Wooyoung spent three days in the village. Under his guiding hands, Yeosang regained his strength and soon, he could walk by himself and his head no longer burnt in a fever. Rapidly, his glee to have Wooyoung back became unrestrained by his health. They visited the market together, discussed Wooyoung's stay at San's castle, and sat in a placid silence while Wooyoung read on the windowsill and Yeosang calculated their finances for the month.

The townsfolk were delighted to have their beloved angel back amongst them. Yunho visited their house every day, imploring about Wooyoung's wellbeing and offering to supply anything he might ask for.

None of what Wooyoung wanted, Yunho could give. His desires were hidden beyond the snowy hills and a towering castle wall. Of course, he didn't tell Yunho that. With his pushes for marriage, he wouldn't take too well to the information that Wooyoung was seeing another man. One he actually liked.

For three days, Wooyoung was back to his routine and the familiarity of his home. He shared his joys with Yeosang and the townsfolk, answered their implores while he helped the elders carry their heavy baskets between the market and their homes, and laughed along with their relief to have him back.

All the more painful would be his parting. This time, he had time to think about what he left behind, and he found it saddening that he had to pick one over the other. Especially since the past had once allowed both to coexist, the curse seemed particularly unfair now.

But he had promised. He wouldn't go back on that.

On the afternoon of the third day, the latest time Wooyoung could draw for his departure, he gazed upon Yeosang with sad eyes. The man still coughed occasionally, and the spasms shook his entire body, but his health glowed in his cheeks. It was as if no medicine, but Wooyoung's return had been the remedy he needed.

Wooyoung was almost miserable to even mention the matter at hand.

"I'll have to leave, Yeosang," he muttered. He had been packing his bag all day, readying his coat and brushing his hair, but Yeosang hadn't found it unusual. Wooyoung's nervous fidgeting hadn't penetrated his bubble of joy. Perhaps he hadn't wanted to see the signs.

Now that he brought it up in a voice so small, however, Yeosang perked up and studied Wooyoung's glum expression.

"Where are you going? Did you forget to buy something earlier?"

As soon as the question left his mouth and Wooyoung shook his head, Yeosang knew the matter wasn't so simple. He lowered the notebook he had been scribbling in and focused on the curled-up form of Wooyoung at the cold window. He was wrapped in a blanket because he hadn't wanted to dirty the precious cloak, but it always sat within reach.

"I promised San to return to him within three days. His loneliness agonises me and I can't bear to be apart from him for long."

Yeosang understood, and yet he wanted to be petulant. He only just got Wooyoung back, why would he have to let him go again?

"When will you come back?"

Once more, Wooyoung shook his head.

"I don't know. He allowed me to leave, so I presume he won't mind me doing it again, but by missing me, he might get possessive. I wish to be with him as much as I want to be with you. I can't tell you either a date or time."

A few moments of silence spread between them. Wooyoung could taste Yeosang's bitter displeasure in the air as if it were an unripe berry on his tongue. For once, he didn't know how to soothe and how to make it better. His decision was selfish.

"Please, just stay until tomorrow, then. I want to eat with you once more. If you leave in the morning, you won't have to wander the woods at night. What if this time, the wolves get to you first? San can't leave the castle to protect you."

Though he was right, Wooyoung knew it was baseless begging. Yeosang simply wanted him to stay and to relish in their minutes with each other. Admittedly, Wooyoung hadn't warmed him up to the thought since he had been too much of a coward to bring it up.

The thought of breaking his promise sat like a stone in his stomach. Yet, what was one night? He would be back almost at the same time he had promised. Who knew if San even counted the night to match the day?

Since Yeosang was so dear to him and Wooyoung admitted to his fault, he conceded.

"Fine. One more night. But tomorrow, I will leave as the sun rises."

"Absolutely!" Yeosang shut the book and stood to set the table. When Wooyoung slipped from the windowsill to get to cooking, they smiled at each other.

Wooyoung had always been glad that Yeosang was the one to bring him up. They understood each other like best friends, over being a parent and a child. Their age was close enough to make it work. He could ask for no better person by his side than Yeosang.

He hoped that one day, Yeosang could forgive himself for the mistake that ended up making Wooyoung the happiest he had ever been in his life. Perhaps one day, Yeosang and San could become friends and be Wooyoung's most important people together. Then he wouldn't have to bear the goodbyes and he could see them laugh together.

With a dreamy sigh, Wooyoung went to join Yeosang at dinner. They made every word count, spent every second relishing each other's company. This was not farewell, but since neither knew when they would see each other again, they made the most of the limited hours they had.

At night, Wooyoung could barely sleep because he was nervous about leaving this place and yet looked forward to meeting San again. When he finally dozed off, it was to vivid dreams of a brilliant ballroom and San with him in there.

Wooyoung hoped to sleep through the entire night since he needed energy for his trip in the morning. Yet a constant rustling and murmuring outside kept him up. When it finally quietened, he fell asleep properly and blissfully, only to be awoken a few minutes later by a harsh knock on the door.

Both men roused to blink at the door with addled minds. Wooyoung was first on his feet and stood to walk over. The night engulfed the house in darkness, and no sign of the sun breached the horizon.

When he opened it, the cold air touched his bare feet. With a shiver, he blinked his bleary eyes at the hurried man on the other side of the door.

"What leads you to visit us so late at night? Did something happen?" Wooyoung demanded to know while behind him, Yeosang slowly stood. He swayed as his exhaustion wore on his fatigued limbs, but came over with the same concern as Wooyoung.

The village lay silent and peaceful. The snow tumbling from the skies cast it in another blanket of hazy sleepiness. No lights lit the windows at this hour.

"An emergency! I am sorry to bother you at this hour, but I couldn't keep my silence!"

Instantly alerted, Wooyoung ushered the man inside. He refused to take a seat and instead wrung his hands as he looked over his shoulders as if haunted by the devil himself. On edge, Wooyoung and Yeosang waited for an explanation.

"I'm not supposed to talk about this, but I couldn't shut my eyes to the truth. Misfortune has befallen Villebête and I couldn't overlook how it rotted from the inside! Last night, Yunho gathered people to accompany him to the castle. He got wind that the beast living there kidnapped you, and he is out to avenge you so that you will finally accept his hand in marriage!"

Wooyoung's stomach lurched. He stumbled away from the door as his shock rendered him useless for a moment far too long. Then he rushed to the back of the hut to gather his clothes.

Yeosang stayed at the door like a tense pillar while Wooyoung slung his coat around his shoulders.

"He plans to kill the beast?"

The man nodded desperately.

"To offer Wooyoung its head as a gift, yes. But I believe this is a bad idea. This place is cursed. There are reasons everyone disappeared seven years ago. I'm afraid Yunho won't come back if you don't stop him. He only listens to you!"

"He better," Wooyoung gritted out between his teeth. He made for the door and Yeosang stepped aside to let him through.

"Will you be able to stop him?" He asked while he hurried to follow him. Wooyoung shoved his feet into his boots and rolled his shoulders under the snowy cape. His hateful determination towards Yunho masked the fear in his heart. What if Yunho actually succeeded? What if San's head would roll and the village would rejoice, not knowing who the one they killed was?

"I have to," Wooyoung said. He ignored the babbles of the one who fetched them in favour of leaving the hut. Yeosang came with him, and together, they left the village behind to run for the hills as fast as their legs would carry them.

With a frown on his face and panic in his step, Wooyoung returned home.

-

What the former prince from the village didn't know was how the beast had gone mad with worry for his being late. He had paced the gardens all day, looking for the one his heart craved for.

He hadn't told Wooyoung, or even his servants, but the hourglass suspended in ice in his room had almost run out of time. Once the last grain ran out, he would die, for the time spent without love and being shunned by all would cause the curse to reap his life. The faery had told him so back when she had cursed him, but he didn't have the courage to think about it for many years. In recent weeks, he faced the ugly truth more and more often. Wooyoung had reminded him of it. On accident at first when he had barged into the sanctuary of the forbidden room, and then time and time again as San wishes so desperately they had met sooner, had more time with each other.

Now that his life was coming to an end, he felt it wear on him. His limbs were lethargic and his sight waned as he gazed at the forest from the gardens, wondering what all those moving blurs of light were.

Hongjoong was by his side and nervously watched the spectacle with him. They had been afraid the woods were burning, but that wasn't the case. A lot of people carrying torches and pitchforks were on their way up the hill.

Wooyoung hadn't come back. San feared they had killed him, for he had stained their precious boy, and now they came for revenge.

He couldn't even tell who the one leading them was, for he felt so sleepy. The snow looked like such a wonderful bed to rest upon.

"Should we hide? If we bar the doors and slip into the shadows, they might think the castle is abandoned," Hongjoong suggested. His thin voice, which was so unlike the boisterous and steady man he had been once, trembled with dread.

San shook his head, and the simple movement almost made him nauseous.

"Wooyoung could arrive at any time. I don't want to shut him out."

He was still waiting. Even if Wooyoung hadn't come as he had promised, San foolishly clung to his hope.

Nervous, Hongjoong drifted left and right. The torches came closer, right towards the castle. From the distance, the aggravated voices of the townsfolk carried their vicious intentions.

"Then let's hide, at least. Wooyoung will know how to find us once they are gone. I can't imagine he is with them."

No, Wooyoung couldn't have betrayed them. The shine in his doe eyes when he had kissed San had been real.

The reminder of those lips and the enticing mole that dotted them to beg for a kiss made San smile.

He didn't want Wooyoung to worry about him. While he deserved the fate of loneliness and being slaughtered for what he had become, Wooyoung had taught him to value himself. At least until he came back, San wanted to wait.

"Yes. Let's hide."

San turned to follow Hongjoong back inside, but he didn't make it so far. He collapsed into the snow on the first step. All sense drifted from him as the earth cradled him in its soothing embrace.

On the snowy night, Hongjoong's agitated calls for his prince were too quiet to reach those who needed to hear.