A clarification on this story: I researched about Korean dynasty and found interesting things (like the titles of nobility), so I decided to put a date soon for everything that is happening here - because I'm kind of crazy about it ^^

Anyway, the story takes place in 1022 and all the costumes are – if you watch historical k-drama – very beautiful and traditional like the ones of the time. I'm not much for writing about dynasties, but so here we have Emperor Hyunjung (fictitious name for my fanfic) who is the father of Heechul, Donghae, and Ryeowook. Heechul and Ryeowook are Daegun (Great Prince of Blood) while Donghae is a Wangja-gun (which means he is an Emperor's son with a concubine and from what I've read this word can be translated as Prince of Blood).

These are some information that I wanted to pass on to you from a research I did for a better understanding of this plot. I thought it was important to research so that I could also understand better about the titles of nobility at that time :)

Another thing I wanted to add is that alphas and omegas are not going to have an age for them to present themselves as alphas or omegas like in my other stories. I wanted to save time on this, so they are already born alphas or omegas.

I hope you enjoy the new chapter ^^

After helping his mother with breakfast, Donghae sat down at the table to get some rest. He always helped her chop wood and do the other chores around the house, but he also had a life of privilege in the palace and so he was completely unaccustomed to it. Chaeyeong laughed and said that the pink-haired prince would always be a pink-haired prince and nothing could change that.

But Donghae wished he wasn't so spoiled.

- Good morning, Your Highness.

Donghae lifted his head and there was Jongwoon smiling.

- Good morning, Sir Kim. Would you like some tea or will you wait for Sir Lee?

- I would like some tea, but you don't have to serve me because...

Donghae laughed.

- Nonsense, Sir Kim. The good thing about being away from the palace is that here I can be a commoner. – and so he served his guard some tea – Omma and I made soup and rice with vegetables.

Jongwoon bowed and picked up a bowl so he could help himself. After that, he sat at the table and looked at Donghae who smiled and wished he had a good breakfast. Indeed seeing that the prince was a simple person scared Jongwoon. He expected princes to be boring and spoiled, but in fact they were kind.

- Thank you, Your Highness. The food is delicious.

- I'm glad. Omma and I couldn't think of anything this fancy for breakfast as we were chopping wood for the stove.

- But you don't have to think of something elaborate for your servants.

Donghae shrugged.

- I like to think that you are here as pleasant company. The other guards were rude and didn't like to accompany me, so I'm glad appa hired you. Sir Lee is also very polite and I like that.

Jongwoon laughed.

- If Hyukjae were rude, his uncle wouldn't forgive him.

Donghae smiled.

- He told me he was raised by his uncle and aunt. – and so Donghae bit the corner of his mouth before asking – Can I ask you some questions?

- Oh... Why not? I'm here to answer your questions, Your Highness.

- Well... Sir Lee told me that you came from Sage and that you took care of the security of the city where you lived. Why were you interested in the job?

The alpha ate some rice and said:

- It was easier to take care of princes. There was nothing exciting about taking care of a town in Sage. And I really liked knowing that the Emperor was looking for competent people. Hyukjae and I are very competent and we are not afraid of hard work.

- I see... But weren't you happy in Sage?

Jongwoon bit his bottom lip and Donghae said:

- No need to answer, Sir Kim.

- Oh, no, Your Highness. It's just that the past is something that shouldn't scare me. But you see... I come from an affluent family. My parents are earl and countess, so they wanted me to marry a young woman who would inherit the title of marchioness with our union. I didn't want that and said I intended to be an artist, but they laughed at me and said only a marriage would save me from failure. – Jongwoon sighed – After hearing that, I decided that I would write my own destiny and that's why I became a knight.

- I'm sorry your parents said that. I don't see you as a failure.

- Thank you, Your Highness. But I think my parents just don't want to understand that I don't like becoming a marquis. If so, I would have made an effort to do so.

Donghae nodded.

- So does that mean you could be at our dances?

- Yes.

- Your parents are invited to the dances. I know this, for appa sends out invitations to all the dukes and duchesses, earls and countesses, marquises and marchionesses...

- That's true, but my parents only accepted invitations because they wanted to be in society. Anyway, they don't talk much about me.

Donghae pursed his lips. Those guards had far more complex lives than he could have imagined. But satisfied for now, the omega decided not to ask any more questions especially since Hyukjae showed up and he looked better than the first day the two saw each other. Donghae would have blushed, but he managed to hold back a little.

- Good morning, Sir Lee. Would you like some tea?

And so Hyukjae accepted and was surprised when Donghae served the tea and smiled before saying that he could help himself to soup and rice with vegetables. The alpha thanked him and grabbed some food before sitting down at the table. Hyukjae knew he was just excited, but he couldn't help but admire the way Donghae acted regardless of royal titles. He didn't even care if he was sitting at the table with his guards and then the coachman and the lady who always smiled politely.

Donghae talked to everyone and was always laughing or smiling. He listened attentively and even showed interest in stories that he could never confirm whether they were true or not. And when Ryeowook joined the table, Hyukjae realized how strong the bond between the brothers was. The blond-haired omega was also very friendly and liked to talk and laugh about anything. The two really didn't know how to live apart anymore.

But then Chaeyeong arrived with the not-so-shy child sat at the table and waved. After knowing that Donghae and Ryeowook wouldn't do any harm, Kyuhyun felt ready to join everyone for breakfast. He was hungry and his new uncles served him tea and food. Kyuhyun was a little alpha who was very fond of butterflies and birds. He liked anything that flew and always said he wanted to be a little bird so he could fly around.

Donghae and Ryeowook didn't want to be rude to Kyuhyun because at first, he was a kid; second, he liked the omegas a lot and peppered them with question especially about Heechul because he wanted to know more about his new father. They realized that Kyuhyun was very fond of their older brother and it would be very difficult to separate them if the Emperor so wished. The little one had the prince as his father and nothing would change that.

- Then dad said he wanted to give me a bird for my birthday, but I didn't want the bird stuck in the cage because he would be sad stuck there.

- You did well then. – Ryeowook said and smiled – And how is Heechul with you and your appa?

Kyuhyun smiled widely.

- Dad likes to teach me to duel. Appa says there's no need because I'm not going to be a knight, but I like to learn to duel from dad. And he makes food for me and my appa. And he tells me bedtime stories too.

Donghae and Ryeowook smiled. Heechul, when his younger brothers were still children, told them bedtime stories and also taught them how to duel – something omegas couldn't do. And the brothers were so moved that Ryeowook got up and went outside to cry. Donghae apologized and ruffled Kyuhyun's hair, making the boy giggle and continue talking to the others.

- Why was the prince sad? – Kyuhyun asked after breakfast when he was in Hyukjae and Jongwoon's care – Did I make him sad?

- I think the prince was just very emotional with what you said about his brother. – and seeing that Kyuhyun didn’t really believe it, Hyukjae said:

- Let's play outside. You said you wanted to be a bird and I can make you fly.

Kyuhyun arched an eyebrow and Jongwoon asked:

- What do you intend, Hyukjae?

- You'll see. – so he stood up – Chaeyeong-ssi?

- Yes.

- We'll stay outside so that Kyuhyun can play in the garden. Alright for you?

- Of course, of course... Take good care of him.

And so the alphas left the house. Donghae and Ryeowook were still outside, so they watched Kyuhyun excited to play at being a bird. He didn't even know how he was going to fly, but he wanted to find out. And since he had a younger sister, Hyukjae knew how to handle children. On the balcony, the omegas and Jongwoon watched as the alpha placed the little one on his shoulder and ran with him across the garden.

Kyuhyun's giggle could be heard all over the place. Lying face down on Hyukjae's shoulder, the boy spread his arms and pretended to be flying. He had a great time and Donghae smiled as he watched the alpha playing with the little one who couldn't stop laughing. And as much as he tried, the omega couldn't stop that feeling that made his heart even more interested in Hyukjae. Donghae knew he couldn't, but it was impossible to avoid.

- He is very good at taking care of children. – Ryeowook commented and looked at Donghae, smiling afterwards – What's that sparkle in your eyes, Donghae?

Donghae blushed and glared at his brother, hoping that Jongwoon hadn't heard – however, he did and smiled. He just didn't want to show it so as not to embarrass the pink-haired omega.

- Well, I find it interesting that Sir Lee is very careful with a child's feelings.

Ryeowook understood the critical tone and pursed his lips. He knew that Donghae was not at all happy that he had left the kitchen like that to cry over the fact that Heechul was telling stories to Kyuhyun. The pink-haired omega didn't blame his younger brother, but being jealous of it seemed like a very silly thing.

And Ryeowook needed to grow up. He had to understand that things weren't going his way.

But watching Hyukjae playing with Kyuhyun, Ryeowook started to feel silly. The boy lost one father and got another. He was very happy having Heechul as a father and that was good because it showed that the alpha did a good job. Asking Heechul to abandon his family would be selfish that Ryeowook didn't want to have.

Donghae, on the other hand, couldn't stop watching how Hyukjae treated Kyuhyun. At that moment they sat down on the floor and started talking about anything and the little one laughed happily at the alpha who always said funny things or made faces. Donghae wanted so much to be close, but then he didn't know if Hyukjae would be comfortable because all that prince bull didn't allow things to be normal.

- So you're five, right? – Hyukjae asked and Kyuhyun nodded – Five years is an important age for an alpha.

- Is it? Why?

- Because this is the moment when things change in the head and in the heart. Don't you feel like protecting your parents at all times?

- Yes! – Kyuhyun stood up and Hyukjae looked at him – When dad teaches me to duel, I always think about protecting him and my appa. – and then whispered in the older alpha's ear – But I was afraid of that omega.

- The blond-haired prince? – the little one nodded – Why?

- Because I thought he was going to take my dad away. – he sighed and sat down again – Dad goes a lot of days without seeing us. Appa is very sad and so am I, but it's always nice when dad comes back.

Hyukjae smiled and looked at the cloudless sky. He identified with Kyuhyun, then said:

- You're still too young to understand how the world works, but... Be a happy child. Play that you are a bird and act like one. You are free to explore the world as you see fit.

Kyuhyun smiled and looked at the sky as well. Maybe things would get better and he would be able to spend the rest of his life with his parents. That's how the little alpha thought. It was what he wanted.

~~~
Later...

Jungsu wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the roof he and Heechul had just fixed. The rain did a lot of damage, but luckily everything was reinforced and they wouldn't have problems for years to come. Jungsu put his hands on his hips and looked at Heechul who kept the tools in a safe box so Kyuhyun wouldn't feel like playing afterwards. After all, he could get hurt badly there.

- I can't believe we managed to fix the whole roof. – Heechul said – My hands have calluses.

Jungsu laughed.

- Don't worry, Your Highness. You will rest now and we will take care of your hand.

The other alpha laughed.

- Don't call me Your Highness. It's so weird.

- Then don't complain if your hands have calluses. Commoners' hands are like that because they work so hard. And if you want to give up your title, I think you better get used to working.

Heechul groaned.

- I think I should review this contract then. I don't know if I want my hands full of calluses. – and so he washed his hands in the bucket – But now you and Kyuhyun are safe. When I get back to the palace, I'll be relieved to know we did a good job.

Even with the dirty clothes, Jungsu hugged Heechul and whispered:

- It’s so difficult to hear that you intend to return to the palace.

Heechul hugged Jungsu and bit his bottom lip. It would be a problem to go back to the palace and leave your family there. He wanted everyone to be able to live together.

- Don't be like that. I will come back.

- But what if your appa doesn't let you? I know how important it is that you become the next Emperor and have heirs to continue the lineage.

- My only son is Kyuhyun. I don't want to have more.

Jungsu shook his head and walked away, holding Heechul's hands and saying while looking him in the eye:

- Kyuhyun doesn't have your blood and he will never be Emperor because I won't allow that. I know you have him as a son and he has you as a father, but… – the alpha sighed – We know that the Emperor will never accept this.

- But I don't need to become the Emperor if he doesn't want to accept that you and Kyuhyun are part of my life. It's not fair that I have to accept a