CHAPTER 28
The corpses were already covered in white ceremonial sheets by the time Muwon arrived at the courtyard. The sharp chill of dawn hung in the air, but it did nothing to cool the rising tension.
The King stood tall, cloaked in his royal robe, his expression unreadable. Around him were the trusted elders of the realm—Elder Baekjin, General Gunho, Lady Miran, Elder Jaesuk, and High Priest Sangwook. Their faces were grim, their eyes fixed on the blanketed corpses as though waiting for them to rise again.
"The demon must be dealt with,"
Elder Baekjin said coldly, his voice slicing through the silence.
"This is no coincidence. These men were stationed near the prince's quarters. Who else could've done this but him?"
General Gunho nodded in agreement.
"Six guards killed within palace walls—this is not just murder. It's a warning."
Lady Miran folded her arms, gaze sharp.
"He sleeps under the same roof as our crown prince. If we hesitate, the next corpse may be royal."
Elder Jaesuk muttered a curse under his breath, and the High Priest continued whispering silent prayers, eyes never leaving the white sheets.
The King said nothing at first, but his silence only deepened the fear hanging in the air.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the palace corridor.
Yuhyun arrived first, panting, followed closely by Lee Dohyun and Jang Taejin. All three bowed deeply in respect.
"Your Majesty,"
Taejin said.
The King's eyes shifted to Yuhyun, gaze narrowing.
"Where is your demon brother?"
he asked.
Yuhyun's breath caught in his throat. His eyes darted to the shrouded bodies on the ground, and his legs faltered slightly. The scene before him pulled a cold shiver through his spine. Blood soaked the corners of the white sheets—stark against the pale fabric. His stomach turned.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
"What do you have to say concerning this?"
the King asked again, his tone sharper this time.
Yuhyun stared at the ground. His lips parted again, but he couldn't form the words. A thousand thoughts collided in his head. Did Sihyun do this? Was it a loss of control? A message? Or… someone else entirely?
But how could he defend his brother when even he wasn't sure?
He clenched his fists at his sides and remained silent, shivering beneath the weight of everyone's eyes.
Just as the silence around Yuhyun's trembling figure threatened to stretch unbearably, another set of footsteps echoed across the courtyard. Prince Muwon had arrived.
He slowed upon seeing the white-covered corpses on the ground, then looked up—reading the expressions of the elders, the tension in the air, and the dread etched into Yuhyun's face. He bowed respectfully before stepping forward.
"Your Majesty."
The King let out a breath, almost a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness you're here, Muwon."
His voice, however, held no warmth as he asked,
"Where is your man?"
Muwon's brows drew together.
"What happened?"
The King turned, gesturing at the corpses as though the answer lay plainly before them.
"He did this. Your demon."
Muwon's eyes shifted to the shrouded bodies, and for a moment, he just stared—his chest tightening. Then, he spoke, his voice steady but firm.
"That's not possible."
The King raised a brow.
"Not possible?"
"Sihyun is weak. He's still recovering. He barely has the strength to get out of bed, much less invoke enough magic to harm six guards,"
Muwon said.
"He was with me all through the night. He didn't leave my side even once."
Scoffs and murmurs rippled among the elders, but the King only narrowed his eyes.
"And what if he's pretending?"
he asked coldly.
"You shouldn't forget what kind of creature he is. Demon sorcerers are masters of deceit. What better way to slip past suspicion than to feign sickness?"
Muwon's mouth opened to argue, but before he could form a response, the King raised a hand, voice rising in finality.
"I want him brought here,"
he commanded, sharp and impatient now.
"Immediately."
The courtyard stilled. A heavy wind stirred the trees nearby, sweeping cold air around them—but Muwon stood his ground, jaw tight, knowing the storm was only just beginning.
Muwon stepped forward again, his voice laced with urgency.
"Your Majesty, please. I was with Sihyun all night. If he were pretending, I would've known. I'd have sensed it—he didn't leave my side."
Before the King could respond, Elder Baekjin's voice rang out sharply.
"Your Majesty,"
he said, bowing slightly, then turned to Muwon with piercing eyes.
"No matter what kind of demon that boy turns out to be… he's still dangerous. And Your Highness,"
he said, gaze narrowing,
"should be the one most aware of that."
Muwon's mouth parted, but no words came. Baekjin's words struck deeper than expected.
A sudden memory clawed at Muwon's thoughts—last night, waking in the dim glow of the chamber to find Sihyun standing silently before him, red eyes glimmering in the dark. Unmoving. Unblinking. Just watching.
His heartbeat quickened as the image returned vividly. That unsettling moment.
Was that really him… watching me like a stranger?
A voice brought him sharply back to the present.
"I don't care,"
the King snapped, cutting through the quiet.
"I want him here. Now."
As if summoned by the demand, a quiet sound echoed from the far end of the courtyard. All heads turned.
Barefoot, pale, and looking like a wraith from the mist, Sihyun stepped slowly out from behind one of the stone pillars. His clothes hung loosely on his slim frame, his red eyes faintly glowing, casting a strange reflection in the morning light.
"Did someone call for me?"
he asked softly, voice dry and tired, yet holding a strange sharpness beneath.
The entire court fell silent—every elder, every guard, every breath caught in the air.
Only the King remained still, his face unreadable, as if he'd been expecting Sihyun all along.
After Sihyun stepped out, Yuhyun's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper as he called,
"Sihyun…"
The king smiled faintly,
"I'm glad you're finally here. We were just talking about you."
Sihyun curved a tired smile, his voice polite yet drained.
"Your majesty."
He almost walked past Muwon to approach the king, but Muwon caught his arm, his tone low and firm.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting."
Sihyun didn't answer. He gently slipped from Muwon's hold and stepped forward, stopping directly before the king.
From the side, Dohyun, Taejin, and Yuhyun exchanged uneasy glances—none of them could understand why Sihyun had appeared so suddenly.
The king gestured toward the shrouded forms.
"Then, tell me—what is the meaning of this?"
Sihyun's gaze shifted toward the covered corpses. His eyes, still faintly glowing, traced the white ceremonial sheets before he spoke softly, as though stating a simple fact.
"They're dead bodies… brutally murdered, and covered in white ceremonial sheets."
A ripple of silence passed through the courtyard.
The elders stiffened, their expressions tightening. Some looked at him as though he were mocking the dead.
Taejin leaned closer to Yuhyun and Dohyun, muttering under his breath,
"He's not taking this seriously."
Dohyun's lips twitched into a faint frown.
"Is he even in his right mind…?"