Seo Yul hadn't left the eastern wing since the day he arrived.
The walls had become a kind of quiet prison soft and elegant, but still a cage. He didn't ask to leave. He didn't know if he was allowed. And no one had come to take him… until now.
"Hey," a familiar voice called through the door.
Before Seo Yul could move, the door slid open and in walked Prince Hae Ryun again, holding something wrapped in white cloth.
"I brought dumplings this time," he grinned. "Don't make me eat them all alone."
Seo Yul, sitting by the window, glanced up. He didn't smile, but his eyes lingered longer this time.
Hae Ryun sat down without waiting for an invitation and started eating, gesturing for Seo Yul to join. After a long pause, Seo Yul took one slowly, hesitantly and bit into it.
"See? You do like food," Hae Ryun teased. "You're not made of stone after all."
After they ate, Hae Ryun stood up and brushed his robes.
"Come with me."
Seo Yul blinked, confused.
"Just a short walk. No one will stop you if you're with me. Promise."
Seo Yul hesitated then nodded, just slightly.
They slipped out into the quiet courtyard behind the wing. The sky was cloudy but calm, and spring wind rustled the plum trees. Birds chirped from tiled rooftops.
Seo Yul followed silently beside him, eyes wide as they passed garden paths and small pavilions he hadn't seen before.
"This part of the palace is boring," Hae Ryun whispered. "But it's quiet. No nosy ministers here."
They reached a pond with stepping stones, koi fish gliding below the surface. Hae Ryun crouched and tossed crumbs into the water.
Seo Yul stood beside him, watching.
Then a sound.
"Your Highness!"
A guard jogged toward them, startled.
"The king gave orders he's not allowed to leave the eastern"
"I brought him out," Hae Ryun interrupted, casually. "Is that a problem?"
The guard hesitated, then gave a nervous bow and left quickly.
Meanwhile, back in the royal library, a different guard bowed low before the king.
"Your Majesty… Prince Hae Ryun has taken the boy outside his quarters."
King Hwan Seong didn't look up from the document he was reading.
"Let it be."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
The king's fingers stilled for a moment above the page, before he returned to his work his expression unreadable.
Back at the pond, Hae Ryun laid on the stone path with arms behind his head, eyes closed.
"You don't have to say anything," he murmured, as wind stirred his hair. "But I hope you're not scared of me anymore."
Seo Yul looked down at him, unsure how to answer.
But for the first time since arriving in Goryeon…
He didn't feel entirely alone.