plethora; choi seungcheol
(n.) a large or excessive amount of something; abundance.
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 (coming soon)
pairing : choi seungcheol (svt) x f!reader
words : 8.5k approx.
theme : fluff / com / angst / action / royal au / fantasy au
part 1 of "seventeen dating simulator" series
warning(s) : curse words, implied sex (not descriptive and not highly suggestive so 16+), action — injuries, blood and mentions of death.
synopsis : renowned as the richest man in meraki, seungcheol rules over aurum, one of the elvian kingdoms. he is termed to be ferocious and enjoys revels as much as he adores to host them; quiet yet intimidating in front of strangers, he's known to have a red eye when angered. rumoured to have a soft spot for his family and friends, but they too might not escape his wrath. would love you for ages, would love you in different lives, but are you capable of owning his heart?
cameo of other seventeen members will be present.
[ not required but it will be preferred if you read the prologue and introduction before you read this to grasp the story better! (if you want to follow the series you can send an ask or comment and I will add you <3) this story can be read as a singular and without any prior knowledge of the series, thankyou. ]
[ Kindly refer to the prologue for accurate sequences of all the stories in the series <3]
thankyou for giving my work a chance, hope you enjoy it <3
All Rights Reserved © nishloves 2023
Your bottom dug into the fancy marbled chair as you held the gold-plated ceramic cup by it's handle, taking in the sweet scent of your freshly prepared tea. Nothing could bug you in the situation— well except the chair, it was a rather beautiful evening, so you enjoyed your little space in the castle grounds yet when you were met by visits of numerous households— because they had nothing to do, your evening was then ruined.
"Rumour has it that King Seungcheol will host the first ball of the season!" The ladies squealed as their mamas fanned themselves, coming up with strategies to win the King's heart, and you, the miser treasurer of the kingdom buried yourself in more of the workload as Seungcheol was holding a ball, thus increasing your work, one thing you knew, the ball was going to be ridiculously extravagant.
"y/n, will you join the ball or are you thinking of honing your banking skills more?" A lady asked you, her hat tipped on the other side and was very dangerously near to fall off.
"Seungch— The King did ask me to have fun once a while— though he is the one increasing my workload," you murmured, opening the book which rested near you, which consisted of undoubtedly the accounts of where Seungcheol had spent his money, you felt like his personal accountant sometimes or more, his personal assistant.
You and the many ladies and mamas were seated in the royal garden, you wanted to take random strolls between work but your cousins called you over and you hated yourself for starting to adore them this soon into your life.
You had been in Aurum for around three months now, and there wasn't any way you were cut out for the job, you hissed as you pushed the thoughts at the back of your mind, they would do nothing but make you feel worthless.
"So you're saying it's the king's fault!" The lady gasped, attracting by-standers by her scandalous words.
"What— do you mean to say our King is faulty?"
"I surely meant nothing like that— you are misunderstanding my words," you tried to reason but no one would hear you.
Gold, gold was a currency, with the formula of Au— short abbreviation of Aurum, a latin word, which literally meant gold. Gold, a cheeky little thing with too much market value. Gold, a round currency which could help you be the most fulfilled person in Meraki, Gold which Seungcheol abundantly had and Gold which you wanted to shove into their mouths screaming, EAT THIS. (in lower case because you weren't confrontational)
"So what if she curses me for making her work, it wasn't as if she chose this job for herself, I chose her."
A very familiar voice resounded against you, helping you to get out of this mess, you couldn't help but look up at him, his curls decorated his face, his eyes were tender and his lips were soft. He didn't change in any way was the only thing you thought.
"Your majesty," the majority of your accusers bowed deeply as some took their time to get out of shock, why was a King in the publicly accessible garden and not in his residential and private ones?
"Don't pressurize her, she works harder than most of you and she's the reason Aurum thrives," Seungcheol argued on your behalf as almost instantly everyone apologised to you, almost everyone started to sing you praises and almost everyone realized that you didn't greet the king, yet he wasn't angry.
"Your majesty, it's great to see you here, we are blessed by your presence— but what you must be doing here?"
It is literally his castle? You're the ones trespassing?
"I had to talk about something to our dear treasurer here," Seungcheol pointed at you. "Come."
You silently stood up from your seat, collecting all the records in your hands, Seungcheol didn't let you though, he could have asked his guard to pick up your books, he should have asked his guard to pick up your books, but he found solace in pissing others off and helping you at the same time.
He was like a child at times, an obscenely cute man-child, you couldn't help but admire him then too, when must you find a man like him behaving so sweetly?
"You should have been rude to them too," Seungcheol whined while handing you his expenses of Lux.
"Thanks for helping me back there," you simply said, opening up the small page he gave to you where he had recorded everything in his sloppy and messy handwriting, which was weird because his handwriting was strangely good, and then you saw, "You drink a lot."
"I don't! I bought most of the drinks for Chan! And I'm your friend, I will most surely step in to help you, plus I'm your king, I can't stand unjust people."
"You spent seven million on drinks alone?"
"Hey! They were like imported from a different planet and Chan drinks a lot," He reasoned as you sighed, opening the single book you held in your hand and pushing his expenses into it.
"Thanks for the detailed expenditure."
"I didn't want you to go mad tallying the sheets, so I made the mental note to write everything down, I remember your mental breakdown from two weeks ago," he grinned like a child, you couldn't help but see the newfound twinkle in his eyes, does he want a praise?
You scoffed, "Any responsible person will do that."
"Hey! Since when are you this rude to me?"
"Since when you barged into my room when I was still changing," you reminded him as your frown deepened and he flushed more.
"That was an honest mistake!"
You were a scholar on your first day of Aurum and you were graduating at the top of your class the next day, and that's when Seungcheol hired you, because the past treasurer was now retired and Seungcheol wanted someone with young blood.
"So is expecting that your workers will be ready for you anytime for the day, they might be sleeping, they might be eating, and they might be showering," you reasoned walking further from Seungcheol.
"Are you still upset? It was a month ago! I gave you the rights to treat me as a friend!"
You sighed, was that any kind of compensation? You didn't want to be his friend, at this point you were just as annoyed with your life here as your life on Earth. There were some moments which you enjoyed, there were some moments when your heart fluttered for the man, but it was hard for you to fall in love and you couldn't make anyone fall for you.
"Your Majesty, Choi Seungcheol, I am fine."
"You know I don't like it when people call me by my full name," he whined, passing your books to one of his guards as he walked faster to catch up with you.
"I am your friend, aren't I?" You grinned as you looked back at him, he seemed annoyed but you didn't care, he dropped an axe on his own foot when he asked to be your friend.
"Oh and the princess of Phosphenes is here—"
"Fuck, I said I would meet her today," Seungcheol groaned.
"She's your guest, you should have met her two days ago?"
"I was in Lux!"
"Fair enough." You hummed as you walked forward.
"Where is she now?" He asked, still walking with you.
"I am not hers and nor your secretary, how must I know?" You said, adjusting the spectacles on your nose. "Oh, but now that I think, she went sight-seeing." You and Seungcheol then heard the royal trumpets, "And she's back."
"Fuck, should I escort her?" He asked, his brows crossed as his lips formed a full pout, you immediately looked away from him.
"That— ahem, that would be better for political situation," you merely replied, diverting your attention from him to anything you saw, the tree looked quite fine.
"Right, so get me a gift," Seungcheol asked, your eyes widened as you looked up at him to complain but then you remembered... as nice as he is to you, he is similarly prone to temper outbursts and you had annoyed him throughout the day.
"What gift do you deam appropriate?" You asked, caressing your gown to be clear of unwanted folds.
"A jewelry perhaps, ask the accountant to pass you a set of diamond earrings and necklace, make sure it's bulky," Seungcheol replied, twirling one of the braids in his hands.
He dressed better than any nobility you had seen may it be on Earth or in Meraki itself, all his robes were sewn with gold and his hairs were braided with silver threads, you remembered that he was going to ask the royal barber to cut his hair off— tomorrow, you remembered how badly you wanted to step in and ask him not to make that horrendous decision, pitying his beautiful locks. But, you were no one and he was the king. His ears were hidden behind his locks most of the time and the rare times you would see them, they would be red but you couldn't help but wonder, his ears weren't as pointed as it was made out to be.
"I will try to be as fast as possible, please excuse me," you said as you turned around.
"And listen!" He called out.
"Get some flowers."
Your eyes twitched, flowers? You had pollen allergy.
"Ask the Gardner to make you two bouquets, one a magnificent and large one, which will reside straight in her room and one which I can present to her."
You wanted to scream "Seriously?" to his face but you held your tongue.
"You yourself said it's a better political decision," he smiled.
"I did," you groaned internally as you merely nodded running off to find a gift and fucking flowers.
You ran as fast as you could in a dress to the greenhouse, you prioritised getting flowers first because gifts can be sent by servants, flowers given in person are more meaningful.
And there they were! Both the accountant and gardener tangled up as they ate each other's faces
THEY WERE DOING WHAT?
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, shit, fuck, no, no cursing here! Oh god, I will leave!" You panicked and even though you should have been quieter you were not once quiet and surely, both of them noticed you.
"Lady y/n!? Oh god, it's not what it looks like—"
"There was a bee on his face!"
"WERE YOU EATING THE BEE?"
"NO! Why would I do that—"
"Rethink your excuse then!" You screamed and you could see that they were this near to remove each other's clothes off.
"Sir Eiz— Mr. Accountant, Seungch— th-the King wants some bulky diamond sets please arrange some for him."
"I am his account not his fucking secretary, there is not a single moment of peace— oh fuck, i shouldn't have said that, shit, I shouldn't have cursed."
"I heard nothing!" You wailed, covering your eyes you said.
"Just please do his work and then do whatever you want, my lips are sealed."
"Really?"
"Yes! I don't have any business with whatever you two were doing just please help me out," you pleaded as you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose.
"Please make me a bouquet while you're at it, it should be a good one and make a five feet tall assortment to be transported to the room of our guest, in under three hours."
"With your time frame we can't go back to whatever we were doing any soon—"
"I am not hearing any complaints," you said rather harshly, but it had to be done. First, they were doing personal endeavours while stationed on their jobs, second, they bad mouthed Seungcheol and third, they were too complaining about the work they chose to do.
You weren't going to interfere or anything but if you saw anything faulty on their work frontier you would definitely ask Seungcheol to replace them.
Your eyes widened, it wasn't like you to be so cruel.
Did staying with that man child made me like this?
Somehow you compiled everything, you sent a servant to drop of the huge bouquet and the gifts to the princess' room but you yourself ran to Seungcheol to give the bouquet, you really wanted him to make a good impression on the phosphene's envoy— which oddly was their princess but you didn't care.
Phosphenes was a land of illusions and had numerous technologies advances, you hoped Aurum and its scientists could join forces with Phosphene's ones and create teleport points, why were you immersing yourself in your role as treasurer? Because you felt happy to be wanted at once, you felt happy to feel non-replaceable and you knew you couldn't stay here if you didn't take your work seriously, because then you would have a breakdown and princesses don't cry.
But ironically, the pollen was making you cry.
Your eyes and nose were red and because you were running towards Seungcheol the pollen was directly getting in your eyes.
I hate my job.
Just as your vision was getting clouded you saw Seungcheol, helping the princess out of her carriage on the front gates of the castle. You applauded yourself for reaching this soon.
You walked forward, without caring about your apparel, your hair was sticking to your forehead because of your sweat and you knew, you knew Seungcheol had noticed your presence like he always did.
You pushed the bouquet forward, relieved after completing your short term duties, but all Seungcheol saw was your quivering face and red eyes as you looked away from him.
"Believe me, she had a tear-stricken face with red eyes and cheeks, as if she had lost something so dear to her heart, that she couldn't bear it," Seungcheol argued, clutching his champagne glass harder as he sunk himself more into his comfortable velvet chair, looking at Jeonghan who was shamelessly occupying his bed.
"y/n? Crying?" Jeonghan chuckled as he sipped his drink, keeping it on Seungcheol's nightstand he said, "Believe me Seungcheol, she seems like a girl who will suck up every emotion of hers just so that people can't see she's hurting inside."
"No! You don't understand, she definitely was upset at me for giving flowers to you know— the princess," he argued.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I think she—" Seungcheol trailed off remembering all the flushed expressions you bestowed upon him whenever he flirted with you, or joked with you; how happy (and shocked) you were when he had announced that you were his friend.
"I think she likes me! And on top of that she had to see me give flowers to another lady, oh my! And the flowers she brought herself!" Seungcheol's eyes widened as he groaned, slapping his forehead. "How was I so blind? How could I hurt her so much in a single day? She's a special friend to me."
Jeonghan chuckled, "Just because there were tears in her eyes doesn't mean that she was crying— you said she was human, right? Aren't humans weak? She might have hurt herself somewhere, it doesn't mean she was crying because of you." He reasoned.
Your resume had stated that you were an orphan and found yourself stuck in Meraki at a tender age— your adoptive parents took you in happily and as everyone in Meraki was super sweet to you, you didn't really have any problem. Your resume was a surprise to you too, more so because your resume was produced by Seungcheol— just because he wanted you to get to work faster he compiled every information about you in mere two hours.
Seungcheol remembered your resume and his heart sank, how could he make you go through so much emotional pain? You were only human, you were more sensitive and empathic than anyone in Meraki, surely you must have felt terrible.
"I feel so bad for causing her such pain," Seungcheol murmured as Jeonghan sighed.
"What was she wearing today, cheol?" He asked, taking in all of his champagne at once, Jeonghan wanted to confirm something.
"Why?" Seungcheol asked.
"Just so I could picture the situation better— it would be easier to help."
"Oh? Alright," Seungcheol closed his eyes as he wandered off in his vivid memories, he remembered all the butterflies circling around the roses, and how the starlings and nightingales sang joyously in his gardens, how the sun shone all too pleasantly accessorizing your glistening skin.
"She wore a pale blue gown with medium frills, decorated by small pearls and lace. Her hairs were done and she applied very little to no makeup today— I guess her makeup depends on her mood and how late she is, she wore a small diamond pendant and pearl earrings, circlet silver rings too."
Jeonghan confirmed— Seungcheol liked you. He was almost a simp at this point. Hell, you didn't know you wore all that.
"I see," Jeonghan whispered, not understanding how to present his conclusion to his friend.
"I...uhm... currently have no advice," Jeonghan opted to smile sheepishly.
"Well...you have rejected many proposals— I didn't expect you to have an advice."
"Well, I will advise you to consider your feelings also, rather than hers alone," Jeonghan spoke, having no idea about how to break the news to him.
But he shut his mouth, maybe it would be better if Seungcheol came on terms with his own feelings at his own pace, he might freak out if he tells him.
"I will take a note on that," Seungcheol said smiling at his friend and then he remembered something.
"Jeonghan?"
"Yes?"
"You weren't at my castle this morning and there was no news of your arrival."
Jeonghan laughed, "I snuck in."
"The guards let you in?"
"I come in too often," Jeonghan waved him off, "You on the other hand are coming over too less."
Seungcheol smiled sheepishly, "It's hard being a king— can't really snuck out now."
"Well, I wanted to scare my family."
"Don't tell me you're worrying uncle again, he's too old for your pranks," Seungcheol laughed, still allowing his best friend to stay.
"Well, he's the king of ailes, he's got better jobs to do than worrying about where his son is," Jeonghan smiled getting up from Seungcheol's bed.
"How long will you stay here?" Seungcheol asked.
"Two days more."
"You won't even stay for a week this time?"
Jeonghan smiled slightly, nostalgia visible on his face, "Sooner or later I have to take on the job too you know, I can't act immature at all times."
"Come on, everyone knows you're like super smart and luck always favours you."
"That's true," Jeonghan smiled. "Come on now, you should sleep, you have a date tomorrow."
"A date?" Seungcheol's face scrunched up, he never agreed for a date?
"Phosphenes sent its princess as an envoy, you really think that's the only reason why she's here? You're gonna have lunch and evening tea with her discussing political matters, your wedding would be finalized in a month," Jeonghan chuckled, but there was no humour behind his laugh.
"I'm not marrying her," Seungcheol asserted, looking away from Jeonghan.
"Whatever you say, no one really wants to cross you, you know. Maybe, your thoughts would be taken into consideration," Jeonghan smiled sadly, and Seungcheol couldn't help but wonder if there was something else behind his reasonings.
"Which room did you take?" Seungcheol asked.
"Oh? The room adjacent to yours, the connected one."
"The queen's chambers?" Seungcheol's mouth hung open, "You're gonna need to stop using Queen's chambers on your every visit, my servants will literally make a rumour spread like wildfire."
"Do you care?" Jeonghan laughed as he knew the answer, Seungcheol didn't care, he didn't care at all.
"Well then, Good night, hanie, if I get a nightmare I will enter your room."
"Oh god I'm gonna lock it."
It would be a lie to say that Seungcheol was particularly enamoured by the lady in front of him, she was trying too hard to deviate the conversation from work.
"You see, the Lethe is prone to floods, it would be most probable if dams are built on it to obstruct the waters, as Lethe lies on the periphery of both Phosphenes and Aurum, we will fund half of the operation."
"What problem might you have with a bridge on Lethe?"
Seungcheol sighed, during these times he wondered if he should choose his queen on the basis of sole looks, Jeonghan was right afterall, he had to marry but all the royal prospects seemed far too dim to him to agree too and she was sailing in the same boat.
"The trade is handled by Elixir's air-ships in most of the kingdoms—"
"They benefit too much from the airships and what if Elixir wages war on any kingdom?"
"That... That prospect is highly unlikely, you can't just wage war on anyone, the peace treaty among the kingdoms of Meraki was signed fifty years ago by our grandparents under the seal of Angelos and Daimon faction— Lux of Meraki, there is no reason to break that vow anytime in upcoming seventy-five years atleast," Seungcheol tried to reason.
"I see," the princess fidgeted, "Aurum most definitely is the richest kingdom in all of Meraki but Phosphenes and Lux both are undeniably advanced although, I admit that Lux is probably too endeared by human culture and Ailes and Sonora are ridiculously good at arts and commerce and Elixir does have the most fearsome army."
"What's your point?"
"I don't see why you would want a deal with Phosphenes when you already have a deal with all the other kingdoms."
Seungcheol sighed, so that's what it was about, she was wary and scared that Seungcheol would stop the trade if he faced continuous losses due to heavy usage of Elixir's airships and Ailes's pixie dust.
"It's to expand our horizons, my lady. Aurum isn't the richest kingdom for no reason, we do the deals, we live up to them and we earn, it's simple really," Seungcheol replied. Most of the money they earned went into keeping up the domestic value of the country— education, healthcare, minimum wages, food and everything. Aurum was the biggest kingdom in all of Meraki.
"I see," the princess had a faraway look in her eyes.
And that left Seungcheol to his own thoughts, he thought about all his prospects, about his incomplete life as a king, he had to be wedded soon, his mother would force him to it and then he remembered you.
He remembered how you graciously understood every work, he remembered how you had such grandeur of plans for Aurum, he thought how appropriate you would be as a queen.
"Seungcheol..." The princess called to him as Seungcheol flinched, they were never on first name basis.
"Princess?"
"You know that my father sent me here for more reasons than just being an envoy right? I like Aurum and—"
"I would prefer it if we use titles to address ourselves, princess," Seungcheol smiled a warm smile, which still sent shivers up the princess' spine. She hastily agreed to everything he said, too embarrassed to push him.
The day went by blur and the tea time had now approached, after denying the lady of a lunch with him, he couldn't disagree for a tea time and so he sat, he sat in his favorite garden, replying to the princess about all the things he liked, but he hadn't had any slightest bit of interest in anything she spoke about. It was getting too awkward for both of them and then he saw her, approaching them and then his face lightened up and his heart quickened. He was slowly able to understand what all it meant but it was too soon, he had to apologise to her for breaking her heart.
He prayed for y/n to come and whisk him away, he prayed for attention and she came.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your grace, princess. I must talk to Seu— His Majesty about a special matter," you said, bowing slightly.
"Oh yes of course," Seungcheol was just trying to stand up and you said, "I must ask you, where is the fifteen million gold capital from our inventory, your majesty?" You asked with a tight-lipped smile. In all times Seungcheol knew you, he knew you were pissed right now.
"Oh, remember Hansol's café which he's setting up at Elixir? There, I sent gold there, free."
You merely nodded and just as you were excusing yourself Seungcheol got up.
"You have something more to ask of me, don't you?"
"Oh? I don—"
Seungcheol motioned you with his eyes, no. His brown beautiful eyes were glinting red and you panicked, "Yes surely! Uhm please i must require his help to sort the matter out, princess I'm very sorry for the intrusion."
The princess grimly stared at you both as she silently smiled, saying it was alright. Strangely, you felt bad for her but you didn't know why.
As you walked rapidly with Seungcheol you looked at him questioningly,
"What was that? Are you alright?"
"The deals were a trap, that old runt was setting me up with his daughter."
Your heart sank but you didn't let it show, muttering a small "oh" in response.
"y/n, i apologise to you," Seungcheol said, looking away from you and you stared at him more questionably if that was possible.
"Why so?"
"I broke your heart."
"What—"
"I know you liked me yet I made you bring flowers for another woman and made you prepare a present for her too, which I'm sure you would have loved more if it was presented to you by me, I'm sorry for my—"
"What the hell do you mean?" You looked up at him like he was crazy, sure you had to eventually make him fall in love with you, but you weren't planning on it? And certainly you never liked him currently, what was he on about?
"I'm sorry for—"
"I don't like you?"
"But you do," Seungcheol said with certainty.
"Oh? Stop being a pretentious brat and considering that everyone likes you," for some reason you were furious, furious that he had caught up to you so soon, furious that now you didn't see your plan taking any action.
"Oh? So now you're jealous of my instincts? It's alright, y/n, it's hard to be perfect like me, you don't have to pretend to not like me."
"But I really don't like you!"
"Oh really?" He asked as you nodded fervently, rapidly, howeverly, Seungcheol just hummed as he looked back and smiled at you, "Sorry for misunderstanding then."
You sighed in relief as you cleared whatever was stirring up in that man-child's head but little did you know, he whispered under his breath, "I will surely make you like me."
congratulations! you finished the 1st part of the "plethora" series of choi seungcheol, your game is saved! part 2 starts now <3
tags : @icyminghao @feat-sun @dearharshii
263 notes
·
View notes