CHAPTER 51
That Night – Private Courtyard Pavilion
The moon hung lazily in the sky as warm lantern light flickered through the silk drapes of the small garden pavilion. A low table sat in the center, filled with freshly grilled meats, sweet fruits, and wine.
Muwon sat on one side, straightening his robe awkwardly as he glanced toward the entrance. His heart beat a little faster when Sihyun appeared, looking slightly suspicious but beautiful nonetheless, his hair catching the golden glow of the lights.
Sihyun eyed the setup warily.
"What… is this?"
Before Muwon could speak, Dohyun popped his head in from behind.
"Oh, don't worry! Taejin and I were going to join, but something came up."
Taejin's voice called out from the corridor, barely hiding his grin.
"Enjoy the wine!"
And just like that, they were gone.
Muwon rubbed his temple.
"I swear this wasn't supposed to be a trap."
Sihyun let out a soft sigh, but his lips curved just slightly.
"A trap would've had chains."
"Fair point."
They both sat. For a while, they ate in silence. The tension slowly faded with every bite and sip of wine. The night air was cool, and the scent of jasmine lingered faintly between them.
Sihyun spoke first, swirling the wine in his cup.
"Your friends are meddling."
"They mean well,"
Muwon said.
"But… I'm glad they did."
Sihyun didn't reply immediately. He just watched Muwon from across the table — the way the prince looked at him like he was something delicate and untouchable, even after all they'd shared.
"…You're still looking at me like that,"
Sihyun muttered.
"Like what?"
"Like you're not sure if I'll disappear or destroy you."
Muwon's eyes softened.
"Maybe both. But I don't mind either."
That made Sihyun's lips twitch again. Not quite a smile. But close.
They clinked their cups together in a quiet toast, the warmth of the wine mirroring the heat building slowly between them.
After a while, Sihyun said softly,
"You're not going to kiss me again, are you?"
Muwon raised a brow.
"Why? You didn't like it?"
Sihyun looked away quickly.
"…Shut up."
Muwon chuckled, reaching to gently brush a strand of hair from Sihyun's face.
"I'll wait. But not forever,"
he murmured.
"You deserve to be loved too, Sihyun."
Sihyun blinked at him, startled — and this time, when their hands brushed, he didn't pull away.
Nearby — Rooftop Overlooking the Pavilion
Dohyun crouched low, nearly slipping off the tiled roof as he peeked down into the softly lit courtyard.
"They're sitting so close now,"
he whispered with gleeful urgency.
"Did you see how he brushed Sihyun's hair? That's progress."
Taejin munched on a rice cracker, unbothered.
"Took them long enough. I thought Muwon would confess and then run away like a blushing maiden."
Dohyun elbowed him.
"He did not run away. He simply... needed time."
"You sound like you're narrating a romance scroll,"
Taejin smirked, watching as Sihyun and Muwon clinked cups below.
"But... gotta admit, the Demon Sorcerer's not what I expected."
Dohyun tilted his head.
"You thought he'd be taller."
"I thought he'd be scarier. Not… tragic and pretty."
They both fell silent for a moment, watching the quiet exchange between Muwon and Sihyun. The warmth between them was subtle, but present — something raw, slowly healing.
Then Dohyun sighed, his grin fading.
"I just hope the King doesn't ruin it."
Elsewhere in the Palace — The King's Private Hall
The air was thick with incense and silence. The King stood behind a half-opened screen, flanked by two silent shamans. His gaze was fixed on a water mirror, its rippling surface reflecting the very same courtyard where Muwon and Sihyun sat.
His expression was unreadable, though the tightening of his jaw betrayed his unease.
"He grows closer to the sorcerer,"
the elder shaman murmured.
The King turned his head slightly.
"Foolish… or cursed."
The second shaman stepped forward.
"The Demon Sorcerer has not harmed the prince—"
"Yet,"
the King cut in coldly.
"His blood may be needed for the ritual… but it doesn't mean we must trust him."
The elder shaman bowed slightly.
"Shall we continue monitoring them, Your Majesty?"
The King gave a slow nod.
"Every word. Every look. The moment he slips… I want him chained permanently. Muwon may have forgotten his place, but I haven't."
His eyes narrowed at the glowing tattoos faintly flickering on Sihyun's arms in the mirror's reflection.
"Power like that,"
he murmured,
"was never meant to be touched."
Later That Night – Muwon's Quarters
The laughter had died down. The wine cup in Muwon's hand slipped sideways as he dozed against the cushions, cheeks flushed with warmth and wine. Sihyun watched him quietly, reaching out to brush stray hair from his brow. His lips curved — not in affection, but in quiet calculation.
"You sleep too easily around someone like me,"
Sihyun whispered.
He stood carefully, adjusting his robe as he glanced toward the corner of the room — toward the darkness where he felt it.
"Eyes again,"
he muttered, narrowing his gaze.
"You must think I'm blind."
Sihyun turned away, only to suddenly flick his fingers — golden sparks danced through the air and struck the wall. A soft thud followed. The faint shimmer of a cloaking spell shattered, revealing a shadowy servant falling unconscious.
"I told you,"
Sihyun muttered, stepping over the spy.
"I'm not like the ones you tricked before."
He slipped out of the room, silent as moonlight, leaving Muwon deep in sleep.
Moments Later – The Dungeon Stairs
Sihyun moved quickly through the lower halls, his tattoos faintly glowing under the moonlight that filtered in through the grated ceilings. No guards — they avoided this level. No light — only torches he summoned briefly to see the sealed path ahead.
As he reached the final door, he placed a hand against the stone. Magic rippled out from his palm — a Demon Sorcerer's mark recognizing its kin.
A whisper. A grin from the shadows behind the bars.
"You came,"
Ryu Vanyul said softly, stepping forward from the dark.
"I was starting to think you'd forgotten me again."