Chapter Text
His name was Han Yoojin.
He was known as the useless older brother of The National Hero.
He was different from his younger brother, who saved the country from Zerg Queen. He was just a weak commoner omega with F-Class spiritual power. He was ordinary omega who lived in poverty. But rumors said he used his younger brother’s status and wealth to become a noble.
Everyone did not like him, mainly the noble. Although his younger brother was The Marshal of the Empire who won the war, he was just an uneducated person who didn’t know his status. He only mocked his brother’s status.
Han Yoojin knew. He didn’t deserve this status.
But he couldn’t say anything. As an omega, he didn’t have any freedom to choose what life he wanted.
It was his brother that made him become a noble.
His younger brother needed someone to have a marriage alliance to strengthen his status. The only family that his brother had was Han Yoojin. Moreover, he was an omega who hid his identity and didn’t have an Alpha in his 30s.
With his brother’s condition, Han Yoojin had no choice but to accept his marriage to The Crown Prince.
Because of that, Han Yoojin became The Crown Princess.
All knew how cruel The Crown Prince was. He killed his stepbrother, cousin, and noble, who pissed him off. The Crown Prince tortured the omegas who wanted to make a bond with him. He never smiled, always using the mask, and rumor said he had ugly scars on his body and face.
Until now, only Han Yoohyun, who killed Zerg Queen, could compete with The Crown Prince.
Because of that, Han Yoojin was still alive without any injury.
Everyone didn’t like the fact that Han Yoojin was still alive and became The Future Empress. After all, The Future Empress’status was desired status for a noble family, especially omegas and noblewomen.
But there is no one who knew.
On the night of their wedding, Han Yoojin killed by The Crown Prince.
And it would lead to Han Yoohyun’s rebellions against this Empire.
.
“For Heaven’s Sake….”
Han Yoojin can’t give comments or any words.
First, in the morning, he finds two series of novels near his garden’s fence.
Second, this novel is entitled <The Flames of Hero> with Han Yoohyun, his innocent younger brother, as the protagonist. The first book tells about how Han Yoohyun became The Marshal of the Empire and defeated Zerg Queen. The second book tells about how Han Yoohyun led the rebellion and became The Emperor.
Third, this first book so accurate tells about Han Yoohyun when he became an army to Marshal without any mistakes. But the second book is similar to the future prophecy after Han Yoohyun defeated Zerg Queen.
Fourth, Han Yoojin is the older brother who died in The Crown Prince’s hands and the sole reason Han Yoohyun rebelled against the Empire.
“.…”
Han Yoojin wants to rip this book, seriously.
But, of course, he can’t.
This book which he never knows, whoever writes that, tells the prophecy of the future. He can’t imagine; how his peaceful life as an ordinary omega become the crown princess.
And the worst, he will be killed by The Crown Prince.
Hahaha.
Sorry, but Han Yoojin still loves his life and is satisfied with his ordinary life as an omega who lives in villages.
“It’s so troublesome…”
Han Yoojin inhales and exhales slowly.
In the second book, Han Yoohyun, who wins the war, will faces political problems. Especially, Han Yoohyun is only the Marshal without a noble title. Every noble want to steal his younger brother’s achievement. They don’t accept that Han Yoohyun, a commoner who becomes The Marshal, has a prestigious achievement.
His squad, Haeyon, isn’t enough to deal with the noble fractions. He needs the other noble’s support to preserve his achievement.
After all, it is not an ordinary achievement. It is evidence that Han Yoohyun alone is enough to protect the Empire without the noble’s support. The evidence tells us that the commoner people have potential like the noble.
If Han Yoohyun wants, with extra efforts, he can lead a revolution for the commoner to have status as noble as human and changes the Empire entirely.
It is better that take rebellion after his older brother's death.
Han Yoojin does not understand. Instead of using his power, Han Yoohyun chooses to create an alliance with The Crown Prince and Song Taewon, who were never noticed in the first book and have his unique reputation. The Alliance makes Han Yoohyun have the Marquis title.
And as a consequence, Han Yoohyun needs Han Yoojin to consolidate The Alliance with his marriage. But in the end, Han Yoojin is killed by The Crown Prince, and The Alliance has destroyed automatically.
Han Yoohyun rebels. And in the end story—
.
Han Yoohyun gazed at his throne.
After getting the Thorne, he thought he would have a happy ending.
But it is not the happy ending that he wanted.
It felt empty. There is no happiness in there.
Of course, he couldn’t feel pleased. After all, he chose to step into the military and left his beloved older brother to protect his brother. He wanted his brother to have a peaceful life after sacrificing his own to take care of him.
But Han Yoojin died because of his mistake.
And he didn’t have any reason to live except the revenge.
He successfully killed all who have involved in his brother’s misery. He killed the killer of his brother. He got the throne that was supposed to be Han Yoojin.
But it all didn’t bring his brother back.
Han Yoojin still died. And he was still living.
“Hyung, you said, I am prohibited give up my life.” Han Yoohyun closed his eyes, trying to endure his tears. “But I can’t live without you. I don’t have any reason to keep going of my life!”
He took out his sword. It was the same sword that killed Zerg Queen and The Former Emperor.
“I’m sorry, but I want to see you again….”
And Han Yoohyun stabbed his sword to his chest.
.
The Empire fell with Han Yoohyun’s death. The Empire, which had a long story, was replaced by The Federation with Suk Simyeong as the leader.
The Federation upheld human equality. The Federation erased any border between noble and commoner, alpha and omega or beta.
But because of Han Yoohyun’s rebellion, The Federation didn’t have enough military power and was destroyed by New Zerg Queen.
.
—have ultimate bad (trash) ending.
“Han. Yoohyun.”
For Heaven's sake, Han Yoojin never gets furious like this.
Although Han Yoojin is still angry that he is used for marriage’s alliance and died at The Crown Prince's hand, he is furious when he reads that Han Yoohyun suicides because of him. And the worst, because of the suicide of Han Yoohyun, this country fall apart because of Zerg Queen.
Even so, Han Yoojin is only an omega, but he can punch his brother, seriously.
“I will change the future.”
For his own’s sake and Han Yoohyun, with the second book, Han Yoojin promised; he will be lead a happy ending for them.
Han Yoojin has two choices to protect themself.
First, Han Yoojin should get married to ensure his safety before Han Yoohyun backs their home. There are still two months before Han Yoohyun backs to The Empire home and announces his victory. He believes his younger brother will not be forcing him to marry if he has a spouse.
Second either Han Yoojin does not get married in two months, or Han Yoohyun still needs the marriage alliance, he will persuade Han Yoohyun to marry him to Song Taewon instead of The Crown Prince.
Truthfully, Han Yoojin wants to choose the second option.
After all, instead of the crazy Crown Prince, Song Taewon is his crush. He has a handsome face, a good reputation, wealth, and of course, his status will help Han Yoohyun overcome the political issues. And in the second book, Song Taewon is helping Haeyon and has dead to protect Han Yoohyun.
As an older brother, why doesn’t he love Song Taewon so much!
And the most important, Song Taewon’s muscle!
Look at Song Taewon. Instead of The Crown Prince always hiding his body with fancy suites, Song Taewon is more handsome with his muscle and modesty style. With his strong muscles, Song Taewon will protect Han Yoojin from the Crazy Crown Prince and helps Han Yoohyun.
Isn’t he the ideal husband and Alpha?
But Han Yoojin is still realistic. He can’t reach Song Taewon’s status with his status. The best solution is the first option; he will marry someone.
If he can not, he will make a contract marriage to prevent him marry The Crazy Crown Prince.
After that, he can persuade Han Yoohyun to stop to rebellion. If he can’t, at least he can prevent his beloved younger brother from committing suicide.
Han Yoojin never thinks that he will find a handsome alpha.
The Alpha has blonde hair like the sun in the summer. His eyes closed. He is unconscious for who knows how long in front of his house. He doesn’t have an injury. But he needs medical treatment.
“So troublesome..”
Han Yoojin touches his stomach with his hands and drains his mana to this Alpha to searching the cause of why he fainted.
Oh, this Alpha has six packs.
Plaakk!
Han Yoojin slaps his face.
Gosh, he is so perverts to think how six-packs this unconscious Alpha.
But if Han Yoojin sees this Alpha in detail, this Alpha has the ideal body. His muscles are developed well like Song Taewon. His face has dominated the aura-like CEO novel that Han Yoojin reads. If he opens his eyes, maybe he has beautiful blue eyes like the summer sky.
Is it his ideal type?
“Please, Han Yoojin, you have Song Taewon!”
Han Yoojin slaps his face again. He inhales and exhales. Yes, he has Song Taewon and can not cheat him for the unknown Alpha.
But this Alpha is also handsome.
If Song Taewon is the moon in the winter, then this Alpha is the sun in the summer.
“.….”
Well, Han Yoojin needs to save (kidnap) him first.
As The Crown Prince of this Empire, Sung Hyunjae never feels a sense of peace in his life.
His life as The Crown Prince has destined to have bloody paths. His father, the Emperor, does not love him because his marriage to his mother is just a contractual marriage. His father married again with four concubines, and Sung Hyunjae has a lot of stepbrothers or stepsisters. His mother also does not love him because she only loves her knight, who died in the war.
Until his mother died because of conspiration in the palace, Sung Hyunjae never obtained a single love from her.
His childhood is full of the bloody battle on the throne. His stepbrothers want to steal his title, and his father still does not care about him. Food poisoning, assassination, and the betrayal from someone who closed him—Sung Hyunjae is used to be.
He is alone in the palace.
Unless his mother’s family still protects him, maybe Sung Hyunjae died in his cold bed.
But his mother’s family wants to use him to rebel against the Empire.
Yeah,
No one wants to love him truly.
Everyone that he knows only wants to use his status. The omegas from the noble or the commoner only want to love him because of his title. His subordinates are only scared because of his power. His alliances are only mutual relationships without any feelings.
Sung Hyunjae thinks that he does not need love. He only needs the power to protect himself from the enemy who wants to destroy him. He doesn’t care about the other opinion about how cruel he was after killing his stepbrothers and torturing the omegas.
After all, power was more important than love.
But Sung Hyunjae never thinks that his view will change.
“Are you okay?”
Han Yoojin.
The commoner omega who saved him from poisoning using his mana.
His face maybe is not beautiful as the noble omegas. But his eyes are beautiful, like the stars shining in the night sky. He gazed at Sung Hyunjae with a worried face—that face never Sung Hyunjae seems from the other people he had ever met. Han Yoojin takes care of his weak body with patience and sincerity.
It is the first time someone nices Sung Hyunjae without any ill intentions.
“If you feel dizzy, please inform me.” Han Yoojin says after feeding Sung Hyunjae. “Your body still weak.”
“Thank you.” Sung Hyujae thanked him formally. “If not you, I will die.”
“No problem.” Han Yoojin smiles with a gentle smile. “The important you must recover.”
Han Yoojin says as if Sung Hyunjae is part his friend.
Sung Hyunjae doesn’t understand. When the omegas are always afraid near him because of his cruelty and the aura of Dominant Alpha, Han Yoojin approaches him and takes care of him without hesitation. He gives Sung Hyunjae a warm blanket, home-cookings, and an affection that Sung Hyunjae never gained as the Crown Prince.
Before faints in front of Han Yoojin’s house, Sung Hyunjae knows about Han Yoojin.
He is Han Yoohyun's older brother. Although Han Yoohyun hides his personal life from the noble, Sung Hyunjae still gets his information. He knows Han Yoojin is the omega who hides his identity to nurture his younger brother. Because of that, Han Yoojin is still single at 25 ages.
Han Yoojin is the sole reason Han Yoohyun became strong.
Sung Hyunjae does not understand why Han Yoojin is the reason for Han Yoohyun. He knows Han Yoojin does not have special abilities, or great power like Han Yoohyun. The only one he can only heal someone, like the ordinary omegas.
“People like you will never understand.”
Han Yoohyun gives him the warning to dare not touch his older brother. He will betray undoubted the Alliances, with Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon, unless they dare touch his older brother. He prioritizes his older brother’s safety more than any else, including the Empire, the Alliance, and Haeyon.
Han Yoojin will be the weakness for Han Yoohyun and the Alliance. After all, instead of both Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae, Han Yoohyun has greater power in the military.
And Sung Hyunjae doesn’t tolerate if the Alliance have weakness like Han Yoojin. He needs to take care of him and ensure he will not interfere with the Alliance. If it needs, Sung Hyunjae will use Han Yoojin to control Han Yoohyun.
But everything changes when Han Yoojin saves him and enters Sung Hyunjae’s life.
“It’ll hurt, so please endure this. Or do you need my hug?”
“Don’t forget to eat, Sung Hyunjae-ssi! You’re never recovering if you don’t eat that!”
“Thank God your body is fine and doesn’t have any complications.”
“Why are you so picky! You’re elder than me!”
“You need to try this. It's so delicious. Ah, don’t worry, I am peeling for you.”
“Hahahahaa, is it your first time fishing? Your clothes are all wet!”
“Aigoo, why don’t you use the blanket? Even so, it’s summer the night is still cold.”
“.….”
Han Yoojin is different from the others.
He’s worried and takes care of Sung Hyunjae as if he has known him for a long time.
His smile is so sincere, without any hidden meaning. He’s laughing so freely without being scared of Sung Hyunjae.
Sometimes, Han Yoojin gets annoyed with Sung Hyunjae when that Alpha tries to help him. But he forgives quickly and helps Sung Hyunjae. He also teaches Sung Hyunjae something that Sung Hyunjae had never done.
He never asked anything from Sung Hyunjae. He helps him to recover like a family treats each other. He doesn’t know that Sung Hyunjae is the Crown Prince, who wants to use him to control Han Yoohyun. But he treats him like he has recognized Sung Hyunjae for a long time.
It is the first time Sung Hyunjae feels this affection.
This affection makes Sung Hyunjae feels safe without any protection for the first time.
Sung Hyunjae can sleep restfully without thinking that someone will try to assassinate him. The food that Han Yoojin cooked even so not delicious as in the palace, but it warmed his cold heart. His little house with the garden and near a river feels like home than his Crown Prince’s Palace.
Yeah,
It is the first time that the burden on his shoulder slowly lifted.
“Do you hate Han Yoohyun that left you alone?”
In the afternoon, when Han Yoojin invites Sung Hyunjae to fish in the river, Sung Hyunjae asks him about Han Yoohyun.
“Well, it’s a lie if I don’t hate Han Yoohyun leaves me alone.”
Han Yoojin sighed. His eyes gazed at the river.
Before Han Yoojin reads <The Flames of Hero> Han Yoojin will be angry with Han Yoohyun.
Han Yoohyun is the only family that Han Yoojin has. Besides his neighbors over fifty years old, Han Yoojin only has Han Yoohyun. Every night, Han Yoojin worries about Han Yoohyun’s safety. His beloved brother is only under 20 ages and goes to war. He wants to pull his brother and make sure that he is safe.
But after reading the novels, Han Yoojin understands.
His older brother is no longer a kid anymore. He is a young adult who wants to prove himself. Han Yoohyun desires to protect the country, especially their house.
Unless because of the noble or politics, Han Yoohyun will go home and live like his childhood in the villages.
But his hope is destroyed. Han Yoojin died, and he had no reason to live unless to get revenge on the Empire.
Han Yoojin closes his eyes. He can’t imagine how his brother suffers at that time.
If Han Yoojin is on Han Yoohyun’s side, maybe he will do as Han Yoohyun did.
“But now, I just want to Han Yoohyun go home.”
If Han Yoohyun goes home, Han Yoojin will hug him very close. Han Yoojin wants to Han Yoohyun tells about his pain and his happiness. He will listen carefully without any missing. If one night is not enough for them, they can continue in next night. Han Yoojin has time to listen to all story that Han Yoohyun will tell.
“So that’s why I’m still waiting for him.”
“.….”
Sung Hyunjae is silent. He can’t say anything.
Han Yoojin’s smile is sincere, without any hate in his eyes.
He is waiting for Han Yoohyun alone in his little house without any doubt his brother.
And to be honest, Sung Hyunjae envies Han Yoohyun, who has Han Yoojin.
In his palace, no one is waiting for him to go back.
“I’m not like you who gets stronger to get revenge.”
Han Yoohyun stares at Sung Hyunjae without any emotion. He did not lower his cautions, although with The Crown Princes, his Alliances.
“My power only to protect someone that I love most.”
Sometimes, peaceful days have a horrible time.
In the middle of the night, when the full moon has the brightest shine in the dark sky, Sung Hyunjae has a nightmare.
It is not an ordinary nightmare but his memories from his childhood.
His father abandons him and loves his stepbrother more. His mother hits him to release her sadness because her beloved knight has died in the war under his father’s command. And at the end of his nightmare, Sung Hyunjae is pushed to the cliff—the first assassination attempt when he was just 11 years old.
Although it is just a past, Sung Hyunjae is still scared of that nightmare.
His body trembles and releases the cold sweat. He closes his eyes and tries to forget all of his nightmares. But he can not. This nightmare always chases him and pulls him into the darkness.
“Sung Hyunjae-ssi!”
Ah, that voice.
When Sung Hyunjae’s eyes open, he sees Han Yoojin. That omega seems worried about him and tries to wake him up.
“Han Yoojin…”
With only his name, somehow, his body feels comfortable slowly.
But Han Yoojin doesn’t look pleasant.
“Are you okay? Oh, your body has the cold sweats!” he panics, but he’s trying to calm himself to take care of Sung Hyunjae. “Wait for me. Do you feel cold?”
Before Sung Hyunjae can answer, Han Yoojin quickly picks up the towel nearest him and wipes his cold sweats. He infuses his mana to warm the towel.
With the small actions of Han Yoojin, Sung Hyunjae can not stop smiling. In the palace, he endures his nightmare alone in the cold night. He needs to use sleeping pills to relieve the pain in his heart. But now he has Han Yoojin. His small actions are more help to Sung Hyunjae than the sleeping pills.
“Why are you smiling like that!” Han Yoojin gets annoyed. “You make me worried…”
“I’m sorry.” Sung Hyunjae still can not stop smiling. “But thank you…”
But Han Yoojin does not take Sung Hyunjae’s thanks.
He is still looking at Sung Hyunjae with a worried face. His hands are holding Sung Hyunjae’s cold palm tightly.
“Sung Hyunjae-ssi….” His voice sounds nice and warm. “…are you okay?”
Huh?
“Although we only meet in one month, I feel you aren’t okay. And it’s not the first your nightmare.” His grip is getting tighter. “If you want, I can hear your story…”
“.….”
Sung Hyunjae is silent.
It is the first time someone asked to tell his story without ill intentions.
He can’t respond to that. He always hides his story to hide his weakness. But when he sees Han Yoojin’s eyes, he knows Han Yoojin wants to help him.
Is it okay to let him know?
“You will be disappointed… “
And Sung Hyunjae chooses to tell his past.
He still hides his identity as the crown prince, but he can tell how his family treats him. His parents do not love him and never give him a single love like good parents should be. He is trying his best to survive even though he is alone. He does not have a friend after the betrayal from a close person. He only has subordinates. He only wants to live and prove himself.
“But I’m still weak.”
After Han Yoohyun’s appearance, he doubts his power. He already lost with Song Taewon about the strategy and political issues. With Han Yoohyun, who wins the war with Zerg Queen, Sung Hyunjae has left them behind.
If not the Alliance he created using The Crown Prince’s status, Sung Hyunjae doesn’t have anything to get revenge.
After telling his story, Sung Hyunjae doesn’t have any brave to look at Han Yoojin. Sung Hyunjae is afraid that Han Yoojin thinks he’s weak.
Is it embarrassing for the Dominant Alpha that has a weakness?
“So, that is….”
Without a blink, Han Yoojin suddenly hugs Sung Hyunjae.
“Your parents are wrong. You are not weak…”
Then, Han Yoojin sobs.
“I’m sorry…. but can I cry for you?”
Ah,
Why are you crying for me, Han Yoojin?
But Sung Hyunjae doesn’t dare to ask him. He only wants to feel Han Yoojin’s presence. His pheromones that have mint and plum blossoms make Sung Hyunjae calm.
“It’s okay if you want to cry…. I will hear all your sadness. I will protect you from the nightmare.”
Han Yoojin hugs Sung Hyunjae more tightly.
“You are not alone, Sung Hyunjae-ssi. I’m here now.”
“.…”
Sung Hyunjae hugs Han Yoojin back. He will not let go of him.
Even though he can’t cry like Han Yoojin, he feels the sadness that he endured slowly is released. He doesn’t feel to be weak of this, but he feels more strong when he hugs Han Yoojin.
As if Han Yoojin gives his power to make Sung Hyunjae feels protected. Han Yoojin gives Sung Hyunjae the courage to step into his hard life
Is it love?
He doesn’t know. But, Sung Hyunjae understands what Han Yoohyun meanings on that day.
If he has Han Yoojin, he will do like Han Yoohyun does.
Sung Hyunjae will get stronger and protect Han Yoojin. He will do anything for Han Yoojin. If Han Yoojin wants, he can give his throne or destroyers the Empire. He gives anything he has to Han Yoojin.
And he only needs Han Yoojin to love him like this.
Life with Han Yoojin always gives him surprises.
“You need a contract marriage with me?”
Han Yoojin nods without hesitation.
That is unbelievable. Why does Han Yoojin need a contract marriage with him?
If he wants, Sung Hyunjae can straightforwardly marry him. He will give Han Yoojin The Crown Princess’s status and the future Empress’s seat. Sung Hyunjae can hold the grand of marriage in The Empire that people will envy.
But he can’t scare Han Yoojin now. Han Yoojin still doesn’t know Sung Hyunjae is the Crown Prince.
So, he asks with a curious smile, “for what?”
“Well, It’s for my safety.” There is a pause. And Han Yoojin, with a tremble in his body, answers, “I need to prevent the Crazy Crown Prince want to marry me!”
“.…”
Excuse me?