His Highness | bts m.yg AU

An encounter

Hope Orphanage.

Bae Dohee folded the last of her clothes, closed her lugage, and lifted it up. Her eyes travelled to the old man laying on the bed, and she walked towards him.

"Director appa, I'll go now. Don't worry, Byun-ah will take care of you." She whispered, and plant a kiss on his forehead. Outside the room, a group of children stood outside.

"I'll help you with that, noona." A tall boy said, taking over the lugage. The youngest girl, Bae Sohee, tugged at her skirt. "Dohee unnie, must you really go? To the palace?"

"I'm the oldest child here, So-ah. Someone needs to work for money, and the game I hunt is not enough..." Dohee explained, and hugged her. Behind Sohee, a boy in a wheelchair sighed. "I'm sorry, noona. If only I can walk, I could have helped you, Byun hyung and Nam hyung to hunt..." He said, clutching at his kness. Dohee patted his shoulders.

"It's not your fault, Hyun-ah. Take care of So-ah and Jo-ah for me, would you?" She asked, as Bae Hyun hugged her. Bae Johee  hugged her next, and Dohee turned to the tall, black-haired boy next to her. "Nam-ah..."

"What. Aren't you going to the palace? It's just the palace." Bae Nam turned sideways, refusing to look at Dohee. Dohee sighed. "Nam-ah, I'm sorry..."

"Yes, and you're leaving on my birthday. Probably the best present I got from you." Bae Nam said sarcastically, and Sohee stomped on his feet. "Shut up, you big meanie!"

"I promise I'll come back, okay?" Dohee gave him a quick hug before he could react, and turned to Bae Byun. "Let's go, Byun-ah." 

Bae Nam and the other children looked after them, Bae Byun standing at the carriage. Dohee held his hand. "Remember, be careful at the woods. Have you memorised the herbs I taught you? Byun-ah, take care of them for me, especially Director appa..." 

"I know. I will. G..goodbye, noona." Bae Byun kissed her hand, and watched as the carraige starts to move.

Dohee felt a tear roll down her cheeks, as the children waved at her. Without warning, Bae Nam ran after her, shouting.

"Promise me, noona! You'll come back once you are of age!"

*

Blood City.

Dohee pulled her hood lower, as she walked on the busy street of the capitol city. The carraige could only drop her at the outskirts, because of her status as a commoner.

Humans, like her, are the commoners, the poverty, and the always-hungry. Only vampires are allowed to open shops, to travel in carraiges, or to live in big houses...

In her hands, Dohee clutched the letter. The pay of a palace maid is enough for her to cover for both the orphanage's expenses, and for Director appa's illness. But, from what she heard from the palace...

Dohee shivered. They said that the third prince, child of the late Empress Min, slaughters servants at his mood. If she got assigned at his palace...

"Ouch!" 

Dohee staggered backwards, having knocked into something hard. Looking up, Dohee's eyes widened, and she kneeled down immediately. "I am so sorry, please forgive me, mister."

A vampire from the palace! Dohee's heart pounded widely, she can recgonise the velvet fabric he was wearing. Director Bae had told her that only vampires from the palace are allowed to wear the colour. The vampire chuckled.

"It's alright, my lady," he said, as a pale hand stretched out infront of Dohee's face. "It is my fault, so please do get up."

Dohee stared at his hand. The fingers are long and slender, and a sliver spiral ring twisted around his middle finger. She swallowed her saliva nervously."I- It's alright, mister. I can get up on my own." She declined politely, as the hand paused and retreated. Dohee stood up, patting the dust of her skirt, not daring to look up.

"You don't seem like you are from the capitol, my lady. Where are you heading to?" The vampire asked. Dohee stared at his boots. "The palace, mister."

"The palace, you say?" The vampire repeated, surprised. Dohee could feel his eyes scanning at her, up and down. She nodded. "Yes, mister."

He chuckled again. "What's your name?" 

"My... name?" Dohee blinked.

"Yes, you're name. Since you're heading towards the palace, I assume that you are going to work there as a palace maid. I could look out for you, too."

Dohee licked her dry lips. "My name is... is Bae Dohee." Dohee said. She felt a soft pat of her shoulder. "Hey, raise your head and look at me."

Dohee does as she was told. A fairly handsome face grinned, his red eyes warm. "My name is Hoseok. Jung Hoseok."