Yujin felt as if he were enveloped in a warm fog. His body was light, his legs pleasantly aching from the unfamiliar dancing, and his cheeks burned from laughter and the warm cider. He pressed his back against Errol's chest, feeling every breath, every heartbeat through the fabric of their clothes. The horse walked slowly, swaying gently as if lulling them both.

"This is so nice..." Yujin sighed with a smile.

His eyes betrayed him, growing heavy. He fought sleep, but fatigue and the warm buzz of the cider won out. His head nodded, his eyelids fluttered and closed.

He didn't notice when Errol carefully steadied him to keep him from slipping from the saddle. Through the haze, he felt strong arms catch him when they finally reached the palace. He felt a soft floating sensation, and then everything stopped. And when his back touched the mattress, Yujin flinched. His eyes flew open.

"No..." He instinctively grabbed Errol's arm, not letting him go. "Don't leave. Please..."

His voice sounded hoarse, almost pleading. Errol froze, then slowly sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, gently tracing Yujin's palm with his fingers. But Yujin didn't let go.

"I don't want this to end," he admitted, looking into the darkness. "Out there... everything is so simple. No negotiations, no problems... Just people. Just life." 

Errol leaned down, and in the moonlight, his violet eyes shimmered mysteriously.

"It won't end," he touched his forehead to Yujin's. "I promise."

Yujin closed his eyes, breathing in his scent—smoke, forest, something warm and masculine.

The warmth of the cider still pulsed in Yujin's veins, spreading a sweet, relaxed heaviness through his body. He pressed against Errol, feeling his own breathing mingle with the first prince's.

"Warm..." he whispered, running his fingers through Errol's hair.

Errol answered not with words, but with a tender kiss on his forehead. Then another on the tip of his nose. Yujin laughed softly, but the laugh immediately turned into a ragged sigh when Errol's lips touched his cheek, then the corner of his mouth...

Their lips met. At first cautiously, almost shyly. But then Errol deepened the kiss, and Yujin responded with equal passion.

Errol's body pressed down on him, heavy, hot, and Yujin moaned at the sensation. His hands slid over the broad back, clutching at the shirt fabric, while Errol's fingers eagerly explored every curve of his body—sliding along his sides, squeezing his buttocks, digging into his thighs...

"May I...?" Errol was already reaching for the lacing of his trousers, his voice hoarse with desire. Yujin suddenly went rigid.

"No! You may not!" He covered his lower abdomen with his hands, his eyes wide with panic. Errol stopped, gritting his teeth. It was clear how difficult this pause was for him. But he just nodded, steadying his breathing.

"Alright... as you say..."

He leaned down again, kissing Yujin tenderly, almost carefully now. But their bodies were still pressed together, and Yujin felt the hard bulge in Errol's trousers pressing against his own arousal.

Errol slowly, almost questioningly, moved his hips.

"But this... is it allowed?"

Yujin didn't answer. Instead, he tentatively pressed back himself, and their members met through the fabric of their clothes.

"Ah!.."

It was incredible. Every movement from Errol sent waves of pleasure through his entire body. Yujin spread his legs wider, allowing him to rub deeper, his own hips beginning to move in response.

"You... you're so..." Errol broke off with a moan, pressing his lips to Yujin's neck.

Yujin could no longer think. Only feel—how hot, how good, how right... They came almost simultaneously, stifling their cries into the kiss so no one outside the door would hear. And only when the wave of pleasure receded did Yujin realize.

"Oh gods..."

This wasn't a dream. Errol was really here. And they had just... 

"You need to go! Quickly!" He jumped up, scarlet all over, pushing a stunned Errol toward the window.

"Wait, I..."

"Now!" 

The pane slammed shut in the first prince's face. Yujin leaned his back against it, then slowly slid to the floor. His legs were trembling. His heart was hammering. And between his thighs, warmth still pulsed.

"What I... what we..." he muttered in embarrassment.

But what frightened him most wasn't that it had happened. It was how badly he wanted Errol to come back and do it all again. 

***

Errol lay in his own bed, arms behind his head, unable to suppress a foolish grin. All night he remembered how Yujin's lashes fluttered when he kissed his neck, how hotly his body pressed back, how sweet his moans sounded...

"He responded to me. He truly wants me!" he whispered triumphantly to the ceiling.

This realization filled him with such pride he felt like flinging the window open and shouting it to the entire palace. He, Errol, had won the heart of his forest sprite! Even the way Yujin, flustered, had shoved him out the window now seemed incredibly endearing! Rolling onto his side, he buried his face in the pillow to muffle his laughter. Tomorrow he would see Yujin again. Tomorrow they could...

"No, must be more careful. Mustn't scare him off..."

But the thought of a million more nights like this made him hug the pillow and squeeze his eyes shut in delight.

***

The first rays of the sun gilded the palace spires as Philimona awoke in her chambers. A soft blue glow filtered through the semi-transparent bed curtains—the pre-dawn sky promised a clear day. She stretched, feeling the last remnants of sleep leave her body. She had finally found a solution. Everything had become clear as day. It was Philimona who should stand beside First Prince Errol. Together, they would make their kingdoms even stronger. Unite and become an invincible empire! Her lips stretched into a self-satisfied smile.

"Silly brother, I'm working so hard for you... But you could never become a good ruler, even as a spouse..."

Today, it would be delivered to her. The poison. Not lethal—she didn't want to kill Yujin. She merely wished to... adjust his fate. A few drops in his food would be enough—his legs would fail him forever. A lame, weak prince would become a burden to Errol, and she, Philimona, would offer herself as a worthy replacement.

Philimona rose gracefully from the bed, her bare feet touching the cool marble floor. She walked to the window, flung the panes open—the morning air smelled of jasmine and new beginnings.

"What a beautiful day to begin a great era," she exhaled joyfully, watching the first sunbeams light fires in the glass of the palace windows.