Chapter Text
Prologue
A lone rider stopped on top of a mountain, looking in the distance. It was night and only moon and stars were shining in the area with nothing but fields and woods.
But in that dark night, there was a bright, orange light shining in the distance on top of another mountain. The orange light was flickering ominously, catching the rider’s attention. He didn’t hesitate as he heeled the black horse and urged him to gallop towards the source of the light.
Meanwhile, on the other mountain, there were people screaming and running around. Some were carrying precious goods outside from the blazing inferno that was now consuming the whole temple. Women and men in robes of priests and priestesses were mingling with stableboys, cooks and other workers, as well as with young students because the temple served as academy for omegas from wealthy and noble families that were sent there to study.
Some people were trying to put down the fire, but it was useless, it has spread everywhere and the building was threatening to collapse as it was built mainly from wood.
“Is everyone outside?” a priestess called, looking around to make sure that everyone made it safely out.
“I think so,” a priest nodded.
“Taehyung is missing!” a student yelled, looking around frantically and it was at that moment that a silhouette appeared in an opened window on the second floor, standing on the ledge.
“I am here!” the young omega screamed: “I can’t get out, the fire is blocking the doorway.”
“Gods help us,” the priestess gasped and covered her mouth, watching the omega holding onto the sides of the window and looking back into the room and back outside.
It looked like he was going to perish in the fire, when suddenly a rider arrived on a black horse. No one could see his face, he was dressed in black coat and he had a black hat as well, and he jumped down from the horse and looked around, thinking about how he could help.
His gaze fell upon the omega in the window and his scared, beautiful face and without thinking twice, he ran towards the burning temple and right under the window.
“Jump!” the man yelled, stretching out his arms: “Jump, I will catch you, don’t worry!”
The omega glanced back and the fear of the flames was bigger than the fear of jumping. He was either going to die in the fire or he was going to die from the fall, but in that case he had at least some chances of survival.
He looked at the black stranger before he closed his eyes and jumped. It wasn’t a long fall, but it felt like forever until he felt solid arms under him. He and the men fell to the ground since the impact of his body was too big for the stranger to withstand it.
“Taehyung!” people started gasping and yelling, rushing to him and his saviour and pulled him to his feet.
“You are alive, it’s a miracle!” the priestess got out, supporting him and leading him away with few people around them.
Taehyung glanced back at his saviour that got up from the ground, but the priestess urged him to continue walking as they had to get in safety. He only managed to see the man turn around and run to the well to help put down the fire before he was led in a carrier pulled by horses that would take him and his friends to safety.
He didn’t notice that he lost a pendant with his initials during the fall and he didn’t notice that the man in black picked it up and put it in his pocket before he went to help.
3 years later
Taehyung woke up with a gasp from a recuring dream he’s had for the past three years. He was in the old temple and he could feel the heat of the fire on his skin, thankfully he didn’t have the dream very often. But whenever he dreamt of that terrible night, he always woke up sweaty and panting and he started thinking about the mysterious stranger that came out of nowhere that night and saved his life. He never saw that man again, he didn’t know who he was and where he came from and he couldn’t thank him, because if it wasn’t for him, his young life would have been cut short.
He glanced around the small, modest room that he was sharing with another omega. They were in a new temple, because the one that caught fire was beyond saving and had to be torn down. He has terminated his studies few months ago and now he was helping around the temple with anything that was needed, because he had nowhere to go.
He was from a wealthy family, but his father died few years ago and that was when his mother found out the family had lots of debts. So she had to sell their big house and dismiss most of their personnel because she couldn’t afford it and now she lived in a small house in Seoul. She came to visit Taehyung two years ago and told him everything and she told him that it was for the best for him to stay in the temple, because he had a comfortable life there.
And Taehyung didn’t mind, he didn’t mind working in the temple and praying to the Moon Goddess and the stars, but as he was getting older, he started feeling like the life here wasn’t enough for him. The truth was that he didn’t want to stay, he wanted to start living, he wanted to find a husband and become his, that has been his dream since he was a little child. Now he was twenty-two and he felt like the life was slipping through his fingers, the longer he stayed in the temple, the longer it was going to take for his dreams to come true.
So he finally decided to write a letter to his mother and tell her that he wanted to go back to her. He didn’t care that they didn’t have a big house and twenty servants anymore, he was going to be happy even in a small house and one handmaiden, as long as he was out of the temple. He missed his mother too, he has been in the temple for seven years and there was nothing for him to learn anymore, he was a proper omega like everyone that had a noble blood should be.
His mother arrived in the temple one month later, he was just helping with washing clothes when one of the priestesses came for him and told him the news and led him to a room where his mother was waiting.
“Mama,” Taehyung smiled brightly when he saw his mother. It’s been years since he saw her in person and he instantly noticed that she looked older and more tired than he remembered her and he was sure that it was because of all the trouble she went through after his father’s death. That just reassured him that he made the right decision, he wanted to be with her.
“I will give you some privacy,” the priestess said and left the room, closing the door so they could talk without any curious ears.
“Taehyung, my dear, you look lovely,” his mother greeted him and spread her arms so he hugged her. She has always been a little too stoic, it was his father that was warmer and whom he had a good relationship with, but he loved his mother as well and never complained about her colder personality, because he understood that was just how she was.
“You are all grown up now, and you have become so pretty,” she said when they separated from the hug.
“I am twenty-two, mama, I am not a child anymore,” Taehyung chuckled. He wasn’t vain, but he has noticed that over the years, he has become more beautiful. He has always been a pretty child, but the older he was, the more of his beauty was shining through and since he was all grown and got his first heat few years ago, he wasn’t a child anymore, he was a man and he had nice body too, just the kind that all omegas wanted and envied.
“I got your letter, are you sure that you want to leave the temple?” the woman asked: “You know about our situation, I had to sell everything and I live more modestly now, you won’t be returning to a big house and lots of servants.”
“I don’t mind, mama, I want to leave,” Taehyung reassured her: “The life here in the temple is modest too, so I am used to it, and at least I can help you around the house and take care of you.”
“If you really want to leave, we won’t be going to Seoul.”
“What, why?”
“We were invited by Lady Jisoo to come and stay with her,” his mother revealed: “You remember her, don’t you? You and her son Jimin were good friends when you were younger.”
“I remember them,” Taehyung nodded.
He was born in Daegu kingdom, but when he was still a child, his family moved to Seoul kingdom because his father was a judge and got a job there. But they were still returning to the Daegu kingdom where they had a house in the mountains by a beautiful lake. Lady Jisoo was their neighbour, she was widowed, but she inherited fortune from her late husband, so she owned a house by the lake where she and her son Jimin were coming in summer. They were from Busan kingdom, so Taehyung didn’t see them often, but the summers at the lake house were beautiful and he had many memories of those times. He and Jimin have become best friends over the years, even when Taehyung went to get education in the temple, they still continued sending letters to each other sometimes, so the omega was actually quite excited to see his dear friend.
“We have never been to the Busan kingdom, so it will be something new, and we will have all the comfort in their house for at least few weeks before we will go to Seoul,” his mother added.
“I will go anywhere you want, mama,” Taehyung smiled sweetly. He didn’t care if they would return to Seoul or if they were going to the Busan kingdom, he just had desire to finally live a normal life, because everything was different here at the temple. He was hoping to find a husband, he didn’t have to be wealthy, although he had noble blood so it was expected of him to marry someone noble as well, or at least someone from upper class.
“Go pack your things then, I will wait here.”
Taehyung just nodded with enthusiasm and didn’t need to be told twice. He ran to his room and started packing, he didn’t have much here since they were given clothes at the temple, so he was sure he would be done soon.
“I took some of your things from Seoul, I had to sell most of your clothes and jewellery, but I kept something,” his mother told him when, some time later, they were putting his luggage on a horse carriage that would take them to the Busan kingdom.
“I don’t care, mama, you could have sold everything.”
“You need to have some nice things though, we might be poor now, but I still want us to present nicely,” the woman retorted and Taehyung understood. Their name and status was their main property, he was sure that many people didn’t know that they weren’t rich anymore, because it was hard to tell when they were dressed expensively. Taehyung also understood that his mother was probably hoping to wed him well, because that way he could take care of her, so if he was supposed to find a rich husband, he couldn’t look like a beggar.
The journey to the Busan kingdom was long since the horses pulling the carriage couldn’t go very fast, but they were stopping to eat in taverns and few times they even rented a room to sleep in. Taehyung didn’t mind sleeping in the carriage though, if they were stopping all the time, the journey would have been much longer and he couldn’t wait for them to arrive.
One day, they finally did.
The Park family mansion was huge, almost like a palace and it was only few miles from the sea, so Taehyung was excited to go to a beach someday.
They got out of the carriage in front of a big staircase in a beautiful garden that was full of decorative bushes and flowers and trees and fountains. It was almost like a whole new world that Taehyung used to know, but that he hasn’t been a part of for the past seven years.
“Lady Dahyun, welcome!” Lady Jisoo appeared at the top of the staircase with a big smile and spread arms. She looked and acted just like Taehyung remembered her, she was very energetic and sweet, which was something that her son inherited from her and that’s why Taehyung liked him so much.
“Lady Jisoo, it is so lovely to finally see you again,” Taehyung’s mother bowed to her friend.
“We are so happy to have you here,” Lady Jisoo smiled and pulled Lady Dahyun in a tight hug. Taehyung noticed how tense his mother became, but that was just because she wasn’t a very affectionate person.
“Lady Dahyun, you remember my son Jimin?” Lady Jisoo said and pointed to the staircase.
Taehyung smiled and he was left in mild awe when he saw his friend walking down. He looked like he remembered him, but he became more handsome and his face was less chubby.
“Of course, Jimin, what a beauty you are,” Lady Dahyung smiled and kissed Jimin on both cheeks when he came to her. She then turned to Taehyung and said: “You surely remember my son Taehyung.”
“Taehyung-ah, look at you,” Lady Jisoo gasped, pulling him in a tight hug before she pulled back and cupped his cheeks: “You have become so beautiful, my dear, you have surely broken many hearts.”
“I have been in a temple, Lady Jisoo, for the past seven years,” Taehyung chuckled.
“Well, now you are not, I am sure you will find a husband soon, I can already tell that there will be a queue of suitors pursuing you.”
Taehyung smiled and thanked politely and then turned his attention to Jimin. For a moment, he felt slightly awkward and unsure if they were going to be able to go to how they were before, because now they were much older and they both surely changed.
But when Jimin gave him a bright smile and suddenly hugged him, Taehyung knew that they were going to be alright.
“It is so nice to finally see you again, Taehyung-ah,” Jimin said and started immediately babbling: “We have so much catching up to do, I have already come up with some ideas of what to do in the following days, it will be so much fun to have you around.”
“Jimin-ah, darling, I am sure the guests are tired after the long journey, let Taehyung breathe,” his mother reprimanded him with a chuckle: “Your plans can wait for a day or two, now they have to settle in and rest. I will take care of Lady Dahyun, can you show Taehyung to his room and around the house?”
“Of course, mama,” Jimin nodded and grabbed Taehyung’s hand, dragging him inside, not bothering with luggage since their servants were going to take care of that.
“This is your room, mine is right across the hallway,” Jimin showed Taehyung when they made it to the first floor. The whole house was so beautiful and luxurious, Taehyung forgot in the temple how beautiful things could be, he was taught to appreciate more the spiritual side of living, but now he remembered that there was a lot to admire in the material world too.
“The room is beautiful, thank you,” Taehyung smiled as he took a tour around the bedroom. It wasn’t huge, but it was still big with a big comfortable bed, wardrobe and some other furniture and there was even a balcony with a beautiful view of fields and woods.
“Do you want me to help you unpack?” Jimin wondered.
“No thank you, I don’t have lots of things,” Taehyung refused just when two servants came with his luggage from the temple and what his mother took from home.
“Alright, I will leave you to unpack in peace, the dinner is served at seven, I will come for you.”
“Thank you,” Taehyung nodded as he glanced at the clock and saw that he had about an hour and that was enough.
He was left alone in the room, but instead of immediately unpacking, he sat on the bed with a sigh. He caressed the silky bedsheets and looked around. It was so strange to be surrounded by so much wealth and so many pretty things, but he supposed he had to get used to it. If he was going to marry a wealthy man like he hoped, he was going to live in such luxury for the rest of his life.
*
Taehyung felt like in a whole new world since he arrived to the Busan kingdom. When he lived at the temple, it felt like he was in a different universe since he rarely left the walls of the temple or the surrounding gardens and orchards, but now he was free to do anything he wanted.
He was spending his days with Jimin, only seeing their mothers during mealtime, and they were usually outside of the house and the property. They were usually riding horses, Taehyung hasn’t ridden in years so he was a little scared the first time he sat on the horse back, but it was like his body and mind remembered everything, so it was easy to adjust to it and ride surely.
Compared to Jimin, he wore much more modest clothes, not just in materials and price but also in colours and he was slightly envious to see his friend in the colourful pants and shirts and jackets while most of his clothes were dully grey. But then one day Jimin suggested for them to go shopping in a nearby town, so his mother gave him some money. Taehyung felt guilty about spending since he knew they didn’t have much, but then he saw a beautiful hanbok in light blue colour that looked like a summer sky.
“You should buy it, it will look splendid on you,” Jimin urged him when he noticed the younger touch the set.
“Where would I even wear it though? It is too pretty, for our adventures I only need a shirt and pants,” Taehyung argued.
“I didn’t tell you yet, but my mother is hosting a beneficial ball next weekend,” Jimin revealed and then added with a wink: “There will be many guests and lots of young alphas and betas amongst them. You should buy this, it might help you find a husband.”
“I am not sure,” Taehyung bit his lip, but he was torn. The clothing was beautiful and he could imagine it would look great on his skin that was turning golden under the sun since he and Jimin were spending most of their days outside.
“You have spent years in temple, you should treat yourself to something nice for once, there is no shame in that,” Jimin said, feeling that Taehyung needed a push.
“But you know that my mother’s financial situation isn’t good,” Taehyung sighed: “I don’t even have money for this hanbok, it costs more than what she gave me to spend.”
“I will pay the difference,” Jimin insisted: “My mother has so much money she doesn’t know what to do with it, and you are my friend, I want to do something nice for you, Taehyung-ah. If you like it, you should buy it.”
“Alright,” the omega gave in and a smile spread over his lips.
“You might be poor now, but in this hanbok, you will surely draw attention of many of the ball attendees, so it is a good investment that might get you a rich husband.”
So Taehyung caved in and bought the hanbok, swearing that it was the only thing he was buying until he could afford something new. He has been thinking of working, but when he mentioned it to his mother, she instantly refused that idea because it wasn’t appropriate for an omega of his status to work. People like him and Jimin were only supposed to marry well and produce children and Taehyung didn’t mind, he actually wanted family and he wanted to take care of a house and his husband, but if their situation wasn’t good, he wouldn’t shy away from working.
He and Jimin decided to go to the nearby beach the next day. Jimin suggested that they could pack a lunch with them and have a picnic and Taehyung thought it was a wonderful idea, so after breakfast, a cook prepared lunch for them and packed it in a basket.
Taehyung loved the beach, it was sandy and flat, but there were big sandy cliffs all around them, which gave the area extra beautiful scenery.
He couldn’t believe that it’s been over a month since he arrived there, being with Jimin every day just made everything so enjoyable and his days were filled with laughter and happiness and they were flying by fast.
“Does your mother want you to marry too?” Taehyung wondered when they set everything up for the picnic and sat on the blanket on the ground.
“Of course she does, but I don’t mind, I want to marry,” Jimin grinned.
“Is there someone specific on your mind?”
“Not really, there are some alphas and betas that would be good suitors, but I haven’t met anyone that would take my breath away,” Jimin shrugged: “Maybe I am too romantic, but I want that, you know? I want to marry someone that I will truly love.”
“I want that too,” Taehyung nodded but then he sighed: “I am just not sure if that is a luxury I could afford. I will be glad if someone even wants to marry me since I am not rich, and if I find someone that wants me, I can’t be picky.”
“You shouldn’t settle for less only because you have to marry well,” the elder frowned: “You are gorgeous and kind and you have good manners. You also have the title and good family name, I am sure that there will be people to choose from. But you should also think about your happiness, you should really like the person you marry and not do it only for money and your mother.”
“We’ll see, maybe I will find someone on the ball next weekend. But if my mother chooses someone for me, can I really refuse?”
“If she truly loves you, she won’t force you to marry anyone just so she can live comfortably.”
Taehyung knew he wasn’t in a good situation. He knew that Jimin was right, it wouldn’t be right for him to marry the first wealthy man that was interested in him. On the other hand, he was a good son and he knew that he owed his mother, because even when she lost almost everything after his father’s death, she still continued paying for his studies and stay at the temple, which wasn’t cheap. So he felt like now it was time for him to repay her and make sure that she was taken care of.
They started talking about the upcoming ball, Jimin was listing all the young, unmated betas and alphas that he knew were coming or that might come, telling Taehyung which ones were potentially good husbands and which were better to avoid. Taehyung appreciated it, since he didn’t know anyone here, meanwhile Jimin has lived in the Busan kingdom his entire life. Part of him wasn’t sure if he would want to marry and stay here, he has considered Seoul kingdom to be his home for many years, but he had to admit that he liked the climate here and he really loved the beaches and sea too. Of course, there was sea in the west of Seoul Kingdom too, but it was usually quite cold and the beaches weren’t as pretty as here. He also liked Jimin a lot, so living somewhere close to him wouldn’t be that bad.
They were finishing their lunch and they were just sitting there quietly. Taehyung’s eyes were roaming around the sandy cliffs, enjoying the peaceful scenery. It was just him and Jimin, it was so lovely to not have other people around.
Until they weren’t the only ones around.
His eyes stopped on a dark silhouette in the distance, a man sitting on a horse on top of a cliff overlooking them.
The man was dressed in dark clothes, but he was too far for Taehyung to see his face. But for some reason, his heart started beating faster and his mind instantly took him to that horror night and the black rider that came out of nowhere to the secluded, burning temple and into whose arms he jumped and that saved his life.
He knew that it was impossible for it to be the same man, there were surely many riders that were dressing in dark colours in all the kingdoms of Korea, it was just his brain that made the connection because of the similarity between this man and his saviour.
Then he started feeling uneasy. What was the man doing there? It looked like he was watching him and Jimin and that made him feel uncomfortable.
“Jimin-ah, do you know who it is?” he looked at his friend.
“Who is who?” Jimin asked confusedly and looked around.
“There,” Taehyung pointed in the distance, but as he looked there, the rider was gone. He frowned: “I swear that there was a man on a horse.”
“It is possible, lots of people like riding horses around here and often get on the cliffs. It is quite dangerous since there is sand everywhere, but some people, especially alphas, like the adrenaline,” Jimin shrugged.
“Maybe we should go back, I’d like to ride for a while before we go home,” Taehyung suggested, feeling no desire to sit on the beach anymore if there was someone watching them. No matter what Jimin said, Taehyung couldn’t shake off the feeling that this man wasn’t just randomly riding in the area and got on the cliffs, he had this strange and irrational fear that was telling him that the man was watching them on purpose.
“As you wish,” Jimin smiled and got up from the blanket so they could pack everything and get on their horses, not noticing how uneasy his friend felt.