The palace bustled with life. With the break of dawn, the preparations for the ball began and every servant and many volunteers from the town packed the halls to string up decorations and move furniture for sitting and drinking. Professionals waxed the floor of the ballroom and the best cooks of the Crystal Sphere made the journey to provide elaborate dishes.

Seonghwa wore pants so his skirts wouldn't be in anyone's way. They were wide on his thighs and tucked to his ankles, leaving him room for movement without pinching his sensitive skin. On top of the black pants, he wore a matching neck holder blouse bedazzled with silver embroidery. It hid the kiss marks on his neck but not the bite Hongjoong had placed on his shoulder.

"Yunho, you can put the ivy on that chair over there. Wooyoung, a trifle to the left? Yeosang, you're about to trip someone with your roots and ah- Mingi-" Seonghwa lurched to grasp the man's elbow. When Mingi turned to him meekly, Seonghwa grinned.

"Wall."

Everyone wanted to help and even Buddy jumped between their feet in glee, happy to make many friends who pet him. Occasionally, they handed him smaller items to carry back and forth since he navigated the palace the fastest.

Since Seonghwa was a moon elf, balls organised by him looked accordingly. Hongjoong had covered the ceiling in shadows tinted in the colour of the night sky. Wooyoung was busy sprinkling stars all over it that glittered with the constant shifting and warping of the darkness. Poison ivy and scarlet roses - the colour of luck - climbed the corners to wrap around the tasteful golden lamps that hovered on the walls. Shrouded in mystery, they set a mysterious yet hospitable atmosphere for dance and drinks.

Mingi ran back and forth on errands as well, but Seonghwa soon caught him to sit him down next to Jongho and Yeosang, who coaxed the plants to comply with Seonghwa's decorative purposes. They got pinned to the wall but left to roam the corners freely.

San returned from his task of fetching their visitor. As soon as Yongguk's carriage appeared on the path leading from the forest, Seonghwa sent the seraph to greet his brother. With matching bright grins, they came to marvel at Seonghwa's work.

With a parchment in his hands as he checked his duties off a list, Seonghwa greeted them.

"Good to see you. Did you have a lovely journey?" Seonghwa asked as he hugged Yongguk. His brother's voice was the most soothing rumble against his shoulder.

"I did. How are things going? Busy as ever, I see."

"We are coming along; you know how I like to start sooner rather than later. With everyone helping, it's going smoother than ever."

His husbands cheered at his fond smile, extra eager in their work now that his attention was on them.

With a snicker, Yongguk went around the room to greet them in person. When he returned, Yeosang took a break off his duties to catch up with them.

"Have you accustomed to their peculiarities? They seem so well-behaved now," Yongguk noted with awe. Seonghwa nodded, proud of how much they learned about royal manners.

"We get along marvellously, and they fight less than back then. Some more than others." His eyes grazed Hongjoong, who effortlessly whisked his magic to help everyone. Though his demeanour was aloof, Seonghwa knew what lay beneath it. He could see it in the inviting sway of his hips.

"That is a delight to hear. What about you, Yeosang? Are you loyal to your duties as a best friend? Or have they evaporated now that Seonghwa is so busy being a married man?" Yongguk grinned his gummy smile. Buddy came to poke his snout into his hands and the elf crouched to ruffle his soft fur, cooing at him.

Yeosang waved it off.

"Neither of such. We spend a lot of quality friend time together and on other days, he is busy making proper men out of his husbands. It's a balance." He gave a modest grin and Yongguk patted his shoulder, proud of his fidelity.

"I miss when it was us three against the world. Look at him now. Married and on his way to become king," Yongguk sighed.

"I will take the latter slow. Preferredly, father will rule longer than anyone else."

"Wise words. Now, what do you need help with? I saved my strength during my journey so I can serve wherever I can. Don't you dare treat me as a guest while I'm here. Right now, I am your practical brother." He said the last part with his finger risen to shut Seonghwa's protests about to escape his open throat. Seonghwa closed his lips with a smile.

"Fine. In that case, please go through the guest list with Seungyoun and check if we are missing anyone or if some parties fell out of grace with us. I would prefer not to invite the kings of certain countries."

"Usually we invite either all of them or we suggest them to send advisors. Are you sure you shouldn't use the occasion to butter them up? It will be favourable for your coronation," Yongguk hummed.

Seonghwa considered them. He wouldn't mind meeting Hlin or Eldrid. Neither did he dislike King Albrecht. The only one who stirred discomfort in his stomach had been the Demon King.

"You are right. I was unable to meet the eldest of the dryads during my travels. Inviting them all and hoping the troublemakers decline is our better strategy. I will leave it to you," Seonghwa conceded. In his palace and a court full of his husbands, the Demon King would be a tasteless fool to make advances on Seonghwa. Not that the demons ever had a good reputation, but it might reap him of his head.

Seonghwa made another check on his list. Next to him, Jongho asked Yunho how often he should go on walks with his pet. Puzzled, but ever so helpful, Yunho fumbled for advice.

When Seonghwa glanced around the busy room, he found Mingi in a corner, looking miserable. He held his head with both hands and stared at the ground.

Worried that he was hurt or broke something, Seonghwa made his way over. Upon the dainty touch of his fingertips to Mingi's shoulder, the demon flinched. He twirled around too fast not to look suspicious.

"It's me. What burden weighs your hearts?" Seonghwa asked lightly. He didn't want to blame Mingi for anything, especially since he didn't find a shattered vase at his feet or anything.

"Oh... No, I'm fine." Mingi hung his head.

Pity swelled in Seonghwa's chest when he took Mingi's large hands in his. Hidden behind his messy curls, Mingi allowed no peek of emotion to shine through his lax face.

"What is it? Are you unhappy you can't help me better?"

Not minding the eyes on them, Seonghwa stepped in to link their arms. They stood close in their corner and Mingi's blush was dark under his grey skin. When his horns bumped into Seonghwa, he lifted his head with a start.

"I know I'm helping as much as I can, but..." Mingi bit his lip. For the first time since he returned, Seonghwa noticed how drained the demon looked. As if he hadn't slept properly in two weeks, dark bags clung to his eyes. When Seonghwa brushed his concerned fingers through his hair to get a proper look at him, he found the demon's skin clammy.

"Are you ill?" Now, Seonghwa's brows drew together in fear. He took Mingi outside of the bustling room so they could stand in an unoccupied corner. The servants rushing past overlooked them.

Seonghwa tiptoed to press a sweet kiss against Mingi's lips, reminding them who he was and that he deserved to be involved. With a twitch of his mouth, Mingi conceded.

"I haven't been sleeping well. Sometimes I feel my dreams haunt me into the day. The more tired I get, the easier they breach the veil between sleeping and waking. I'm so afraid of them," the demon confessed. Ears pricked since his realm notoriously promised the deepest sleep and sweetest dreams, Seonghwa ran his fingers up and down Mingi's arms.

"Nightmares? How long have you been having them?"

"I was always prone to dreams full of darkness and turmoil, since I can't see the world around me. But ever since I came here and my sight improved, they have been... different. In the beginning, I was afraid to return to the Cavern of Nightfall. Then I was afraid of you mocking me. But ever since we returned from our trip... I'm so sleepy, Seonghwa." Mingi's head fell against Seonghwa's shoulder, spent. Seonghwa engulfed him in his arms, narrow yet such a strong pillar to soothe the demon.

"What are you dreaming about?"

"I- I'm not sure. You are often in my dreams, but instead of soothing me, they scare me. They make me feel unlike myself. As if a creature inside me is dreaming them instead of me."

"Can you describe them to me?" Patient and already contemplating which teas to mix to help Mingi, Seonghwa never stopped his massage.

Mingi gulped, voice lowering until it was almost inaudible.

"I can't see everything, but I recognise your silhouette and voice. Usually, I am above you. I feel your naked skin against mine, our bodies crowding together. Though I know you like what I'm doing, your voice sounds so broken, so desperate. It sets something off inside me that scares me. What is happening?"

Stunned, Seonghwa searched for words. Mingi dreamt about holding him? Not that there was anything wrong with that, but it was an easily explained desire.

"Only that the me in that dream isn't me. I'm watching from the eyes of someone else. Someone else is doing these things to you and it upsets me. For so many nights, the same type of dream..."

"Can you tell who it is whose eyes you share?"

Mingi nodded.

"So far, I was unsure, but I recently picked up on the echo of his voice. It's Hongjoong. Is this unnatural, Seonghwa? I shouldn't be having these dreams, but why do they reoccur so often? Thinking of you that way..." His large hands settled on Seonghwa's hips, holding on. They covered so much of him at once, making Seonghwa's mind spin with those new thoughts.

"There is nothing wrong with them. You enjoyed kissing me, no? Perhaps this is your body telling you it would like to be closer to me. But you are right, the frequency is peculiar."

Could Hongjoong have anything to do with this? But what interest would he have in sending Mingi dreams about him and Seonghwa? To make the demon jealous? To stir that dark part in him?

Demons were notoriously cruel lovers, and Seonghwa didn't need Mingi to go rampant just because Hongjoong allowed himself a joke.

"Shall I talk to him? Maybe he can help if he isn't the culprit."

Mingi's hands twitched on Seonghwa's body as if unwilling to let him go. Now that they finally shared their body heat, and he allowed himself to listen to Seonghwa's voice that haunted him into his dreams, he didn't want to part. It was a dangerous gamble to play. Seonghwa wasn't afraid of Mingi, but he would rather the demon approached this side of him slowly rather than being shoved straight into the fire.

"I would like that," Mingi muttered. He found back to his manners and his grip lightened. When Seonghwa rewarded him with a kiss, the pliant demon melted right into him.

"I will see to it as soon as possible," Seonghwa promised. "For now, let's get back to work and as soon as I heard from him, I will inform you."

Gleeful that one more of his matters got resolved without a dilemma, Mingi surged to kiss Seonghwa again. This one was deeper, leaving Seonghwa's mind reeling. Their tongues tangled and Seonghwa's cheeks flushed, but this was nothing he needed to worry about in public. Yesterday had been.

When Yongguk called for him, Seonghwa peeled himself from Mingi's arms.

"Later," he promised in a whisper as he turned to find his brother peering from the doorway, observing him.

"Here I am!" He called, going back to work. He monitored Hongjoong for the rest of the day, ready to snatch him as soon as an opportunity roused.