Thread by @alula_fujotings

c0mm for @/abelithea
tags: BingJiu, alternate universe, arranged marriage

Luo Binghe finds it ridiculous that he's the demon king and /still/ has to abide by /rules/. Rules that say he not only needs an empress, but an heir as well.

Before his father’s death, he’d arranged a union between him and some human royal. And now that Luo Binghe’s eighteen, they’re set to finally meet.

“Sire,” Sha Hauling says, voice coy, “do you /really/ need to honor this agreement? Your father is dead and this is a /human/!” She leans in close.

“Surely there’s… Others that foot the bill.”

Luo BInghe rolls his eyes and pretends he doesn’t know what she’s referring to (it was /one/ time and he regrets it every day). “It was an Oath. You know what that means.”

Before she can reply, the chamber doors (thankfully) open. One of his guards stands tall and announces, “Prince of the human realm, Shen Jiu.”

Luo Binghe balks. /Prince?! Just what the hell was my father thinking?/ The panic is intense but brief as Luo Binghe remembers that he can always have concubines.

That crisis averted, he schools his expression and sits up straight as a tall, lithe figure enters the room. They wear blood red robes that cling to their shapely body. There’s a veil over their face and Luo Binghe finds the display rather contrived.

“Remove the veil,” he finds himself saying, leaning forward on his throne.

“... But aren’t we to be wed?” The voice could belong to a man or woman but the disdain is clear.

Luo Binghe huffs before using his magick to flash from sitting down to standing right in front of his “bride to be.” With little preamble, he rips the veil away.

-TBC-
#svsss

Porcelain skin. Raven black hair that lays flat down the back to a slender waist. Luo Binghe’s eyes catch on lips the color of blood pulled back in a sneer.

He’s enchanted.

/What should I say?/ Luo Binghe finds himself speechless for the first time in his life.

He must have projected his thoughts because he gets a response from an (un)likely source. /Tell him that you aren’t to be anything until he proves himself./

And though Luo Binghe knows that Sha Hauling’s advice is less than sound, he finds himself finally replying. “If we’re to be wed, you must prove yourself as strong enough to be the mate of the demon king.”

If possible that sneer grows more severe and Luo Binghe’s cock twitches under his robes.

“Give me a sword and I shall prove it,” Shen Jiu says with false sweetness. Luo Binghe is almost tempted to give it to him, just to see what will happen.

However, before things can progress further, Shen Jiu’s attendant interrupts. Luo Binghe tunes out what the man says in favor of letting his eyes roam over Shen Jiu’s figure.

His body is slight like that of a woman’s but there’s hints of definition that are more fitting for a male. Luo Binghe wonders idly if his skin is as soft as it looks.

Luo Binghe blinks and it’s like Shen Jiu’s disappeared, leaving him and his attendants in the throne room. He looks around, confused.

“They said we’ll meet again for dinner,” Mobei Jun, his right hand, says from behind him.

Again, Luo Binghe’s speechless.

-TBC-

Dinner can’t come fast enough, though Luo Binghe quickly realizes he’s not sure his kitchens are equipped to feed a human. In a panic, he finds himself in the kitchens much to the staff’s fear. Mobei Jun is a quiet presence in the corner of the room.

“If I may be so bold,” Mobei Jun eventually says, when Luo Binghe’s hair lies messily around his head from pulling at it so much, “why not have our top chef make a special?”

Luo Binghe stops his pacing and considers the suggestion. Their master chef is an old demon that only cooks meals for special occasions. Which, Luo Binghe reasons, this definitely is.

The chef isn’t happy about being called down on such short notice, but Luo Binghe doesn't care.

“Create something special and befitting of royalty,” Luo Binghe demands, and then turns to Mobei Jun. “Stand watch.”

Mobei Jun nods and Luo Binghe rushes off to get himself ready for dinner.

***

Luo Binghe knows he’s fucked when he enters the dining room. Covered dishes line the table and the way they reek lets Luo Binghe know what they contain. Unfortunately there’s not enough time to get rid of the offending “dishes” before the doors open and Shen Jiu struts in.

Again, Luo Binghe is captivated by his beauty. Compared to the women he’s been with, Shen Jiu is a pearl amongst rocks. Shen Jiu’s attendant announces him and before he can do it, Luo Binghe crosses the room to pull out Shen Jiu’s chair.

He flashes a smile and Shen Jiu frowns. Luo Binghe internally winces. /This isn’t going to go over well…/

“Shen Jiu,” Luo Binghe says, behind the back of Shen Jiu’s chair, close enough to smell lotus. “Why don’t we take a walk first? The…food will stay warm, I promise.”

“I’m sure as long as you’re not trying to serve me human flesh, I can handle anything the demon realm has to offer.” And with little ceremony Shen Jiu reaches forward and takes the dish cover off the closest plate to him.

Revealing ten fingers, nails trim, flesh charred lightly with varnish. Luo Binghe wants to throw up looking at it, /smelling/ it.

/Why did you allow this?! Even *I* don’t eat…food such as this!/ Luo Binghe directs his thoughts to Mobei Jun standing in the corner of the room.

/If I wanted to impress a suitor, this is what I would do./

Luo Binghe lets out a breath. He’s never asking his attendants for advice again.

✨END✨