CHAPTER 40
"I was just trying to protect him… I didn't want to lose him again. But now—now he won't even look at me. He won't listen. I'm scared, Your Highness. I've never been this scared in my life. He's out there and I can't reach him anymore."
Silence.
Yuhyun lowered his head further, barely able to breathe through his sobs.
"I'm so sorry… for everything… for hiding it all… for keeping you in the dark…"
There was a pause.
Then—a slow, firm step forward.
Muwon knelt down before Yuhyun.
He reached out and gently lifted his chin, forcing the boy to meet his gaze.
"Look at me, Yuhyun."
Their eyes met.
In Muwon's expression was no anger, no blame—only a deep, unwavering resolve.
"Sihyun will come back to us."
His voice was low, but steady.
Full of a quiet strength.
"I don't care who tries to take him away. Not Vanyul. Not fate. Not even his own fear. I'll bring him back. I promised to protect him… and that includes protecting his heart, even when it turns against me."
He wiped a tear from Yuhyun's cheek.
"You did what you thought was right. You've been carrying this alone for too long."
Yuhyun's eyes filled with more tears, but this time it wasn't grief—it was something like hope.
"I'll get him back,"
Muwon said again, rising to his feet.
"Even if I have to fight a whole kingdom… or a demon."
[EARLY MORNING – ROYAL STRATEGY ROOM]
The palace was already stirring, but within the stone halls of the strategy chamber, Prince Muwon stood before a detailed map, eyes sharp and calculating. His armor wasn't the ceremonial kind—it was light and battle-ready. Beside him, three trusted warriors, including Lee Dohyun and Jang Taejin, were gathered.
"We're heading out by sunrise,"
Muwon announced.
"The cave is well-hidden, but I know Vanyul won't make it easy. Our goal is to get Sihyun back. Nothing else."
Dohyun crossed his arms.
"You're aware this Vanyul might not come quietly."
"He won't,"
Muwon replied simply, voice like steel.
"And I don't care."
[ROYAL THRONE ROOM – LATER]
Muwon stood before the King, calm but resolute.
The room was tense, filled with high-ranking officials murmuring in confusion at the prince's bold declaration.
When Muwon informed him of his intent to retrieve Sihyun—and that he was ready to go through Ryu Vanyul if necessary—the King leaned back in his throne and laughed.
"So the Demon Sorcerer truly cast a spell on you…"
the King sneered.
"You're walking into a cave of monsters, and for what? If that cursed child returns to this palace, I won't spare him… or the one he's with. You should know that, my son."
The room grew quiet.
But Muwon didn't flinch.
"I know,"
he said, his eyes cold.
"That's why I'm not asking for permission. I'm telling you—Sihyun is coming back."
The King's expression darkened.
"Then you're willing to stand by a Demon Sorcerer, even if it means standing against your own blood?"
Muwon's reply came without hesitation.
"I already made that choice the moment I took off his chains."
Gasps echoed through the court.
Muwon bowed stiffly, then turned without another word, the doors slamming shut behind him as he left to prepare his party.
[VANYUL'S CAVE – MORNING LIGHT FILTERING THROUGH CRACKS]
Sihyun was sitting up, propped against the rocky wall, his golden-red eyes still glowing faintly like embers refusing to burn out. Sweat clung to his pale skin, and the room still held the heat from his earlier outburst.
Vanyul knelt beside him, watching with half a smirk.
"You're awake. Want something to eat?"
Sihyun didn't respond. He simply stared at Vanyul, unblinking.
"Still not talking, hmm?"
Vanyul chuckled and motioned to one of his allies.
"Get him something warm. And you,"
he told the other,
"keep watch outside."
The woman disappeared into the shadows of the cave, leaving Sihyun and Vanyul alone.
"Feeling a little better now?"
Vanyul asked, brushing his hand over Sihyun's cheek.
Still nothing.
Undeterred, Vanyul leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Sihyun's lips.
No flinch. No blink. No breath.
He did it again—longer this time. Still nothing.
Then Sihyun's hand suddenly moved. He cupped Vanyul's face and pulled him in, lips crashing in a deeper kiss, heat flaring in that touch as if something inside him was struggling to break through.
Caught off guard, Vanyul let the moment consume him, his lips trailing to Sihyun's jaw, then his neck.
"You always taste like something forbidden…"
he murmured, voice low, husky, as his hands slid down Sihyun's side.
But just as he started to go further—
Sihyun stopped him.
His hand, trembling but firm, pressed against Vanyul's chest.
"Enough,"
he whispered, voice barely audible.
And before Vanyul could react, Sihyun's body went limp again, his breathing deep, back in unconsciousness.
Vanyul stared at him, chest rising and falling—torn between desire and confusion.
Just then, the remaining ally rushed back into the cave, breathless and panicked.
"They're coming! The prince, the human twin, and a dozen royal guards—they're heading this way!"
Vanyul's expression darkened.
His eyes lost their warmth, replaced by pure, cold fury.
"So... the little prince has grown brave."
He stood slowly, brushing dust from his robe, then looked down at Sihyun.
[AT THE MOUTH OF THE CAVE – THE AIR TENSE, THE EARTH STILL WARM FROM SORCERY]
Vanyul stepped out, his long cloak trailing behind him like a shadow. His jaw clenched tight, fangs barely restrained beneath his smirk of rage. The morning mist curled around his figure like it feared him.
Without a word, he raised his bare hand—and slammed it into the cave wall beside him.
CRACK.
The sound split the air like thunder. Deep fractures tore across the stone, spider-webbing from the point of impact. Small rocks tumbled down. His two allies flinched but didn't speak.
"They never learn,"
he growled, eyes glowing a violent crimson.
"Trying to take what already belongs to me."
He turned back to them.