CHAPTER 1
The garden air stilled, the wind itself holding its breath as the trio stood silent—Yuhyun, Dohyun, and Taejin watching with anticipation. Muwon waited with a quiet hope in his eyes, the faintest smile on his lips as he extended his hand toward the one person who made his heart beat with purpose.
But Sihyun said nothing.
He simply stared at Muwon.
A beat passed. Then another.
And then came his answer—sharp, clear, and without hesitation.
"…No."
A soft gasp escaped Yuhyun's lips. Dohyun's eyes widened in disbelief.
Muwon's expression froze—hope collapsing in his chest like glass shattered by a whisper. The ring in his hand trembled slightly as his grip weakened.
Only Taejin, who had been watching quietly from the side, murmured under his breath,
"I knew this would happen…"
Muwon tried to speak, his voice dry.
"You… You don't have to decide right now. I can give you time, Sihyun. Just—think about it."
Sihyun looked at him, eyes unreadable, and yet the pain behind them was clear.
"There's nothing to think about,"
he said quietly.
"Even if you gave me all the time in the world… my answer would still be the same."
The words sank like stones.
Muwon's hand dropped slowly to his side, the gesture left unfinished.
Yuhyun bit his lip, heart breaking for both of them, while Dohyun just looked down, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
Sihyun continued, voice steady but faintly shaking,
"…You've given me kindness, safety, even a reason to keep going. But Muwon… I'm not someone who should belong to anyone."
He took a step back.
"I'm still marked. Still haunted. Still trying to understand who I am. And I can't… I can't promise you forever when I'm still trying to survive today."
Muwon opened his mouth, but no words came. Just silence. The kind of silence that aches louder than screams.
The trio stood there—helpless—watching something fragile fall apart before it ever got the chance to truly begin.
Sihyun's voice had just left the air cold, his "no" still echoing like a bell no one wanted to hear.
But instead of walking away, he let out a long sigh and curved his lips into a small, forced smile—as if trying to wipe away what had just happened. As if pretending the moment was never real.
He took a seat at the table casually, brushing nonexistent dust off the sleeve of his robe and picked up a grape.
"So,"
he said, voice unusually light,
"are we just going to let this food go to waste?"
The trio exchanged uneasy glances. Yuhyun's brows creased with worry, Dohyun looked completely lost, and Taejin just muttered under his breath,
"He's deflecting."
But Muwon… he didn't move. He just stared at Sihyun for a moment longer, pain still lingering in his eyes. Then, with quiet purpose, he stepped forward, reached for Sihyun's hand—and held it firmly.
Sihyun froze, mid-bite.
"I don't care about the mark,"
Muwon said, voice low but unwavering.
"Or who you are… or what anyone says you are."
Sihyun's smile faltered.
"I'm going to be with you, Sihyun,"
Muwon continued, stepping closer,
"No matter what. Even if the world turns its back. Even if we're hunted again. We'll survive together. I'll fight for us."
Sihyun looked up at him, his dark eyes wet with something close to grief.
"That's not possible,"
he replied quietly.
"Humans and demon sorcerers… we weren't meant to be together."
Muwon took both of Sihyun's hands in his now.
"Then let's make history,"
he said.
"Let us be the first. Let them remember us not for what we were born as, but for what we chose."
The air was thick with emotion. The trio didn't dare move—watching, listening. Hoping.
Sihyun's lips parted as if to respond, but he stopped himself. He shook his head and gently pulled his hands away, pushing Muwon's grip off him.
With his back turned to Muwon now, Sihyun whispered,
"You're not getting it, Muwon…"
He clutched his own arms tightly, as though bracing himself.
"You're going to be king,"
he said.
"You'll need an heir. Someone to lead after you. What then?"
There was silence.
Then a quiet smile tugged at Muwon's lips—not one of mockery, but of knowing.
Because in Sihyun's question… was concern. A spark of care. A crack in the wall he had built.
And Muwon knew—Sihyun was afraid not because he didn't want him…
But because he did.
"We can adopt a child."
Muwon's calm, smiling voice cut through the heavy air like a sudden breeze.
Sihyun, still facing away, froze… then slowly turned around, his expression frozen in absolute shock.
"A… a what?"
he exclaimed, eyes wide.
"A child?!"
The trio all held their breath again, bracing for another explosion of emotions.
Muwon's smile only grew.
"That's right. We'll adopt one together."
Sihyun stared at him like he'd just grown wings.
Then… he scoffed, lips twitching, and said,
"I hate kids."
Yuhyun nearly choked on nothing. Muwon blinked. Dohyun and Taejin exchanged glances.
Sihyun shrugged nonchalantly.
"Especially noisy ones. So, no—we're not adopting any."
Muwon leaned forward eagerly, eyes twinkling.
"So does that mean…"
He lowered his voice, leaning even closer.
"You do accept my proposal?"
Sihyun snapped back with a quick frown.
"No."
Muwon slumped.
"You're kidding me."
"I'm hungry,"
Sihyun said immediately, standing and taking a seat at the table as if the entire emotional rollercoaster never happened.
"Let's just eat."
The trio quietly joined, all watching Sihyun as though he'd just shattered every expectation. Yuhyun gave him a dramatic side-eye.
Sihyun caught it, narrowed his eyes, then noticed Dohyun and Taejin were also staring at him—not with anger, but like he had just made the most unbelievable mistake.
"What?"
he blurted out, confused and half-amused.
No one answered.
Then Muwon chuckled and leaned back in his chair.
"Just so you know,"
he said, lifting a cup of wine,
"I'm not going to give up."
Sihyun scoffed, chewing calmly.
"In your dreams."
The tension was gone.
Dohyun leaned in, tapping the table.
"Honestly, I wouldn't mind adopting one. I mean, imagine a cute little version of Sihyun. Terrifying, but strangely lovable."
Taejin added,
"That child would probably curse us all by age ten."
Yuhyun laughed lightly.
"No wonder Sihyun said no. He's protecting us."
"Exactly,"
Sihyun mumbled with a smirk, mouth full.
The garden filled with soft laughter and clinking cups as the five of them began to eat, the evening sun casting warm gold across their plates.
Even if no promises were sealed…
Even if feelings were still figuring themselves out…
They were together.
And for now—that was enough.