The door rattled violently, the sudden knock slicing through the tension like a blade.
Both Mr. Hoseok and Haru fell silent, their gazes snapping toward the door—whatever words lingered between them now forgotten.
"May I come in?" a voice called from the other side, steady yet commanding.
Mr. Hoseok exhaled lightly. "You may enter."
The door creaked open… and a figure stepped inside.
"Ah—Captain Sumin. For a moment, I wondered who it could be," Mr. Hoseok said, his tone easing as recognition settled in.
"It's an honor to finally meet you, Mr. Hoseok," Sumin replied, stepping forward with quiet authority. "I've been searching for Haru. The guards informed me he was here… with you."
"Well… Haru had only come to ask me something trivial," Mr. Hoseok said casually, gesturing toward the room. "But why are you still standing, Sumin? Sit. Join us."
" I can't," Sumin replied. "I only came to deliver a message."
His gaze shifted toward Haru.
"The Prince has summoned you to the castle… tonight."
For a fleeting moment, silence swallowed the room.
Haru turned toward him, a flicker of surprise crossing his face—his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, as if a thousand unspoken questions had risen within them.
Before another word could be spoken—
"Mr. Hoseok, someone is here to see you," a guard announced, stepping in from beyond the doorway.
"Ah… I see," Mr. Hoseok murmured, straightening. Then, with a faint smile, he glanced back at the two. "Haru, Sumin—we'll sit and talk another time."
He moved toward the exit, his tone light… yet his steps carried a quiet urgency.
"I have a guest waiting."
Haru quickly gathered his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. Without another word, he stepped out—Sumin and Haru following close behind.
The moment they were outside—
"You've done something… haven't you, Haru?"
Sumin's voice dropped, quieter now—yet far more unsettling. His eyes locked onto Haru's, searching… almost accusing.
Haru froze.
A flicker of fear crossed his face as he turned toward him, his breath hitching. Without a second thought, he shook his head—quickly, almost expressing his feelings.
"No…?"
Sumin studied him for a long second… then exhaled faintly, as if humoring a secret only he could see.
"We'll find out tonight what exactly you've done."
With that, he turned and began walking ahead.
Haru reached out, grabbing Sumin's arm, his eyes filled with silent questions—uneasy, searching, almost pleading.
Sumin glanced back, a faint, knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"Why so worried?" he said lightly, though something in his tone felt… off. "The night will come soon enough… and then we'll know everything, won't we… Haru?"
Letting his arm slip free, Sumin walked off toward the training grounds, his figure fading into the distance.
And Haru…
He remained where he stood.
Still. Silent.
His thoughts are spiraling.
What did I do…?
Why would the Prince summon him—at night, of all times?
And more importantly…
He hadn't even seen the Prince in days.
Something wasn't right.
And deep down—
Haru could feel it.
Meanwhile, Haru let out a quiet breath and began making his way back toward his chamber, his mind still tangled in unanswered questions.
On the other side of the castle—
Keifer made his way straight to Hani's chamber, intending to inform her of the Prince's message.
But the moment he neared Hani's chamber… he stopped.
The scent of crushed herbs hit him first—sharp, overwhelming—far stronger than usual. And beneath it…
Crash—thud—clatter.
The sounds of things being dropped, tossed, shoved into place echoed from within.
Keifer frowned.
Without bothering to knock, he slowly pushed the door open—
—and froze.
The room was a disaster.
Dried remedies, scattered herbs, shattered bottles, loose papers—everything lay strewn across the floor as if a storm had torn through the place. Dust swirled lazily in the air, rising with every step he took, stinging his eyes and catching in his throat.
"What in the—" Keifer coughed lightly, waving a hand in front of his face. "What is all this…? And where is Hani?"
"Are you blind or just pretending to be?"
The voice came from somewhere above.
Keifer blinked, stepping further inside, his eyes scanning the chaos—
"Up here, you idiot commander!"
His gaze snapped toward the back of the door—
—and there she was.
Hani stood balanced on a ladder, casually brushing away thick webs from the upper corners of the wall, as if the destruction below meant absolutely nothing.
"So… you can see me now, can't you?" Hani called out, her voice slightly muffled. Her face and hair were almost entirely wrapped in cloth, leaving only her eyes visible. "And as you can clearly observe—I'm cleaning."
"Hmm… yes, I can see that," Keifer replied dryly, folding his arms as he glanced around the chaotic room. "Though I can't help but wonder… just how many years' worth of filth had accumulated here for it to look like this while you're 'cleaning' it."
"Yes, of course," Hani shot back, her tone dripping with irritation. "You've always had a talent for finding flaws in my things. How impressive."
She waved a hand dismissively, then nodded toward a nearby table.
"Forget that. See that cloth over there?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Tie it around your face… and come help me clean."
Keifer stared at her in disbelief.
"Me?" he repeated, almost offended. "I'm the Commander—and you expect me to clean this… disaster of a room? Alongside you? And ruin perfectly good clothes in the process?"
He scoffed, shaking his head as if the very idea was absurd.
"Impossible. You must have lost your mind if you think I'd agree to something like that."