Chapter Text
“My king, I-”
“Seonghoon hyung, I thought we agreed on no formalities when we are alone.” Geonwoo says gently, he knows Seonghoon’s stressed with diplomatic problems with other nations and usually slips. The king makes a note to give Seonghoon a break and to let his consorts handle the situation instead.
Seonghoon sighs and mutters an apology as he runs his hand through his hair. Geonwoo shoots his advisor a worried look but doesn’t push.
“Geonwoo ah, there are some issues that need your opinion.” Seonghoon says, bringing up a stack of papers and placing it on his king’s desk.
Geonwoo groans but nods and gingerly picks up a paper.
Geonwoo thought that Seonghoon would’ve just left after he gave him the paper, instead, he gently explains to the king about all the reports.
“So?” Geonwoo props his arm on the table before staring at Seonghoon, “What do you suggest I do hyung?”
Seonghoon tilts his head and thinks.
Cute. Geonwoo thinks, his advisor looks absolutely adorable whenever he’s lost in his thoughts and he just wants to kis-
“Geonwoo-ah, I know you have great relations with Mr.Sanghyeok but honestly, we shouldn’t take the offer. It’s risky and we don’t have the details in black and white.” Seonghoon says, breaking Geonwoo out of his…questionable thoughts.
Geonwoo only nods sagely and writes it down. He trusts Seonghoon. When the king agrees…
The order is given.
=
Geonwoo wants to make Seonghoon his husband.
The feeling was like ivy creeping into and around his heart, wrapping its vines around his feelings and squeezing. Seonghoon was just so cute, strong and smart that Geonwoo just needed to have him.
But Geonwoo’s afraid.
What if Seonghoon rejects him? Will he be able to see Geonwoo the same? Will they still be friends? Or will they just be business partners?
Jeongmin reassures the panicked king that Seonghoon does reciprocate his feelings. That makes Geonwoo relax slightly. Now to consult Dohyeon hyung.
Dohyeon laughs.
“You’re kinda stupid for a king y’know?” Dohyeon says, Geonwoo flushing, hiding his bright red face in his hands. Dohyeon sighs, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“I’ll bet 1 million won that Seonghoon hyung likes you.” Dohyeon says confidently.
“Bet.”
=
Seonghoon is bone tired.
He’s exhausted. He’s been sifting and sorting through the mass amounts of reports and documents for almost three hours and even then, there are still a good few stacks left.
Seonghoon groans, dragging his hand down his face and rubbing his tired eyes behind his glasses before getting back to work.
=
The sun had gone down a long time ago and the moon’s ardent glow was shining through the open windows when Geonwoo finds Seonghoon in his office.
“Seonghoon hyung, c’mon, you’ve been here for too long.”Geonwoo says, wrapping his arms around Seonghoon’s slender waist, feeling his advisor slump against him.
“I didn’t know managing a nation would be this difficult…” Seonghoon complains, placing a stack of papers on a shelf divider with the label: “Commoner’s complaints” before sighing and running his hand through his matted and tangled hair.
Geonwoo chuckles, hands still holding Seonghoon’s waist, the king gently guides his advisor to the still open window. Geonwoo places his chin on Seonghoon’s head as the advisor places his hands on the windowsill.
A nightingale hops over to Seonghoon’s hands and he giggles, the small bird chirping a melodious song, as if even the bird was trying to court the advisor.
Seonghoon cups his hands and the nightingale hops into his hands. The advisor brings the bird to his nose and gingerly boops the bird’s beak on his nose, giggling softly.
Geonwoo watches this with a fond look on his face. This was such an intimate moment that Geonwoo desperately wished to engrave into his mind.
A little while later, Seonghoon lets the nightingale go, the bird flying to a nearby tree. Geonwoo sighs happily and Seonghoon exhales, content to be so close to his king.
“Seonghoon hyung, have you ever thought of marrying a king?” Geonwoo asks, hoping that the implications weren’t too obvious.
But Seonghoon wasn’t stupid. He laughs and leans his head back onto Geonwoo’s collarbone and looks up at his king, eyes full of mirth.
“I have Geonwoo ah. I do that every night before I sleep.” Seonghoon says playfully.
“With who? Which king?” Geonwoo prompts and Seonghoon pretends to think, placing his index finger to his chin.
“Hmm..he’s tall, strong, charming. He’s a great ruler of a huge nation and he takes care of me very well when I’m stressed.” Seonghoon says, smiling.
Geonwoo lets out a growl, feeling aggrieved. So his advisor has been seeing other kings?
“Is hyung seeing other kings now?” Geonwoo hisses but Seonghoon just laughs.
“I’m describing you, you doofus!” Seonghoon laughs, leaving Geonwoo absolutely floored. Seonghoon starts wheezing when he sees his king trip over his words and for the first time since the advisor had known his king, Seonghoon sees Geonwoo sputter.
Seonghoon feels Geonwoo’s hands leave his waist and he whines softly, already missing the closeness.
Geonwoo’s eyes dart from one end of the room to the other before whispering to Seonghoon.
“Come to my room hyung. I wanna talk to you.”
Seonghoon can only obey, closing the windows before shutting and locking the door, trailing after Geonwoo.
=
Once in Geonwoo’s room, the king locks the door as Seonghoon adroitly sits on Geonwoo’s massive bed. Geonwoo follows suit, sitting beside his advisor, eyes shining with a twinge of hope.
“Seonghoon hyung, can, uhh…do you want to be my uhm..” Geonwoo stutters, fumbling between the words: concubine, husband and partner. But Seonghoon gives Geonwoo a smile and places his hand on Geonwoo’s thigh.
“Yeah, of course Geonwoo ah. I’ve actually been waiting for you to say it.” Seonghoon confesses shyly and Geonwoo’s heart screams in absolute happiness.
“Sorry for making you wait so long my love.” Geonwoo whispers, bumping their foreheads together. His apology holds no true guilt but rather pure, unbridled joy.
Seonghoon feels a tear fall as Geonwoo cups his cheeks in his warm, sturdy hands and feels his thumb wipe away the sole tear from his face.
Seonghoon leans closer to Geonwoo, eyes bright with unshed tears and happiness.
Geonwoo realizes what Seonghoon wanted and gives him just that.
Geonwoo holds the back of Seonghoon’s head and connects their lips together. The king could feel his advisor melt in his hold, hands gripping onto his shoulders like a lifeline.
When they parted, Seonghoon flops onto Geonwoo’s chest, breathing heavily before staring into Geonwoo’s eyes. The king chuckles and leans over to the side table and grabs a box. He gives it to Seonghoon, whose eyes shine with curiosity. He opens the box to reveal a gold laurel headpiece and a black silk choker in the box.
Seonghoon looks up at Geonwoo with teary eyes before gently setting the box down and tackling the king down. Geonwoo laughs, instinctively wrapping his arms around Seonghoon’s waist as the advisor gives him a bruising kiss as an unspoken thanks.
=
“Geonwoo ah, can you put them on me?” Seonghoon asks, placing the box into his hands. Geonwoo nods softly before pulling out the choker first. Seonghoon immediately tilts his head back and Geonwoo chuckles softly. How eager.
He wraps the silk around Seonghoon’s neck and clasps it together before pulling back, admiring how beautifully perfect and complete Seonghoon looked with it. Geonwoo then reaches for the wreath, placing the gold onto his lover’s head.
The headpiece winks mischievously at him but Geonwoo is too focused looking at Seonghoon. Said person laughs before scooting over to lean on Geonwoo’s shoulder.
“So? What now?” Seonghoon asks, placing his hand back onto Geonwoo’s thigh.
“Do you want to get married for real now hyung?” Geonwoo asks, placing his hand on top of Seonghoon as he turns to look at him.
Seonghoon shrugs, “Sure, if you wanna. I don’t particularly mind.”
Geonwoo then pulls Seonghoon up with him, time to pay a visit to Dohyeon.
=
On their way there, Seonghoon hums a tune and the nightingale swoops over, making itself comfortable on Seonghoon’s fluffy hair. Geonwoo chuckles, looping his fingers with Seonghoon’s as he knocks on Dohyeon’s door.
Dohyeon opens it almost instantly and looks the couple up and down. Before Geonwoo can even speak, Dohyeon does.
“Geonwoo ah. You owe me 1 million won now.”