CHAPTER 43
Taeyang's eyes widened the instant Dohyun leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial.
"Guess what?"
Dohyun grinned.
The boy sat up straighter, anticipation bubbling.
"What?"
"I'm taking you to see your Dada,"
Dohyun said softly.
Taeyang's face lit up like the morning sun.
"I finally get to see Dada?!"
His voice squeaked with excitement.
"Shhh,"
Dohyun pressed a finger to his lips quickly, glancing back at Taejin who stood stiff at the doorway.
"Your Papa doesn't know about this, so it's our little secret, okay?"
Taeyang clasped his tiny hands over his mouth, barely containing a giggle. His eyes sparkled with happiness as he whispered back,
"I get to see Dada again."
Dohyun's heart warmed at the pure joy radiating from the child. He ruffled Taeyang's hair with a smile.
"That's right. But first—let's get you dressed."
He stood and moved over to Taeyang's wardrobe, picking out a simple tunic and robe. As he laid them on the bed, Taejin shifted uncomfortably by the door, muttering under his breath.
"This is madness…"
But Dohyun ignored him, crouching again as he began helping Taeyang slip out of his nightclothes. The boy's excitement bubbled over in little laughs and kicks as he hurried Dohyun along.
Dohyun hushed him gently, his tone both teasing and urgent.
"Quiet now, or someone will hear and the surprise will be ruined."
Taeyang nodded eagerly, pressing his lips together in an exaggerated show of silence, though his eyes still gleamed with uncontainable happiness.
Taejin ran a hand down his face, watching the scene unfold with dread. Every fiber in him screamed to stop this, but the way Taeyang's joy filled the room made his chest tighten. He clenched his fists and turned his head aside, silently cursing Dohyun for dragging them into such dangerous waters.
Sihyun sat propped against the headboard, the heavy sorcerer's chain fixed to his right wrist clinking faintly each time he shifted. The chain's dull weight dragged at him, its magic suppression making his tattoos faint, almost invisible, and leaving his eyes dark instead of glowing. He looked tired, almost fragile—though his presence still carried a sharp edge.
The sound of the door creaking open broke his trance. He turned his head sharply, strands of hair falling across his face, only to see Dohyun step inside alone.
Sihyun's gaze lingered on him for a long, assessing moment before his voice came out low and hoarse.
"…It's only you, Dohyun. Why are you here?"
Dohyun gave a lopsided smile, too casual to be sincere, and forced a little laugh.
"Why else? I came to visit you. You didn't think I'd just leave you rotting in here, did you?"
Sihyun tilted his head, suspicion flickering faintly in his expression as his gaze searched Dohyun's face. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied him in silence, as if peeling away at the facade.
The door opened again, and Taejin entered. His arm was tightly bandaged, the white cloth stark against his trembling hand.
Sihyun's eyes immediately dropped to the arm. His shoulders stiffened, and for a brief moment, his usual sharpness dimmed. He lowered his gaze, avoiding Taejin's eyes.
"…I'm sorry,"
Sihyun said quietly, the words clipped and stiff, as though they were dragged out of him. He still couldn't look directly at Taejin, his head slightly bowed.
The chamber fell into silence. Taejin froze at the unexpected apology, his lips parting but no words coming out. He clenched his good hand into a fist at his side, conflicted.
Dohyun, standing between them, watched the scene closely, his lips twitching faintly into a smile. But behind it, his thoughts drifted toward the boy he had left waiting—the secret card he hadn't revealed yet.
Taejin didn't respond to Sihyun's quiet apology. The silence stretched, heavy and awkward, until Sihyun finally lifted his gaze—dark eyes flicking briefly to Taejin's bandaged arm.
"…I can heal that,"
Sihyun said, voice quiet but firm.
"Your arm. I can fix it… if you let me out of these chains."
Taejin's stomach twisted at the offer. He caught the meaning behind the words instantly and tightened his jaw.
"No,"
he replied quickly, his tone sharper than intended.
"I'm fine. You don't need to."
Sihyun's face shifted with disappointment, his gaze turning away from Taejin as if a small flicker of hope had just been extinguished.
The air grew tense again—until Dohyun finally broke it.
"There's… someone you need to see."
Sihyun's head snapped toward him, suspicion and surprise mingling in his expression.
"What?"
Before he could say more, the door opened wider. Small footsteps pattered in, and Taeyang's voice rang bright like sunlight cutting through storm clouds.
"Dada!!"
Sihyun's entire demeanor shattered in an instant. The sorrow, the hardness, the restraint—all of it melted away as Taeyang bounded toward the bed and leapt into his arms.
Sihyun caught him, hugging him so tightly his chain rattled against the bedpost. His voice trembled with raw emotion as he buried his face in Taeyang's hair.
"My sunshine… I missed you so much."
He kissed the boy's hair over and over, tears threatening to spill as Taeyang giggled and clung to him just as fiercely.
Dohyun's heart softened at the sight, his chest tightening at the pure, desperate love between father and son. For the first time, he felt justified in disobeying Muwon.
Taejin, standing quietly at the side, could only watch—his throat tight. In that moment, he saw not the dangerous sorcerer, nor the man who had nearly killed him… but a father who had been stripped of everything and left unbearably lonely.
Sihyun's arms tightened around Taeyang one last time before he lifted his gaze. His voice was low, rough with gratitude.
"…Thank you. Both of you."
Dohyun felt warmth spread in his chest. It wasn't often Sihyun said words like that, not to him. He smiled faintly, brushing it off with his usual playful air, but inside he was glad.
Taeyang, meanwhile, could hardly contain his excitement. His little face lit up as he wriggled happily in Sihyun's arms.
"Dada! There's sooo many things I wanna do with you! And I wanna show you everything!"
Sihyun chuckled, the sound soft and tender as he smoothed his son's hair back.
"Mm, really? Then you'll have to tell me all about it, sunshine."
But Taeyang's joy faltered when his small hand brushed against the cold metal of the chain around Sihyun's wrist. He frowned, tilting his head.
"Dada… why are you in chains?"
The question hit Sihyun like a dagger. His lips parted, but for a moment no words came out. Finally, he forced a weak smile, stammering over his own lie.
"It's… it's to help me… recover. Dada's just… getting better, that's all."
Taeyang looked at the heavy links again, confusion in his big eyes. His little hands tugged at the chain as if he could rip it away himself.
"I don't like it…"
he whispered.
Sihyun's smile wavered. He raised his gaze, locking eyes with Dohyun. His tone turned sharp, desperate.
"Dohyun. Please. Take them off me. If not for me… then for Taeyang's sake."
Dohyun froze, hesitation flooding him. He glanced at Taejin, whose face had already hardened in silent refusal.
Before either could respond, Taeyang piped up, bouncing in his father's lap, pleading in that innocent way only a child could.
"Uncle Dohyun! Uncle Taejin! Pleaseee… take it off so I can spend more time with Dada! Please!"
The two men exchanged a troubled look, neither able to answer. The unspoken truth hung heavy in the room—if Sihyun was out of that chain, it could be over for them all.