Chapter 29

Vesper threw a questioning glance at Shen Yuan, standing behind Zain. He didn't need to guess the actual person stirring trouble.

Shen Yuan tapped on his neck where Vesper left his mark under his clothes and gave a fleeting wink before starting the show. He blocked Zain's way from Vesper and whispered with pleading eyes. "Your Highness, please. This is exactly what he wants."

"If I can't even stand up for my own person, then for what other reason would the northern star bless me?" Zain held Shen Yuan's hand in reassurance, his murderous gaze fixed on the demon in front of him.

"Did I not tell you that you are now mine, Sean? Where are you supposed to stand right now?" Vesper stood up from his chair and circled out of his seat at a thoughtful pace.

He still couldn't understand what Shen Yuan's true objective was, but provoking Zain without reason wasn't a difficult demand. It didn't mean he wouldn't claim a reward after this.

"He's not going anywhere." Zain pulled Shen Yuan behind his back.

But the smaller hand slipped itself out of his grip and left him with the cold empty air.

Shen Yuan stepped away from Zain and avoided his eyes as he dragged his steps toward Vesper and stood next to him like a tamed little puppy.

"Good boy." Vesper hooked Shen Yuan's waist and pulled him with a forceful tug to his side, pressing their hips together. Seeing Shen Yuan's bewildered eyes, he chuckled in amusement and leaned down to whisper to his ear, just for the two of them to hear. "Don't react so sweetly."

"?"

Not a guess had the time to enter Shen Yuan's head when Vesper bit his ear. He had to grit his teeth tight to not curse out loud and clawed into Vesper's sleeve to hold his hand back from punching the man in the face.

Again with this!

Zain's pupils shrunk with rage. Purple and golden light crackled in his hand. "I'll kill you!"

Vesper released his bite with a calm smile and looked at Zain without a sliver of concern. "You're going to throw your magic to Sean? Go ahead."

"Kh…!"

"Your Highness, please…" Shen Yuan turned his head away from Zain, hiding the insuppressable flush. "Please…don't look at me."

"Sean…" Zain clenched his jaw and receded his crackling lightning. "Don't think I will stay silent like usual, Vesper. Even if it means losing the throne, I will cut off all your limbs, every finger, every body part you use to touch him and drag you to the ninth pit of hell."

"I don't care if you bark or stay silent. In the end, you're as helpless as you'll ever be." Vesper fiddled with a lock of Shen Yuan's hair, further infuriating Zain. "So helpless that you put anyone who supports you in that hell itself. Don't you think it's better for the world if you just disappear?"

Shen Yuan wanted to say the world would only disappear along with Zain but kept it to himself.

Zain fished out his cursed laurel clip from his pocket and threw it to Vesper's feet. "Since we share the same sentiment, it's about time we end this farce. Once and for all. I challenge you to a duel."

"I gladly accept." Vesper trampled the clip under his sole.

"The time is the second trial. The winner is the last one standing."

"Your Highness, no! Such a thing…!" Shen Yuan interjected. "If anything happens to you, I—!"

"You taught me to fight for myself, so I will." Zain's eyes didn't leave Vesper's figure, like a predator calculating how to best kill their prey. "Until this duel is concluded, vow to the northern star that you will not touch a single hair on Sean's body."

Vesper traveled his hand down Shen Yuan's spine, making the other shudder. He smirked at Shen Yuan's hidden protest. "What makes you think you're in the position to make demands, brother? You're the one who needs this duel, not me. You could at least show some sincerity and beg on your hands and knees."

Without a second of hesitation, Zain dropped himself to his knees and lowered his head to the ground.

He had been humiliated all his life. If it was to give Sean a little bit of safety and relief, this much was nothing.

"I beg Your Highness to spare Shen Yuan his honor and dignity until our duel reaches its conclusion. Please."

"Your Highness…" Shen Yuan let out a weak, little sob.

Vesper could see his entertained grin in broad daylight and itched to kiss it. He didn't deny himself for long and stole a brief, fleeting kiss, surprising Shen Yuan for the second time.

He let go of Shen Yuan with a chuckle and raised his hands. "Alright. I won't touch Sean until this is over. I don't mind saving him for my victory night."

"…" The veins on Zain's hands bulged from self-restraint.

"Entertain me with a good fight, brother. It will be what our people remember you with." Vesper kicked the laurel clip back to Zain and walked out, not relieving him from his position.

Shen Yuan followed behind him, stopping for a lingering second next to Zain, before continuing out the room. He had expected the participant of the meeting to be waiting outside but only Juliard remained, standing guard in front of the door.

"Take care of the rest, Juliard," Vesper ordered. "Reschedule the rest of my work tomorrow. I'm done for today."

Juliard affirmed with a bow.

While he went back inside to clean things up, Shen Yuan went with Vesper to his study. The news that Zain stormed into the meeting room spread as fast as those who scurried away from it. Though the servants kept their heads down when Vesper passed, Shen Yuan caught the curious gossip in their eyes.

They definitely wouldn't believe it if he told them they were fighting over a male servant. Well, 'fighting' was inaccurate since it was Zain's one-sided battle.

Entering Vesper's study, Shen Yuan closed the door behind them and curiously asked, "What exactly did Your Highness do to Prince Zain in your childhood?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking questions here?" Vesper raised an eyebrow.

"Prince Zain asked Miss Harper's help to arrange a meeting with me in the library. I said this and that, then he assumed this and that, and now we're here," Shen Yuan summarized everything with a wave of his hand. "Besides, isn't this to your benefit too? Is there any use for either of you to co-exist in this palace? I'm more surprised you two held out this long."

"If I could kill him, he wouldn't have lived past 10."

"What do you mean?"

"He's unkillable. Like he's being protected by something." A flash of irk fleeted in Vesper's eyes. "I did countless research for years, but there were no records of the royal blood having guardian angels or anything of similar nature."

"There's one, isn't it?" Shen Yuan pointed up to the ceiling. "The northern star."

"…" Vesper narrowed his eyes. "You do understand what your words imply?"

Shen Yuan smiled, knowing and unapologetic. He didn't bother acting courtesy anymore. "No need to act offended. You're not from this country nor even a human. You know from the beginning the northern star will never choose you."

The room descended into a cold silence.

Shadows spread into the room and consumed all light and warmth. Darkness bled into Vesper's eyes and turned his sclera into two bottomless ink. His bloodred pupils glowered with sinister light in the ever-dimming room, each one splitting into two.

They weren't eyes belonging to humans.

When Shen Yuan opened his mouth, a puff of frosted air formed with his words. "Huh. So, this isn't a disguise?"

"I took over this body when it was still in its mother's womb." The usual light, silvery voice changed into a deep, threatening baritone.

"That explains everything. I thought the queen had an affair with a demon or something."

"How did you find out?"

"Do you remember an ex-maid named Felicia?"

"Yes, she was responsible for arranging the flowers around the palace in the past."

"She quit because of you. Apparently, she can sense whatever energy it is you're exhausting out of your body and it's 'foul' for her. She can't prove whether you're a demon or not, but she told Zain about this and I overheard them. I wasn't entirely certain, but it seems that she's right."

Vesper's face twitched.

Shen Yuan chuckled and clung his arms around Vesper's neck, not showing the slightest fear. "Don't make that face. I'm happy you didn't choose to lie to me or try hiding it. I know you easily can."

"…"

The viciousness in the demon's eyes slowly conceded into tenderness. Vesper had long believed Shen Yuan would accept his true self and never had the thought of hiding it. He had planned to tell Shen Yuan when he found the right timing, and now, the opportunity simply presented itself.

This. This was true happiness.

He lifted Shen Yuan up by his knees and pressed his back against the door, fierce enough just as he knew Shen Yuan liked it. His heart pounded like never before and for once, he was overwhelmed by his flood of emotions.

His voice was hoarse from his dry throat yet dripped with unmasked desire. "You truly will be the death of me."

"Then, allow this grim reaper to take your soul away." Shen Yuan leaned forward until their noses touched. "Or would you rather take mine?"

His question was answered with the demon's lips sealing his own.