Minwoo pinned Daehan to the bed and chuckled, "You're a feisty one... but don't waste your energy..." He tied Daehan's mouth and limbs tightly with the ropes he had brought.

"Mmmmffff," Daehan whimpered, tears streaming down his face as he struggled in vain.

With a cruel grin, Minwoo grabbed the front of Daehan's robes and violently pulled them open, exposing his chest, which was tightly bound with a padded cloth. Daehan's sobs grew more frantic, his heart pounding in despair.

Minwoo's eyes widened in shock, raising a brow as he took in the sight. "What on earth is this?" he muttered, dumbfounded. He seized the cloth binding Daehan's chest and ripped it off, revealing the flat, masculine chest beneath. The revelation stunned him even further.

Daehan struggled against his bonds, whimpering desperately, "Mmmmphhhh," his entire body trembling with fear.

For a moment, Minwoo simply stared at Daehan in disbelief, before a wicked laugh erupted from him. "My, my... a pretty boy, hmm?" he jeered, his rough hand cruelly caressing Daehan's chest. "Youngjae is going to be furious... you've deceived him, not only pretending to be a princess but hiding the fact that you're a man..." He laughed louder, the realization delighting him. "This also means Youngjae hasn't touched you yet... he hasn't consummated the marriage." A dark smirk spread across his face as he leaned down, his voice a venomous whisper, "Good for me... a pure, untouched beauty... and it doesn't matter to me if you're a man or a woman. All I want is to possess whatever Youngjae holds dear..."

With a twisted grin, Minwoo began to undo the rest of Daehan's robe, intent on claiming what he believed was rightfully his. But suddenly, he froze, his fingers halting mid-action as the sound of footsteps and muffled voices echoed from the corridor outside Daehan's chambers. His eyes widened in alarm, the reality of being caught crashing down on him.

.

.

.

Sangwoo and Youngjae walked down the dimly lit corridors, their steps echoing softly as Sangwoo whispered, "Well... I'm glad that went well, and we gathered enough evidence."

Youngjae nodded, his expression serious. "However, protect the evidence with your life. We cannot afford to lose it before we get the chance to reveal everything."

Sangwoo nodded in agreement. "Yes, my prince. You shall rest now... I'll take my leave." He bowed and departed.

Youngjae made his way toward Daehan's chambers, his thoughts focused on the mission they had just completed. As he pushed open the door, he was met with an unexpected sight—Daehan, panting and his robe disheveled, his wide eyes fixed on the open window. A wave of worry washed over Youngjae, and he quickly moved to sit beside Daehan, who flinched slightly at the sudden presence.

"You're still awake?" Youngjae asked softly, his voice laced with concern as he gently held Daehan's chin, lifting his face to meet his gaze. He noticed the tear stains on Daehan's cheeks and frowned, wiping them away with his thumb. "What happened?"

Daehan gulped, his heart racing. He knew he couldn't tell Youngjae the truth about what had just transpired. Instead, he gestured, "I had a nightmare."

Youngjae studied him for a moment, his eyes searching Daehan's for any sign of deceit, but all he saw was fear and vulnerability. Gently, he began to rub Daehan's back in soothing circles. "It's okay... you're safe now," he reassured him, his voice calm and comforting. He reached for a glass of water on the table and offered it to Daehan.

With trembling hands, Daehan accepted the glass and took small sips, trying to steady his breath.

Youngjae nodded, watching him closely. "I'll be in my chambers," he said, standing up to leave. But as he turned, he felt a soft tug on his hand. He turned back to see Daehan's pleading eyes staring up at him, filled with a silent request.

"What? You want me to stay here with you?" Youngjae asked gently.

Daehan swallowed hard and nodded, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

Youngjae sighed softly, his heart softening at the sight. "Alright... I'll stay with you," he said, sitting back down beside him. He pulled Daehan closer, wrapping an arm around him protectively. "You're safe with me...." he whispered, holding him as if to shield him from the world.

Daehan leaned into Youngjae's embrace, the warmth of his touch soothing the lingering fear in his heart. For the first time that night, he felt a sense of safety, knowing that as long as Youngjae was by his side, nothing could harm him.

In the soft light of morning, Youngjae slowly awoke, feeling the gentle weight of Daehan's head resting on his chest. His heart began to race as he instinctively reached out to stroke Daehan's hair, the silky strands slipping through his fingers. Just then, Daehan stirred, his innocent, beautiful eyes meeting Youngjae's with a quiet intensity.

Youngjae's breath hitched, a flutter of unfamiliar emotions rising within him. He quickly withdrew his hand from Daehan's hair, his pulse quickening. "Oh, you're awake?!" he said, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness. Clearing his throat, he gently pushed Daehan away from his chest and sat up, trying to regain his composure.

As he straightened his robes, he scoffed, a weak attempt to mask his flustered state. "See? You made me late for my royal duties!" He shot a quick glance at Daehan, who was still lying there, looking up at him with wide, confused eyes.

Without another word, Youngjae turned on his heel and hurried out of the room, leaving Daehan behind, utterly dumbfounded by the sudden change in his demeanor.

Later that day, Daehan paced restlessly around his room, his thoughts consumed by the events of the previous night. His feet, now fully healed, moved with anxious energy as his mind replayed the harrowing moments over and over again. The mere thought of what could have happened if Youngjae had been just a bit later made his stomach churn with fear. The memory of Minwoo's rough hands, his sinister smile, and the way he had taunted him haunted Daehan.

He shuddered, recalling how Minwoo had barely managed to untie him and escape through the window upon hearing Youngjae's approach. Daehan had only just managed to cover his chest before the crown prince entered, his heart pounding with the terror of almost being exposed. The thought that Minwoo knew his secret, while Youngjae did not, filled him with dread.

As he continued to pace, lost in his swirling thoughts, a maid entered the room and bowed respectfully. "A letter for you, your highness," she said, handing him a sealed envelope.

Daehan took the letter, his brow furrowing in confusion. Who could be writing to him? He carefully broke the seal and unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the words written in a hurried script:

"Come to the north wing without getting caught if you don't want Youngjae to know your secrets..."

His breath caught in his throat as he read the letter, his heart sinking with a deep sense of foreboding. The room suddenly felt colder, the walls closing in around him as the weight of the threat pressed down on his chest. Daehan stood there, clutching the letter, his mind racing with fear and uncertainty. He was caught in a web of deceit, with no clear way out.

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