CHAPTER 84
"If he accepts Muwon's will—then so it shall be."
He slowly stood, voice calm but laced with finality.
"But if he does not… none of this will come to pass."
The nobles fell silent.
The King's eyes, sharp and unreadable, passed over them.
"This kingdom has seen darker fates than love between two cursed souls."
Then, in a softer, deadlier tone:
"Leave emotions at the gate when standing before my son again."
With that, he turned his back on them and walked deeper into the palace, robes trailing like the quiet authority of a monarch who had already made peace with whatever storm may follow.
The nobles remained, quieted, their protests lodged in their throats.
Palace Corridor – Just Outside the Grand Hall
The grand doors creaked closed behind them, the murmurs of the hall still echoing faintly.
Sihyun, Yuhyun, Dohyun, and Taejin had barely taken a few steps down the polished corridor when they stopped—frozen by the sight of Muwon, walking ahead of them in silence.
He didn't turn back.
Didn't glance their way.
Didn't say a word.
His figure moved with measured grace and cool distance, disappearing into the deeper corridors of the palace.
Sihyun stared.
His eyes narrowed, unreadable. There was a flicker in his gaze—uncertainty, maybe… or a storm building beneath it.
"He's avoiding me,"
Sihyun said quietly, mostly to himself.
Then, sharply, he turned to face Dohyun and Taejin.
"Did Muwon tell you anything?"
Both blinked, caught off guard.
"What?"
Dohyun looked nervous.
"No, no! He didn't tell us anything, I swear—"
"Not a word,"
Taejin added quickly, hands raised defensively.
"We didn't even know what he said in the grand hall until we got there."
But Sihyun wasn't convinced.
"You're his friends. He's close to you two. You mean to tell me he said nothing?"
There was hurt in his voice now. Not just suspicion—hurt.
"Not even a hint about what he was planning?"
"Sihyun, really—"
Dohyun tried, but Sihyun's face hardened.
He looked away, glaring down the hallway where Muwon had vanished.
His breath shook slightly before he muttered,
"I need to talk to the prince."
Yuhyun, ever the quiet one, placed a calming hand on Sihyun's arm.
"Sihyun… calm down. He'll talk to you. I'm sure he will."
But Sihyun shook him off, turning, voice suddenly raised with raw emotion:
"No, he won't! He doesn't want to talk to me—that's why I need to talk to him!"
His voice echoed down the corridor like a whipcrack.
The other three froze. None of them knew what to say.
Sihyun stood there, trembling slightly, eyes wide as if even he hadn't expected the outburst. Then, slowly, his expression softened—guilt washing over his face.
"…I'm sorry,"
he muttered, barely audible.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked off in the same direction Muwon had gone.
The others watched in silence, his retreating figure taut with emotion.
Taejin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Dohyun muttered,
"This… might be bad."
After a pause, Yuhyun softly whispered,
"I just hope this doesn't turn into an argument."
They didn't move. Just stood there. Listening to the quiet footsteps of a sorcerer chasing a prince.
Muwon's Chamber – Night
The heavy door creaked open.
Moonlight spilled in from the high windows, casting soft silvers over the spacious room. Candles flickered low. The room was quiet—too quiet—except for the faint rustle of paper.
Muwon sat by a low table, book in hand, his back partially turned to the door.
He didn't look up.
Didn't move.
Didn't acknowledge the presence that stepped inside.
Sihyun stood at the entrance for a moment, watching him. His brows furrowed, his fists clenched. He stepped forward, voice sharp and cold—
"Are you avoiding me or something?"
A beat of silence.
Muwon's voice came, quiet and calm:
"No."
Still no glance.
Still reading.
Sihyun took a few more steps inside.
"Then what was that all about earlier?"
Muwon stopped flipping the page.
The prince sighed, softly, as if hoping this conversation wouldn't happen—not yet.
"It was nothing."
Sihyun's eyes flashed.
"Nothing?"
he echoed, taking another step toward him.
"Everyone in that room was staring at me like I murdered someone."
His voice was rising now, but trembling beneath it was something wounded—betrayed.
"What have you been saying behind my back?"
The silence that followed was heavier than any accusation.
Finally, Muwon closed the book with a quiet thud. He stood up slowly, approaching Sihyun.
His hands reached up, gently holding Sihyun's face.
His touch was warm. Steady.
"It's not what you think,"
Muwon said quietly, searching his eyes.
Sihyun scoffed, jerking slightly in his grip—not enough to break free, just enough to show his disbelief.
"'It's not what I think?'" he repeated bitterly.
"Then what is it, Muwon?"
The air between them was thick—a thousand unspoken words hovering.
One wanting truth.
The other hiding it.
Muwon finally spoke up
"Sihyun trust me"
Sihyun took Muwon's hands off his face
Muwon's hands remained suspended in the air for a moment after Sihyun gently removed them.
Sihyun walked past him, his footsteps sharp against the polished floor.
"Trust you?"
He stopped, back facing Muwon.
"How can I trust you now… when you won't tell me the things I need to know?"
Muwon turned, his voice firm but weary:
"Sihyun…"
"Tell me."
Silence.
They stood on opposite ends of the room, facing each other like two duelers in a silent battlefield—neither blinking, neither giving in.
Finally, Muwon broke.
His shoulders dropped as he exhaled deeply, surrendering to the moment.
"…You really want to know?"
"Yes."
Muwon scratched the back of his neck, hesitating—eyes flicking away from Sihyun for just a second.
"They… they just wanted to know how old a sorcerer like you would be."
He stuttered through the words, trying to appear casual, but his voice betrayed him. Too much tension. Too quick to answer.
Sihyun gave him a long, blank stare.
Unblinking.
Expression unreadable.
And then—a soft chuckle slipped past his lips.