After a long evening of excitement, Seonghwa's kids didn't want to leave. It took a lot of effort to convince them that their beds in the Crystal Sphere were more comfortable than these bubbles. Morana clung to Seonghwa, desperate to never lose him out of her sight again. With all the warmth, he convinced her she had to protect her sheep plush at home and Onyx would miss her.

Once Hongjoong finally brought the two displeased babies back to Seonghwa's parents, Seonghwa crawled into bed with Yunho. He felt cuddly that night, as if he would shiver without an embrace. Yunho gladly pulled Seonghwa against his chest, kissing him goodnight before they slumbered in each other's arms.

When Seonghwa woke, he was still in the same position. Cradled against every soft breath of his husband. His tall frame engulfed the slender elf and surrounded him on all sides.

Seonghwa breathed in their intimacy, this cosiness. The fear in his heart had eased, and he let go of a relieved sigh when Yunho kissed his cheek as soon as he felt the elf stir.

"You were up?" Seonghwa asked, lolling in his embrace. His hand reached behind to slip into Yunho's hair and they kissed across Seonghwa's delicate shoulder. Giddiness warmed Seonghwa's stomach when Yunho braced his arm on the other side of him, making sure not to bear his weight on Seonghwa, yet trapping him there for as many minutes of twosomeness as they dared.

"I already brought Buddy to Hongjoong so he can take him on a morning swim. You slumbered soundly, so I didn't wake you."

Awed, Seonghwa let himself be held as Yunho's lips trailed over his nape, his ear, his jaw. They traced every bit of the elf like a painting; worshipping his being.

"Have I become complacent since I married you? I barely even stir anymore at a sound when I lie in your arms." As the crown prince, but even more so as the emperor, Seonghwa always had to be on edge. He had to expect assassins and thieves; had to jump at the smallest sound.

Although their political tension with the orcs was riskier than ever, Seonghwa slept so well. Didn't fret, since he was near his love.

"It means you feel safe with us. An honour few can claim for themselves. I'm glad you trust us. San must feel like he obtained the greatest treasure," Yunho snickered, yet the same pride swung in his voice. Not just San or Hongjoong, with their caution and readiness to fight, made Seonghwa feel safe and relaxed from his duties. In various ways, they all did.

Crooning at the giddiness in Yunho's handsome features, Seonghwa tugged his large hands around his waist. Once more, he craned his head to capture Yunho in a dreamy and slow kiss.

"Thank you for your protection. I will remember to tell San the same."

Smugness radiated off Yunho as they fell back into the soft beds of plants, giggling. More kisses were exchanged until Seonghwa could look forward to his day without fear.

Today, Lillwen and he had to plan for their future strategy concerning the orcs. The nymphs were allied to the empire already. Now, if the empire could make use of the nymphs' close relationship with the titans, the combined forces along their borders would make the orcs reconsider an attack. Lillwen would know best how to appeal to the elusive race.

Seonghwa was optimistic after last night. He wasn't alone, and his empire backed him behind the shoulders of his husbands. Together, they could do anything.

Perhaps by spring, Seonghwa could save the elves trapped in the breeding caves of the orcs.

When he climbed out of bed, Yunho sighed wistfully. He only submitted to their parting because he had to check on Buddy, but he separated from Seonghwa with a kiss on the back of his hand.

"I will see you later," he whispered against his fingers, and Seonghwa smiled at him. Yunho glanced up at Wooyoung, who came flailing around the corner, barely improving his swimming technique since he was too stubborn to change what he was doing wrong. As Yunho left, Seonghwa beamed at the next one of his darlings coming over.

"Wooyoung, have you slept well?" He greeted, but the gryphon-born was in a rush. His eyes were frantic, and he pulled on Seonghwa's hand before he even found the words to articulate himself.

"Yes, yes, now come quickly! You are needed over here!"

Usually, Seonghwa would have asked what was going on with an indulgent smile, always fond of Wooyoung's schemes to gain his attention. He was too shy to ask directly, yet his words always backfired in a way that made him shy and adorable for Seonghwa.

But this time, stress marred his brow. He tugged on Seonghwa without the usual playfulness and the elf's lips tightened.

"What happened?" He asked, reading the strain of Wooyoung's wings so well. He drifted along where Wooyoung brought him, but his hasty explanation still came as a shock.

"Yeosang is sick!"

A chill washed over Seonghwa as if the temperatures dropped in the water further down the corridor. Wooyoung roomed with Yeosang, so he would know best.

"Sick?!"

What happened? Yeosang so rarely fell sick. Once or twice, when he spent too much time in malnourished soil or breathed poisonous air, his natural disposition made him immune to most illnesses.

Fresh dread washed over Seonghwa. His mind discarded any political concern and rushed along with Wooyoung to check on his best friend.

Once they halted before the door, Seonghwa granted Wooyoung a fleeting smile of gratitude.

"Please send for Wynn and tell her my audience with her queen will have to be postponed. As soon as I know Yeosang is fine, I will join her."

Since Wooyoung knew little about dryad illnesses and their severity, he didn't argue. He floundered away to find someone to accompany him so he wouldn't get lost in the underwater palace.

In the meantime, Seonghwa tentatively knocked against the door assembled of old wood and sea shells.

"Yeosang? May I come in?"

If Yeosang was miserable, Seonghwa wanted him to rest first. The dryad hated being sick since it happened so rarely. He always dreaded it would be his last hour, even near the best palace healers.

Could this be the lack of oxygen underwater? Walnuts didn't grow below the sea, became soft and rotten. They must have strained Yeosang's health.

Seonghwa didn't dare think further, didn't allow his paranoia to seize hold of him. It had to be the change of surroundings. For Yeosang, it always was.

"Come in," the tree called, and his voice gave away his misery. As soon as Seonghwa rushed in, the dryad greeted him with a pout.

Yeosang had aged overnight. He lost many of his spectacular leaves and his flowers had wilted. His human skin looked greyer than usual and he didn't have the energy to try out fancy new styles of dress today. Suffering, he lay in bed as Seonghwa sunk to his side.

"What happened, Yeosang? You so rarely fall sick. How are you feeling? What do you need?"

Upset by his sudden weakness, Yeosang scowled down on himself.

"No idea what suddenly happened to me. Yesterday, I felt just fine."

Seonghwa pressed his fingers to Yeosang's forehead, then he examined his bark. It didn't look damaged from within, so the illness was superficial. Relieved for the time being, Seonghwa took Yeosang's hand to soothe him. So long as it didn't spread, the dryad should be fine.

"Can it be the air?" Seonghwa suggested.

Their fingers played idly as Yeosang grumbled to himself.

"Must be those damn underwater mushrooms. I noticed them itching in my bark, but now they tried to infest me. No friendly mushrooms, definitely not." With an offended glare at the yellow fiends that swayed with the water along the walls, Yeosang stifled a cough. He shifted so he wouldn't have lungs anymore, filtering the water in the way he knew other plants did.

But he wasn't meant to be here. And his health suffered sooner than the others.

"Do you want Hongjoong to bring you back to the castle? We will travel back home shortly." Though Seonghwa would hate to be without him, Yeosang's health was important to him.

However, the dryad knew every inch of the moon elf's soul.

"I don't want to ditch you under the sea. You need me here. I just need those mushrooms to understand I am not a suitable host to them."

Glad he took it with humour, Seonghwa nodded. As he contemplated the walls, thinking where to put Yeosang so he wouldn't fall apart under the water, another knock sounded. At their call, Wynn peered her head inside.

"I have heard your diplomat fell ill," she noted as she trailed her eyes over Yeosang. "I informed Lillwen of your predicament. She will await you once you are ready. May I help soothe his ailment?"

"These mushrooms, do they cause sickness? Yeosang thinks they are poisoning him, since it's too soon for the water to wear on him."

Wynn pondered the mushrooms, then she nodded.

"They aren't poisonous, but their spores can cause rashes, even for us. I may supply you with a tonic that will help. Of course, you are welcome to stay in the palace until he has recovered."

Seonghwa sought Yeosang's expression. The dryad coughed pitifully.

"Do it. Can't let some mushrooms win," he croaked, and Seonghwa quickly pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Wait here. I will be back with the cure."

Yeosang pitifully waved him off as the emperor hurried to follow Wynn. The other husbands would have an eye on the dryad, especially Jongho. Durable as he was, even Yeosang had his weaknesses.

Eager to help him back to his feet and see him giddy again, Seonghwa accepted the ingredients Wynn handed to him. Apparently, the mushroom shied away from certain plants and animals in life and death. To ward it off, the nymphs found a mixture of those. The two prepared everything together, grinding and chopping to mix everything into a drink not unlike Hongjoong's potions.

While Seonghwa didn't think for a second about his duties as an emperor, dedicated to his role as a friend and husband, Wynn eyed him with a new marvel. Romance wasn't a concept to the nymphs, and even friendship worked differently among their folk. Seonghwa had heard of females who became invested in lifelong partnerships, but such were rare.

Especially Seonghwa's political marriage wasn't expected to sow children of love.

"You are very dedicated to your husbands. The tales of the surface led me to assume it would be the other way around and they might be a tool for you. But your brow furrows in honest concern," she commented as she held a flask for him to pour the goo into.

"They are everything to me," Seonghwa replied without offence. Many marriages weren't as lucky as his. He could love his children as more than just his heirs, and he could love the men by his side. Every second, he wanted to cherish that bond.

Pleased, Wynn handed him the bottle and shooed him away.

"He will be fine soon. I will send for our healer."

Seonghwa dared a smile, and she accepted it as a kind gesture. In her way, she understood how important Yeosang was to Seonghwa.

"Thank you."

Back in Yeosang's room, Seonghwa found Jongho on his guard duty, as well as Hongjoong, Wooyoung, and Mingi. The latter two huddled around the bed in worry, trying to make Yeosang feel better. The sorcerer leaned against the wall and perked up when Seonghwa entered. He checked on the tonic and infused it with his magic to heighten its effects.

After gulping it down to spread it inside his bark, since it would wash off otherwise, Yeosang made a face and sunk back into his pillows. He closed his eyes and Seonghwa nervously clutched his hands to his chest.

He hoped it would work.

"Can trees die?" Wooyoung asked, making Seonghwa's eyes tremble.

"Shush. Of course, they can, you fool, but he isn't dying." Tree healing wasn't Hongjoong's strong suit, but they were surrounded by the best healers known to the elves. The mushrooms already infested Yeosang's body, so leaving might not heal him, but the nymphs could.

"I never thought mushrooms could be dangerous. Especially towards him," Mingi confessed, and Seonghwa trailed his fingers through his hair.

"Let him rest. I will check in on him after I met with Lillwen."

For now, Yeosang looked peaceful. He didn't protest as the others filtered outside.

As soon as Seonghwa met Jongho's eyes, the golem grunted.

"I will have two eyes on him," he promised, and Seonghwa grinned. Glad Yeosang wouldn't be alone, the elf allowed himself to attend to his other duties.

On his way to meet Lillwen, Seonghwa was once more reminded that his husbands weren't eternal. But he could cure them of illness and age anytime if only they so wished.