The whispers and mutters that first filled the tavern when Seonghwa first made his way inside died down with time. The prince smiled and nodded at everyone, and they hurried to bow in response. Soon, Yeosang and he got their private booth in the corner and were served food and wine.

They toasted their cups to each other.

"To another successfully signed contract," Seonghwa grinned. In the dingy light of the shabby tavern, he didn't fit in and his presence stressed the owners to go around and clean the sticky tables. However, the prince was relaxed and fond of their solitude.

"Without effort," Yeosang added. They drank, waking their sleepy spirits with the good meal.

As they ate, they delved into their usual bickering. Yeosang mentioned another memory from their childhood, not done with his earlier nostalgia now that Seonghwa and he found so little shared time because of their duties. They proved their marriage kept their ties closer than the broken triangle of their childhood games as they poked fun at each other for crying over their favoured stick swords and hideouts back in the day.

The owner of the tavern brought them complimentary pastries as dessert. When Seonghwa thanked her, the middle-aged woman stuttered a reply of how his gratitude was the greatest honour to bestow upon her with rosy cheeks. Then she dashed away.

Yeosang picked up a round pastry dusted with sugar. He snickered when Seonghwa cut his in half first.

"Charming everyone, no matter where you go. I knew you would become the regal heir they wanted you to be, but your beauty doesn't require any manner from you. It rewards you with everything you need."

"Beauty may be the first thing people see, but it's not everything. If I sat here with my boots on the table and barked at the maidens to serve me, all appeal would crumble off my ugly visage," Seonghwa replied, relishing in the sweet jam inside the round bread.

Yeosang hummed.

"That much may be true. It is your charm that reels them in the same way it reels your assortment of husbands in. It seems not even the most resilient of them can resist you."

"Not even you can," Seonghwa said with an elegant smile as he tilted his head. Yeosang drank to that, emptying his cup. They were done with dinner, but before they got to retreat into their chambers and settle for the night, someone halted next to their table. Their shadow fell over Seonghwa and the prince had to crane his head higher than expected to find the stranger's features.

A shrewd-looking dark elf accompanied a grey-skinned orc who ducked his head under the ceiling. The latter were rarely seen in the empire since their tribes weren't part of the allies, but many of them worked as travelling merchants or mercenaries. For this one, the latter seemed to be the case. He towered over his elven companion with scary tusks breaching his lower lip. His bare torso was marred by scars and he carried a massive mace on his back.

Seonghwa turned towards them and met their penetrating stares with his chin held high. Elegant hands crossed in his lap.

"Can I help you, Sers?"

The elf grimaced at the polite inquiry, showing sharp fangs. An insult among commoners, even more so towards nobility.

Yeosang opened his mouth to protest, but the orc was first. His rumbling voice was like a summer storm and it resonated in Seonghwa's stomach. A creature of this size could probably wrap one hand around the elf's waist.

"My companion said you are the moon prince. Is that true?" He glanced up and down Seonghwa's delicately dressed frame, the glow of his skin and the stars in his hair and eyes. "You sure look the part."

"Your companion speaks the truth. I am Crown Prince Seonghwa of the Crystal Sphere."

The inn had fallen silent, following the conversation with bated breath. The seated frame of the prince demanded respect, but neither the dark elf nor the orc bothered to bow down to him.

"I hear the empire did a joust to select your husbands. Six or even seven? Us orcs were invited to no such trials."

"Unfortunately, we have yet to establish a peaceful relationship with your kin. Once we know of your support, we will happily create bonds to ensure each other's support," Seonghwa replied smoothly. He was tense, but not as distressed as Yeosang, whose uneasy vines grew into the wood of the table.

The orc grunted. When he bent to seize Seonghwa's wrist, Yeosang jumped to his feet in indignation. With a threatening hiss and a hand on the knife by his belt, the dark elf sent him back.

Seonghwa stayed seated, but he glanced meaningfully between his palm and the orc's face. Though he had no guards with him, it was unwise to grab him within the borders of the empire. Especially as an outsider.

"Let's start with those bonds right away. Your elven cunt will beg for me once it tasted a proper rod."

Seonghwa beckoned Yeosang to stay calm with his free hand. The dryad had grown all over their corner, branches poised and ready to stab if he saw the need. The snarling dark elf held back only because of the many eyes on them, watching how the prince dealt with such imprudence.

"I have heard of your barbaric ways to break people's minds and using them as breeding cattle for your offspring. You are mistaken if you believe such is the way of elves."

The orc roared with laughter. His evil, black eyes drank up Seonghwa's delicate appearance like delicious honey.

"Oh, I know. You have yet to understand the bliss of a life stuffed full and happy. Seven husbands, yet the prince looks prim and proper; that can't be right. I offer you paradise."

"Leave him alone!" Yeosang called, fuming with barely restrained anger. The dark elf's blade clicked when it slipped from its sheath no more than a finger's spread, then the inn's owner stepped in.

"Hey, orc! I don't want such like you in here. Take your vulgar talk elsewhere and stop dirtying our precious prince."

He didn't mind the hollering woman. His eyes were dead set on Seonghwa.

"How about it, prince? I am sure if I take one like you back to my lands, the orcs will reconsider their thoughts on an alliance."

"To use more of us for breeding, yes. But no, I harbour no such interest towards you. Best you leave before I lose my patience with you."

The orc yanked Seonghwa to his feet and his shins painfully collided with the bench. Multiple people yelled in indignation, but Seonghwa's eyes fell into an elegant glare, unruffled by the physical violence.

Yeosang came jumping his way, peaceful though quick to defend, when he saw his friend in danger. The second he moved, the dark elf did as well, knife glinting in the light.

With more force than the orc would have expected of Seonghwa's slender wrists, he ripped himself free. His veils fluttered in the air when he caught up with the elf before he had the opportunity to press Yeosang into the wall with the knife at his throat. An elegant twist, then a hoarse call. The knife clattered to the ground, and the elf twitched in the merciless hold Seonghwa had on him.

"You shall not threaten my friend. If you brought this orc here to talk to me, focus your eyes on me," he reprimanded the elf in his ear. Next, he shoved him from their corner. More shocked than hurt, the elf tumbled away.

"Let us continue this outside. I do not wish for you to threaten the other patrons," Seonghwa said coolly towards the orc. His voice was frosty enough to make the towering creature shudder.

The inn's owner rubbed her arms, shivering at the drop in temperatures. Her distressed eyes found Seonghwa's.

"Your Highness, you mustn't do this. Let me call the town guard so these villains may be thrown into prison," she begged as he strode past with a stony face.

"If such villains dare lay hand on a prince, they must be properly scolded. Let me repay you for this mess later."

Fearful, she clutched her hands to her chest. Some other shaken patron whispered at Seonghwa to return safely.

With Yeosang in tow, Seonghwa followed the orc outside and onto the meadow cradling the peaceful tavern. A faint sizzle rained upon their shoulders, but it respected Seonghwa's frame and avoided him.

The orc cracked his neck as he loomed at his full height. Instinctively, Seonghwa covered Yeosang's body with a shoulder.

"Let's dump this folly of alliances and peace. I wish to split your princely cunt in two, make you pretty and debauched. If you know what is good for your people, you will bend over and beg me nicely. You wouldn't want me to exterminate this entire village tonight, do you?" The orc grinned a horrifying smile. By his side, the elf with the pointy chin licked eager lips.

"No running, pretty prince. You brought no guards on your trip, so you were asking for it. Perhaps you came out for that very reason? Because you seek adventure away from your boring duties?"

"You are a shame to our race," Seonghwa replied. No fear crossed his features as Yeosang nervously spread around him, trying to shield him as much as he could.

"I expected no better of an orc, but bringing him here dishonours you."

"Enough talk!" The orc barked, reaching for his mace. "If you don't comply, I will drag you by your feet and I don't care how much blood you lose on the way. Bet it tastes delicious." He licked his tusks with a frenzied smile.

"But first I will rid you of that bothersome mouse. A fine guardian he is, hiding behind his prince." The club came down to rest on his free hand. One swish of it would catch both Seonghwa and Yeosang and shatter their every bone.

"Beg me, elf, and I will rethink. You can also beg for your friend's life if you need."

Concerned for Yeosang, Seonghwa reached for his hand. He dealt with many crude fools, but Yeosang was easily intimidated. Even now, he was pale as a birch. His feet were rooted to the earth as if he wanted to disappear into it.

A flash of white caught in Seonghwa's peripherals. He glanced up into the skies for a moment before he focused back on the orc.

"I will relay what I learned today about orcs and their interests in our race. Be assured there won't be an alliance in a long time. Your disgraceful greed makes you no more but an animal," Seonghwa said. He turned on his heel, taking Yeosang along to lead him back inside. The windows and the doors lined their terrified onlookers.

The orc's mighty shadow flashed across the grass when lightning blazed.

"You take me for a fool?! I will show you, you arrogant drab!"

The hand with the mace lifted.

Thunder struck the moment a white flash surged from the skies and brought heavenly justice. The orc's scream drowned in the anger of the heavens.

With a dull thud, the mace and the hand attached to it landed on the earth. Seonghwa rubbed Yeosang's shoulder as he led him back inside. The man trembled all over.

"I know not what you said, but I know which part an orc is most prideful about. Best you scurry before you lose something important," San said.

The two villains scrambled. The orc held his arm to his chest with an expression of fury, and by his side, the elf panicked at the amount of blood gushing from the stump.

San flicked his sword aside to rid it of clinging blood. Then he pushed it back into its sheath. Glowing in the night, he entered the inn behind Seonghwa and Yeosang.

"We sent a lad to inform the guard. Those two will be apprehended," the inn owner sighed in relief at their sight.

Seonghwa smiled at her, an idol of serenity.

"Thank you. May I ask to have a bath prepared for my friend? I wish to warm him up."

"Of course, Your Highness!" She scrambled to accommodate them.

A silent shadow, San followed and watched over them while Seonghwa tended to Yeosang.