ATEEZ oneshots/imagines (x Reader)

• VAMPIRE Seonghwa

Pairing: Seonghwa x Reader
Words: ~1.9k

This short story is inspired by the Air Folk series by Holly Black! :)

"Are you proposing war?" I suddenly raised my voice. Five pairs of red eyes fixed on me, which belonged to the four members of the High Court and the High King, making me feel highly uncomfortable. However, I had to leave nothing to be seen since I was the only mortal in this room.

How did I get here you ask? The seneschal's position had been inherited for centuries. This time, however, it was a mortal who had risen to that position; me. The lands were mainly inhabited by vampires, but some parts also held human villages. The two species had been living in peace for decades now. Yet it was unusually for a human to rise to a high position. My father had been a vampire from the southern kingdom, my mom and siblings as well.

Well, if you could call them my siblings. I had been adopted when I was a baby with my twin brother. My father had passed along with the former High King shortly before and chose me to become his successor. I didn't understand his decision, but here I was: living with the new High King Seonghwa, who hated any human beings.

High King Seonghwa had just proposed to let troops be led to the northern kingdom because their taxes were overdue. The northern kingdom had always been the weakest and poorest part of the lands and no king had ever taken it into consideration.

"No, I am not," he replied with a deep firm voice. I know I had angered him by questioning his intentions.

"Then why would you send your best troops to animate - as you called it - the northern kingdom to pay their taxes? It is obvious that they would see it as a threat and a fight would break out. They won't come back unharmed." I sighed before I continued "the kingdoms have alliances with each other. If we attack one, the other three will snap as well. Despite you being the High King with the High Court on your side, our soldiers wouldn't be able to withstand all four kingdoms' wrath. In addition, it may arise that they might even try to get your crown since they aren't particularly happy with your reign at times. We ought to not threaten them any further."

After my preach, I gulped. The king had broken eye contact with me and stared at an imaginary person on the other side of the table. His toned jaw muscles tensed. However, the members of the court slowly understood the threats I was trying to explain and nodded in approval.

"What do you suggest to do as a replacement?" A blue-haired man from court asked.

"I suggest sending one or two messengers. They won't be seen as a threat by the northern king and will deliver the reminder, that their taxes are overdue, quickly. Furthermore, our kingdom isn't financially dependent on their money. So let it be once or twice they don't pay because we know that they're by far the weakest from us. Have forbearance."

"We shall vote and decide based on the result." Jongho, one of the court members, proposed.

The voting ended with my idea winning with all of the votes of the court. The High King abstained from voting. While he had the opportunity to vote and didn't bother to use it, I was merely there for the tactics. The decision had been made and the messenger was sent immediately after our meeting. King Seonghwa hadn't spoken a word ever since I contradicted his intentions.

"You may accompany me to my chambers." was what he told me after the High Court had returned to their journey home.

-•-

His big yet graceful steps gave me a hard time keeping up without having to jog next to him. With a flick of his hand, he signalled the guards to stay outside of his chamber. Normally, that was also my sign to stay outside and make my own way, however, this time he grabbed me by my wrist and pulled me inside as he closed the heavy door behind us.