He glared at the towel with disgust before shifting his eyes to the maid.
The look he gave her promised words she wouldn't like hearing for the next two days.
He stepped toward her, sparks practically shooting from his eyes.
He couldn't hold himself back around her anymore.
To her, this was… interesting.
She suddenly shouted and bowed in apology—
so fast it startled him and snapped his anger into confusion.
"You're admitting your mistakes? For a moment I thought you were stupid."
He picked up the towel between two fingers and tossed it at her face just as she'd done to him earlier,
then looked at her with equal disgust.
"And I apologize too. We're even. No need for you to hold a grudge."
"Idiot," she muttered—the only word she found that fit him—before turning back to continue her work.
Meanwhile, he began scraping leftovers off the plates and dumping them into black buckets,
then emptying them into the trash.
That was how his night would end.
At this pace, he doubted they would finish before dawn.
---
6 AM.
That was the hour the two finally made everything shine—literally.
Despite the times they exchanged harsh words or even shoves,
they also helped each other from time to time.
The maid's name, it turned out, was Rora—
a name oddly similar to his sister's.
Maybe he would treat her more respectfully because of that.
A thought that lasted… exactly five seconds.
Because she immediately insulted him again when she caught him slowing down with the dishes.
They headed toward the servants' quarters, dragging themselves like exhausted ghosts.
Their legs trembled, numb from standing for so many hours.
Even walking in a straight line felt impossible.
They entered separate rooms.
She might have been used to sleeping on the floor—
but he froze, mouth slightly open, at the sight of his room containing nothing but
a thin mattress and a blanket that couldn't protect him from the cold.
"Damn you, Emperor. Was a proper bed really too much to ask?"
He whispered it weakly as he collapsed onto the stiff bedding—
hard as the floor itself—
and shut his eyes.
He expected to be unable to sleep,
not used to resting on the ground…
But he sank into dreams within seconds.
Whoever said exhaustion makes you forget your worries was right.
---
Meanwhile, in another room…
A pair of violet eyes opened, vision still hazy from last night.
"When did I even get to my room?"
was the first question that crossed his mind.
He knew his drinking habits—
and yet he drank anyway.
He tried to squeeze his temples, hoping some memory would return,
but the only thing he remembered was Jinho's blurry face.
"I must have asked him for help… damn it."
He stood up, annoyed at the thought.
He had formed the wrong impression of Jinho,
since the guy had thrown a knife at him—
clearly meaning he hated him.
And because Sungjin hated trouble,
he had planned to avoid him.
Yet here he was, running into him again right after deciding to keep his distance.
He got himself ready to head out and meet the prince at the training grounds.
There were still duties to divide, missions to assign—
and vacations too.
---
He began by taking a shower,
and finished by putting on his clothes.
His outfit was simple, yet still formal enough to suit the royal court. He wore a sleeveless black shirt that reflected his discipline and the neatness of his movements. Over it, he added a light black jacket embroidered with cool yellow patterns that reached the upper chest, its sleeves covering his arms to shield them from the castle's cold hallways. His black trousers were practical and matched the rest of the attire, completed with a yellow belt at the waist. Finally, he put on boots that suited his calm, confident demeanor.
When he was done, he stepped out of his room, greeted by a few knights bowing respectfully as he passed.
Then he headed to the palace courtyard.
The first sight that welcomed him was the garden—beautiful as always—yet every time he looked at it, he discovered something new that drew him in.
He approached one of the white roses with a calm, gentle expression and observed it for a brief moment.
That was when memories of last night began to seep back into his mind, playing like a faint video in front of his eyes.
"It looks like the emblem on your uniform."
"I'll help you."
Those lines echoed in his ears like a voice bouncing inside a cave.
He hadn't expected someone he assumed disliked him to look at him kindly… or laugh with him… or even have that peaceful, thoughtful expression.
You are strange in a way I can't even describe, Jinho…
"Hey! Rora, come back! The head butler will find out we sneaked out early!"
A voice pierced his thoughts, and he turned in curiosity to see who was shouting.
It was Jinho—yelling at one of the maids who'd walked ahead of him, her face clearly trying to provoke him on purpose.
He stepped closer to understand what was happening.
"Is there something the two of you are trying to do?"
His words froze them in place, both wearing stiff, nervous smiles.
Jinho scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said,
"I… forgot to bring an important ingredient for today's meal, so I have to go out and get it with her."
"Does anyone know about this?"
Sungjin asked curiously .
"Actually… no. But can you please not tell them? We'll be quick and come right back. We'll get in trouble if we don't bring it."
Rora spoke with a plea and begging eyes that made the other look at her with emotion.
Jinho looked at her in disbelief and said,
"Get in trouble alone. You're the one who forgot it, not me."
She grabbed his arm, completely ignoring the confused look on Seongjin's face.
"We're in this together—good or bad. We stayed up all night . You're not leaving me to handle this alone."
"…Excuse me?"
Seongjin said, eyes widening as his cheeks flushed.
He must have understood her words in the wrong way—
A very, very wrong way.