Yunho brimmed with excitement to go visit his parents. He rambled about them all morning while the pair got ready and had breakfast with the king. According to Yunho, his father was the most hard-working human in the entire realm and his mother loved more than anyone else (though he assured Seonghwa he was a close second.) In Yunho himself, naturally so, bundled the combination of both.

The king found his tales most amusing. Though he offered Seonghwa to return after their visit and spend his time in the palace, Seonghwa insisted on not holding the king up for longer than necessary. Truthfully, he was as glad to flee the stifling pretence of political relationships as Yunho wished to see his family. Thus, the day after arrival, they already bid their goodbyes to King Albrecht. He wished them an enjoyable journey and invited Seonghwa to come by his palace anytime he wished.

Buddy dashed between their legs, delighted to get out of the restrictive walls. When Yunho cooed at him about where they would go, the dog looked confused but ignited by Yunho's enthusiasm.

Side by side, the two rode through the bustling city. During the day, many people did their daily business there. The streets bustled with life, but all of it came to a standstill when the rare unicorn carrying an even rarer elf passed through. Everyone turned their heads, distracted from what they had been doing to ogle the peculiar sight. Some bowed to Seonghwa, some stared with apprehension.

The spectacle trailed some onlookers along with them. Young children begged their mothers to 'touch the pretty pony' and several men appealed their opinions on the empire to Seonghwa.

Since they had neither time nor capacity to launch a public hearing in the streets of the town, Seonghwa waved at them with polite smiles, moving on with the promise to attend them at a later time.

"You mustn't ask my mother about my experience with love before you. She will pry into our relationship more than enough."

"You telling me this surges my interest. Is this a story you should share with me before we arrive at your home?" Seonghwa retorted, mirthful with Yunho's secrecy. He spent enough time with Hongjoong and Wooyoung to recognise when he struck gold.

"Not at all, hence I tell you. The story will bore you to death and our time is already so limited."

Yunho was a good liar. His voice stayed blank with his face, assuring Seonghwa he meant it.

Amused rather than insulted, Seonghwa masked his curiosity.

"So, which are your experiences with love? You seemed so dear to me; I am bound to believe there is at least one anecdote that made you so," he asked in nonchalance, pretending they could treat it as a casual topic now.

"I'm not listening to you, just so you know." Yunho demonstrated by guiding his horse to the other side of the road. His eyes were directed at the fields, picking the one he sought among the many farmer houses dotting the hills.

"You leave me with no other choice but to ask your mother." Seonghwa's regretful voice had Yunho's head snapping around.

"No, I-!"

"Guide us home, hm, Buddy? I can't wait to meet your family." Seonghwa said down the neck of his unicorn. With an ecstatic yap, Buddy ran a circle around him before he took off down the hills. Seonghwa nudged his heels into his mount's flanks, following the dog while Yunho yelled in indignation.

Buddy was the fastest at finding his way home. The gentle beige of his fur chased over the glowing wheat and rye fields. Behind him came Seonghwa, a shooting star across the cradle of nature. Yunho followed begrudgingly, though gleeful to see Seonghwa race towards his home without abandon.

Soon, only one house could be their goal. Buddy's springing across the fields caught the attention of the man working outside. He looked up, only to sink to a knee in surprise to open his arms for Buddy to jump in. The excited dog slobbered kisses all over his face, almost shoving him over in his fervour.

Seonghwa slowed his unicorn when he looked up, and their gazes crossed. The moment the man understood who he was, his gaze flicked to Yunho behind him. A big smile spread across his face.

"Dear, it's Yunho! He brought his elven prince!"

The door opened and out sprang another horde of dogs. Seonghwa counted four wagging tails that spread out to check the commotion. When they spotted Buddy, they rushed at him to form a ball of brown and black.

Behind the dogs came a woman, bent from the strain her work put upon her. She was small for a son of Yunho's size, but she had his smile when she blinked at the two arriving riders.

Seonghwa dismounted in a fluid movement and his unicorn trotted for the near forests to come out of hiding once he called for her.

Yunho led his horse by its reins when they neared together. However, the dogs crashed into him before he got a word out. Together, they wrestled him down, claiming hugs and kisses. Yunho's giggles delighted his parents, who witnessed the scene fondly. Their nervosity persisted, and they clung to each other when Seonghwa approached them. His gown brushed past the dogs untouched when they felt how ethereal of a beauty he was. They weren't supposed to stain him.

"Greetings, father and mother of Yunho. My name is Seonghwa. I am the crown prince of the Crystal Sphere." He placed a hand over his heart to bow politely. His earrings jingled with the motion and gracefully found back to their place when he lifted his head.

Yunho's mother stared at him with her hand clasped over her open mouth. A blush dusted her cheeks and a speechless elbow nudged at her husband's side. He nudged back, at just as much of a loss. Their eyes shone in matching awe at the elf's charm and elegance.

"He's not what you expected, eh? Believe me, I was just as floored." Yunho surfaced from the dog pile with a flush to his cheeks and ruffled hair. His worshippers ran around his feet with glinting eyes and wagging tails.

It made sense that those of lower social rank didn't have a need or opportunity to see Seonghwa during his other visits. Neither were they much concerned with the politics of the empire nor were they briefed when it was time for such a parade. Seonghwa might be the first elf they saw.

"He's so lovely," Yunho's mother gasped back. Then, with a blush, she hurried to bow before Seonghwa. "Forgive my disregard, Your Highness. I was stunned by your appearance."

With a mumbled response, her husband bowed before Seonghwa as well.

"No need for such formalities. My ties to Yunho brought me for a visit. Please, treat me like any other guest."

"Nonsense." Yunho wrapped an arm around Seonghwa's waist, bringing his prettily clad frame in. They leaned at ease, such a mismatched couple, yet the woman's eyes lit up when she understood.

Seonghwa was no one else but Yunho's husband, no matter his rank. He visited not as a prince but as their son's lover.

"He's family," Yunho shared the same thought. He glanced down at Seonghwa affectionately and Seonghwa nodded with a warm smile.

"Then come in! This way Your- Seonghwa. Please ignore the dogs. We would have prepared ahead of time had we known." Yunho's father rushed to point Seonghwa into their warm hut where he could rest his weary bones. With another smile, Seonghwa ducked through the narrow doorframe. He almost tripped when the dogs huddled inside at the same time, large bodies tugging on him like waves.

"Yunho! Tell us next time! When did you arrive?" His mother huddled to Yunho's side, her whispers too loud for Seonghwa's elven ears not to pick up on.

The insides of Yunho's home were humble but cosy. They had few needless decorations, and all their wooden bowls stood neatly stacked on the rackety shelves. A worn bench huddled into the corner next to an old table full of nicks and blemishes from the many hands that used it. Behind the cooking niche, a curtain covered the tiny bedchamber, and that was it. Though cramped, especially so with the many dogs, it was homey.

Yunho's father pointed Seonghwa to sit on the bench while he tugged out a chair on the other side. As Yunho and his mother hurriedly got to preparing a meal and feeding the dogs, Seonghwa sunk into his seat and met the eyes of his father-in-law. He was unafraid, and once more, a human was bewitched by Seonghwa's spell.

"Thank you for your hospitality. I hope my unforeseen visit doesn't disrupt your work, but Yunho missed his home and I was curious to meet his family," Seonghwa spoke when it became clear Yunho's father would spend his time staring at him. He snapped out of his trance when the words registered.

"Not at all. Yunho is a good boy for coming back home. We didn't know what to think when he won the joust and left for the Crystal Sphere..." His eyes trailed over Seonghwa, the sharpness of his ears, his long hair. The fairness of his skin and the expensive silk clinging to his body as if woven of moonlight.

"Yunho proved to be an excellent spokesperson by my side. He and Buddy bring life to my home. I am currently on a voyage to each of the seven kingdoms to refresh the peace treaties and approve of my marriages. Since we were near, we settled to come by for a day."

"Is it fine to spend the night here, father? We'll leave tomorrow," Yunho called over his shoulder. At his father's approving grunt, he beamed at Seonghwa before they went back to cooking.

"So you married one of each kingdom? Not just Yunho, there are six more?" Yunho's father picked the conversation back up, baffled by the rulership of the empire he never wasted a second thought on.

"Yes." Seonghwa nodded his head politely. "I treat them as my equals and seek to cherish them for who they are. I am in your care."

Satisfied with how humble Seonghwa was despite his royal heritage, Yunho's father smiled at him. He petted the dog by his side, that stared at Seonghwa as if he were the moon.

"You two can share the bed! We will curl up on the bench," Yunho's mother said as she scurried over with bread and stew for them to enjoy. Seonghwa lifted his hand, about to brush it off, but she silenced him with a warning sound.

"No getting around that. You are our esteemed guest and you deserve the best we can offer. Get cosy and don't mind the dogs. They will warm you up."

Relieved Yunho brought Buddy, and this wasn't the first time Seonghwa faced the overzealous but mellow animals the humans fancied as pets, Seonghwa gave in. He thanked the lady of the house with a deep bow and she grinned back, easing his stiffness.

"Now, tell us everything, you two! What is it like to live among elves, sweetheart, and how are the others? Do you compete for the heart of our gorgeous prince? I hope you do because it would be a shame to be married to such a man and ignore him for any matters not political." With a scolding glance at her son, Yunho's mother sat with them. Yunho slid onto the bench next to Seonghwa and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"If that were the case, we wouldn't be here together. Isn't that right, Seonghwa?"

Upon the elf's unabashed nod, Yunho's mother clapped excited hands.

"Our differences take time to navigate, but Yunho matches my court. He helps wherever he is needed."

"One of the others is blind," Yunho elaborated. "Buddy and I help him not run into the walls of Seonghwa's castle. Or well, we try to. Buddy also runs into the walls occasionally." He snickered even when Seonghwa ducked, for he never considered his home to be this impractical to anyone but himself.

While Yunho rambled about the others and how the Crystal Sphere looked, Seonghwa supported him here and there. His indulgent smile matched those on Yunho's parents' lips. They laughed and ate together, never getting enough of the stories about Hongjoong's personal vendetta against Buddy. Though Yunho pouted and cuddled his companion a lot, Yunho's parents were assured he was doing fine and that the strange and beautiful elf in their midst was a welcome addition to their lives.