Chapter Text
Hanseong, 1831
Park Jimin was dressed in his best attire that season. He was barely nineteen, but his parents had no other choice but to put him into the debutantes’ list. He had to be married off, because his family was on the verge of bankruptcy. It was well-known secret amongst the Hanseong’s elite. Jimin sighed and hid his face behind the curtains again. He looked over his shoulder, only to notice the other omega debutantes this year.
The female omegas were dressed traditionally in a court dress, decided in white. Some of them had decided to vary the shades of ivory and pink. The dresses featured short sleeves and the young females also wore long white gloves, a veil attached to the hair with three white ostrich feathers, and a train, which the debutante would hold on her arm until she was ready to be presented. Some of the debutante omegas had decided against the ostrich feathers and simply wore some jewelry in their hair.
The male omegas were also dressed in white with slight shades of ivory and pink. But they were wearing light suits. The white gloves were absolutely necessary with them as well. Their suits were always with deep V-necks and jewelry hanging between their collarbones. Their pants were custom made to show their think thighs, the size or their waist and their bottoms. The bachelors had to make sure that the omegas were fertile and capable of carrying their heir.
Jimin scrunched his nose and looked around himself once more. They were about to be present to the king. It was a tradition before every debutante season. His family had barely managed to take the special permission for Jimin to be put into the debutante list this season. His father had to use almost all of his money to make sure that Jimin would be presented to the monarch himself. Jimin had to do his best to make sure that everything will run smoothly for him.
He walked to the end of the long line and waited for his name to be called. As a person with not so higher social status, he had to be the last one. Usually by then, all of the present bachelors had already made their choice for an omega to court that season.
“Park Jimin!” He heard his name and took a deep breath, remembering all the rules that he had to follow. His eyes had to be downcast when he was going down the staircase. He shouldn’t meet the king’s eyes and wait for his approval to step away.
The omega was really careful not to trip over the long staircase. He let out a sigh of relief when he finally stepped down over the last step. Then he bowed low and waited for the king’s voice. When the King finally approved his debutante season, Jimin was released.
He was the last one and after his presentation the ball was about to begin. Not knowing what to do, the omega walked to one of the windows of the king’s residence and watched how the people stated to mingle around. He took a deep breath again and released it slowly afterwards. The omega’s eyes looked around with curiosity. Some of the debutantes were already taken the dancefloor and were in the arms of their alphas.
All of them looked happy, but Jimin couldn’t stop the thought of how honest these smiles actually were. Almost none of the omegas who were debuting would marry out of love. It was more of a political alliance or a deal between two families. Love was something pretty rare in the elite. The omega smiled politely when a waiter passed by him and offered him a glass of wine. He took it gladly. The night was still young, and he had to make sure that he felt comfortable enough to start his flirting adventure. It was only the beginning of tea parties, soirees, night balls and so on. He had to learn how to not burn in shame every time an alpha would talk to him.
“You can’t dance?” The cedarwood scent proceeded the deep voice that came from his right. Jimin tried to push down his nervousness and look up at the owner of that voice. It was a mistake. A huge one!
“I… ugh…” he stammered when his eyes laid over the broad darkhaired alpha in front of him. Duke Min Yoongi! Jimin would recognize him everywhere. Jimin’s family used to work for the Mins in the past before his father could inherit a small fortune and leave the Min’s small palace.
“Park Jimin,” Yoongi’s dark eyes gleamed with interest. The alpha bowed to him in a sign of respect and Jimin offered his trembling hand as it was the tradition. Yoongi pressed his forehead to the backside of his fingers and released it far too fast, if you ask Jimin. “You’ve grown up since the last time I’ve met you.”
“You-you remember me?” Jimin gasped and quickly looked around. Most of the people were too busy with their own talks and not paying that much attention to him. “I-I thought that--”
“You thought I wouldn’t remember the skinny boy that would always trip on his legs around me?” The alpha chuckled warmly. “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate of me,” the alpha quickly apologized and offered his hand to the stunned omega. “I was just about to ask you for your next dance, if you are free, Park Jimin?”
“Just… just Jimin,” the omega cleared his throat and placed his hand in the alpha’s warm one. “And I am free.”
“Then I’m lucky,” Yoongi smiled again and led him to the dancefloor.
They stood opposite each other, waiting for the music to start again. It was waltz and Jimin couldn’t stop the blush coloring his face. It was one of the new scandalous dances that got modern in the last season. The omega felt how his partner placed his arm on his waist and offered his other one for Jimin to hold.
The omega followed Yoongi’s lead and soon the music engulfed them. Everything around them disappeared and Jimin finally relaxed into the alpha’s arms. Yoongi was a skillful dancer, he had to admit. Although Jimin felt a bit unfamiliar with the waltz steps, he quickly allowed Yoongi to lead him. The omega was a fast learner and soon they were moving around dancefloor with ease.
The music ended far too quick for Jimin, and Yoongi had to take a step back. He bowed politely and then placed his card in the omega’s hand. Jimin took it with another blush covering his face and placed his own small card in the alpha’s hands. It was a tradition to show that the both parties had interest in each other. Then Jimin was asked for another dance but this time from another alpha. He wasn’t able to see Yoongi anymore that night, but he felt small hope raising in his heart.
+++
The Park Family received three courting gifts on the next morning. One of them was from Min Yoongi. Park Hasung, Jimin’s alpha father was satisfied with his son’s first night. He was especially satisfied with the mere thought of a Min courting his omega son. After all, the Mins were the king’s cousins and closer to the throne than any other family in Hanseong. Jimin’s mother was already preparing her omega son for the afternoon tea party that he had to attend that same day. All the three of the bachelors that had showed some interest in him were going to be there. Jimin had to show some interest in the other two alphas as well. It had to be a fair competition for his heart, although the omega had already laid his eyes on a certain someone.
The tea party was where he met Yoongi’s mother again. He could barely remember the omega. His family had left the Mins when Jimin was around eight years old. But unlike her son, the old lady Min had no warmth in her eyes. She was hiding her face behind a fan, but Jimin could still see her looking around the people in the gathering. Yoongi was standing beside of her and talking to a petite looking omega, also debutante from the same season as Jimin.
Jimin tried to hide his displeasure from that fact and pay more attention to lord Lee Taemin, who was currently talking to him about the beautiful weather outside. Jimin was smiling, while the alpha was blushing the whole time and even stuttered at some words. He was young, maybe too young for Jimin’s liking, but his family had money. The money Jimin’s family needed to not be left on the streets.
“You have such lovely eyes,” Taemin gushed all of a sudden and Jimin had to suppress a roll of his eyes. “Has anyone told you this, Jimin-ssi?”
“Thank you so much for your kind words, lovely sir,” Jimin hid a fake giggle behind his fan. “I doubt my eyes are so important for your liking…”
“They indeed have interesting color,” Yoongi’s deep voice tickled Jimin’s senses. “Not black or brown… but maybe something in between.”
“What are you talking about?” Taemin’s voice went hostile. “Jimin-ssi has the most prettiest eyes in the world!”
“I just said the same, Taemin-ssi, or are you deaf?” Yoongi tilted his head.
Jimin suppressed a shudder. It was an open fight invitation. The two alphas were clear with their interest towards him. He couldn’t stop them if they wanted to fight or argue in that matter. But Taemin took a surprising step back. He clenched his fists beside his body and apologized for being busy somewhere else. Then he was fast to leave the scene.
“Was that necessary?” Jimin asked the alpha, who was now the only one left beside him.
“Was it necessary?” Duke Min chuckled. “I should say no, but it was fun. So, are you having fun here Jimin?” The alpha offered his hand and the two took a small stroll around the garden.
+++
The next few weeks found him spending more time with Min Yoongi than with his other suitors. His heart would always skip a beat when the alpha would show up at their doorstep. The couple went for a nice morning ride in the park, accompanied by Jimin’s personal maid. Duke Min invited him as his date to some of the night balls the following months. Their courting was going well and Jimin felt sure that he was going to receive a proposition by the end of the courting season.
It was the last ball they had to attend, and Yoongi took him to a secluded area of his family’s gardens. The alpha’s eyes were glowing under the candlelight, scattered around them. He fell on one knee and presented a nice small box to the omega. Jimin gasped when Yoongi opened it and it showed a delicate looking golden ring with a sapphire stone on top of it.
“Park Jimin, I wanted to do this in front of everyone to see, but… then I decided to be a selfish man and make sure of your answer and then make it official,” the alpha’s voice trembled. “Would you marry me and become my mate for life?”
Jimin gasped and covered his mouth with his both hands. He couldn’t believe to his ears, but his heart was beating fast. Yoongi was waiting for his answer though and Jimin had to answer.
“Yes! Yes! Of course, I’d marry you! Yes!” His eyes teared up and he offered his trembling hand for Yoongi. The alpha looked so proud when he slid the ring onto his rightful finger. Then Jimin was wrapped into the alpha’s arms twirled around, while both of them laughed joyfully.
When Yoongi finally put him back onto his feet, Jimin received his first kiss… and it was way more beautiful than the way he had ever imagined. His life looked like a fairytale, and he didn’t want to change it for the world!
But faith had other plans for him as it seemed…
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* Hanseong - Seoul has been known in the past by successive names, including Wiryeseong (Korean: 위례성; Hanja: 慰禮城) and Hanseong (Baekje era), Bukhansangun (Goguryo era), Hanyang (North and South states period), Namgyeong (남경; 南京, Goryeo era), Hanyangbu (Goryeo under Mongol rule), Hanseong (한성; 漢城, Joseon era) and Hanyang (한양; 漢陽). In the Joseon era, it started to be called Seoul by the public. (한성; 漢城, Joseon era) and Hanyang (한양; 漢陽). In the Joseon era, it started to be called Seoul by the public.
* Debutante Ball - it's a historical inaccuracy that such proms existed in South Korea by this time. I used the example set in the UK for the sake of the story. Just thought I should mention that.