𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 | 정원

44

The pale yellow sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow on the palace rooftops. The snowstorm had passed, leaving behind a world covered in glittering white. The palace garden, once chaotic with battle, now lay still, its beauty untouched by the bloodshed that had stained the ground before.

Inside the grand halls, an unbearable silence loomed.

Jay stood by the window, his breath fogging up the glass as he let out a slow, heavy sigh. Outside, the snow sparkled under the soft winter sun, but it did nothing to lift the weight pressing on his chest.

Sunghoon sat in a chair, his hands clasped together, staring at the floor as if searching for answers he knew he'd never find.

"I didn't know this would happen..." he murmured, barely above a whisper.

Heeseung stood nearby, arms crossed, his jaw tight. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but no words came.

"How are we supposed to tell Ji-ah..." Heeseung finally said, voice heavy with uncertainty.

A tense silence followed—until their eyes drifted toward the unmoving form on the floor.

Johnny, the cat, lay sprawled out, motionless.

Jay sighed, rubbing his temples. "I told you not to feed him strawberries."

"How was I supposed to know?!" Sunghoon shot back, defensive. "He wanted one! I only gave him a tiny piece!"

Jay groaned, covering his face with his hands.

"We have to bury him..." Heeseung muttered.

Sunghoon buried his face in his hands. But just as Jay took a deep breath, preparing to accept the tragedy—

Johnny stirred.

The cat blinked lazily, his tail flicking as he peered up at them in confusion.

"Oh!" Heeseung pointed. "He's moving!"

Sunghoon turned to Jay, smacking his shoulder. "Why did you say he was dead? He was sleeping this whole time!"

Jay's eyes widened. "I tried to wake him up! He wasn't responding!"

Johnny stretched, scratched behind his ear, and then strutted out of the room as if nothing had happened.

Sunoo rushed in. "What's wrong? I heard shouting—"

Sunghoon immediately pointed at Jay. "He misunderstood."

"I misunderstood?!" Jay scoffed. "The cat wasn't moving for ten minutes!"

Johnny, completely unbothered, flicked his tail and continued his way down the hall.

Weeks had passed since Eugene came to the palace. With his death, the remaining vampires who supported him had been banished, their reign of terror brought to an end. Some of the palace staff had been lost that day, their lives honored with a proper burial.

And Jungwon...

The princes had found Ji-ah with him at the cliffside, his body barely clinging to life. He was brought back immediately.

For days, Ji-ah sat beside his bed, refusing to leave, watching over him as he lay unconscious. His face was pale against the stark white sheets, his breathing shallow. The bandages around his chest were thick, wrapped tightly over the wound that had nearly taken his life.

A vampire's heart was their weakness. If it was too damaged, they wouldn't survive.

Johnny continued his lazy stroll down the hall and slipped out into the garden. Ni-ki stood a few feet away, gripping a baseball, while Jake held a bat, watching him intently.