CHAPTER 64
Yuhyun snorted.
"He won't."
"Oh, he will,"
Taejin replied, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Especially if the prince keeps talking to him like that."
They all leaned in closer toward the door, waiting for the drama to unfold.
Inside the room, Sihyun's lips quivered as he held Muwon's gaze. He hesitated, shoulders tense, then finally muttered under his breath,
"I'll really kill you."
Muwon leaned in with a smile, undeterred.
"Even if you do, I'll die happy… if you say it."
Sihyun averted his eyes again, clearly struggling.
"Don't… don't do this to me."
Muwon's voice softened as he reached for Sihyun's hand.
"If you love someone, you shouldn't be ashamed to say it out loud. Not to me. Not anymore. Please, Sihyun… just try. For both of us."
A heavy silence lingered as Sihyun exhaled sharply.
"If that's what you want…"
He looked away, then turned back and slowly mouthed the words,
"I love you."
Muwon stared at him for a moment—then suddenly burst into laughter.
Sihyun's jaw dropped.
"What?!"
Muwon grinned through his laughter.
"I didn't hear a thing."
Outside, Dohyun had to cover his mouth with both hands to stifle his laugh. Taejin elbowed Yuhyun, who was already shaking with restrained laughter. Yuhyun muttered under his breath,
"Told you. He'd rather die than say it properly."
Sihyun blinked, startled by Muwon's sudden laughter.
"Say it again,"
Muwon said through a grin.
"No,"
Sihyun snapped, face burning.
"I already said it. If you didn't hear, that's your problem."
"Sihyun,"
Muwon pleaded, soft and sincere this time.
"Please… just one more time."
Sihyun groaned, clearly flustered. He looked down, fingers twisting the bedsheet.
"I… I…"
Muwon gently tilted his chin up.
"Look at me when you say it."
Sihyun's heart raced, eyes locking with Muwon's.
"I love you… Muwon."
Outside the door, the trio froze. Dohyun's mouth parted slightly, Taejin's eyes widened, and even Yuhyun—who thought he knew his brother best—stood speechless.
Then Sihyun repeated again, clearer, firmer this time.
"Muwon… I love you."
He paused, blinking rapidly as something swelled in his chest.
"…Why do I love you so much?"
Muwon's breath hitched, and the radiant smile that broke across his face made it clear—he had waited for this. No teasing, no smirking. Just pure, overwhelmed joy.
"Sihyun…"
Muwon whispered, cupping his face.
"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear that."
Sihyun's voice trembled slightly, but he held Muwon's gaze with steady resolve.
"I don't want anything to happen to you,"
he said, barely above a whisper.
"So from now on… I'll let you drain all of my magic. Every last bit—if that's what it takes to get rid of that curse mark."
Muwon's eyes widened in shock.
"Sihyun…"
Outside, Dohyun nearly dropped the snack he was munching. Taejin leaned back like he was hit by wind, and both stared at Yuhyun.
"Well?"
Dohyun said.
"Still think you know him inside out?"
Yuhyun folded his arms, eyes flickering with something between pride and disbelief.
"Not when it comes to this…"
Back inside, Sihyun looked down at his hands before continuing.
"But… I want you to prove to me that not all humans are bad. That I won't regret… trusting you."
He looked back up at Muwon.
"I don't want to regret this."
Muwon didn't speak. He simply pulled Sihyun into his arms and held him close.
"You're never going to regret any of this,"
he said firmly.
"I swear it."
Sihyun, for once, didn't push him away.
As the warm silence settled between Sihyun and Muwon in their embrace, the door suddenly burst open with a magical hum—clack!—and three bodies came tumbling in.
Dohyun landed on his elbows, Taejin hit the floor with a groan, and Yuhyun tried to stay upright but ended up crouched awkwardly beside them.
Sihyun blinked at them, clearly unimpressed.
"I knew you were all there,"
he said with a sigh.
"You're terrible at hiding your presence."
The trio scrambled to recover.
"We didn't hear anything!"
Dohyun said way too quickly.
"Absolutely nothing!"
Taejin echoed, wiping imaginary sweat off his brow.
Sihyun gave a tired smile and shook his head. Yuhyun crawled over and sat beside the bed, his eyes scanning Sihyun carefully.
"How are you feeling?"
he asked softly.
Sihyun tilted his head with a bit of sass.
"No thanks to two nosy nobles and a brother who yells a lot… I'm alive."
Dohyun and Taejin leaned forward immediately.
"How did you even do that?"
Dohyun asked.
"Like—not dying? That part."
Sihyun took a breath.
"I actually did die…"
he said calmly, and all three faces paled.
"But just for a moment."
"What?!"
"I concentrated all of my magic into healing myself internally. It was a 50/50 chance. Either I'd wake up… or I'd vanish for good."
Then, with a raised brow and mischievous smirk, he added,
"Though… I do remember someone whining very loudly that they can't live without me."
Yuhyun immediately jumped in, waving his hands.
"That wasn't me! That was definitely the prince!"
Muwon coughed and looked away, ears pink.
Dohyun and Taejin burst out laughing while Sihyun just leaned back, smugly victorious.
Yuhyun jabbed a thumb toward Muwon.
"He was the one clinging to your hand like it was his last lifeline."
"I was checking his pulse,"
Muwon said flatly, trying to maintain his dignity.
Sihyun chuckled lowly.
"With both hands?"
Taejin smirked.
"So dramatic. The great Crown Prince undone by a half-dead sorcerer."
Muwon shot him a glare, but Dohyun leaned in, nudging Sihyun.
"You really scared us, you know. The whole palace held its breath for a moment there."
"I wasn't trying to be theatrical,"
Sihyun said, then added,
"Well… maybe just a little. I am a sorcerer after all."
They laughed together—an unfamiliar, welcome sound echoing in the chamber.
Yuhyun grinned, the weight finally lifting from his shoulders.
"I'm just glad you're back. Honestly, I don't care how sappy it was—I'd trade a hundred prince-tears if it meant you'd open your eyes again."