With a hum on his lips, Seonghwa stood in the kitchens to stir the cake batter in his big bowl. The cooks swarmed around him, most used to his presence in the unlikely location. Though his beauty outshone them even in his modest apron, they laughed about his remarks as they worked alongside him.

Ever since he had been little, Seonghwa enjoyed cooking. He liked the scent of food swathing him like a comfortable blanket and the heat of the hearths. The cooks were always fun folk; easy-going and fond of their work. Their awe for their prince only increased when he got his dainty hands busy, never one to put off their task as mundane or easy.

Seonghwa poured the batter into the cast-iron shape for his cake. In the middle of his concentration, a cold nose glided across his foot, having him peek down in surprise. Buddy searched around his heels with curious eyes and sat down with a needy whimper when he found no discarded snacks.

"Hello there," Seonghwa greeted him. The dog panted, pleased with Seonghwa's voice.

From the door, the owner called above the bustle that kept the kitchens alive like an anthill.

"I couldn't stop him from running in here. Though I wonder whether it was food or you he hoped to find." With a snicker, Yunho pushed off the door frame where his shoulder had leaned to come over. San trailed behind him, looking around curiously. The massive pots and multiple hearths to prepare masses of food at the same time were a sight to behold. Seonghwa baked his cakes with a maid by his side, but the rest of the cooks spent all day preparing the various meals his husbands fancied.

"What are you doing?" Yunho asked when Seonghwa shook out the empty bowl. He let Buddy slobber up the remainders of the batter, buying his approval.

"I wanted to make one of my infamous blueberry cakes for you. I'm about finished. While it bakes, I can offer you my time." He was about to reach for the heavy form, but San grabbed it first. Light in his bulging arms, the cake got transferred into the oven. Seonghwa washed out the bowl before he dusted off his hands.

As he left, a chorus of goodbyes sent him off. Upon cleansing his hands, he promptly lost the exterior of the rosy-cheeked kitchen hand and returned to his icy shell as a prince.

"Wooyoung wanted to spar outside today, so I prepared a snack. Shall we join them?"

"Sounds good," Yunho grinned. He whistled for Buddy, and the dog chased ahead of them as they left for the gardens. The sun was up, but Seungyoun stood at the ready with a parasol for Seonghwa. Cradling his piece of the night sky to block out the vicious fiend, Seonghwa followed San and Yunho outside. While the latter played around with his dog, Seonghwa's eyes stuck to the broadness of San's shoulders and the movement of his narrow waist through his pristine clothing.

Wooyoung and Hongjoong were already out on the sandy field used by the palace knights to train. They wore casual clothing, though the sorcerer always looked the right end of fancy to outshine anyone else.

On the sidelines, Yeosang was half a tree and Jongho sat next to him, becoming a rock as he watched the ordeal. When Seonghwa looked around for Mingi, he couldn't find him. The demon preferred the darkness of the castle to the bright sun glaring down on him.

While Seonghwa found his spot in the shade of Yeosang's branches next to Jongho, Yunho and San watched in interest how Wooyoung was faring. He jumped around cursing and complaining about an unfair fight each time Hongjoong flicked a harmless zap of lightning at him. In return, the gryphon-born tried to throw him off his feet by rushing at him from the air, but they weren't matched.

"Any bets going on?" Seonghwa asked as he held back his snicker at Wooyoung's angry pout. Hongjoong played him like a fiddle, sadistic in his joy at torturing the loudmouth who bothered him most.

"It's too miserable to even have pity on him," Yeosang muttered through the bark shrouding him.

"What about you? Not interested in a fight?" Seonghwa turned to Jongho. At utter peace, the rock rested as if he weren't alive.

"I prefer to watch. Golems are rarely involved in all battles and wars. Everyone is so desperate to rule more land, but we just relish in our mountains and breathe nature's scent. Weird people with their weird petite sticks to destroy everything..."

"Truly, a shame on all other races. We could learn from you," Seonghwa said. He watched Wooyoung's last desperate strike against Hongjoong. It was so hasty that a loose feather tumbled from his wings to come to lie on the ground. When San caught him looking at it, he bent to bring it over. Seonghwa accepted it with a grateful smile as he spun it between his fingers. Fighting and yelling, nothing reminded of the sweet Wooyoung who had been so shy of his touch.

With his hands on his knees, Wooyoung bent over, panting. Hongjoong dusted his shoulders off, barely ruffled by their fight.

"Fine, it's a draw," Wooyoung huffed. Hongjoong held himself back from striking him with lightning.

"A draw," he scoffed. "Be glad I didn't fry you as a chicken deserves." He stalked from the field, more interested in Seonghwa and the cake the servants carried outside than the glaring boy. Everyone got a piece and Yunho hummed with glinting eyes when he tasted it.

"I swear it tastes thrice as good because your hands made it," he flirted. Seonghwa snickered. Hongjoong made a show of wanting another slice while San dusted off his hands to stand.

"Yunho, are you up for a match? I wonder how humans instruct their warriors." He stalked over to the rack to equip both of them with wooden practice swords. Seonghwa sat up straighter, engaged as well. While Hongjoong scooted under his umbrella with him, Wooyoung leaned against Jongho and watched with a superior nonchalance.

"I must warn you, I am anything but a fine specimen in my field. Nothing like your life of training," Yunho snickered as he accepted the sword. Buddy barked at him, but Yunho promised to be back once he "defeated another dragon."

San twirled the sword in his hand, testing its grip and weight. Under the bright sun, his hair shone like a beacon and his white clothes became transparent over tanned muscles.

Noticing how his eyes were stuck to him, Seonghwa glanced at Yunho.

"I will go easy on you," San grinned that charming smirk of his.

They went at each other, clashing in the middle when the noises of their swords echoed across the training field. San was both stronger and more agile, his step secure like a dance. Though Yunho was trained and could defend himself, he wheezed at the hits San jabbed at him with the harmless flat of the blade.

Seonghwa leaned against Yeosang's side, entertained by their show. His legs crossed elegantly, and he spun the umbrella with playful hands.

"You can do it, Yunho!" He cheered when Yunho staggered under a hit to his thigh. Sweat pearling over his nape, Yunho huffed a breath. His smile was bright in the afternoon sun.

"His waist, get his waist, get his waist, argh too late," Wooyoung commentated along, lips moving too fast for anyone to follow. Yunho gritted his teeth when he sprung back, wiping his hands on his pants to grip the sword anew.

With effortless elegance, San rounded him, waiting for Yunho to recover. Every step resonated in his powerful body that held no ounce of fat, just steeled muscle. Prideful, his wings towered behind him, jostling but flaring solely to balance him. Each time it happened, Seonghwa wished the moment to last longer for the display was so magnificent.

Wooyoung brushed off some crumbs where he leaned his elbows on Jongho's shoulders.

"Making me look like a fool in front of our breathtaking husband, I see. Your wickedness is hidden behind an angelic visage," Yunho grinned. "Let's go for another round, but this one is my last, before I embarrass myself." He straightened, back to his fighting position.

San bowed gracefully.

"I am assured our precious prince is most aware of your efforts."

They clashed once more and Wooyoung cheered when the raw force of their swords shoved their feet over the sandy ground. From deep inside the stone by Seonghwa's side came an amused chuckle. Yunho was losing ground, despite being the taller one.

"Barbaric. I've had enough of this. Will you accompany me inside, Seonghwa?" Hongjoong stood and Seonghwa glanced up at him, shielding his face from the sunlight.

"I will stay to see their fight to an end. Feel free to find something to keep your hands busy."

Hongjoong stomped away to mix his potions. Wooyoung stayed, jumping around and cheering for Yunho even when each hit drained him since he didn't have the strength to resist San's hits. When his arms finally caved in, San only as much as brushed his chest with his sword. A triumphant grin spread across his lips.

"I win," he chuckled. His grin matched the sun, giving each other a reason to shine for another day. Awed, Seonghwa clapped for him.

Yunho handed his sword over with a defeated groan.

"Good fighting. Come on, get some cake as your reward." He waited until San brought the swords away before they came over to the other four, arm in arm. Brotherly pats to each other's heated bodies lauded their perseverance.

San sunk into the grass by their side, taking another piece of cake. He didn't look at Wooyoung when the boy hailed for him, but he grinned at Yeosang's confession of awe.

Yunho remained standing, shielding Seonghwa from the sun so he could look up at him without being blinded.

"How did you like it? Not that it made me look any good."

"I think you looked good," Seonghwa smiled. "I'd feel safe with you guarding me. So long as our opponent isn't San."

Rolling up his sleeves, San snickered. His tanned skin soaked up the sun as he left no crumb of his piece of cake.

"Even better than being your enemy, I am your ally. Worry not, Yunho. I will guard you while you guard our precious prince."

Seonghwa took the oath with grace. When he pushed a strand of hair that the wind had untucked behind his ear, Wooyoung's gaze stuck to his elegant hands.

"I am honoured to have such mighty men seeking my attention and my safety. How fortunate for me."

"We couldn't be happier to humbly serve such a beauty," Wooyoung purred as he tugged Seonghwa's hand over to kiss it. Fond at the reminder of their shared night, Seonghwa nodded at him.

"Your cake tastes magnificent. How come a prince knows to bake?" San asked as they cooled off from their wrestling. He exuded his warm aura, but his muscles stopped glistening with sweat and his shirt didn't cling to his chest any longer.

"Too kind a boy growing up. Constantly wanted to help the servants," Yeosang commented. Jongho's eyes lit up with interest.

"Oh? So you became the perfect bride for us by coincidence? Just because you enjoy helping along?" Yunho asked cheekily.

This time, it was Seonghwa who blushed. He hid behind his umbrella, a victim to Wooyoung's coo. Yeosang laughed at him and a tremor went through Jongho. San politely averted his eyes as Yunho was bewitched by the stardust of shyness on Seonghwa's cheeks.

"I wanted to learn those things because I admire those who provide them to me. Knowing they would come in handy later was an added benefit."

"Ah, my heart." Yunho clutched his hand to his chest. Interested in Buddy's jumping, Jongho collected some crumbs to feed him.

"Now I wish to battle everyone else to be the only one in his favour, so he may forever tend to me. If only I didn't know I'd lose," their human sulked in drama.

"Don't forget who he is. We are lucky he is considerate to us, but we shouldn't overlook his status," San reminded.

Wooyoung rolled his eyes.

"Shut up, slimeball. Having Seonghwa as a wife at our expense... What a dream." Cheeky, he winked at Seonghwa, already a step ahead in his mind.

Seonghwa pretended that his heart didn't jump at the idea, that he didn't suddenly feel warmer under the sun.

"Knowing you like it, I will cook for you more often," he promised. Wooyoung and Yunho cheered at him, but Seonghwa felt Yeosang's knowing eyes on his nape.

How lucky Seonghwa was to marry his best friend, who knew all his secrets. He, too, shouldn't forget who the dryad was.