MARKED BY THE MOON

CHAPTER 23

Sihyun, meanwhile, appeared to be distracted, his fingers twitching slightly. He stood near the horses, casually running a hand through his messy hair as he watched the surrounding trees with a nonchalant air. He didn't care much for their planned route or the purpose of the journey. To him, it was all just another thing to pass the time.

With a barely perceptible flick of his wrist, Sihyun's magic sparked. The horses, previously calm, suddenly jerked against their reins, panicking as they pulled away from the trees, their hooves pounding against the forest floor in a wild stampede.

The sudden chaos broke the quiet, the guards yelling as they scrambled to control the horses. Muwon's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but he stopped himself, choosing instead to focus on the situation at hand.

"Sihyun!"

Yuhyun called out sharply, standing quickly. His eyes flicked to Muwon for just a second, gauging his reaction before his gaze returned to his brother.

"What are you doing?"

Sihyun didn't flinch at Yuhyun's tone. He merely turned his head, his expression unreadable, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"I didn't do anything."

His voice was smooth, casual, as if he hadn't just made the horses run off.

"They're just having some fun."

Yuhyun's protective instincts kicked in, his voice tight with concern.

"This isn't a joke, Sihyun. You could have made things worse. We need those horses for our journey."

Sihyun raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening ever so slightly.

"I know. They'll come back eventually."

He didn't show the slightest hint of remorse or guilt. He wasn't about to admit to his mischief, not so easily. Not with Muwon around.

Muwon, watching this unfold with a tight expression, took a step forward, his gaze never leaving Sihyun.

"Sihyun,"

he said, his voice calm but firm,

"this isn't a game. We can't afford for you to act recklessly."

The mention of his name from Muwon was deliberate, but Sihyun's gaze remained cool and detached, though there was a slight tension in the air. He didn't dare address Muwon directly—never when the older prince was present. That would give Muwon a sense of control he wasn't willing to allow.

One of the guards managed to wrestle a horse back toward the group, but it was clearly frightened, its eyes wide as it snorted in distress.

Sihyun watched the scene with mild amusement. He was still standing near the horses, but his demeanor remained unchanged.

"See? They're fine."

He didn't make a move to help, nor did he seem particularly concerned by the chaos his actions had caused.

Yuhyun's jaw tightened as he walked toward Sihyun, the tension between them thickening.

"We don't need your help making things more difficult. We're trying to stay on track, not cause trouble."

Sihyun didn't reply immediately, his eyes flicking briefly to Muwon before returning to Yuhyun.

"I never said I was trying to help,"

he muttered under his breath, barely audible.

Muwon, despite his frustration, said nothing more, knowing that Sihyun was stubborn beyond belief. The rest of the guards were securing the horses, but there was no denying that Sihyun's actions had made the journey more difficult.

The group trudged through the dense forest, their boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. The loss of their horses had forced them to continue on foot, making their journey slower and more tedious. The air was thick with humidity, the towering trees casting elongated shadows as the afternoon light struggled to break through.

Sihyun, as usual, walked with an air of indifference, his hands tucked behind his head as if this were nothing more than a casual stroll. Yuhyun, on the other hand, stayed close to him, his watchful gaze never leaving his twin for too long. The guards moved in a formation around them, alert but silent, their expressions hardened by years of discipline.

It was then that Sihyun's voice cut through the silence, casual yet carrying an unmistakable sharpness.

"By the way, what's the purpose of this trip?"

he asked, tilting his head slightly. His tone was almost lazy, but his words carried a dangerous edge.

"I don't see the point when I could just kill you right now."

The statement hung in the air like a blade ready to drop.

The crunch of footsteps faltered. Muwon, who had been leading the way, came to a dead stop. The other guards stiffened instantly, their hands instinctively hovering near their weapons, though none dared to move just yet.

Sihyun glanced at the stunned silence around him and smirked.

"What? It's not like you wouldn't expect it. If I really wanted to, I could kill you, take Yuhyun, and disappear before any of you could do anything about it."

The forest was eerily quiet, save for the distant rustling of leaves.

Muwon turned slowly, his dark eyes locking onto Sihyun's face. He didn't speak immediately, but the weight of his gaze alone was enough to make the air between them heavy. He wasn't sure which part unsettled him more—Sihyun's audacity or the fact that, deep down, he knew Sihyun was right.

"You…"

One of the guards stammered, his face paling.

"Do you hear yourself?"

Yuhyun's expression darkened with immediate concern. He grabbed Sihyun's wrist, his grip firm, his voice barely concealing his frustration.

"Sihyun, enough."

He turned toward him, lowering his voice, but the urgency remained.

"What are you saying? That's reckless. Do you think we'd actually escape? You're not thinking—"

Sihyun pulled his hand back effortlessly, shrugging.

"It's just an observation,"

he said, as if he hadn't just threatened the heir prince in front of his own guards.

Muwon inhaled slowly, his fingers twitching before he clenched his fist. His eyes remained unreadable, but there was something dangerous flickering beneath the surface. He wasn't sure if it was anger or something else.

Finally, he spoke, his voice even, though there was a sharpness to it.

"You talk too much, Sihyun."