San shouts out in pain as white drips out of his finger, dropping to the floor. Instinctively he brings his finger to his mouth, sucking on the cut as he hisses in pain. As soon as they arrived in Nyla, he didn't feel tired but instead locked himself up in the royal study, sorting through the paperwork. He cut his finger on a folded piece of paper, yellowed and aged. He watches as his white blood is absorbed by the paper, expanding until it almost makes the paper translucent.

Curious, he picks the paper up; it was tucked away among the other papers he was looking through, seemingly out of place. While the rest looked like official papers, this one looks informal, like a letter sent to the palace. He realizes that his blood has yet to stop dripping so he stands up to look for something to wipe it off before bandaging it. He leaves his study, leaving his table with papers strewn all over it.

The door clicks open as San pokes his head through the crack, looking left and right for anyone. His left thumb and forefinger are pressing on the wound, trying to stop the blood flow. He sees that the hallways are empty, so he can't ask anyone for help. He walks out of the study, still looking for anyone that can help him patch the wound up. The slightly cold air is making him shiver, and sending sharp pains to his open wound.

When he notices a maid coming out of a room after finishing cleaning it up, he calls her over to help him find a bandage. A few minutes later, a bandage is already wound around his finger and he's making his way back to his study to clean the mess up. He opens the door, but gets confused when he sees the wind blowing the curtains slowly.

He's pretty sure he had closed the windows, because the weather was slightly getting colder and he doesn't want to keep shivering while leafing through the official papers.

"That's weird," he mumbles to himself.

He walks over to the windows to close them, but the sudden sharp wind coming in causes the papers on his desk to settle to the floor. He sighs in frustration but pauses when he sees the folded paper that he had cut himself with has opened and landed near his foot. He closes the windows first before picking the paper up, more intrigued by its contents now that he has seen how the paper has an emblem at the middle top and there are writings across the paper.

He sits back down, ignoring all the other papers as he holds the paper with his smudged blood. He looks at the emblem first; taking some time to recognize which kingdom it belongs to, before he notices the small font of the name of the kingdom placed in the emblem.

"Ileara?" he says, more like a question at first, but then it becomes more definite. "Ileara."

The name of the kingdom gives no spark to him at first, but even his memories after seems to be very fleeting and blurry. Everyone knows how the kingdom doesn't exist anymore; it was said to be completely overturned some years ago, but for unclear reasons. No one bothered to find out, because the existence of the kingdom is none of their concern. It is said that all their people and rulers have been wiped out, leaving not even a trace nor history behind.

So why is he in possession of a letter from Ileara? A previous agreement between the rulers?

He hopes to find the answer in the writings, seeing that the paper is indeed a letter sent from the Kingdom of Ileara to their kingdom. It was addressed to his father; the previous king, Choi Jaebeom. He holds the paper open, his mind reeling to find the connection between their two kingdoms. So Nyla was acquainted with Ileara before things went south with the kingdom?

He reads the letter; it was very simple, brief- and brings much more confusion to him.

Jaebeom

I think I have found a way for us to stop it once and for all. We should meet when you're free, just send me a letter to state when you're available. We don't have much time left.

Hyunwoo

"Hyunwoo..." San utters as he tries to recall the names of his father's acquaintances.

As he was not considered the child to his parents, he wasn't involved in any of the higher affairs. He won't know whom his father and mother were acquainted with, or which people they had signed a deal with to maintain peace in their kingdom, or to whom the Shadow King's identity was revealed. To San, he only knows stuff like when to serve food or which of the rooms needed cleaning.

He was merely a servant with white blood.

The letter feels ancient, like it was written thousands of years ago yet he knows that the receiver was his father. Who is- was? Hyunwoo? What were they speaking of, as it doesn't seem like it was a light matter. San can feel the urgency in the words because even the handwriting looks rushed. The last sentence bounces in his vision.

We don't have much time left.

Time left for what?

What was it that needed immediate attention that involved both of the kingdoms? A private matter? Something bigger that involved the sanctity of both kingdoms? There isn't even a date written on the letter, so he doesn't know when it was sent out to even begin to map out a timeline. He could have ignored it, thrown it away in the trash or just slipped it back among the other stacks of papers, forgetting it.

But there's something chewing at him when he finds out the letter was sent, addressed to his father by someone from a kingdom that no longer exists. It is highly likely that the letter was sent by the ruler of Ileara, once upon a time. He's intrigued to know what the urgency represents, and why there's not much time left for his father.

His head turns to the direction of the door when there's a knock, and he gives permission for the person to enter. He doesn't make any effort to hide the letter somewhere; he needs another pair of eyes to evaluate the contents anyway. The person knocking turns out to be Wooyoung.

"I'm going to town, do you want to follow?" Wooyoung walks into the study, already dressed up to go out.

"Aren't you tired after the long journey from Lucida?" San asks, putting down the letter. "Pretty sure everyone else has already crashed in their bedrooms."

"Look who's talking," Wooyoung offers as he drags a chair to sit in front of the table, his legs on either side of the chair and he leans forward against the backrest. He puts his chin on top of the backrest as his eyes catch the bandage on San's finger. "Just a few hours back in Nyla and you're already hurt."

"I got a papercut," San says absentmindedly, eyes wandering to the letter and mind trying to decipher the meaning.

"One drop of blood and they'll know who you are," Wooyoung replies. His eyes get caught at the letter in front of San next, and he doesn't hesitate to ask. "A letter? Are those the letters the late Queen Emira sent to your late brother? Come on, you shouldn't be reading such private letters. It's called," he wiggles his fingers, "privacy."

"It's not," the other says simply. He immediately tells him how he had found the letter, the papercut and the opened window. Even while recounting it he can feel chills.

Wooyoung shivers. "That's creepy. The windows were suddenly open when you were sure that you had closed them?"

"Maybe I didn't remember that I actually opened it."

"What's the letter about?"

He doesn't say anything as he passes the paper to Wooyoung, and the latter's eyes only take a few seconds to read the contents. Wooyoung passes it back to San, mouth already twisting and facial expression slightly changed.

"It sounds kind of serious," Wooyoung comments.

"Exactly," San utters, "and that is why I'm a tiny bit worried. Should I be concerned now that I'm about to officially take the crown? Was it already resolved?"

"Ileara was a kingdom that just disappeared off the books, right?" Wooyoung asks. "I don't remember exactly when." He shrugs, "But it happened when we were all kids. The kingdom just went," he does a motion to mimic something exploding, "poof."

"What was the reason they were... gone?"

Wooyoung shakes his head. "Not sure. I don't really know about the other kingdoms." He grimaces, "But maybe... Mingi would know. He's pretty knowledgeable about other kingdoms. Yeosang... I'm not sure whether he would know... Hongjoong would probably know too. He reads a lot."

San folds back the letter, holding it more carefully this time after knowing that it would probably contain some untold stories they had between the two kingdoms. He puts a weight on the letter to make sure it doesn't fly away, before pushing back his chair and faces the shelves behind him. His eyes fly to all of the bound books; past financial records, administrative reports, certificates, memorandums and agreements all compiled. He's trying to unearth possible connections he could find between Ileara and Nyla.

In what sense are they connected?

Wooyoung forgets his intention to visit the Nyla town as he joins San in searching for anything that could give them clues. He scours through the books, flipping through them as his eyes dart from one sentence to the other. He works on the lower shelves while San is already sifting through the upper shelves.

By the end of what seems like forever, Wooyoung shakes his head as San leans against the row of books, dead tired as he slides down to the floor. They have found nothing, and it seems like the letter is the only connection between Ileara and Nyla. They have found the names of the other kingdoms; Estar, Fyrae and even Lucida - who claimed to be powerful even on their own - but Ileara wasn't found anywhere.

"It's like they don't even exist," Wooyoung mutters. "It's like their history was purposely wiped off, or they were just an... illusion. A kingdom that was thought to exist but never did."

"But how would you explain the letter?" San picks it up again, opening it up. Somehow, he feels relieved that the writing is still there. Something just feels... off; like there's a force involved when the affairs are related to Ileara. "Someone making up a fake kingdom; playing pretend?"

"Maybe it was nothing serious, but we looked too much into it," Wooyoung tries it out. "Plus, the context could literally be about anything."

"You're right..." San trails off, but there's still something nagging him. It was addressed to his father, without any honorifics in place, which means that it is highly likely that this 'Hyunwoo' was the former king of Ileara. "Who would know about this history of Ileara?"

"My best guess is Mingi," Wooyoung offers. "He knows stuff in and out of the kingdom."

"Is he in the palace?" San enquires as he stands back up, slipping the letter in his pocket.

Wooyoung follows suit as he shrugs. "Not sure. Haven't seen him after we had lunch, I think he went off with Yeosang and Hongjoong."

San runs a hand through his hair, already making his way to the door with Wooyoung obediently following. He opens the door, and they walk through the hallways, their definite destination first is Yeosang's bedroom.

As soon as they arrive in front of the doctor's room, San knocks on the door multiple times, but receives no answer. Even as the two look at each other, they need not say anything as they turn around, holding back one of the maids who had just finished picking up the laundry.

"Is Yeosang not here?" Wooyoung asks, his fingers brushing away stray hairs that fell over his eyes.

"I saw him with Mingi and Hongjoong at the practicing range, but I'm not sure if they're still there," the maid answers, head slightly tilted.

"Thank you," San breathes, before nudging Wooyoung to go into the direction of the palace's practicing range, hoping that the three are still there. It would be easier for them to just discuss their newfound curiosity.

They feel like the practicing range is too far now that they're walking briskly, acknowledging the palace staff they pass by before they do arrive. They get disappointed as they find the practicing range empty, the signs that the three had used it gone. Slowly, they drag their feet to Hongjoong's hut in the palace compound, hoping they can catch a glimpse of the three. It's highly unlikely though; Hongjoong rarely lets any of them hang out at his hut, as he likes to keep his workspace mostly private.

Just as they're about to give up, they hear someone calling out their names and they turn around to see Yeosang and Hongjoong leisurely walking past the arched entrance. Hongjoong is maneuvering the horse while Yeosang is happily behind him, waving to them. The horse trots over to San and Wooyoung, stopping just in time as Hongjoong pulls the reins.

Yeosang carefully jumps off the horse, patting the horse's body before acknowledging the two. "Were you back from the practicing range?"

"We were looking for both-" San shakes his head, "three of you actually. Is Mingi not here anymore?"

"Mingi went back home," Hongjoong offers as he jumps off the horse. He holds onto the reins as he brushes the horse's mane. "His parents already miss him when he hasn't returned for two days."

"Ah..." San trails off.

"We did go to the practicing range first, but we didn't even do anything. We were too full after lunch that doing some exercise would probably not be a good idea." Yeosang grimaces.

"So we just hung out for some time, and we sent Mingi halfway before town," Hongjoong says, then refers to both him and Yeosang, "Both of us then went to the forest outside the palace to search for some materials. We thought of going to the central forest but that seems too far. Got what I wanted anyway." He pats the sack hung near the horse's neck. "I have a few orders I need to settle."

"It's alright," San sends him away with the horse, leaving Yeosang looking at them with a thousand questions running through his mind, eyebrows raised.

"A problem?" Yeosang asks simply as they walk towards the palace, going up the stairs.

"A question," San pauses. "A lot, actually."

"How far do you know about Ileara?" Wooyoung asks as they settle down at the sitting area where they can overlook the garden.

"Ileara? The abandoned, did-it-ever-exist kingdom?" Yeosang replies.

Wooyoung and San nod as the latter takes out the paper that he had folded. He straightens it in front of Yeosang, urging him to read it.

Yeosang takes a glance at the receiver's name, knows that it's for San's father, but the more he reads it, the more confused he gets. The sender's name definitely rings no bells for him. Just like the other two, he merely shakes his head, his knowledge of the kingdom only on the surface.

"We could ask Hongjoong," Yeosang suggests.

"When he's busy making his orders? No thank you," Wooyoung politely refuses.

The three of them collectively sigh.

San picks the paper up, shaking it. "You feel that the letter holds more, right? I'm not just the one feeling something odd about this... message this person is sending to my late father?"

"We could go ask Mingi," Wooyoung offers again, but his shoulders droop. "But I'm pretty sure he's busy with his family isn't he?"

"Hmm," Yeosang hums in agreement. "He told us that he was celebrating a family member's birthday today at night, so best we respect that."

"Agree."

They stay in silence, before San speaks up to make a decision. "I guess we have no choice but to wait for tomorrow to ask him about it."

"Our library?" Yeosang suggests, looking brighter as if he has found the answer.

San chuckles. "The contents in there haven't been updated since forever, and trust me, the palace library is like my second home. No signs about Ileara anywhere."

They lean against the chair, about to give up again when Wooyoung suddenly springs up from his seat. "The White Room," he says. "The White Room, the nondescript room holding all what's related to the royal family. Your family," he refers to San. He pulls both of them up, and they find nothing in them to resist.

As if being guided by something invisible, they get pulled to the library where the entrance to the room is carefully hidden behind the shelves. After retrieving the keys, San takes a deep breath before pushing open the door that looks unassuming. To those who don't know, they might miss the small keyhole punched in the continuous wall behind one of the shelves in the library. There lies the locked entrance for the 'White Room' - the room painted with white meant to hold special items for those with white blood only.

Due to years of neglect and the absence of an active ruler, the door creaks as it opens for the first time. It reveals a large-sized room decorated with cobwebs, the floor layered with dust that turns into proof that the three have just visited the room.

San takes a moment to absorb every single little detail in the room; from the emblems, specially crafted weapons meant for display only, royal clothes which are probably only worn once in a member of the royal family's lifetime and the focus of the room itself - the crown. This room is evidence that Nyla still has its royal family alive and well, ruling the kingdom from behind the curtains. This room is proof that as long as it's standing, Nyla will not be gone in the history books.

Not like Ileara.

That reminds him of their purpose of coming here - to extract anything that could give them any clues about the existence of Ileara.

San ignores the crown - the timeless piece that should have gone onto his head to signify the rise of him as the rightful ruler of the kingdom, a symbolization of him taking the next spot as the Shadow King. Instead, he goes over to the shelves nailed against the wall; it holds several memorabilia... frames of pictures of the past kings and queens... his great-great-great grandparents' possessions... random items that belonged to the previous rulers. Something like a place to store their memories so as to not let them be forgotten.

He goes over to his late father's area, where they had placed the last clothes he wore when he passed away. He frowns as he realizes he has little memories of when his parents died; he wasn't there when they were buried, he didn't know the exact reason they died.

"Father and mother..." San trails off, the words feeling odd to him as he's not used to pronouncing it. "They were sick, weren't they?" He looks over to Wooyoung. It wasn't a question because he doesn't know; he just wants to make sure that his memory is not betraying him.

Wooyoung nods. "I mean, it was a closed ceremony when they passed away. We weren't even allowed to attend their funerals."

"Not long after my brother rose to the throne when he was deemed suitable to become king, he became sick and died," San adds.

"What... are you trying to imply?" Yeosang inquires, not liking one bit where the conversation is heading. "You know that your brother was sick because of cancer. Meanwhile your parents..." he pauses when he realizes how little they know of the previous and queen, "maybe both of them were just tired from the pressure of becoming rulers. You know it's not easy; they could've been overworked. Ruling a kingdom behind curtains isn't as easy as people thought."

"That's true," San confesses. "I may be just looking too much into this; maybe I'm just too scared of actually taking the throne. That I'm finding a reason to get myself out of this."

"But you have white blood," Yeosang says matter-of-factly. "No one deserves the spot as much as you do."

"Maybe I deserve the spot because there is no one else with white blood in Nyla," he replies. Well, part of it is true anyway; since his brother passed away, of course he's the only one left.

Wooyoung doesn't offer anything as he retreats, approaching the glass case containing the crown. He unlocks it, takes out the piece that was resting on the velvet pillow before carefully bringing it over to San. He stretches out his arms, presenting the crown to him.

"You're scared of this, aren't you? You think that it's a piece that's been taunting you with the fact that despite having white blood, your parents refused to admit you're their son for whatever reason."

San only looks away. What he doesn't expect is to feel the weight of the crown on his head, Wooyoung helping him to put it on. He's about to protest; something doesn't feel right but maybe it's just his paranoia. His heart beat picks up pace; to Wooyoung this may be an accessory that he can simply put on and off but to San, wearing this piece means accepting his title as the next Shadow King.

He wants to take it off, smash it onto the ground as he pretends that he was never born a royal, that he has not a kingdom to attend to. But as his hand flies to the piece Wooyoung stops him in his place, shaking his head.

"Nothing will happen to you. You'll be fine," he assures him. "You'll do a great job as the Shadow King. Officially."

His heart rate gradually slows down as he realizes that he's over-reacting; he was feeling as if wearing the crown would immediately affect him - as if he would drop dead and end up having the same fate as his parents and brother.

"See," Wooyoung stretches out his arms on his side. "You're the king now; no one can take that away from you."

Yeosang nods, somewhat looking satisfied. "Ooh, you're actually looking pretty good with the crown."

San walks over to the dusty body length mirror with the crown atop his head. He wipes the mirror with his hand so at least he can see a reflection of his face among the dust. The crown feels strange on his head, yet at the same time he feels as if it was just waiting to be worn by him. It fits perfectly.

It wasn't an experience as scary as he would imagine when in fact it's the opposite; was this what they felt when they did wear the crown? Powerful, feeling as if he could do anything?

He smiles.

It is also at that moment when pulses of black tendrils appear at the base of his neck before it disappears, invisible to the slow eyes. No one notices it, not even the wearer.

Pulsing, and waiting.

For the weak.