As all joy had to find its end, the celebrations for the coronation ended that night, but they didn't end for the kingdom. Many guests stayed for the entire week, and Yunho's parents insisted on going on a few walks with Yunho, Seonghwa and Aodhán. Seonghwa gladly indulged them, fluid like a river, as he balanced his duties on his other hand. He didn't bear his crown the entire time, but word reached across the entire continent and the Eastern Sea.

The Crystal Sphere celebrated all month. As their songs filled their streets and artists eternalised the rise of a new emperor, Seonghwa greeted and thanked everyone. The rapture persisted and filled the last days of autumn with a golden glow. Rejuvenated, nature endured a while longer, holding off on winter while Seonghwa travelled around.

His husbands accompanied him. They switched places as he visited all major elven cities and attended their celebrations. Each town swooned over someone else by his side, and the folk tried to out-argue one another who suited Seonghwa best.

Ever chuckling about it, Seonghwa kissed them all whenever he saw them. He spent little time alone and though Aodhán impatiently had to demand his milk whenever Seonghwa found the time to settle down with him; the child knew through their link that he was beloved.

As winter dawned and the nights got longer, Seonghwa's constant duties also slowed. He tended to his politics back at the Moon Castle, not yet ready to claim the Crystal Palace as his residence. He adored this place he lived in for so long and made so many fond memories in. And his husbands liked the seclusion.

Thus, Seonghwa took most of his documents there and sat at the windows with Aodhán suckling on his chest as he signed papers and the first snow tumbled from the skies outside.

Time passed, and everyone caught their breaths. Seonghwa didn't wear his crown at home and nothing changed for his dear husbands who came crawling into his bed to hold him during long nights. Aodhán learned to sleep alone in his crib whenever things got busy in Seonghwa's room and he grew up well, hair curling longer and longer.

Seonghwa didn't mourn for the past. Rather than overwhelmed, he felt suited to the work he did, and he could consult his father about his doubts. The crown was his to bear, but many others helped him with his government. Whenever a matter needed to be carried into another kingdom, his husbands stood at the ready.

Aodhán didn't hurt him again. Hongjoong cut down his training since he progressed in restraining his magic. Soon, Hongjoong gifted him a necklace that cradled a shimmering opal.

"It's for protection," he declared when Seonghwa tilted his head at it. He earned a kiss as thanks and handed Seonghwa his baby shyly. Sitting in the conversation pit, Seonghwa nursed Aodhán.

All stress slowed, and peace caught up with them. Soon, Seonghwa had time again to sit idle. Now, he was often accompanied by Aodhán, but everyone loved playing with him and watching his progress as he learned to roll around the far pit.

Since he was equally invested in the golem baby, Seonghwa sat with Jongho and Yeosang one night. The little golem had no name since golems saw no importance in them and only gave Jongho one because he needed to live among name-havers. Thus, Seonghwa began to refer to her as Jongho's pebble fondly. Since her parents liked it, it became her official title.

She was still small as she wandered the table between them with bumbling movements. Golems needed hundreds of years to grow into their size, whereas elves grew almost as fast as humans, though they aged slower once they finished growing.

Their pebble would take a long time to develop an interest in words.

"She might not ever care. I find the races I learn about most interesting, but some don't. Since there is no need to communicate that way, many of us never do," Jongho said as they watched her toddle around. His crystals shone yellow, fascinated by the difference from Seonghwa's child.

Yeosang leaned on his side. He had brought Seonghwa's favourite sweet cream and stole spoonfuls from his bowl that Seonghwa happily shared with him.

"It would be nice to talk to her. She must know we are curious," the dryad hummed around his spoon. He played with it between his lips, unafraid to goof around before those two.

But Jongho shook his head. He huddled down to be at eye level with the tabletop, estimating the little one's movements.

"Not at all. We have no natural receptor for emotions and we cannot replicate them. All there is to her intelligence is the magic that created her. Since Hongjoong is interested in the obscure and greedy for knowledge, I imagine she prefers to listen and amass information."

Yeosang hummed.

"I still think it's a shame. That you don't feel, I mean. I see you match our quirks and you developed your personality, but that part always makes you different from us."

Jongho grinned, another thing he learned from them, and it always looked adorably clumsy on his not perfectly formed lips.

"And the fact that I am made of rock."

Yeosang waved with his spoon.

"Details."

The two snickered, and Seonghwa hummed along as he monitored Jongho's inquisitiveness about his pebble. In his way, he did a marvellous job of experiencing the intrigue of emotions.

"Is there any sentiment you are most curious about? You rarely encounter rage in this realm," Seonghwa asked. He crossed his legs in his simple silken dress. No garderobe was needed to make his status apparent. It was in the graceful angle of his head, the fingers curling under his chin.

Jongho thought about it, turning purple to match Seonghwa's designated gem.

"What I hear, there are ugly emotions. Rage is one of them. It doesn't make people happy, and it leads to death and destruction. That is bad, even for us golems. So I prefer when people are not angry." Truly, he cherished serenity.

He pondered some more, cupping his hands before the pebble tumbled off the table. Next to Seonghwa, Aodhán slumbered, wrapped in Yunho's blanket.

"Perhaps... I thought it a while back already, but one aspect Yeosang couldn't explain to me is how the others make you happy. There is a certain glow to you on those days. It was strongest while you bore your child."

Yeosang coughed into his cream. Seonghwa smiled, though his heart fluttered with shyness. If Jongho heard how the melody inside him changed, he only grew more nosy.

"It's what you watched once," Seonghwa acknowledged. Though he nodded, the golem frowned the way he had seen San do.

"It made little sense to me. Is it the warmth? The closeness?"

"Among others. Yeosang's body, like yours, is unique from the rest of us. He doesn't experience it the same way, though he understands the gratification of eros. As you feel neither heat nor ecstasy, it is difficult to explain."

"But it makes you happy," Jongho followed up. Seonghwa chuckled.

"It certainly does. It's a very close bond to have with those you love."

Pondering some more, Jongho tucked the pebble into the tiny basket he carried around specifically for her. She had yet to figure out how to free herself from it. Walking together as he cradled the woven wood with great attention, they looked adorable.

"I want to try that, too," the golem decided, voice stable. Ivy sprouted on Yeosang's cheeks.

"You want to watch again?" It coincided with the plans Seonghwa made, but Jongho shook his head.

"I want to do that. With you. The same thing. We can ask Hongjoong to help if we aren't compatible. I heard so much about the way people couple up, about child-making and love confessions in the most lovely of fairytales. Golems are missing out."

"The downs come with such ignorance," Yeosang chirped, but he was too busy trying not to choke on his spoon to take his own joke.

Seonghwa cradled his chin in his hand, invested. He, too, was curious how something like it might work.

"We talked about it once. I'd be delighted to teach you something you don't know yet. Your shifting your shape will come in handy."

"Wait, you mean it?" Yeosang coughed. His flowers assumed a scandalised red, doused as if in blood. His emotions could be written off him so easily that Seonghwa had to laugh.

"Why not? He wishes to learn, and I adore him like the others. Why wouldn't I indulge his interest?"

Yeosang stared at him, needing Seonghwa to understand without having to spell it out.

"Oh, I know! Yes, I can do that for you. What the others like is to see you feel good, no? I like that, as well, so I want to try. I'll be careful," Jongho swore, taking matters far more seriously than he needed to because of Yeosang's reluctance.

"I... You two are aware one of you is solid rock, yes?" He winced. Seonghwa was almost sorry that he had to attend this conversation, but a faint sadistic streak in him enjoyed his best friend's embarrassment. These conversations had become inevitable since Seonghwa married and part of Yeosang died whenever he got caught up in them.

"That's why he suggested asking Hongjoong if we have troubles. Don't worry, Sangie. I know to take care of my body."

Perturbed, Yeosang pulled the bowl closer, needing a distraction from the mental image.

"I hope so. I won't justify that to San," he grumbled, but he remembered his words when Jongho frowned again. "Not to say you shouldn't. I understand your curiosity and Seonghwa is the one you like to make happy, so this is a perfect learning opportunity. Elves regularly just... don't lie with golems."

No one did, but if anyone could take it, it would be an elf. It went unspoken between the two friends.

"We'll try, Jongho. There are many ways to show you how it works for us," Seonghwa promised. The worry melted from their sweet golem.

"Good. I will be in your care, then. I shall comply as you guide me. When are we getting started?"

Yeosang spluttered again, glancing at Aodhán as if he had to hold his tall ears shut. Innocent towards his boldness, Jongho awaited Seonghwa's answer.

With a glance at the windows and the thick snowflakes tumbling from the sky, Seonghwa hummed. Wooyoung was out with Mulberry and Hongjoong wouldn't pick Aodhán up until the morning. Best to do it while the sorcerer was in the castle.

"Let me bring Aodhán to bed, then I will be with you. We can try without Hongjoong first."

"That's my incentive to leave," Yeosang mumbled as he got to his feet. He picked up the tiny basket and the bowl, knowing Seonghwa would skip it now that he was otherwise occupied.

"You two better be safe," he reminded them, like a reprimanding mother.

"You can stay and watch if you are worried," Seonghwa smiled, hand coy on Yeosang's leg, but the dryad shuddered.

"I also enjoy seeing you happy, but this ticks off my protective instinct. But I know you two can be trusted, so I'll simply go. I'll take the pebble along."

"Good night, Yeosang," Seonghwa chuckled as he let him go. The dryad hurried away, not too worried about them, yet Seonghwa knew he would lie awake until he heard Jongho return to his room. Seonghwa's soft surfaces and polished floors didn't suit the golem. He much preferred the natural earth he spread out in his chambers for the few times he actually slept there.

Seonghwa got up and asked Jongho to wait for him. Then, with Aodhán on his arm, he walked to the child's room. Only once the baby was safely tucked in and soothed by the hums of his father, Seonghwa declared his duties of the day as done. He shut the door, reinforced and sealed by the most powerful spells to keep intruders out. Only a selected few could open it and each time Seonghwa put his hand on the handle, the intense energy crackled over his skin.

Curious about what he would learn tonight, Seonghwa returned to his room to join Jongho in the privacy of his conversation pit.