CHAPTER 39
Sihyun sat there on the cold floor, stunned, his hand pressed against his cheek where Muwon's palm had landed. His black eyes trembled with disbelief—never, not once, had he imagined Muwon would strike him.
Muwon's heart stopped. The weight of what he had done crashed down instantly. His hand dropped uselessly to his side, his breath ragged. Without thinking, he dropped to his knees and reached for Sihyun, his voice breaking.
"Sihyun—I… I'm sorry… Forgive me… I shouldn't have—"
He reached out, terrified of the storm he might have unleashed. If Sihyun lost control now, in his 20th mark phase, the arena could be drenched in chaos and blood.
But instead of rage, instead of flames and fury—Sihyun's shoulders shook.
And then—tears.
Hot, unrestrained tears poured down his face as he clutched at his chest, his body trembling. The sight silenced the arena.
Everyone froze.
Taeyang, sitting across his study table, stared in silence—his small lips parted, his eyes wide with fear and sadness. He didn't understand everything, but he knew enough: his Dada was hurting.
"It… it hurts…"
Sihyun choked, his voice breaking as he buried his face into Muwon's chest.
"The mark… it hurts so bad… Muwon… I can't… it won't stop…"
Muwon's arms wrapped around him instantly, holding him close, cradling him as though Sihyun would shatter if he let go. His own tears brimmed as guilt burned through him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
he whispered over and over, his voice hoarse as he lifted Sihyun into his arms.
"I'll never do it again… I'll never let you suffer alone… Please, Sihyun, forgive me."
Sihyun clung to him desperately, his fingers clutching Muwon's robes as if Muwon was the only thing tethering him to this world.
Muwon carried him away, his steps quick and frantic as he bore him toward their chamber, whispering apologies into his hair, rocking him gently even as they moved.
Behind them, the silence finally cracked.
Taeyang's small body trembled, his wide eyes spilling over as he burst into sobs. The boy's cry pierced the arena, raw and broken.
"Papa… Dada…"
Yuhyun rushed to him at once, pulling him close as his own throat tightened with emotion. Dohyun knelt beside them, placing a steadying hand on Taeyang's back, while Taejin's strong arms encircled them all, his jaw tight with unspoken fury and sorrow.
"Shh… it's alright,"
Yuhyun whispered, though his voice wavered.
"Your Dada… he'll be alright. Don't cry, Taeyang."
But the boy wept harder, clutching Yuhyun's robes as though afraid he'd lose everyone at once.
And in the chamber down the hall, Muwon held Sihyun against him, rocking him like a fragile flame he was desperate not to let burn out.
The chamber was cloaked in the quiet of night. Shadows stretched long across the walls, and only the flicker of the lantern by the bedside gave the room its gentle glow.
Sihyun lay fast asleep, his breathing finally steady, the lines of pain softened by slumber. Muwon sat at his side, unmoving, his eyes never leaving him. Slowly, he reached down and brushed a few loose strands of hair away from Sihyun's face, tucking them behind his ear with trembling fingers.
The door creaked open.
Yuhyun stepped in, bowing respectfully. His eyes softened when he saw his twin asleep, his chest rising and falling peacefully at last.
Muwon looked up at him, guilt shadowing his features.
"Yuhyun… I owe you an apology."
His voice was quiet, raw.
"It must have hurt you… seeing your brother struck by my hand. I…"
His words faltered.
"I never should have let it happen."
Yuhyun's gaze dropped, heavy with his own thoughts. After a pause, he shook his head.
"No, Your Majesty… I should be the one apologizing. For what Sihyun said earlier—about your father. It was cruel. I know those words must have cut deeply."
Muwon gave a low chuckle, though his eyes never left Sihyun's sleeping face.
"Perhaps. But in the end… we were both victims, weren't we? Him and I. Both bound by the same chains, both bleeding from the same scars. It's hard to say who suffers more."
The silence stretched, heavy yet strangely tender.
Finally, Yuhyun straightened, his voice firm but gentle.
"Your Majesty… let me watch over my brother tonight. You should be with Taeyang. The boy needs his Papa now, more than ever."
Muwon's eyes flickered, torn between staying and going. But at last, he nodded, carefully pulling the covers up around Sihyun before stepping aside. He placed a lingering hand on Sihyun's arm, then looked at Yuhyun with quiet trust.
"Take care of him. He listens to you more than anyone."
Yuhyun gave a faint smile and moved to sit where Muwon had been, settling in to keep vigil at his brother's side. Muwon lingered one last moment, his gaze soft on Sihyun's peaceful face, before turning to leave.
The chamber door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving Yuhyun alone with his twin—the quiet broken only by Sihyun's steady breaths and the distant sound of footsteps fading down the hall toward Taeyang.
The room was heavy with silence, broken only by the faint sound of Sihyun's breathing. Yuhyun sat quietly, watching the soft rise and fall of his twin's chest, his heart tight with a mix of sorrow and helplessness.
If Mother were here… what would she have done? he wondered, his gaze lowering. She always knew how to calm him, how to ease the storm inside him. Would she have found the right words, the right touch, when I can only sit here powerless?
His thoughts scattered when Sihyun stirred. Slowly, his eyes blinked open—glowing red, faint but unmistakable. The tattoos along his skin shimmered in the same ominous hue.
Yuhyun straightened immediately.
"Sihyun… are you alright?"
His voice was low, careful.
Sihyun's lips parted, dry and trembling. With Yuhyun's help, he sat up, leaning heavily against him. His voice came weak but laced with longing.
"I… I didn't get to see Taeyang…"
Yuhyun sighed, his heart clenching.
"Not this again, Sihyun. You need to rest. Only when you recover your strength will you be able to see him safely."
Sihyun's eyes burned brighter, defiance flickering through his exhaustion.
"I'm tired of hearing that. I don't care about strength, or recovery—I want to see him now."
Before Yuhyun could stop him, Sihyun slid out of bed, unsteady but determined, his bare feet hitting the cold floor.
"Sihyun—what are you doing?"
Yuhyun's voice sharpened, rising with urgency.
Sihyun didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the door, his steps dragging but unrelenting.
Yuhyun quickly moved, planting himself firmly between his brother and the way out. His eyes searched Sihyun's glowing ones, his own face pale with worry.
"It's late,"
he said firmly, though his voice shook just slightly.
"You won't be able to see Taeyang now. If you wait until morning—just until morning—you can see him. Please, listen to me."
Sihyun's breath came fast, his chest heaving as the red glow pulsed stronger across his tattoos. His fingers curled, trembling, as though the very urge to break past Yuhyun was burning in his blood.
Sihyun stood there, swaying but burning with a fierce, unstable energy. The red glow in his eyes deepened, shadows flickering across his face. He turned his gaze on Yuhyun, voice trembling but gentle—aching almost like a plea.
"Yuhyun… tell me the truth. Do you… do you want me to see Taeyang or not?"
Yuhyun froze. His lips parted, but no words came at first. How could he answer that? Of course he wanted his brother and nephew together—but the danger, the risk…
"Of course I do,"
he finally said, his tone soft but uncertain.
"You're his Dada. He needs you. But you need—"
"Liar."
The word cut through the air like a blade.
Yuhyun's breath caught, his eyes widening.
"Sihyun—no. I'm not lying. Why would I ever lie to my own brother?"
Sihyun's voice cracked, sharper this time, pain and fury lacing each syllable.
"Because I can read you, Yuhyun! You don't want me near him. None of you do. You, Muwon, all of them—you want to keep me away from my son!"
His body shook as the red tattoos along his skin burned brighter, pulsating like fire beneath his flesh.
"I'll never allow that."
Yuhyun's heart pounded.
"No—no, that's not true, Sihyun. What you're saying is wrong, I swear it—"
But before he could finish, a violent surge of power erupted from Sihyun's body. With a furious thrust of his hand, he sent Yuhyun flying across the room.
"Ahh—!"
Yuhyun's body slammed hard into the far wall, a sickening crack echoing through the chamber. He fell to the ground, groaning as pain shot through him, his nose bleeding freely. His vision swam, the room spinning, but he forced himself to look up.
Across the chamber, Sihyun stood trembling, his chest heaving, his eyes burning blood-red. His aura flared wildly, cracking the lantern glass and rattling the furniture. The fragile control he had clung to was gone—consumed by the 20th mark's chaos.
This time… Sihyun had completely lost it.