MARKED BY THE MOON

CHAPTER 14

Sihyun sighed.

"How long are we supposed to walk around like this?"

he muttered to Yuhyun.

His twin gave him a side glance.

"You should've just said you were tired."

"And let him ask a million questions? No thanks."

Yuhyun sighed, already sensing whatever nonsense Sihyun was about to pull.

Moments later, as they turned into a quieter path near a marketplace, Sihyun suddenly grabbed Yuhyun's wrist.

"Switch with me,"

he whispered.

Yuhyun frowned.

"What?"

"Switch robes. I'll disappear for a bit. He won't notice right away."

"Sihyun—"

"Put it on. Play my role. it's not that hard."

Yuhyun's glare sharpened.

"Are you out of your mind? How would that even work?!"

"Come on, we look the same! Just keep your head down, act moody, and don't talk much. You're good at that."

"You're doing something stupid! Why are you acting like this?"

"I'm just tired,"

Sihyun muttered, his fingers pressing against his temples.

"I barely slept."

"Then tell him that,"

Yuhyun insisted.

Sihyun snorted.

"Oh, sure. I'll just say, 'Your Highness, I didn't sleep well because I was hearing weird whispers all night, so I'd rather stay in bed.' You think he'll just nod and walk away?"

Yuhyun hesitated. He knew Muwon wouldn't force Sihyun to go, but he also knew the prince was stubborn in his own way.

"Just do this for me, Yuhyun. It's one stroll. I need to rest."

Yuhyun let out an exasperated sigh.

"I don't like this."

"You don't have to like it,"

Sihyun mumbled

"You just have to do it."

"This is a bad idea,"

Yuhyun muttered, but Sihyun was already undoing his outer robe, forcing it into his twin's hands while snatching Yuhyun's in return.

"Relax. It'll be fine,"

Sihyun whispered as he quickly threw on Yuhyun's robe, pulling the hood up. He glanced at Muwon, who was momentarily distracted by a noble bowing to him. Perfect.

With one last smirk, Sihyun took off, slipping between the crowd before Muwon could notice.

Yuhyun cursed under his breath but had no choice but to stand there and play along.

Muwon would definitely notice.

But it was too late to stop now.

Meanwhile, outside the palace walls, the presence that had called to Sihyun in the night remained unseen, watching. Waiting.

Muwon continued walking, occasionally glancing at "Sihyun."

Muwon had been casually glancing at "Sihyun" from time to time, but nothing seemed out of place at first. If anything, he found it amusing that the usual fiery sorcerer was being uncharacteristically quiet today.

But as time passed, something nagged at him.

Sihyun wasn't the type to keep his mouth shut for this long. Usually, he'd be making sharp remarks, rolling his eyes, or finding a way to annoy him. But today, he was... reserved. Too careful.

Muwon asked,

"Are you hungry? We can stop for something small if you'd like."

Yuhyun—who was never addressed like this—froze.

"Uh... no. I mean... Yes. I mean—I'm fine,"

he stammered.

"You seem quiet today,"

he remarked.

"Not feeling well?"

Yuhyun—who had been dreading this moment—stiffened.

"I'm fine,"

he said quickly, his voice too forced, too rehearsed.

Muwon frowned.

"Is that so?"

Silence.

His suspicions deepened.

That's when his gaze trailed lower—toward the sorcerer chain that should have been around Sihyun's wrist.

It wasn't there.

Muwon stopped walking.

Yuhyun, realizing his mistake, instinctively took a step back.

Muwon exhaled through his nose, glancing around as realization sank in.

One were missing.

Slowly, Muwon's dark eyes narrowed as they locked onto him.

"...Yuhyun."

Yuhyun flinched.

"Where is Sihyun?"

Yuhyun swallowed hard.

"Uh—he—"

Muwon's patience thinned instantly.

"Where?"

he asked again, sharper this time.

Yuhyun clenched his jaw, knowing he was caught.

"...The garden,"

he admitted in defeat.

Muwon pinched the bridge of his nose.

"That damn sorcerer,"

he muttered before turning back toward the palace.

Meanwhile, Sihyun lay stretched out in the palace garden, arms behind his head, eyes shut as he finally got the rest he wanted.

He had no idea his plan had already failed.

And that Muwon was coming for him.

Sihyun stirred awake to the sensation of a shadow looming over him. He blinked sluggishly, his vision clearing just in time to meet Muwon's piercing gaze. The prince stood there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Yuhyun looked like he wanted to disappear into the earth.

Sihyun stretched lazily, feigning innocence.

"Oh, Your Highness, back so soon?"

he drawled, sitting up on the stone bench in the palace garden.

Muwon exhaled through his nose, an obvious attempt to keep his composure.

"You think you're clever, don't you?"

His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it, something pressing.

Sihyun tilted his head, smirking.

"Clever? I was just tired. Surely, even the great Crown Prince wouldn't deny a mere sorcerer a little rest?"

Yuhyun looked between them, gripping the hem of his sleeves.

"I told him it was a bad idea,"

he murmured.

Muwon ignored him. His eyes remained locked onto Sihyun.

"You switched places with your brother and ran off to sleep? During a stroll that I invited you on?"

Sihyun shrugged.

"You should be flattered. Yuhyun took my place so you wouldn't be alone."

His smirk widened.

"Besides, you barely even noticed."

Muwon's jaw tightened.

"I noticed."

His gaze flickered toward Yuhyun briefly before returning to Sihyun.

"And had I not, you would've gotten away with it."

Sihyun arched an eyebrow.

"So what? Are you going to punish me?"

His voice was teasing, challenging.

Muwon took a step closer, lowering his voice.

"You don't take anything seriously, do you?"

Sihyun's smirk faltered just slightly. The way Muwon was looking at him now—it wasn't anger. It wasn't even irritation. It was something deeper, something Sihyun couldn't quite place.

Yuhyun, sensing the tension, quickly stepped forward.

"Your Highness, I apologize for my brother's behavior. He hasn't been himself lately."

Sihyun shot Yuhyun a glare.

What is he trying to do?

Is he okay?

Muwon's gaze softened just a fraction before he sighed.