𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 ♡ Victon Imagines

BYUNGCHAN • Masquerade of Hearts

Masquerade of Hearts

• fluff
• royalty au
• arrange marriage
• 3.3k words
• requested by: flamingwraith (thank you for requesting this one! first time writing royalty au & hopefully, i put justice on this one hehe)

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THE ballroom of Aurelian Castle glowed like the heart of a dream.

It was a space carved from elegance and centuries of tradition. Domed ceilings painted in soft frescoes of starlit skies, and walls adorned with tapestries telling the legacy of kings and queens past. But tonight, history gave way to romance.

Love.

The entire hall had been transformed into a vision of gold and blue, a tribute to both the Kingdom of Aurelian and the evening’s significance.

Dozens of floating lanterns hovered beneath the chandeliers, bobbing gently like fireflies caught in a lullaby. Each lantern bore the royal crest—two crossed lilies in a ring of stars—casting soft glows across the faces of the masked guests below. Crystal candelabras lined the room, their golden flames mirrored in the polished marble floors beneath satin-clad shoes.

Curtains of sheer silk, dyed in Aurelian’s signature twilight blue, framed every towering window. Through the glass, the gardens shimmered beneath the moonlight, while fountains dancing to the music spilling out into the night.

Inside, the masquerade had already begun. Dozens of nobles moved in elegant rhythm across the ballroom floor, their masks concealing identities but not intention. Murmurs floated like perfume in the air, soft and sweet, weaving around the sounds of violins and the delicate clink of crystal.

Gold, silver, deep burgundies, and forest hues painted the silhouettes of guests in motion. Masks ranged from simple velvet eye covers to ornate pieces adorned with feathers, jewels, and lace.

“It’s a fairy tale,” someone whispered near the steps of the musician’s dais.

“No,” came the answer. “It’s politics. But for once, a romantic one.”

In one corner of the room, a small group had captured more attention than most. Not simply for their looks, which were striking, but for their presence. Six young men stood near a curved marble pillar wrapped in ivy and lights, their finely tailored suits stitched with green-gold threads that glimmered like morning dew.

The delegation from the Verdantia Kingdom had arrived early in the afternoon, invited personally by King Minhyuk of Aurelian, and not just for diplomacy. The Verdantian royals were renowned for their kingdom’s lush forests, advanced botanical research, and a deep reverence for harmony with the natural world. Every royal building there was wrapped in green stone, and gardens were tended with as much care as politics.

These six young nobles from Verdantia were better known across kingdoms by another name: NCT WISH. Sakuya, Riku, Jaehee, Yushi, Ryo, and Sion. Each a royal or highborn son, trained in etiquette, diplomacy, and, as rumor had it, more than one form of martial arts. But tonight, they wore masks of satin and smiles of mischief.

“I’m still not convinced it’s not magic,” Riku said, glancing up at the floating lanterns. His green mask shimmered with emerald tones beneath the light.

“It’s candle heat and delicate wires,” Sion replied, ever the realist, brushing invisible lint from his lapel.

“Let me pretend, at least,” Jaehee sighed dramatically, raising a flute of sparkling wine to his lips.