Miye sat on the floor with his hands placed neatly on his knees, a thin veil cascading over him like moonlight. He waited quietly.

Then he felt that obnoxious presence.

Even from a distance, Miye felt the suffocating weight of it creeping closer like a shadow.

He's here.

Footsteps echoed, many at first… then only one. The door opened without so much as a knock.

Miye lifted his gaze.

A man in royal attire stepped inside, luxury draped over him like armor. His black gat cast a dark shadow over Miye as he approached.

Hwa Yu Gwon. The Prince of Hwachon.

The absolute ruler in this palace… and the captor of Miye's life.

His ferocious black eyes were rimmed faintly with red, like a predator's. A smirk curved on his lips -- childlike, yet sickening. The expression of someone who had found his favorite toy exactly where he left it.

"Miye," he said, voice deep and commanding, "stand up."

The pressure of his tone alone felt like a boulder crashing onto Miye's shoulders, but he obeyed, trembling.

"Take off the veil. You don't need to hide your face from me."

The chuckle that followed held no warmth.

Miye removed it. Their eyes met.

"What beauty…" The prince's smirk deepened, though his eyes stayed sharp and menacing. "I was right to hide you from the commoners."

"…Where is Yuna?" Miye asked, forcing himself to speak before he lost his nerve. His voice trembled, but his will didn't.

"Oh?" The prince raised a brow. "So bold now?"

"It's just… I wasn't notified of anything--"

"And why," the prince stepped closer, lowering his face to Miye's, "would I notify you? You have no authority to know everything."

Miye's fists tightened at his sides. If he could, he would bury one into the prince's face. But the outcome of that was already written: death.

"After all," Yu Gwon continued, "You know exactly why I dismissed her. You can't hide anything from me."

So Miye's worst suspicion was true. The prince had found out that Yuna knew his secret.

"What… did you do to her?"

"Mmm…" The prince pretended to think, tapping his chin with amusement. "Since she kept denying it… I believe I cut her tongue off for lying to me."

Miye's heart sank. His breath vanished.

Yuna, someone he trusted, someone who had cared for him like a mother -- suffered because of him?

His vision blurred with tears.

The prince noticed and smiled as if he was satisfied to see the pain in Miye's eyes.

He lifted Miye's chin with cold fingers, leaned in, and licked away the tear that clung to his skin.

"I told you," he whispered, voice slicing through him, "You are not supposed to feel emotions."

Miye only looked away as Yugwon tipped his chin back up.

"You've lost quite a lot of weight," Yugwon murmured, eyes scanning him. "I'm changing your diet. You need some flesh on you. My birthday is around the corner. I don't want to do it with a rack of bones."

"Why did you come here?" Miye asked, still refusing to look at him.

"Ah, right, "Yugwon drew a scroll from his sleeve and tossed it to the floor. It unfurled with a soft roll. "Father and the queen will be visiting soon."

"Mother is coming…?"

Miye's eyes flickered with hope -- delicate, almost painful hope. Was she finally coming for him? Maybe this was his last chance to leave this gilded prison. He no longer cared for childish luxuries or royal titles. All he wanted… was to be with his mother.

"There's word from intel," Yugwon continued, almost smug, "That the purpose of their visit is a marriage proposal."

He stepped closer. "Do not worry. Even if I marry…" He reached out, twirling a few strands of Miye's silky hair between his fingers. "I'll never leave you."

He brushed his cheek against Miye's soft skin. Miye flinched as he whispered, "Or you could just kill my wife and become queen yourself. Just like your mother."

The words struck hard. Miye had been blamed for the late queen's death ever since his mother, a mere commoner before the king claimed her, rose to the throne. Miye never knew his real father. His place in the palace existed only because his mother had married the king.

Hate followed him everywhere... until the day Yugwon silenced every whisper with executions. After that, Miye was the princess, adored only for his beauty. Anyone who knew the truth, that Miye was a man, did not live to tell it.

Yugwon had saved him, but Miye's life was never truly his to live at a price.

"Haa…" Miye shoved him back. "My mother did not kill anyone."

Yugwon almost laughed. "Are you actually defending her? After she abandoned you? She didn't even look at you when I dragged you away. What makes you think she'll look at you now? Don't you get it? She doesn't care about you."

The words hit Miye like a blunt strike, then sank into him like an arrow.

No - he knew Yugwon spoke the truth. But accepting it… that was something his heart refused.

"Shut up!" Miye snapped. Tears slipped down, hidden by his bangs.

The sight infuriated Yugwon. A rebellion, no matter how small, was unacceptable.

He seized Miye by the back of his head. "Do not forget who gave you life. If I hadn't taken you in, the royal court would've killed you anyway."

He slammed Miye to the floor. The thud echoed sharply in the chamber.

"They'll be here in three months," Yugwon said, pulling out a small towel to wipe the hand that had touched Miye. "Until then, prepare yourself for my birthday banquet."

He cast one last, cold glare at Miye lying on the floor.

"Do not forget your place. I own you."

The door slammed shut. Silence swallowed the princess's chamber.

If one listened closely beneath the stillness, there were the soft, broken sounds of Miye's quiet sobs -- each one a curse at his own existence.