1 At Elysion Isle

The night was for the gathering of regular friends. The most eligible bachelors in the city in one place. All the young unmatched socialites would've ran to where they are to catch a glimpse of these sought after bachelors and try to get them to climb their beds.

But alas, that would've been a futile attempt.

The bachelors all knew that would happened so they made an effort to keep themselves out of sight. They opted to hide themselves up at their exclusive island just like they usually do.

The guys situated themselves at the outdoor lounge of the island's mansion, overlooking the sea and surrounding themselves with lanterns of fire for light and some heat.

"When was the last time we have gathered?" Park Chanyeol, the youngest award winning music producer, asked.

"Since the opening of my bar in E district, I suppose." Kim Jongin answered.

A series of hums of approval were heard. There's a round table in front of them filled with different types of alcohol brought personally by the restaurateur, Kim Jongin, from his newly opened business venture, 'exodus'.

But the bottles weren't opened yet.

Still dressed in clothes that represents their various professions, at this early night, the guys are putting on airs to maintain their dignified outlook during this small talk before they all strip off all their inhibitions when the witching hour comes.

Dr. Baekhyun Byun, an accomplished surgeon, also a general practitioner and an awarded scientist, sprawled himself on a beanbag by the bonfire to beat the cold autumn wind. "I think I have to send all my interns to the psych ward today because of Sehun. How dare you show up at my hospital dressed like a freakshow greek god during my rounds."

The model, indeed still dressed in his greek god inspired garbs, just stick out his tongue while inspecting the bottles on the table.

"Why are you even dressed like that?" Kim Jongdae, feeling relaxed in just his casual attire after finishing his week long concert, asked as he tried to hide his laugh. His naturally inborn smiling lips betrayed him at his struggle to stifle the bubbling laugh.

"I came from a photoshoot." The hint of sarcasm was buried under the smile on his face as he inspects the bottle on his hand. "Kyungsoo told me to hurry so I didn't have the time to change. I have to drive all the way to Baekhyun's hospital so I can catch a ride with him in his helicopter."

"Why not use yours?" Zhang Yixing asked, as he prepares some hot water. He was wearing a business suit in all red and the guys have thought he came from a wedding party when in fact he just came from a business meeting, sealing a billion-dollar contract with a Korean partner. Red is his lucky color and the color of glory in China and he said he needed the luck so he dressed just so. Being in Korea made him able to fly to the island promptly after receiving Junmyeon's invitation to meet up tonight.

"A waste of gas. We must protect mother earth," Sehun answered.

Baekhyun rolled his eyes. "How noble of you."

"I did not tell you to hurry up, idiot. I told you that Junmyeon wants to meet and prepare the necessary arrangements," Chef Kyungsoo Do protested, who's busy preparing some ingredients at his own chef's corner.

"The word 'pronto' was hidden between your words when you told me Junmyeon wants to meet," Sehun defended himself.

The said man stepped out to the terrace with his older brother as they talk in harsh whispers and it caught everyone's attention.

"Something happening?" Jongdae asked, throwing a suspicious look at his brothers' direction.

"Care to share?" Jongin followed his brother's query.

The two eldest looked at their direction and then silently communicated with their eyes until Junmyeon sighed and walked to where the others are. They sat at the vacant seats and waited for Yixing and Kyungsoo to join them as well.

Yixing poured the hot water he prepared in a teapot and placed nine Chinese teacups in a tray to serve his friends. It's to live up to his traditional roots. He enjoys doing an informal tea ceremony for his friends with intention to warm them up and properly prepare their stomachs for the night's conquest. Looking at the bottles of alcohol arranged by Sehun at the table, it's safe to say they really need some preparations for the night.

"I can hear you from here," Kyungsoo said, starting to dice and slice the ingredients he prepared.

"You can start talking while I'm brewing," Yixing said while he prepares the green tea.

"Why are you brewing tea? We're going to drink alcohol, Yixng." Minseok asked.

"Let him. I don't want to die from alcohol poisoning or worse liver failure," Kyungsoo said.

"Green tea has antioxidants that protects the liver from damage. It's better to drink some before pouring liquid poison in our mouths," Baekhyun said.

"The doctor has spoken," Yixing said as he continue with his brewing.

"So what's the tea, King? Why call for a gathering?" Chanyeol asked.

Kim Junmyeon, otherwise known as King, is the Kim family business corporation's, Empire, heir and president and CEO. Despite being the second son, he has been appointed by everyone as the next head of the Kim family, including the first-born son, Minseok, who gave up his rights for his freedom to fly.

Junmyeon looked at his older brother again before facing them and Minseok gave a reassuring nod despite the hard look on his face.

"The elders have chosen a bride for me," Junmyeon said.

Yixing almost burned his hand with the tea he was pouring. Baekhyun fell on the grass from his beanbag. Kyungsoo's knife hand faltered almost cutting himself. Chanyeol had his mouth open in shock. And Sehun looked like he already knew.

The two remaining younger Kim brothers though sat frozen in their seats.

"That's not the worst part," Minseok said. "They chose /her/ of all people."

"Her?" Kyungsoo asked, the first one to shake off the shock.

"Joohyun, the prodigal princess of the Bae family," Minseok answered.

The silence almost suffocated Junmyeon. The usually composed king remained silent as he doesn't know what to say as well.

It has been set in stone that after being appointed as heir of the biggest conglomerate in the country, Junmyeon will only have to take care of the company and shirk off the responsibility of finding a wife to his elders.

Obviously stating, there was history there with the chosen wife.

And his friends, especially his brothers, knew about it all.

Yixing gave him the first cup of tea then distributed each one of them a cup. Everyone downed it as soon as they received it.

"Did you agree?" Yixing asked and started pouring their cups again.

"Of course, he did," Sehun, the all-knowing, said. Feeling that the tea was not helping with everyone's nerves he opened the first bottle in his arrangement. He going to make these top grade bachelors plastered and drunk to the nines tonight. He poured everyone a glass.

"But she left you. Why her of all people?" Jongin asked, downing his first glass of alcohol for the night.

"And why the fuck did you agree?!" Jongdae followed his brother. His voice box almost recovered from the concert, almost shouting at his older brother.

"He's an idiot, that's why." Minseok said, tapping the table with his glass for Sehun to pour him another shot. He seemed to be the most angered of the news.

"Is this why Sooji is in the country?" Baekhyun asked, still opting to drink Yixing's tea.

"Is that princess back in the country as well then? Have you met with her yet?" Chanyeol asked Junmyeon.

Junmyeon just shook his head.

"Wait. Since when was she acknowledged back to the Bae family after wandering off to god knows where?" Kyungsoo asked.

"She was never unacknowledged, Soo. She just never gave her family face ever since she left and refused to return," Baekhyun said.

"So why did the elders choose her hand? If she can't give face to her own family, then how sure are they that she'll give us face?" Jongdae asked in outburst.

"She's not really back yet but she'll have to get back soon. The elders have given Junmyeon the task to get the princess back to where she belongs. It's a marriage alliance. The Bae Group will have to finally bow down to us if Junmyeon succeeds." Minseok poured his own glass. Sehun's too slow. "They're willing to give Junmyeon the power in the whole country as long as he brings their daughter back."

"It's not like he doesn't have all the power and resources of the whole country," Sehun rolled his eyes. "The Bae family knows that you two have history and feigning that they still have power to give to you even though everyone in the high society knows it's fake, is the only leverage and chance they have to get their princess back. I would've recommended they kneel down before you for this favor but since they opted to feign power and ignorance, I'd like to make them cripple and bend their knees with force."

"Stop being scary, Sehun," Chanyeol slapped the back of Sehun's head.

Sehun punched his arm in return. "What I said is the just the truth."

"So what do you plan to do, King?" Yixing asked. His eyes never left Junmyeon since he announced his news.

"I can help you find her," Sehun said. He grabbed his phone and started tapping on it rapidly. "But of course, it comes with a price, King Junmyeon."

Junmyeon looked at Sehun. He knows that the brat already knows where she is and already has the most effective method to get her back.

"She's not that hard to find. I'll give you a cheap price." The glint in Sehun's eyes made his friends rolled their eyes.

"How much?" Minseok asked.

Sehun smirked. "The Lotus Pavilion and of course nine zeroes with my favorite number in front."

"How the fuck is that cheap, you bastard?!" Jongin shouted.

"The nine zeroes is the standard fee while the pavilion is an add-on for my effort. Information ain't cheap, motherfuckers." Sehun shrugged.

"Why do you want the Lotus Pavilion?" Chanyeol asked. "Haven't your family just moved to a new estate in the city because your mom saw a mosquito flying about and thought that your house security has been compromised?"

They laughed.

"Talk about a little bit paranoid. Is your mom alright?" Kyungsoo asked with genuine concern.

"She's fine," Sehun said with an exasperated tone. "That's why I have to move out. They always keep finding reasons to move. I'm tired of moving so buy me the Lotus Pavilion and I'll give you information." His eyes is directed at Junmyeon.

"Lotus Pavilion is the most expensive residential property in the market right now. Plus the 5 Billion standard fee, you're basically asking me to give you 12 Billion just for information," Junmyeon said.

"Yep. That's the price. Non-negotiable." Sehun said waving his phone. "Besides, that's merely pocket change for you."

Junmyeon remained silent. And the others just continued drinking as they wait for his decision.

"I guess she's not that important to you now. Should I give you a little discount?" Sehun asked. "Is she not worth my price?"

'No. She's worth more than that.'

Junmyeon let out sigh and drank his shot. Grabbing his phone from his pocket, he wired Sehun the money and drank another glass.

"Sweet," Sehun rejoiced.

"You take care of buying the pavilion on your own," Junmyeon said, earning a nod from Sehun who's now busy tapping on his phone again.

"You'll need Yixing's connection to get to her. But she's in China right now," Sehun said, showing everyone a live cctv footage of a girl walking around a department store. Most likely a branch of one of Yixing's shopping centres.

"You're fucking scary, Oh Sehun," Jongdae said.

Sehun shrugged.

"If you want to convince her to come back to the country, the best option is to never mention her going back to the Bae family. That will be easy. Since you're getting married anyway, your convincing factor will have to revolve around her going to become a Kim and your power to bar her family to come into contact with her. It's your choice if you'll tell her that her family conspired against her to get her back. She'll expect that anyway. So better to just tell her. Never mention her parents. You'll be somewhat safe mentioning her sister but still try to avoid it. And most importantly, give her freedom," Sehun listed. "And King, this time, for both your sake, if you want to fight for what you have don't be too late to decide. I understand that she left you first but if you have given her the leverage to hold on to you, do you think she would have left? Set those priorities straight this time."

Sehun faced his friends. "And you guys, don't interfere. Especially you three Kim idiots. Don't be blinded by your brother's pain. He wasn't the only one who felt they were left behind."

The solemn silence surrounded them and as Sehun expected, he received glares from all of them.

He chuckled. "I know. I know. Don't ask how I know these things. And you guys cannot be privy about it because they're not my problems to share. And I didn't say anything to them because it's not my relationship to meddle with. The both of them made decisions that they thought was best for themselves. Who am I to interfere?"

The groans of approval despite their protesting brains reached Sehun's ears that made him smile.

"Don't worry, Junmyeon. She only has you."

"How sure are you?"

"This is part of the information you paid for."

"How do you know there's no one else?"

"I just do."

Sehun poured alcohol again and they did not push further how Sehun knows all these things. As they are used to, Sehun will never tell them his secrets and if they ask about the how, what and why, the price will always be as hefty as it's worth.

His friends have never doubted him.

They have always trusted who he is.

Because he is Oh Sehun.

And Oh Sehun is always right.

Now all the king has to do is to fly directly to China the next day to go fetch his queen.

After he cures his hangover of course.

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