He's been called to throne room under the premise of an announcement from his uncle but Donghae has an inkling the announcement is just another of his uncle’s schemes. He has an intrinsic feeling he’s not going to like what he hears. Donghae would very much rather not go but he knows not to delay the inevitable, not when his uncle will find some way to make the conditions even worse and so with footsteps heavy and a grimace, he waits as the doors are pulled open by the guards stationed nearby and walks towards the throne, face kept carefully blank and head held high.

"Donghae," the man greets with a smile no realer than Donghae is a woman, "how are you doing, my boy?"

"What did you call me here for," Donghae pauses before grudgingly muttering, "your highness?"

"Always so straight to the point," his uncle pouts unattractively, "very well, as you know, our resources have been dwindling due to recent events."

All of which had been orchestrated by you, Donghae seethes. All of this is because of you. 

"What does this have to do with me, sir?" he says instead.

"Well, my dear nephew, as you know, the small little nation of Fie X'hin is quite remote but its position in the mountains blesses their people with bountiful minerals and materials."

Donghae narrows his eyes. He doesn’t like where this is going.

"So," his uncle continues, "I requested their aid."

Silence.

"And the price?" Donghae eventually asks. A real smile graces his uncle's lips then and a shiver runs down his spine at the sight, thoroughly disturbed by the vileness of it. Though he steels himself, Donghae still finds himself reeling by the words spoken next,

"Your marriage to the grand duke’s son."

(also on Ao3)

Also I'm so new to aff's formatting so please tell me if it's too hard to read or if you have suggestions on how to make it more easy on the eyes haha, help an elf out ah