

You took a step back when Jaeyun stepped forward, but then you stopped backing away and allowed him to come closer. His hands barely grazed your forearms, but the lingering warmth left you tingling all over. You looked up at the duke and aching desperation was all over his face.

“I long for you, Y/N,” he answered with fierceness and yearning behind his words. “I burn for you.”

Desire bloomed somewhere deep within you, but you forced yourself to tamp it down. Not here. Not now. Yet, with the way Jaeyun was looking at you, eyes glazing over with something darker, something more passionate, you feared you would succumb to him.  

His voice was cast low when he quickly added, “I wish not to make a public spectacle of this nor distract you from your suitors, so please pardon my words if they make you uncomfortable.”

“Are you stupid?” you asked, incredulous. Jaeyun looked at you, eyes wide with shock, and you continued on in a breathless voice, “Are you a blithering idiot, Sim Jaeyun? You can’t just—just say that and expect me to run back to my suitors.” You grabbed his coat by the lapels, drawing him closer so that the space between you two was rapidly diminishing. “You said that you'd just need five minutes in a drawing room alone to court me, so show me.”

“Y/N,” Jaeyun stuttered, trying to process your words. He let out a sharp exhale when you grabbed hold of him. “This is completely indecent, and you’re too… too pure.”

You frowned. “Pure?”

“You’re untouched—untainted,” Jaeyun explained, and you shivered when his hand brushed your waist. “You don’t know what the touch of a man can do to you.”

“I—I know of some things… such arousal and intimacy—of course, I’ve read and heard of them,” you answered, breath hitching when Jaeyun ran his hand down to your hip. “It’s just that I’ve never partaken in such… illicit activities.”

“Your dress is lovely,” Jaeyun started, and you felt absolutely lost with the sudden topic change, but he continued, “so turn around for me, my love. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“H-huh?” you asked, but nevertheless, you turned around.

You were immediately met with Jaeyun’s hands grabbing your hips, pulling your back flush against his body. Carefully, he slipped off his silk gloves and tucked them into the pocket of his waistcoat while you admired how long and pretty his fingers were. He gathered the fabric of your dress, sliding his hand under your skirt so that he could run his hand up your bare thigh.

Words were no longer something you could string together as Jaeyun slipped his hand into your underwear. All you could do was lean back against him and whimper as his fingers rubbed your clit in precise, deliberate circles. Pinpricks of pleasure burst across your skin as Jaeyun fingered that perfect spot.

“You’re soaked, my lady,” he almost growled, attacking your neck with love bites and kisses.

“Yes,” you croaked out, voice trembling with excitement. “God—Jaeyun, it feels so good.”

The pleasure was almost blinding. You still had a wisp of fear pitted deep in your gut, knowing that anyone could walk in on you two at any time. However, as Jaeyun’s motions became faster and more intense, the knot in your lower stomach was starting to build. You gasped softly when you felt the strong urgency for it to unravel.

“J-Jaeyun,” you stuttered, eyes half-lidded and heavy with lust. “Oh, something is happening—”

“Let it happen, my love,” he cut you off, sensing exactly what you were feeling. “I promise it will feel divine.”

The feeling surged forward, relentless as Jaeyun pushed you closer to the edge. It kept building, rising higher and higher in your throat. You were so overcome with pleasure, but it was the fear of being so exposed that was holding you back from letting go.

Jaeyun used his free hand to tilt your chin to look up at him, whispering, “I told you all I needed was five minutes with you alone.”

There.

You reached your breaking point then and there, hips stuttering as you felt waves of pleasure crash over you. Your arousal spilled all over Jaeyun’s fingers, but before you could cry out, he sealed his lips over yours and muffled your sweet moans.

The feeling subsided once Jaeyun pulled away to look at you, but you still felt the aftershocks of your orgasm like jolts. The duke spent a long, lingering moment taking in the way you looked, and he realized he wanted more. He wanted to how much more he could do if just his fingering brought upon that delectable, fucked-out expression on your face.

You didn’t need any verbal prompting when Jaeyun switched positions, getting in front of you and pushing you back against the stone arch. You were lost as Jaeyun knelt down in front of you, lifting up your skirt and tugging your underwear down. It all became so clear when he dragged his tongue along your folds, though.

You halted your whimpers by clamping a hand over your mouth. Jaeyun knew the consequences of being caught, but a twisted side of him wanted the castle to hear the sweet music that only he could get out of you. Each string he tugged of yours roused the most harmonious moans from your pretty lips.

You cried out when you felt his lips over your already-sore clit, sucking harshly on the ball of nerves. Your next bout of pleasure was coming fast due to his overstimulation, and your head was spinning when he snaked his tongue in your cunt.

His fingers replaced where his lips once were, rubbing your clit again as his tongue slid past your clenching walls. The feeling inside you was foreign, but your arousal was unmistakable. You felt yourself squirming as you were reaching your high once again.

You keened, back arching against the cool stone as Jaeyun brought you closer to the feeling from before. This time, you anticipated the tug, but when Jaeyun slipped his tongue out of you and stopped his motions, the promise of an orgasm slipped away.

You gawked at your best friend, but he just smirked.

“I want to take you, Y/N,” the duke explained in a husky voice, raising to his feet. “I want to show you how much I care for you.”

You had never felt this way. Your carnal needs had never been so strong, so urgent, and it horrified you that you wanted nothing more than for Jaeyun to take your virginity. It was outright indecent to do so in the Queen’s gardens, but you, too, burned for the duke.

“Take all of me,” you begged, shuddering when his hands came to caress your body. “Please, Your Grace.”

“My dear, you do not know the extent of my hunger for you,” he warned.

You took his hand and placed it over your breast, right where your heart was. “Do you understand now? Jaeyun, I am all yours.”

Jaeyun swooped in to kiss you again, this time with more intensity and lust overtaking his senses. With careful fingers, he tugged the strings from your corset and undid them just enough to reveal the cream chemise underneath. From there, he lowered his head to press hot, open-mouthed kisses across your chest.

The duke undid the buckle of his pants, tugging it down as he positioned himself between your legs. The skirt of your gown hid the indecency of your affair. Heat rose to your cheeks when you felt the hard length of his cock against your bare cunt.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked you, thumb stroking your cheek in a comforting manner.

You nodded and placed your hand over his. “Yes,” you whispered, “I need you.”

You supposed there was never hope for you to keep your moans in as Jaeyun slid into you. You could hardly hear his own groans as your walls hugged his cock, only focused on the way he felt inside of you. The stretch was uncomfortable at first, but when you adjusted to his size, the feeling morphed into something incredible.

The duke started with slow, shallow thrusts—something purely experimental to test the waters with you. All coherent thoughts vacated your mind, and you were left drowning in a molten sea as Jaeyun quickened his pace. Broken moans fell from your lips, but Jaeyun didn’t bother sealing your mouth with his. He loved the way you sang for him, encouraging more with gentle pecks to your neck.

You both were sweaty and spent, but neither of you could break your gaze as you brought each other closer and closer. The cool chill of the evening was the only thing keeping you two grounded.

“God, Jaeyun!” you cried, hips bucking as he pounded into you mercilessly, inciting a lewd fuck from the duke’s mouth.

Jaeyun’s eyes, clouded over with lust, cleared for a moment and caught you by surprise. Despite his relentless thrusts, there was so much care and sentiment in his eyes.

“I love you, Y/N.”

You sobbed out as your orgasm crept up on you by surprise, overtaking your senses and making the world blur into nothing but Jaeyun. He continued his thrusts until he, too, was cumming, and aided you by working you all the way through your orgasm. The weight of his confession settled as you came down from your high, and it was a comfortable reassurance that whatever you felt for him was real.

It was silent as Jaeyun tied your corset again and fixed his pants. You helped him slip his gloves back on. Like this was your own private dance, he bowed courteously before slipping away before anyone could see you two alone in the gardens.

You heard the toll of a bell from the castle, but all that rang in your head was that Sim Jaeyun loved you.

Something plagued you days after the ball.

It was eating at you, consuming your every thought as you spoke listlessly to your suitors and entertained their affections. Your mother didn’t ask what happened when you went to find Jaeyun, but made up the excuse that you were feeling ill when you were bombarded with questions from several men.

All you could think about, though, was that you never said those three words back to Jaeyun.

You didn’t realize how wounded you felt over it until you were laying in bed, thinking how you might have possibly ruined your chance with the duke because he thought his affections weren’t returned. You moped around for days, wondering if you had ruined things between you and Jaeyun, if he thought you had taken his words for granted.

You didn’t grasp the impact of Jaeyun’s words when he said he burned for you, but now, you were starting to understand it for yourself. It wasn’t like you had seen him every day before, but not seeing him for days had you longing for him.

You hadn’t seen him since the ball, actually, until he was knocking at the door of your drawing room, a bouquet of flowers in hand.

“Ah, Your Grace,” your mother greeted cordially. The look in her eyes showed that she was concerned about what happened between him and the princess. “Are you here to see Y/N?”

“I’m here to court her, madam,” Jaeyun clarified, and you heard several gasps in the room, noticeably from your mother and the maids. “If you don’t mind.”

“Oh… oh, yes—of course,” your mother simpered, urging the maids to leave you two alone in the drawing room. She sent you a coy smile as she left; meanwhile, you were trying to calm your racing heartbeat.

Jaeyun set the flowers on your table, walking closer to you. Memories of the previous night flooded your head, and you felt hot just thinking about Jaeyun close to you again. However, the look in his eyes showed utmost sincerity.

“Do you love me, Y/N?” the duke asked.

“I do not know what love is,” you answered truthfully, but for someone so unsure, you felt like everything had clicked in the moment, “yet, if what I feel for you right now is love, then I must love you deeply, Jaeyun.”

A heartstopping smile broke across his face, and your heart swelled with admiration. Your best friend came even closer, hands coming up to hold your arms.

“Then let me court you properly,” he insisted, “and dance with you at every ball.”

And he danced with you at the next ball. And the one after that. Each one until he puts a ring on your finger.

#enhypen imagines #jake imagines #jake smut #enhypen smut #jake x reader #enhypen drabbles #enhypen reactions #jake drabbles #jake reactions #enhypen hard hours #jake hard hours #enhypen blurbs #jake blurbs #enhypen oneshots #jake oneshots #enhypen scenarios #jake scenarios #jake sim #sim jaeyun #sim jaeyun x reader #jaeyun smut #jaeyun imagines #jaeyun drabbles #jake sim x reader

[yunkifoldr]

𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐀 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐔𝐌 ㅤㅤan enhypen historic!au series.

in the midst of a conflict between nations, you find yourself falling in love. but what's the worst-case scenario possible, you ask? all of it. as an uncontrollable love begins, seven different stories with seven possible outcomes make up a new chapter in the history. this is the moment where the love of your life bursts forth, radiant than the sun and stars.

release date : unknownㅤㅤupdates : possibly slow

warnings : will soon be addedㅤㅤtaglist : open, send me an ask or comment here in this post regarding which member you'd like to be tagged to. can be specific members only and can also be all of them.

𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐏 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓

“ i love you, more than i think i could love in billions of lifetimes. ”

at first, he initially considered you as a threat, but before you knew it, you were being doted on by the most popular man in gyeonggi-do. you two get close enough as a result of his helpful and loving nature, as you easily take on the position of his 'little sister.', but was it really enough for you? … and for him?

pairings : knight!heeseung x princess!reader

tropes used : enemies to lovers, brother's best friend

read here.

𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄

“ even if i had known you were my enemy from the start, i still would've fallen for you. ”

he's a tactless grump who was also brash and assertive, and he's surprisingly awkward around women. he's a man who wants vengeance on the crown prince you have been serving. the two of you, on the other hand, are becoming extremely close. you may not realize it, but your love was never meant to be.

pairings : combatant!jay x minister!reader

tropes used : rivals to lovers, forbidden love

read here.

𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

“ i will use my lifetime, all of them, just for you. you're my only light. ”

the truth behind the man who calls himself a demon out for revenge, is that he is no demon at all, soon finding out that he is the gentlest of them all. but do not be deceived, he is someone who's filled with deep resentment, and there is no end to the lengths he would go to exact his revenge.

pairings : demon-human!jake x spy!reader

tropes used : rivals to lovers, secret relationship

read here.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒

“ you really are a fool. but it's too late to stop this now, so i guess i'll be staying with you starting tonight. ”

you were commanded to live under the care of ambitious, determined, and a competitive warrior. despite his every effort to push you away, you can't help but want to bridge the gap between you two. once a cold and distant man, now had his invisible walls broken by yours.

pairings : warlord!sunghoon x royal chef!reader

tropes used : strangers to lovers, slowburn

read here.

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐒��𝐌𝐄𝐃

“ even though i am new to love ... i assure you, i will devote myself onto learning how i will love you right. ”

a brilliant aide who exceeds at strategizing, too immersed to say the least that he forgets to look after himself. his kind demeanor and effortless sensuality makes him very appealing. your first task as a chatelaine was to look after him, and before you knew it, you were completely captivated by all his sides; the angel, the strategist, the warlord, and his true identity; being himself.

pairings : strategist!sunoo x head of the medical household!reader

tropes used : friends to lovers, first love

read here.

𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐀 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄

“ too late, i've caught you now and i'm never letting you go. ”

a prince who loves a good thrill as much as a good battle. someone with a free spirit, his natural curiosity drawing him to you from the very start. though impossible to keep up with, his unwavering resolve and spellbinding words draw you closer together. despite the differences, your attraction to each other is undeniable.

pairings : crown prince!jungwon x commoner!reader

tropes used : arranged marriage, strangers to lovers

read here.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒

“ screw the world that refuses to see us, i'll love you no matter what, i'll always recognize who you really are. ”

his reputation for being a strange crown prince rings throughout okayama. he's someone chaotic, friendly, and someone who knows how to truly have fun. you two hit off right away, but you soon find out that all of it was just a ‘mask’. feeling betrayed, you start to wonder– is there a reason why he has to pretend?

pairings : soon to be emperor!riki x entertainer!reader

tropes used : childhood best friends, friends to lovers

read here.

© yunkifoldr, 2022ㅤ|ㅤmain masterlist

#enhypen #enhypen series #enhypen fluff #enhypen angst #enhypen oneshots #enhypen fanfic #enhypen imagines #enhypen jungwon #yang jungwon #jungwon x y/n #jungwon x reader #enhypen heeseung #heeseung x y/n #heeseung x reader #enhypen jay #jay x y/n #jay x reader #enhypen jake #jake x y/n #jake x reader #enhypen sunghoon #sunghoon x y/n #sunghoon x reader #enhypen sunoo #sunoo x y/n #sunoo x reader #enhypen niki #niki x y/n #niki x reader

[mattsuchan]

fic read list (under construction)

(semi fic rec ? its all the fics that i've read)

DISCLAIMER : none of these fics are my work, im not an author, im merely a reader! the fics are linked straight to the original post by the authors <3 thank you for liking my unintentional fic rec list, it means a lot to me 😭 and please support these amazing authors and their incredible writings 💗

STRAY KIDS

bang chan

1. paris (1950s au, actor au)

2. non ducor duco (historical au, gang au)

3. the phantom (vampire au, historical au)

4. the eclipse (cop au)

5. from grace (demon au)

6. free fall ; one two three (mafia au)

7. supercut. (established relationship au)

8. chan + plushies (established relationship au)

9. [untitled] (college au)

10. domestic disturbance. (detective au, fwb trope, fake marriage trope)

11. good enough (established relationship au)

12. my house (ceo au, established relationship au)

13. [daddy issues - the nbhd] (... yeah 🧍)

14. [11:23 pm] (idol au)

lee know

1. business proposals (ceo au)

2. who are you (detective au)

3. strawberries (tattoo artist au)

4. misfits. (punk au)

5. youngblood (college au, f2l trope)

6. expectorate. (mafia au)

7. "go back to sleep." (established relationship au)

changbin

1. weight on my shoulders (social media au)

hyunjin

1. backseat driving (racer au)

2. back in time (time travel au)

3. it's knot you (soulmate au)

4. forward in time (time travel au)

5. define it (f2l trope)

6. don't wanna be friends. (pornstar au, f2l trope)

7. the duke and i (bridgerton au, f2l trope)

han

1. reverse corruption (?? au)

seungmin

1. getting to first base (highschool au)

ot8 (headcanons mostly,,)

1. when you wear their clothes

2. cockwarming

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

yeonjun

1. hasta la vista (1989 au)

2. how he deals with you being a brat (fwb trope)

3. today is the day (time travel au)

4. [untitled] (badboy au)

5. break time (college au)

6. back and forth (roommates au, s2f2l trope)

7. making out for the first time (established relationship au)

8. sober thoughts (f2l trope)

9. summer rain (summer camp au)

10. loved. (social media au)

11. pose (model au)

12. bambi (1920s au, hitman au)

13. [untitled] (established relationship au)

14. you're fucked up but so am i (revenge au)

15. seesaw (social media au)

16. the story of us (social media au)

17. 10:20 am (college au)

18. wheresoever you go (established relationship au)

19. dancing with your ghost (ghost au)

20. sneaky link (college au)

21. playboy (model au)

22. till' the end of summer (college au, ALSO MY FAVORITE SERIES OH MY GOD)

23. the art of (mis)communication (bf2e2l trope)

24. punishment (?? au)

25. you see love is a game (and i still want to play) [college au]

26. make a wish (?? au)

27. see the stars (established relationship au)

soobin

1. perfectly perfect (highschool au)

2. clingy much? (werewolf au)

3. game over (college au)

4. one last present (established relationship au)

5. mr. choi (neighbour au)

6. down the aisle (wedding planner au)

7. paper hearts (1980s au)

8. [8:23 pm] (neighbour au)

9. 17:53 (established relationship au)

10. 2:30 am (strangers au)

11. stuck on you (social media au)

12. new rules (idol au)

13. little bunny (idol au)

14. 33 (best friends pining trope)

15. saint (highscool au)

16. [10:33 am] (established relationship au)

17. d r a m a (social media au)

beomgyu

1. you're the one that i want (college au)

2. voices (soulmate au, s2e2l trope)

3. the prince and the jackal (fantasy au)

4. journey with you (fantasy au)

5. silver nights (social media au)

6. listen before i go (social media au)

taehyun

1. beverly hills (e2l trope)

2. when the ice begins to thaw (fantasy au)

3. underneath the golden sun (guardian angel au, soulmate au)

4. hero (social media au)

hueningkai

1. 7:12 a.m. (hybrid au)

2. long live the king (royalty au, f2l trope)

3. princeps caeli (fantasy au)

4. thank you, barista boy (college au, barista au)

ot5 (headcanons mostly,,)

1. reaction to you receiving a lot of anonymous love letters

2. what he'd call you

3. reacting to having a small s/o

misc.

1. cat & mouse (college au, fwb trope) ; jaemin

2. demon days (demon au, college au) ; san

3; doll (?? au) ; sunghoon

4. smoky aura (neighbour au) ; johnny

#THERES SO MANY YEONJUN FICS WHAT THE HELLLLLLL

[enwonz]

kingmaker | p.sh

masterlist | next

CHAPTER I

As an assassin working for the Hwangs, you have proven your loyalty to your benefactors for more than a decade. But when Lady Hwang's plans for a rebellion land you in a bride selection for the Crown Prince, you find yourself at a loss. Unfamiliar with the ways of the gentry, your reliance on a previously unknown informant is your only source of hope. And yet, you learn very quickly that no one in high society can be trusted, including yourself. Because who else but you is there to assassinate the King?

WARNING: please do check the masterlist for potential triggers/themes you feel uncomfortable with! this chapter contains graphic depictions of blood, as well as a fairly unhealthy dynamic resembling slavery between reader and another character (for the purpose of historical accuracy and plot).

Completing a job isn’t the hard part, it’s the report you have to give afterwards.

You stand at attention, your back ramrod straight, sword sheathed to the hilt, barely concealing the fresh blood it is stained with. A single lit wax candle rests on your lady’s desk, its haunting glow the only source of light in a room darkened by night. The moon does not shine tonight – perfect conditions for a job as messy as yours.

The fewer eyes, the better.

After what feels like hours of waiting, your lady finally lifts her gaze from her papers. Everything about Lady Hwang is regal: her elegant posture, her fine hands that gracefully dip her quill in the inkpot, even the way she schools her expression to be one that is cold and calculating. She looks every part the head of the household she is meant to be, such that it is hard to believe she is only a few years older than yourself.

“My lady, I bear the report of my task.” You bow deeply, as is expected of you. As it always has.

Lady Hwang waves her hand noncommittally, and you take it as your invitation to speak. “The target has been eliminated.”

“The eyewitnesses?” Her voice is soft, but you know better than to underestimate the attention she’s paying to you. It is a dangerous game, to work for Hwang Yeji. One wrong move and you could lose your head.

“All taken care of effectively.”

“Hm, as always. Keep up the good work. You may leave to freshen up.”

You bow once more before taking your leave. As you exit her office, Lord Hwang enters in a whirlwind of papers. “Sister, the informant’s report has arrived.” In his frenzy, he doesn’t even notice your presence, throwing an envelope on her desk.

Yeji barely looks up from her work as she speaks. “If it’s another description of the stagnant political climate, I will cut off that fool’s hand myself.”

“No, this time it’s important. More important than whatever you’re doing at the moment. Spare it a glance, I implore you.”

As you turn the doorknob, you hear the rustling of paper. Any letter from the informant is always opened with haste, but in recent weeks their reports have become too quiet. Too consistent for your masters’ liking.

You, of course, have no idea of the informant’s identity, and you suspect your masters don’t know either. All you know is that whoever they are, they’ve been feeding your side information from within the highest circles of society. A high-standing member of the gentry, at the very least. It is rare for someone of such a standing to align themselves with a cause such as that of your masters’, and yet…

Your thoughts are interrupted by a quiet inhale from Yeji, the contemplative tapping of her pen breaking the silence. You swear you can almost feel Hyunjin’s anxiousness radiating off him and permeating the whole room. 

“This…this is groundbreaking,” Yeji whispers, a cautious hope evident in her voice. Rarely is she so pleased. It must be a very good piece of information, then. You turn away from the door. “My lady, shall I prepare for my next task immediately?”

Wordlessly, she scans your figure with little to no subtlety. There is a strange light in her eyes, one that wasn’t there before. It’s the same odd look she has when she’s crafted you a perfect plan, and you can almost see the cogs in her mind whirring away. “It would be best if we gave you a thorough bath. Hair oils, essences for the skin…” Yeji snaps her fingers, and a servant rushes in. “Prepare a bath for Y/n just as you would for me. Skin, nails, hair, everything has to be done. Cover every blemish, I won’t allow for anything but a fair complexion. Oh, and send for the dressmaker as soon as you can.”

You falter in your steps. “M-my lady? Is everything alright?”

“Oh, nothing. Take a good rest, you’ll need it.” Yeji waves you all away, and the servant ushers you into a private room. 

This isn’t the first time Lady Hwang’s kept you out of the loop. More often than not, preparations begin for your next task before you even realise it’s for your next task. You’re not sure if it’s because her brain simply works too fast for anyone else to comprehend, or if she enjoys making people think the latter. 

Either way, an order is an order. Who are you to disobey?

The scent of a creamy lather of soap lingers on your skin as you make your way back to Lady Hwang’s study. With the crusted blood in your fingernails and hair removed, and an array of unknown fragrances and oils rubbed into your body, you feel almost transformed. The servant even pinned your hair up into an elaborate hairstyle, as per Lady Hwang’s instructions. Only your clothing remains the servants’ garb you wear every day. The amount of careful detail to your appearance is similar to what they usually have for a noble lady, and it makes you glow as though you were truly a member of the gentry. A far cry from reality, quite obviously.

You knock twice on the door. Unsurprisingly, the door is left slightly ajar, and you push it open. The orange glow of early dawn trickles in through the large windows, bathing your mistress’ figure in faint sunlight. She looks…ethereal. As expected, a single night’s worth of washing and scrubbing can’t turn you into a noble lady who’s spent her whole life bathing in goat’s milk and whatnot. 

Yeji steps towards you, the ruffles of her rich purple gown fluttering as she walks. Every foot forward seems perfectly calibrated. As though she is the one in control, and always has been. She gestures towards a delicate periwinkle dress draped over the sofa. It’s exquisite, with shimmering crystals sewn into the fabric, and a translucent layer on the outside that resembles a butterfly’s gossamer wings when it catches the light. Elegant, sweet, resplendent. None of which suit you.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Try it on.” Her tone is almost incredulous. As if you would have any reservations about putting on a gown so bombastically opulent for someone of your stature. Hilarious, isn’t it?

Still, you make quick work of your clothing, sliding the gown over your head with as much care as your calloused hands can manage. The dress fits perfectly, and in the glass window you catch a small glimpse of yourself. It’s gorgeous. You look gorgeous. 

It’s uncanny.

Yeji nods, assessing your appearance with more scrutiny than expected. “Excellent. My judgement was correct.” She takes out a diamond-encrusted brooch to match, fastening it into the fabric. “This is your new assignment. The Crown Prince is holding a bride selection, to choose his Crown Princess…and future bride.” She hands you a sheet of parchment, with a long list of names. It has both hers and her brothers’ names, as well as their parents’, and every known ancestor. And beside Hyunjin’s name is your own, written in beautiful script. The Hwang family seal is on the corner of the page, telling you everything you need to know.

“Your Grace, what…what is this?” you barely manage to stammer out. “Why am I listed as a member of your family?”

Yeji laughs, arms crossed as she smirks to herself. “Becoming the head of the household was no easy feat, but now that I can do such things with ease, it was indeed worth it. This will allow you to enter the selection as a noble lady of the Hwangs. Genius, aren’t I?”

The parchment feels cold in your hands. “My Lady? I’m afraid I do not understand.”

“Don’t you? You will slip into the palace as a bridal candidate, then assassinate the king when you get the chance. If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, his son won’t be pleasant to deal with either. Feel free to make him collateral damage, if necessary.”

This is the true nature of your job, and your mistress’ ultimate goal. For years, the king’s tyranny has governed your kingdom, drafting soldiers into pointless wars, dragging fathers and sons into battle. Few returned, even fewer made it out in one piece. Yeji and Hyunjin’s father died this way, and their mother had lost her life to heartbreak soon after. Meanwhile, the king gorged himself on the spoils of battles not his own, hosting revels and balls with renewed vigour each time. And if the rumours were not without truth, his eldest son Jay was no different.

But assassinate the king and his offspring? In front of numerous bride-to-bes and the whole of the palace guard? Not only would it be the hardest mission to date, but also…a suicide mission. Your mistress is essentially sending you to your grave.

You clench your fist, nails biting into the flesh of your palm as you try to bite back your protests. It would do you no good to go against Lady Hwang. And yet, your traitorous little heart hopes for her to spare you the dishonour of dying at the hands of the king’s men.

Seemingly sensing this, Yeji sighs, her hands coming to cup your chin as she lifts your gaze away from the ground to her. “Y/N, many years have passed since our first fateful encounter. I’ve given you so much since then. Don’t you agree?”

There she is, the Hwang Yeji you’ve come to know in the past 13 years. An eternally infallible, mortal devil. A schemer, born with power, learned in knowing exactly what to say and do. When someone like her is dealt an unfair hand in life, the thirst for vengeance only grows, and you know for a fact that she would do just about anything for a taste of what she’s owed. So of course her mercy came at a price all those years ago. Till now, you can only imagine what it would mean to repay her. Gratitude is no simple business, not in a line of work like yours.

You swallow the building lump in your throat and drop on one knee, ignoring the way the fabric of your dress strains as you bend your head towards Hwang Yeji. Your mistress, your benefactor. Your saviour.  

“Anything for you, My Lady. My heart and body is yours to control.”

Her eyes flash, like a cat’s in the dark. “Then prove it.”

a/n: chapter one!!! yay!!!!! idk who made it this far, but congrats if ur here! taglist is still open, so if u enjoyed this and wanna read more, js go to my asks! until next week!

#enhypen #enhypen sunghoon #park sunghoon #sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x y/n #sunghoon x you #enhypen jay #sunghoon fanfic #sunghoon fanfiction #enhypen niki #park jongseong #enhypen historical au #enhypen royalty au #itzy yeji #itzy #skz #skz hyunjin

[enwonz]

创造整个宇宙只是为了更明白这个世界。

lee ! | she/her | singapore! | english/中文/日本語 | 07

i stan - enha | txt | skz (come talk to me about them!)

hmu abt - writing, math, track, piano, choir, anything really

jungwon biased, but sunghoon <3 send me pics babes

(also disclaimer i suck at graphic design/have no eye for aesthetics so if my fic banners look awful i am VERY SORRY-)

u can find me at @roumajuli (sideblog) too!

masterlist

kingmaker | p.sh

historical assassin/royalty au, allies to lovers

speak now series — ot7

latest — jungwon ver.

the encafe series — ot7 with @stariikis

latest - when i see you again [ash]

safe and sound | n.rk

academic achiever x words of affirmation ni-ki

[amakumos]

i have too many fics to start writing / finish here is a list of them because i LTRLY HAVE NO SPACE FOR DIVIDERS IN MY WIP POST.

music major heeseung fic bffs 2 lovers

hu tao! riki fic strangers 2 lovers

blue birthday au jungwon fic

chongyun! sunoo fic friends 2 lovers

jungwon enchanted au fic

kazuha! jungwon fic strangers to lovers

riki baking a minion cake fic

sunghoon soulmate au fic

sunoo highschool au first love fic

historical au jake fic

you are my glory au heeseung fic

forget me not pt2

formula of love special chapter

shoot! special chapter

i think that’s it …. i think . will add more as i remember

#yun talks #i am going to be so busy☹️☹️☹️ #gonna try . Emphasis on try . to not overwork myself