The Princes Street Rat

29 - Formal proposal

𓆩♡𓆪  

When Jisung was little, he watched dragon hopefuls give replicas of a dragon fang to their desired lover. A sign of total devotion, a promise that they'd be together forever.

Jisung wondered if he'd find someone to give a dragon fang to. Or if he could settle down with one person forever. He thought he'd be like Chan. On his own and completely focused, as he dedicated his life to serving his people. He held no worldly interests but that.

Jisung was a bit unfocused, a bit irresponsible, making spontaneous decisions that often left him in trouble. He was unfit to lead, but everyday he aimed to prove himself. To be more like Chan. Red dragon; Leader.

Now he never thought he'd find himself with a human prince on his way to his clan. A crowned prince. A quiet prince. A prince he doesn't quite understand.

Lee Minho.

The Prince sat beside him, over-thinking. Jisung couldn't quite tell what's on his mind. Minho wouldn't even look at him, there was a distance between them as there always was. They were worlds apart after all.

It was only a matter of minutes before he'd meet his clan, his family, his leader and present this stranger as his husband.

His wasn't quite sure what he felt. It was all a jumble.

Jisung was dressed in a simpler outfit as promised. A light shirt with hints of blue and purple. A harness over his chest and simple pants. The material was expensive so he didn't exactly pass as a commoner, it was still pretty obvious that he was under the prince's protection.

He had his hair washed in odd smelling water and its natural dark blue tinge was back in its full glory, his hair was decorated with accessories of genuine silver.

They'd left in a caravan of seven wagons. Jisung remembers the prince saying it'd just be four, he wondered what changed. What needed to be added.

Servants? Guards? Gifts?

Jisung's heart quickened as they approached familiar grounds. The part leading to the main entrance of the forest. The sign that introduction the forest that nosey humans deformed with colour and silly drawings.

He watched everything with such fondness and familiarity till they reached the gates of the forest. Outside at the gates stood dragon warriors that worked to protect his people, people he'd trained alongside for years.

They were granted access in. They rolled through the streets Jisung walked by a thousand times. He wondered what Minho thought as he looked at the place he grew up him.

Still, there wasn't an expression on his face. He skimmed through here and there. Mostly it seemed guarded, tense. This wasn't his territory. Jisung could understand his unease.

He reached out to peak out, to greet, to converse with but there seemed to be a new barrier between him and his home.

Dragonfolk were outside, they abandoned their work and play to gaze at the caravan. Their eyes were filled with so many different things.

Wonder. Awe. Utter disbelief. Fear.

Mothers held their kin close to them as they watched them pass by. He wasn't sure he liked that. He wondered what they heard.

Had they heard of a human prince, a direct descendant of their oppressors was entering their territory? Or were they only finding out now? Did they hear that Jisung would be made bride? Jisung, the blue dragon. Jisung, the once mischievous child. Jisung, the dragon that could pass off as human.