CHAPTER 65
"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."
"I didn't cry,"
Muwon muttered.
"Oh?"
Sihyun teased.
Muwon looked betrayed.
"You said you were unconscious!"
Sihyun smirked.
"Half-dead, not deaf."
That sent everyone into another round of laughter, even Muwon chuckled despite himself.
Then Taejin added playfully,
"So what now? Do we throw a 'Sihyun's Alive' celebration? Maybe a feast?"
Yuhyun nodded.
"With cake. Big one. No poison this time."
Muwon glanced at Sihyun.
"Only if he picks the flavor."
Sihyun blinked, caught off guard again by the gentle tone.
"...I like red bean."
"Then it's settled,"
Dohyun clapped.
"Celebration it is. But first, you rest."
Sihyun nodded, letting his body sink slightly back into the bed, heart warm, lips curving into a soft smile.
This time, he wasn't smiling out of defiance… but comfort.
And maybe, just maybe, trust.
Just as the laughter settled and the air in the room softened, Sihyun's smile faltered. His head tilted slightly as his gaze turned distant—like he was hearing something the others couldn't.
"Sihyun?"
Yuhyun was the first to notice.
"What is it?"
Dohyun looked over.
"You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Sihyun's fingers twitched against the bedsheets. He scanned their faces slowly—Yuhyun, Muwon, Dohyun, Taejin—then exhaled quietly.
"...Vanyul,"
he said at last.
"He's calling me. He wants to see me."
A thick silence fell over the room.
Taejin was the first to break it.
"That Vanyul again?"
His expression darkened.
"I don't like that guy. Creeps me out. He's dangerous. He's not right."
Muwon stepped closer to Sihyun.
"That might actually be good. If we can lure him close to the palace, we might be able to talk. Negotiate. Maybe find some sort of middle ground—"
Sihyun didn't answer right away. He simply stared at Muwon, a slow sadness flickering in his eyes. His voice came quiet but firm.
"Vanyul's never going to change his mind."
Yuhyun crossed his arms, nodding grimly.
"Not ever."
Sihyun gave a bitter chuckle.
"You said it, brother."
Another heavy silence settled, this one laced with the reminder that not everything could be solved with words and warmth.
Sihyun remained still for a moment, his expression unreadable. His fingers clenched slightly in the bedsheet, but he said nothing.
Yuhyun stepped forward, his brows furrowed.
"Sihyun… what's wrong?"
Sihyun blinked, then finally let out a breath.
"Vanyul's never giving up. No matter what we say, no matter what we do… He's set on his path."
Yuhyun swallowed, his voice dropping.
"Are you… scared?"
Sihyun didn't answer.
Instead, Muwon gently reached out and took Sihyun's hand in his.
"You don't have to do this alone, Sihyun. We're with you. I'm with you."
Sihyun gave him a long look, and after a moment, his defenses cracked just a little. He nodded.
"I can't believe I'm saying this,"
he muttered, voice low but steady,
"but we should prepare ahead… Just in case."
Dohyun and Taejin straightened at his words.
"Prepare?"
Yuhyun echoed.
"Yes,"
Sihyun continued.
"Soldiers. Sorcerer's chains. Anything that can hold Vanyul down if things go south. If he refuses to listen, we'll have no choice."
Taejin grunted.
"That's more like it. Honestly, it's better to be ready than sorry with a guy like him."
"And…"
Sihyun paused again before adding,
"I need to see the king."
Muwon narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What for?"
Sihyun looked up at him, and for once, his voice didn't waver.
"If we're doing this… the king needs to know everything. About me. About Vanyul. About the risks. No more hiding."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, taking in the gravity of his words. The tension in the room returned, heavier than before—but this time, it was grounded in unity, in readiness.
Sihyun was no longer running from his past.
He was preparing to face it.
The grand throne room was colder than Sihyun remembered.
Golden pillars rose toward a domed ceiling, and guards lined the walls like statues, unmoving. At the far end of the hall sat the king—stern, regal, and cloaked in heavy robes of indigo and gold. His presence was imposing, his eyes sharp and unreadable.
Sihyun stepped forward slowly, each echoing footstep drawing the king's attention. When he reached the foot of the stairs leading to the throne, he bowed—not deeply, but respectfully.
"Your Majesty,"
he said calmly.
The king studied him in silence for a moment before speaking.
"Demon Sorcerer. You requested this audience. Speak."
Sihyun raised his head. His gaze was steady, golden irises dull in the absence of magic.
"I've come to assure you of one thing. As long as I remain in this palace, no harm will come to your people or your son. I give you my word."
The king narrowed his eyes.
"And what assurance can I take from a sorcerer whose kind swore vengeance on the crown?"
Sihyun's jaw tensed slightly. He let out a quiet breath.
"None. Only this—I could have killed your heir a dozen times over. I didn't."
The room fell into a heavy silence. The king remained impassive.
"Why are you really here?"
the king asked at last.
"Why did you accept this arrangement, knowing the risks?"
Sihyun looked away for a second, then met the king's eyes again.
"Falling in love with the prince… wasn't part of the deal."
The words echoed across the chamber like a confession.
The king's expression didn't shift, but something in his gaze sharpened.
Sihyun continued, more quietly now.
"But I'll see this through. I'll get rid of the curse mark. Not because I'm forced to, but because I want to. So rest assured… no one in this palace is in danger from me. Not while I'm still breathing."
The king sat back slowly, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"I was told Demon Sorcerers cannot love."
Sihyun gave a bitter smile.
"That's what humans always say. That we're cursed. That we don't feel."
"And do you?"
the king asked, voice calm but curious.
"I do now,"
Sihyun answered without hesitation.