thirty-six || through the looking glass

✧˖*°࿐

"I think I'm falling in love with you."

Beomgyu froze, utterly stunned by Taehyun's confession. The words hung in the air, echoing in his ears like the soft chime of a bell, yet their weight hit him like a tidal wave — he hadn't expected to hear those word at all.

He couldn't breathe. 

His gaze lingered on Taehyun — his sincere, hopeful expression. The rawness in his voice, the weight of his confession, it was everything Beomgyu had wanted to hear for so long. Yet, hearing it now tore something inside him. 

I think I'm falling in love with you. I think I'm falling in love with you. The sentence replayed on an endless loop in his head, each repetition tightening the knot in his chest. 

His lips parted, as if to say something, but no words came, no matter how hard he tried to say something.

All he could do was just stare. Stare at Taehyun who was staring back at him with so much love in his eyes — it made his heart race yet his stomach began to twist in pure agony at the fragments of memories that flashed through his mind.

Taehyun loves me, he says he loves me. He slowly began to let go of the male, unaware of how his breathing became shaky. I did it. i made him fall for me again — but... but why... why do... I...

He looked back up towards Taehyun, the beast, his eyes lingering on his face as his heart began to clench tightly — looking closely for something, anything, that would showcase Taehyun remembered all their memories together.

But as always, there was nothing.

"Beomgyu...?"

Beomgyu flinched when Taehyun called his name. The worry in the males eyes felt like a weight pressing down on him, suffocating. He should say something, should smile, should reciprocate — but his throat closed, his chest constricted. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. 

He couldn't do this anymore.

I think I'm falling in love with you.

Those words — so sweet, so full of hope — should have sent him soaring. He should be smiling, laughing, pulling Taehyun into another dance.

But instead of being happy, he stood there frozen. A rush of deja vu swirled through him from those words — words were ones he had said before.

Memories rushed back, unbidden. The boat. The glowing lanterns. The confessions.

The way Taehyun, his human Taehyun, had looked at him, so full of trust and love. How they both were content with being together and confessing their love in a messy way, it all felt so perfect in that moment before everything came crashing down.

"Beomgyu?" Taehyun's voice came again, softer this time but edged with concern. "What's wrong?" 

Beomgyu flinched, instinctively stepping back as the walls of the ballroom seemed to close in on him. His chest ached, the weight of his emotions pressing down harder. He needed air. He needed to leave before the dam inside him broke. 

"I..." His voice cracked as he struggled to force out the words. Say you love him. Why can't you say it? But his throat refused to comply, his emotions tying him into knots. "I'm— I—" 

The concern on Taehyun's face deepened, and he took a tentative step forward. But Beomgyu retreated, backing away like a wounded animal. 

This was his chance to say he loved Taehyun back. He did love him, there was no doubt in his heart. So why couldn't he speak? 

Why did the words fill him with dread instead of joy? 

After a long, agonizing pause, Beomgyu dropped his gaze, unable to face the worried look in Taehyun's eyes any longer. The room felt too small, the air too thick. 

"I..." His voice faltered, his heart pounding in his ears. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. "I'm sorry. I need a moment." 

"Beomgyu—"

Taehyun's voice chased after him, but Beomgyu didn't wait to hear the rest. He turned and bolted, his vision blurred by unshed tears. 

He ran through the grand halls, past confused gazes and concerned voices. His legs moved on their own, his heart pounding so fiercely he thought it might burst.

He didn't know where he was going, only that he needed to get away. 

After a few minutes, he made his way down a hallway and burst through some doors, his eyes widening as he found himself outside.

The cool night air hit him like a slap when he stumbled into the palace garden. It wasn't enough to ground him. His feet faltered, and he fell against a stone bench, his hands gripping its edge as if it could anchor him. 

His breathing was heavy, his hands shaky as he tried his best to ignore the worried expression on Taehyun's face — he can't cry, not now, why should he cry? Everything was perfect.

Taehyun was falling in love with him again. He was trying so hard to remember, to let Beomgyu back into his heart. They were back on track, weren't they? 

He should be grateful that this Taehyun was trying, that he was trying so hard to remember everything — that he was allowing Beomgyu into his heart once again.

...so why wasn't he happy?

The petals. The warnings. The golden letters. Everything came crashing down like an avalanche. Time was slipping away, faster than he could bear. He was barely scratching the surface of Taehyun's memories, and the petals... the petals were almost gone. 

A loud sob ripped free from his chest, raw and uncontrollable. He buried his face in his hands as tears streamed down his cheeks, his shoulders shaking violently. 

"I can't do this," He whispered to no one, his voice cracking. "I can't keep doing this alone." 

The weight of everything — their shared memories, the fragments of love, the overwhelming loneliness — pressed on him like a thousand bricks. 

Day after day, he had tried everything. Stupid jokes. Clumsy flirting. Telling stories so wild he barely believed them himself. A part of him had clung to the hope that something — anything — would bring more than one memory flooding back. 

But no matter how hard he tried, he saw the emptiness in Taehyun's eyes. The awkward pauses. The forced smiles. 

It hurt. It hurt so much. 

In all the fairytales, he had Taehyun by his side for at least majority of the time — no different from this one, yet... the younger had always kept him grounded. Chasing after him so he wouldn't get hurt and always making sure he was there to save him both mentally and physically.

He had Taehyun by his side right now, it should be no difference, right?

Yet, he felt so alone.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fight off the growing loneliness and guilt building up inside of him. It pained him so much knowing how he couldn't share specific memories with the younger, that he was the only one who remembers everything they've been through together.

He wanted him back, he wanted his Taehyun back. The one who would scold him playfully or call him dumb names, the one who would save him every time he was lost, the one who he slowly started to fall in love with, the one who knew him; imperfections and all.

But now, here he was, picking up the broken fragments with only a little bit of hope left.

"I miss you," he choked out, his voice trembling with pain. "I miss my Taehyun." 

He buried his face deeper into his hands, his sobs racking his body. For so long, he had carried the weight of this fairytale, of trying to fix everything, of putting Taehyun back together again. But now, the cracks in himself were starting to show. 

He felt like an asshole, a guilty fucking asshole.

Inside the palace was Taehyun, probably confused and dazed as to why he suddenly ran out of there — probably thinking that his reaction was a rejection when in reality he just couldn't handle the pressure anymore.

Hearing those words made him feel so grateful yet so lonely at the same time.

The guilt was eating him alive, so many thoughts ran through his head.

What if I stayed in the tower with him?

What if I never got out of the boat?

What if I hadn't died in his arms, forcing him to make that awful sacrifice?

What if I had never lost my temper, and we wouldn't have been sucked into this fairytale life at all?

His mind raced through endless "what ifs," each one tightening the knot in his chest. Minutes passed as he sat there, consumed by his grief, his sobs echoing into the still night. 

He hated crying. He never let anyone see him like this, never allowed himself to fall apart. But damn it, Taehyun always seemed to be the reason — whether for tears of happiness or sorrow. 

He was so lost in his pain that he didn't hear the approaching footsteps. Not until he felt a familiar presence settle beside him. 

The large figure was unmistakable. Even without looking up, he knew it was Taehyun. 

Beomgyu stiffened, his breath hitching as he quickly wiped at his face in a futile attempt to hide the tears. He knew Taehyun had heard him from a mile away — his sobs weren't exactly quiet — but still, he tried to pull himself together, make himself look decent.

To his relief, Taehyun said nothing. 

The beast simply sat down beside him, his presence calm and steady. The silence between them was thick, laden with unspoken words, yet oddly comforting. 

After a while, Taehyun finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. 

"Are you okay?" He asked softly, his caring eyes fixed on Beomgyu. "...Do you want to talk about it?" 

His words were gentle, but they broke through Beomgyu's fragile walls like a flood. The lump in his throat grew heavier, and he bit his lip to keep from breaking down again. 

"I..." Beomgyu tried to speak up, his voice cracking ever so slightly as he did. "I don't even know where to start."

"You don't have to rush," Taehyun replied, his tone patient and soothing. "I'm here. Take your time."

Beomgyu glanced at him, his heart twisting at the sight of Taehyun's earnest expression. The younger's concern was so genuine, so pure, it made him feel both comforted and unbearably guilty. 

"I'm just..." He hesitated, his voice trembling as he struggled to find the words. "I'm just so tired, Tyun. I'm grateful — so grateful you love me back now, that your memories are starting to return, but... doing this alone... it's all exhausting." 

Taehyun didn't respond right away. Instead, he shifted closer, his towering form oddly delicate as he settled into the moment, his presence steady and grounding. 

"I just feel so helpless," Beomgyu barely managed to say, his voice breaking further. "I'm trying to be strong, but it hurts so much... Everything we went through together — it's just gone. And the process of bringing it back is... is so painful, especially knowing the rose petals are withering." 

His voice cracked again, and he dropped his gaze, his fingers curling into fists as he tried to steady himself. "I'm running out of time, Taehyun. We're running out of time." 

A trembling sigh escaped him as he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love you so much, but I'm exhausted. I just want out of this fairytale, to be with you in the real world — without worrying whether one of us will die or not." 

Taehyun's eyes softened, his brows furrowing as he took in the weight of Beomgyu's words. He reached out slowly, his hand brushing against Beomgyu's shoulder — a quiet reassurance. 

"You're not alone," Taehyun said gently, his voice carrying a quiet strength. "I may not remember everything yet, I know that the pain of doing this is unbearable, but I'm here with you. We'll figure it out together, you're the strongest person I know."

Beomgyu looked up, his tear-streaked face etched with doubt and longing. "But what if... what if it's not enough? What if I can't save you this time?" 

"You will save me. You'll save us," Taehyun said firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Don't let this be your burden alone, Gyu. I'm here for you. No matter how much time we have left, no matter how long it takes for these memories to return — I'm not giving up on us. I love you more than anything right now." 

The sincerity in his voice made Beomgyu's chest ache even more. He looked away, trying to blink back the tears that threatened to fall again. 

"I know," Beomgyu whispered. "I know you do."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched on, but it wasn't suffocating — it was warm, almost healing. 

Finally, Taehyun broke it with a quiet suggestion. "Do you want to go inside? Maybe... to the library?" 

Beomgyu hesitated for a moment, the idea of going back inside and pretending everything was fine felt impossible. But when he saw the way Taehyun had stood up and reached out, offering his hand, it made him pause as a wave of reassurance appeared.

Tentatively, Beomgyu took it, the warmth of Taehyun's palm grounding him. 

"Okay," Beomgyu murmured, the comforting words and feeling of having Taehyun here made him feel better, though his voice was still shaky. "Let's go."

Together, they stood, their hands clasped as they walked back toward the palace. The garden's chill lingered, but with Taehyun beside him, he felt a little bit better in this cruel fairytale.

"How about this book? Does this strike your interest?"

"Absolutely not!" Beomgyu laughed, his voice loud and genuine as he glanced at the ridiculous book Taehyun had chosen for him. "What's with you and these cheesy love stories?"

"Please," Taehyun quipped, a smirk tugging at his lips, "you're a literal walking cheesy love story."

Beomgyu rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the grin that crept onto his face. After the emotional collapse in the garden, he had been nervous — worried that he'd ruined the mood or upset Taehyun. But now, sitting in the warmth of the library, things felt... lighter.

Hesitant at first, he had followed Taehyun inside, unsure if the ache in his chest would ever subside. But as they sat by the crackling fireplace, side by side, their soft laughter mingling with the warm air, a small glimmer of happiness broke through his sadness.

Stacks of books surrounded them, courtesy of Soobin and Huening Kai, who had practically turned the library upside down finding titles for them to read or discuss.

Chan and Felix had even shown up with a warm blanket, draping it over Beomgyu after noticing his shivering from the chilly garden air. The small gestures made him feel cared for, even if his heart still felt raw.

Yet, no matter how much he laughed or how warm the atmosphere was, the emptiness remained.

His chest ached, a hollow, gnawing pain he couldn't shake. He tried to focus on the present, to appreciate Taehyun's efforts to lift his spirits — the way he went out of his way to make him laugh, to distract him from the weight crushing him.

If only he had his old Taehyun back.

That thought lingered, unspoken, as Beomgyu's smile faltered for a brief moment. He glanced at Taehyun, who was flipping through another book with an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression, clearly trying to pick the next ridiculous suggestion.

He knows Taehyun is trying, for the both of them, yet the mental exhaustion he was bearing was weighing down on him so much, it made everything feel so useless and empty.

But still, he couldn't give up now, not when he knew he had someone to save.

Beomgyu slowly gazed over towards Taehyun who was reading out loud the synopsis of a new book he chose, something about some crazy guy obsessed with someone who hates him but pursues in making the person his own because he had crazy dreams about him, seriously... where in the world does one even find those type of books?

It warmed his heart up to know he was trying so hard, for him.

Noticing the silence, Taehyun slowly looked up and caught his gaze, raising a curious brow. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Yeah, a bunch of fur," Beomgyu snorted, earning a scoff from the male and a playful shove. "I'm joking! But... I just wanted to say thank you."

Taehyun's playful demeanor softened after hearing that. "For what?" He tilted his head which was a little bit cute.

"For... this," He replied, gesturing vaguely to the books, the fireplace, the whole comfort that Taehyun had brought without even realizing it. "For being here, not giving up on me."

Taehyun's expression softened even more, his eyes warm and sincere. "Always, you haven't given up on me yet, so I won't give up on you."

Beomgyu's chest tightened again, but this time, it wasn't just pain. It was hope. Fragile, but there. Even if he longed for the Taehyun he once knew, the one sitting beside him was trying — and that was enough for now.

After a while, around an hour or so, the both of them were comfortably sitting in silence after reading some goofy books, with Beomgyu leaning on Taehyun's shoulder, resting his head as they both listened to the sound of the fire crackling, neither of them said anything.

The flickering firelight casted warm shadows across the room, warmth wrapping around them like a blanket as Taehyun slowly looked down towards Beomgyu who was staring at the fireplace.

"Hey," Taehyun said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. "Can I ask you something?"

Beomgyu glanced up, his expression questioning. "What's up?" 

Taehyun hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering back to the fire before returning to Beomgyu. "Why did you... fall in love with me?" 

The question hung in the air, fragile yet heavy, and for a moment, Beomgyu didn't know how to respond. His breath hitched, and his fingers curled slightly against the blanket draped over his lap. 

"You're really asking me that now?" He said, trying to laugh it off, but his voice cracked just enough to betray him. "Didn't I give you enough reasons earlier?"

"I just want to know," Taehyun replied gently, his sincerity shining through his tone. "I... I don't remember everything yet, just bits and pieces, but I want to understand. I want to know why someone like you... could fall for someone like me."

Beomgyu's heart clenched at the vulnerability in his voice, and for a moment, he was confused. What does he mean by that? Had he not made it clear beforehand that he was madly in love with Taehyun because of who he was?

Now that he thinks about it... maybe he forgot to say important details and just jumped into his life and pronounced his undying love for him.

But maybe... maybe if he tells him, some memories can come back.

"It's... not a simple answer."

"I don't mind if it's messy," Taehyun replied. "I'm not going anywhere without you."

A fluttery sensation began to build in his stomach, making Beomgyu smile just a little bit as his mind flashed back to the beginning, their beginning. The anger, the frustration, the tension that existed between them.

If he wanted him to fully understand this, then he's going to have to start from the beginning.

"At first..." He began, his voice tinged with hesitation. "I hated you. I hated you so damn much, I couldn't even be in the same room as you without feeling like I was going to explode or starting a damn fight with you."

Taehyun blinked, visibly shocked at that unexpected answer. "You... hated me?"

Beomgyu laughed bitterly, shaking his head at the past memories. "Yeah. You were just everything I wasn't — smart, effortlessly beautiful, talented. It made me so angry, especially with my parents around who adored you more than their own son. I'm sure they would've love to trade me for you."

Taehyun opened his mouth to interject his words, but just before he could, Beomgyu held up a hand, signaling for him to stay quiet.

"It's pathetic, really," Beomgyu laughed, running a hand through his hair. "You didn't like me either for your own reasons. In the real world, we spent years torturing each other — barrels, alpacas, embarrassment, anything to ruin each other's reputation."

Talking about this left a bitter taste in Beomgyu's mouth, the memory of his past self and actions made him feel so guilty now that he knew the truth behind the competition — he knew it was too late to change that though, all he could do was move forward.

"...Alpacas...?"

"Story for another time," Beomgyu quickly said, embarrassment flushing on his cheek about his little phobia of alpacas. "But anyways, I made... I made a mistake. We were on the student council, the top students of our class, we were supposed to go to a meeting together but you had made me so angry I—"

Beomgyu paused, taking a deep breath at the memory that had got them into this mess, the fight that put their roles in the council on the line, the punishment that landed them here.

"We fought, not just verbally but also physically," He breathed out, watching Taehyun's face contort to one full of shock. "We were fighting like children until we were separated, punished by our principal, forced to clean this shady ass library for a week."

"I think I remember this..." Taehyun slowly spoke up, his voice full of disbelief. "We- we fought in the library because you had- knocked something down and we started to fight."

Beomgyu was stunned for a brief moment, his breath coming out shaky as his heart clenched when he realized that another piece of his Taehyun was coming back to him. Forcing himself to look away, he continued on with his confidence wavering.

"We did," He mumbled, his fists clenching at his side. "You know the rest from there. We landed in a fairytale land, we needed to escape five fairytales, this is our last ones."

"...But... when did you fall in love with me...?"

Beomgyu stayed silent for a moment, his eyes lingering on the fire that was slowly dying out. Closing his eyes for a second to recollect his thoughts as he thought about it.

"I admitted my love for you in Tangled," Beomgyu spoke softly, slowly opening his eyes as he looked over towards the younger with vulnerability in his eyes. "But honestly? I think- no. I started falling for you in The Little Mermaid when I saw how beautiful you were in my arms, dancing once again but with me."

Taehyun was stunned to hear that, his expression shifting into multiple unreadable ones as if he were having a mental battle in his head — a part of him fighting to remember it all, fighting against the curse that blocks those memories.

"But... if I wanted to be really honest," Beomgyu shifted, bringing his knees to his chest as he leaned his head down on them, staring at Taehyun. "I think I started to unknowingly and slowly started falling for you when you saved my life in Sleeping Beauty."

"Saved... saved your life...?"

"We got into a fight," He breathed out, looking back at how stupid that fight was. "You stormed out of the palace, left me alone. It was my fault though, I was angry and let my emotions control me. I was spelled and tricked to prick my finger on the spindle... ended up falling in a deep sleep and had my life force slowly be sucked out of me."

Taehyun's eyebrows furrowed, a deep frown growing on his lips making his beastly fangs peek out. This whole thing was just... so much to take in, yet it was so familiar — filling the emptiness in his heart.

Beomgyu's voice broke completely, and he pressed his forehead against his knees, unable to look at Taehyun any longer. "I don't know if you saved me back then because you wanted to, or because the fairytale forced you to. But it didn't matter. It meant everything to me. It still does."

He closed his eyes, holding back the tears that threaten to fall. "Taehyun, I'm terrified to die. I don't want to die, every time I come close to that— I'm terrified. Yet, you're always there to somehow save me."

Fuck, he shouldn't cry now, this wasn't supposed to be emotional — damn him, giving a whole speech when he should've just shortened it down, but he needed him to remember. Even if Taehyun wasn't fully there, this was the moment to voice out his inner feelings.

"This entire fairytale life, you've been doing the most work," Beomgyu shakily admitted, his heart tightening at the truth. "You've fought dragons, went against a giant octopus, managed through harsh treatment, even survived with long ass magic hair — your strength to survive was what pushed me through."

Taehyun let out a soft exhale, taking in all of this information, and for a moment he stayed silent until he gently lifted a hand and placed it on Beomgyu's knee.

"That's not true," Taehyun softly said. "You also had your fair share of struggles. You... you saved me from being sea foam, don't you remember? You had a choice, leave the fairytale and abandon me — yet you stayed, for me. You're strong."

Beomgyu's eyes widened when he heard him say that, his heart dropping down to his stomach as a wave of emotions washed through him when he realized that Taehyun was starting to remember important key details of their life together.

"I certainly don't feel strong."

"Are you kidding me?" Taehyun chuckled, his voice full of disbelief. "You've been so much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Gyu. You didn't give up on me, not once, even when I couldn't remember a damn thing about us, you still stayed by my side. That takes more strength than fighting dragons or curses."

Beomgyu closed his eyes, his lips pressing into a thin line as he fought against the growing lump in his throat. His hands trembled slightly as he looked away, desperate to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

Stop crying, damn it, He scolded himself. It's getting embarrassing at this point.

"You've carried this alone for long enough," Taehyun said firmly, his grip on his knee careful and reassuring, careful not to hurt him. "Let me share the weight, Gyu."

Those words shattered the last of Beomgyu's resolve, and the tears he had been fighting finally spilled over. He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. But for the first time, it didn't feel embarrassing. It didn't feel weak. With Taehyun's hand still resting on his knee, it felt... safe.

"I won't stop," He shakily said in between breaths. "Until my last breath, until the last petal, I promise Taehyun- I'll bring you back to me. I'll bring us back home where we can be happier."

Taehyun smiled softly, his heart swelling at the unyielding promise. Without hesitation, he scooted closer, wrapping an arm around Beomgyu. Despite the awkwardness of his beastly fur, he held him anyway. The contact was warm, comforting, and filled with an unspoken affection.

"I love you, Choi."

Beomgyu's breath hitched as he looked up, meeting Taehyun's gaze. There was no trace of pity in his eyes, only warmth and affection. For once, Beomgyu didn't feel ashamed of his tears. Vulnerability, something he had always despised, felt almost liberating under Taehyun's gaze. He didn't feel judged or weak — he felt seen.

A soft smile broke across Beomgyu's face as he lifted a trembling hand, placing it where Taehyun's cheek would be. His fingers gently caressed the coarse fur, an odd sensation but one he didn't shy away from.

Because in this moment, none of that mattered.

What mattered was that his Taehyun was coming back to him, piece by piece. And for the first time in what felt like forever, he didn't feel so alone.

"I love you too, Kang" Beomgyu replied softly, his voice shaky yet confident. "Thank you for falling in love with me again."

✧˖*°࿐

Later that night, after their heartfelt talk in the library and having a nice lovely dinner (he didn't flirt during it for once!!!) Beomgyu found himself seated by Taehyun's bedside. The beast was slowly falling asleep, his expression peaceful.

Surprisingly, he didn't want to be alone tonight. So he had just followed Taehyun to his own room like a lost little puppy and stayed by his side, reading a book to him until the beast had fallen asleep, making him sigh softly.

Beomgyu took the chance to stare at Taehyun's furry face, his eyes lingering on the features. His large fangs peeking out from his lips, his furry face, his furry nose, his furry eyebrows, his furry hair... his large horns on the top of his head.

Strangely enough, it was a little bit cute, still sorta freaked him out that his cute princess was now a furry beast and like twice the size of him, but he still loved him regardless.

He's definitely not talking about this in the real world though, loving a furry was definitely not something good for his reputation.

Beomgyu sighed and leaned back into the chair, their conversations that they had earlier made his heart feel at ease. He needed that conversation, the comfort, he never realized how exhausted his body and mind were until he heard him say I love you again.

I just hope we have time, He thought, stomach twisting in silent agony. We're so close. I can feel it. Just a little more, and I know he'll come back to me.

He leaned forward again, his eyes softening as they traced Taehyun's face. God, how he yearned to see his pretty boy's real face again. He wanted to hold him, kiss him, lose himself in those familiar features he'd come to adore. The longer he went without them, the more it felt like pieces of him were slipping away.

He's losing his mind by the second the longer he goes without seeing his pretty boy's face.

He slowly reached out, brushing a strand of fur from Taehyun's face, feeling weak.

"Please," He whispered softly, more to himself. "Come back to me soon, beautiful."

After a few minutes of silence, Beomgyu slowly got up and was about to walk out the door until a soft red glow in the corner of his eyes began to illuminate brightly, his eyes widening as he slowly turned his head towards the rose where it floated beautifully.

His breath hitched as he turned toward the source — the rose, floating delicately in its enchanted casing. For a moment, the sight made his stomach drop. The soft hum of its magic was as haunting as it was beautiful, but curiosity drew him closer despite the dread pooling in his chest.

Beomgyu clenched his fists, his eyes lingering on the flower as his jaw tightened. Anger washing over him like a storm at the sight of this damn flower that had to ruin everything.

He scanned the rose carefully, counting the petals that still clung to its stem. Nine. Only nine petals remained.

Nine days. The weight of it settled heavily on his shoulders. Nine days to restore Taehyun's memories, to break the curse, to find their way out of this suffocating fairytale.

His heart sank further. He was sick of this magical hellhole. A golden letter with a hint or a clue would be great right now, but of course, the fairytale's magic decided to stay silent.

Beomgyu closed his eyes, thinking about everything he knew about this fairytale. The beast, the dance, the rose, Heeseung, Yeonjun—

Oh shit. Yeonjun.

Beomgyu's eyes snapped open as the feeling of dread and guilt washed over him — he had totally forgotten about Yeonjun for the last few days, the elder who was unfortunately his brother he saved in this fairytale.

Oh gosh. He slowly began to freak out. Is he okay? I hope he's okay- shit, he's probably worried about me. oh god.

Maybe he shouldn't freak out so much about a fairytale version of his best friend, but it was in his nature to care for someone close — and he's starting to feel extremely guilty about it!

Was Yeonjun okay? Did he make it back to the village safe? Does he think that Beomgyu died? Oh gosh, he's a horrible fairytale brother!

"Beomgyu?"

The soft voice startled him out of his spiraling thoughts. He spun around to see Taehyun standing in the doorway, rubbing at his eyes groggily. Exhaustion clung to him like a second skin, but his curiosity was evident in the way he tilted his head.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Beomgyu said quickly, masking his panic. "Did I wake you up? I didn't mean to."

Taehyun ignored his question as he stepped closer, his gaze shifting towards the rose then back, a cautious expression growing on his face. "What are you doing?"

"I was..." He hesitated for a brief moment. "I was just curious about the rose, the petals, how many days we have... basically everything in general."

Taehyun frowned, unconvinced. "There's more to it than that, isn't there?"

Beomgyu's smile faltered on his face, he wanted to excuse it and drop the conversation, but he knew he needed to talk.

"I'm worried about Yeonjun." He admitted truthfully, looking away from the male. "I...I don't know how he is, ever since I came here... I haven't seen him since."

Taehyun's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He seemed caught off guard by the answer, his emotions twisting into something conflicted as he glanced at the rose again. After a moment, he sighed — a soft, resigned sound that made Beomgyu look up.

Without saying a word, Taehyun turned and walked over to a drawer on the far side of the room. Beomgyu furrowed his brow, watching as Taehyun rummaged through it, only to pull out a gleaming silver mirror

"Tyun..." He breathed out, watching as Taehyun walked over to him. "What is that?"

"It's..." Taehyun hesitated, holding the mirror delicately, as though it weighed more than it should. "It's an enchanted mirror. It allows you to see anything — or anyone — no matter how far away they are. If you want to check on Yeonjun, you can use this."

Beomgyu's breath caught in his throat, his heart both relieved and heavy as he stared at the magical object in Taehyun's hands.

For a moment, the enormity of what Taehyun was offering left him speechless "You'd really let me—"

"I know how much he means to you," Taehyun said, cutting him off gently. He averted his gaze, his voice softer now. "You deserve to know he's okay."

Beomgyu hesitantly took the mirror from Taehyun's hands, his chest tightening with gratitude. He looked up at the beast, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint shaky smile.

"Thank you," He murmured, the sincerity in his voice raw. "Thank you for trusting me with this and allowing for me to see him."

Taehyun gave a small nod, his expression unreadable, though his eyes held a quiet sadness. "Anything for your happiness."

Beomgyu walked away and sat down on the edge of the bed, clutching the mirror close as he stared at his own reflection in the smooth, enchanted surface.

For a moment, the world around him felt distant, his mind consumed by the worry and guilt that gnawed at him. But this was his chance, he had the chance to check up on Yeonjun and hope he's okay.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath before whispering.

"Show me Choi Yeonjun."

Shit. shit shit shit shit.

Yeonjun exhaled a shaky breath as he paced around in their home — his empty home which was supposed to have Beomgyu inside of it annoying him.

His face was pale with worry, his hands trembling as he tugged at his hair. "Where is he, where are you? Are you safe" Yeonjun muttered under his breath, his voice frantic.

It had been days since he had last seen Beomgyu and he has zero idea whether the younger was alive or not — he can't lose him, he's his only family left — he can't lose his little brother that he's spent years raising.

Yeonjun squeezed his eyes shut as tears threatened to fall once again, for the past days he had isolated himself from every one and made up plans to somehow get his brother back, his loneliness and pain ached in his heart — Beomgyu needed to be saved.

"I'm so sorry, Beom," He whispered under his breath, his voice breaking as he thought about his younger brother. "I need to save you- I can't lose you."

He doesn't want to do it, but it was his last resort.

Yeonjun swiftly turned around and made a beeline out of the house, rushing into the dark night. The town was eerily silent as tonight was a gathering being held at the local bar, but his determination didn't falter as he headed towards the cavern.

He needed help, he needed to bring Beomgyu back.

With a deep breath, Yeonjun gathered his confidence as he pushed the door open — the sight of everyone in town happily gathered around, drinking their airheaded hearts away along with singing and dancing made him sick to his stomach.

"Everyone!" Yeonjun begged, his voice echoing in the chamber as everyone froze, glancing over towards him. "I-I need your help! My brother — he's- he's been kidnapped, held hostage by a beast!"

Immediate scowls grew on some faces while some exchanged uneasy glances, wondering if Yeonjun was drunk or something. They were staring at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"Please!" He begged once again, his voice cracking. "He's being held hostage by this horrifying beast, in this palace frozen with snow—"

"Snow?" A voice spoke up, his voice cackling with a tipsy tone. "It's the middle of summer! There's no way there could be snow — along with a damn palace!"

The crowd began to erupt into laughter, their disbelief and mocking tones cut into Yeonjun like a knife. His face burned with frustration, but he stood his ground, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"I'm not lying!" Yeonjun shouted, his voice trembling with desperation. "You have to believe me. He's in danger, and I can't save him alone!"

The laughter subsided, replaced by uncomfortable silence. The townsfolk exchanged glances, their expressions filled with a mix of pity and annoyance wondering if he was spewing the damn truth.

It wasn't until a figure emerged from the crowd, his presence commanding attention as a cocky little smirk grew on his face as he daunted towards Yeonjun, his arrogance radiating off of him like a stench.

"Yeonjun, Yeonjun," Heeseung drawled, crossing his arms, an exaggerated sigh escaping his lips as he shook his head mockingly, "You really expect us to believe this fairy tale nonsense? Snow in summer? A palace? A beast?"

Yeonjun's jaw tightened at the smug look on Heeseung's face, but he forced himself to remain calm. "It's the truth," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos in his chest. "Beomgyu is in danger, and I don't have time to convince you of every detail. If you care about him at all—"

"Care?" Heeseung interrupted, his smirk growing more sinister. "Oh, Yeonjun, I do care. But unlike you, I'm not chasing after fairy tales and monsters. I care about reality — and the reality is, you sound like you've lost your damn mind."

"I am not losing my damn mind!" Yeonjun shouted angrily, stunning others at his outburst. "He is in trouble and we need to save him, please! Just help me this once!"

Heeseung stared at Yeonjun for a long, tense moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, his lips curled into a devious smirk. "Alright," He said smoothly, his tone almost too kind. "I'll help you."

Yeonjun's eyes widened with a glimmer of hope. "You will?"

Heeseung's smirk grew wider. "Of course," he said smoothly. "On one condition: you agree to let me marry your brother once he's back."

The room went deathly silent, the air thick with tension. Yeonjun stared at Heeseung in disbelief, his lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. The idea was so revolting, so utterly out of line, that it rendered him momentarily speechless.

Finally, he shook his head vehemently, his voice rising with anger. "No. Absolutely not."

Heeseung's expression darkened, his smirk fading into a cold sneer. "Then don't expect my help," He said sharply. "In fact, don't expect anyone's help."

He turned to face the crowd, his voice booming. "He's delusional! Making up stories about beasts and snow in the middle of summer. Who knows what other nonsense he's been spouting behind closed doors?"

The crowd murmured in agreement, their unease shifting into open hostility. Yeonjun's heart sank as he realized the tide had turned against him.

"No, wait!—"

"I think it's time we send you somewhere to get real help," Heeseung cut him off, staring at him with an angered scowl. "Someone call up the asylum and tell them they have a new inmate!"

"Stop!" Yeonjun pleaded, his voice breaking as two men grabbed him by the arms harshly. "You don't understand! My brother is out there, he needs me — please, don't do this!"

"You're hysterical," one of the men said coldly. "It's time someone put you in your place."

"Stop!"

Heeseung strode towards him with calculated malice, his dark eyes boring into Yeonjun's as he grabbed his chin with a bruising grip. He forced Yeonjun to look at him, their faces inches apart, his sinister smile widening.

"I'll give you one last chance, Yeonjun," He said bitterly, his tone dripping with cruel satisfaction. "Let me marry Beomgyu when he comes back. Give me your blessing, and I'll help you."

Yeonjun's jaw clenched tightly, his entire body trembling with fury and grief. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he stared defiantly at Heeseung, refusing to back down. Though his voice shook, his words were resolute.

"I'd rather rot in that asylum than let you ever touch him." 

The room went deathly silent, a collective gasp rippling through the crowd. Heeseung's smirk vanished, replaced by a dark, simmering fury that twisted his features. His eyes narrowed, burning with a vindictive rage.

"Fine," Heeseung hissed, his voice dripping with venom. With a sharp shove, he released Yeonjun's chin, sending him stumbling backward into the grip of the men holding him. "You've sealed your fate." 

The men began dragging Yeonjun toward the exit, the cold stone floor scraping beneath his heels as he thrashed and pleaded. "You're making a mistake! He's my brother — I have to save him! Please, someone listen to me!" 

But no one moved. The crowd turned their backs, muttering among themselves as if the spectacle was already over. 

Heeseung watched, his arms crossed and his lips curled in satisfaction. As the cavern doors slammed shut behind Yeonjun's struggling form, the chilling echo was the only sound left in the room. 

Beomgyu sat frozen, the enchanted mirror returning to its ordinary state, his shocked reflection staring back at him. His hands trembled as he tightened his grip on the frame, his mind racing.

He had seen Yeonjun, and his status was far from okay.

"No, no, no..." He whispered, his voice barely audible. His chest tightened as panic clawed its way up his throat. "This isn't happening. Heeseung — he's going to send him to an asylum!"

He stumbled to his feet, his legs weak, nearly giving out beneath him. Taehyun was there in an instant, catching him before he could collapse. Beomgyu's face was pale, his breaths coming fast and shallow.

"I-I have to save him!" He stammered, his words rushing out in a panic. "They think—he thinks I'm dead — I'm not! I have to show him I'm okay, that— that—"

"Then go."

Beomgyu froze at those words, Taehyun's voice cutting through his panic as he stared at him with disbelief. What? There's no way he had just said that, no... no he can't.

"But- but the rose—" Beomgyu's voice cracked as he glanced at the flower, the few remaining petals haunting him. "What if- What if I'm not back on time, Taehyun? It's okay, I can still stay here—"

"No, Gyu," Taehyun cut him off, slowly pushing him away — though it was obvious he didn't want to. "You have to go save him, I know you're worried, you need to save him."

Beomgyu's chest tightened, torn between two impossible choices.

Leaving Taehyun and the safety of the palace to save a version of Yeonjun who was only a fairytale version and not his real one. Uncertain of what awaited him back in the village.

Or staying — helping retrieve the rest of the memories and ensuring Taehyun and the others were free from the curse — while leaving Yeonjun to rot in an asylum, abandoned and forgotten.

It made no sense. The logical choice was to stay; this wasn't even his real Yeonjun. But the pull to save him, the raw desperation in Yeonjun's face that he'd seen in the mirror, was something Beomgyu couldn't ignore.

"You'll make it," Taehyun reassured him, his voice firm yet gentle. "I know you'll make it, you don't need to worry. Just go to him."

Beomgyu's eyes filled with tears as he stared at Taehyun, his heart aching as the obvious choice was chosen, the trust and love in the beast's gaze just motivated him.

"Thank you," He whispered, his voice trembling. "I promise — I'll come back."

Taehyun forced a small smile, though his chest tightened painfully as he watched Beomgyu rush out of the room. Quietly, he followed him to the palace gates, where he stood silently as Beomgyu mounted his horse.

Taehyun handed him a thick coat, the only barrier he could offer against the biting cold, and the two stared at each other. The air between them was heavy with unspoken words, words neither could bring themselves to say.

Beomgyu bit his lip, his gaze wavering, before he turned away. With a flick of his wrist, he urged the horse forward and disappeared into the dark woods ahead.

As the snow swirled around him and the figure fading quicker, Taehyun turned and rushed into the palace — making his way to the highest tower of the castle as he shoved the door open — greeted by howling winds and blinding snowflakes.

But he stood there, his eyes following the faint outline of Beomgyu, fading into the distance as his heart began to ache with pain.

"He'll come back," he murmured to himself, though his voice wavered. "I know he will."

For a long moment, he stood motionless, tears welling up in his eyes. The snow swirled around him as though mirroring the chaos inside him.

He bared his big teeth, growling rabidly under his breath as a mixture of emotions soared through him his beastly instincts ready to howl at the moon—

It wasn't until a faint ticking noise stirred behind him, cutting through his breakdown, he didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Young prince..." Huening Kai said softly, his voice nearly drowning out in the snow. "Why... why did you let him go?"

Taehyun didn't give him a reply. The question lingering in his mind and his heart ached as he wondered that exact question himself, but it wasn't long until he realized why exactly he did what he did.

Slowly turning his head, he glanced over at the clock along with his other enchanted servants who were all feeling the emptiness and dread of Beomgyu's missing presence.

A bittersweet smile grew on Taehyun's lips, tears rolling down his face and damping his fur.

"Because I love him, Huening Kai."

✧˖*°࿐

It had been hours since Beomgyu's departure from the palace, and Taehyun was left empty.

He had remained in the tower until the cold gnawed at him, forcing him to retreat to his room. His thoughts swirled, questions pressing down on him. Was Beomgyu okay? Had he made it back safely? Was he happy now? When would he return?

Taehyun groaned softly, rubbing his face as he dried the tears that fell down his face for the last few hours — loneliness that he feared began to creep in again from Beomgyu being gone.

They were so close, he knows it, that with one more shove he could remember something more — he has already remembered a few memories, growing more and more, but he knew he had to let Beomgyu go.

Seeing him so panicked and saddened made his heart break in such an unforgivable way.

But he's selfish, he wanted to keep Beomgyu to himself, he wanted to make him stay by his side — he's terrified of what would happen if the rose petals were to all wither.

Exhaling shakily, Taehyun let his head drop, the weight of his longing and unanswered questions pulling at him. He needed a distraction, anything to stop the aching loneliness.

Slowly standing up, he avoided his reflection, refusing to look at his hideous monstrous beastly face as he walked over towards his door, ready to leave—

whoosh!

Taehyun suddenly paused when a soft breeze swirled past him, his eyes widening as a golden glow illuminated in the corner of his eye — making him confused as he turned to that direction and glanced down at the floor, his stomach dropping when he saw a golden paper.

What the hell is that? He thought, slowly backing away from the door. How did that get here?

Taehyun walked over towards the paper cautiously, slowly leaning down as he picked it up, noticing that there was writing on it. How in the world did this get in his palace?

For a brief second, he was debating whether he should crumble it up and throw it away, but something inside of him screamed at him to read the words, and so he did.

Two hearts intertwined, find themselves at a struggling war,
Travel across these five journeys, to earn the happily ever after you're destined for.

The words echoed in his mind, strange and cryptic. He stared at the letter, rereading it over and over, trying to make sense of it. The more he read, the more he felt an unsettling sense of familiarity creep over him.

yet... he swore he heard those words before.

Two intertwined hearts... find themselves at a struggling war...

Taehyun's pulse quickened, a deep, dawning realization slowly clawing its way to the surface. His mind raced as something buried deep inside him began to stir — memories long forgotten, fragments of a life he couldn't quite grasp.

His breath caught as his eyes widened, every word of the letter suddenly glowing with meaning.

Travel across these five journeys...

No. No, this couldn't be. He had heard these words before. He had seen this letter before. His heart pounded in his chest as he connected the pieces, the truth slamming into him like a freight train.

He's heard of this letter before, he's heard of this — he's seen this letter before, the exact words written on it all.

To earn the happily ever after you're destined for.

A sharp, panicked gasp tore from his throat as the golden paper slipped from his hands, fluttering to the ground. The dam that had held his memories back for so long finally cracked, and a flood of them came crashing down on him.

The words... the letter... he knew exactly where he had heard them before.

This — this was the first letter he had ever received in Cinderella.

✧˖*°࿐