The moment Prince Leon truly looked at Joon-Woo, something inside his chest shifted.
It was sudden.
Unexplainable.
His heart—still weak from the wound—began to race, not from pain, but from the quiet presence of the young man before him. The silver-white hair, the calm eyes, the gentleness in every movement…
It felt like fate.
Love at first sight.
Leon didn't know how or why—but he felt it deeply.
Joon-Woo noticed that the prince was awake.
"The food is ready," he said softly, his voice calm, though a hint of hesitation lingered beneath it.
Leon nodded, his gaze never leaving Joon-Woo.
They ate together beside the fire, the soft crackle of flames filling the silence between them. Slowly, carefully, they began to talk—simple words at first, unsure but sincere.
After a while, Leon spoke again.
"What is your name?" the prince asked gently. "And… how old are you?"
Joon-Woo hesitated, then answered quietly, giving his name and age while avoiding Leon's eyes.
Leon smiled faintly.
"My name is Leon," he said. "I am the prince of this kingdom."
Joon-Woo stiffened for a brief moment, surprised—but he said nothing.
Leon watched him closely, then asked, "What do you do? What kind of life do you live?"
At that question, Joon-Woo fell silent.
He had no answer.
No past he could explain.
No role he could name.
He lowered his gaze, his thoughts searching for words—but finding none.
Seeing his silence, Leon did not press further.
After a pause, Joon-Woo spoke softly, changing the subject.
"It's very late," he said. "We should sleep now."
Leon nodded in agreement.
The fire burned low as the cave grew quiet. They lay down close to one another, sharing warmth in the cold night.
Joon-Woo felt unbearably shy.
His heart beat too fast.
His body remained tense.
This is the first time, he thought.
The first time I am sleeping beside a prince… in my human form.
Leon, still weak from his injury, soon drifted into sleep.
Before dawn—
before Leon could wake—
Joon-Woo quietly rose.
He looked at the sleeping prince one last time, his expression filled with conflict and emotion. Then, without making a sound, he slipped out of the cave and disappeared into the forest.
When Leon awoke, the fire had nearly died out.
And Joon-Woo was gone.
Panic tightened in his chest.
Ignoring the ache in his body, Leon stood and stepped outside the cave, scanning the forest desperately.
Where did he go…?
Before he could search further—
The knights arrived.
"Your Highness!" they cried in relief as they rushed toward him.
At last, the prince had been found.
They escorted Leon back to the royal tents without delay.
Unseen by anyone—
Joon-Woo had already returned.
Before the prince arrived, he slipped into the tent and took on his fox form once more, curling up quietly as though he had never left.
Soon after, high priests were summoned.
They surrounded Prince Leon, chanting prayers as powerful holy magic poured from their hands, completing his healing.
The news spread quickly through the kingdom.
An attack on the prince.
An attempt on his life.
Before long, the message reached the king and queen.