Chapter Text
“Elves are beings of the purest light, of carefully crafted elegance, of beautifully sculpted integrity, and diligently acquired wisdom,” Changbin’s mom used to tell him when he was young.
Now that he was older, Changbin understood that what she truly meant was that they were above other, presumably, lesser species. Elves were beings meant to endure through time, to rise above the everlasting waves of prosperity and misfortune that other species went through. Be it dwarves, faeries, halflings, mermaids, or—namely—mankind went through. As higher beings, they shouldn’t interfere in mankind’s affairs, and most definitely not mingle with them.
Yet, despite all of his mother’s ramblings and prejudice, there was, with his purest elven heritage, finding himself being courted by a half-breed. Putting it like that was… putting it lightly, to say the least.
Prince Bang Chan isn’t just any half-elf, but the one meant to assume the thrones of both the Elven Kingdom and the newly-formed Human Empire.
To unite them as one.
Prince Bang Chan represents the future, whilst Changbin is the embodiment of everything that the elven kingdom had once prized—born from the brightest light, raised in their old customs. The purest specimen of a dying kind. Heir to a throne that would cease to exist once Prince Chan was crowned their Emperor.
Of course, with all the knowledge Changbin had hoarded through the years, he’d seen this coming. There were only so many elves in the world, and his kind’s obsession with purity had led to many families inbreeding, which had ultimately sealed their fate.
Oh, the irony, that a Son of Men, a half-breed at that, was their Emperor-to-be, and that mingling with humans was their only escape if they wished to save their sacred light.
Oh, the irony, that Prince Bang Chan, who could hardly be considered royalty, would be the one to unite them. Son of a pure elf, sure, but not even high royalty, just one out of the many royal scholars. And his human family tree wasn’t that impressive, either.
His father is a strong human and a general who fought many years in the war meant to unite the human kingdoms. The war had taken many human lives—royals and common folk alike—but, in the end, General Bang had been victorious. His royal title had been granted by the previous human King on his last dying breath, leaving the brand new Human Empire with an unlikely successor to the throne.
Changbin isn’t sure how General Bang hadn’t been slaughtered by the remaining royalty before becoming Emperor. What a flaw in his impeccable river of knowledge! But it isn’t hard to imagine that it had likely not been a peaceful transition, if he understands a thing or two about human nature. Nonetheless, the stars had aligned, turning Bang Chan into the obvious bargaining chip to win over the Elven King’s favour.
Half-elf was better than not an elf at all.
Which, in turn, puts Changbin where he is now—being courted by the half-breed heir, that is. Now, what did the heir to the throne might want courting him, you might ask? Well, Changbin was also at a loss for an explanation. Perhaps he was reading too much into the situation. He wasn’t sure he could count Prince Chan’s insistent staring as ‘courting.’ He was, though, being intently stared at—of that much he’s sure.
He’d be blind not to notice.
They are sitting at a long table, to the right of their respective fathers, who sit each at one end. The rows of chairs between the Elven King and the Human Emperor are occupied by the three highest ranking human and elven generals, four human prefects, and four pure elven royal representatives. And yet, Prince Chan’s eyes travelled all that distance and pierced into Changbin’s own.
Changbin had never been one to back down from a challenge, and whatever game it was that the human heir was playing, he wouldn’t lose. So he stares back, just as intensely.
“There’s still the matter of Prince Bang Chan’s future union,” one of the elven representatives brings up, and Changbin’s ears perk up at the mention of the prince’s name, but he keeps his expression neutral, his eyes still locked with the prince’s.
“Whatever do you mean? He’s to marry Princess Minatozaki,” one of the human prefects says with certainty.
The elven representative scoffs. “And what? Dilute his elven blood even more?”
“You elves have learned nothing,” the prefect quipped, “How can this union be of any value if you continue to pursue the very purity of blood that is now the downfall of your kind?”
“It’s not a matter of purity, but representation. The Emperor will be one of your own. At the very least, his consort should be one of ours!” Changbin internally winces at the royal elf’s words. He can see where he’s coming from a political standpoint, but this separatist speech would lead them nowhere.
“He’s a half-breed, can you really call him one of ours?”
The silence extends for long seconds, and before a heated discussion emerges, to his surprise, Prince Chan diverts his eyes away from him and glances at his father, Emperor Bang. The Emperor nods once, kindly, and Chan turns to the disrespectful prefect.
“Prefect, I’d mind my words if I were you. Am I not the son of your Emperor? Enlighten me as to why I’m not one of ‘yours’?” Chan asks rhetorically, his voice firm and yet gentle. To Changbin, it appears that Chan has gotten the trait from his father, from what he’s seen and heard of the Emperor. “And how can you show disdain for the elves’ wish to maintain their purity, when you speak of your Prince as if he’s lesser for being a half-breed? Aren’t you just as much of a purist?”
“I– I didn’t mean any–” the prefect stutters, but Prince Chan doesn't let him interrupt him with excuses.
“Yes, you did,” Chan says with a saccharine smile. “And please tell me, when was it that the Emperor decided that I’m to marry your daughter, Princess Minatozaki? Are you qualified to make decisions on behalf of your Emperor?”
“My Prince, I wouldn’t ever think–”
Chan’s smile disappears, and he continues gravely, “Yes, Prefect. You’d better not think about such matters. Leave matters of The Crown to the one who wears it.” The prince adjusts himself on his chair, giving another glance at his father to seek approval before his gaze settles back on Changbin.
Changbin blushes as he’s caught already staring at him, although there shouldn’t be anything awkward about it—Prince Chan had been speaking, of course Changbin would be looking at him. And Prince Chan had stared first, anyway. Their little game seemed to have affected him more than he’d expected, but thankfully it seemed to have come to an end.
Prince Chan holds his gaze for only a moment more, then diverts his attention to the Emperor as the monarch takes upon himself to continue their meeting, as if the prior insolence hadn’t even happened.
“As a matter of fact, I have discussed my son’s marriage with the Elven King in a previous audience. It’s our understanding that a union of my son with an elven royal would be the most beneficial move to merge our people,” the Emperor states calmly, and amidst raising whispers, continues, “Prince Chan is my son, so it’s only obvious to solidify our political and territorial union through the bond of marriage. Which is why my son will marry the heir of the Elven Kingdom in due time.”
Changbin snaps his head to his father. He didn’t hear of this. What was going on? The whispers continue, both elves and humans looking stunned at the sudden declaration.
Changbin’s father smiles at him, then addresses the table. “My son, Prince Changbin, is well-versed in human and elven customs alike. He’s pure of blood, but also open-minded, and was raised with the highest of moral values. He is fit to be a king. I’m sure both of our peoples will be very pleased with him as Emperor Consort.” He raises his eyebrows at Changbin and throws a quick glance in the direction of the table.
Changbin follows his eyes and is faced with the entire table looking expectantly at him. He gulps nervously, but sits up straighter as if he’s used to the attention.
“If there are no objections, it’d be an honour to be Prince Bang Chan’s Consort,” he says steadily, his voice a bit too loud in the dead silence of the room.
Prince Chan smiles at him. There are certainly words said after that, but Changbin must have been too lost in that smile’s light to hear any of them, those deep dimples on Prince Bang Chan’s cheeks drowning out everything else.