Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

 Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t read books often, and most times, it was to read his little sister to sleep. So when Han Sooyoung asked him to beta read her popular web novel, he gave it a shot. Yoo Joonghyuk read the entire novel, not because it was good, but because the villain character, Kim Dokja, caught his attention. The novel, to put it simply, was completely trash and didn’t deserve its popularity. It was an “omegaverse,” fantasy genre, with a school subplot that makes little to no sense. The protagonist, that was obviously based on him, was so poorly written that Joonghyuk wondered if he too was like that trashy protagonist, but he knew it must’ve been a jab from Han Sooyoung. He was about to drop the novel and Han Sooyoung, but then Dokja showed up when he lost hope for the story. 

Dokja was a mystery to him and other readers alike, but many overlooked his character because he seemed too simple. Other side characters described the villain as ugly and plain, yet they knew nothing else about him. The readers and commenters alike didn’t mind the elusive character, but Yoo Joonghyuk desperately wanted more from him. Kim Dokja was a calculative and cold character that kept his cards hidden until needed. He’s the demon prince from the 73rd Demon Realm, and the first prince to have mixed human blood. Joonghyuk was excited to read more until a poisoned drink suddenly killed Dokja off. Yes, a poisoned drink killed him off. He was pissed and hurriedly called Sooyoung to rant, but she didn’t answer. Instead, he gave her a few private messages about her terrible decision to kill off the only good character in the whole stupid novel.

He dropped the novel quickly after, too spiteful and angry to continue on without Kim Dokja’s wit. His last thought before nodding off were, ‘I wish I could’ve known more about him.’ 

When he woke up, it was to a bed and room far better than his. Not only was he in an unfamiliar room, but his body was different, too. He rushed to the closest mirror and peered back at the recognizable face. Joonghyuk found himself in a child’s body that looked eerily similar to his. The only noticeable difference was the fact his eyes are golden when they used to be dark brown. Despite his inner panic, he didn’t let out a noise. Before he could process his situation, three knocks on the bedroom door interrupted his thoughts. 

 A maid stepped in and helped him get dressed, neither making conversation as if it was the norm. The maid didn’t ask questions about him acting differently, so the original owner of this body must’ve always been closed off. He wondered if he transmigrated into a different world like the protagonists Han Sooyoung always complained about, but then again, he wouldn’t know. So with this information, he must be a transmigrator if he’s considering Sooyoung’s prior informative rants towards this genre. The day passed with Joonghyuk on edge and paranoid about any unexpected events, but then another day passed, and then another until finally a week passed.

Joonghyuk slowly grew used to the monotonous cycle of this new, fancy life. The most profound discovery he made about the original host was the fact that he was the  protagonist for the trashy, disturbing, and disgusting novel that Han Sooyoung wrote. He also found out that the trashy protagonist winded up to be an “alpha,” which seemed to be a renowned source of pride for the manor he now lived in. Despite him now possessing a poorly written character, he couldn’t help but become excited to meet Kim Dokja. In fact, maybe he could even befriend the elusive villain. 

Then, something different happened today. His designated maid startled Joonghyuk awake and rushed him to the maternity ward with an excited look on her face. He didn’t even notice that his mother was pregnant, only because he never even noticed her gone. Now that he thinks about it, he’s only ever seen servants and no other. The maid explained that his mother had given birth to a lovely girl during the night, and she’s well enough to have visitors now. Joonghyuk only nodded at the explanation as he’s internally unsure with these turns of events. In the chapters he read from Han Sooyoung’s subpar novel, it never mentioned the protagonist having a younger sister. Either the baby is an anomaly like him, or a tragedy occurred to the sister in the novel to have her sidelined. 

Still, Joonghyuk stared at both his “mother” and the baby in her arms with no sense of familiarity. His mother ushered him over with a worn smile, and he looked down at the babe in her arms. The baby looked up at him with familiarity, and she looked similar to… no..

“Mia?” He voiced aloud, and the baby stared in acknowledgement. His mother looked at him with a startled expression, but it eased into an amused look.

“Is that the name you came up for her? Mia?” she asked him, and he shyly nodded in response. She chuckled and looked at the baby in her arms, caressing her with the love only a mother could possess. 

“Yu Mia… such a pretty name you’ve come up with, Jungheok.” She mused aloud, turning to look at him with a weak smile. “Do your mother a favor and hold your sister.” She told him, and he dutifully nodded with his arms opened in preparation. His mother carefully laid Mia in his arms, careful of her head and body.

Joonghyuk stared up at his mother, waiting for her instructions as he held his younger sister close. He forgot how small Mia was when she was born… only memories of struggling alone in a home too big for the two of them remained. His mother closed her eyes, her breath slowing as if she came to a rest. The maid entered, an excited smile on her face that soon became frozen with an unknown expression.

The maid screamed out for a medic, forgetting the two children in the room for the moment. Joonghyuk stared at his still mother, his mind reeling at the jarring realization. His sister teared up but used her baby-like strength to cling to his clothes. As nurses and doctors rushed in alike, Joonghyuk stepped out, holding his sister close to his chest. His mother seemed good in this life, and he sniffled as his eyes felt oddly irritated. Mia cried in the way a newborn would, hiccuping and loud. Joonghyuk felt his throat close up, his vision blurring before he finally realized he was crying. Why, he wondered. 

“I didn’t even know her…” he whispered, voice quiet and unheard. Maybe the original host of the body was crying through him. That must be it, because why would he grieve over a mother he never had.

Chapter Text

A few months have passed since his mother’s passing, and now it’s only him and Mia once again. He met his father for the first time at their mother’s funeral, but the meeting went terribly when his father met Mia for the first time. Their father spouted hateful words towards her, ones that would bring her to tears if she were any older and awake. Their father ignored Mia and placed her in her brother’s (and a few maids) care. Joonghyuk tried his best to care for Mia like he did in their previous world, but it was an uphill battle while having no modern inventions. In the nights when they’re about to sleep and she’s not crying, he wonders how Mia got transported into this world with him. His questions will remain unanswered until Mia can finally talk. 

As much as Joonghyuk fussed and provided for his baby sister, he’s bound to grow tired from restless nights and mornings. Their designated maid must’ve noticed him growing more reclusive by the day, because she set him up with a playdate. Joonghyuk frowned at the news, disgruntled and already paranoid at leaving Mia alone so he can play with children. His maid ignored his worried complaints, promising to look after Mia for him in his place. He couldn’t argue with her after she’s proven her reliability and capability as their maid, so they soon shipped him off to some snotty brat’s place.

Now, Joonghyuk sat at a round table with three other children surrounding him, making small talk. The most notable character was Nirvana Moebius, a future saint for a growing religion in the future of the novel. Their main personality was their obsession with “merging” with the protagonist, which is now him. As he observes the blonde kid, he doesn’t see any hints of interest, which makes him feel at ease. They left a chair reserved for one remaining kid. 

“Yu Jungheok, are you going to the crown prince’s birthday next month? I’ve gotten my invitation yesterday!” A boy with reddish hair said, too forgettable to remember his name at the top of his head. He shook his head to say no. 

The red kid awkwardly chuckles, uncomfortable at his lack of verbal response. Nirvana watched the discussion. “Oh really? Don’t you want more friends?” A green-haired boy asks next, blunt and ignorant of the life of introverts. 

Joonghyuk opened his mouth to make a curt reply, but his mouth goes dry at the sight of the newcomer. Little horns sat on their black hair, their skin pale and somewhat sickly. Their eyes left the biggest impression on Joonghyuk. He felt as though he were staring into an inky pool of stars, waiting to swallow him up at the earliest convenience. He had a shy grin on his face, his hands playing with the hem of his intricate shirt. The boy was the shortest of the kids at the table, and it’s obvious that his clothes weren’t properly fitted for him. Is that him, Joonghyuk wondered.

“Greetings. I apologize for arriving so late. A mishap with my carriage occurred.” The boy said calmly. 

Joonghyuk almost stuttered as soon as he opened his mouth, his excitement almost palpable. “Hi! I’m Yoo Joonghyuk!” He exclaimed, an embarrassed blush coated his cheeks. The boy jolted in surprise, but laughed as he sat himself in his seat. He rested a thick novel on the table next to an empty plate.

“The name’s Kim Dokja, Yu Jungheok.” Dokja said, bowing his head slightly.

The conversation after that grew boring and forgettable when it shifted away from Kim Dokja, the most important character here. They didn’t add to the conversation at all, but Joonghyuk desperately wanted to dissect the boy; to dig into his mind and learn every inch of his person. Nirvana must’ve noticed his interest in the demonic boy, as they quickly ask Dokja a question.

“How old are you, Kim Dokja? I thought I invited kids older than 13.” They ask, a bemused smile upon their face. 

Dokja’s smile weakened into one more self conscious, his fingers press against his book. “Ah… I’m actually 15,” He answers quietly, the boys stare at him wide eyed. Joonghyuk wondered if he was eating enough if he was so short, but he didn’t question it too much.

“Is that so? I guess your parents just don’t love you if they’re neglecting you to the point of malnourishment.” Nirvana states cruelly, a bemused smile still on their face. Dokja opened his mouth to defend himself, but he’s beaten to the punch by Nirvana.

“But how can that be… I overheard that your own parents gave you away, so I guess you’re cursed to stay unwanted!” They then laugh, as if they told a funny joke. The other boys stay quiet and take Nirvana’s word as truth with how Kim Dokja is saying nothing to dispute these claims. 

Joonghyuk listened to the foul words spoken, if only just to learn more about Dokja. Despite Nirvana obviously having the upper hand in this conversation, they take it further. 

“Dokja, there’s also rumors that you’re an alpha, yet you don’t smell like one. Can it be that you’re actually a dud? Is that why you were given away?” Nirvana asks, an infuriating smirk upon their face. Joonghyuk’s urge to punch them grew at an alarming rate.

Dokja chuckles awkwardly, a frown upon his face. “Uh, well–”

“Or, can it be that he’s a beta?” Green haired asks, giving Dokja an odd stare as if he were looking at a worm. Joonghyuk felt annoyed as the events unraveled further. He felt close to dropkicking everyone here at this get together.

“Actually–” Dokja said, his interruption ignored.

“And he’s a demon as well. How disappointing.” Nirvana commented, a smile on their face; a very punchable smile on their face. The green and red one nod simultaneously. Just because they’re kids doesn’t mean that Joonghyuk doesn’t want to beat them up. 

Dokja had a grimace on his face, his skin a little paler as his hands fiddled with his sleeves instead of his book cover. Nirvana opened their mouth to make more irritating comments, but he slammed his fist onto the table. Joonghyuk glared at the three of them. The teacups and plates rattled on the round table. Nirvana seemed the most unaffected, maybe even a little glad to have Joonghyuk’s glare pointed at them. 

“Quiet.” Joonghyuk declares, both his face and voice grim despite his child-like appearance. He effectively ignored the sparkles sent his way from Dokja, and totally didn’t feel proud of himself afterwards.

He got out of his seat, the fancy chair screeching at the movement and then falling to its side. Joonghyuk snatches Dokja’s sleeve and grabs him from his own seat. He at least has the courtesy to let the demon boy grab his novel before making an abrupt exit. Annoying, Joonghyuk thought, Dokja would make much better company than all three of them combined. He leads them away from the table and his chauffeur is surprised to see him at the carriage so early, even more so that a boy is accompanying him.

“Young Lord, are you sure you should bring a guest back to the manor? Are his parents informed at the very least?” His chauffeur asks, already opening the carriage door for the both of them. He helps Joonghyuk up first and waits to let Dokja up second. 

“Yes.” Joonghyuk says, answering all the chauffeur’s questions. He ignored the bizarre looks directed at him from both Dokja and his chauffeur, since they’re obviously in cahoots with each other. But despite the unclarified permission to go with, Dokja let the chauffeur help him up. 

Dokja stared at the boy across from him, his heavy book in his arms as his little tail swayed. He’s like a protagonist, Dokja thought, amazed. Did he save me? Is what he wondered. He hopes so at least, even if he’s a monster and not the princess stuck in a tower; he still hoped. Dokja smiled at the boy, albeit shyly, and looked outside the carriage window. I hope he’ll save me again. 

Chapter Text

Joonghyuk watched as Dokja twiddled with his thumbs, his eyes drifting towards the book, then at Joonghyuk again. He watched closely as he filed each action away into his mind. The carriage rocked uncomfortably on the dirt path; the horses snorting as they marched closer to the Yu residence. For next time, Joonghyuk planned to install cushions to make the travel easier for Dokja. They sat a little longer in silence, with only the background noise as filler. Should he say something? Joonghyuk pondered as he grew antsy from the lengthening silence. He was never good with small talk, and never good at making conversation. 

“How old are you, Yu Jungheok?” Dokja asks nervously, a timid smile on his face as he finally had the courage to speak up. 

“I’m–” Joonghyuk paused and grew quiet. He was 17 before transmigrating to this world, but it’s obvious that the same couldn’t be said about this body’s original host. Should he say something right now? But what can he say? Can he just lie and go for a random number? Has he been quiet for too long? Is Dokja looking at him weirdly?!

“The Young Lord is turning 14 in August, my prince.” The chauffeur says, happy to answer for him. Joonghyuk sighed in relief at his chauffeur’s interjection. 

“Ahh?!” Dokja shrieked, surprise written on his face. “You’re only 13?! H-how is that…?!” Dokja shouted crazily. Joonghyuk huffed and closed his eyes, crossing his arms then leaning back. He had to fight back a smug smirk from forming. 

Dokja then slumps in his seat. A depressing aura formed around him as he sighed. “Nirvana was right… I really do need to eat more.” He says, shaking his head. Joonghyuk couldn’t really argue against that, but he could argue against the self deprecation forming around Dokja. 

“So what? You only need to eat more. Other than that, Nirvana is wrong.” He said with great certainty.

Dokja blushed slightly as his eyes sparkled at his words. He looked back down at his hands with embarrassment once he snapped out of his wonder. “I would eat more… but my chef can’t make good food.” Dokja said, his embarrassment forgotten and replaced with dejection.

At Joonghyuk’s confused stare, Dokja clarified on what he meant. “Most demons are born with taste buds, but I was born without the gene.” The boy said with slight grief. To Joonghyuk it was an odd trait to possess and be bullied for, but it doesn’t change how different he is to others. In fact, he found it depressing to taste but never be given the opportunity to. 

Joonghyuk hummed and reflected for a long while, then came to an amazing idea. He smiled at the demon boy and ignored how sore his cheeks had already felt. Did he never smile before now? 

“I’ll cook for you.” He stated, making Dokja look at him with surprise. But then he laughed and smiled at Joonghyuk with amusement. With his cheeks reddened from laughing and sheer amusement, he looked more alive than ever in this moment. More human even.

“Sure, Jungheok. You can cook for me once you meet the age requirement.” The boy teased and laughed when he was met with a glare. His tail wagged as he loosened his hold on his book, and he leaned back to sit more comfortably. Dokja’s dazzling eyes stayed on Joonghyuk in a way that left him feeling seen.

“By the time I’m old enough, you’ll be too short to reach the chair.” He retorted back. Dokja snorted and slapped a hand over his mouth to quiet his laugh.

The journey went by quickly once they made conversation, but it consisted mostly with jabs from Dokja and short quips from Joonghyuk. Still, it felt easy to talk with the other boy. Of course, he supposes that the further the conversation went, the stranger he seemed to Dokja. 

“Jungheok-ah, you talk as if you’re my age! Listen to your elders!!” Dokja whined, but it was obvious it was just another teasing jab. Joonghyuk couldn’t argue back with Dokja since it was technically true in this world, and he was unsure if his past age transferred over. Instead of further thinking about it, he simply scowled at the other. 

“No.” He said, his glare empty. Now Dokja looked at him with a bewildered expression, but then he burst into laughter. Dokja had an ugly and loud laugh, but it just made it more charming. In fact, he almost smiled as well. 

“Jungheok-ah, I didn’t know you had a sense of humor!” The boy says with a gleeful smile, his eyes crinkling with the grin. Joonghyuk said nothing‌.

From outside of the carriage, the driver chuckled but quickly silenced himself. They slowed down as the chauffeur announced they reached the Yu residence. Joonghyuk frowned at the interruption, for it felt like an abrupt end to him. Dokja looked at him with a carefully picked smile. The shine is gone from his eyes, but they remain just as kind. 

The carriage door opened, and the chauffeur reached his hand inside to help one boy down. Joonghyuk looked at Dokja and Dokja looked at him. Both were waiting for the other to take the offered hand. He glared, and the other smiled. 

“You should go first, Jungheok-ah.” Dokja said with a smile.

“No, you should.” He argued with a glare. 

“Young Sir’s?” The chauffeur called out, a few hushed whispers heard from the maids waiting outside. 

Dokja huffed and shook his head, but his smile seemed more genuine compared to before. It made something in Joonghyuk’s chest loosen with ease, and his glare dissipated. The boy grabbed his novel and handed it to Joonghyuk, as if to say ‘see, I’ll follow you’. Joonghyuk readily accepted it and noticed that the cover was blank, but he made no comment on it. 

“Joonghyuk, you go first. I’ll be right behind you.” Kim Dokja said. To Joonghyuk, it felt like a promise and he trusted the others' words. It was strange to connect with someone so fast, even if he held the position of being the protagonist. This felt so much more. The revelation was both terrifying and freeing, but their friendship was too early to tell. So Joonghyuk stared a moment longer at Dokja before grabbing the hand of his chauffeur. 

He’s let down and turns around to watch Dokja follow him, but the boy left without his book. Joonghyuk frowned just as his chauffeur poked his head inside and came out with confusion written on his face. He glared down at the book and opened it to the recent crease of the edge. All the pagers were blank, except for the first page. 

‘Joonghyuk, I’m sorry I lied. I didn’t expect you to be so kind, so please keep my book safe. If you ever need me, just write in it and I’ll respond accordingly.  Yours, Kim Dokja’

It felt like the first time he’s seen his name. He held the book close to his chest and let the maids lead him back in with his thoughts going wild. Joonghyuk asked if they had any spare pens he could use, in which they handed him a quill and ink. His sister glared at the book with only the cute fury a baby can handle. He wondered if Dokja will be quick to respond if he wrote now…

Chapter Text

The next time he’ll meet Dokja is at his sister’s coming birthday party. During the planning period, she asked him if he wanted to invite anyone, and Dokja came to mind immediately. His expression must’ve changed in that short period, because Mia had a knowing look in her eye before even he knew its meaning. So when he sat down at his stationery, he immediately inked his pen and opened the blank book sitting on the desk. Inside of Dokja’s book, there are paragraphs of conversation between them. Many of the paragraphs are about sharing small updates in their daily life and whether anything interesting happened. 

 When he wrote the question down, he had to wait for a response from Dokja, but he doubted the boy had anything else to do. Joonghyuk will never admit to the fact that he waited diligently for a response until the moon had already risen halfway. Dokja responded in a simple ‘sure’, along with a happy smiley face. He quickly shared the date of the birthday, wished the other goodnight, then laid in his bed until he promptly passed out. ( His maid said she found him smiling with the room pungent in happy pheromones when she went to wake him up, but he doubts it's authenticity. ) 

  So when his sister’s birthday finally arrived, he found himself giddy for two opposite reasons. One reason is that it’s his sister’s birthday, and the second is that he’ll meet Dokja again. He awoke to Mia running into his room and holding onto him as she begged him to stop the maids from dressing her up. She argued that it’s her birthday and she should sleep in to celebrate. He only sighed and lifted up his blanket covers. Mia smiled widely and jumped onto the bed with giggles. She buried herself into his chest and giggled some more when they heard the chatter of hurried maids rush past his room. They woke up an hour behind, planning to a maid barging in to alert Joonghyuk of his ‘missing’ sister. Promptly at Mia’s discovery, the maids hauled Mia away to be properly fitted with her kicking and laughing. 

Joonghyuk only shook his head and shuffled back into the covers, already dreaming off… then suddenly alerted by the slamming of his door as another maid barrelled in. She looked as frazzled as the last maid that retrieved Mia, but she was more pale in comparison. She’s a beta, Joonghyuk noticed. They made eye contact with each other, and the maid awkwardly bowed to him. 

“Your father is expecting your presence, Young Master.” The maid informs him. He sits in bed in shock, his mind going blank with how surprising her statement is. Why is his father asking for him when he’s never bothered before? Something in Joonghyuk’s gut tells him this won’t end well; that a disastrous event is about to occur. Why did he skim the novel to only read Dokja’s scenes?

He says, “Inform him I’ll be there,” instead of ‘no’. In fact, to show his distaste, he’s going to half-ass his outfit. As Joonghyuk dressed himself, instead of tying his tie, he left it alone. ( Yes, he felt entirely too smug about that stunt. Somebody should call the fashion police on him. )

His father’s designated maid leads him up the stairs and towards the eastern wing in their mansion. Their steps are the only sounds in the silence, with no maids in sight. Has his father’s wing always been this empty, or has he excused the maids for something important? One question Joonghyuk has in the forefront of his mind is whether he’s involved. The maid pauses in front of the door to his father’s study, and just before she knocks, she shifts her sights towards Joonghyuk.

“Good luck.” She whispered, then knocked at the door. “Sir Yu, the young lord, is here, per your request.” She states and opens the door with his father’s permission. With the door opened as the maid bowed deeply to them both, Joonghyuk realizes he’s never seen his father’s study before. Paperwork litters the floor as books are haphazardly placed on the bookshelf. Pens are lying both on the desk and floor, one in the hands of his worn father. Joonghyuk could tell from the state of the room that this is where the brunt of his father’s anger is directed at. The room reeks of overpowering emotions; grief, anger, shame, and hate. 

Joonghyuk stepped forward to the front of his father’s desk and hears the click of the door closing behind him. Now that he’s deeper into the room, he can see more damage done to the inside. The smell is assaulting his senses and he has to fight the urge to cover his nose. Paintings of his mother had her stomach torn off, leaving the rest of her body intact. Scribbled notes laid crumpled on the floor and at the sides of his father’s desk. Only one is in a better position compared to the others. If he were to squint, he could see the legible text written on it. 

“Yu Junghyeok.” His father greets, lifting his gaze towards him. Goosebumps raised on Joonghyuk’s arms, but he didn’t express his uneasiness. “My son, you love your mother, yes?” He asks him.

“Yes, I did,” Joonghyuk answers and his father grins with an odd expression. “Then…” his father mumbled, “you’d listen to your father’s words, correct? If you love your mother, you’ll listen to your father.” 

“I suppose..” Joonghyuk answers, his fists now clenched as he kept his face neutral. His father stands and seems to cast an invisible shadow over them both. “Jungheok… you understand that your sister is a murderer, yes? It killed my wife–your mother in cold blood the moment it was born. Its first second of life was spent committing an unbelievable sin, and yet the maids treat it as if it’s worthy of being called my child.” His father says with his eyes manic and unseeing to the surrounding environment. 

“Jungheok, that monster has fooled you into believing it’s your sister. I finally understand why such grief had cast itself onto our family—your loving mother cheated on me with a demon. That spawn isn’t mine, and so it’s acting in the way its kind does; it’s nothing but a curse for us, Jungheok. I’m telling you this because I know you’re my son… and that you will listen to your only family, your father.” His father smiles, stepping around the desk and resting his hands on Joonghyuk’s shoulders, trapping him close. It’s as if his eyes are the only light in the room with how visible they are.

“Jungheok, I fooled the monster into believing it tricked me into caring for it; for loving it. Tonight, during its birthday, I shall reveal everything and then slay it. I know that is why you invited the demon prince. You wanted to prove to me, your father, that you’ll avenge your mother as well. Why else have you been learning the sword if not to punish them? ” His father states as his nails dig into Joonghyuk’s shoulders, any wrong word said will set him off. Like a bomb, thought Joonghyuk.

Joonghyuk didn’t respond as fear settled itself into his chest from the news his father has delivered him. Thankfully, his lack of response didn’t deter his father from devolving further into the rabbit hole of his mind. His father let him go and went back to his journal, writing down scribbles that couldn’t be excused as words. Joonghyuk fled the room, running all the way back into the comfort of familiar hallways to think. When he ran inside of his room, his sister sat on the bed all dressed up for her big day. The frown on her face immediately turned into a smile at his entrance as she jumped to hug him.

“Brother, you won’t believe it!! Dad is going to dance with me!!” she said with a big smile, the glint in her eyes shining bright. “Do you think he’s finally warming up to me?” She asked him, and Joonghyuk didn’t know how to answer. Her brightness blinding to her big brother and his judgment.

“Yes… I think so,” He lied through his teeth, the words rotting his tongue as he pet her head. Joonghyuk was at a loss on what to do. For a second time, he wished he had actually read the book like Sooyoung asked. How could he save his sister? He thought and continued holding his sister like his life depended on it. Maybe it did. It’s a shame, though, that she didn’t develop the sense of smell needed to pick up the anxious pheromones he released. 

His sister then shows off her dress and twirls for him. The biggest smile he’s ever seen graces her face. He lifts her into the air and watches as she laughs with each throw, her legs kicking as she chants ‘again, again’. Joonghyuk smiles and holds her tightly. She happily reciprocates the loving hug he offers. 

“Mia, I’ll always protect you.” He whispers and he knows that she heard him when she nestles further into his hold.

“I know.” She whispers back. 

Then a maid enters and smiles at the sight of the siblings hugging. She knocked at the door lightly, chuckling in amusement at the embarrassed looks the siblings shared. “Come on you two, it’s time to greet your guests.” She said.

Joonghyuk stood up and sat Mia down onto the ground, smiling at the embarrassed pout on her face. He held her hand as the maid escorted them both towards the sounds of the party. The maid whispers to a man who nods and opens the doors to the ballroom. 

“Duke Jungheok and Duchess Mia have arrived! Please be quiet for your host and hostess!” He declares to the room, and the noise does as told. Mia shuffles closer to his side and he can see the nervousness on her face, but she seems brave with their hands intertwined. He steps forward, and she follows right beside him. People cheer and clap at the sight of Mia as a shy blush covers her cheeks from the attention. 

They both sit down in their seats. Mia’s chair sat next to his and nowhere near the fathers. The guests wait for their father to be declared next. Silence envelops the crowd in their wake, but his title is never announced. Guests nervously mumble, but Dokja, stepping towards the birthday girl, has others following suit.  

Dokja smiles and bows as he deposits a gift into Mia’s arms. “Happy birthday, Duchess Mia. It’s my pleasure to finally meet Joonghyuk’s little sister.” He says and moves onto him next. Dokja smiles teasingly as he bows his head. “Greetings, Duke Joonghyuk. It’s a pleasure to meet once again.” For extra measure, Dokja even kisses Joonghyuk’s hand and laughs as he dodges a swift kick to his feet. 

Dokja goes back into the sea of guests, leaving Joonghyuk to greet people by himself. The beginning of the party goes by as a blur with guests coming up to greet them both. Some are bold enough to ask where their father is. Joonghyuk only answers that he’s held up by paperwork, but even that excuse seems farfetched for those aware of their father’s emotional state. He can see the effect of their father’s absence is having on Mia, but Joonghyuk would rather have her cry than hurt by their father. 

Sadly for Joonghyuk, the room is silenced by the same man as before. “Sir Duke Yu ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ has arrived! Please be quiet for your grand host!” He announced as their father stepped forward. Their father smiled at the crowd and seemed more emotionally stable than last time. A foreign hope settled in Joonghyuk’s chest that their father had backed down from his plan, but the look in his eye as he saw Mia stopped it. 

Their father stood in front of Mia before going towards his seat, and he smiled at her. Mia smiled back hopefully, her eyes twinkling once again. “Happy birthday.” His father said to her and then passed Joonghyuk with a derisive expression. He sat in his seat and smiled as if he were happy to be here, as if he hadn’t admitted to murder Mia in cold blood. 

After that, Joonghyuk struggled to keep his pheromones in check with their father, so close to Mia. His uneasiness felt visible to everyone near as he struggled to not grab Mia and run. Still, he smiled and shook the hands of guests, if only to ensure his sister remains unaware. He could only hope that the smell of their guests hid the hint of fear in his pheromones. 

Finally, Mia was allowed onto the floor to have her first dance with Joonghyuk. He kept his attention on her as she shyly went down the steps holding onto his hand. The crowd of guests backed away to give the siblings the floor and to watch them dance. Some women cooed at the sight of Mia in her dress, while the others examined Joonghyuk with critical judgment. Joonghyuk kept his eyes on his sister and smiled as she stared down at their feet with extreme focus. 

“Mia,” Joonghyuk whispered to her. “You should dance with Dokja. Father’s pheromones smelt like he was exhausted, but I know how excited you were to dance with him. It’s your decision.” At those words, Mia looked unsure, but nodded. He knew that Mia wanted their father’s approval, but Joonghyuk couldn’t let that happen. 

When their dance has finished, Joonghyuk went back towards his chair and their father stood up. Before he could take even a step further, Mia had already pulled Kim Dokja into the center of the circle. Joonghyuk glanced at their father and saw the noticeable twitch in his eye, as well as the murderous glare lurking beneath it. He looked away as soon as his father glanced at him, acting oblivious to the calculating glare on him. 

Their father sat back down just as Joonghyuk did. The silence between them is tense during Mia’s dance with Dokja. The guests converse between themselves at the sight and glance towards the duke, their father. Joonghyuk hoped this was enough to deter his father, but he doubted it. Mia’s and Dokja’s dance ended with them both politely bowing, and then Mia bounded back up the stairs to her seat. She smiled brightly at him and fiddled with her hands as the guests clapped. The party continued forward with no other memorable mentions.

Joonghyuk and Mia were finally excused from their seats with the permission to mingle with guests. Of course, the both of them just went to their friends instead of talking to adults. Dokja smiled as Joonghyuk stepped close and grabbed a plate of dumplings. 

“Joonghyuk-ah! I was so surprised your sister asked me to dance. You had nothing to do with it, did you?” Dokja asks, plopping a dumpling into his mouth with a pleased hum. Joonghyuk grabbed one and bit into it, chewing it lightly before answering Dokja’s question.

“..No.” He answered and stuffed the remaining dumpling into his mouth. Dokja rolled his eyes and laughed while shaking his head in disbelief. They talked and ate dumplings together until the plate became empty. Dumplings were never that good to Joonghyuk before, but maybe his tastebuds have changed.

Joonghyuk turns his head to see his sister opening presents, a big smile on her face as father stands near. They both go to join the fray as the anxious feelings festering in Joonghyuk’s chest finally evaporate. Mia laughs as the maids slice cake and give her the biggest slice with the most frosting. She looks so happy that it reflects on Joonghyuk as well. A maid hands her a small gift, ‌claiming to come from someone who really wanted her to have it once she was old enough. 

Then there are screams all around as Joonghyuk held his sister tight and ran. His father’s grief has blinded him into acting foolishly, as he thankfully lost the moment to harm Mia. As soon as Mia torn open her first gift only for it to be their mother’s necklace, their father had reacted rashly and lunged towards her. He reacted fast enough to pull her away from his hands as she screamed. Dokja had tried to pull their father back. Fear and reflex had motivated the movement, but had only redirected the anger towards himself. Joonghyuk couldn’t defend Dokja from his father’s wrath as he clutched Mia in his chest, and could only watch with numbing fear. Their father wailed on the poor boy, and Joonghyuk hesitated to let his sister down.

Their maids feared to pull him back, but a demon servant hurried to intervene for their prince. Dokja laid on the floor, trembling and wheezing. Joonghyuk’s fear could be smelt and seen, so when his father had made eye contact with him, he had run with Mia in his arms. She was the only one to see the tentacles rupturing out from Dokja’s body. Her cries and screams only fueled him to run faster. 

“B-brother!!” she cried, wailing as she held onto his clothes. I’m sorry, Joonghyuk thought with tears in his own eyes. I’m so sorry.

Chapter Text

 Yoo Joonghyuk sat at the lower trunk of an oak tree, his pants and shirt cuffs torn and frayed near the edges from the brush he ran past hours ago. He shifted around in his seat with his sister trembling on his lap, and hissed from the ache in his ankle. Joonghyuk hopes he didn't sprain or twist it from the roots and grass he stumbled on most times. He hit his head back on the tree's bark, feeling a sheen layer of cold sweat on his body that only made him feel uncomfortable and dirty. He doesn't know what he's going to do– can’t even remember if these events occurred in the novel– only focusing on holding Mia close to his chest, away from their new world. Yoo Joonghyuk, now alone in the forest with his little sister, with no place he could plausibly run to. 

 He could run into town, but who’s to say they would find any allies or staff from the Yu Manor that managed to escape. The uncertainty upset his stomach, making him feel nauseous and cling tighter onto his sister. Mia sniffled in his arms, her eyes clamped shut after all the tears she cried during the run. Joonghyuk raised a hand and rubbed at the puffy, red eyelids and felt the warmth from her skin. Her birthday dress had small tears from the occasional thorn that struck the clothing, but it appeared pristine compared to Joonghyuk’s own clothing.. Lowering his hand, he closed his own eyes and let out a deep sigh. 
 Find a settlement first, then he can figure out the rest. With all things considered, Joonghyuk finds himself lucky that Mia has yet to develop a subgender that would amplify her senses, specifically her sense of smell. Even now, his only wish is that she’d develop into a beta so that he can give her a good life, even if it would be built on lies. 

 After some time has passed, Joonghyuk shakily stood up with Mia cradled in his arms. The weight focused on his bad ankle almost made him topple, but shifting his stance onto his other leg improved his stance. Now that the adrenaline pumping through his veins has dispersed, he can feel every ache of pain in his body as he moved forward with Mia resting in his arms. Joonghyuk wobbled sideways with each stumble, the amount of times he tripped slowly growing in number as his breaths quickened. His cheeks feel warm from the strain of movement, his vision blurring if he doesn't focus on keeping Mia clean. A city, town, settlement, or person— thats all his thoughts repeated. 

 In the distance, he sees the tall figure of a person with long dark hair, smoke or blurred shapes floating away from where their mouth would be. Joonghyuk panted, vision darkening as he opened his mouth wider to let out some words. He choked around his throat, the only sounds he made were those of gurgles before he fell sideways with Mia away from the ground. Her birthday dress is still intact, no impurities for her special day.

“My, how interesting.” Joonghyuk hears the booming words before blackness enveloped his senses.
 
 Kim Dokja blinked his eyes open to blood coating a thick layer on his skin and clothes. The stench plaguing and staining his nose, he could almost taste it on his tongue. He looked around, eyes unseeing as he saw the spray of blood on the wall and distant floors. Bodies of the young and old thrown about with no care—no humanity. Dokja stood up, or tried to before he slipped and fell to the floor. He looked at what he slipped on, a ring of blood surrounding the empty space he stood on, and found clumps of black hair and tan skin.

 
“Joong… hyuk?” The name left his mouth, his hand picked up the piece of hair connecting to a scalp; and it's curly. The piece of flesh shook violently in his grasp, almost alive so he dropped it. His mind is picturing that Joonghyuk will somehow transform from the clump of cells, but it only splat loudly against the ground. Ah, it wasn't alive. He's the only one left. 

 Dokja glanced around, his mind lagging behind his senses as he's unable to smell his friend. “Joonghyuk… Mia…” He rasped out more loudly. He hiccupped, his face warming up and throat tightening. “Come out… please.” Dokja called out. 

 His arms wrapped around himself as he lost his focus on his surroundings, feeling the dried layer of blood on his skin and the knots in his hair. His chest rose and fell in rapid movements, his eyes watering before the realization dawned on him. He killed his friend. Dokja’s form crumpled to the floor, his tail flicking wildly around as his body pulsed in pain. The skin on his back stretched, his teeth and horns ached, his throat unable to make sound.

“Joonghyuk..” The name called out again in a sound unlike Kim Dokja’s normal voice.

Before Dokja could break any further, his body relaxed as he felt numb to everything. He sat there, quiet and unmoving to the world. Then he felt the muffled touch of hands cradling his head, fingers holding his chin as he was made to crane his head all the way up. He saw the blurry figure of a woman, the lines of her appearance vague as her voice cut clear through the fog.

“Dokja, my poor boy. Don't cry, mommy is here to fix everything.” The woman said, blond hair tickling his face as she pet him gently. “When I cover your eyes, you will forget this night and every person in attendance. You won’t have the memories of such a painful day.” 

Dokjas' mouth moved with the feeling of thorns pricking his eyes. “Joonghyuk..” He mouthed, unable to hear his own voice. 

“Never existed.” She answered as her hand slowly blanketed both his eyes, blocking his vision. “Yu Jungheok was simply… a warrior you read in your book. Where he saved the… cursed princess with… white, silky long hair. Kim Dokja was never friends with Yu Jungheok.” She said, her words worming their way into his neurons. 
No– Joonghyuk is my friend, he’ll come back. Dokja desperately thought to himself of a world where Joonghyuk sits next to him with smiles reserved to only him. Yes– he thought– Yoo Joonghyuk will come back for me and abandon the cursed princess.

Yu Jungheok will become his friend, as Dokja was never friends with a warrior before. Yes, it would be nice… if Yu Jungheok was never in a book.