LXVIII. The Honeymoon Heist (of Secrets)

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Both of you stood frozen, your bodies stiff with shock, your minds racing to catch up with what your eyes were seeing. The missing vampire princesses.

Gone without a trace for years—presumed dead by many, mourned by more—and here they were. Laughing. Smiling. Alive. And with children.

As if the world hadn’t shattered years ago. As if their disappearance hadn’t left a gaping wound in everyone they left behind.

They walked into the café with an ease that made your heart clench—seven regal figures, older now, softened by time but still glowing with that distinct royal air. One heavily pregnant, three with little ones in tow, the others joking like it was just another sunny day.

They sat just a few feet away.

You and Seungcheol remained standing at the counter, still and silent like statues carved from disbelief. His hand in yours was trembling. You turned to look at him—his head was bowed, his shoulders stiff.

“Cheol… shh… what’s wrong, baby?” you whispered, voice trembling.

“Y-Yn…” his voice cracked, barely a breath as he choked on a sob. His eyes shimmered with tears that finally broke free and streamed down his cheeks.

Your heart shattered.

You wrapped your arms around him immediately, pulling him into your embrace. “Shh… hey… it’s okay, Cheol. It’s okay,” you murmured, rubbing his back, grounding him, even as your own eyes welled up.

“What… what do we do now…?” he muttered, lost in a wave of emotion that had no shore.

You turned your head slightly, just enough to glance at the princesses. They were radiant—laughing over coffee and pastries, speaking gently to their children, bickering playfully like they never left. And that hurt more somehow. That everything looked so normal.

“Babe…” you whispered again, “Should we… should we go to them?”

You didn’t need to speak loud. They weren’t far—too close for comfort, yet too far for a miracle.

“Eomma, I want croissants,” a little boy’s voice rang out. Your eyes flicked to him—bright-eyed, about ten.

“Alright, little prince!” came Nayeon’s voice, warm and familiar. The eldest of the princesses, still with that signature light in her eyes.

Seungcheol’s breath hitched—and then he broke. A soft, shuddering sob that shattered what was left of your resolve. You closed your eyes, pressing your forehead to his chest.

“I know, baby… I know…”

Another voice. “Ah—no, not eomma’s coffee, baby! Have yours!” Seungwan scolded sweetly, smiling down at her young daughter.

“Momma… coffee, pwease?” the toddler asked with a small pout, causing a soft round of chuckles from the table.

“Here, have aunty’s! Momma is just stubborn,” Chaewon chimed in, teasingly.

“Yah! You brat, stop spoiling the kids!” Seungwan huffed, laughter bubbling beneath her mock scolding.

“Meeeehhh!”

“Unnie, four of you spoiled us—now we get to spoil your kids. Tadaaa!” Chaeyoung declared, arms out dramatically.

“That’s why that kid is with you,” Momo grumbled, pointing to Chaeyoung’s lap where a little boy was cuddled.

“He loves me, so what?” Minju sang, tossing her hair playfully.

Laughter erupted. Warm. Alive. Real.

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