<Phoenix Ashes>

"How is it even possible?!" Jaejun yelled.

"What happened guys?" Yeonjin arrived.

"Hari died." Hyejeong sighed, "I had told you all that she was useless."

"She- WHAT?" Yeonjin gasped.

"Yeah." Junwoo nodded, "Jeonghan killed her."

"I'm telling you all, stop trusting random people." Hyejeong stated, "Let's get them all by ourselves."

"You're right." Jaejun scoffed, "We need to get involved completely now."

"Alright." Yeonjin said firmly, "Let's get to work."

"So what would be the plan?" Junwoo leaned against the wall.

"We've to get into the palace." Jaejun suggested, "Look, I think rushing everything would be quiet a disadvantage for us. Let's take it slow."

"Yeah right." Hyejeong nodded, "Let's plant the seeds of our plan gradually and then one specific day, go all in."

"I agree." Junwoo paused, "Our steps need to be careful and calculated."

"So, we need to collect information about the palace first, right?" Yeonjin asked.

"We've enough information, to be honest." Hyejeong intervened.

"It's the time to use our spells, change our identities and get into the palace." Jajeun stood up as he declared.

"That sounds like a solid plan." Junwoo agreed, "But we've to be careful."

"Right." Yeonjin nodded, "We need to pick our spells and disguises carefully."

"All the best to Phoenix!!" Jaejun encouraged.

<Choi Palace>

Seungcheol stirred awake in his sleep as he found his arms wrapped around the younger's waist, who was still deep in sleep. Jeonghan's back was pressed against the older's bare chest while the younger was wearing a loose shirt which probably belonged to Seungcheol.

Seungcheol cautiously pulled Jeonghan even closer, nuzzling his face into the crook of the younger's neck.

After remaining like that for a couple of minutes, Seungcheol couldn't help but feel a mischievous urge to tease the younger. His lips grazed over his neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses, "Wake up, darling."

"Mhmm shut up." Jeonghan muttered.

"But I can't help myself." Seungcheol whispered, "You're too adorable."

Jeonghan didn't reply as he simply sighed.

Seungcheol nibbled on the younger's earlobe, "I woke up only to get ignored by my own husband."

Jeonghan chuckled to himself without opening his eyes yet. Even though Seungcheol couldn't see his face, he felt the younger's teasing smile really well.

Seungcheol slowly pushed himself up his elbow, hovering over the younger while tracing his jawline, "Are you going to keep those pretty eyes shut?"

Jeonghan grinned as his eyes fluttered open, "You can't stay calm even after just waking up, huh?"

"And why would I stay calm when I've such a tempting person in my bed?" Seungcheol winked teasingly.

Jeonghan smacked the older's bare chest, "I'm your husband."

"And you're the most gorgeous person I've ever laid my eyes on." Seungcheol's leaned closer, "Is this better?"

Jeonghan laughed briefly as he pushed Seungcheol slightly, "Don't be so dramatic."

"But you should know by now that I love to be dramatic." Seungcheol dodged the younger's attempt and pinned his wrists against the bed while moving closer, "Especially when you're this close to me."

"You're definitely not sane even in the morning." Jeonghan rolled his eyes playfully.

"Who needs sanity when I have you?" Seungcheol's lips traced the younger's collarbones, "You look absolutely stunning in my shirt."

"I know it." Jeonghan mumbled as the loose shirt hung off one of his shoulders, revealing a glimpse of his smooth skin.

"Confident, are we?" Seungcheol's fingers lightly traced along the younger's exposed shoulder.

Jeonghan's hand traced the older's arm, "Hmm pretty much."

Seungcheol completely hovered over the younger, pressing him against the bed, "And what happens when we get too confident?"

"I don't know?" Jeonghan pretended while innocently biting his lower lip.

Seungcheol's lips hovered over the younger, "Oh right, you're too innocent, aren't you?" His tone dripped with sarcasm.

"Why? I can't be?" Jeonghan complained mockingly.

"And we both know that it's just an act." Seungcheol gently pushed the younger's wrists further into the mattress.

"No it's not an act." Jeonghan continued to act otherwise, teasing the older, "Oh my, what are you going to do to me?"

Seungcheol chuckled at the younger's act, "Why? Are you scared?"

"No? And anyways, do I have any say against you?" Jeonghan whispered while tracing his fingers over the older's chest, stopping at the waistband of his trousers, "Do I?"

He further played innocent when both of them knew who had the actual say between them most of the time.

"You know very well that you've more say over me than anyone else." Seungcheol muttered, "But right now, I think I need to take control."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Jeonghan pretended while playing with the waistband of the older's trousers.

"Look at you-" Seungcheol pinned back the younger's wrists on the bed, "Playing innocent while driving me insane."

"I'm not doing anything." Jeonghan wriggled in his hold, exposing more of his shoulder, "Am I?"

Seungcheol couldn't resist any longer. The need to taste the younger's lips, to feel his body against his own, was growing overwhelming.

He leaned down, capturing Jeonghan's lips in a deep, passionate kiss. His mouth hungrily explored the younger's his tongue delving between his parted lips.

Seungcheols' tongue tangled with Jeonghan's, his hands roaming over the younger's waist. He pressed himself against the younger, feeling the heat and desire between them growing with each passing second.

Jeonghan gasped as Seungcheol's lips traveled down his neck, his kisses and bites sending chills down his spine. His hands clutched at the older's shoulders, holding on tightly, his body arching slightly.

It was when he decided to tease Seungcheol, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He gently pushed the older and sat up on the bed. He pulled up his shirt, covering himself, "Don't do this, I'm feeling shy."

"Suddenly huh?" Seungcheol was confused even though he knew it was yet another trick of the younger.

Jeonghan grinned to himself as he clutched his shirt tightly, "Yeah, it's too much."

"Is it too much, darling?" Seungcheol slowly sat up as well, "Or you're just enjoying playing with me?"

Jeonghan slightly looked back over his shoulders for a brief moment after which he turned away once again, "I'm not playing at all."

"Yeah, keep pretending." Seungcheol wrapped his arms around the Jeonghan's waist, his chest pressing against the younger's back, "But, for how long?"

Jeonghan laughed internally, enjoying every moment of getting on his husband's weak nerves, "Don't do this, it tickles." He clutches his chest, not letting the loose shirt fall off his shoulder again.

"Act all you want." Seungcheol whispered, "But you definitely don't look or sound very shy right now."

"What do you mean?" Jeonghan wriggled off the older's grip, "It's already too much for me."

Seungcheol grabbed Jeonghan's waist once more, pinning the younger man against his chest. He leaned in, his lips brushing against the younger's ear, "Then let me help you."

"Uh- no!" Jeonghan continued to test the older's patience with all his might, "I told you, I'm too shy right now."

"Shy, or just being a tease?" Seungcheol grunted.

Jeonghan turned around, holding the older's cheeks, "Why? You don't trust me?"

"I do." Seungcheol gripped on the younger's hips firmly, "But that doesn't mean I'll let you tease me all morning."

"You won't?" Jeonghan's lips ghosted over the older's, his tone demanding, "You won't let me do what I want?"

"No." Seungcheol breathed out, "Not when you're intentionally playing these games."

Jeonghan completely turned around, straddling the older's thighs, his shirt revealing a glimpse of his collarbones, "Really? You'll say 'no' to me?"

"Yeah, I will." Seungcheol's eyes darkened with desire, "I will say 'no' to you if you don't drop this act."

"What?" Jeonghan inched closer, mapping the older's chest with his fingers, "You'll upset me, darling? Is that fair?"

"Whatever you're doing isn't fair either." Seungcheol muttered.

"Shh." Jeonghan pressed his finger over the older's lips, caressing it leisurely, "You should learn to take a little bit of teasing."

Seungcheol gently nipped at Jeonghan's finger, capturing it between his teeth before replying, "Little bit? It's much more than little bit."

Jeonghan placed one of his hands against the older's neck while the other traced his jawline, "You just have a low level of patience."

"Or maybe-" Seungcheol growled, "You're just too good at testing my limits, your highness."

"No, I'm just waiting for you to lose control." Jeonghan whispered.

"Then you get it." Seungcheol slammed his lips against the younger. He deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring Jeonghan's mouth, hungry and demanding. He wanted to devour the younger, to erase any resistance or innocence left within him.

Seungcehol's lips left Jeonghan's mouth, trailing down the younger's jawline and neck. He nibbled and sucked at the sensitive skin, leaving a trail of marks and bites in the wake.

He continued his descent, his hands roughly pushing down the younger's shirt, revealing more of his smooth, perfect skin. He nipped and kissed along Jeonghan's collarbones; his teeth gently grazed the younger's skin.

Jeonghan arched his back, his hands gripping the older's shoulders. A soft moan escaped his lips, the sound a mix of pleasure and desire.

Seungcheol continued his trail on the younger's flawless skin, marking every inch of him with absolute passion.

Jeonghan's fingers grazed through the older's hair, "Mhmm you're so restless."

"Restless?" Seungcheol lifted his head from the younger's chest, "I'm not the one wearing too many clothes right now, darling."

"Well-" Jeonghan shifted on the older's lap, "Where's the fun?"

"Fun?" Seungcheol played with the hem of the younger's shirt, "I think I can show you a whole new definition of fun without those clothes in the way."

"New definition?" Jeonghan rolled the older's earlobe amidst his fingers, "As if we've never explored it before already."

"C'mon!" Seungcheol caressed the younger's thighs, "There's always more to explore."

"Of course." Jeonghan whispered, "There's this thing I wanted to try."

"Go on." Seungcheol asked, "Tell me, what do you want to try?"

Jeonghan escaped the older's grip slowly and stood beside the bed, "The thing I wanted to try is- run away to shower, leaving you yearning for more." He quickly dashed to the bathroom, closing the door shut.

Seungcheol groaned as he climbed out of the bed and sprinted towards the bathroom, "What is this Jeonghan?!"

"What?" Jeonghan laughed from behind the door, "Don't be so grumpy in the morning!"

"You just come out; I'll humble you really quick." Seungcheol warned light-heartedly.

"Yeah? We'll see about that."

"Oh!" Dino halted in his ways in the hallway, "Taeri?"

"Oh hey!" Taeri's face lit up.

"May I ask the reason of your sudden visit?" Dino gently asked.

"Nothing much." Taeri nodded, "Queen mother wanted some flowers for her garden, so she had called me. But some work came up, so she had to leave for a while. I'm waiting for her to come back."

"Oh, I see." Dino scratched his forehead, "Aren't you getting bored all alone?"

"A little bit, yes." Taeri admitted, "I don't mind waiting. I was just wandering around; the palace is beautiful."

"Then, I'll accompany you." Dino nodded.

"Really?" Taeri softly asked.

"Of course." Dino grinned, "You know, I like your company."

"Well, in that case, I'd be happy to have your company." Taeri retorted as both of them began to walk along.

Dino focused on the little bunch of orchids in her hand, "Those are nice."

"Yeah." Taeri looked at them, "I just happened to have them and I don't know what to do with these."

"Well, I probably know." Dino chuckled.

Taeri handed out the flowers to him, "Here you go, then."

Dino held the orchids gently as he fixed them in her hair, "Beautiful."

Taeri felt her cheeks heat up under his gaze, "They look nice on me?"

"Do you think I called the flowers beautiful?" Dino stared at her.

"Uh-" Taeri's eyes widened slightly, her heart fluttering in her chest, "Then-"

"Yeah, I meant you." Dino smiled, "You're absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you." Taeri looked up behind Dino, "Oh, Queen Mother is here, I'll go. And- I hope I'll see you again?"

Dino's eyes lit up at the mention, "Of course!"

"Thank you." Taeri left as Ara walked past Dino. She patted her son's shoulders, "She's definitely beautiful."

Dino gasped while watching the disappearing figure of his mother. He scratched his forehead, feeling a bit flustered. He took a deep breath to compose himself as he walked forwarded but halted within a while.

"What happened?" Dino asked a few staff organizers who were murmuring among themselves.

"Hail the majesty." They bowed, "We were discussing that a few of our cleaning staff members have gotten sick and abruptly left the job."

"Is it something serious?" Dino asked.

"No, not at all. We just have to search for new staff."

"What's the big deal, just heir some other people." Dino nodded as he left.

It was when another staff head arrived with four pitiful looking people, "I found them nearby, I think they'll work."

"Hah, finally!" The others sighed in relief.

"I'll introduce them to you all." The person said, "These two men are Jae and Woo while these women are Hye and Yeon."

"Fine, you all need to get to work quickly!"

A/n : JAEjun, JunWOO, HYEjeong, YEONjin. Yep. I think y'all got it already but just in case.

And if there wasn't a notif, I've updated SL too!

Anyways, take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo