Yugwon watched Miye intently and lowered his sword. He had already predicted Miye would decline. Of course, he would. He can't leave this place. 

"If the Princess does not wish to come, I won't force it." Esha said at last.

His gaze flickered briefly toward the woman hiding behind Miye, and Miye could have sworn he saw a faint curl of amusement on his lips.

"Then I shall take something else."

His eyes settled on Miye's silver hairpin.

"That gem is rare. I have never seen such a jewel in Balliard."

Miye glanced at Yugwon. The command in his eyes was clear:

Just give it to him and tell him to scram!

He removed the hairpin as his hair spilled freely, cascading over his shoulders. Gently, he brushed the strands aside and handed the pin forward. The hooded guard accepted it with a bowed head.

"It is getting late," Yugwon said coldly.

Esha Fardeyn smiled, as if he had successfully made the arrogant prince dance on his fingers. 

"Farewell," he slightly bowed at Yugwon.

He glanced back before he left, now looking at the person whose hairpin he had indirectly removed.

The few strands on his face interrupted his cognac eyes. Esha was suddenly tempted to brush them aside from the princess's rosy cheeks and tuck them behind those fair ears, long golden earrings dangling in the wind. He wanted to take a good look at the faint mole that lingered beneath that drug-like brown eye.

"And...thank you," he said softly, hoping the flower princess would say something in return. To his disappointment, Hwa Miye did not say anything.

Esha Fardeyn of Balliard had departed.

....

Hwa Miye was unable to leave his room for many days. The sickness had only gotten worse. In a situation like this, many refrained from disturbing his sleep, and because of incessant sleeping, he always missed his meals and medicines.

This time, however, was different.

Choi Yuna had stayed by Miye's side almost all the time: feeding him soup, ensuring warmth, bringing medicine on time.

She cared for him in everything except the bath.

Of course, he would die rather than agree to let her see the secret he hid between those slender legs.

And yet..

Eventually, she discovered the truth...

That the esteemed Flower Princess was, after all, a man.

The revelation came by accident.

Hwa Miye had been bathing and, in his distraction, forgot to bring a towel with him. Needing something to cover himself, he stepped out to retrieve his robe. He was certain the doors had been closed. No one was ever allowed inside while he bathed.

Yet the moment he emerged...

Choi Yuna froze.

The neatly folded clothes slipped from her careful hands and scattered to the floor.

Bathed in sunlight pouring through the window, the Flower Princess stood exposed, water still clinging to his porcelain skin. Droplets traced slow paths down his slender frame, catching the light. His build was lean and delicate: narrow waist, prominent collarbones, a body far too slight to belong to a woman. His chest lay flat beneath the glow, two soft pink petals lingering, unmistakably so.

Then her gaze fell further, and her breath caught.

Yuna gasped.

Hwa Miye stood rooted to the spot, utterly speechless. His mind went blank - no thought, no reaction, no instinct to flee or speak.

Realization struck her all at once.

The honorable and esteemed flower princess was a man!

She turned away immediately, face burning yet drained of color, shock trembling through her limbs as she hurried toward the door.

Panic surged through Miye.

No, he couldn't let her leave. Not like this. Not now. Not now. Not now.

He wanted her to stay. He wanted, selfish as it was, someone to remain by his side. Someone who cared. He wanted to continue to feel loved.

Grabbing his robe from the floor, he hastily draped it over his wet body and stumbled after her. His steps faltered, but he managed to catch her hand just before she reached the door.

His damp hair clung to his cheeks, lashes tangled together with moisture.

"Please…" Miye pleaded, voice breaking. "Don't go. Please, listen to me."

Choi Yuna stopped. She had no choice but to stay, averting her eyes.

Hwa Miye explained everything.

From the moment he was born… to how he ended up here.

It was a story no one else knew. No one remembered the burnt ashes of that Secluded Chamber, except for him. But now, someone else could also know them. He explained how the Prince had bestowed a punishment on him… just because he was a man who practiced swords. Becasue to Yugwon, Miye being a Prince would hinder his chances of ascending the throne.

Yuna struggled to comprehend it all. Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

At last, she spoke.

"Your Highness… I will not leave you," she said quietly. "I will pretend that I never saw anything. I believe… this is for the best."

Indeed, it was.

Miye had only told her what she could bear to know. Nothing more.

True to her word, Choi Yuna stayed.

She continued to care for him, unwavering and gentle. She loved him, not in grand gestures, but in quiet constancy. So much so that Miye found himself missing his mother less with each passing day.

This very same person...

The one who loved him despite every secret he carried...

Now her severed tongue lay before him.

All because of him.