CHAPTER 2
The Palace – Council Hall
The feast had long ended, but the whispers had not.
Rumors slithered through the corridors like smoke:
"Did you hear?"
"The demon sorcerer rejected the prince."
"He turned him down—just like that."
"The prince should've known… he's a demon sorcerer after all."
"Still… the prince must be hurting."
The news eventually reached the king.
He sat silently in the grand council chamber, lips pressed into a tight line. He had already summoned the Elder Ministers. Now, they entered one by one, bowing low.
There were five of them in total:
1. Elder Minister Hwan Baekjin – Head of Internal Affairs, cold-eyed and calculating.
2. General Nam Gunho – Military advisor, stern and inflexible.
3. Elder Lady Seo Miran – Keeper of Traditional Law, sharp-tongued and wise in court manipulation.
4. Elder Yoon Jaesuk – Finance overseer, quiet but observant, always weighing gain over loyalty.
5. High Priest Sangwook – Spiritual leader, hidden behind layers of faith and fear of the old ways.
They all took their seats before the king.
"The demon sorcerer has refused the prince,"
the king stated flatly.
"There shall be no betrothal."
The elders exchanged glances. Elder Seo Miran was the first to speak, voice calm but probing.
"Your Majesty, with due respect… such refusals mean little if affection continues to grow. What if he later changes his mind?"
Elder Gunho added,
"The demon's influence is already evident. He is nestled in the palace, seated at feasts, dining with nobles. Refusal now does not mean refusal forever."
High Priest Sangwook's eyes glinted beneath his robe's hood.
"We were warned in the scrolls. The moment the demon's emotions intertwine with a prince's bloodline… calamity follows."
The king was silent for a long moment.
Then he finally spoke, slowly but firmly.
"Prince Muwon is my son. And Sihyun… has kept his word. He has not harmed a soul within these walls."
"But it is not his present that worries us,"
Elder Baekjin said smoothly.
"It is his future. Especially with the 20th mark yet to come."
"Even a tamed beast still has fangs,"
Miran added.
The king looked at each of them, gaze unreadable.
"I said there will be no betrothal,"
he repeated.
"And if Sihyun changes his mind, I will decide how to respond. Not you."
"But Your Majesty—"
Priest Sangwook started.
The king cut him off.
"This is not up for debate. You asked for assurance. I have given it."
The elders bowed stiffly but as they left the hall, none of them looked satisfied.
They had heard the words. But none of them believed it was over.
The Palace Hallway – Late Night
The palace had quieted down, the echo of servants' footsteps and nobles' whispers replaced by distant torchlight flickers and a lingering stillness.
Muwon walked ahead, his figure cast long in the candlelit corridor.
Behind him, Sihyun and Yuhyun followed in silence — the weight of the rumors hanging in the space between them.
As they neared the fork that led to their respective chambers, Sihyun finally spoke, his voice calm and almost hesitant.
"I'll stay with Yuhyun tonight."
Muwon halted mid-step.
He turned slowly, his dark eyes meeting Sihyun's.
"You're sure?"
he asked, the question quiet — not pressing, but lined with an ache.
Sihyun gave him a soft smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes, and nodded.
"Just for tonight."
Muwon returned the smile, gentle and understanding.
"Alright… sleep well. Both of you."
He didn't say anything else — just turned and continued walking down the corridor, his figure retreating into the quiet shadows.
Sihyun watched him go, his smile fading slightly.
Yuhyun stayed beside him, glancing at his twin.
As they resumed walking in the opposite direction, Sihyun asked softly,
"Do you think… the prince is okay?"
Yuhyun hesitated.
The question hung in the air for a moment before he answered carefully.
"If you think he's not… maybe you should go back. Stay with him tonight."
Sihyun didn't reply right away.
He looked forward, steps steady but heart unsure — torn between the storm he caused and the warmth he still felt.
Yuhyun's Chamber – Late Night
The room was dimly lit with only a single lantern glowing softly on the table. The warmth of the blankets and the stillness of the night wrapped around them like a hush.
Sihyun flopped down onto the bed with a satisfied sigh.
"This'll be the first night I sleep like a baby without getting worn out from a ritual night,"
he said, stretching out and claiming most of the space.
Yuhyun rolled his eyes and pushed him to the side playfully.
"Ya, move over, selfish baby."
Sihyun let out a small laugh and shifted, then threw his arm over Yuhyun's waist.
"I missed you,"
he mumbled, resting his head lightly against his twin's shoulder.
Yuhyun smiled and returned the hug, holding him a little tighter than usual.
"I missed you too."
The silence settled again, peaceful but thoughtful.
After a moment, Sihyun spoke, quieter now, the weight of his question heavier than before.
"Yuhyun… do you think I did the right thing? Turning Muwon down?"
Yuhyun stayed still, thinking carefully.
"If you think that's what'll make you happy,"
he said gently,
"then yeah. You did the right thing."
Sihyun sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
"It's not that I don't care about him. You know I do. It's just… I'm scared, Yuhyun. What if things go wrong? What if me being who I am… ruins everything? What if he regrets it someday?"
Yuhyun didn't interrupt. He let him talk.
Sihyun continued, his voice trembling slightly.
"Everyone sees me as something dangerous. And even if Muwon says he doesn't care, what if one day… he starts to? I just… I don't want to lose him when it's too late to pull back."
Yuhyun turned to face his brother fully, their foreheads almost touching.
"You're not dangerous. You're Sihyun. My brother. The one who used to cry when he burnt his fingers trying to cook for us,"
he said with a soft chuckle.
"Our mother knew what you were. And she still loved you more than anything. Just like I do."
Sihyun's eyes shimmered slightly.
"Do you remember when she used to hum to us at night?"
Sihyun asked, his voice breaking into a small, fond smile.
"Yeah,"
Yuhyun nodded.
"Even when she was scared for us, she'd never show it."
"She was brave,"
Sihyun whispered.
"Maybe someday… I'll be brave enough too."
They stayed like that, tangled in silence and memories — two brothers, surviving the world together.
And in the warmth of that moment, they slowly drifted to sleep, the world outside fading, leaving only the bond between them.