Sacrifice || ENHYPEN FF

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 71

~Colour my world..... Orange flower- you complete me~

-Start of Chapter 71-

The faint morning light streams through the sheer curtains, chasing away the last remnants of the night. I roll onto my side, burying my face into the pillow with a groan. Sleep has been a stranger; the memory of Sunghoon's words, his kiss, plays on an endless loop in my mind. My heart hasn't stopped racing since.

I drag myself out, dozing as a servant does my hair. I slip into the hall, the weight of a sleepless night dragging at my steps. The golden light pouring through the high windows feels too bright for some reason. Sliding into a chair at the far end of the table, I hope to escape notice.

The dining hall hums with quiet conversation, the faint clink of goblets and silverware filling the grand chamber. Warm bread, roasted meats, and fresh fruit line the table, their aromas mingling in the air.

The table is almost full, except a few empty spaces.

The king obviously hasn't arrived yet, thus why no one has started eating yet.

Yeonjun, seated across from me, notices anyway. Of course he does. His sharp eyes flick over me "Ah, the lady arrives. Did the moon keep you company all night, or was it your thoughts again?"

I grumble realising its quote obvious to others I barely got any sleep last night

"Neither" I mutter, barely suppressing a yawn.

Riki, seated a few chairs down, snickers. "Heeseung hyung's missing again. Still in bed, probably dreaming about his sword."

Jay smirks. "Dreaming of it? More like drooling on it."

Huening's grin widens. "At least he has an excuse. Unlike someone I saw tripping over their own boots this morning."

Yeonjun scoffs, his eyes glinting mischievously, "I'm tempted to go upstairs and smack Beomgyu awake. That'll be my cardio for the day."

Beomgyu stumbles in at that exact moment, his hair a mess and his tunic half-buttoned. He glares at Huening and Yeonjun like he heard him from down the hall.

"Good morning, Beomgyu" Soobin says cheerfully. "What war did you fight before breakfast?"

Beomgyu groans, slumping into a chair. "The war against mornings. And I lost."

Huening cackles, and Soobin shakes his head, muttering something about everyone in this castle being hopeless.

The hall quiets suddenly when the doors swing open. Sunghoon strides in, every inch the picture of calm and control. His dark tunic is perfectly pressed, his hair brushed back, and in his hand—a bouquet of orange roses.

The dining hall falls silent for a beat.

Riki is the first to react. He shoots out of his chair, pointing dramatically at Sunghoon. "Oooohhhh! My hyung is giving flowers now?" he eclaims, his eyes wide with exaggerated awe.

Jake sighs heavily, reaching over to smack the back of Riki's head. "Sit down, clown."

"But Jake-hyung, this is groundbreaking!" Riki continues, rubbing his head but grinning nonetheless. "Should I start planning the wedding?"

Sunghoon ignores the antics, his eyes scanning the room until they land on me. The faintest smile tugs at his lips as he approaches, the bouquet in hand.