Seonghwa didn't have to mope about Aodhán's mandatory magical training. As he promised, Hongjoong returned with the infant on his arm every day, handing him to Seonghwa to get fed and tended to. Cooing, Seonghwa pampered his little one whenever he could. All the magic and new impressions at the spire wore him out, but Seonghwa was proud when he felt his progress. His magic came into order, dulled its violent outbursts as it found its outlet.

In the meantime - and to distract himself from his constant fretting that Hongjoong might drop his baby and fail for the first time in his life - Seonghwa got busy at the castle. He had countless letters to write and strategies to discuss with their ministry. His coronation was scheduled two moons from now, and the entire empire was involved in such a major affair. Everyone had to be invited, the Crystal Palace had to be refurbished, and records needed to be written. Seonghwa spent most of his time with the astronomer to foresee the future. The rest was him dictating to everyone what to do.

Since he got swept away with duties, his head was elsewhere whenever he ran into his husbands. He tripped over Buddy once and kissed Mingi's cheek fleetingly before he remembered one corridor away that Mingi got insecure about that. When he dashed back to make up for it and kiss the demon's lips, Mingi giggled at him.

"You're adorable when you're occupied," he hummed, large palms resting on Seonghwa's hips. "Take it slow. You're still recovering."

"Elves heal fast," Seonghwa promised before he tapped his finger on the tip of Mingi's nose and went back to his hurrying. So many letters to work through, so much to learn. Seonghwa took lessons on the process of the coronation, where to stand and which speeches to hold, at which time. Then he wrote said speeches, had them proofread, and wrote them again with his father's advice. Everything needed to be flawless.

With the same fondness as his husbands, the moon watched over him. He was blessed by the stars and his folk adored him, but Seonghwa didn't take them for granted. It was his duty to return their loyalty.

One by one, his diplomats visited their countries to match the preparations. They took similar lessons alongside their rulers and prepared coronation gifts. Yunho came back chuckling that King Albrecht was dying to meet Aodhán. Though he could barely contain himself, he didn't tell his parents about the surprise yet. He wanted to share that moment with Seonghwa.

Despite his duties, however, Seonghwa made sure to find time for his harem and son. He carried Aodhán everywhere, charming the entire castle with his babbling as he sat in Seonghwa's lap while he attended his lessons. Once Wooyoung returned from the Cliffs of Zephyr, they went shopping together. Mingi's courage to go to his lands alone got rewarded with a day of snuggles and a mountain of his favourite pastries that Seonghwa prepared by hand.

Each time Hongjoong returned with Aodhán, he received a doting kiss and though Seonghwa was tentative to be alone with San; he took his offer one late night to dance in the moonlight filtering into the empty ballroom.

Otherwise, Seonghwa spent every free minute in the gardens with Jongho and Yeosang. They travelled to the Sky-reaching Highlands and the Glistening Walnut Grove together, both unsure about going alone. They also took their quasi-daughter along. Hongjoong gave her life with his magic and though she did nothing but walk around on malformed rock limbs, Yeosang and Jongho were enamoured with her. Sometimes, she, Buddy, and Aodhán played together. Each had different ideas of what that meant, but they always looked to have fun.

Soon, summer wore Seonghwa down and he retreated into the safety of his castle more often. His gown for the coronation day was almost done, and all speeches were finished. Seonghwa got to take a breather before the big day, and he spent it sprawled in his conversation pit and surrounded by paperwork. Seungyoun put up moonstones around his room to alleviate his strain, and Seonghwa wished for nothing more than a bath and a massage.

He glanced up when someone knocked on his door.

"Enter," he called, voice not as stable as he wished it to be. Tending to the empire so tediously drained him and, though he was free to slow down, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He loved these lands and their people too much.

Hongjoong came inside. On his arm and drooling on his impeccable lapel in sleep was Aodhán. Instantly, Seonghwa's face lit up.

"There is my precious gem," he cooed as Hongjoong neared. With a glance at the paperwork, it sorted itself onto the table in the piles Seonghwa left it in. The ink jar corked itself shut. Hongjoong's long legs slid to Seonghwa's side. He was careful not to jostle the child and, as usual, when he saw the two together, something inside of Seonghwa melted.

His duties as a parent had to be secondary to his rank as the crown prince. And though he loved Aodhán with all his heart, he was glad the harem took up care of him. Initially, Seonghwa feared he would grow up with the maids and nurses in his classes, as Seonghwa had.

At least, until he got to know Yeosang. Perhaps the toddling golem child could be to Aodhán what Yeosang became for Seonghwa.

Hongjoong whisked out his handkerchief to clean his clothes while Seonghwa pressed kisses to his sleeping baby's head. His magic slumbered, satisfied, and mellow after his training.

"Are you all right, Damiana? The talk about your coronation reached even our most bumbly of novices. And they certainly should concentrate on more important matters. Just earlier, one didn't notice his skirts burning as they gushed about the colour of your gown on the big day."

Seonghwa's lips quirked into a grin. When he leaned to kiss Hongjoong, the mage's hand came up automatically to brush Seonghwa's hair back and cradle his face.

"You did that, didn't you?"

"Naturally. They need to learn."

"You're one menace of a Magus Maximus."

Hongjoong snorted a laugh.

"It comes with the job."

They kissed, lost in each other for a moment. Seonghwa was at ease whenever his husbands were around. They reminded him of his happiness, his life outside the royal duties. Even if they could have turned out to be one more.

When they parted, Seonghwa's lidded eyes lingered on Hongjoong's lips. He was restless these days, craved that lively heat. His body recovered from childbirth, and now he yearned every day.

But everyone was so busy. They only saw flashes of each other and even now, Seonghwa was buried in work.

"My preparations are coming along well. Though I must disappoint your novices. The best seamsters of the Crystal Sphere are working on my dress, but it isn't done yet."

"I will tell them," Hongjoong chuckled. He ran his hand through his hair, swirling white with black. "Same on my end. The mages are ready to heed your call. I just hope no one acts up this time. I heard the nymphs on the southern borders plan to send a spectator this year. Your magnificence is a marvel far and wide."

Relieved, Seonghwa took the compliment. When he stood to bring Aodhán to bed, Hongjoong summoned Seonghwa's favourite wine. Though the baby had his crib in his room, Seonghwa didn't like to part from him. He often spent his nights curled up between his husbands and his baby.

Little feet twitched in his sleep as Hongjoong's magic brought Aodhán fantastical dreams. Seonghwa kissed him goodnight and left a plushie by his side before he returned to Hongjoong.

"I hope for favourable news from their side. The orcs haven't reached out to us yet, but my father keeps a close eye on them." Seonghwa accepted his chalice as he slipped back into place by Hongjoong's side. The mage naturally curled into him, resting his free arm behind Seonghwa's back.

"How is Aodhán faring?"

"Expectedly, he has a natural affinity for sorcery, even when he isn't of my blood. His human blood helps channel his magic and his elven heritage complicates things, but we're figuring it out. He understood how to shove with wind instead of blades. And I make sure to remind him not to go against his own blood."

It was spectacular to see Hongjoong's magic, all that raw and gracefully shaped power laid bare. Though Aodhán only had his few shy tendrils, no one could teach him better but Hongjoong.

"I'm glad you can help him. The pressure on him will be grave, with all the courtly duties and the magic, but I'd rather have this than a rabid mage for a child."

Hongjoong chuckled.

"Can't believe he still ended up in this predicament, despite our best efforts. And Yunho can't even be alone with him because he has nothing noticeable for Aodhán to recognise him by."

Pained, Seonghwa sipped from his chalice.

"I met with Jongho earlier. He makes his golem child dance to the beat of his music. I wanted to thank you for doing that for him. Though it drowned with the rest, he seems happy."

Hongjoong waved it off. When he stretched his limbs, Seonghwa ran his eyes down his lithe frame.

"Making a golem is no laborious task. She will obey my orders, but I have no interest in letting her be anything else than she is to those two curiosities." When he came back down, he noticed how Seonghwa had leaned in. With a chuckle, he craned his neck, unabashed to meet Seonghwa's stare. The tips of their noses brushed, aligning warmly. Fond, Seonghwa nuzzled into him.

"Someone seems cuddly tonight. Has the court finally worn you down?" Hongjoong commented as he took Seonghwa's cup from him and floated them to the table. He shuddered, sensitive to every touch, when Seonghwa wrapped an arm around him. Instantly, the mage sunk into him like a liquid that matched Seonghwa's shape.

"I miss you," Seonghwa confessed. "I miss you all while I am so distracted, but recently, my body, I- You turned it into something so needy." And Seonghwa loved it. He loved being desperate for them, loved their embrace. Something he feared for so long, growing up, became a way to be closer to them than ever before.

Charmed, Hongjoong hooked his fingers into Seonghwa's necklace to pull him down. They sprawled into the cushions, natural in their closeness. Seonghwa leaned over Hongjoong and his seductive mage entered Seonghwa with his magic, working out his tensions and strains.

"You weren't reluctant when I first asked to taint you. Though I knew you were pure, I was convinced you hid deeper desires. Now look at you," the mage purred. They kissed, unhurried and lazy, to unwind after all the running these past few weeks. Hongjoong's taste lingered on Seonghwa's lips when he leaned back.

"I would have complied with your every wish, no matter my feelings about them. In regarding intimacy as my duty, I never considered I might grow to like it this much," Seonghwa whispered. Hongjoong slid his hand over his shoulder, warming the scar protruding from Seonghwa's skin.

"Foolish, yet utterly like you. I'm glad you like the others and they don't hurt you. I would have murdered them in their sleep otherwise."

"Cruel," Seonghwa huffed, but Hongjoong kissed it away.

"Yet, take it slow. You aren't ready yet to take anyone rough inside. Too many tentative scabs that could rupture."

"I believe to remember you preferred it the different way. It hasn't been that long," Seonghwa whispered. When Hongjoong's eyes glazed over, his lips pulled into a grin.

Hongjoong cleared his throat, suddenly parched.

"I can take care of myself. Your health means more to me."

Seonghwa kissed him, slowly pressing him down as Hongjoong cracked. He sighed when the elf's hands dropped to the buttons of his fitted suit.

"I told you I was jealous. If you prefer your beast over me much longer, I will have to beat it in a joust," Seonghwa pouted. Hongjoong took one look at his starry amethyst eyes, then he pulled Seonghwa in.

"I'm all yours," he offered, and Seonghwa surged in to reward him for taking such good care of the son he pretended to hate. As they forgot their duties for a while, Aodhán slumbered unperturbed in the soft bed cradling him.