"Do you smell something burning?" Ji-Hyun asked, her brow furrowing in concern as she carefully stirred the bubbling melted sugar on the stove. Beside her, a cake baked in the oven, its sweet aroma filling the kitchen air. She turned her head to find Seok-Hwan, his expression marked with disappointment, staring at her as if trying to process what he was witnessing.
"Seriously?" Seok-Hwan shook his head in disbelief, a mixture of exasperation and concern flooding his voice. "You're melting sugar on high heat and then asking me if something's burning? Just look down!" He stepped closer, gripping Ji-Hyun's neck gently, yet firmly, guiding her gaze downward to the pan. "You don't melt anything on high heat!" With a swift motion, he turned off the flame, swiftly removing the pan from the stove as a thin stream of smoke began to rise. "I step out for one second, and you can't even manage to stir something properly," he muttered, frustration evident in his tone as he tried to scrape the burnt sugar that clung stubbornly to the bottom of the pan. "Look at this," he exclaimed, shoving the pan towards Ji-Hyun's face—careful not to let it touch her but emphasizing his point. "The sugar's all burned now." He rolled his eyes, and upon noticing Ji-Hyun's cheeks flush with embarrassment, he softened slightly. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and his heart sank. "Don't cry. Don't!" he urged, turning away, repeating the words like a mantra until she managed to blink back her tears. Her lips perked up, an old tactic she always used to get out of trouble worked like always.
"Who are you even making the cake for?" Ji-Hyun asked as she jumped up the counter, trying to distract herself as the oven emitted a series of beeps, signaling the cake was ready. Seok-Hwan carefully pulled the cake from the oven, its golden-brown surface glistening, and placed it on a wire rack to cool. "This is the first time I'm seeing you bake something for someone else," she said, sliding off the counter and planting her elbows in front of her as she watched him work.
"Someone I know just had his birthday pass without a celebration," Seok-Hwan replied, his tone softening as he began working on remelting the sugar for the cake's dressing. "I wanted to surprise him. He's been going through a rough patch lately, and I thought this might brighten his day."
"Friend of mine…" Ji-Hyun scoffed playfully, plucking a ripe strawberry from a nearby bowl and deftly removing its leafy crown. "I know exactly who this friend is. You're not fooling anyone," she teased, poking Seok-Hwan's arm as she hopped on the counter again, a grin spreading across her face.
Just then, a servant knocked hesitantly at the kitchen door, stepping gingerly inside. "Prince Jae-Yul has arrived at the palace," he announced, his voice laced with uncertainty, catching both Ji-Hyun and Seok-Hwan off guard. Ji-Hyun, dismissively waving her hand, muttered that she didn't need to be updated on the whereabouts of Jae-Yul, but the servant hesitated, anxiety evident in his posture. Seok-Hwan noticed the tension radiating from him.
"Is there something wrong?" he inquired, concern deepening in his voice as the servant fidgeted, pinching his wrist nervously. "You can tell us if something's troubling you," he encouraged, and finally, the servant found the words.
"He brought someone with him."
"You all think this is a game?" The Queen's voice, sharp and filled with indignation, echoed through the grand hall as she confronted Jae-Yul, who stood frozen in place with a startled expression. Ha-Neul, standing silently behind her, observed the scene with an almost amused glint in his eyes. "Your engagement is a state matter, and this is how you handle it? Do you have any idea how many people we pay off daily to keep your private affairs from landing on the evening news? Can't you take this seriously for once? Ha-Neul isn't a mere object or a trophy to be won; he's a person with his own rights and choices!" The Queen's words grew louder and more rapid, and Ji-Hyun, sensing the escalating tension, rushed in alongside Seok-Hwan, gently pulling her mother aside and guiding her to a chair in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
"What happened, Mom? Why are you shouting?" Ji-Hyun asked soothingly, rubbing her mother's back as the Queen, flustered and panting from the outburst, tried to regain her composure. Ji-Hyun's gaze then turned to Ha-Neul, who bore strange red marks on his neck, suggestive of a recent struggle. "Did you do that?" she asked, her voice sharp as she quickly approached Jae-Yul, locking her eyes onto his with a fierce intensity. "Did you strangle him?"
Jae-Yul began to stammer an explanation, his words tripping over each other in his haste, but Ji-Hyun wasn't convinced by his floundering excuses. "So you did," she stated in disbelief, her voice shaking with indignation. "I don't— I don't care what happened. You need to explain this to Dad. And I'll make sure you understand that what you did was wrong— hitting someone? Him, of all people? No wonder he wanted to break off the engagement," she declared, her fierce gaze shifting to Ha-Neul as she reached for his hand. But then she noticed the engagement ring he had thrown away before leaving the dinner last time, and the pieces suddenly fell into place. "Escort Prince Jae-Yul and his fiance to Dad's study and ensure I don't see their faces until they leave," Ji-Hyun commanded the servant, her determination unwavering as she helped the Queen to her feet and steered her out of the room.
"You're strong," Seok-Hwan said, facing Ha-Neul with an earnest look in his eyes. "If it were anyone else in your position, they would've thrown in the towel a long time ago. I admire your resilience, but given where your future's headed, it's a hard bet. Keep fighting." He chuckled ironically, the sound lingering in the air as he departed, leaving the two men alone in a tense silence.
Ha-Neul turned slightly, a sly smirk creeping across his face as he moved closer to Jae-Yul. "Now I understand why His Majesty told me about that woman," he said, the glint in his eyes betraying a deep-seated satisfaction. "It feels nice to hold power over someone like this, doesn't it?" He caught sight of Jae-Yul's fists, knuckles whitening as his tension mounted, and couldn't help but smirk wider. "Are you going to strangle me again? Go ahead, I dare you." Seizing Jae-Yul's hand, he placed it around his own throat, his voice dripping with defiance. "I'm not afraid anymore. Knowing your weaknesses won't get me far, but it does make it rather delightful to get back at you. Illegitimate child."
As if triggered by a switch, Jae-Yul snapped. With a quick motion, he tightened his grip around Ha-Neul's neck, shoving him with brutal force against a nearby table, causing his head to make painful contact with the surface. "(Muffled) You son of a bitch," Ha-Neul managed to choke out between gasps, barely able to articulate his words. "How does it feel to get a taste of your own medicine?" With an abrupt shove, Jae-Yul tossed him aside, sending Ha-Neul crashing onto the ground.
"You really think this little stunt will impact me in any way?" Jae-Yul shot back, his voice dripping with scorn as he caught his breath, surveying Ha-Neul from above with an air of superiority. "Go ahead. Shout it from the rooftops if you want. You believe this is the first time someone has hurled such nonsense at me? Look at me." He bent low, gripping Ha-Neul's collar to lift him, ensuring their gazes locked with an icy intensity. "I'm Prince Jae-Yul, the twin brother of Crown Princess Ji-Hyun, anointed by King Wang himself. So tell me, whose words do you think people will believe? Stop barking like a dog. You're nothing—a mere asset, a shiny ornament for the royal family. So act accordingly. Stop fantasizing about a life of your own. You sold yourself to me the moment you agreed to that engagement, and consider yourself fortunate I don't tear you apart and take you by force, because even if I did, you'd be left voiceless and helpless. Nothing more than a doll to be controlled and taken advantage of."
Jae-Yul's voice trailed off as Ha-Neul's expression fell, the defiance in his eyes dimming, and tears threatened to spill despite his efforts to remain stoic. In that moment, Jae-Yul realized he had crossed a line, but the gravity of that realization came too late for any regrets.
As the tension hung palpably in the air, Ha-Neul's phone rang, cutting through the silence like a knife. Jae-Yul relinquished his hold on him, stepping back to create distance, the chill in the room settling once more.
Ha-Neul took a moment to steady himself as a couple of servants rushed to assist him, but he waved them off, urgency propelling him out into the serene front garden to breathe. All the while, his phone continued to jangle insistently in his pocket. "That son of a..." he began, catching himself just in time as he glanced at the screen. Upon seeing Wuhao's name, he was reminded of the plans they had together.
"Hyung, where are you? I've been waiting for quite some time now," Wuhao said, his voice vibrant but tinged with worry, standing just outside his dorm room, pacing slightly.
"I'll be there soon," Ha-Neul replied, running a hand over his neck and grimacing as he felt the warmth of blood seeping between his fingers. "I spilled something on my clothes and went to change. Just give me a bit more time, okay?"
"Okay." Wuhao ended the call, glancing back at Woo-Bin, who sat on the pavement next to him, arms crossed and expression concerned. "He said he'll be here soon, so you can head back now."
"I'll go after I see you off," Woo-Bin replied firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "Make sure you call someone for a ride. Don't go getting into random taxis, alright?"
"I'm not a child anymore," Wuhao huffed, a pout forming on his lips as he protested.
"Not a child? You'll always be a child. At least in our eyes," Yet they still isolated him and punished him for a mistake he didn't make. Was he really a child, then?