Seonghwa's white gown fanned out around him as he sat in the grass below Yeosang's branching crown. He looked spectacular this autumn as well, matching his appearance to the nature around him. Fly agarics and ferns were lush along his bark and his face and shoulders emerged from the stem of his growth as if he were trying to escape its ensnarement. 

The ground was soft below Seonghwa's legs and, though he had hoped to see his kids outside, they spent the morning with their teachers to fill their time with studies. Seonghwa perched between his rock and his tree, looking lonely to the untrained eye. Before him and having freed herself from the confinements of her basket, Pebble toddled around. She still couldn't speak, but she explored the world with wonder and listened to anyone with a story to tell. As the wet grasses engulfed her, Seonghwa relished the last time out in the peace of his gardens.

He tried not to think too hard about the dread chilling his blood and slowing his thoughts. For now, he was here. In safety.

San sparred against two of Seonghwa's elite warriors today, and the additional opponent exerted him. His pinched expression matched the sweat glistening on his muscles as his body whirled and tensed to block and attack. 

Still shy from Jongho's earlier comment, Seonghwa tried to glance at him only sparingly, but San's beauty was such a welcome distraction. The fifth time he yearningly looked over, only to rip his gaze away right after, Yeosang snickered at him.

"Baby fever, Your Majesty?"

Seonghwa sighed to himself. His best friend couldn't be fooled.

The refined king carded his fingers through his long hair, reaching to his thighs now that he left it to grow out. Hongjoong was obsessed with the sea of black ink, and as much as they suited the ethereal beauty of the emperor before his royal court, they also created a beautiful backdrop to his body writhing in pleasure under the love of his husbands. 

"I can't stop thinking about what a child of ours would look like. At first, he was against it, but now..." Seonghwa hid his blush behind a well-timed swipe over his cheek when the autumn breeze carried fine seeds through the air. 

"Ill timing, but otherwise, nothing holds you back. With Hongjoong claiming Aodhán as his successor in the spire, San is the last one left," Yeosang replied, teasing Seonghwa's reactions as if he were the one leading San to be tainted. 

When Seonghwa wound himself, Yeosang had mercy on him.

"I recommend you speak to him once the Crystal Sphere is safe. For now, your body won't conceive since it is far too strained and Hongjoong definitely won't promote your fertility in our current dilemma. Once it is time, I am sure San is more than keen to fulfil your wish," he offered his genuine advice. 

Seonghwa nodded to himself. The jingle of his earring clicked against his shoulder when he tilted his head into the cradle of his arm to watch San dreamily. He took a break now and greeted Buddy, who was allowed to run around outside while someone had an eye on him.

With a wistful sigh, Seonghwa pulled himself from their round. He wanted to find Morana and Aodhán, to assure the two that he would return soon. While he seldom fretted about his own life ending, he feared coming home with the news that a war was inevitable.

Seonghwa would die for his family anytime.

Where it became difficult was when his family wanted him to live for them. Life needed to be perfect, otherwise, Seonghwa couldn't find rest. 

With a wistful sigh, Seonghwa knocked on the door of the study room. Only the wisest teachers of the Crystal Sphere were allowed to educate his kids. While Aodhán often left for the spire to study magic, Morana focused on matters concerning her understanding of the elves and the demons. Seonghwa organised a demon teacher to live at the castle to help her. She wasn't as belligerent as most of her kind, and though Seonghwa caught her a few times staring at Mingi with a frown, she was well-behaved.

Morana didn't quite like her, but Morana was fickle like that.

Today, an elven teacher sat with Morana and Aodhán and introduced them to the fairies of their lands. When he opened the door to Seonghwa, he fell into a deep bow.

"Your Majesty," he greeted, and Seonghwa rewarded him with a refined smile.

"Let's end their lessons early today. Thank you for your wisdom."

Immediately, the teacher ducked away and Morana remained between books and artworks of various fairies she learned to name. Aodhán hastened to scramble into his coat, ready to leave with Seonghwa.

For a moment, Morana's small face looked up at Seonghwa. With those black eyes that took over so much of her face, her translucent, grey skin and her tall ears. Her horns were still small, their points adorable. 

Then, with a huff, she turned away. She found San's sheep plush, which she had claimed as her own, and stood on wobbly feet. Before she could sneak away, Aodhán caught his sister's hand.

"Athair!" He cheered, merry to see him. When Seonghwa crouched, Aodhán dragged Morana along until he could hug Seonghwa. She sulked into the plushie, but her wide eyes took in how happily Aodhán shone while cuddling with his father. 

"I came to spend the evening with you two. What would you like to do? Shall we check outside if we find all the fairies you learned about today?" Seonghwa brushed Aodhán's unruly locks behind his ears, taking in his gleaming golden shine. The two were like night and day, and Morana brooded to herself even when she couldn't resist the draw of the beautiful elf who created her.

"Food," she gasped out, eager to get some meat between her teeth after a long day. After checking with Aodhán if he was fine with that, Seonghwa beamed at them.

"Then let's make something," he promised as he picked up Morana to carry her in his arms. Aodhán walked alongside him, holding Seonghwa's other hand with his chin lifted high; serious about his role as the older of the two. 

Soon, their laughter delighted the melody of the castle again. Seonghwa took them to make some cookies in the kitchen, which they attempted with frowns on their little faces and clumsy hands, causing more damage than progress. Seonghwa taught them not to throw food at each other when they got frustrated, and as soon as the cookies got handed to the bemused maids, Aodhán snuggled into Seonghwa's arms to share some warmth with him.

They ate their cookies on the balcony before Seonghwa's room. He spread out some furs for them and Morana never let go of the sheep. Where Aodhán liked to suckle on his fingers or those of his fathers or uncles in sleep, Morana appeased her ever-gnawing teeth with the legs of the plush to mimic the meats and bones she enjoyed ripping into. 

Seonghwa's heart was full of fondness at seeing their two little bodies sit with him and squabbling with one another. They looked barely alike, but they were his treasured loves. He would see them again soon, undoubtedly, but he was scared to miss out. To be too busy with his duties that he couldn't be there for them. It was customary that royals and noble families left the education of their children to others, but Seonghwa wanted to see them grow up. He wanted to have all that. 

By the time Morana started yawning, Seonghwa called it a day. He carried the two to his big round bed and Aodhán squealed with joy, kissing Seonghwa's cheek when he was lifted into his arms. 

Morana liked to curl up as small as she could become, always clutching the sheep. After settling behind them carefully, Seonghwa relished the sight of the two against him. Aodhán sprawled out, and he needed Sunny with him to fall asleep, so the specked puppy also slumbered by their sides. Meanwhile, Morana tried to disappear in a crevice or beneath a pillow.

Perhaps Seonghwa should take her to the Caverns of Nightfall once all tensions were resolved. Maybe she would understand better who she was and why she felt something was lacking. She adored Mingi, always sat on his shoulders to hold on to his horns, but he was limited in how much he could tell her. 

Kept awake by his thoughts, Seonghwa caressed through their hair and along their cheeks. After a while of restlessness, he tugged a book closer and spent his evening by the side of his two little ones, whom he would miss dearly. Though bringing his husbands with him on his journey would appease most of his stress, he now discovered an additional reason he didn't want to be parted from this place.

But such was the duty of an emperor.

Seonghwa's sigh drowned in a knock on his door. He perked up, not alerted by the prickle of danger down his spine. As he rose, the magic Hongjoong weaved around his babies to protect them thickened, creating a barrier to any attacker and an alarm to Hongjoong's senses if a stranger approached them.

On quiet feet, Seonghwa crossed his room. He opened the door and was blinded by the sight of his handsome seraph.

Immediately, the talks in the gardens came back to him, and Seonghwa suppressed a shy grin.

"Go- Good evening," Seonghwa whispered, praying San didn't see his blush. It was risky timing on the night of their departure, and Seonghwa's mind was depraved enough today to wander to the most strenuous ideas. "What may I serve you with?" 

San's dark golden eyes studied Seonghwa, his long robe and the slivers of pale skin. 

"I picked up on a rumour outside. Whispers of the townfolk," San began, and for a moment, dread crashed upon Seonghwa when he feared the enemy was among them. He was ready to get dressed and rush to the war room, but San's hands found his waist, emptying all those fears. His warm touch grounded Seonghwa and the intense gaze meant no such terror.

"What rumour?" Seonghwa muttered, already breathless. 

They should sleep, but Seonghwa oh so dearly hoped no one would hear them and they could just slip away to indulge.

San leaned closer, ghosting his lips over Seonghwa's jaw and ear. He leaned into him, handling Seonghwa with the greatest care until Seonghwa's insides were filled with an entire swarm of birds soaring about his chest. 

"That you want my child," San muttered; no, he growled with that barely contained desire. Heat abruptly flared in Seonghwa's abdomen and he crumbled in San's arms, helpless to this part of him. The grip on him was possessive, seeking passage, so it had a reason to never let him go. 

Seonghwa didn't dare breathe. He bit his lip as his reason battled his desire. After a moment, San shuddered against him. Seonghwa felt it through their bodies that pressed so close, whimpered to himself since he desired San so much.

"I... Of course, I do," Seonghwa brought out. He knew San needed confirmation, scary and explosive as his desire could be. 

But Seonghwa trusted him. No matter what San did, he could never hurt Seonghwa.

"Right now, my body may not be ready, but I always crave for you," Seonghwa admitted, and he quivered when San's grip tightened. Seonghwa had nowhere to run, a slave to the seraph as his loose robe slipped from his shoulders to expose the tantalising spread of his unmarred flesh. His chest had become softer after childbirth, though barely any bigger once it produced no more milk. Its gentle press against San's firm chest had his jaw grit.

"You assume so boldly I could hold back if you tell me this. That you wouldn't tear my self-control asunder until I ached to possess you," San whispered against Seonghwa's neck. His breathing was ragged and his scent of honey and light so tempting.

Seonghwa discarded all rationale. His fingers weaved between San's, drawing on him until the seraph stumbled across the corridor and into San's room.

Their eyes met and a similar hunger consumed both of them.

"Then possess me," Seonghwa breathed. "Possess me and grant both of us this wish."

The door slammed shut when San came after him, pouncing like a wolf to devour Seonghwa and make him his.