CHAPTER 26
One of the guards, clearly already too drunk to stay upright, hiccupped loudly and slumped over, his head hitting the dirt with a soft thud. The other guards seemed equally far gone, some snoring while others lay sprawled, their cups discarded beside them.
Yuhyun's concern deepened. He knew Sihyun was getting too drunk too quickly, but it was hard to stop him once he had decided to indulge. Sihyun had always been stubborn that way.
"You're going to regret this in the morning,"
Yuhyun said, his voice low but laced with genuine worry.
Sihyun just smirked, his eyes half-lidded.
"I'll regret nothing, Yuhyun,"
he replied, his tone playful despite the heavy weight of alcohol settling in.
"It's just a drink... What could go wrong?"
But it was clear by the way his words were slurring and the way he was leaning heavily to one side that he was already past his limit. Still, he refused to stop.
Muwon, still silent, watched Sihyun with a cool, detached gaze. He didn't intervene. It was clear that Sihyun had made up his mind, and the prince wasn't about to ruin the night by trying to stop him.
The last of the guards slumped over in a drunken heap, and the camp settled into a quieter, almost peaceful state, save for the occasional crackle from the fire.
Sihyun let out a soft, drawn-out sigh, tilting his head back to look at the sky, his eyes unfocused. "You know, Yuhyun,"
he said quietly, his voice soft and slurred,
"sometimes I wonder why you care so much. I'm just having fun... I don't need to be perfect."
Yuhyun didn't respond right away. Instead, he simply watched his brother, his gaze filled with a mix of frustration and affection.
"Because I'm your brother, Sihyun. And someone has to look out for you, even if you don't care."
Sihyun's lips quirked into a half-smile, though his eyes were starting to drift closed.
"Yeah, well... maybe I don't need saving every time,"
The fire crackled softly, casting gentle glows over the quiet camp. Most of the guards were now snoring in a drunken haze, the air heavy with the scent of wine and burnt wood. Yuhyun still sat with Sihyun, watching over him warily.
But to his surprise, Sihyun stirred. Instead of collapsing into sleep like he usually would, he suddenly stood—his balance shaky, yet he walked with purpose, his steps quiet but unsteady. The cup in his hand sloshed, half-full, but he didn't spill it.
"Sihyun…?"
Yuhyun called gently, but Sihyun didn't respond. He just wandered a few steps away from the campfire, his silhouette illuminated by the moon above.
Then, with a flick of his fingers—subtle but graceful—he summoned magic.
Soft, golden sparks flew into the air like fireflies, bursting silently into vibrant fireworks. The colors danced above the trees, shimmering like stardust. Crimson, silver, and violet hues lit up the night sky. He tilted his head up, his eyes reflecting the lights as if he were gazing into another world.
Yuhyun rose slightly, stunned. Even Muwon looked up from his cup, eyes narrowing at the beauty of the display.
Sihyun stood in silence, watching the sky in awe—his magic responding to his heart more than his mind. Then, slowly, he turned and walked back toward the fire, his expression unreadable.
He stopped in front of Muwon.
In one smooth motion, he downed the rest of his wine with one loud gulp. Then, before either of them could speak, he leaned forward and kissed Muwon.
Yuhyun's breath caught, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Muwon froze.
For a moment, there was silence. Then the prince slowly closed his eyes and—without hesitation—kissed him back.
Yuhyun stared in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what he was witnessing.
Muwon kissed him back...?
When Sihyun finally pulled away, his gaze was hazy with alcohol but there was a hint of emotion there—something bitter, something soft.
He took a few steps back, raising the empty cup in the air.
"Cheers,"
he whispered, his voice low and hoarse,
"to my freedom."
Then he swayed on his feet and collapsed backward, the cup slipping from his fingers and rolling onto the dirt.
Yuhyun rushed forward, catching him just before he hit the ground fully.
"Sihyun!"
he called out, panic lacing his voice. But Sihyun was already out—deep in a drunken slumber, his breathing soft and steady.
Muwon stared at him silently, the firelight flickering in his dark eyes. His fingers curled around his own cup, knuckles white.
Yuhyun looked between the prince and his brother, his heart pounding. Nothing would be the same after tonight.
The camp had fallen into silence. The only sounds were the soft crackling of the fire and the occasional groan of a passed-out guard. Sihyun lay curled slightly to the side, his breathing steady.
Yuhyun sat across from Muwon, his eyes occasionally flicking toward his sleeping twin. Then he looked at Muwon.
The prince sat quietly, staring into the flames. His expression was unreadable, his hands resting on his knees, still holding the cup as if he had forgotten it was there.
Yuhyun broke the silence, his voice quiet but firm.
"Your Highness."
Muwon glanced up.
Yuhyun hesitated, then asked,
"How did you get the curse mark?"
The fire snapped as if reacting to the question. Muwon didn't answer immediately. His gaze returned to the flames, eyes dark and distant.
"I was seven,"
he said finally, his voice low.
"It was supposed to be a public execution,"
he said, his voice almost hollow.
"A demon sorcerer had been captured—a woman, old, covered in dirt and blood. They said she'd been hiding for years, helping others like her escape."
Yuhyun's brows furrowed slightly. He listened closely, already sensing this wasn't a simple tale.
"She was dragged into the palace courtyard, bound in chains,"
Muwon continued.
"Everyone was gathered to watch. The nobles, the guards… even my father. And me. I stood beside him, dressed in my ceremonial robes, watching her with the rest of them."