Unfortunately, Yunho's ears weren't permanent. As much as Seonghwa adored them and as quickly as Yunho got used to the extra attention they earned him, they were gone by the next day. Though Seonghwa ruffled his hair, confessing how glad he was that Yunho didn't need to bear them any longer, the tall human pouted. He wouldn't mind their reappearance in the future.

They got dressed and checked on Aodhán, readying everything for their departure back to the Moon Castle. Seonghwa had work to catch up on and now that Yunho recovered, they would return to their haven in the west.

Refreshed and with shining eyes, the two left the room. Wooyoung, Hongjoong and Jongho were at breakfast, the rest slept in or were busy with morning training. When Seonghwa and Yunho joined them in their cosy glow, Wooyoung threw them a knowing wink.

"No ears," Hongjoong noted, then he corrected himself. "Or rather, a regular amount of ears. No need to panic again."

Soothed, Yunho lowered the hands that had just been about to twitch up to his skull.

"He recovered as you promised," Seonghwa smiled as he sunk into his seat, immediately aided by Wooyoung leaning over the table and knocking down an apple, Hongjoong's invisible hands, and Yunho's speed to adjust his pillow. Once everyone settled, Seonghwa got to eating, replenishing his strength.

Yeosang, San and Mingi joined them after a while, completing the round. Everyone rested well and promised Seonghwa to be ready to depart by noon. Yeosang was excited to return and tend to the gardens. He and Seonghwa had a new project for a flower field underway.

Breakfast just ended and San pushed his chair to the table so everyone could disperse when the doors burst open. A courier hurried inside, followed by two guards trying to catch him.

Hongjoong slid into place before Seonghwa immediately, one hand lifted in a warning.

"What's the commotion?!" He demanded to know. Pants and gasps from the elf's reddened cheeks were his response.

"Urgent matters, Your Majesty," he heaved without an apology for his intrusion. Worried, Seonghwa emerged from the crowd of his apprehensive husbands.

"What is it? Someone pass this man some water," he called towards the servants and they jerked from their staring to comply. The elf sunk into an empty seat and guzzled from the cup handed to him. Some drops spilt over his chin, but he didn't bother to wipe them before he fumbled for his bag.

"I was told to bring this message to you in person, fast as the wind. Here," he heaved, handing Seonghwa a rolled-up parchment. Worried, Seonghwa untied the hastily wrapped leather binding.

Dreadful news from the western borders! The delegation of orcs that has recently visited the castle murdered its guards and kidnapped several young elves from a nearby village. All nearby stationed patrols are pursuing their flight, but we need reinforcements as fast as possible! Inform the emperor!

Seonghwa clasped a hand over his mouth, stifling his shock. Hongjoong plucked the note from his hands to read it for the others and a moment later, the room broke out in roars.

"How dare they?!" Yunho called, already beckoning Buddy to come so they could set out.

"Damn orc brood," Hongjoong cursed. He looked at Seonghwa. "You should stay here. It's dangerous to send you through a portal and a battlefield is no place for a pregnant person. We can go."

Seonghwa shook his head as he marched ahead, leading them out of the room.

"This is a political emergency. They abused our favour and lied about considering an alliance. I must address such mockery."

He rounded a corner when steps caught up with him. San caught him by his elbow, holding him back.

"This is not the time for peace. Orcs speak through weapons. You make easy prey if you follow them into their lands," he hissed. "We can take some troops and free their hostages. Don't fall into their trap."

With gentle conviction, Seonghwa pried him off. His smile was doting, though the shine of his eyes became grim.

"In knowing it's a trap, we can avoid it. Let's go together if you insist."

"They hurt you once!" Wooyoung protested, still shaken whenever he thought back to the dark nights spent in fear.

"That was Yongguk."

"Seonghwa," Yeosang also winced. "You only have two more moons until you're due. This puts too much strain on you. They are just a bunch of rowdy provocateurs. Leave it to your guards. You are the emperor now."

"Since they are no mere but provocateurs, we know it won't take two moons. Let's not dawdle. Those of you worried about me may stay by my side."

They conceded only since they didn't know if the scheme of the orcs wasn't to catch Seonghwa unguarded at the castle. When the emperor made to notify the royal guard and his strategists of their hurried departure, his husbands ran along, surrounding Seonghwa so nothing could touch him.

-

The Crystal Palace sunk into chaos as the sudden crisis turned everyone's duties upside down. Many others agreed Seonghwa was in no condition to go out there, even when it was most honourable as their emperor. The orcs were shrewd, and they had yearned for Seonghwa for a long time. If they seized him now that he became the emperor, the repercussions on the empire would be devastating.

But Seonghwa had none of it. Fury ignited him over having been right about the wasted sympathy for the orcs. He demanded for his father to tend to the empire while they were gone, and he promised to be back within less than a moon. The sound of the armour smiths working away echoed through the castle, accompanied by the sounds of their mounts being equipped for battle.

Wooyoung threw a worried glance down on the yard while they got fitted in armour.

"I can't contact Mulberry all the way from here. Are you sure it's safe with Hongjoong's portals as no option?"

"If they capture me, they won't kill me," Seonghwa soothed as he climbed into his metal-studded boots. "I am a relevant tool to pressure the empire and elves have many other purposes to them, rather than being killed. But I am stubborn. They cannot break me, and the entire empire will come after them if they touch me."

Apprehensive, San leaned against the wall. His arms were crossed, and the wings poised as if he only waited to snatch Seonghwa up into his arms to carry him away. They knew reasoning was for nought. Seonghwa did the same last time, following his sense of duty to protect the empire. And he would do the same now. Only this time, he was pregnant, and the orcs were higher in number than they could estimate.

Part of what gave Seonghwa such confidence was the presence of his husbands. They were a force to reckon if together, the strongest warriors of each kingdom. Seonghwa trusted they knew when to take him away. Right now, they were worried, yet confident in his abilities as their leader.

Seonghwa put his hair up in a ponytail, keeping it from his eyes, which were like steel. This wasn't a misunderstanding caused by a hidden mole. The orcs came to their lands for a reason and they planned this when they asked for passage. Seonghwa wasn't one to punish with violence, but he would take back those taken as a display of mockery. Since he made the mistake of trusting the orcs' word despite the distrust of the elves, he had to ensure that no one would come to harm in their hands.

Another maid hurried through the open door. She presented Seonghwa with a cuirass, hastily repurposed to fit his body. The smiths made sure the press of his stomach against it wouldn't be uncomfortable, thinning the existing metal to make it bendable. Seonghwa turned so they could fit it to his body and tucked his lighter leather armour to seal the gaps.

The servants were pale with fear, reluctant to confess their apprehension to Seonghwa. He smiled to comfort them.

"My father will be here to tend to all issues that may arise. Though I would like to keep this from the other rulers unless it becomes a concern of a larger scale. This is no attack on the orcs as a whole. We will save our people and seize those who abused our treaty."

Jongho pondered to himself at the window. He didn't question these things, even when they made no sense to him. There was no stopping Seonghwa as he accepted his majestic spear and turned for the door, white cape swishing.

"You will need reinforcements if things go awry," Yunho argued. He held Mingi's hand, since the demon was reluctant about coming along. He wanted to stay by Seonghwa's side and protect him, but he didn't want to be a burden in the case of a fight. When Yunho promised to look out for him, the demon agreed he would fret far worse if he stayed behind.

"Then Hongjoong can portal to his people and return with an army. We don't plan a war. Just with the five we met, before they make it back to their tribe."

Though grumbly why Seonghwa insisted on being a ray of light himself instead of sending troops, the others followed once they tightened the straps of their armour. San wore his own, always bringing it along in case of an emergency, but the rest got fitted in the clothes of the elven soldiers.

Downstairs awaited the troupe they would travel with. When their pregnant emperor appeared with his face pinched in determination and the silver armour hugging his vulnerable shape, they sat up and held their breaths. The servants had readied a cart with rations and equipment to camp and heal the wounded. Twenty of the elven elite perched in their matching green cloaks that bore the royal emblem on their backs. Their horses were a quick and durable breed, used for battle and scouting.

Seonghwa's unicorn idled. She wore a saddle for once, needing leverage for his body. It was shining white with silver metal links. She refused armour, protected by her horn.

Mingi felt his way to his goat, the only other animal without protection. In an emergency, the two needed to flee quickly and Mingi would know which fur to search for if that happened. Matchingly horned, they waited while the rest swung onto their mounts. Wooyoung and San rode along, mindful not to exhaust their wings.

At the head of the orderly squad, Seonghwa turned to wave at Seungyoun, who wrung his hands under the castle gates.

"We will write daily reports on our progress. If we haven't sent anything in three days, come search us with the dogs." Two tame wolves were with them, eager to sniff out the foul stench of the orcs that layered over the lands. Buddy had to stay home to watch over Aodhán, whimpering by the slumbering prince's side.

Seonghwa had too much to live for to regard his involvement light-heartedly. He would protect his husbands, restore the broken trust of his people and show the orcs that he was not one to be pushed around or duck away.

Seungyoun nodded his helpless agreement. He notified Seonghwa's father, and they went right to work to control the disruption of the elven folk at the news. Though the former emperor would also prefer Seonghwa not to put himself in danger, he allowed it only because it was a small group they hunted.

Seonghwa swiped his eyes over his husbands when he turned to the front. Though wary, they were prepared to accompany him and accepted his sense of duty. It was one of the more troublesome facets of Seonghwa's personality, yet necessary for the kingdom.

Unbound and powerful, Seonghwa swished around to kick off their journey. Everyone else came after the white cape, not adorned by needless glamour. Though they didn't come in a blind rage, they came to deal punishment and fight if so necessary so they could free their people. The group chased into the wintry forests, not held back by the emperor's condition as he proved once more that he was more than political talks and resting on pillows.