⬥ nightwing square

*watches the barren streets as people pass by*

@❛ ☽﹕ryujin s。 "we are just the same, you and me. born from a human and a vampire." she paused and looked at her, "some vampires do age after a millenia, we're far from that. however, we walk freely in a daylight which we are capable to hide ourselves from the witches in ilias." she added and chuckled, "i even established my own shop there. i like collecting antiques or old things from hundred years ago and sell it along with unique amount of goods."

@❛ ☽﹕taeyeon k。 the other's reply got ryujin stopping on her tracks, in pure awe. she took another minute to stare at taeyeon from head to toe, the back up. other than family, it is her first time getting to know someone with centuries on their backs – even then, she rarely sees her grandparents. obviously amazed, ryujin couldn't help the comment that left her lips before she thought of it. "so pretty– for someone with such age already, i mean. or maybe my father is just really bad in taking care of himself.." she chuckles a little sheepish, resuming their walk. "ah.. does it mean you were not born in this family? you don't need to answer of course."

@❛ ☽﹕mingyu k。 in the presence of mingyu, she couldn't help but notice a slight change in his demeanor. a hitch in his breath and a fleeting glimpse of something vulnerable in his eyes. however, she quickly dismissed it as her imagination playing tricks on her. after all, he was known for his cold and aloof nature, and she had no reason to believe otherwise. as she acknowledged his silent agreement, she followed after him into the courthouse, her steps matching his with a calm and collect grace. while she harbored no affection for him, she understood the benefits this marriage would bring. it was a means to an end, a path that would allow her to work at the hospital and pursue her true passion.

as they approached the courthouse employees, she observed his commanding presence, noting his impatience with those who didn't adhere to his strict sense of time. she followed his head, her gaze briefly the eyes of the female staff who received a cold look from him. for a moment, she felt a flicker of sympathy for them, knowing firsthand how daunting it was to face his unwavering gaze. with their reservation confirmed, they were guided into the office where the necessary documents awaited them and she watched as he meticulously inspected each paper, ensuring that everything was in order. his silent efficiency commanded her attention, despite her efforts to remain indifferent. once he finished signing, with a composed demeanor, she added her signature to the documents, sealing their marriage. as the officiator confirmed the union, she followed after him once again, steps echoing behind him as they embarked on a journey to his residence.

as they made their way to his household, she found herself immersed in a whirlwind of emotions. doubts and uncertainties began to cloud her mind, intertwining with a lingering curiosity about the man who now held a significant role in her life. she couldn't deny the palpable tension between them, the unspoken complexities that laid beneath their arranged union.

@❛ ☽﹕ryujin s。 they continue walking when ryujin asked question about the other vampire with her, she smiled. "i am three centuries old, i was taught by a vampire instructor when i was 13 years of age and maybe i was too obedient to learn these things that it already engraved in my head at this point." she left a chuckle before, "to be honest with you, i would also be like that, disregarding simple etiquettes that doesn't needed in some parts of illias or in cruor."

@❛ ☽﹕taeyeon k。 ryujin couldn't help but to frown a little. even at home with her elders she isn't used to bowing and being extremely polite – thus it led her here, but she isn't rude either. ryujin is just a little against the whole hierarchy thing, but again she could never say such thoughts aloud. with a few nods of her head, she started following taeyeon, paying close attention to how the latter walks and on her posture. ryujin lacks a lot, she noticed. with a small chuckle, she tries to straighten her back and walk as feather-like as the other. "okay, that's an easy start.. how old are you again if i may ask? you seem very used to all of this already, more than those who learn such habits since they're born."

@❛ ☽﹕ryujin s。 she nodded at the other attempting to please her with a bow before smiling, "yes, ryujin. doctor shin told me all about you, he told me you're studious and kind. spare the manners and etiquettes, i was surprised to teach someone much older than i usually taught." taeyeon chuckles before looking around the area. "anyway, since you do a little curtsy there, i'll let it slide. but next time we meet, i hope you are prepared to do that very smoothly." then she turns around as they start walking, showing how ladies should walk and pose towards other people. "now, while we're walking. you must straightened your back, but not too straight or you might get tired easily because you stretched your back too far. your shoulder must be on a straight line, not too stiff or not to slump." she instructed while walking.

@❛ ☽﹕taeyeon k。 to say that she was a little taken aback was a lie, ryujin couldn't help but to feel a little offended even – but something over the stern yet gracious correction that the latter made had ryujin feeling quite funny, she couldn't describe it as it was an unfamiliar feeling. "i–" with a clear of , ryujin proceeds to bow, but it happens to be far from a polite one not because ryujin is being rude on purpose, she just in fact doesn't go along well with all these formalities. "sorry, taeyeon. i'm ryujin but you probably know that already? bet my father made sure to fill you in with all the details." the thought made ryujin scoff slightly under her breath, but she proceeded to offer a small smile afterwards. "sorry, again. this is just... not something i would thought would happen to me at.. this age, to be honest."

@❛ ☽﹕chaeyoung p。 His breath hitched at the sight of the female. Her simple yet elegant gown that she put on right now was enough to send him off the edge. He quickly diverted his attention away from the heavenly sight of her and acted all cold again. Why does every time she speaks his name, his heart rate goes up for no reason? This is so improper on Mingyu's side, and he's not reckoned to have this kind of feeling at all. Damned.

Mingyu just nodded at her statements and walked into the courthouse first. He didn't want to waste more time on this matter. Power and leverage are what he wants, and he knows the female could give him whatever he wanted by marrying her. Allocating his power over the apothecary wasn't a big deal for him anyway. It's like a win-win situation for both of them, and Mingyu feels like he's doing a reasonable job anyway.

He walks towards one of the employees there and informs her about his upcoming betrothal, so she quickly scans her reservation lists to check his name. Just two days after Chaeyoung suggested the marriage plan, Mingyu had already delivered the plan to the courthouse. He's a man who hates waiting, and he's very strict about his time. For him, time management is very important, and he just loathes it when people can't be punctual. When the staff confirmed his reservation, he was asked to come inside the office right away since he was one of the Dukes, and it was just not right to make him wait even longer. Mingyu conveyed a cold look at the female staff and gestured to Chae-young to come after him.

Here they are with the documents already on the table, and they only have to wait for their signatures to make things official between the two. Mingyu checked the documents thoroughly before he grabbed a pen and signed them without saying a word. He hands the pen over to Chaeyoung after he is done. The moment the officiator confirmed their marriage, Mingyu was quick to stand up and grab the important documents as he looked at his current wife. "Come with me. We're going to my household. "

@❛ ☽﹕ryujin s。 meeting another vampire to be taught as a woman really is something for taeyeon, for three centuries living around earth that's always her role. she could handle younger vampires who are spoiled and hard-headed, she could handle more than that. after all, she didn't grew up as a duchess, she was an orphan and an urchin. now, a pureblood doctor wanted her to do a favor for him in exchange she will be rewarded eagerly for this: she needs to teach a hundred year old vampire, which is surprising since taeyeon never taught someone much older than other vampires that haven't reached to their 20s.

she did accepted the favor and is to meet up with the half-blood girl just like her, once she sees the girl, she already knew that this one in front of her is an average one, however she did broke the first thing that a proper girl must do when greeting someone older than her. taeyeon smiled at her, "taeyeon kim, you can call me miss kim... or taeyeon. if you please." she introduced herself, "right now, you just informally greeted me without a bit of a curtsy-- bending your knees in front of someone older or has the higher status than you." she did surprised the other, just by meeting each other taeyeon commenced their lessons when it comes to manners and etiquettes.

@❛ ☽﹕taeyeon k。 if there's one thing ryujin opposed to and even engaged into a heated discussion with her family was this. she doesn't need manner lessons or anything of the sort – she knows way too well when to treat or not people respectfully, but it seems her father doesn't think so. as he says, 'a young lady needs to behave herself at all times'. even though she isn't happy about having such lessons, ryujin does her best to keep her emotions in check and treat her new teacher well. a known duchess it seems, although ryujin herself was always too busy lost in her own books to actually keep track of royalty.

when she sees taeyeon in person though, she quickly changes her mind. too delicate, too soft, too pretty – does taeyeon even knows how to stand up for herself? the duchess probably never needed such thing. "nice to meet you... sorry, how would you like me to call you?" ryujin can't help but to eye the other up and down a couple times – secretly wishing she could go back home to her books, but still obviously in awe, as taeyeon's looks are no joke.

@❛ ☽﹕mingyu k。 she watched as his demeanor shifted, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. noticing his sense of intrigue in his voice as he acknowledged her determination and the risks she was willing to take, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had managed to break through his icy facade, or if he simply found amusement in her boldness.

the second he agreed to the deal, a mix of relief and uncertainty washed over her despite the implications of marrying into his household, the challenges and expectations that would accompany such a union. however, she was willing to face them head-on if it meant gaining the access and influence she desired. nodding in response, she committed the meeting time to memory. “two days.” she repeated softly before watching him turn away, boarding into his carriage.

as she began walking away from the plaza, her mind raced with plans and strategies. she knew that the coming days would be filled with preparations and difficult decisions, but in the depth of her heart, she couldn’t shake off the lingering question — was this alliance born of necessity, or was there a chance, however small, that something more could develop between them? friendship perhaps? yet, she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the path ahead. she knew that she had embarked on a journey that would test her every step of the way and the weight of her decision settled upon her shoulders for the sake of her ambitions.

( the wedding )

chaeyoung arrived to the plaza in her carriage, before taking a step outside in front of the courthouse. her disdain for mingyu still lingered, like a shadow cast upon her soul, but she had made a choice driven by necessity and ambition. the layers of her simple, yet elegant gown swayed gently as she surveyed the surroundings until her gaze finally rests upon the figure on mingyu, standing tall in his formal attire. the courthouse, devoid of the opulence she had dreamt of, was something she had always wanted when she was once in love as a human. however, now it was the setting for their union — an inconspicuous veil to shield their true intentions.

as she approached him, her voice carried a cool, composed tone, belying the subtle flicker of intrigue that danced in her eyes. “mingyu.” she uttered, her words laced with a blend of reluctance and determination. “our paths intertwine once more, in this union of convenience.” her lips curved into a polite smile, masking the deeper motives that propelled her into this agreement. “shall we go inside now?” as she moved her gaze from him to the building of the courthouse.

@❛ ☽﹕chaeyoung p。 There's something about the female that piqued Mingyu's interest. her determination and her efforts to draw him into this deal that could affect both of them. the risks that she's willing to take to marry him, one of the Dukes and Chief Joshua's left-hand man. Mingyu was somehow amused at her willingness to do anything as long as she could have the benefits. To be quite honest, he can just help her with his powers without marrying her, but he finds it amusing and surprising somehow for the girl to risk herself, hence he agrees to the deals. He didn't know if his cold heart was already getting swayed or if it was just her manipulation to make him agree. He doesn't want to care.

"Meet me back here after two days, and I'll bring you to my household. We'll get married and have our ceremony there." said him as he nodded at her last remarks and turned his body around to leave the place quietly with his people. He entered his carriage and looked up at the dark, illuminated sky. remind him that he needs to tell Doyeon, his baby sister, about this deal. He never wants to keep a secret with his baby sister about this matter, but should he just pretend that he loves the female so his baby sister won't know? Doyeon has been through a lot since she was a child (well, they both have), and he didn't want to add more to that.

⟨ time skips after two days. ⟩

Mingyu was getting ready in his formal attire as he stepped inside the plaza. He heaves a soft sigh and looks around for the woman. He hates waiting, for sure.

@❛ ☽﹕mingyu k。 chaeyoung felt a pang of irritation when he scoffed at her proposal, his words dripping with arrogance and mockery. she resisted the urge to let his taunts get under her skin, reminding herself of the potential benefits this alliance could bring. yet, his insinuations of her being cheap or driven by romantic jealousy only fueled her determination to prove him wrong until she met his sly smile with a steely gaze, refusing to let his attempts at manipulation sway her. “your assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth.” she retorted, her voice firm and composed. “this proposal is based on mutual interests and goals, not personal attachment. so i apologize if i got your hopes up high.”

as his demeanor shifted, showing signs of consideration, she couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. the allure of gaining more power and wealth was too enticing for him to resist and it was a weakness she intended to exploit for their mutual benefit as she nodded in response to his request for documentation, her resolve unwavering. “i will prepare all the necessary documents to formalize our arrangement then.” she assured him, her voice laced with a hint of determination. “rest assured, everything will be in order.” his words, warning her about his true nature, didn’t come as a surprise. she had anticipated his coldness and detachment, understanding that this partnership was born out of convenience rather than affection. “no, i have no expectations from you.” she replied evenly, her voice devoid of any illusions. “we shall operate on equal terms.”

as he dictated the timeline of their wedding, she nodded, making a mental note of the deadline. “very well, we shall proceed as planned.” it was then the weight of the situation hung in the air, the tension between them palpable. before she could respond further, his final words cut through the atmosphere, filled with disdain and impatience as she bit her lip, righting back the urge to retort. she understood that navigating this alliance would require endurance and a careful balancing act. thus, with a nod, she acknowledged his dismissive remark. “very well, mingyu. i will contact you with the necessary details. until then, may our paths cross only when required.”

@❛ ☽﹕chaeyoung p。 Mingyu stole a quick glance at the female before he snickered at the sudden proposal out of nowhere by the female in front of him. She must be crazy to think that he will just agree with it. "Are you out of your mind, miss? Are you that cheap that you are willing to surrender yourself like this? or you actually fell in love with me and couldn't stand it if I got together with another woman? " He asked her, of course, to trigger her emotions with a sly smile on his lips. He was about to say something more, but he stopped himself. But wait a second — the offers are pretty tempting right now, to be honest. She said she could aid him in gaining more power— something that he wants to possess. If he gets more powers, he can have more wealth and money. Oh, how he loves the ideas!

It took him a while to continue after making up his mind. "Well, I guess it's not bad to try. Do you have any black-and-white documents?  You should prepare all of that if you really want this marriage to happen." He said it still, with a hint of coldness in his tone. "We'll strike a deal, but there's one thing you need to know about me. I'm not a good man, nor do I want to be one. So please don't expect anything from me because I'll do the same thing." mingyu himself not knowing why does he sets up such rules — but who cares? it's better to take pre cautions before anything happens. "We will plan the date of our wedding in two days, or maybe get married in that time," he ordered as he heaves. "Is there anything else? because it's suffocating to be in this place with you. " Mingyu was harsh and ruthless to say that but he couldn't care less.

@❛ ☽﹕mingyu k。 as he approached with his usual air of indifference, she couldn't help but notice the flicker of annoyance in his eyes. his coldness only fueled her determination, reminding her why she had chosen this path, even if it meant enduring his disdain. while suppressing a sigh, she met with his cold gaze with unwavering resolve. "mingyu," she began, voice steady despite the disdain that lingered between the two. "i understand your time is valuable, but what i have to say is one that deserves your attention." while looking at him, she noticed his guard was up, evident in the way he discreetly prepared himself for any potential threat. the lack of trust he harbored towards her was palpable, but she refused to let it deter her. "i am well aware of your doubts though." she said, voice laced with a hint of frustration. "but rest assured, my intentions are genuine, and this partnership can benefit the both of us."

noticing his reluctance to engage with her as he looked away only solidified her determination to prove her worth, voice growing stronger with each other. "i offer you my skills and abilities, ones that can aid you in your pursuit of power. in return, i seek your influence and support to gain access apothecary." she paused, biting down her lip before asking the big question. it was then she began to doubt herself, wondering if he was the right person to seek for help. "therefore, i'm asking you to marry me. marry me, mingyu." a flicker of frustration flashed across her features when she finished speaking. she had laid out her proposal with honesty and transparency, hoping that he would see beyond his prejudice. as she stood there, waiting for his response, she couldn't help but question whether their mutual goals were enough to bride the gap of animosity between them.

@❛ ☽﹕chaeyoung p。 Mingyu just happened to finish his business as he had to proceed with another meeting. Being the head of the house is really suffocating and hard sometimes, but it was his choice after all he and his sister have been through. Just thinking about his late father already makes him boil with frustration— it was fortunate that Doyeon, his beloved sister, "took care" of that old man when he was actually begging for help or to save his life. Oh, the thought of the scene at that time gives Mingyu butterflies. Not gonna lie, when Doyeon looked at him for confirmation to kill their father, Mingyu just looked back at the man with cold eyes and nodded, which caused the man's death.

Another person who tends to make him annoyed is this one girl that he met. He doesn't know why that girl can be so annoying and rude every time they meet. What was her name again? He barely remembers, but he thinks her name is associated with a flower (maybe). who cares. He doesn't even want to care anyway, so why bother to remember?

The journey towards Nightwing Square took a few minutes until he finally arrived there. He stepped out of his carriage and went inside while his people were waiting outside. Mingyu always prepared his weapon somewhere inside his suit, just in case the girl that he will meet now attacks him. He couldn't trust her, so she might have some tricks behind her back to kill or hurt him; hence, he needs to be extra careful.

From afar, he could see her standing alone. As he sighs, he walks through the crowd and stands next to her. "What do you want? Be quick; I still have some other business to do," he said as he showed up unexpectedly with his cold tone of voice. He maintains his cold expression as he looks around, not wanting to look at her at all.

lies. There's no business actually after their meeting; Mingyu is just being a brat and impatient, as he dislikes waiting for something, especially with this woman that he couldn't trust.

@❛ ☽﹕mingyu k。 as the moon cast its silvery glow upon the deserted plaza, chaeyoung nervously adjusted her collar, feeling a mixture of apprehension and determination. she disliked mingyu, despised his very existence, but she knew that this meeting was necessary. it was a risky proposition, one that could potentially shape the course of her life forever. she had chosen this secluded spot intentionally, away from prying eyes and curious ears.

chaeyoung watched as the flickering streetlights painted eerie shadows across the cobblestone ground. the night air was cool, and a slight breeze rustled through her hair, heightening her senses and reminding her of the gravity of the situation. the moment of reckoning was upon her.

as the minutes ticked by, each passing second seemed to stretch into eternity. doubts and fears crept into her mind, taunting her, and questioning the validity of her plan but she pushed them aside, reminding herself of the purpose behind her actions. the apothecary held the key to her future, and if she wanted to utilize her necromancy skills, she needed his influence.

as she waited in that dimly lit plaza, her thoughts turned to the potential consequences of her proposal. marrying him was a means to an end, a strategic alliance to secure her place within the hospital's hallowed halls. it was a deal she was willing to strike, even if it meant sacrificing her personal happiness. the power mingyu possessed as a duke would grant her access and protection, and in turn, her skills as a nurse with forbidden necromantic abilities could serve as an invaluable asset to him.

the weight of her decision settled upon her shoulders, but she remained resolute. this was her opportunity to seize control over her own destiny, to prove her worth and secure her place in a world that had once rejected her. the plaza remained shrouded in an expectant silence, heightening her anticipation. with every passing moment, her resolve grew stronger, and the flickering streetlights seemed to mirror the flicker of determination in her eyes.

as the night pressed on, her heart raced with a mix of nervousness and determination. she knew that this meeting could change everything, and she had prepared herself for whatever response awaited her. though she disliked him with every fiber of her being, she understood that their paths had converged for a reason. it was time to set aside personal animosity and focus on the greater goal.

with a deep breath, chaeyoung reaffirmed her purpose, reminding herself of the sacrifices she was willing to make for her own advancement and the chance to utilize her unique abilities. as the anticipation simmered within her, she silently prayed that her proposal would not fall on deaf ears, hoping that the power-hungry mingyu would see the value in their alliance.

in the dimly lit plaza, she stood alone, the minutes stretching into what felt like an eternity. she continued waiting for him, her resolve unyielding, ready to present him with an offer that could alter the course of their intertwined destinies.