Vaid6

"We can’t go back now, can we?" the Prince asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Dan-Bi stared at him, feeling the magnetic pull between them, the unspeakable truth that had been buried deep inside both of them for so long. The unspoken bond.

He didn’t reply immediately. There was nothing to say. He just stepped closer, and in that moment, all the walls they had built came crashing down.

Without thinking, the Prince reached out, his hand brushing against Dan-Bi’s. It was subtle—an accidental touch—but it was enough to spark something neither could ignore.

Dan-Bi’s breath caught, and for a brief moment, he wanted to pull away, to push the Prince out of his life before it went any further. But he couldn't.

Instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing against the Prince’s in a kiss that was soft at first. But then, the kiss deepened, and everything that had been left unsaid, everything that had been buried under the surface for so long, came to life in that one moment.

It wasn’t just a kiss; it was a declaration. Of something neither of them had been ready to admit, but something they both knew was inevitable.

UNHIDDEN BLOSSOM

Dan-Bi straightened his robes, inhaling deeply before stepping into the council chamber.

The moment he crossed the threshold, all eyes turned to him.

Some measured. Some curious. Some filled with barely concealed suspicion.

Today, the air in the chamber was heavier.

Dan-Bi moved with practiced ease, his face the perfect mask of indifference as he took his place among the scholars. But his mind was already working, analyzing, reading the room.

The ministers were divided into their usual factions—those who favored the queen, those who sought to control the prince, and those who wanted something else entirely.

But there was something new in their eyes today.

Dan-Bi didn't have to wait long to find out what.

The Minister of Rites, a cunning man with a smile as sharp as a blade, stood.

"Your Highness," he said smoothly, addressing Jin-Seok, who sat at the head of the room, composed as ever. "It has come to our attention that there are… irregularities in recent court affairs."

Jin-Seok's expression did not change. "Irregularities?"

The minister gave a slow nod. "Yes. Unusual movements. Unofficial investigations. Hidden dealings." His gaze swept across the room before landing—deliberately—on Dan-Bi.

He merely tilted his head, feigning polite curiosity.

"Such matters threaten the stability of the court," the minister continued, his voice smooth but edged with warning. "And we must ensure that those who have the privilege of serving His Majesty's court are acting with full transparency."

A message, carefully disguised as concern.

The ministers had noticed his movements.

Jin-Seok leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair.

"And what do you suggest, Minister?" he asked, his tone mild.

The minister smiled. "Perhaps it is time we re-evaluate certain positions. Ensure that all members of the court are thoroughly examined for their loyalties."

Dan-Bi's grip tightened beneath his sleeve.

Not just against him—against anyone who did not fall in line.

Jin-Seok's gaze flickered briefly toward Dan-Bi before he turned back to the minister.

"That is a heavy accusation," he said, voice calm. "If you believe someone is acting against the court, I trust you have proof?"

The minister chuckled, shaking his head. "I am merely advocating for vigilance, Your Highness. After all…" He turned toward Dan-Bi, his smile widening. "Even the best of scholars may have hidden pasts."

Dan-Bi met his gaze head-on, unfazed.

"Indeed," he said smoothly, voice steady. "And sometimes, those who shout about loyalty the loudest are the ones with the most to hide."

For now, Dan-Bi had held his ground.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Shadows in the Court