CHAPTER 50
Sihyun's face burned hotter than fire.
He tried to push away from Muwon, whispering harshly,
"Let go!"
But Muwon only smiled against his skin, murmuring,
"You're so cute when you panic."
Sihyun smacked his arm lightly — not enough to hurt, but enough to make the prince finally loosen his grip.
Still tangled in the sheets, Sihyun scrambled awkwardly for something — anything — to cover himself, while Muwon leisurely sat up, stretching his arms above his head like he had all the time in the world.
"I'll... I'll come back later!"
Yuhyun's flustered voice called again through the door, clearly sensing the awkward atmosphere.
Before Sihyun could respond, Muwon beat him to it.
"No need,"
Muwon said lazily, voice dripping with amusement.
"We'll come out together in a bit."
Sihyun looked horrified.
"You—!"
he started, but Muwon only winked.
Outside, they could hear Yuhyun practically running down the hallway, muttering something about how he "didn't hear anything" and "didn't see anything."
Sihyun buried his face in his hands, groaning.
Muwon leaned over, his voice teasing and low near Sihyun's ear.
"See? We're already causing rumors,"
he whispered.
"At least let's make it worth it."
Sihyun looked up through his fingers, eyes narrowed into a glare that lacked any real heat.
"You're shameless."
Muwon only grinned and pulled him close again.
"And you're mine."
Despite everything, despite his burning face and trembling heart, Sihyun didn't pull away.
He let himself be held — just for a little longer.
By the time they finally stepped out of the room, Sihyun had forced himself into a neat robe, though his cheeks were still tinted pink.
Muwon, ever the shameless one, looked completely unbothered, walking beside Sihyun with a hand casually resting against the small of his back.
They found Yuhyun already waiting in the dining area, nervously fiddling with the food trays he had arranged.
At the sound of their footsteps, Yuhyun practically jumped up, his face burning red as he blurted,
"I–I didn't hear anything! I didn't see anything either!"
Sihyun stiffened, feeling like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Muwon just laughed softly, pulling out a chair for Sihyun with exaggerated politeness before taking a seat beside him.
Yuhyun cleared his throat awkwardly and sat down too, avoiding eye contact with both of them.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Sihyun poked at his food without really eating, feeling Muwon's gaze on him the entire time. Every time their knees brushed under the table, he nearly dropped his chopsticks.
"So…"
Yuhyun finally said, desperate to say something.
"Did you, uh... sleep well?"
Muwon smirked.
"Very well."
Sihyun slammed his chopsticks down and buried his face in his hands.
Yuhyun let out a panicked noise, waving his hands wildly.
"I–I meant separately! I meant peacefully! Not—I mean—!!"
Muwon chuckled lowly, clearly enjoying both their reactions.
Sihyun glared at Muwon through his fingers, hissing under his breath,
"You're the worst."
Muwon leaned closer, his voice silky and smug.
"And yet you still kissed me first."
Sihyun kicked him under the table — hard.
Muwon just grunted, smiling even wider.
Yuhyun, meanwhile, looked like he was reconsidering all his life choices that led him here.
Still...
Despite the teasing and the awkwardness, the heavy air that had hung over them for so long was finally gone.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Sihyun's heart felt lighter.
Even if he was still terrified.
Even if he didn't know what tomorrow would bring.
He wasn't alone.
And maybe... just maybe...
That was enough for now.
After breakfast, Muwon was called away by Dohyun and Taejin, leaving Sihyun and Yuhyun finally alone in the now-silent dining room.
For a long while, neither of them spoke.
Yuhyun just quietly cleaned up the mess of empty dishes while Sihyun sat there, staring at his hands.
Finally, Yuhyun broke the silence, setting down the last tray.
"Are you… okay now?"
he asked gently.
Sihyun shrugged stiffly, not meeting his brother's eyes.
"I don't know,"
he muttered.
Yuhyun sat down across from him, watching him carefully.
"You don't have to know everything right now,"
he said.
"But you can't keep running from how you feel either, Sihyun."
Sihyun let out a bitter laugh.
"Feelings… are dangerous."
Yuhyun frowned but stayed patient.
"Feelings can be dangerous. But pretending you don't have them is worse."
Sihyun finally glanced up at him, dark eyes tired and wary.
"Even now… it feels like everything could fall apart if I make one wrong move."
Yuhyun reached out, squeezing Sihyun's hand lightly.
"It won't,"
he said firmly.
"You're not alone anymore, Sihyun. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."
For a moment, Sihyun just stared at him, the walls he'd built so high for so long starting to crack again.
"…I'm scared,"
he whispered, so softly it barely made a sound.
Yuhyun smiled sadly.
"I know,"
he said.
"But maybe... it's okay to be scared. Especially when it's about something you care about."
Sihyun looked away again, biting his lip hard.
It wasn't easy — it would never be easy — but maybe... maybe he could try.
Just a little.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the palace gardens, Muwon sat with Dohyun and Taejin under a shaded pavilion, his hands running through his hair in frustration.
"So let me get this straight,"
Dohyun said, grinning,
"You confessed, kissed him, and spent the night together... and you're still worried he'll push you away?"
"Of course I'm worried!"
Muwon snapped.
"He's fragile, and stubborn, and—"
"—and you love him,"
Taejin finished for him with a chuckle.
"You're hopeless."
Dohyun leaned forward, smirking mischievously.
"Then we have no choice."
Muwon raised an eyebrow.
"Choice for what?"
Dohyun grinned wide.
"We're going to help you get even closer to your little sorcerer."
Taejin nodded, folding his arms.
"If you want him to trust you with his heart... you need to show him you're serious."
Muwon's frown slowly turned into a determined smirk.
"I'll do whatever it takes,"
he said.
The planning — and the scheming — had just begun.