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 didn't return to his chambers.

Instead, he went where the real whispers traveled.

The tea house in the western quarter.

A place where merchants, nobles, and criminals all shared secrets over wine.

He slipped inside, his hood drawn low. The scent of burning incense mixed with the laughter of courtesans and the clinking of porcelain cups.

"You're either reckless or desperate, Scholar Dan-Bi."

In the dimly lit corner, seated elegantly among silken cushions, was Minister Jang Tae-Woo.

A man known for his political cunning.

Dan-Bi narrowed his eyes. "Minister Jang."

The man smiled. "It seems you've found yourself in an unfortunate predicament."

Jang sipped his tea leisurely. "The assassination attempt. A tragedy." His gaze sharpened. "Or an opportunity."

Jang leaned forward, voice silky. "You and I both know that was not just an attempt on the king's life."

Jang's smile deepened. "It was a move against the prince. A warning to those who stand too close to him."

Jang tilted his head. "But here's the thing, Scholar Dan-Bi… you already knew that, didn't you?"

Dan-Bi inhaled slowly. "What do you want?"

Jang chuckled. "Now, now. Is that any way to speak to a potential ally?"

Jang set down his cup, voice dropping.

"Prince Seong-Jin is running out of time. The ministers are closing in. The king's assassination was just the first step."

"And if you truly wish to keep him alive—you're going to need me."

Chapter Fifty: An Unlikely Ally