Description: Prince Suho and Sehun seem to have taken extreme interest in you, the royal guard Tao’s sister.
Warnings: cussing, violence later on
“I see no reason for you not to go.” Jongin, the royal gardener spoke as he browsed your shop. He came in from time to time to restock on his herbs and flowers he felt needed to be updated in the royal garden.
You huffed while leaning on the pillars next to him as he sorted through the bright blue flowers you had out.
“I’m sure Tao is only trying to rekindle your sibling relation ship after he left. He did only find you a year ago and now you’re being standoffish. He must feel incredibly terrible and foolish.”
“Good. I just, i don’t want to be hurt again.”
“No one does.” He hummed and you rolled your eyes at his tone.
“Do not get philosophical on me.”
“Alright but don’t bail, I heard Minseok is going to be there, Chanyeol too. We can all see eachother in one place again. Even if your brother is shadowing you.”
“Oh baekhyun? He and Chanyeol are friendly enough with each other I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“He’s probably guarding Prince Sehun and tried to tell me he wasn’t guarding Suho to throw me off.”
“What ever you say Malai. I’ll see you at the ball. And please do come. Minseok has been insisting on meeting up with you. He misses you.”
“Tell him I miss him too.”
The night of the ball had rolled around and you found yourself sluggishly preparing your face. You applied eyeliner, mascara, highlight, and lipstick at the slower pace you could before you glanced at the dress handing on your door and sighed.
Most people assumed you were just a herbalist, but did get quite confused when they came into the shop looking for oregano and stumbled upon your more poisonous and magical plants. The townsfolk didn’t know you were a witch. And they didn’t need to know. The only way you could prepare your dress for the ball was with magic. You’d let the sewing machine make the most extravagant dress you could imagine.
The blood red color matched the silver and red beading and drapery perfectly. The crown that say upon your head made of your braided hair made you looked regal.
The king and queen only had sons, so the woman were allowed to go all out and not outdo the princess that would be. But once Suho chose, the extravagance would be toned down, and the woman would simply come in beautiful dresses.
Groaning you rolled your neck as you whistled to the two horses outside your home and they trotted over to you side. Cars had been handed for the world after realizing their impact on the Global Warming and amount of CO2 in the air. Now horse drawn carriages were the way to go.
You nodded at the man who sat on your front porch. He stood and sat on the bench on the carriage and with the okay from you he began to make his way to the royal palace. You only owned the horses. The carriage was his and you had payed him 200 to take you to and from the party. Apparently a lot more than he was usually payed. Prices of anything had also gone down with the disappearance of cars and fossil fuels.
You thanked him as he stopped in front of the palace. The last few people trickling in. You pat the two pitch black horses before he pulled them away. He’d be back at 2 am for you. Unless you call for him earlier. Stepping up the grand stair case you breathed heavily as you joined the small crowd of people in attendance.
The announcer Jongdae, He was really a guard, was just beginning the royal introductions. Dukes, dutchesses, princes, princesses, kings, queens, earls, countesses, and so on were announced.
The townspeople milled around the bottom of the room as the royalty made their way down the steps. You went to take the side stairs before an arm grabbed you and pulled you over to the stairs. You were surprised to see Baekhyun bouncing in his spot as he led you towards the stairs.
“Royal guards Tao’s brother and sister Baekhyun and Malai.” You looked at him from under your mask in surprise as the spot light hit you two. You looked back after finding him starring straight ahead and leading you down the stairs.
A low murmur made its way through the crowd. People pointed and you could sense their words about you as you made it to where the royalty were standing. Why the hell were you being considered even close to royalty. You might look it, but you certainly weren’t it.
“Baekhyun what the hell was that?”
“That was our announcement dear sister.”
“I swear to god...” Jongdae went on to announce the few people left but no one was listening. You could only find that you being a royal guards family infused with royalty was why. But baekhyun knew better. It was your appearances. Your blood red dress and his dark blue suit made you stand out in the sea of black and white. Most people thought for they would stand out in Black or white. But they didn’t. You did. And it was your differences that made people stare and point. Baekhyun knew you were a good looking pair. If anyone saw Tao they could assume his brother and sister were also beautiful and you both stood up to the expectations. Sure they couldn’t see your whole faces due to the masks, but your auras showed your confidence and worth.
“And finally, prince Suho.” Suho began down the stairs and you looked up to find him in a suit dead set on being the exact same color as your dress.
“Baekhyun...” you growled and he held his hands up in defensive.
“I didn’t say a thing.” Suho stepped down to the platform and just so happened to stand right next to you. You nodded as he smiled at you and Jongdae announced the next royal.
“Prince Sehun.” Sehun’s suit was also a red Only His was more Burgundy than blood red. It matched your dress too. You stood straight and started ahead as he steeped on to the platform and stood to your other side. You glanced back to find Baekhyun sneaking into the crowd. You snagged his sleeve and pulled him next to you. He apologized as he knocked into Sehun who only smiled and said it was no problem.
“You will stay with me, and you will not leave my side until I can find Jongin and Minseok am I understood.” You growled not noticing Baekhun’s amused look he shared with Suho.
“Understood.” He whispered before Jongdae’s voice fell across the room silencing the crowd.
“And last but not least, king and Queen, Jihoon and Junhyi.” Everyone fell to one knee, even if they were in skintight dresses, as the king and Queen made their way to the platform.
Sehun and Suho stood before them and bowed before they tapped yours and Baekhyun’s shoulder. You stood up slightly confused but bowed to the royalty informs of you.
“Your highness, your honor.” The queen perfected going by her old lawyer term, your honor.
“It’s lovely to have you here Baekhyun, Malai. Tao is quite ecstatic.” You resisted the urge to groan at his name as you smiled and nodded.
“It’s an honor to have been invited.” Baekhyun answered for you knowing you wouldn’t. They nodded before turning around and Jongdae spoke.
“All rise...” once everyone was stood he spoke again. “Let the ball comense.” You had no idea how he disappeared so quickly but you wished oh so terribly that you could.
You acted as if you didn’t hear Suho call your name as you bowed to the royals and dragged Baekhyun to where you had spotted the tuft of red hair you knew to be Chanyeol. You pushed through guests towards the other side of the room before you found who you were looking for.
“If you two are going to make out with eachother please go somewhere else.” You spoke staring at Baekhyun and Chanyeol as they stared at eachother. Minseok and Jongin laughed as Chanyeol and Baekhyun went slightly red before they sped away and behind a wall.
“I really am glad they’re together but if they make out with eachother in front of me one more time I might just cut their tongues off.” The two men in front of you laughed as they sipped their drinks.
“You are still the same uptight woman I had the pleasure of meeting.”
“I’m not uptight just, unamused.” You told Minseok slapping his arm. Minseok wa s known for being the town joker and poker perfectionist. There was a rumor that after the party was to end at Midnight the few lucky guests who were invited would stay behind to play poker with the royal family and Minseok. It was tradition, one that most didn’t know about. The only reason you knew about it was because the invitation Suho had given you, had the playing time on the back.
“Did you get invited to the game?” Minseok asked as he searched the room for whoever.
“Yes.” You spoke glaring a little. “Although I’m not happy about it I would like to leave here as soon as I can.”
“But you’re amazing at Poker why would you be mad. You’ve even beat me a few times.” Minseok almost choked as he stared at you.
“Yes well there are people I’d rather avoid here and things I’d like to do, like sleep.” He rolled his eyes before shrugging.
“Oh I’m coming, and I will win, but then I will be leaving.” Jongin laughed until you saw Kyungsoo slide up next to you and Jongin stare at him.
“Oh dear god have I lost two men to my brothers?” Jongin laughed as he grabbed Kuungsoo’s hand and began walking away.
“Sorry Malai.” You turned to Minseok and poked his chest.
“If you start dating Tao, boy oh boy.” He grabbed your wrists and pulled you closer to him his eyes mischievous.
“You more than anyone should know I don’t swing that way.”
“That doesn’t mean your leanings can’t change you idiot.” You scoffed and slapped his chest stepping back as he laughed finishing his drink.
“Speaking of leanings There’s Tao, I’m gonna go refill.”
“Minseok.” you hissed but he was gone before you could do anything more.
“Malai.” Tao’s vocie sounds behind you and you turned around staring at him stone faced.
“Malai, meet Sehun. Sehun my sister Malai.”
“You absolute fucking liar.” You spoke as Sehun stepped out from behind Tao and extended his hand.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, formally.” He spoke and you shook his hand smiling.
“I’m sorry my brother is dragging you around trying to gain must trust back, but I’m sure you know all about it as his mouth is quite big.” Sehun chuckled as Tao smiled in relief.
“Yes he does have quite a big mouth, but he is also quite loyal, I only know the basics. And I am sorry that I am intruding in your sibling bonding time.”
“Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault women are ravages who like to touch what they can’t have.” You spoke and he shook his head smiling.
“You are just as charismatic as Tao told me you would be. Even Yixing said you were quite easy to talk to. I didn’t expect it to be this easy.”
“Well, you know what they say, stall by taking to new people so you can avoid your old problems.” He laughed loudly and you saw the women watching almost faint and other women turn their heads to watch.
“Well then if I am only a distraction then I must exclude myself from this. I’ll go find Yixing and Suho.” Tao nodded as Sehun bounded away and you faced him glaring.
“You said you weren’t watching either of them.”
“I said Suho, not Sehun.”
“Would you like a drink? And maybe some fresh air?” You nodded after taking a deep breath in.
“I meant alcohol.” He snorted as you nodded.
“I’ll meet you on the balcony.” You wandered off after he left easily finding the second floor and then the small isolated balcony no one occupied. Two chairs were on the landing and you laughed. He really was trying to gain your trust. You sat in the left one and stared out into the garden that Jongin tended to. It was absolutely beautiful. You recognized every plant in the ground even a few of the new ones he’d bought the last time he’d been to your shop.
“Your poison.” Tao handed you the glass of golden liquid and you nodded as he sat down across from you.
“Is there anything new to your life?” His voice startled you from your staring and you looked at him as he drank his Bloody Mary.
“No. Baekhyun is still a nuisance and I still run the herbal shop.”
“No boy? Or girl, if you swing that way?”
“That’s funny, you assume i’m in a relationship. No. No one who isn’t absolutely vile.” You spoke and he nodded the silence falling over you again.
“And you? Anything new with you?” You asked. If he was going to try, you would make it hard, but you would cooperate.
“Other than being prompted to second in command under the princes… no.”
“You were promoted?” He nodded and began explaining his job and responsibilities. You hadn’t even realized that you’d spoke for an hour until Jongdae’s voice came over the speakers.
“We’re going to begin the traditional dances. Please join us inside or by the floors.” You looked inside to find everyone flocking to the dance floor as you and Tao stood by the second floor railing. A tap on your shoulder took you from your staring.
You were surprised to find Suho standing behind you watching you with a sort of hope in his eyes.
“If I may be so bold, would you let me take this dance.”
“O… of course.” You set your hand in his and he led you down the stairs. The crowd parted as you made your way to the floor. You hadn’t even noticed Tao pluck a fine woman from the crowd to dance with, being too stunned by Suho to notice anything but him.
The music began as you stood in the middle of the floor. The king and queen stood to your right, Sehun and some woman to your left, Yixing and Tao were in front and behind you. This was usually the dance the woman the prince had chosen danced with him. But Suho has most definitely not chosen you. How could he. He’d spoke two words to you and honestly you weren’t really his type. You knew his type, and it wasn’t you.
“Prince Suho what the hell?” You asked as he began to waltz with you.
“I haven’t found someone worthy tonight. And you were the only woman I deemed worthy to dance with for this dance. The other women here are absolutely annoying. Even the cute ones.”
“Why the hell are you dancing with me then? Excuse my language. But isn’t that like breaking the rules of this dance?”
“No, there are no rules, just traditions, and sometimes traditions must be broken.”
“You know who probably is a good match for you?” You smirked, finding Minseok in the crowd and making eye contact with him, you rose your eyebrow as he smirked and tipped his drink towards you.
“Who?” Suho raises his eyes brow as you spun.
“I guess you’ll have to wait for my answer.” You spoke as he let you go and connect with your next partner.
You were pleasantly surprised to find Sehun in front of you. His hand was warm on your waist and light, delicate almost.
“Have fun with Junmyeon?”
“My brother. Suho. Sorry that name is still weird for me.”
“So his real name is Junmyeon.”
“Yeah, Suho is just a royal name for him. So if he has to run away no one knows his actual name.”
“Well that’s a morbid way of thinking about it.” Sehun shrugged and you rolled your eyes.
“So have you and Tao made up? You spent a while talking.”
“Made up? No. Talking? Yes.” You both fell silent as the music got more intimate and you were pulled closer to him to seem normal with the others on the floor.
“Do you know how many people would die to be this close to you?” You whispered as your head was laid against his chest.
“Yes.” He whispered as you stepped back and forward moving around the floor.
“Why are you guys so interested in me. I’m only Tao’s sister. That means nothing.”
“Tao has been… how do I put this.” He sighed as the music went back to normal and you backed away. “Worried, I guess. He’s been thinking quite a lot. He ran into Baekhyun a few weeks ago. They reconnected. And then Baekhun brought you up during their conversation and he just… he hasn’t been able to forgive himself, he tells me about the night he left. He tells me he was guilty for even considering it, and then he left and he felt like the world was on his shoulders because he’d left you. He really does want to make it up to you Malai.”
You sighed finding Tao’s form over Sehun’s shoulder.
“Yeah, I know.” You switched partners again and were ecstatic to find Yixing.
“Long time no see.” He smiled and you laughed.
“It’s good to see you Yixing.”
You bantered with him about trivial things as usual until you saw couples from the crowd join the floor.
Chanyeol and Baekhyun, Kyungsoo and Jongin, Minseok had an intoxicated woman on his arm. You made eye contact with his as you passed spinning with Yixing and laughed at his “help me” face.
“Next switch match me with Minseok.” You whispered to Yixing as he laughed and nodded.
“That woman seems quite intent on taking him home.” You nodded hearing the beat change and Yixing let you go.
You spun and were quite disappointed to find not Minseok but Suho.
“Oh god.” You breathed looking over his shoulder and finding Yixing with Chanyeol laughing.
“So, who is my type?” He rose an eyebrow and you looked down before over his shoulder and glaring at Tao who was smirking.
“Ah it seems to have slipped my mind.”
“No seriously, I can’t remember.” He gave you a stern look and you blushed and looked away.
“If you say so.” The dance ended and you quickly left his vice like grip and sped to the bar. You got the strongest drink you could and downed it in one go, alabite a bit of a burn hit your throat.
“Someone is trying to avoid someone.” You were surprised to find Jongdae step up next to you and sip his own glass of alcohol.
“Well I seem to not be avoiding him very well as I’ve danced with him twice.”
“I’m not blind. You’re in a blood red dress of course everyone knows who you danced with. Especially when his suit matches it perfectly.”
“Yeah, why the hell does his suit match my dress?”
“He requested for it to be tailored to that color.”
“May I have this dance?” You groaned as he led you to the dance floor as began dancing what you would call a traditional married couples dance, although it’d been changed to a courtship dance.
“The fuck are we dancing this dance for?”
“You know what I see when I do this dance with you?”
“People starring because were most certainly not dating.” He smirked and shook his head as he grabbed your hand and placed his othe rone on your waist.
“No, good guess but no. I see the men who glare at me and ones who look amused. Example. Suho, Sehun, and Minseok seem to want to tear my throat out at the moment. Chanyeol, baekhyun, Jongin, and Kyungsoo are watching yours and the other threes reactions quite amused. Now the kicker it Yixing who is laughing his ass off and Tao who is watching quite closely as to where my hand is on your waist.” You glance dover his shoulder finding him correct as Tao watched his hand.
“You know what I see?” He looked at you in interest before nodding.
“I see a man in a suit who is a guard dancing with a common town dweller because he is amused by how people react to it.”
“And you are quite correct.” You spun out of his arms before back into them and he dipped you almost too close to the ground for comfort.
“Jongdae what are you doing this for?”
“Suho is supposed to find his wife at this ball, and according to him he has not. And yet when I dance with you he looks like a mother bear watching her cubs get close to a human, territorial and worried. Now Sehun has no need for a wife, as of now, but when I dance with you he looks like a snake about to bite, scared and aggravated. Minseok? Well he looks about ready to tear me to shreads. What am I doing this for? I’m doing this to see which of the princes like you better and at this point I think they’re in the same boat.” You stepped away from him and bowed before walking off the floor him leading you towards the balcony.
“So what I want from you. I want you to talk to them. Mingle. And get to know them, as well... people you know. And then as you become closer I will gauge which one of them likes you more.”
“Minseok doesn’t matter.”
“Minseok vey much does matter.” You growled and he looked at you confused.
“Do you have feelings for him?”
“No but I won’t hurt him just for your princes to play with me.”
“Then tell him you have no interest now before he goes too deep.” Jongdae walked away leaving your mouth open and you mind scattered. How the hell were you supposed to choose between the princes. Or even make them choose if it went how he imagined it would.
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