You weren't born with all of these abilities, you took it away from someone.

It was an accident, how would I know?

Destiny, it's funny isn't it? Both of you were already in each other's lives before you knew it.

His chest feels tight as he lifts up his eyelids, giving him the view of a familiar face, eyes closed as their chest rises up and down softly. He smiles, for the first time feeling like every emotion is crashing onto him as his face no longer feels stiff. He lifts up his left hand, twisting it around to see that the black tendrils all over his skin have faded, with some already gone. He places the hand on their hair, caressing it. He feels like tears would come to his eyes as his body now moves according to how he wants. He doesn't want to disturb the person sleeping, but he can't resist the urge to hold their face.

As soon as he puts his hand on their cheek though, they slap his hand away, as if an automatic reaction in their sleep. They don't even open their eyes, but mumble a "you don't want to mess with me" before falling quiet again.

He chuckles; she's even intimidating in her sleep.

He doesn't want to wake her up but he misses her too much, so slowly, he calls out her name. He fears that his voice would be absorbed into the void again, just like he's rendered speechless every time he wants to say something.

"Akira," he says. He places his right hand on her cheek, this time around she doesn't slap it away.

Akira groans softly as she opens her eyes, feeling a warm hand on her cheek. She blinks, still sleepy as she looks at him. It still seems that she hasn't registered how he's back, because she only mumbles her words.

"Why do you look so vivid when it's just a dream?" She reaches out a hand, placing it on his cheek. "You're warm too."

He doesn't say anything as he brings his hand to his cheek, grasping hers tightly. Tears pool in his eyes as he blinks, letting them fall before it wets his cheek and their hands.

"Crybaby," Akira mutters. "Even in my dream you're crying."

"It's not a dream," Seonghwa finally says. "I'm here with you."

Her half-open eyes turn wide before she springs up, sitting up straighter. She lunges forward as she cups his face, her own tears welling up. She sobs as she holds onto his face, unable to form any coherent words. She rubs her thumbs over his skin, as if trying to make herself believe that it's real; his skin is smooth, the black tendrils on his face are gone, he feels warm and most importantly, his eyes look at her with so much love that she's sure that she has finally gotten him back.

"Seonghwa," she says. "You're- you're back." She stutters, as she still can't believe it.

He smiles as he nods. "I'm back," he repeats. "I'm here-"

He gets cut off as she wraps her arms around him tightly, burying her face at the crook of his neck and cries. This time around he doesn't hesitate as he brings his arms around her, pulling her closer and brushing his hand over her hair.

"Do you know-" she manages through her tears as she tightens her hold around him, "-how long I waited for you, you idiot?"

"I'm sorry," he utters against her hair.

"You-" she starts but she can only crumple up his shirt in her hand, crying harder. As she finds her voice back she continues, "You almost died trying to protect me and do you- do you know how scared I was because I thought I was going to lose you forever?"

"I'm here," he breathes. "I'm sorry you had to wait for me."

"No matter-" she takes a deep breath, "no matter how long I'd wait for you."

He lets her cry her heart out as she bunches his shirt in her fists, and a bittersweet feeling comes up to him; the guilt he still has as he remembers what he said to San about regretting their marriage to the happiness he feels as she's the first person he sees as soon as the curse slowly leaves his body.

"Akira," he says slowly, placing both of his palms on her cheeks as she pulls away, staring into her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you always sorry?"

There's a shift in his eyes as they turn blue, before he breathes, "Before I went unconscious, I said some things that I shouldn't have, and all the while I was stuck here, I couldn't stop regretting it. Even though," he brushes his thumbs over her skin, "I couldn't say it out loud to say how sorry I am."

Her lips curve upwards at the corners as her eyes glisten with tears. "What? That you regretted marrying me?"

He looks shocked and embarrassed knowing that she already knows, as his eyes lower down and refuse to look at hers. "I broke our promise. I said that I wouldn't say that I regret it-" He stops as she chuckles, and he looks at her with a confused look, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Your eyes are as grey as they can get," she utters. "Are you really worried about telling me this?"

He frowns at how she seems so laidback about this situation, before he tries to press on further. "Akira, don't you get what I'm trying to tell you? I broke our promise, you knew about it and you should-" He pouts, "-should've said the same thing to me."

She lifts up her eyebrows as she blinks. "You... really want me to say that I regret marrying you? What kind of drama do you want more after all that we've been through?"

He utters as his eyes run elsewhere. "Well-" He says it in another way, "You should be mad at me."

"But I'm not," she says, nonchalant.

"Why not?" He frowns.

"Like I told you," she says, "I prefer actions rather than words. Actions always prove a lot more. Idiot," she lands a punch on his chest, even though it's rock solid. "That's the very reason you fell into the curse. If I really regretted marrying you," she looks at him, "I wouldn't go to such lengths to see you cured." She chuckles, "Is that what all you've been worrying about ever since you fell into the curse? That I'd be mad at you?" She grabs his hands, "I'm not mad at you; San told me everything that happened before you fell unconscious. If anything," she smiles, "you just proved to me that you'd protect me even when I wasn't aware."

He looks like he's about to cry again, but she hits his forehead with her knuckles.

"I've done enough crying all the while you're under the curse. Not you too."

"I love you," he utters, his tone unfaltering.

"I know." She grins, "I love you too." But as he leans forward, she quickly puts out both of her palms facing forward, stopping him from advancing. "Both of us just woke up. I think it's better for us to shower first so," she sniffs, "we won't stink."

"Together?" He smirks.

She only gives an awkward smile before pinching his waist, hard, until he looks like he's trying hard to suppress the pain. When she's done, she stands up, intending to leave the room and leave him behind. She smiles inwardly as she hears him whining and calling her name, before scrambling to get up so that he can follow her.

She stops walking and immediately turns around as she hears him shouting out in pain before he falls to the floor. However she's quick to grab him in her arms before he could hit the floor and embarrassed, he holds on to her while grimacing.

"It's been a while since I've used my legs so it was a bit awkward."

She looks at him worriedly as she utters, "I thought that there's something wrong again." She tightens her grip around his arms. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"I'm alright," he utters as his eyelids flutter, smiling at her. He buries his face at the crook of her neck, muttering, "I missed holding you so much. It hurt me that I couldn't even reciprocate the hugs you gave me."

She stops as she narrows her eyes. "But you pushed me away that one time." She adds as she releases her grip on him, "We have a lot to talk about. Not to mention that I ran into a replica of Yeosang's sister in Estar. You really do have a lot of admirers even outside the kingdom."

He smirks. "Jealous?"

She rolls her eyes. "No."

"Are you sure?"

"A hundred percent." She takes his arm, puts it across her shoulders as she slides her arm around his waist. "Come on, Your Majesty. I'll bring you to your room so that you can freshen yourself up."

"Very well, Your Majesty," he replies as he smiles, giving the same energy as Akira.

As soon as they step out of the room; it's chaos all over, but the kind that helps the palace staff to deliver to everyone else in the same building that His Majesty is finally cured, with all of them heaving sighs of relief, glad that he's finally able to be up and about. Both of them make their way through a throng of palace staff who are more than eager to bow to him again, delivering relentless gratitude to see him healthy. It almost feels like the journey to their bedroom takes longer than usual, the same feeling as if they're being celebrated by the residents after their coronation.

As soon as they enter the bedroom, Akira lets him sit on the bed before she closes the door. She turns to face him, who's looking around the room as if it's his first time, absorbing everything after leaving it for so long. When he spreads his arms with a suggestive face as he sits on the bed, she only throws a towel on top of his head before asking him to shower.

"Do I really smell that bad?" Seonghwa lifts up his arms as he sniffs. "Maybe a little bit."

Giving up in trying to make Akira join him on the bed, he stands up and makes his way to the bathroom, but blushes slightly as he realizes that she's trailing him. As he steps into the bathroom, she follows suit before closing the door behind her, hooking up the towel she brought at the rack.

Oblivious to how Seonghwa is already slightly fidgeting on his spot as he looks at her, she twists open the tap to wet her toothbrush before putting it into her mouth. Holding the toothbrush in her mouth, she takes his and does the same, before handing it over to him.

"Brush your teeth and wash your face first," she says, still oblivious to how Seonghwa's eyes are darting towards anywhere else but her. "Why are you standing there so awkwardly?" She reaches out a hand to pull him towards the mirror in front of the sink, and she takes his hand to give him his toothbrush. She continues to brush her teeth, but as she looks at the mirror, she only sees a reflection of him staring at the toothbrush in his hand, as if he doesn't know how to use it. "Why are you so-"

He gulps. "Are we really doing what I was... jokingly suggesting?"

She spits out, washes her mouth with running water and dabs it dry. "What do you mean?"

"Showering together," he whispers, the tips of his ears red.

She laughs as leans against the counter, crossing her arms. "You said you wanted it." There's a hint of mischievousness in her eyes.

He clears his throat as he looks away, brushing his teeth without even looking at the mirror.

As he's done brushing his teeth, his heart starts to pump erratically as he feels her arms wrapping around his waist from behind, and she whispers, "Nervous, Your Majesty?"

"I'm-" he fumbles with his words as he turns around to face her, but is only met with a laughing Akira before she shakes her head.

"You woke up after so long and you had me worried, yet that's the first thing you thought about."

He pouts as he pokes his cheeks. "Having fun flustering your husband?"

"It's cute seeing your reaction." She winks before she retreats, taking out a stool from the storage before placing it next to the round bathtub in the middle of their bathroom. She sits on it as she tilts her head towards the bathtub, asking him to sit in it. "I'll wash your hair for you."

"Just my hair?" He smirks as he drags himself towards the bathtub, carefully climbing inside. He takes off his top, leaving him half-naked in the tub, and hugs his knees as he watches her fill a basin with water.

She places a towel at the part he's leaning against. She takes the bottle of shampoo off the shelf before she puts it down on the floor, scooting over as she gently holds his head, wetting his hair with water. She's only quiet as she lathers up the shampoo in his hair, massaging it thoroughly and careful in not letting any of the bubbles drop to his eyes.

Although she doesn't say anything to him throughout, she's actually debating on when would be the right time to tell him that she's pregnant that her face is frowning as she runs her fingers through his hair. She's too quiet and concentrated until she gets startled as Seonghwa suddenly grabs her hands, chuckling.

"I feel like you're trying to bake me into a loaf of bread," he utters as he looks over his shoulder, smiling. "It's like you're kneading dough."

"Ah, sorry," she quickly says, slightly embarrassed now that he has probably caught on to the fact that she's not paying attention. She changes the pressure she massages his head as she grimaces, "Is it alright?"

He sighs in satisfaction as he leans backwards, spilling some of the bubbles onto the floor and her pants. "That's alright."

Even though she's started to focus more on washing his hair, it doesn't mean that she has stopped thinking about when would be the right time to break the news to him. She keeps mulling over her choices... that when she pulls the shower head to rinse it off he's almost suffocated under the running water as she keeps directing the water to his face.

"A-" he gurgles, "ki-" he takes in a sharp breath, "ra-"

She snaps out of it before she quickly turns off the water, grabbing his head before turning it around, looking into his eyes. "I'm-" she pauses, "I'm sorry."

He merely chuckles before leaning forward, pressing light kisses on her lips multiple times until she feels like she's about to burst, his half-naked body and wet hair giving no help at all as she keeps thinking about the fact that this is the guy who's about to become the father of her children. Still, now that it has come to the time that she can tell him, she still feels rather awkward even though it's most likely that he'll jump in joy when he knows about it.

"What were you thinking about until you almost baked your husband into bread and then proceeded to drown him?"

"I'm-" she starts but stops, screaming internally. Why is it so hard for me to say it to him?!

He blinks, waiting for her to continue.

"You were right, Jihyun is a white blood," she utters, before grimacing. Idiot, that's not what you wanted to say! "I followed every information that you found about the pact, and we've finally solved the case on who the pact is made up of."

His eyes light up as he perches against the edge of the bathtub, looking at her with round eyes. "Really?"

"Uhm," she pats his head, smiling. "You did an amazing job."

He beams under her hand, before he starts babbling about how he came to the conclusion, and she listens intently as his voice bounces off the walls of the bathroom. When he's done, he looks at how she seems slightly sad, then becomes worried that there might be some things he said wrong. He touches her chin, looking into her eyes as he tilts his head.

"Why do you look..." he doesn't know what word to use so he proceeds, "sad?"

She shakes her head. "I'm happy, you idiot." Even though she says she's happy, a drop of tear runs down her cheek as she continues, "It felt like a long time since I last heard your voice, speaking full sentences. I said I wanted to appreciate people more," she takes a deep breath, "but when I thought I'd lose you only then I realized I didn't appreciate you enough; how you talk, or when your body gives me warmth, or the emotions I can see through your eyes. Everything was gone when you were taken by the curse, and I thought that it'd be too late again."

He doesn't say anything yet as he stands up, stepping out of the bathtub before he sits on the edge, putting his feet against the floor as he looks at her. "Come here," he says, beckoning her over to sit with him.

She stands up, intending to sit beside him but he pulls her slowly onto his lap and wetting her clothes. He rests his chin on her shoulder as he hugs her from behind and places a hand on her stomach, which makes her slightly nervous.

It's not like he can tell I'm pregnant, right? They're only a few weeks old.

"Whenever you came to my room and talked with me, I could hear everything, even though I didn't reply. I know how much you sacrificed for me, and if that doesn't show how much you appreciate me, I don't know what will. I'm here now, and it's all because of you."

"Sara-" she starts, before backtracking. "She was the one who helped you, if you remember the woman with pink hair coming to your room."

He nods. "I need to relay my gratitude to her soon. Where is she from?"

"Ileara," she utters. "The only person living there, we believe."

He pauses, the name of the kingdom bringing flashes of incomplete memories to him. Still, it's not like he can recall anything related to the kingdom. "You said your mother was from there too."

She starts telling him about how the conclusion to her becoming the key to cure the curse led to her asking Jihyun about it, after the journey she had with Wooyoung to Ileara to find any last remaining person. She doesn't tell him the real reason the black panther didn't want to eat them, but instead vaguely says that it could probably sense that she has the blood of Ileara in her.

"You were really thinking of going alone?" Seonghwa frowns, pinching her waist lightly. "As much as I'm wary of Wooyoung because he'd take any chance to flirt with you, I'm glad that he was there with you."

She laughs as she feels him hugging her tighter, as he says that he won't let her be taken away by Wooyoung. "I won't," she utters, her hand sliding over to place it on his. "That brings me to another point, because your brother finally found his own love story at the Estar kingdom."

There's a silence before Seonghwa breaks it, his voice in disbelief. "Really? Jung Wooyoung?"

She nods as she looks over her shoulder. "She's one of the princesses there, and she's really nice. She makes sure I was well taken care of before we came back here. Wooyoung and her would look cute together."

"Oho," he exclaims. "Looks like Akira Hwang has now added the word 'cute' to her dictionary. Looks like you're using it more often now."

"Oh and!" she claims, and it startles Seonghwa to the point he almost loosens his grip, "the skill you taught me became useful after all. I saved your brother using the skill you taught me."

He chuckles before smiling proudly, even though she can barely see it. He rocks his body slowly, swaying from side to side as she continues telling him everything, but still she conveniently leaves out the news that she's thinking of the best way she could relay it to him.

Of course it's supposed to be a special moment for them, but as she's reminded about how he had proposed to her and how the birthday surprise she prepared for him didn't work, she's convinced that their relationship always sees something spontaneous - anything that involves planned surprises simply never worked.

"The oldest princess of Estar," she utters, "had her eyes on you and she was just-" she demonstrates with her hands near her eyes, "-glaring at me every time we met. I swear I could see fire in her eyes."

"Really?" He sighs as he stops swaying. "Did you deal with her just like you did with Yeosang's sister?"

She looks over her shoulder, looking offended. "I can't believe you still think I'm that kind of person." But no long after, she grins, "Maybe I would've if my body's condition was great. I wasn't feeling that healthy back then, so I let her be."

He laughs. "That's why I love you and you only," he says in a singsong voice. "Thank you," he breathes, "for being there for me, and never giving up on me. Even though it took me a while to come back to you."

"You're my husband, you idiot," she repeats, "I'll go through hell and back for you."

"And I'm glad," he utters, "that you didn't have to sacrifice your life for me-"

"You know I would," she says, "but Sara came at the right time and told me that whatever we believed in was wrong."

"When you talked about the probability of having to sacrifice yourself just so you could see the curse disappear, I wanted to say something so bad, I wanted to stop you from thinking that way."

"That was the first time you made a sound," she says as she chuckles painfully. "But after that it was just... silence. Then you were just so hostile with me I had to remind myself that you must have a reason for doing so." She pauses as she pushes her lip outwards. "Even though it hurt a lot."

"Akira," he utters as he intertwines his fingers with hers. "I wanted to protect you, because I know of the effects it would have on the others. I experienced it firsthand- I don't know if you knew about it... but I was aware when Yunho tried to-" he stops, "kill me."

This information causes her to turn around, loosening his grip around her waist as she desperately tries to look at him in the eyes. "You knew? That... Yunho tried to kill you?"

"Mhmm," he hums as he smiles weakly. "But I know it's not his fault- I know it was the curse's effects and it's not like I could do anything to him." When Akira looks at him worriedly, he continues, "and I don't blame him for feeling that way. I heard everything he said before he tried to kill me and I understood his feelings; after I got married to you, everything just went... wrong. You were supposed to have a life full of happiness after, but I only made you suffer more."

She stays quiet, unable to say anything as she only leans against him from the side, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Do you feel that way too?" he asks. "That your life only went downhill, even worse after you got married to me."

"If I do," she starts, and she can already see how his eyes are directed to the floor, his body language showing how he's sad. "You wouldn't be here. If I do," she presses on, "I told you I wouldn't even try to cure you. If I do," she says again, "I'd let go of you. I'll keep saying this, no matter if other people point it out all the time, that my life never got worse after marrying you. Park Seonghwa," she utters, "we faced all of this because of our blood colours. It's not even your fault that I have black blood. Marrying you wasn't the cause of this; in fact it just meant that I actually had someone to go through with it. Idiot," she says softly, "you deserve the spot as the king of Lucida, not just because you got married to me. But you tried to prove how worthy you are for the position." She smiles, "I need you by my side to rule the kingdom, plus we still have to deal with the attack coming in... three days?"

He blinks as he looks down. "Three days?"

"Yes," she grins. "Apparently our palace is about to be attacked by the pact, and we're already devising our strategy."

He sighs. "Of course I'd trust you to be so excited about the fact that we're about to get attacked."

She chuckles, but it slowly dies down as she's reminded again that she'd have to tell him about the fact that she's pregnant, and that's why she wouldn't be able to join in as much as she'd wanted to.

"Seonghwa-" she says slowly, but he doesn't hear it as he picks her up, carrying her out of the bathroom. She takes in a sharp breath as he puts her down on the bed. It's like he can't wait anymore as he changes his clothes and he brushes back his wet hair, before he climbs up onto the bed with her. "You need to dry your hair first," she says meekly, realizing how long they haven't been together.

He only shakes his head as he pouts, snuggling up to her and wrapping her up in his embrace. It's slightly awkward as all Seonghwa wants is cuddles, yet all Akira is thinking about is how she's going to relay the news to him.

She sees his shadow on top of her before his face comes into view, and he has a smirk on his face as he puts his hands on either side of her body. He lowers his face down, kissing her as she can feel his hand starting to move under her shirt, slowly rubbing his thumb over her skin. She gulps as he starts to kiss her neck, down to her collarbones before his hand tugs at her shirt. She closes her eyes as she blurts it out anyway.

"I'm- I'm pregnant!" she says it in one breath.

Seonghwa stops moving his hand upwards, frozen momentarily as he tries to process her words. "Preg-" He blinks. "You're pregnant?"

She nods meekly. "With twins," she breathes. "At least that's what Sara told me." She looks away. "The doctor can't tell yet."

He blinks as he removes himself from her, sitting on the bed as he stares at her. "I'm-" For a moment he looks like he doesn't want to accept the news that she becomes scared that he had changed his mind about wanting kids, but not long after he puts his hand over his mouth as his eyes glisten, the corner of his eyes crinkle as he smiles under his mouth. "You're- you're saying that I'm becoming a father. I'm-" he points a finger to himself, "I'm becoming a father?"

She nods, although she's still slightly worried for his reaction. "That was the reason Sara wanted to help me; she said she didn't want to see our children grow up without you."

"Akira," he says, already inching forward as he pouts. He envelopes her in a hug, but is now careful to not hug her too tight. "You said that you're not ready..." he trails off.

"But now that I'm pregnant," she utters, "do you think I'd let them go? I was scared, but of course I'm happy when I found out."

"Akira!" he says excitedly as he bounces up and down on the bed, "We're becoming parents!"

She chuckles. "You must love kids so much."

"And now we're having our own!" he chirps as he holds her face in his hands.

"I still haven't relayed my utmost gratitude to Sara. If not for her, I wouldn't even suspect that I was pregnant because I was simply too oblivious. There are a lot of things that I need to be grateful for to her. Because of her," she pats his head, "you're here. Although..." she trails off, "we still need to figure out how to cure San. That reminds me," she utters, "it's morning, and I haven't met her yet since she gave you the cure. I need to find her to tell her that you're awake. I need to tell her how absolutely grateful I am."

"I need to see her too," he utters. "I need to give her my gratitude."

---

On the other side of the palace building, Sara stays locked in her room as for the nth time as she has lost count, she runs to the bathroom and vomits. Black splatters against the sink and her clothes as she lets the water run, getting rid of all the evidence. Her shaky hands hold the edges of the sink, watching her reflection as blood drips again from her nose, this time around the gold colour starting to mix with black.

"Why is it so bad?" Sara says to her own reflection as she wipes her bloody nose, only to have more flowing out. "How am I supposed to meet them before leaving the kingdom?"

She washes her hands in the sink, only to retch one more time before she gives up, her stomach feeling like something is moving inside as she sits on the floor of the bathroom. She hugs her knees to her chest, crying.

I told you... why are you so intent on helping others when you're suffering yourself?

So what if her children didn't get to grow up with their father? What about you?

You grew up without parents.

That's the reason I need to help them; I don't want their children to experience the same thing as I did.

So what do you get in the end? They'll be happy with their new family, and now you're the one who's about to go back to your pitiful, lonely life without having people even knowing how much you're in pain.

Let them be. You can't control me just like you did to them; I'm too strong for you.

She hears laughing ringing in her head, taunting her.

Strong? Little girl, I'm the very reason you had to grow up alone.

What makes you think you're any different?

---

[A/N: Don't ask me why Seonghwa is so horn-knee right after waking up like man, calm down nobody is taking away your wife 🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️]