"No."

It's a firm one-word reply from her brother, who is now taking off his reading glasses and putting it on the open encyclopedia. Seonghwa rests his elbows on the table, interlacing his fingers before shaking his head.

They're in Seonghwa's reading room, where Narae and Wooyoung had sheepishly poke their heads in between the open doors to ask whether they're allowed to come in. When the older allowed them in, they stood in front of his desk, hands clasped in front like children being disciplined, before Narae quickly spilled the idea to him.

"Told you," Wooyoung whispers to her, in which she quickly shushes him with a glare coupled with a rough nudge with her elbow.

"You are not about to go on an adventure without even knowing your destination."

"But Wooyoung is going to be there-"

"I never said I would follow," but the lilt of his voice sounds as if he's already packing his luggage to follow her.

Seonghwa sighs, pushing back his chair but he doesn't stand up. Instead he taps his knuckles against his temple before his eyes flick to his sister. "That idea in itself is ridiculous. You don't even know where you hid it, and thinking you can get back your memories? Sounds like something Song Mingi would suggest."

"It was," Wooyoung butts in, before realizing the gravity of his mistake.

"It was?" Seonghwa looks surprised before he turns his head to stare sharply at his sister, "and when did he actually suggest this?"

Narae presses her lips together before shooting daggers at Wooyoung from the corner of her eyes. She figures that lying to him would push back the idea even further, so as to stop making things worse than it already is, she relents. "We met him yesterday."

"Specifically?" Seonghwa's voice is hard.

"We went to Aesa yesterday night because I couldn't sleep."

"We," Seonghwa deadpans. "Of course Wooyoung was there, because how else were you going to get to Aesa in a few seconds?"

"She couldn't sleep so I thought bringing her to someplace else can help her clear her mind."

"Right, just like you always do, ignoring my warnings to not sneak out of the palace. You never learn, do you?"

"How long are you going to keep on holding her back?" Wooyoung snaps, much to Narae's shock because it seemed that her cousin had been very passive. "You need to stop thinking that you have the rights to watch her every move. She's a person on her own, for crying out loud. So if she wants it, let her be. Gosh, you're so damn irritating."

"Let her be, and see what happened to her," Seonghwa says through gritted teeth. "She lost her memories because someone tried to kill her."

"We don't even know for sure what happened during that night! For all we know it could be pure accident, and you're just thinking that by her losing her memories, you can control her much better as her brother because she can't fight back. Or maybe you know something about that night so you don't want her getting her memories back."

Narae's eyes flick nervously from her brother to her cousin, thinking about that maybe, this is what Wooyoung meant when they used their powers against each other. It does look like the two men are about to start rearing back their hands, tangling themselves in a battle that she can't participate in.

Seonghwa scoffs in disbelief, but he sinks back into his leather chair before looking away. His body language shows that he has calmed down, but the fire in his eyes is there to stay.

"Jung Wooyoung," he warns, "she is my sister. You're my sister, " he emphasizes to Narae. "Your fucking brother is worried about you because frankly, you almost died and left me as the only child. Tell me I shouldn't be worried."

"He's right," Narae quickly interposes herself between the two, trying to douse the fire that's risen in between them. "It sounds like a ridiculous idea. And it doesn't sound like a good idea to trust someone from outside of our palace."

"Actually," Seonghwa starts, but decides to halt his train of speech before looking at Wooyoung, "Can you leave me with Narae for a minute? I need to talk to her personally."

"I hate being left out of conversations, but sure." He walks to the door albeit hesitantly, looks back once before shutting the door with a loud thud.

"Sit down," Seonghwa offers, pointing to the couch that's facing the large window where sunlight streams into the room. It's almost noon, the sun high above with the weather looking splendid. He joins her, looking through the window that gives him the view of the majestic fountain with the statue of a blindfolded woman shooting water out of her mouth. He never understood the aesthetic behind it, but it's not like he's about to decorate the fountain with his own touch.

"I'm sorry-" she says, but her brother stops her.

"No, I'm sorry. It's my fault that you had to go through what you did. I think- maybe, your accident has to do with someone inside our palace."

"Who do you think..."

Seonghwa takes a deep breath. "Serim. She's been acting strange ever since your incident."

"But she's your..." she trails off, not knowing how to describe who Serim is to Seonghwa.

He knows what she meant anyway, because he gives off a weak smile. "She is, but you're still my priority. You're my blood, while she's a stranger."

"But even though she seems rigid most of the time, she's been really helpful-"

"Narae," he interrupts her. "You do know that your relationship with her has not been the best, right? Especially after you found out that I like her."

Here it comes again; the revelation of her bad attitude. She doesn't reply, because she doesn't know what's the best for it.

"Just like mother... you never approve of our relationship. You even threatened that you'll make her life hell if you ever see both of us together. That's how much you hated us."

"I-" Tears start forming in her eyes, but she knows she's only playing victim right now. She doesn't have the rights to cry; Serim does. But she didn't. "And what... what did you do?"

"As much as I wanted to protect her I know that in the end I'll have to follow the ladies who are closer to me," he says this while widening his eyes, "so we kind of stopped, but heck, stupid love. What I'm trying to say is... she does have a motive."

"So you don't trust her?"

"It's complicated."

"And it's all because of me. Because I'm a selfish princess who treats people like garbage and thinks that I'm better than everyone else."

"If you insist on describing yourself like that," he says playfully. "Who am I to refute?"

"Ah, see. Even my brother agrees."

He chuckles before turning serious again. "If finding the Arcus really does get back your memories... are you willing to risk it? You don't even know whether you'll actually get there, with the possibility of being hurt."

"Am I already not? If finding the Arcus back can somehow trigger the return of my memories... maybe it's better that way."

"And Wooyoung is coming with you?" The look on his face shows that he doesn't trust in leaving Wooyoung to guide her.

The door bursts open and Wooyoung tumbles forward and onto the floor, followed by Mingi, Yeosang, San and Jongho.

"How the f-" Seonghwa scoffs. "Did all of you trespass into the Inis Palace?" He stands up before looking at them one by one, who are all tangled on the floor.

"Technically," Jongho puts up a hand, untangling himself first before trying to appear like the most dignified person in the room. "We did not. Trespassing means us teleporting inside this room. Wooyoung invited us into the palace, and Mingi has explained to us his plan to help Narae find the Arcus."

"So you could steal it from her?" Seonghwa asks, but there's a smirk at the end.

"Hah, such outrageous accusations," San exclaims next, before smiling. "Come on Park Seonghwa, you know us better than that. We have no intentions of even sweeping the Arcus from her hands. The intention that we do have is to sweep her off her feet," he says this as he winks at Narae, making her blush.

Yeosang groans at San's attempt at flirting in front of a crowd while he's the first one to stand up, hand on his hip as he takes a sharp breath.

"How long have you been eavesdropping?" Seonghwa frowns.

"Eavesdropping?" Wooyoung fake-gasps. "That's so ridiculous. We haven't been 'eavesdropping'," he claims while making exaggerated quotation marks. "It's just that our guests had arrived and I wanted to bring them to you. We were only waiting to come in the right time, but we lost our balance."

"We were here ever since you said that her accident might be the work of someone from inside the palace," Mingi offers, while the rest of them collectively slap their palms against their foreheads.

"Damn it Mingi!" Wooyoung whispers furiously. "That's not how you're supposed to lie!"

"Why would we lie? Honesty is the best policy," he replies innocently, blinking a few times as he smiles at them.

"A policy that's going to get our butts kicked," San mutters under his breath.

"Maybe even executed, if Seonghwa's not in his best mood today," Jongho continues.

"Oh fuck," Yeosang says next. "I'm too gorgeous to die."

"What does that have to do with dying?" Wooyoung utters.

"Guys?" Narae speaks up, turning the whole room silent again as she sniffs. "What's going on here?"

"Something I hope that isn't true," Seonghwa mumbles as he returns to his seat on the couch, back towards the rest of them.

Narae alternates her stare from her brother who's looking out the window, to the five men huddled together in front of the door who are looking eager and excited.

"We're about to embark on an adventure," Mingi claims again, while the rest of the princes nod in unison.

"I- um, what about mother and father though?" she asks, particularly focusing on Seonghwa who looks like he just aged another 5 years as soon as they came in.

"That's why your brother needs to come with us too," Wooyoung says. "So that they'll give their permission in no time."

"I'm not going to follow - no offence Narae because I love you to the moon and back - an 'adventure' with an uncertain destination. I have much urgent tasks at hand," Seonghwa interjects.

"Yes you are following us," San chirps.

"Oh yeah, and what kind of urgent tasks do you need to attend to?" Jongho raises his eyebrows. "Explain on what a prince is supposed to do."

The oldest opens his mouth to reply, but no words come out as he realizes that his checklist is empty. Despite being trained occasionally as someone who's about to take over the throne; that day seems far from happening soon as the king and queen are still fit and healthy to rule. Besides they don't look to be in a hurry to pass the throne to him, no matter if the people all around have been claiming how ready he is to take over.

"I have no idea how an adventure that's supposed to include only me, Wooyoung and Narae is about to turn into a road trip," Mingi laments. "Wooyoung, you could've kept it on the low."

"Not my fault everyone's eager to help the princess, especially the Ylang princes," Wooyoung shoots back. "Always looking to spend time with the princess."

"You appeared in front of our palace asking for our help first thing in the morning," Jongho retaliates.

"No one asked for your opinion," he claps back. "Now shush, follow the orders of the Inis Realm or Seonghwa's going to turn into a fire-breathing dragon."

"Can he, though?" Yeosang smirks.

"I guess the more the merrier," San agrees.

"Guys?" Narae tries again, and they return their focus to their original intention - whatever it is in the first place.

"So are we all ready to start this adventure?" Mingi announces, waving his hands in the air.

"Wait!" Seonghwa puts out his arms, splaying out his fingers. "We don't even have a proper plan."

"So you're coming?" San beams.

"Come on, a plan can always be made while we're on the way!" Wooyoung tuts. "For now, we can just follow where our hearts tell us to go."

"That's like, 7 hearts and all may be different," Jongho clicks his tongue.

"We don't even know where we're starting..." Yeosang joins in.

"I don't know..." Narae shifts from where she's standing, right hand wrapped around her left elbow. "I wish I could help in-"

They simultaneously turn their attention to the double doors as there is a practiced knock on it, then silence. Before another round of knocking comes a voice, "It's Yunho. And Hongjoong."

"And what on earth are they doing here?" Seonghwa asks through gritted teeth. "Which one of you?"

San and Jongho's eyes dart around the whole room, and no words need to be exchanged to know who's behind the invitation of the last of their group of friends.

"Both of you," Seonghwa growls.

The door bursts open to reveal a smiling Yunho, with a much sheepish Hongjoong in tow. The latter looks uncertain, guilty even, knowing that his presence is the most unwelcomed one. For a brief moment he locks eyes with Narae, and she feels sorry for him; she knows how he's being scrutinized and under suspicion for her accident. Especially by Seonghwa, judging from the sour look he has on as he tears his attention away from the group and returns to the couch without giving them a second glance.

"Are we late to the party?" Yunho mentions without noticing the change in atmosphere for all.

With his eyes Mingi signals to Yunho before glancing at Hongjoong, who has his head down.

"Park Seonghwa," Hongjoong speaks up, bringing the room to a still once again. "I have no idea how else I'm going to prove it, but I'm not related to your sister's accident. Yes," he glances at her, who doesn't know how to react, "I was the last person who could've talked to her that night but I went back to Natur not long after. You could've asked any of my closest aides; they were with me during that night. I was working late with some of the ministers because I was drafting some new rules for the realm."

Seonghwa sighs, followed by dead silence. His eyes wander out into the open, staring at nothing in particular. His mind is an unorganized mess, not knowing which of them to trust. How hard must it be for his sister?

"It's not my say," he decides. "In the end it all depends on Narae. If she says she's still going ahead with it and brings us along... who am I to say no?"

All eyes shift to her. She fidgets with her hand, before she tries to make eye contact with the king. Still, the young king refuses to look at her directly - funny how they're supposedly engaged. She wills for him to look at her, but he maintains his interest at the floor.

"I trust you," she finds herself saying.

Hongjoong finally looks up, gratefulness painted across his eyes as he gazes at her. He smiles, a kind that made her wonder whether she had only agreed to get engaged to him because she thought he was easy to be taken advantage of, or along the run she really did fall for him.

"So are we set for this journey?" Mingi asks, already looking like he's about to disappear to pack his luggage that instant.

"Where do we even start?" Narae knits her eyebrows, trying to conjure up an image of a starting point but comes up with none. The rest eagerly perk up their ears, ready to be of service and help.

"I think I might have an idea where we can start looking for a clue," Seonghwa speaks up. "You're a writer."

Wooyoung claps his hands once. "Right. You're the type of person to write tidbits of your daily activities, so, what are the odds that the directions to the Arcus are buried somewhere deep among the pages of your book?"

---

[A/N: I know I updated like, 5 chapters in a row today. I'm gonna stop for today or else Syaamss is going to kick my butt :D

Oh and as always, I welcome any theories, just dump it on me!]