Daehan dismissed the maid with a wave of his hand, waiting until she had left before he read the letter again, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the handwriting.

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

A realization began to dawn on him—he recognized the handwriting. It was the same as the forged letter he had once received, one he had initially believed to be from Youngjae. The truth struck him hard....Minwoo had been behind it all along, manipulating events and using deceit to his advantage.

The paper crumpled slightly in Daehan's hand as he weighed his options. Minwoo knew his true identity and was now attempting to blackmail him, threatening to expose his secret and potentially ruin everything. Daehan's heart pounded in his chest as he considered the implications. If Minwoo succeeded, it would destroy the fragile trust he had begun to build with Youngjae.

He knew what he had to do. Minwoo's threat was too dangerous to ignore, and the only way to protect himself—and perhaps Youngjae as well—was to come clean. The thought of revealing his secret terrified him, but the alternative was far worse. If Youngjae were to find out from someone else, especially Minwoo, it could shatter whatever bond they had formed.

Daehan took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as he made up his mind. It was better to tell Youngjae everything himself, to be honest before someone else could twist the truth

Daehan's heart raced as he walked down the corridor toward Youngjae's study. As he approached, the guards stationed outside saw him and immediately announced his arrival, "The imperial consort of elegance is here..."

"Come in!" Youngjae's voice called out from inside.

The guards opened the door, allowing Daehan to enter before closing it behind him. Youngjae looked up from his desk, a smirk playing on his lips as he took in the sight of Daehan. "To what do I owe the favor, hmm?" he teased, his tone light and playful.

Daehan felt his throat tighten, his anxiety spiking despite Youngjae's seemingly good mood. He began to use gestures, his hands trembling slightly, "Your Highness, I have something very important to tell you... a confession..."

Youngjae's amusement only grew at the mention of a confession. "A confession, hmm? Well, have a seat first!" He gestured towards the chair in front of his desk, his eyes still twinkling with curiosity.

Daehan hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and sitting down. His hands fidgeted nervously in his lap, his palms damp with sweat. He could feel Youngjae's gaze on him, waiting for him to confess.

He wanted to tell him everything, to lay bare the secret he had been hiding for so long, but fear held him back. What if Youngjae reacted with anger or, worse, betrayal? What if this confession shattered whatever fragile connection they had built?

Youngjae raised a brow, his gaze sharpening as he leaned forward slightly. "Well?" he urged, his tone demanding the confession.

Daehan clenched his hands into fists, his heart racing as he closed his eyes tightly, trying to summon the courage to say the words. His gestures came quickly, almost frantic, as he began to confess, "Your Highness, please don't kill me... I'll do whatever you say, but I need to tell you... I am not a woman but a... man."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Daehan, too afraid to face Youngjae's reaction, slowly opened his eyes, his breath hitching as he saw the prince's expression—completely unreadable. The silence stretched, and Daehan's anxiety grew, his heart pounding so loudly he could barely hear anything else.

And then, to his utter shock, Youngjae laughed. It was a rich, genuine laugh that filled the room, completely unexpected. Daehan stared at him in disbelief, his mind reeling.

"You think I didn't know?" Youngjae said, still chuckling, his eyes sparkling with amusement. 

Daehan's mouth fell open in surprise, his mind struggling to process what he was hearing. "You... you knew?" he gestured slowly, his hands trembling.

Youngjae chuckled, leaning back in his seat with an air of confidence. "Of course, I knew," he said, his smirk widening. "Do you think your husband is foolish? I'm not the crown prince for nothing." His eyes gleamed with amusement as he continued, "I figured it out the moment I made you drink the nuptial wine. I noticed your Adam's apple then."

Daehan's eyes widened in shock as the memory rushed back to him. That night, Youngjae had grabbed his jaw and forced the wine into his mouth, his grip firm, his eyes sharp. Of course, he had noticed. Daehan's heart raced as he realized just how much Youngjae had observed without saying a word.

Youngjae's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "And have you ever heard me addressing you as a woman, hmm?" He chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "As far as I remember... even on the night I was drunk, I addressed you as a boy."

A deep blush crept up Daehan's cheeks as the truth of Youngjae's words sank in. It was true—Youngjae had never once called him a woman. He had always used neutral terms, like "my consort."

Youngjae's voice dropped to a low, almost intimate whisper as he leaned in, "I know who you are... Daehan." He smirked as he spoke the name, savoring the way it sent a visible shiver down Daehan's spine.

Daehan's eyes widened in disbelief. How could Youngjae know his real name? Fear and confusion swirled within him, and he struggled to comprehend how much the prince had uncovered.

Youngjae laughed, the sound deep and rich, as he watched Daehan's stunned expression. "What's wrong? Surprised?" he teased. "You remember our wedding night, don't you? When I sent you back to your chambers? That night, I asked my trusted friend Sangwoo to investigate you. At first, I was furious—furious that I had been deceived. But Sangwoo brought back everything—your real name, your story, how you were treated in your kingdom. After that, I made a choice. I decided to keep you by my side." He paused, shrugging nonchalantly. "It's not like I mind you being a man or anything....at the end of the day, you're mine."

Daehan's mind whirled, trying to process everything Youngjae had just revealed. The shock, the fear, the relief—all of it mingled together, leaving him feeling both exposed and oddly reassured. Gathering his courage, he gestured shyly, "Then... why didn't you say anything before, if you knew everything?"

Youngjae's smirk softened into a gentle smile as he met Daehan's gaze. "Because I wanted to see if you would trust me enough to tell me yourself," he said, his tone sincere. "I didn't want to force you into a confession. I wanted you to feel safe enough to reveal the truth on your own terms. And now that you have, I want you to know that nothing has changed. You are still mine, and that's all that matters." His smirk returned, but it was warm and reassuring.

Daehan's heart raced, overwhelmed by Youngjae's acceptance. He looked at Youngjae for a moment, his emotions a tangled mix of relief and gratitude, before he gathered the courage to gesture, "Thank you, Your Highness... I also wanted to tell you something else..."

Youngjae tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "What is it?" he asked.

Daehan took a deep breath and presented the letter to Youngjae. Youngjae read it, his brow furrowing as his expression shifted to one of concern and anger. He clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he processed the threat within the letter.

Daehan's hands trembled slightly as he continued, "This is the same handwriting as the forged letter I received. I believe it's from Prince Minwoo. Also, last night, he sneaked into my chambers and tried to force himself on me..." He fidgeted with his fingers, his fear still palpable.

Youngjae slammed his hand on the table, his voice thundering through the room. "He did what?!"

Daehan flinched at the outburst but quickly gestured, "I also suspect he is plotting against you, Your Highness... and I fear he might be behind the deaths of your previous brides. I overheard him saying, 'I want to possess whatever Youngjae holds dear.'"

Youngjae's eyes darkened, his anger barely contained. His jaw tightened as he processed Daehan's words. The thought of Minwoo's treachery, the danger Daehan had been in, and the potential betrayal within his own family made his blood boil. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes in an attempt to regain control. The silence in the room grew heavy as he stood there, battling the fury that threatened to consume him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Youngjae spoke, his voice steady but laced with a cold determination. "I'm glad you told me everything," he said, his tone softer yet firm. "We need solid proof against him, something that will expose his guilt in the royal court. Until then, you must stay close to me and keep me informed of everything he does or says. Do you understand?"

Daehan nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and concern.

Youngjae leaned closer, his expression softening slightly as he looked into Daehan's eyes. "You don't have to be afraid," he assured him, his voice filled with conviction. "You're under my protection. I won't let anything happen to you."

Daehan felt a wave of comfort wash over him. He nodded again, his resolve strengthened by Youngjae's unwavering support.

Youngjae leaned forward, his grip gentle but firm as he took Daehan's hand in his. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to fade away. Daehan's cheeks flushed a soft pink, the intensity of Youngjae's gaze making his heart race.

Youngjae lingered in that moment, almost lost in Daehan's eyes, before abruptly snapping out of it. He stood up quickly, as if trying to shake off the spell. "You're so distracting..." he muttered, a slight scoff in his voice as he tried to regain his composure. He glanced at Daehan, his expression a mix of frustration and something softer, something unspoken.

"I'm going for a walk... I need to clear my mind," he declared, already moving toward the door. Then, with a determined glance back at Daehan, he added, "And you're coming with me."

Before Daehan could respond, Youngjae grasped his hand again and pulled him along, leading him out of the room. Daehan could only follow, still dazed and utterly dumbfounded by the suddenness of it all.

_________________________________________