CHAPTER 54
A wave of unease rippled through the room. The king's expression darkened. Yuhyun's eyes widened, realizing exactly what Sihyun was doing. He's planting doubt… on purpose.
"You know there's no one else,"
Yuhyun muttered under his breath, fists clenched.
"Why are you doing this, Sihyun…"
"I don't know,"
Sihyun said with a small shrug, as if he hadn't just dropped a match in oil.
"I'm just saying."
The king slammed his hand down.
"Enough! Guards—place the sorcerer's chain on him."
The guards hesitated. None of them dared approach. Sihyun stood tall, unchained, unbothered.
Two guards stepped forward cautiously.
Too slow.
Sihyun moved in a flash—his hand clamped around one guard's throat.
Gasps filled the throne room as Sihyun's hand tightened around the guard's throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. The guard choked, kicking mid-air, as golden-red light flickered in Sihyun's eyes.
"Sihyun!"
Yuhyun's voice cut through the panic.
"Let him go!"
Sihyun didn't even flinch.
"Even if I set Vanyul free,"
he said coldly,
"do you really think I'd admit it? Especially now… when you plan to chain me again?"
His voice was calm—too calm—as his magic coiled around the guard's neck like a noose.
Muwon suddenly stood, his voice rising with rare force.
"Sihyun! Let him go. NOW."
The tension between them snapped tight. Sihyun met Muwon's eyes, the room falling into a breathless silence.
They stared at each other—rage, betrayal, heartbreak tangled between them in unspoken currents.
"I said,"
Muwon repeated, slower this time, voice low but deadly,
"right now."
Sihyun blinked.
His hand dropped. The guard collapsed, gasping on the ground.
Everyone remained frozen.
And Sihyun… Sihyun slowly looked at his trembling fingers. The same fingers he once swore would never harm another human again. Shame flooded his expression. His lips parted but no words came. For a moment, he looked less like a demon sorcerer and more like a boy who'd lost his way.
The king rose slowly from his throne, his voice laced with disdain.
"I never trusted you. Every word you've spoken since stepping into this palace was a carefully crafted lie."
Sihyun lowered his gaze slightly, for the first time unable to hold it steady.
"You bewitched my son, deceived the court, and now you attack my guards like a monster set loose."
His tone cut deep.
"Put the chains on him. Now."
This time, the guards moved quickly, bolstered by the king's fury and Sihyun's silence. Sihyun didn't fight back. He didn't even look up as the cold, glowing chains wrapped around his wrists and sealed with a dull hum. The magic stilled in his veins.
Yuhyun clutched his sleeve tightly, heart racing.
"No… wait—"
"Throw him in the dungeon,"
the king commanded coldly.
"Father,"
Muwon said, finally stepping forward. His voice was steady, but his jaw was tight.
"Let me take it from here. I'll handle Sihyun."
The king narrowed his eyes, clearly reluctant.
"You would vouch for him even now?"
"I'm not vouching,"
Muwon replied, looking straight at Sihyun.
"I'm accepting responsibility."
A beat of tense silence. Then the king exhaled, irritated.
"Fine. He's yours. But if he causes any more harm, I will not hesitate."
The guards stood back.
Sihyun still said nothing, but he felt it for the first time—an unfamiliar, creeping burn under his skin. Not magic.
Embarrassment.
He had to be saved by Muwon—again.
And this time… in front of everyone.
Sihyun sat silently in the corner of the isolated chamber, sorcerer's chains wrapped tightly around his wrists. The room was dim, quiet… until the door creaked open.
Muwon stepped inside, closing it behind him gently. His gaze lingered on Sihyun.
"Sihyun,"
he called softly.
But Sihyun didn't look at him. His voice was low.
"You should leave."
Muwon walked a few steps closer.
"Did you really set Vanyul free?"
Sihyun scoffed bitterly.
"You won't believe me if I say no."
Muwon let out a strained breath.
"How am I supposed to help you if you don't admit anything? The king's furious. He might—"
His voice cracked.
"—he might order an execution."
That finally made Sihyun look up. His eyes met Muwon's, dark and stormy.
"What about Yuhyun?"
he asked, voice shaking.
"You won't let that happen, right?"
Muwon hesitated.
"Yuhyun can beg. But he's just a servant… and I'm only a prince. I can't stop everything."
Silence.
Then Sihyun's body trembled as he suddenly pulled at the chains, trying to step toward him.
"You don't love me, do you?"
he shouted, voice cracking.
"You were faking that too, weren't you?!"
The chains clinked and snapped him back, denying him even a step closer.
Muwon's expression shifted—shock, then guilt, then something softer.
Still chained, Sihyun's breathing grew heavier as he stared Muwon down.
"If you really love me,"
he snapped,
"then take these chains off!"
Muwon's eyes darkened—not with anger, but something sadder. He took a step closer, then asked quietly,
"Do you even love me, Sihyun?"
The words landed like a slap. Sihyun's lips parted—but nothing came out. He looked away.
The silence between them ached.
Muwon finally spoke, voice soft but resolute.
"My kind of love doesn't follow orders."
Without another word, he turned and walked out, the door closing quietly behind him.
Left alone, Sihyun's body trembled. The coldness of the chains felt sharper now, heavier. Panic rose in his chest.
His voice cracked as he screamed.
And Sihyun was left in that silence, heart racing and mind spiraling.
Sihyun sat in silence, chains cold around his wrists, eyes fixed on the floor. The door creaked open—Yuhyun stepped in quietly.
"You really did it,"
Yuhyun said after a pause.
"You set Vanyul free."
Sihyun didn't respond.
Yuhyun's voice grew firmer.
"You can stop pretending now. I know you too well to fall for your lies."
A faint smirk touched Sihyun's lips.
"If it isn't my favorite twin."
Yuhyun ignored the sarcasm.
"Why, Sihyun? Why would you do that? He's dangerous. You know what he's capable of."
Sihyun lazily snapped his fingers.
"Great question."
Then, more seriously:
"We made a deal."