CHAPTER 34
The late afternoon sun bathed the courtyard in warm light, casting golden hues over the sand where Taeyang crouched, his small hands carefully shaping a crooked little castle. His laughter bubbled like music, filling the air as he patted the mound with proud determination.
"Papa!"
Taeyang called brightly, turning his beaming face up to Muwon.
"I'm making a sand castle!"
Muwon's lips curved, his usual sternness softening into something rare, almost tender. He crouched slightly, nodding as though the uneven pile was the greatest fortress ever built.
"It looks perfect, my son."
Beside him, Hayeon's smile mirrored the boy's joy, her hands clasped together. It was a fleeting, fragile peace—until Taeyang suddenly lifted his little hand, pointing with wide, sparkling eyes.
"Papa, look! It's Dada!"
Muwon's chest tightened. Slowly, he followed Taeyang's finger.
There, striding across the courtyard with unsteady fury burning in his eyes, was Sihyun.
Muwon felt the change instantly—the sharp, electric weight in the air. His smile vanished. He rose to his full height, eyes narrowing as he shifted slightly in front of Taeyang.
"Hayeon,"
he said, his voice low, commanding.
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
Hayeon responded swiftly, her hand slipping into Taeyang's.
But Taeyang pulled stubbornly, his little mouth pouting.
"No, I don't wanna! I want Dada too!"
His small voice rang out with innocence, unaware of the storm swirling between his parents.
The guards, tense from the moment they noticed Sihyun's expression, shifted into position. Spears lowered, blades flashed under the sunlight.
Sihyun didn't spare them a glance. His stride never faltered. His eyes were locked on Taeyang—his son—his entire world.
Muwon's body stiffened as Sihyun came closer. He braced himself.
But Sihyun didn't stop to speak. He didn't acknowledge him at all. He moved past, heading straight for the boy.
Muwon's arm shot out, iron-strong, grabbing Sihyun's wrist. The sudden halt jolted them both.
And then silence—thick, heavy silence—descended.
Father and father stood face to face, locked in a stare that said more than words could carry.
Sihyun's chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, fury and desperation flickering in his dark eyes. Muwon's gaze was steady, cold but sharp, hiding the unease he felt deep down.
Behind them, Taeyang froze mid-step, torn between excitement and confusion. His big eyes flicked back and forth between his parents.
"Papa? Dada?"
he whispered softly, clutching Hayeon's hand tighter.
The air trembled—caught between love and war.
The guards reacted at once, stepping in front of the king and little prince, their weapons raised and gleaming under the sun.
"Lord Sihyun, you shouldn't be here!"
one of them barked, his voice sharp but trembling.
Sihyun only smiled, his glowing eyes fixed squarely on Muwon.
"Shouldn't I?"
he asked, his tone laced with both mockery and sorrow.
Muwon's expression hardened. He lifted a hand, commanding with calm authority,
"Put down your weapons. Give us some room."
The guards hesitated, glancing between each other, but quickly obeyed, fanning out while keeping their stances tense and ready.
Muwon stepped closer, lowering his voice so Taeyang wouldn't hear.
"You should be resting, Sihyun,"
he whispered.
"Well, Your Majesty,"
Sihyun replied with a bitter smirk,
"I got tired of resting. So I'm here… to see my son. If you don't mind."
Muwon's jaw clenched. He reached out, grabbing Sihyun's arm firmly.
"Not now. Let's go."
Sihyun's eyes flared. He tore Muwon's hand away and barked, loud enough for everyone to hear,
"You took a caretaker to watch after Taeyang?!"
The words rang across the courtyard, heavy with accusation. Taeyang's little face fell, confusion and sadness clouding his innocent excitement. He had wanted a warm family moment—this wasn't it.
Hayeon instinctively held Taeyang closer, her own arms tightening protectively as she glanced nervously between the two men. The guards' grips tightened on their blades, every muscle ready to act.
Just then, Yuhyun stumbled onto the scene, chest heaving as he realized what was happening. Guilt etched across his face—he knew this confrontation was his fault. Behind him, Dohyun and Taejin arrived as well, their expressions shifting as they recognized Sihyun's raised voice.
"Taeyang is my son!"
Sihyun roared, his voice cracking with anger and grief.
"I can look after him and care for him myself!"
Muwon's instincts told him Sihyun was on the edge of losing control. His voice softened, almost pleading, as he raised a hand.
"Sihyun… listen to me. Calm down."
But in a blink of an eye, Sihyun's fury erupted. A violent surge of red magic burst outward as he flipped Muwon away, slamming him across the ground.
Gasps and shouts filled the courtyard.
"Your Majesty!"
the guards cried out, rushing forward.
Taeyang's little hands trembled as he reached out desperately.
"D–Dada…?"
His eyes brimmed with tears, unable to understand how his beloved father could do something so terrifying.
Sihyun stood tall, his chest heaving, his eyes glowing with an unholy brilliance that seemed to swallow all reason.
The storm inside him was breaking free.
As guards rushed over to help Muwon, others moved to confront Sihyun, already preparing the sorcerer chain—the only thing that could prevent him from invoking magic.
Meanwhile, Hayeon gripped Taeyang's small hand tightly, her eyes wide with fear, and pulled him along as she tried to run away from the chaos.
But Sihyun's sharp gaze caught them. Ignoring the guards entirely, he vanished in an instant—disappearing from where he stood—and reappeared right in front of Hayeon and Taeyang.
Everyone froze in shock, stunned by what they had just witnessed.
Hayeon's breath trembled as she struggled to form words, her lips parting but no sound coming out. Before she could utter anything, Sihyun flung her aside with a sudden wave of magic. She screamed as her body was thrown across the ground, crashing hard.
Taeyang gasped, his little chest heaving as fear spread across his face. His small hands shook, but he couldn't run—he was trapped under Sihyun's piercing gaze.
Then Sihyun crouched down before him, his expression softening into something that sent chills through everyone watching. He smiled.
"My sunshine…"
Sihyun whispered, his voice trembling with something only he could understand.
Without hesitation, he pulled Taeyang into his arms, hugging him tightly.
For a moment, Taeyang's fear melted into recognition. His small arms wrapped around Sihyun's neck as he buried his face into him.
"Dada…"
Taeyang called out in a broken, innocent voice.
The world seemed to stop. Everyone —fell into silence, their eyes fixed on the surreal scene before them. Even the guards holding the sorcerer chain hesitated, unsure if they should step forward.
Hayeon groaned weakly as the guards rushed to her side, helping her up.
"Dada missed you so much,"
Sihyun whispered, his voice trembling yet gentle as he held Taeyang tightly.
"I miss Dada too,"
Taeyang replied in his small, innocent voice, clinging to him.
Sihyun slowly pulled back from the hug, his black eyes softening as he looked at his son. But then Taeyang, with a mix of fear and curiosity in his expression, asked quietly,
"Dada… why did you hurt Papa? And why did you hurt my caretaker?"
Sihyun froze. For a long moment, he couldn't answer. His lips parted but no words came, until finally he forced them out.
"Because… they tried to keep me away from you. And I couldn't bear it, Taeyang. I couldn't bear being apart from you."
Taeyang's small hands trembled as he slowly stepped back, his big eyes clouding with fear.
"But… Dada…"
he murmured, his voice breaking.
From a distance, Taejin leaned closer to Yuhyun, whispering urgently,
"He's scared. We need to get him away from Sihyun before something happens."
On the other side of the courtyard, the guards had already rushed to Muwon, helping him up as he winced from his injury.
"Your Majesty,"
one of them pressed,
"what are your orders?"
Muwon, breathing heavily, kept his eyes locked on Sihyun and Taeyang. His jaw clenched, his expression torn between pain, fury, and desperation, while the guards anxiously awaited his command.