<Choi Palace>

"Hmm any particular place you wanna see in the palace?" Dino asked while walking in the hallways with Taeri.

"Oh, yes!" Taeri squealed, "How about the place where you keep your weapons?"

"Weapons?" Dino frowned, "Didn't know you were interested in all that."

"Why won't I?" Taeri's eyes widened, "I'm always intrigued in those stuff."

"Alright, let's go." Dino guided the way to the weapon-house, "This is the place."

"Oh wow!!" Taeri gasped, "I had always expected it to be magnificent, but this is way too grand!"

"Yeah." Dino chuckled. While they walked in, the guards and staff bowed for them.

"Amazing!!" Taeri looked around the place, "Which of these weapons do you specialize in?"

"Sword. I know all of them, but we are always taught about swords the most because we use most of our spells through it." Dino explained, "These warfare assets are for the defense army, we rarely use these."

"Oh, I get it. You've your own customized weapons which are only for you." Taeri nodded.

"Yeah, you can say that." Dino agreed. Both of them wandered around the weapon-house thoroughly after which they were back to the corridors of the palace.

"Umm Taeri-" Dino addressed, "Tomorrow, we've a celebration for my birthday. The invitation would have been sent but I wanted to ask you personally. You'll come, right?"

"Of course, I will." Taeri chuckled, "Don't worry."

"Thank you." Dino grinned.

"Alright, I'll be leaving now." Taeri bowed slightly.

"Already? I thought we could spend some time together." Dino suggested.

"I'm sorry for it but I'll have to go. Mom had some work with me." Taeri apologized.

"It's alright, take care!" Dino nodded.

"You too." Taeri waved him a goodbye as she left. She reached the parking lot and got into her car as the driver drove it. After a journey of considerable time, she reached her home.

"Welcome back, dear sister?" Mingyu sarcastically stated.

Taeri rolled her eyes as she walked upstairs into her room.

Mingyu found her behavior a little odd. He knew both of them were always bickering, so he expected a rather twisted response but not complete silence.

Not being able to shrug off the feeling, he reached her room and knocked it, but she didn't open the door. After several trials, Taeri finally opened the door, "What?"

"What do you mean, 'what'?" Mingyu frowned, "You just came back from the palace and you're acting like you were sleeping for ages."

"Palace?" Taeri scrunched her brows, "I'm sleeping since last night- Oh my god, why didn't you wake me up earlier?! The entire morning passed!!"

"Taeri?!" Mingyu held her shoulders, "You woke up in the morning, got ready and went to visit the palace!"

"What are you talking about?" Taeri was confused, "I didn't even wake up before now!"

"What the-"

"Mingyu, what's wrong?" Taeri's eyes held a glint of fear, "What's happening?"

"Don't panic." Mingyu embraced her, "Let's go to the palace and talk to them."

"Okay." Taeri mumbled.

"And this is the dagger which I made them design, especially for you." Ara chuckled while handing out the small weapon.

"Thank you, mom!" Jeonghan exclaimed as they were seated in Ara's room.

Seungcheol was leaning against the doorframe, waiting for both of them to finish their conversation which was rather stretching even more.

Jeonghan looked at the door as Seungcheol scrunched his brows gesturing him to conclude it quickly while Jeonghan eyed him keenly, insisting him to not throw these tantrums.

Seungcheol frowned even more as he quietly muttered to himself, "Left me sleeping alone in the morning and now doesn't have time either."

Jeonghan tried to bite back a smile while watching the older grumbling beneath his breath. Seungcheol's frown deepened as he tried to rein his annoyance, feeling childish and upset at the same time.

Ara continued to talk to Jeonghan, aware of Seungcheol's presence but not his irritation.

Seungcheol, on the other hand, found it increasingly difficult to remain quiet. He shifted his weight from one foot to other, his impatience growing with each passing second.

Jeonghan scratched the back of his neck, gesturing Seungcheol to leave without letting Ara get a hunch of it.

Ara noticed the subtle actions as she looked back, "Seungcheol? What happened? Any problem, son?"

"No, mom." Seungcheol composed his expressions, "I just need some fresh air, that's all."

"Then go to the garden, balcony or somewhere open?" Ara retorted, "What fresh air- Oh." She chuckled while looking at Jeonghan, "I get it."

Seungcheol looked away as Jeonghan cleared his throat, "Yeah mom, what were you saying?"

"Seungcheol?" Ara smiled, "Can I talk to my son in law without you being impatient?"

"Of course, mom." Seungcheol responded, "I'll give you both space to talk."

Seungcheol reluctantly withdrew from the conversation, shutting the door behind him, walking away while feeling both annoyed and embarrassed.

The guards were passing by as they bowed, "Hail the majesty!"

Seungcheol nodded, his expressions a mix of formality and acknowledgement. He continued walking as the guards vanished.

Soon enough, the doors of Ara's room opened as Jeonghan stepped out of it. He quickly spotted Seungcheol as he stood against the corridor wall, his arms across his chest.

Jeonghan patted his shoulder slightly, "What's wrong with you?"

"You're asking me that?" Seungcheol's voice laced with sarcasm, "I was standing there, waiting for you like an idiot, while you were engrossed in conversation with mom."

Jeonghan laughed briefly, "What else was I supposed to do? Disrespect her and her talks?"

"I know-" Seungcheol was speechless for a moment, "But you could've ended the conversationg quickly at least. I was getting impatient."

"Oh?" Jeonghan raised a brow, "And may I know why you were getting impatient?"

"As if you don't know." Seungcheol whined, "You were giving me silent treatment the whole morning and then this long conversation."

Jeonghan chuckled, "Stop whining. I hope you don't want anyone to hear their emperor sulking like this."

"I'm not whining, c'mon." Seungcheol mumbled, "I just didn't appreciate being ignored and then left to wait like that."

"Yeah, I totally believe you." Jeonghan teased.

"Stop it already." Seungcheol scoffed as he began to walk towards their own room. Jeonghan followed shortly, "How much are you going to sulk?"

"Whatever." Seungcheol rolled his eyes.

Jeonghan shut the door behind them. He went on to wrap his arms around the older's shoulders from the back, "You're acting like I betrayed you or something."

"Wow, I'm not even acting like that." Seungcheol tried to maintain a cool demeanor.

"You're not?" Jeonghan nuzzled his face into the older's back.

"Not at all." Seungcheol spun around, his hands quickly finding the younger's waist, pulling him closer with a firm grip.

Jeonghan placed one hand around the older's nape while the other traced his chest, "Is this why you were impatient?"

Seungcheol raised a brow, "Maybe?"

"I'm not taking your maybe." Jeonghan's hand slowly slipped down the older's spine, "I'm pretty sure you needed some good attention. And there's nothing wrong with that until you get too grumpy."

Seungcheol's grip on the younger's waist tightened as he pulled him closer, "You shouldn't be able to do this to me, you know that?"

"Do what, exactly?" Jeonghan chuckled while tracing the edges of the older's belt, "Dear husband?"

Seungcheol's eyes darkened with a mixture of desire and annoyance, "You know that."

"Oh, I do." Jeonghan's lips ghosted over the older's and his thumb caressed his lower lip, "I know you better than anyone ever can.

"You know exactly how to get me." Seungcheol grunted, "I hate it."

"That's not how we pronounce, love." Jeonghan placed a tender and prolonged kiss on the older's cheeks.

"You're making this too easy for yourself, aren't you?" Seungcheol whispered.

"I'm your husband, I know how to make it difficult for you and easy for myself." Jeonghan pressed a trail of kisses along the older's jawline.

Seungcheol's grip on the younger's waist grew firmer, "You shouldn't have this much power over me, this ain't fair!!"

Jeonghan pushed the older on the couch while climbing on his lap, "Too late to realise that, Seungcheol."

"It seems so." Seungcheol slid his hands up the younger's thighs, settling them on his hips, "You're making it hard to think straight."

"And I absolutely love it." Jeonghan's hand rested on the older's neck and shoulder, "I love to see this desire for me, in your eyes. I love when your hands are aching to pull me all over yourself. I love when you want me as much as I want you."

"I can't deny it." Seungcheol pulled him closer, "You have me completely. Completely under your spell."

"Do I?" Jeonghan unbuttoned the top to buttons of his own shirt, "I know it."

"You don't even need to ask." Seungcheol muttered, "You're fully aware of the effect you have on me."

Jeonghan leaned closer, showing off his exposed collarbones, "Self-awareness, it is."

Seungcheol slid his shirt slightly as his mouth found the exposed skin of his shoulder, the sensation sending a wave of heat through him. He continued to trail kisses along Jeonghan's shoulder and collarbones, his lips moving with a mixture of tenderness and possessiveness.

Jeonghan's hands were buried in the older's hair as he grinned at his restlessness, "Calm down, you're acting like we're meeting after ages."

"No matter how much time I spend with you, it will never be enough." Seungcheol pressed a kiss on his chest, "I can't help but feel restless when I'm denied your attention."

"Such a huge allegation?" Jeonghan caressed his hair as the older continued to devour his neck and collarbones, "I won't dare to deny you a single ounce of attention."

"You better not." Seungcheol's grip on his thighs tightened, "Especially not like you ghosted me in the morning."

"I made a huge mistake, didn't I?" Jeonghan enacted to be guilty. He leaned closer to the older's ear, "I shouldn't be spared, right? Do whatever you want to."

"You know I can barely hold back as it is." Seungcheol growled, "Are you sure you want to tempt me like this?"

"I'm just seeking justice for my husband." Jeonghan acted up, "I need to repent for avoiding him all morning."

"Oh there, I got a guilty one." Seungcheol gently placed his palm around the younger's nape to pull his face closer, "Then I'll have to extract my justice, won't I?"

"You have to, your highness." Jeonghan mumbled, "I'm so ashamed of my fault, I can't be spared."

Seungcheol switched their positions, pressing the older on the couch, "I definitely will, love."

Jeonghan chuckled lazily, "And how do you plan to do it?"

"You know what they say? Ignorance is bliss." Seungcheol muttered, "And you were so blissfully ignorant this morning. I think I'll start with reminding you what you missed out on."

"Definitely, I think I missed out a lot which I shouldn't have." Jeonghan agreed, "So, what do I deserve for that, your highness?"

"Just a little reminder and a proper lesson." Seungcheol's fingers traced the younger's chest, "So that you never forget it again."

"And then?" Jeonghan chuckled.

Before Seungcheol could reply, a knock was heard on the door. Seungcheol sighed as he rested his head on the younger's chest, "Then this! Why now?!!"

"Seungcheol get off me!" Jeonghan insisted.

Seungcheol reluctantly parted away as he stood up, "I'm not at all done with you, got it?"

Jeonghan sat up as he buttoned up his shirt and fixed his clothes. He gently brushed his hair with his fingers and proceeded to do the same to the older, "Alright, I'll remember. Now open the door!"

"This better be important." Seungcheol grunted as he walked towards the door while the younger followed.

The door opened revealing Seokmin, who looked worried and stressed.

"What happened?" Seungcheol asked.

"Come to the meeting room." Seokmin stated, "It's important."

The couple nodded as the followed Seokmin to the confidential room where Joshua, Mingyu, Dino and Taeri were already present.

"Something is wrong, hyung." Dino immediately stated.

Mingyu explained Taeri's situation to them, "And when we came here, we met Dino. He said that Taeri had came to the palace and wished to see the weapon-house."

"And I showed her." Dino stepped closer to Seungcheol, "Hyung, I trust her. She's not wrong-"

"Shh, we know Dino, we'll not blame her." Seungcheol assured, "Don't worry."

"Seungcheol." Jeonghan whispered to the older, "She looks terrified, let's keep her out of it."

"You're right." Seungcheol nodded, "Dino, you can take her out. We'll not bother her with all this."

Dino agreed as he guided Taeri out of the meeting room.

"She's a mortal." Joshua stated, "Which means-"

"An easy target." Seokmi completed.

"We've a possible threat on us." Jeonghan concluded.

"Definitely." Mingyu agreed, "And I think she got targeted because of- Dino."

"I get it." Seungcheol nodded, "Call a meeting of all thirteen of us and let's keep it confidential for now."

"And about the event tomorrow?" Joshua asked.

"I think, let's not cancel or amend it." Seokmin suggested, "Or else we'll have to explain everything."

"Right and there's another advantage." Jeonghan added, "We can get to keep an eye on everyone as they'll be gathered for the event."

"Also, we can look outside the venue to check if anyone is intentionally staying out to plot something." Joshua nodded.

"Guys, I really don't know if I'll be able to contribute much." Mingyu's tone was apologetic, "I'm sorry but I've to look out for Taeri."

"I get it." Seungcheol assured him, "And she definitely needs security. They might try to target her again."

"We're screwed!" Junwoo worriedly stated while locking the small room shut, "I saw Mingyu and Taeri arriving to the palace, and they went to the meeting room."

"What?" Hyejeong gasped, "Have they found out the truth or something?"

"It's very much possible." Yeonjin fiddled with her fingers, "Where the hell is Jaejun? When will he come back with the weapon?"

"The event of tomorrow isn't having any modification." Junwoo informed.

"Which means they've decided to keep it a secret if they know any of it." Hyejeong figured out.

"And that means we've a chance-" Yeonjin was cut off but the sudden presence of Jaejun through a spell. He collapsed on the floor as he had a few wounds on his body.

"Oh shit!" Junwoo gasped as three of them rushed to him.

"Calm down, I'm fine." Jaejun assured, "I got it."

"Really?!" Hyejeong gasped, "The blue-gem sword?"

"Yeah." Jaejun nodded, "But we can use it only once and after that we've to keep the gem safe for 24 hours."

"Or else?" Yeonjin asked.

"They can revive the person struck by the sword through the gem." Jajeun stated.

"We'll do it." Junwoo nodded, "Choi Seungcheol has to be swiped off. And since we finally got this weapon, it's possible. Everyone knows that there's literally nothing that could go against this. Nothing."

"Exactly." Hyejeong chuckled, "All thanks to our long-lost ancestors for doing some good deeds and keeping this treasure for us."

"When are we going to do it?" Yeonjin asked as she explained the current situation to Jaejun.

"Damnit!" Jaejun's eyes widened, "Tomorrow! We'll have to get this task done tomorrow itself and we, will definitely win."

"So it's done right, target Taeri to divert everyone's attention and then secretly aim this blue-gem against Seungcheol." Junwoo explained.

"Yeah. It's final." Jaejun agreed, "Let's win a great deal this time!"

A/n : Nothing just SOMH sailing :-

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo