CHAPTER 86
"I've been scared to bring it up. But… now I think I'm ready."
He turned slightly toward Sihyun, watching the faint rise and fall of his chest.
"You don't have to answer me right away."
His voice trembled just a little.
"But I'd like… to get betrothed to you."
Silence.
Muwon waited, watching, hopeful and nervous.
But Sihyun didn't say a word.
Muwon blinked, then leaned in slightly to see his face.
He smiled when he realized—
Sihyun was already asleep.
Peacefully, his lashes fluttered ever so slightly with breath, lips parted just faintly. Unbothered. As if the whole world outside didn't matter right now.
Muwon let out a small chuckle under his breath, soft and fond.
"Of course,"
He murmured, shifting closer.
With care, he lifted his hand and gently smoothed Sihyun's hair, brushing it away from his face.
"Sleep well… my troublesome sorcerer."
And in that moment, with nothing but the quiet night to witness it, Muwon allowed himself to hold onto the warmth…
Even if he knew the morning would bring storms.
Muwon's Chamber – Early Morning
The sky outside was still pale and tinged with lavender as the first light of dawn crept into the chamber. Inside, the atmosphere was hushed and still. Sihyun remained asleep on the bed, his breathing slow and steady, the sheets loosely curled around his frame.
Muwon stood before the tall bronze mirror near the wardrobe, quietly buttoning up his robe.
A flicker in the reflection caught his attention.
He paused.
Turning slightly, Muwon pulled aside the fabric at his shoulder, revealing the skin beneath.
His breath hitched.
The curse mark—the dark, twisted symbol etched into his body since childhood—was gone.
Not faded.
Gone.
He blinked, eyes widening. He stepped closer to the mirror, inspecting the spot again as if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
But no… the skin was clear. Untouched.
He ran his fingers over the space where the mark used to be. For a moment, he just stared at his reflection, unable to speak, unable to move. Then slowly, his gaze shifted toward the bed.
There, still sleeping soundly, was Sihyun—his hair scattered across the pillow, lips softly parted in a dream.
A wave of emotion crashed over Muwon. Relief. Disbelief. Gratitude. Guilt.
"It's gone…"
He whispered to no one.
His fingers curled at his side, expression softening with something fragile and deep.
But he didn't linger long.
Quickly, he finished dressing and moved to the door. One last glance at Sihyun—at the one who had unknowingly saved his life—and then he stepped out, silently closing the door behind him.
Outside – Morning Light
Muwon's footsteps echoed through the hallway as he made his way toward the outer courtyard where Dohyun and Taejin were usually training or lounging around this time of day.
He didn't even wait for a formal greeting when he spotted them by the shaded wall near the garden.
"It's gone."
His voice trembled slightly.
"The curse mark… it's completely gone."
Both Dohyun and Taejin straightened at once.
"What?"
Taejin blinked, eyes wide.
"Are you serious?"
Dohyun stepped closer.
"Gone as in—completely?"
Muwon nodded, his eyes bright, as though a heavy weight had finally been lifted from him.
"I checked it three times. It's really… it's finally over."
The three of them stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of that statement settling in.
Palace Halls – Mid-Morning
The sun had barely warmed the stones of the palace when the rumors began threading through the corridors like wildfire.
Whispers flickered from the kitchen staff to the servants carrying linens…
"They say the prince's curse mark is gone."
"Gone? You mean vanished?"
"After last night's ritual. They say it was the sorcerer who did it—him."
"The Demon Sorcerer?"
"Who else? It's the same one he's been sleeping with, isn't it?"
"And now the prince wants to get betrothed to him. Can you imagine?"
Nobles passing by caught fragments and exchanged knowing looks. Attendants gossiped behind scrolls and vases. Even the guards couldn't resist murmuring beneath their breath.
"A demon sorcerer as the future consort…"
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"Or romantic, depending on how you see it."
The name Sihyun fluttered on everyone's tongue. But no one dared say it too loudly. The prince's chambers were guarded, and no one wished to be the first to face his wrath—or his new consort's.
Muwon's Chamber
The room was quiet, filled with the soft gold light of morning.
Sihyun stirred, lashes fluttering as he blinked awake. For the first time in weeks, his sleep had been… peaceful.
No whispers.
No red eyes in the dark.
No Vanyul.
He sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, then glanced around the empty room.
"He left early…"
He mumbled, looking at the neat pile of folded clothes Muwon always left behind.
A faint murmur from outside caught his attention.
At first, he ignored it—but then, he caught his name.
He slipped out of bed quietly, wrapping a robe loosely over his body, and padded barefoot to the door.
He didn't open it. He just listened.
"The prince's curse mark is really gone. I heard it from one of the guards.
"They say he plans to get betrothed now. To the sorcerer. Can you believe that?"
"Isn't that the same sorcerer who almost burned half the courtyard his first day here?"
"Apparently, the prince doesn't care anymore. Love changes everything, I guess…"
Sihyun leaned against the doorframe, emotion unreadable on his face.
He remained still. Calm. He didn't scoff. He didn't smile.
His fingers curled loosely at his side.
Then—
BANG.
The door burst open.
Yuhyun stumbled in, chest heaving, breath ragged as if he had run across the entire palace.
"Sihyun!"
Sihyun blinked.
"What now?"
he asked calmly, brushing hair out of his face.
Yuhyun looked torn between relief and panic.
Muwon's Chamber – Morning Light Filtering In
Yuhyun stood catching his breath, chest rising and falling. Sihyun, meanwhile, remained by the bed, calm and draped loosely in his robe, hair slightly tousled from sleep.
He looked at Yuhyun, eyes dark and unreadable.