Seokjin had been so engrossed into the book Taehyung gave him to read that he barely came out of his chamber for a that past two or three days. It was a habit he had developed from a very early age to only put down a book when he had finished it.

The prince of Gyeongsong never read a book so strange yet so beautiful. The story was simple; a tale of two lovers who had only each other to trust in the harsh community they lived in. They had to fight against the conservative mentality of the people, hand in hand. The ending was perfect too. The couple finally found a way to escape their country without getting beheaded and started a new life with new identities in a foreign country that accepted them with open arms. They adopted kids and lived a contented life.

It made Seokjin realise that love was not something that only bloomed between a man and a woman. Feelings towards the same gender were not mere infatuation like he was taught by his elders. If one loved someone with all their heart, it was true love and no form of prejudice could prove it wrong.

Not only did it make Seokjin believe that the butterflies tap dancing in his stomach when he was Taehyung were valid, but that he had a chance of building a future with Taehyung if his feelings were reciprocated. Like Taehyung had said earlier, Nahae did not care much about homosexual love. But his parents? His land? They were a whole different story.

It gave him a bit of hope. Maybe Jisoo would not have to marry Taehyung at all and could live with a person of her own choice. Maybe Seokjin could take up the marriage proposal and unite the kingdoms by getting wedded to Taehyung.

The thought alone made his fingertips tingle with excitement.

So if he could save his sister from a forced marriage and prevent Azadelle from harassing the two kingdoms, all the while getting wedded to the man of his interests, Seokjin was more than ready to develop his relationship with the youngest prince of Nahae.

It was around midnight when Seokjin had the strong urge to see his Prince. What could be more romantic than spending the night together in each other's company, right?

Therefore, Seokjin wrapped himself in a dark cloak with his silk night apparel underneath. As soon as he stepped out of his room, he was hit by the cold and immediately thought of retreating back to his warm bed. But his mind was overclouded with the desire to meet the prince of Nahae, so he moved forward.

After a few wrong turns, Seokjin stood infront of the doors to Taehyung's chambers. He once again felt like reconsidering his sudden visit that would potentially disturb Taehyung's sleep routine. But he knocked as if his hand had a mind of its own.

The prince wondered if Taehyung was a heavy sleeper and if it would need a whole cavalry of soldiers yelling for the prince of Nahae to wake up. As if to answer his question, one of the doors creaked open and a sleepy voice rumbled from the dark.

"Who?" God, his voice was even deeper and richer like the rushing waterfalls in the woods behind the palace of Gyeongsong.

Seokjin pulled down his hood to reveal his face. Upon recognition, the prince of Nahae tilted his head in question.

He asked, "What is my Prince doing here at such an hour? Was it a nightmare?"

Seokjin blushed at the thought of seeking security in Taehyung's embrace because of a bad dream. But what should he tell him now? He had an epiphany regarding his feelings towards Taehyung and wanted to run into his arms?

That would get him kicked out of the prince's chambers.

So he lied by nodding his head.

With the moonlight seeping into Taehyung's chambers through the balcony, Seokjin could see Taehyung smile gently. The man placed his warm palm against Seokjin's back and escorted him to his bed. Without words being exchanged, Taehyung helped Seokjin get under the red covers which was coated with the prince's musky scent. Taehyung lay beside Seokjin and carded one hand into the latter's hair, stroking it slowly, gently. Seokjin's sighed in pure bliss.

"What are your nightmares about, Seokjin?" Taehyung asked in a soft voice laced with curiosity and a hint of concern.

Generally, Seokjin did have bad dreams sometimes and it mostly was about the attacks of Azadelle.

"I see my friend being burned alive infront of my eyes. It never happened in real life. I just saw his burnt body." Seokjin said. It made him shiver and tears pricked his eyes but he blinked them away.

"Was it a deed of Azadelle?" The prince of Nahae inquired.

"Yes," Seokjin said in a whisper, "They took my friend away from me, from his family and from the life he could have lived."

Taehyung shuffled closer until Seokjin's face was a few centimetres away from his chest. He continued stroking Seokjin's hair and said, "I'm so sorry to hear that, my Prince. There is no way I can turn back the clock and save your dear friend. But what I can give you is sanctuary at night from those horrible dreams. Only if you accept my offer, that is,"

Ofcourse Seokjin would not say no to such a tempting offer and he expressed that by snuggling into Taehyung's firm chest.

A moment of comfortable silence lingered between them before Taehyung began to sing.

"I wrote a long letter,

To the moon one day. . ."

Seokjin felt his chest tighten with a storm of emotions. The song was so beautiful and sad; it made Seokjin long for his lost friend, made him recall the times he was insecure about himself and made him feel strangely comforted at the same time, as if he wasn't suffering alone. Very word slapped Seokjin with a tide of freshly brewed messed up emotions and feelings.

And, the voice.

Seokjin had been serenaded by multiple first-class singers,
starry-eyed admirers and the occasional nobleman but he had never, literally never, heard a voice so smooth and deep and rich with flawless vocals. With every melody Taehyung sang, Seokjin kept going deeper and deeper into a trance until everything around him was blank and the only things he could sense were Taehyung's mellifluous singing and the warmth of the bed.

And slowly, Seokjin's eyelids grew heavy and he slipped into a dreamless slumber.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seokjin woke up to a sweet kiss on his forehead. He peeked through his
half-closed eyelids to see the youngest prince of Nahae smiling at him so tenderly that Seokjin felt himself blushing.

"Did you sleep well, Seokjin?" Oh God, Taehyung's morning voice was something else.

"I did," Seokjin replied.

Seokjin realised that he was pressed against Taehyung with their limbs in a tangled mess. He didn't mind staying that way and was quite reluctant to get up, and it seemed the same for Taehyung.

Seokjin's mind was always fuzzy in the morning so he wrapped an arm around Taehyung's waist and enjoyed the latter's warmth. Taehyung, in response, put his arm around Seokjin and the two princes held each other.

They would have stayed that way but there was a knock at the door and in came Jisoo's voice.

"Prince Taehyung, are you awake? May I come in?"

Seokjin loved his sister, he truly did, but right now he wished she could just vaporise into the air.

"Hide."

One single word and Seokjin sprang out of Taehyung's embrace and rushed to the balcony. He regretted it instantly because it was freezing out there but Taehyung had already permitted Jisoo to enter.

Seokjin heard a sickly sweet good morning that only his mother could say but instead of his villainous mother, it was his twin's voice.

"Was someone here?" Jisoo asked.

"I fear not, Princess." Taehyung lied so smoothly that anybody would buy it.

Seokjin did a little victory dance in his head at the fact that Taehyung didn't address Jisoo as my Princess.

"I see. . ."

There was an awkward pause.

"Anything important that brings you here, Princess Jisoo?" Taehyung asked.

"Please, just call me Jisoo, I insist." Jisoo said again in the irritatingly sweet voice.

Seriously, what was up with his sister?

"Anything you like, Jisoo."

"That's great. . .Taehyung Oppa." The giggle that followed almost made Seokjin jump out of his hiding and thwack his sister.

"I was a tad bit curious on something. . ." Jisoo began.

"Yes?" Taehyung sounded uninterested.

"You seem quite close with my brother nowadays." Jisoo said.

That was her problem?!

"And that concerns you because. . .?" Seokjin loved how unamused Taehyung sounded.

"Well, as my to-be-husband, shouldn't you spend time with me rather than my brother, or any one of my siblings in that case?" Jisoo voiced out her thoughts.

Seokjin heard laughter. Fake laughter.

"Indeed, I should. However, I see no wrongdoing in bonding with your family members." Taehyung reasoned.

"No, no, don't misunderstand me, Oppa. I was just trying to say that spending time with me is important and more worthwhile." Jisoo said.

Important?

Worthwhile?

Seokjin could never imagine Jisoo saying things like that but this was reality now.

"I believe giving my time to everyone is worthwhile, Jisoo." Taehyung replied calmly.

"Well, wouldn't you like being with someone special rather than someone ordinary?" The Princess questioned.

"What do you mean?" Taehyung's voice was inquiring.

"It's just a small family secret but I trust you enough. You know how our bloodline can control water, right?"

"Yes?"

"Well, the thing is, Seokjin can't. He is the only powerless member of the family."

Seokjin couldn't believe his ears now. His sister, his twin sister, had just disclosed a secret that was only in the knowledge of the royal family of Gyeongsong, a secret that their mother had strictly forbade anyone from spilling.

It was quiet for some time before Jisoo said, "You are reconsidering mixing with my brother now, aren't you?"

She sounded hopeful.

Seokjin felt a lump in his throat. Taehyung really wasn't going to avoid him for not having magical, was he? Seokjin kept praying for Taehyung not to hate him while he shivered in the slicing cold.

"Why should I, Jisoo? Belittling someone for not possessing magical abilities is very immoral. Moreover, I don't see why we should even take powers into account when it comes to weighing a person's worth. I believe, your brother and anybody else who are powerless, are just as equal as me and you."

"I-"

"With that said, Jisoo, do excuse me. I need to get ready for the day and you have taken considerable amount of precious time." Taehyung said politely with a sharp undertone.

Seokjin heard footsteps followed by the shutting of doors.

"Seokjin, you can come out now."

Seokjin stepped out of the balcony and walked towards Taehyung, head bowed in anticipation. He wasn't ashamed of being powerless, he was afraid of hurting Taehyung's feelings by not disclosing his truth earlier.

Instead of dealing with betrayed looks, Seokjin was welcomed by a tight, warm hug and the delicious scent that only belonged to Taehyung.

"It's okay, my Prince."