Seonghwa intended to recover only for a day or two and then find San to keep his promise, but as usual, other events surprised them. A letter from the third prince asked San to visit the Vault of Heaven to welcome his cousin's first-born, and he was gone for a week. In the meantime, Seonghwa was swamped by his duties during the day. In the nights, Hongjoong came to find him. Sometimes, he pushed Seonghwa down straight away, other times, he just barely held back until he got done feeding Aodhán. The mage was eager to triumph, and he made use of the days where he was the only one indulging. Mingi had no more interest in chasing after such a goal. Since San could become a valid competition, Hongjoong pursued to impregnate Seonghwa before that.

Ever so in love with his possessive sorcerer, Seonghwa indulged him every night. Sometimes, he left afterwards to cuddle Wooyoung or Yunho in their sleep. Hongjoong never bothered, sleeping soundly as his magic recovered his lacking energy.

The day before San returned, Seonghwa wanted to ready for their promise, but Seungyoun crossed his path with pressing news. While Seonghwa lingered, the angel fled to the back of his mind.

"My apologies, Your Majesty. Your father implored me to hand this to you in a hurry," Seungyoun winced when he picked up on the frown knitting between Seonghwa's brows. Immediately, the elf whipped his eyes away from San's door. Their yearning pulled them together and drew them apart like the tides. Seonghwa was going mad to be held in his embrace, yet withered under those intense eyes.

"It's fine. It must have been critical," Seonghwa replied, back to his usual grace as he accepted the letter. Seungyoun handed him an opener.

"It's about the former prince Yongguk, Your Majesty," Seungyoun announced humbly, but nervosity scratched in his voice. When Seonghwa slowed in his movements, they exchanged a hesitant glance. They shared the same apprehension.

Seungyoun had been with Seonghwa for a long time, almost half of his life. He knew Yongguk better than many other servants, and he knew how delicate Seonghwa's feelings about him had become.

The letter opener cracked the sigil, and Seonghwa retrieved the note. It wasn't from his father, for his order travelled only orally. This painfully familiar handwriting was that of Seonghwa's brother himself.

"I need to sit," Seonghwa mumbled, eyes glued to the paper without seeing a word. His legs were shaky, and it had nothing to do with the sore yet fulfilled feeling of his abdomen.

"Right away," Seungyoun muttered as he guided Seonghwa by his elbow. He sunk into the alcove at a window looking out over the snowed-in landscape. As if he were a child again, hiding from the scary wild dogs of the forests, Seonghwa drew his legs to his body. He exhaled before he trained his blurring sight on the letters.

Seonghwa, Yongguk wrote.

Some time has passed since we last saw each other. Though we elves age unhurriedly, time seems to fly by, even in exile. My new surroundings occupied me the way you wanted, as did my family. Circe is doing well. She asks me to bid you her greetings.

Though I don't share her warmth, I wanted to write to you. Word reached us about your coronation and your child. It seems you are untouched by the things that happened, favoured by both father and the stars while I rot in the distance.

But I lost my chance to be where you are now. Brandished a traitor for life the same way you are brandished, yet you don't seem to care about that much. Perhaps it was always in your nature. Beloved, since you are so willing.

I can't wish you well, for you became the person I swore to loathe. Yet I have no choice but to trust in your rule upon me. You decide over my life, now more than ever.

But the stars don't shine forever, Hwa. You live a long life and some of your cherished husbands are bound to get stubborn and violent with age. The more you submit to them, the easier they will torment you. Don't think my goals were solely for my personal greed. This empire will fall apart the same way all stars rain from the sky one day. Now that you are its ruler, I look forward to seeing it crumble under your feet.

Then there will be no more holding me with childish spells.

Rule well, Seonghwa. For as long as you dare. I will ease your burden once you learn not everything can be resolved with compassion.

Yongguk.

A mix of emotions stirred in Seonghwa's chest. Despite the crude words, he was glad to hear his brother spirited. Though they became enemies, Seonghwa preferred the heat over the shell of the man he once knew.

On the other hand, however, Yongguk was vengeful. He still envied Seonghwa's position, and he predicted a future of suffering for the entire empire. Seonghwa wasn't afraid of his husbands. They cherished him and they were solidified in their positions outside of their marital ties. No such obsessions would come to his harm.

At least he hoped so.

"Your Majesty?" Seungyoun asked, worried after a prolonged silence. With a sigh, Seonghwa folded the letter to tuck it back into its envelope.

"No improvement yet. Tell the astronomer I will see him later and bring all documents pertaining to the orc diplomacy to my room. They are not well-versed in letters, so I believe it best to invite them for a talk."

Seungyoun received the letter with cautious hands and stepped back. When he hesitated, Seonghwa tilted his head, ready to hear him out.

"Sire, I- Please do not regard this as me overstepping my boundaries, but do you think it wise to grant the orcs entry to these halls? Your father is tense since he fears this offer for diplomacy to be a ruse to find a way inside," Seungyoun grimaced. As Seonghwa lingered and smiled at his loyal servant, he resurfaced between his cautious shoulders.

"Fear not. If they agree to such a meeting, we will see to its safety. Now that no traitor among us allies with them, we can ensure they mean what they say. I will set the stakes accordingly and inform my father of my caution."

"As you wish." With a quick bow, Seungyoun hastened away to attend to his duties. Seonghwa lingered at the window to look out over the white landscape. The river that usually lined the lands with a blue ribbon was frozen over and lay in grey solitude. Buddy jumped around outside, leaving merry paw prints as he snapped at the snow in the sky. Yunho walked with him, warm smile unaware of the fond eyes on him.

Seonghwa watched with a smile as they disappeared between the trees. Only once his heart calmed, he returned to his room.

The sole purpose of Yongguk's letter was to distraught Seonghwa. He announced his perseverance and his vile plans, but he was no danger. Hongjoong's people at the spire kept a close eye on him. Wherever he went, people would recognise him as the traitor who attempted wretched torment on their emperor.

Ever since he was gone, no assassin ever made it as far anymore.

Silent so as not to bother the others in his pondering, Seonghwa returned to his room. Seungyoun prepared everything he asked for, so Seonghwa sat down in the pale shine of the crystal on his desk to work through the letters his father exchanged with the orcs during Seonghwa's absence from the court.

In the beginning, it was the usual polite truism of an emperor. He offered them political stability, trade, and protection in return for a truce. For many hundred years, they received no answer to these letters.

This time, there was. The first one was a tattered rag of leather, more skin than an artful craft. The words were etched into it with a shaky hand, clearly the work of one of their own trapped in a snare over an orc learning their letters.

We consider.

Seonghwa's father followed up on that, asking what demands the orcs made in return and whether they were interested in peace. He explained that violence could not be an option anymore, and that reparations were in place to heal the suffering elves.

Another answer, this time on a strip of parchment.

We can be peaceful.

None of their responses were elaborate, nor did they give away the true reason for their sudden change of mind. Seonghwa studied them all as his father's questions got increasingly more concrete, but the orcs gave nothing away. The elves had every reason to be doubtful. In the worst case, the orcs simply wanted access to the Crystal Sphere to rape and slaughter those they desired most.

Seonghwa retrieved a piece of parchment and dipped his writing feather in black ink. With an elegant hand, he addressed the matter.

To the Chieftains of the Orc Tribes,

word reached you that the Sun Emperor handed down his crown to his second son, now pronounced the Moon Emperor. I write to follow up on past discussions about peace.

We are still interested in an alliance, and I would like to hear you out. With regard to mutual communication, I wish to invite you to the Crystal Palace. You shall be received with kindness and a meal. Do not bring weapons, for we will regard those as a threat. You may bring a translator to match your needs, as we will provide our own.

Reply to this letter, so I may arrange for a meeting. Let us meet with an equal eye and with the sense of those who pursue the best for their people.

I look forward to the potential for amicability.

The Moon Emperor.

Seonghwa set the letter aside to let the ink dry before he read over it again. Once happy, he rolled it up and tied it shut with a cord. The night breeze greeted him when he stepped onto his balcony.

His whistle was sharp in the air and got responded to from the mountains, where Mulberry housed in a cave. Seonghwa chuckled at his zeal as he watched one of their messaging birds glide through the night. Silent and durable, this owl would know not to end up as orc dinner.

Seonghwa whispered to it where to go as he tied the note to its claw. With a mighty flap of its wings, the owl sailed away into the darkness until Seonghwa couldn't tell it anymore from the white specks of snow.

For a while, he stood out there and relished the breeze. The wind was icy on his ears, but he didn't shiver as he gazed over the far forests and mountains. No towns lay in this direction, for the Glistening Walnut grove lined the nearby border. Beyond waited the massive territories ruled by the bloody blades of the orcs.

Seonghwa never met the fate Yongguk intended for him, but the past abuse lingered into the present. His priority had to be the elves, then another alliance. But only two years passed since the orcs agreed to Yongguk's vile plans. They wanted Seonghwa then, and they wouldn't change their minds now.

He needed to stay vigilant, as he promised.

Finally, he turned on his heel to return inside. He closed the balcony doors so the snow could fill in the traces of his feet and complete the untouched charm.

Seonghwa sat back down at his desk and wrote to his father about his decision and about Yongguk's first statement ever since he left into exile. For now, Seonghwa wasn't strong enough to dare meet him. Perhaps one day, he would travel to the islands of the Eastern Sea and would get to meet his nephew. He wished to offer him and Circe a better place in their community if Yongguk remained bitter.

But not for now. For now, Seonghwa focused on his recovery and on those who needed his immediate attention. He merely found his hand rubbing the mark on his shoulder more often than usual on that dark and lonely night.