Wooyoung helped San to his feet and dusted off the remnants of dirt that stuck to the back of his shirt and pants. His eyes wouldn't stop glowing as he drank up the sight of the prince, who was much more handsome than anything could have ever prepared Wooyoung for. He loved San no matter how he looked, but this new charm made Wooyoung's knees weak in an entirely new way.

San had yet to re-accustom to his human appearance. He kept eyeing his hands as if confused about where their black smoke had gone. His touch to Wooyoung's skin felt different now, warmer, less drastic. Both of them had a lot to get used to.

For now, however, San had to deal with the sobbing forms of his four servants, who jumped him as soon as they saw he was safe and back to normal. Their limbs became a tangle when they poured over their prince like a wave. San's delighted giggle drowned in their combined onslaught and Wooyoung's heart surged when he caught a glimpse of dimples and a sunny grin so unlike the shadow San had become for the past years.

"We were so worried," cried a certain pink-haired man who had to be Seonghwa. His features were gentle and mature, though his crying face looked like that of a baby.

San ruffled his hair and held the other big crybaby with the head of red tightly pressed to his body with his free arm. Mingi's voice was deep in this version of himself, much deeper.

Next to them stood a man with nerdy, round golden glasses and crossed arms. His behaviour was standoffish, but his smile bordered on the fondness a father would have over his child he watched grow up. That had to be Hongjoong.

Jongho was the last one to hug San, and his broad frame almost stifled the prince. When San laughed and hugged him back, his shirt pinched around his narrow waist and accentuated his trained body.

"I'm so glad to see you all back. I was almost afraid your curse was permanent, as another jab of fate." San stepped back from them and patted their shoulders. Seonghwa wiped his tears on his hands until Hongjoong stepped in to whip a handkerchief at his chest standoffishly. With a sob of 'thanks', Seonghwa cleared his face of fluids. Hongjoong rolled his eyes.

"You say that as if we didn't have to see you die, rascal. How dare you not mention that your time was running out? Did you have to be so cruel towards us, and Wooyoung?" Jongho scolded him. His gloom was back after the initial relief. He had lost no time getting used to his human limbs. Already he stood like a wall, ready to stay strong against any of San's excuses.

Mingi cursed under his breath when he failed at floating and bumped into Seonghwa. With an apology on his lips, Seonghwa also failed at floating and tripped over a loose rock on the ground.

They would need time. Seven years as a shapeless orb was an eternity.

"I didn't want you to overdo it. If I told you, the wait until then would have been unbearable. I'm sorry, Wooyoung. I didn't want to hurt your heart so." When San reached for him, Wooyoung stepped into his embrace. The proximity to this handsome of a man made him shy. San's voice was sweet like honey, and his grin was ever so charming. Wooyoung couldn't believe that this was the same person he had met cast in smoke and a horned mask.

"You mended it, so I won't complain. I'm grateful the faery gave you another chance. And your friends, too." Wooyoung smiled at them all, and Seonghwa beamed back. Hongjoong almost forgot to look mad.

"I feel the same. My relief to be holding you with these human arms is beyond anything I could have hoped to wish for. If I can make up for my lie in any way, let me know."

"We'll talk about it later," Hongjoong said. His frosty voice had forgotten his anger already. When he beckoned his chin at the assembled people, Wooyoung's attention fell on Yunho. He stood in the same room as them, but he had frozen like an icicle growing from the ground. "First, we should attend to this mess."

San nodded and let go of Wooyoung, but not entirely. Their hands were still intertwined, and Wooyoung relished in the warmth of San's skin in awe. From the side, his profile was even more striking.

"My apologies for the shock you had to live through tonight. Your timing was most unfortunate and I apologise for that. Same as with my friends, there was no way to inform you of my circumstances in an adequate manner."

The humble townsfolk stood in a trance as if they had become stone. In their stead, Yunho talked.

The first syllable from his mouth made Wooyoung's hackles rise, and he feared another attack. When Yunho's voice came out broken in disbelief, he was astonished.

"My prince is this.... Is this really you? Are my eyes deceiving me?"

A thin smile played around San's lips, though it was still shadowed by his displeasure at what Yunho had done. Both to the castle and to Wooyoung. He had heard every word spoken between the two while inside the castle, and he was irritated that Yunho attempted to corner the one his heart was promised to.

"I'm afraid they deceived you for seven years, but now, they speak the truth. I was the one you haunted as a monster. The faery's curse rendered me a useless ruler, unloved and unseen for who I was. Wooyoung found me out only because he scarcely knew about me."

Yunho dropped to his knees. His bottom lip trembled as he gazed upon San's regal form with the awe of a worshipper.

"I... What have I done? All those years... And now, even him. The one you adore."

"My infatuation with Wooyoung is quite recent. I'm sure you knew him longer than I did. Your mistakes are grave but not dishonourable. In your protective way, you did what you deemed right. I don't shun you, Yunho. Time wore on you the same as I, but I still see the young knight I grew up with. If you wish to return to me, I will happily receive you."

The grace that radiated off San was almost too much for Wooyoung to bear. He wanted to tackle the man with kisses and get to know his face all anew, but he had to wait. He wasn't the only one scared for his prince. The rest of the town met him again after seven long years.

As he stood by San's side and marvelled in silence about what had become of the man and how smoothly he handled the situation despite the recent events, Wooyoung relished in their togetherness. In San's liveliness. The rest, San would manage by himself. He was more than able to.

Yunho swallowed heavily as San's goodwill shone on him like the rays of warm sun after a long winter.

"In that case, I... If you will have me, I would like to return. This time, I will protect you against magical evils as well, and no matter what happens, I won't doubt you. I will stay by your side." He pressed his forehead to the ground, a sight of utter submission.

Never in his life, Wooyoung would have expected to see tall and prideful Yunho like this. With his vulnerable core laid bare, he became an entirely different man. A man from the past. A better man.

San crouched to put his hand on Yunho's shoulder. He picked the man up as they stood and smiled his brilliant smile that took everyone's breaths away and that was the same one they had missed so much over the years. Though in disbelief, it reminded everyone that their prince had returned.

"Of course, Yunho. It will take us some time to return to normalcy here, but your place by my side waits to be filled. I hope you will use your influence over the people for good from now on," San said. Proud of his forgiving side, Wooyoung also let go of the lingering ire for Yunho. Mistakes were meant to be forgiven. As Yeosang had said, and as Yunho just proved, he was a different man under all that bitterness and arrogance. Now that those flaked off, someone worthy shone through.

Yunho nodded hastily. When he stumbled back from San, his eyes were glued to the prince as if to the brightest star in the sky.

Wooyoung knew that feeling all too well.

San's hand entangled with Wooyoung's once more as he turned to the crowd of people lingering in the door. All of them had lowered their weapons, and some had lifted their hats off their heads to cradle them in reverence. They had become witnesses to the magic that took place here today, and they wouldn't doubt San ever again.

"I would like you to spread the merry news of my return. While I tend to the castle and restore it to a place that can be ruled in, I would like for the news to spread through the lands. Hopefully, we can all gather so that I may speak to the people and explain my prolonged absence."

Someone at the front nodded hastily, and the rest fell in. This country needed a king, even more so one whom they knew to be trustworthy. As their fallen hero resurrected, they didn't ask twice.

"The local priest can crown you. I will have a meeting arranged so you may claim your throne as soon as possible," Hongjoong piped up.

San nodded at him.

"If anyone is willing to consider work here, especially now that so many reparations to the castle are needed, I will gladly receive them. The treasure chamber is full, so you shall be richly rewarded."

More enthusiastic nods crossed the crowd. A few already lifted their hands to offer their strength. San kindly redirected them to Seonghwa, who hastily pushed his hair back to slip back into his role. While he took care of that, most townsfolk filtered away to do their other task of spreading the word. On their way out, they awkwardly picked up vases and picture frames they had knocked over.

Outside in the corridor, Jongho looked between the couple and Mingi, who had begun cleaning up already. His fingers twitched on his broad biceps.

"This seems to me like a feast is in order. It feels as if seven years have passed since I last ate. Or cooked with my hands. I will be so much faster now."

San snickered at him.

"I know the feeling, my loyal friend."

"I want to help," Wooyoung declared with a bounce. He wanted to see everyone eat a delicious meal and introduce Yeosang - who helped Mingi with a few muttered words of getting along - to San. Finally, the time had come to make this castle shine.

Jongho smiled a gummy smile that left no doubt about who was the youngest in the lot. When he turned on his heel, Wooyoung was about to spring after him, but San's finger locked with his to hold him back.

"Not so hasty, eager one. Go ahead, Jongho. He will join you in a minute. Maybe a few."

The cook rolled his eyes at them but dutifully took off. In shy curiosity, Wooyoung remained by San's side.

"What else is there to do?"

San beckoned to the open door behind him, and Wooyoung gladly followed him back inside. When the door clicked shut once they had entered, Wooyoung's attention fell to his handsome lover.

"How can I let you spring off without demanding another kiss? It feels as if I missed you for longer than I have been cursed."

Wooyoung giggled but readily stepped in when San's hands found his waist. Their warmth was still astonishing to both of them and made him squirm unexpectedly more than his cold touch.

"A lot happened within so few hours. I believed I had lost you. For being selfish, too. I'm sorry for not keeping my promise. It almost cost me everything."

With a gentle bump, their foreheads pressed to each other. Wooyoung's hands cradled San's face, explored its structure and shapes now that it wasn't shrouded in darkness anymore.

"I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere," San promised. His warm breath caressed Wooyoung's lips, and he shuddered in anticipation about kissing this version of San. The mask had fallen, the veil lifted. While he had kissed a shell around him before, this one was the man behind it.

"I feel like this is our first kiss all over again," Wooyoung confessed his shyness. San's smirk was much too attractive for him to bear, but it carried a softness he showed for no one but Wooyoung.

"I vow that a kiss at regular temperature is much more pleasant than when one party is cold as a corpse. Much more intense." He breathed the last word against Wooyoung's lips and the boy shuddered in his hold. Determined, he wrapped his arms around San's neck.

"Show me," he whispered back.

"Gladly."

San's lips captured Wooyoung's in a kiss so sweet that Wooyoung felt he could never get enough of it. The warm, human mouth on his sent sparks of electricity through the other boy and made his head spin.

He clung to San, in that dreadful room that had once counted the time to his death. They kissed as if there was no tomorrow and as if San's hunger for him could never be sated.

What was left was only warmth, and a tingling feeling in Wooyoung's entire body that he never wanted to miss again.