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All of the prince’s misfortunes began on his twelfth birthday.
Lee Sa-young didn’t have the same preferences of other children. Whilst other royals enjoyed their extravagant trips around the land, he dreaded the thought. Endless amounts of it had dulled Sa-young’s excitement. Having enough, he decided to make a daring wish when the birthday celebrations reached its peak.
”I wish to be freed from this repetitive life.”
He believed his wish wouldn’t be granted, and naïvely continued with the day. After blowing out the candles, they prepared to get a portrait painted of them, and they began to test out poses. They finalised it on Sa-young placing his hands on his parent’s hearts. It was an awkward, yet adorable position.
“Facing forwards now, easy does it!” The painter exclaimed, already excited about the amount of money he would earn.
The pair of lovers smiled. Even if they couldn’t see their son’s face at the moment, they knew he was frowning. It didn’t matter to them, they loved their son all the same. Every effort they made was to make his life easier and smoother.
”Cheer up, Your Highness.” One of the onlookers said, amused at his stubbornness.
Begrudgingly, he forced his lips to curl upwards, holding his expression stiffly. Minutes passed, the clock ticking, and Sayoung found himself staring off into the distance in boredom. After a loud sound woke him back up into reality, he saw droplets flash past the corners of his vision. The expressions of friends and family nearby seizing, morphing into horror.
He dared not look behind, nor look down. There was the sound of two heavy objects falling, the warmth leaving his hands’ grasp. Screams erupted all around, and a maelstrom ensued.
An adorable prince?
No, it was a despicable being, who had its wish take form in the worst way possible.
It had angered “System”, their deity, because of its ungratefulness. System had turned its wish into a curse. They had freed themself, but at the cost of manslaughter. At the cost of everything it once knew to be true.
”He’s a Prince of Misfortune!”
That day, a kid bloomed into a man. Doomed to live the rest of his days with this title.
***
“Your Highness, your fiancé is waiting for your permission to enter.” Seo Mingi spoke, standing in front of the desk where his prince sat.
“She can wait, there's more urgent matters to attend to. Like preparing for the divorce.” Lee Sayoung frowned at the mere mention of his marriage. If anything, it gave him one more person to disappoint and terrify.
His advisor gave him a strange look, and shook his head. It was probably because of his reluctance to at least pretend that it mattered to him.
Meanwhile, his knight stood in front of the door, biting his thumb in anxiety. He often fretted over Sayoung's relationships, especially because he had become more of a recluse these recent years.
‘Damnit, will that kid ever get an actual partner he can love!?’
…His behaviour mimicked that of a mother. Seo Mingi had long since given up on correcting his behaviour. It was good that someone still cared about the Prince, it might comfort him after all of the hardships he endured.
Sayoung’s right hand held papers with words that could not be discerned by those who were uneducated. Such as, people like his knight, Bae Wonwoo. Maybe it was for the best, otherwise his worries over the Prince would have increased tenfold if he saw what documents went through his office everyday.
Psst, they’re marriage documents, but he won’t know that. Sayoung‘s left hand fiddled with a vial of poison, which gave him looks from Seo Mingi who shot glares at him whenever his thumb brushed against the lid.
Seo Mingi cleared his throat, about to repeat his first announcement. “Lee Sayoung, your-”
Bang!
“Who said you could keep me waiting like that?” A lady entered the room, angrily berating the men who were inside.
If one looked closely, they could see that Bae Wonwoo was thrown aside by the force of the door bursting open. It was rare to see such a powerful knight get bested. Seo Mingi, who had been on the verge of scolding Lee Sayoung before getting interrupted, quickly composed himself and let out a sigh.
“Your Highness, meet your fiancé, Cha Euijae.”
Cold, violet eyes looked up at the lady whose face was hidden by a black mask. She had muscles, barely concealed by her dress, and…
“What a brash personality.”
“What did you just say to me?”
“I said what I said.”
‘What are you doing!?’ Seo Mingi and Bae Wonwoo both exclaimed in their heads.
The lady was fuming, and barely managed to calm herself down. Her escort stepped in behind her, apologising to the servants who had tried to reign in Euijae’s wrath. He gave a nod of acknowledgement to Mingi, and turned to Lee Sayoung.
”Apologies, we didn’t mean to enter abruptly. I hope that we didn’t interrupt anything important. My name is Jung Bin, and I am Cha Euijae’s escort for today, as per the late Park Hyekyung’s request.”
He forced a smile, his ashy beige hair ruffled from the harsh winds outside.
“You know, it’s not polite to leave important guests outside in 1°C.” Jung Bin's politeness slipped.
Lee Sayoung did not respond, and did not seem to have any regrets at all.
“Never mind, there's no use in stoking conflict… No use in stoking conflict…”
Seo Mingi quickly rose up, eager to escape from the awkward situation. “I'll escort you to your room, Cha Euijae.”
Euijae's head flicked up, as if finally noticing the presence of others. Did the mask block her vision? It was a silly choice to wear it anyways for a first impression. She quietly followed Mingi, as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
Jung Bin sighed, and spoke solemnly to Lee Sayoung.
“Please, make sure to take care of Cha Euijae. It's what Hyekyung would have wanted.”
Park Hyekyung, a noble who had taken Euijae under her wing after a war, named “War of Beauty”, had destroyed the kingdom they belonged to. He had known her from the times he stayed outside during parties. She always managed to coax little Sayoung into chatting, even if it was for a short while. Even after she passed away, Sayoung always knew her as the kind lady who he felt respect for.
She had been the one who had arranged the marriage for Lee Sayoung and Cha Euijae. It was a pity she died before it was completed, delaying the plans further.
“I won’t be able to return for a year, so please keep my words in mind. I’ll be off now.”
“Go on, you've overstayed your welcome.”
He did think about following the command, but how could a cursed being even begin to try that? One wrong move, and Euijae would drop dead.
The door shut, snapping Sayoung out of his thoughts.
He'll think about it later. He slipped the vial with poison back into his pocket, keeping it with him at all times.
***
“I need you to deliver something.”
Hours after the catastrophic first meeting of the two, Seo Mingi had arrived with a cloth-covered box. His face was serious.
“It is customary to give gifts to the one you will marry. I've taken the time to buy something your fiancé will fancy, so please pass it on to him. I've already let him know.”
‘...Are you serious?’
That request had led to the most painful game of hide and seek, making Sayoung go around the castle to find him.
He had spent hours looking for his… Fiancé. It was a term he was still unfamiliar with, yet forced to recognise. He knew he would get a stern speech about responsibility from Bae Wonwoo if he failed to do this task, something that he did not wish to experience. The last time that happened, it lasted for 2 hours.
He arrived at the gates of a rose field, his legs tired from the search. He began to wonder what exactly was supposed to be in the cloth-covered box. He shook it once to check if it was jewellery for the lady.
’There’s nothing inside?’
He shook it once more, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. Seo Mingi must have misplaced whatever was supposed to be inside, meaning that his efforts to find his fiancé had been in vain. His advisor had told him that she was expecting a gift at the very least. He sighed, and began to think about what to do.
’She’ll most likely complain if I don’t get her anything...’
There was only one thing he could get her. Stepping forth past the gate, he entered the rose field, and picked a flower with his bare hand. In his grip, the flower wilted upon being touched. As the petals began to fall off, he grimaced. The sight of death was never pleasant, even after seeing it many times over the years.
The sun came out from its hiding place amongst the clouds, producing a shadow of an adult in front of Lee Sayoung. He lifted up his head, wondering who else was here.
In front of him was the back of a youthful young man, his whole being screaming “beauty”. The sun cast a gentle glow upon his face, as he silently watched the sky in dead silence.
The breeze brushed through the man’s hair, sending petals flying past him. If it weren’t for the mask that was in the man’s hands, Sayoung would not have recognised that it was his fiancé.
He stood there, mesmerised by his beauty before coming to a realisation, his face going stupidly blank. Was that not a man who stood before Lee Sayoung?
But, his fiancé was supposed to be a woman… Or was he? His mind raced, wondering whether Seo Mingi had ever specified the gender of the one he had to marry. Surprisingly, he didn’t recall it at all.
’…?’
Wait, if he had truly fallen in love just now, at first sight too, did that make him gay? He did not dare continue that thought, but in his mind he already knew his answer.
This man would be the one he chose to love and care for, if God allowed.
When Cha Euijae turned his head to face Lee Sayoung, the latter quickly composed his expression, putting his glove back on as the former put on their mask like it was a race.
“…”
”…”
They stood there in the silence, staring at each other, waiting for one of them to speak up.
”Why are you hiding your face?” He questioned with an eyebrow raised as if it was stupid, making the other flinch. Euijae took a while to build up an answer.
With a sigh, he responded, “Ever since I was born, people often looked shocked at the sight of me. They told me that it was something that should have never been shown to the world.”
The reason clicked in Lee Sayoung’s head, ”Ah, so it was a misunderstanding.”
“What do you mean?”
He plucked another rose from its stem with a gloved hand, picking off its thorns. “You’re breathtaking, that’s why.” He held it out to the man in front of him, inviting him to take it. It was a replacement for the missing item in the box.
A bashful Euijae accepted the flower, accepting it as his gift. He cupped the petals in his hand. As if on command, the rose seemed to bloom even more.
He hesitantly spoke up, “I never thought of it that way.” The man slowly removed his mask once more, a small smile had formed on his face.
Sayoung couldn’t help but find that smile adorable.
”…Would you like to go on a stroll with me?”
“With pleasure.”
Meanwhile, two suspicious men were lurking behind a pillar, hiding in the shadow it cast. One was excited, and one was disappointed.
Seo Mingi muttered angrily, “Why hasn’t he given him the necklace in the box?”
The other, Bae Wonwoo, was vibrating with excitement, “They’re finally getting along!” He wiped an invisible tear, any previous ones had already been dried up from earlier after seeing them interact.
Months had passed since their first proper interaction, and Lee Sayoung’s behaviour began to change noticeably. He became less focused on work, preferring to spend time with Euijae. Bae Wonwoo was ecstatic, whilst Mingi was suffering from the increase of workload. However, they both mutually agreed that this was a positive sign for Sayoung, and openly supported his escapades.
For Cha Euijae, it felt as though a whole new avenue of life had been opened up to him. Had he ever felt this way about someone or something before? Simple words passed between him and Sayoung had bloomed into full conversations on the most basic of topics.
The weather, other nobles, anything that related to both. They made it work every time.
For Lee Sayoung, he felt as though he was getting far too deep into this forbidden thing called “Love”. Even if he tried, he could never go back. He had grown fond of Euijae, something his past self from months ago would have found silly.
Now, one could find the two sitting on a bench in front of the rose field, with the younger keeping a small distance from him for his safety. Just like now.
“…Do you still remember the first time we met?” His fiancé asked.
“When you kicked open the doors to my office?”
”Mhm.”
Sayoung’s lips curled. “What about it?”
The older man twiddled with his thumbs for a moment. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that to be an actual office with people inside. I was just looking for a room to vent my annoyance out on.”
“Is that so? Well then, you may use my office to vent inside anytime, my dearest Prince.”
“That name sounds strange.” Euijae frowned.
“Then, should I call you Hyung?” The curly-haired man teased him.
“Ack!” The other needed a moment to recover from that. “Are you sure about this?”
“You’re not openly rejecting, so I’ll take that as confirmation.”
“…Fine.” Although he looked embarrassed, he also looked rather pleased with the name.
”Hyung.”
“Are you trying to get a reaction out of me?” He caught on quickly to his lover’s teasing.
“Perhaps.” The other responded.
“You and your antics.” He grumbled. “Back then, I used to act brash and altruistic, you saw it on the day I barged in.” He took in a breath, reminiscing, “But that’s not who I am, rather I’m the opposite. I guess I just wanted to feel stronger in some way.”
They went silent, and basked in the sun. Euijae did not feel offended by the quiet, he enjoyed it. It meant that Lee Sayoung had been listening, and that effort was more than enough for him. At the same time, they turned to each other, and the younger’s violet eyes looked straight into his.
“Hyung, please don’t mask yourself ever again.” He began, his expression serious. “Your feelings are always valid, and I’ll always be here to listen.”
His words warmed the heart of his hyung, comforting him. “…I’m glad that it was you who became my arranged partner.”
Cha Euijae leaned on the bigger man’s shoulder, making him flinch in surprise.
”Euijae, don’t do that carelessly!” He scolded him by calling out his name, quickly moving out of the way.
“What happened to calling me Hyung, hm? Ah, is it because of the stories about you?”
“…I should have expected you to have known about those.”
”But, in all those tales, weren’t they all coincidences…?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, after the rumours spread that your hands killed your parents, people believed in it so greatly that it caused what’s called a nocebo effect. My aunt taught me about it.”
“Park Hye-kyung?”
“You knew her?” Euijae looked surprised, then a bit excited.
“At royal parties, when I was younger, she often rambled about her experiences in life, and how she wanted me to marry someone like the kid she was taking care of at the time.”
“I see…” Then, he realised something. ‘Was she already planning our marriage back then too!?’ He cleared his throat. “Back to the placebo effect, she showed me an example of how it worked. Whenever someone believed that their medicine would clear their illness, they were more likely to recover.”
Euijae then picked a rose. “The opposite of this is the nocebo effect. A famous example would be a person dying of fright-induced cardiac arrest after getting bitten by a non-poisonous snake.” He poked the thorn on the stem of the rose. “It’s purely psychological.”
“So you’re saying that’s what caused the deaths of any noble I touched? What about my parents? their deaths don’t suit your explanation.”
“Could it have been lead poisoning?” He asked, “If I recall, the cups used during the celebrations were antique. Your parents must have been exposed to it for a long time, which is why the guests didn’t die right after them.”
“…It sounds too good to be true.”
“Well, they say only your hands are cursed, so that means this should be safe to do.”
Euijae gently placed his hand on Lee Sayoung’s hair, ruffling it gently. He froze in worry, still worried despite knowing he was most likely correct.
‘If you believe it’s a hoax, then I’ll follow your belief.’
The grey-haired man looked giddy, ”Now, we should focus on our wedding, shall we?”
“It feels like you’ve been pulling me around all day.” He sighed, but smiled softly, as if a weight had been lifted.
The smaller one lifted Sayoung off the seat by his arm, wanting to run off to the library to collect some picture books as inspiration. Truly, he was dragging him around, even until the end of the day.
Over the weeks, he made sure that they were both comfortable with holding each other. Eventually, Lee Sayoung gained confidence when wearing his gloves, something only his fated one was capable of doing.
Much to the appreciation of a certain advisor, they finally helped out with selecting items for the big day with tremendous vigour.
Everything went perfectly.
***
On a certain fateful day, while they were resting, Cha Euijae foolishly took off Lee Sayoung’s gloves before clasping their hands together. When he tried to yank his hand away, the man shook his head.
“See? I’m fine.”
Lee Sayoung glares at him begrudgingly. He hesitantly lets his hand go.
For the first time after years, he decided to let himself love again. After a long time, he wanted to touch someone on his own accord again. All because of a person named Cha Euijae.
‘Cha Euijae, you will really be the death of me.’ He thought.
Lee Sayoung cautiously cupped Cha Euijae’s cheek in his hand, his violet eyes staring straight into his dark ones.
“Hyung.”
Surprised by the sudden touch, the man gazed back.
“Remember this. You’re beautiful. You don’t have to hide yourself behind that mask anymore.” His face inches closer to Cha Euijae’s, his breath tickling the other.
The sound of a caught breath resounded next to his ear.
His thumb caressed the cheek before reaching for his chin, lifting his face to face him. His eyes lingered on his lips for a while.
“This.. is a sign of my affection for you. Not because of how you look.. but because it’s you.”
Soft lips met.
With both of his hands, he blocked Cha Euijae’s ears from the noises outside, making sure that he’ll only listen to the sound of their kiss. Nipping onto his lower lips, he pried the lips open.
Gently sliding his tongue into the slightly parted lips, he licked the roof of the mouth. He felt the body in front of him flinch and the fair face beginning to flush red.
He pushed his lover against the wall, trapping him, the large hand protecting the other’s head. Cha Euijae then wrapped his arms around his neck, leaning more into the kiss with his eyes closed.
A low chuckle escaped their locked lips. Amused by the reaction, he deepened the kiss, swallowing all of his breath and whimpers.
He only stopped when he sensed the man was losing his breath. Their lips separated with a wet noise. Lee Sayoung wipes off the saliva from the man’s bruised lips with his thumb.
He licked his finger, a small smile tugging on his lips.
“Was it good?”
Cha Euijae covers his mouth with the back of his hand, face still dusted pink.
***
On the large bed, scattered around were documents, reports and research papers on Lee Sayoung’s predicaments. Laying down next to him is his lover, who was fast asleep with his arms and legs tightly wrapped around him, as if afraid that he would run away.
Cha Euijae skimmed through everything, page by page before noticing that something was amiss.
Every single paper pointed out that the death was caused by his touch but was it just simply that?
His eyes focused on the highlights of each incident, noticing a pattern.
The first one was his parents. They’re known as kindhearted and loving to their people and especially towards their beloved son.
However, being too kind has its own cons as well. Their hearts are known to be their weak spot.
A paper dropped out of the stack of paper.
It was a sketch of Lee Sayoung and his parents, celebrating his twelfth birthday.
His hands were on the body of his parents, where the heart is located.
“...”
Must be a coincidence.
He took another paper. It’s the same situation. His hands were touching what was known to be the other’s weakness or insecurities.
His eyes quickly scanned through all of the papers, piecing everything together. He was stumped, as this was not what he was expecting to find out.
But I was fine?
Was it because the insecurity I had with myself is slowly getting better?
Is that why?
…
He finally realised that his demise was inevitable. He glimpsed towards the man next to him, his lips forming a straight line.
He gently brushed Lee Sayoung’s hair, mumbling in a low voice, “Everything will be okay.”
***
Sunday, XX Year of Light
After a long delay for their wedding preparations, the long-awaited day had finally arrived. Lee Sayoung stood quietly in front of the altar, awaiting the arrival of his other half. The priest tries to gauge his emotional state, only for him to see ‘the’ Lee Sayoung, smiling as he awaits for the other.
The door leading to the chapel slowly opens.
“The bridegroom has arrived.”
Everyone inside the hall stands up, crossing one of their arms across their chest, as they bow their body slightly, a sign of respect towards Cha Euijae as he gracefully walks in.
Lee Sayoung lifted his face. His eyes went wide as the man slowly strided towards him. It feels as if time has slowed down as he couldn’t wait to have the man in his arms.
The gentle face, the twinkling eyes and the soft lips which curl up as soon as he locked eyes with Lee Sayoung. This was the same person who was insecure with his own looks? He was breathtaking, even moreso as he was about to be his.
Donning a white suit paired with a jeweled veil, which he insists on, Cha Euijae approached him with a cheerful smile tugging on his lips.
“Did I manage to take your breath away, Your Highness?” He asked, finally reaching Lee Sa-young’s side.
The king chuckled.
Everyone except for the bridegroom gasped in surprise.
“You always do, every single moment we’re together.”
The smile went wider. But his gaze..
“The unification of His Highness the King and his one and only future Royal Consort shall now commence!”
The hall went silent.
Seo Mingi stood quietly next to the both of them with teary eyes, his hands holding onto the box of wedding rings.
“Your Highness, will you take the bridegroom as your lawfully wedded significant other?”
“I do.”
Lee Sayoung nods, taking out one of the rings.
“Cha Euijae, I wish I could express everything with just mere words, but alas, words couldn’t express enough of my feelings for you. I will try my best to express my love for you with kisses, glances and staying by your side forever. May this ring, which signifies eternity, stays true to its meaning. This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things, my one and only.”
He slid the ring on Cha Euijae’s finger, it was a perfect fit.
The priest smiles, “Will you, the bridegroom, take His Highness the King, as your lawfully wedded significant other?”
“I do.”
He took the other ring.
“I promise to always be with you, both physically and in spirit. When you cry, I promise to wipe your tears away. When you’re scared, I promise to stay by your side. When you’re in pain, I’ll take it all away and make it mine. When I say I love you, I mean it. You’re my soulmate, my best friend, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. With this ring, I pray that our unification stays forever. This is my sacred vow to you, my one and only.”
He placed the ring on Lee Sayoung’s finger.
“With this, I announce the both of you as husband and husband. You may now kiss the bridegroom.”
Lee Sayoung stiffened. He didn’t know where to put his hands or if he even could do it. Strong hands gently grasped onto his cold ones. He gazed towards the owner of those hands.
Cha Euijae was smiling.
He placed one of Lee Sayoung’s hands on his waist and the other on his cheek.
“Are you sure about this?”
Cha Euijae caressed his cheek, mouthing, “I’m sure.”
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
Cradling the soft cheek, which filled his palms, he gently brushes his thumb on the skin. He lowers his head, capturing Cha Euijae’s lips with his own.
The lips tasted strangely sweet and it felt cold, unlike how they always felt during their past kisses. He gazed into the other’s eyes, his warm violet ones filled with questions.
His heart sped up, as if trying to alert him.
Their lips separated.
“Congratulations, Your Highness!”
Voices of people congratulating the newlyweds surrounded them yet everything was ignored by him as his gaze was locked on Cha Euijae.
Something is wrong.
Probably noticing the gaze, Cha Euijae sighed in defeat. “Your Highness.”
He grabbed onto Lee Sayoung’s hand.
“Shall we go out for a stroll nearby?”
He entwined their fingers together.
He gripped onto the hand tightly, humming in affirmation.
***
The newlyweds stroll along the lake nearby. Cha Euijae was quiet, unlike his usual chatty demeanor.
Lee Sayoung clenched his teeth, gritting out a question which he hoped he didn’t, snapping Cha Euijae out of his trance. “Hyung. How much longer do you have?”
“...”
His love placed his hands on his face.
“Your Highness.. no.. Sayoung-ah.”
He lifted his shaky gaze from the ground, his other half was smiling albeit weakly.
“I’m not lying when I say I love you. I’m also not lying when I say I’ll be next to you both physically and in spirit. I mean it.”
“...”
“You make me realise that someone could love me for who I am instead of how I look.. and I couldn’t ask for anything more sacred than this..”
He bumped their forehead together. He was tearing up.
“I love you, Sayoung-ah. Thank you.”
He wrapped his arms around the other's waist, pulling him into a tight embrace. The hands that were holding his face and the body in his arms went limp.
“Hyung?”
He shakes the man in his arms. No response. No breathing. Only silence.
“No.. This is not happening…”
Lee Sayoung sat blankly in total silence. Cha Euijae, who was in his arms, is now cold.
You make me feel loved. You make me want to enjoy life again. You make me feel like I belonged somewhere… to someone.. to you. You were my everything.
Don’t you know how cruel that is, Cha Euijae? Making me believe that I’m worthy of love just for you to leave me alone.
He carefully caresses the man’s cheeks with both of his hands. Lowering his head, he left multiple soft kisses on Cha Euijae’s face —his forehead, cheeks, eyelids, the tip of his nose and lastly… his lips.
Lee Sayoung pulls him into his embrace again, nuzzling his face on the crook of his neck, taking in his scent. Moisture starts to pool on the corner of his eyes.
Holding onto the man tightly, a choked sob escaped his plump lips. “I’m sorry…”
Words of apologies resounded in the quiet space.
“Forgive me…”
“I shouldn’t have…”
Droplets of tears fell onto Cha Euijae’s face.
After a long time, he lifted his head. His once warm violet eyes are now cold, probably colder than what it used to be.
“You should have never taught me what love feels like.”
His free hand clutched the body of a small vial inside his pocket, popping off the lid. He downed the bitter drink inside, wasting not a single drop. Casting aside the glass vial, he lifted up his lover’s body with his arms, and his legs began to move on their own. Wherever they took him, he no longer cared.
Past the pillars he went, past the church he went, past the doors to a greenhouse he went. Everything felt like a blur, his mind focusing solely on Euijae’s safety.
Foolish wasn’t it? Protecting something that has already wilted. Lee Sayoung had always been foolish, complacent with his circumstances.
Now, it had all come back to torment him.
His legs came to a stop, arriving at the place Euijae had loved to spend time in the most. A sea of red flowers named The Rose Field. The memories that had been made here would soon be forgotten, left to time.
”…Where are you going, your Highness?” A voice called from behind him, riddled with confusion.
Lee Sayoung turned his face towards him, his voice raspy from the poison, “Home.”
Seo Mingi sighed, seeing that it was already far too late to convince him otherwise. “I see.” He placed his sunglasses back on his face, masking the reddened eyes that laid beneath.
”Make it there safely, won’t you?”
There was no response from the other.
”…I know you will. See you, Lee Sayoung.”
He bowed, and looked back twice before speeding off, most likely on the way to inform Bae Wonwoo, giving Lee Sayoung the chance to spend his final moments with his Hyung.
The crux of the effects of the poison that had been in the vial finally reared its head. His lips, stomach, throat, they all felt as if they had been lit on fire. It was a pain that wasn’t able to contend with the loss of his lover.
He set down Cha Euijae’s body onto the field, and joined him. The pricking of the thorns that adorned the roses was nothing to his numbed mind. One last time, his arms wrapped around Euijae, like vines that clung to rocks, like a snake contorting around its prey.
And one last time, he kissed the one who had made his life whole, the one who destroyed his meaning.
.
.
.
”I love you, my dearest pain.”