With a big smile and sparkling eyes, Wooyoung hung from Seonghwa's arm. His wings trembled behind him in excitement, unfolding several times as he wanted to surge right ahead, only to fold back together when he remembered he promised to stick to Seonghwa's side.

The gryphon-born was bundled in a warm coat and his green scarf. Snow tangled with his hair and the grey of his feathers, but he didn't shiver as his glee kept him warm.

By his side, Seonghwa was dressed in a blinding white gown and a long cloak. The fur of its rim hugged his shoulders, and he wore warm gauntlets decorated with silver ornaments for Wooyoung to hold on to. His hair was open, only a few strands gathered at the back of his head to tuck under a pin shaped like a sickle moon. In the bright gleam of the snow, the midnight blue and deep purple hues of his hair came out.

The two strolled through the town at leisure. Seonghwa had a hard time parting from Mingi and Hongjoong since they insisted on spending more time together, but ultimately, he found Wooyoung and asked for his company for a visit to the village. As the elves welcomed their stunning prince, the two relaxed away from the palace.

Wooyoung found everything so interesting. The way elves built their huts, the filigree crafts of their hands, and their fine silk that felt like the web of a spider. His enthusiasm charmed the vendors, and they smiled ever so fondly as they conversed with Seonghwa.

"If you see anything you want, tell me. I will buy it for you," Seonghwa told Wooyoung as he cooed at a few children building snow trolls at the side of the street.

At those words, Wooyoung whipped around to the elf.

"Anything?" He repeated, eyes wide in disbelief. They sparkled with joy, less so greed, since he liked to have things, but only if they came in the form of an affectionate gift.

Seonghwa beamed at him, his patient smile softened even further by the fur around his shoulders.

"Yes. Point it out and it's yours."

Overwhelmed, Wooyoung glanced around the street. Though many of its crafts didn't suit him since he wasn't delicate like an elf, he liked to marvel at them.

"But there are so many... How can I decide?"

"Get them all, then. My money is plentiful and I have little to spend it on. As long as it makes you happy, you can have it all."

Tears brimmed in Wooyoung's eyes before he snuggled up to Seonghwa's side.

"Thank you so much," he whispered, choked by his glee to have things to call his own. To look at them and find pretty over needing a use or part all too soon, since his people kept moving on.

Seonghwa bought him many things. Soon, Wooyoung possessed a new necklace that matched the ring Seonghwa gifted him. He got a pair of expensive gloves, a wooden statue of a deer to decorate his room, a soft blanket for his nest, and a bag of sweets he shared with Seonghwa during their walk. All the while, he described to Seonghwa with sparkling eyes how remarkable he found everything and thanked him plentiful times.

Pleased by seeing him happy, Seonghwa tended to his business in the city on the side. The day passed with much more joy compared to going alone.

When the skies darkened and hunger and coldness chased shivers down their spines, Seonghwa called it a day. Wooyoung glowed like the sun, and his arms were happy and loaded.

"Let's find a gift for San and go home, hm? We can get cosy under the blankets and drink some hot mead."

Wooyoung perked up at the last few words, but then his brows drew together.

"Why do you want to bring a gift for San? Did he do something?"

With a sly shake of his head, Seonghwa made for the stand that sold stuffed animal dolls. He himself was a huge collector and though he had hidden them away when he knew his husbands would arrive, he would like them back in his life soon. San, with everything that was rough and strict about him, earned something soft to cradle.

"He deserves gifts as much as you, doesn't he?" Seonghwa hummed, long locks falling over his shoulder when he picked up a doll to examine it. Wooyoung stood with a huff.

"He mocked the gifts you gave me last time."

Seonghwa chose the fluffy white lamb. He liked its friendly expression, and the vendor praised his eye. Wooyoung scowled when they left, but Seonghwa cradled the plush against his body with tender fingers.

"You never had access to gifts and there was no preserving them. San, on the other hand, could have had a lot of things, but he was forced to live humbly and without desires. I want him to know that while he is with me, he can have wishes. He can want things. Even if they are pointless and cute," Seonghwa explained. Wooyoung and San weren't so different in that regard. San's jealousy came from a similar past.

Stunned into silence momentarily, Wooyoung followed Seonghwa back to the carriage. They tucked inside and relished the relief from the wind.

"You know us well," Wooyoung noted with a glance at the doll. San would never word such flaws out loud, yet Seonghwa knew how to guide him through it.

"I like to please those around me. Part of that is discovering how to. If this gives San even a trifle of happiness, I'll happily provide."

Wooyoung grinned at him with his boyish charm.

"Visit Mulberry with me one of these days! I want to tell him how good you are to me and the others."

"Gladly."

More snow cast upon them on their way back up the hill. By the time they arrived, night had fallen and doused the palace in a wintry haze. Enchanted by the greatest beauty of nature itself, Seonghwa stepped out of the carriage. Wooyoung and he trailed inside, giggling about their new memories from the town. Their cheeks tingled inside and Wooyoung shook out his wings in the stables before they entered.

"Dinner should be prepared. Shall we warm up there?" Seonghwa handed the plush to Seungyoun to give to San later. He didn't seek to expose his softer side in front of the others without asking permission.

Wooyoung took all of his new treasures with him, proud to show off. With a merry nod, he skipped before Seonghwa to arrive first.

As if they had known and waited for them, the others were assembled around the table. Buddy perched in Wooyoung's chair and Yeosang and Mingi snickered with each other. Jongho had a harmonious conversation with Hongjoong that stimulated the purple glow of his eyes and crystals, and Yunho showed San ridiculous human ways to hold a knife. The room bustled with life and warmth, and they didn't fall quiet when Seonghwa entered. After a cheerful call in greeting, they went back to their fooleries.

Seonghwa remembered the icy silence in the room when they first met. How they suspected each other and didn't dare lift their eyes to the prince.

He had done well.

Seonghwa sat while Wooyoung shooed Buddy off. As they reached for their food, he prompted the others to tell him about their day. Sparring, potion brewing, teaching tricks to Jongho's pet rock. All the regular and fun activities.

In turn, Wooyoung told them about the town and its marvels. He didn't mention the sheep, but he wouldn't stop talking about the tower of light and how smart elves were to light their buildings with the glow of their magical crystals.

Happy with their company and with the enthusiasm that ignited them to dig deeper and ask Wooyoung more questions, Seonghwa enjoyed his wine. He made eye contact with San sometime later, as the seraph mostly listened in silence. When Seonghwa winked at him and beckoned his chin towards the door, San stood up and pushed his chair to the table. Seonghwa took his chalice with him as he followed along.

"Excuse us for a moment," he sing-sang at the others before he slipped outside. San waited patiently, as if ready to fulfil a spontaneous mission Seonghwa might throw at him.

Instead, Seonghwa beckoned Seungyoun over. He took the lamb from the servant and pressed it into San's arms. With a polite bow, Seungyoun tucked back into the shadows.

"It's for you."

San stared at the soft doll and its friendly expression. His rough fingers, used to weapons and war, squished it, careful not to damage it.

When he looked up, he expected a test.

"What for?"

"For you to cuddle when you sleep and hold in your arms when you want to. I wanted to give you something." With sharp eyes, he observed how San held the toy with utter care. As if he was only safe-keeping it. As if it wasn't his to use.

"I..."

"I know you grew up in a garrison and couldn't have things for yourself. Especially not things like this. But you live here now, and I hope you can get in touch with this side of you. Ask me if you ever want something and don't be shy to treasure your items."

Overwhelmed, San glanced between Seonghwa and the sheep. A blush caught up with him when his envy towards Wooyoung got exposed. He didn't hate how Wooyoung liked material luxuries. He hated how Wooyoung could ask and receive when he was taught demands were a nuisance.

Seonghwa traced a finger over San's cheek. In response, the angel caught his hand to kiss his knuckles.

"Thank you, my peerless paramour. I will treasure it," he vowed. Seonghwa grinned, dissipating the ever-so-solemn tension that came with his oaths. After all, it was just a doll and spouses could spoil each other.

"You're welcome. Shall we go back inside?"

With a nod, San followed along. They returned to their respective seats and San kept the sheep on his lap, never stopping to poke and squish at it with awe. No one else addressed it, but Yeosang looked smitten with this new side of the otherwise so well-groomed angel.

Seonghwa had such a talent. To bring out the innermost parts people hid away. Before him and his divine grace, all such shame became irrelevant. How could they refuse their delicate and vulnerable sides when, in Seonghwa, delicacy meant grace? Not all battles were fought with weapons. San knew one way to be strong. Now he learned another, guided by Seonghwa's hand.

They laughed and drank late into the evening until Wooyoung's cheeks were rosy, but they didn't challenge each other again. Everyone spent a joyful time in the cosy heat of the palace while the snowstorm howled outside.

As fatigue settled over them with the blanket of drowsiness and their voices grew quieter, Seonghwa sat up to send them to bed. However, just as he opened his mouth to tell them to finish their drinks, Seungyoun appeared by his side. He bore a letter.

Surprised anyone would send a courier in this weather, Seonghwa received it. He left the others to their giggles as he skimmed the lines written in vaguely familiar though refined handwriting.

When he was done, he let the papers sink onto his lap. His eyes stared unseeingly, mind void.

Jongho picked up on it first.

"Seonghwa?" He asked, and the others fell quiet to check on him. Yeosang leaned over the table in concern. It was rare to see Seonghwa so blank and pale.

"Do you feel sick?" Hongjoong muttered as his magic entered the elf, searching for the source of unrest.

A feeble hand dropped the letter on the table. All eyes gathered on it as if it were a venomous snake.

Seonghwa struggled to form words. When they finally came out, they were hollow and echoed in the silence of the otherwise so boisterous hall. His singing tone had turned into an unpleasant scratch in his throat.

"The dryads of the Glistening Walnut Grove don't accept Yeosang as their diplomat," he whispered.

Before anyone could turn to Yeosang and demand an explanation, Seonghwa lowered his eyes.

"This is their declaration. From this day onwards, we are at war."