By The Crest

❃3❃

Five months. It has been five months since Wooyoung has entered the world of fiction. It took him a while, but he finally got use to the world around him. And frankly, he's been enjoying it before the actual plot of the story would begin.

His new reality is the same as how it was in the novel. Loving and hard-working parents that was dominating the textile industry, three best friends that -as said in the book- he basically grew up with because of their parents being business partners and actual friends, and a bright future with the guarantee that he will be the next heir to his parent's business since he was an only child. Wooyoung also discovered that he had the original 'Wooyoung's' memories, making it easy for him to blend in.

Everything was wonderful to him. However, he knew that all of it was just the calm before the storm. And that storm being The Birthday Banquet for the prince that was happening tonight.

Wooyoung tried getting out of going to the party but it looks like novel's plot had already began its fate for the male. He tried every excuse there was in the book of excuses on his parents and friends, but they all failed in some way. So he had no choice but to go to the party like in the novel.

While the maids added the finishing touches to his outfit for the party, he went over his plan mentally. Go to the party looking fine as hell, make sure to excuse himself after mingling with a few people so that parents and friends wouldn't be suspicious of him, and lastly, try to avoid the prince and don't fall for him. The plan seemed easy enough but Wooyoung has a feeling that it would be a 'easier said than done' kind of situation.

The maids eventually finished dressing him and stepped back from Wooyoung. Their heads lowered and hands clasped together at the front as a sign that they had finished their task. Wooyoung looks at the mirror to see his appearance.

He looked stunning, call him a narcissist for a minute but he really liked how he looked in this new body of his. Dark green vest over a white button up that had silver details, a black bolo tie with a gold pendant, and a long grey blazer with silver patterns and black gradiation near the sleeves, and black dress pants and black shoes.

After admiring his looks, Wooyoung exited his room and eventually went down to the foyer of their mansion. His parents had already left for the party so he would be riding with his friends. The three of them stood at the bottom of the U shaped stairs talking among themselves. It was Yeosang who heard the male's footsteps and turned to see him descend from the stairs.

"Took you long enough"

He scoffed with a teasing voice. Wooyoung rolled his eyes as he joined them.

"It's not my problem that it takes me a while to be this good-looking" His pointer finger circled at his face when he said 'this'. Yeosang only shook his head at his friend's self-love.

"Don't start now you two. We have a party to get to"

Hongjoong stated as they began walking out of the home and into a carriage that waited for them. The box was red with matching gold ornamentations. The four stepped in to be greeted by the same colour scheme as they sat on the comfy cushions. Hongjoong and Wooyoung sat facing the front while Yunho and Yeosang sat facing front of them.
The coach flicked the horses' reigns once Yunho gave him the command to head to the palace.

"Do you think your soulmate will be at the party?" Hongjoong asked the male beside him that was busy watching the scenes of the world go by the curtain framed window. Wooyoung turns his head to face the older, the other two also listening in on the conversation.

"Maybe. A lot of people will be there, so there's that possibility. What about you guys?"

Just like the book would have it, Wooyoung did end up getting his crest. It came at an odd time as well. He laid in his bed one night thinking about how much would the novel's plot would change if ever he were to stray from the original storyline. Would he be able to avoid his feelings for the prince? Would he be able to keep himself from being so lovesick with the prince? Would he be able to escape his death scene?

As those thought lingered in his head that night, he woke the next morning to see that his loose button up fell from his right shoulder. And as he saw his reflection in the mirror from the vanity, he saw the gold crest on him. Its place was as the same as where the original 'Wooyoung' got his. Just below his right collarbone, its shape was in a double circle with a 8 pointed star in the middle with extra lines and another double inner circle, its colour glowed in a beautiful, enchanting gold. Wooyoung was so hypnotized by it that he didn't hear his mother the duchess come into his room. She caught her son staring as his crest and she startled the male with her surprised gasp.

She was just as amazed as her son was. The duchess said nothing more but wished Wooyoung that he could find his soulmate soon and warned him of its curse if ever he went against its rules. Wooyoung assured her that he would be fine, feeling grateful that the author of the novel made sure that the society in the book tried accepting soulmates that were of the same gender. Even if some were still scrutinizing it.

Eventually, Wooyoung ended up announcing his crest to his friends and their parents. His friends were surprised that the male was the first in their group to have the mark, yet their crests also appeared on them the following days as well.

The four of them were very supportive and excited for each other since they at least knew that there was someone out there just waiting for them. Someone who would want to be beside them, someone who would want to grow old and have a family with them, someone who would love them.

"Like you said, a lot of people will be at the party. So our best bet is to keep our eyes peeled for anyone else that has the same crest as ours"

Yunho smiles at his green crest that was on the back of his left hand. Yeosang nods as he stares at his own blue crest located on the back of his right hand. Hongjoong mindlessly thumbs his red crest through his clothes, it being on his right hip.

They continued there small talk in the carriage until they felt the box coming to a stop and the coachman knocked on the door.

They've arrived.