All the way up the palace's extensive staircases, Mingi practised his ability to form greetings. None of those swirling around in his mind seemed appropriate for the crown prince, and once more Mingi nearly broke out in a sweat as he tried to figure out how he should survive this meeting without making himself look like a fool.

Crown prince Yunho was, naturally so with his status, a celebrity in their kingdom. He was the older of the two princes and had just recently reached the age that allowed him to rightfully claim the throne once his father stepped down from his position. His reputation preceded him. Throughout the lands, Yunho was accepted as the kindest, the justest, and the most attractive man among demonkind. Wherever he appeared, people hailed his manners and his appearance, how good of a fighter he was, and how well he listened to even the miseries of the lower class. Yunho was the man of many young people's dreams. The man with the most magnificent horns in the kingdom.

Mingi had seen him only once fleetingly in the distance when he had visited a farmer family nearby to thank them personally for their gracious donation of food for his army. He hadn't left Mingi's mind after, even when he had caught only a glimpse. For weeks he had tried to work extra hard to gift a quantity just as helpful, but alone and needing to sustain himself, he soon had to give it up. He had never experienced the prince's grace for himself.

If Yeosang picked up on Mingi's distress, he didn't let it show. He determinedly led Mingi through the castle that smelled of ashes and coal - just how the demons liked it.

While still distracted and entranced by the beauty of the castle, Mingi barely had enough time to acknowledge all of its splendid corners. The symmetrical planes and orderly interior went past him. He scarcely even noticed the mighty fountain of black volcanic stone that had a never-ending cycle of flowing thick lava spread in its basins. Usually, Mingi would have stayed to marvel at it and to ask about the heavy doors just behind it that most likely led to the throne room. But Yeosang allowed no break yet. With long steps, he led Mingi through the upper towers. The windows here showcased the tiny town on the bottom of the hill. Like a king, Mingi could glance down on it.

Yeosang knew every single door by heart, even when they still looked all the same to Mingi. When he reached the desired one, he positioned himself in front of it with his shoulders squared and the curved horns tipped back confidently. Then, he rapped his fingers on the door. Mingi scrambled to stand upright just next to him. His nervously swishing tail brushed against Yeosang's, making Mingi mutter an apology. The other servant didn't comment on it.

"Enter," a voice called from inside. Mingi's stomach swooped with tension over getting to talk to the man in person.

When Yeosang glanced at Mingi in question, he shook his head in panic. Chuckling, Yeosang twisted the golden doorknob to peek inside the room.

"Oh, hello, Yeosang," the same kind voice said, this time clearer. Mingi nearly bailed; his tail a tense rope around his leg. He forced himself to stay still, looking at his hooves. Were they clean enough? Was the shape weird? He didn't want to stain the prince's chambers with them.

"I brought your new servant. Want to meet him?"

The lack of formalities towards the prince baffled Mingi. Were they that close?

"With pleasure! Please, come in."

Before Mingi could marvel at the fact that a prince of royal blood used the word 'please' with an average servant, Yeosang already grasped his arm and pulled him forward. Mingi stumbled along behind the smaller man as they invaded the room.

Chambers bigger than Mingi's entire hut greeted them. Mingi's fleeting gaze passed a cacophony bed to his left that was veiled with long red curtains and could probably fit four people. It sat slightly apart from the rest of the round room in its own corner with an open wall.

The middle of the main room was dominated by a low table and two divans of a deep dark red left and right of it. A fireplace took up the wall next to the lounging area, huge in its dragon-formed decorative ornaments on each side and the molten lava heating it from inside. The ornate chandelier hanging above the table was decorated with human skulls. The dancing light shone through their empty eye sockets.

Two other doors led out of the room but both were closed, so Mingi didn't get a peep of their secrets. On the wall to their right, towered a glass shelf with peculiar objects displayed in it. Most likely trophies from the wars Yunho had fought.

The crown prince had rested on one of the divans with a book before their disturbance. Now that they both entered and Yeosang closed the door behind them, he rose from his seat to stand in front of them in his full glory.

Mingi gulped, not knowing where to look first.

The most important thing he noticed about Yunho was his height. Demons were tall, it was in their blood. And yet, as Yunho stood he towered over Mingi still, mostly kudos to his horns.

And what glorious horns they were. Lyrate, as they gently curved from his skull in an arch so elegant that Mingi wanted to run his hands over them. They bowed back towards his head to curve upwards again and twisted slightly towards the sharp tips. Truly horns to behold. Contrary to Mingi's, Yunho's were tinted with a deep black, but he wore them with golden colour dusted over the tips to give them some shine. They matched his black hair, too; Mingi couldn't tell where either began or ended. The dangling golden chains that crossed between Yunho's horns in an extravagant accessory grazed his hair like a feather's brush as well.

With a kind smile on his face, Yunho halted before the two newcomers. Mingi stared at his features, enraptured by the genuineness of his smile. His teeth stood out white over his dark grey skin, and his black eyes didn't seem like vicious pebbles as they did for most demons. On Yunho, they held a gentleness that was entirely foreign to Mingi.

"I welcome you in the palace. You must be Mingi, correct? Are you fine with me calling you that?"

Yunho stepped forward to give Mingi his hand in greeting. Belated, Mingi rose his own fingers to press them flat against his. His fingertips trembled against Yunho's wrist when Yunho's warm palm was still bigger than Mingi's. He had painted his neat claws golden as well, adding to the little accents on him. The heat that seeped from Yunho's hand seemed to soothe Mingi's tremors.

"Yes," Mingi breathed as he let his hand sink again. He barely dared glancing up at Yunho, his gaze trapped at their hooves submissively. Yunho's hooves were black just like Mingi's, but the same golden colour that so dutifully decorated him clung to them, too.

"He's a bit shy," Yeosang commented behind them. The snicker in his voice was impossible to miss, but Mingi was too awed to mind it. When Yunho smiled at the two of them, Mingi's tail tightened around his calf. If it were strong enough to disrupt his blood flow, it would have done that right now.

"No need to be. Here, come sit. May I offer you a drink? I have pixie sugar and tea here." Yunho gestured at the divan next to Mingi politely. Slow like a wooden doll, Mingi followed his request. Yeosang arrived before him, quick to jump the occasion.

"I won't say no to that! Spoiling him already, are you?"

Yunho chuckled at Yeosang's bold statement. It was a rich sound that reverberated in Mingi's chest. Finally, he sat down, adjusting his tail. He was self-conscious, his fingers holding onto his knees to ground himself. Even next to Yeosang who was similar to him, Mingi felt out of place.

Yunho sat down opposite of them. Mingi gulped at the sight of his mostly exposed torso. He wore only a black bandeau that crossed over his chest to hide only bits of him from view. The rest of his toned body was on display and decorated by long golden chains around his neck and his waist. Fragile and delicate, they brushed against his smooth skin.

As customary for a royal, Yunho had dark symbols under his skin that showed his royal status. They painted him symmetrically, drawing living pictures.

"Have you ever tried this, Mingi?"

Hastily, Mingi's eyes flicked up from where they had just got stuck on the piercing in the other man's belly button. The vivid image of the dangling miniature version of a golden bird's skull had already burned itself into the back of Mingi's lids. Despite him staring, Yunho didn't seem opposed. He was rather patient with Mingi's reaction.

"Ah, no... I never had pixie sugar before either."

He knew what it was at least. The faint dust was made from the vicious creatures' wings that allowed them to fly. It had the sweetest taste and was considered a delicacy among demons. An expensive luxury good Mingi had never got the chance to sample before.

With a nod, Yunho filled another mug with tea. He sprinkled only a bit of sugar in at first. It floated on the surface, glinting golden.

"Try it. You can add more if you like it." He pushed the mug over with slender fingers. Yeosang already sipped on his with a dreamy sigh while Mingi tried to will his hands to stop shaking so he could heed the prince's wishes. Praying that Yunho didn't see him wobble, Mingi carefully sipped.

The taste was divine. Both the tea with its rich fruity flavour, as well as that hint of sweetness were like an explosion of delicacy on Mingi's tongue. His eyes widened in surprise to dart at the tea. Yunho smiled at his expression.

"How is it?" His entire attention was on Mingi, neither of them minding Yeosang who lounged around comfortably and observed their exchange. He was far more relaxed than Mingi had ever seen someone with down-turned horns among aristocracy.

"It's delicious," Mingi muttered as he once more risked a peek at Yunho. He still found those little details on the prince. The dangling earrings that kissed his neck. The tattoos that travelled even up to his collar.

"I'm happy you like it," Yunho said, pleased by that answer. When he leaned back to sip his own tea, Mingi regarded him curiously once more.

It was out of question that Yunho was indeed the most attractive man in the kingdom. He was gracious and held power in his body at the same time, creating a paradox that shouldn't exist naturally. And yet, he made it work. His dainty accessories decorated him to match his royal heritage, but Mingi knew those delicate hands were experts at wielding weapons.

Yunho was well-rounded in every sense. And Mingi was deeply impressed.

"Your Majesty uhh Prince- Crown Prince Yunho? What may I refer to you as?" Mingi set down his tea into his lap to balance it there. If he spilt anything on the expensive velvet cushions underneath him, he would have signed his own death warrant. By his own hands, in case Yunho would forgive even that.

Yunho's lips curled into an amused smile. It wasn't mocking, but Mingi still shyly lowered his eyes over being so awkward.

"Yunho is just fine. I care little about titles and I want you to feel comfortable around me."

Before Mingi could gasp and deny the suggestion since royals were never supposed to become so close with the simple folk and even less so the different-horned groups, Yeosang interrupted him.

"As you two spend more time around each other, you'll get used to it. Yunho helps you to be at ease, don't fret," the other servant assured Mingi with a smile. Biting his lip, Mingi nodded. He didn't want to get close to Yunho only to get nagged by either the king himself or by Yunho if he turned out to be strict in private.

When they dropped the topic, Yeosang turned towards Yunho again. Attentive, the prince waited for him to speak.

"I wondered about your plans with Mingi today. Do you want him to stay nearby and get to know you, or may I tour him through the castle?"

Yunho looked Mingi up and down as if he had to judge based on his behaviour. The never-dying smile on his face gave away nothing about his thoughts.

"You lead him around first and introduce him to Jongho. Mingi, as soon as you fully moved in here and are available, I would like you to report back to me so you can begin your work. I will instruct you to that myself."

Mingi's tail coiled around the ornate feet of the divan. The thought of getting lectured by Yunho in private without Yeosang between them had his stomach cramp up.

When Mingi nodded meekly and took another sip of tea, Yeosang grinned satisfied.

"Wonderful. Then let's go explore the palace as soon as you finish your tea. We won't keep you from your duty any longer, Yunho."

With a chuckle, the prince waved it off. His elegant clawed fingers trailed a shimmer of gold in the air.

"You are no bother. I wish you feel at home soon, Mingi. I'm delighted to have you here."

Mingi smiled shyly.

"Thank you, Yunho."