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Chapter Text

Junhui woke up to the sound of knocking on the door. He startled and blinked several times, still leaning against his forearms. The soft fabric beneath him, the brown hair over the hunter's arm.

He raised his head and his eyes fell directly on Wonwoo and his peaceful expression. He still did not wake up and Jun felt the anguish again blossoming in his chest.

The knocks interrupted his flustered thought and he cleared his throat before speaking.

“Yes?”

“Prince! I'm Chan, Jihoon sent me to let you know that Seokmin will be arriving soon.”

With that message, Junhui stood up like a spring. He looked through the window and saw the white cloak covering the landscape. The sun had barely risen and he didn't know when he fell asleep, but he watched over Wonwoo at night, accompanied by the moon, entering through the window. Watching his chest rise and fall as a sign that he was still alive. Putting his hand over the other man's heart, to make sure it kept beating.

“I'm going!”

He took the winter cloak that Chan had brought in the night before along with his barely finished meal. His appetite was greatly reduced by all the emotions disturbing him, but it was his turn to stay strong and he finished it all in the end.

He took Wonwoo's hand and gave it one last squeeze before leaving.

“I'm going to help you, Wonwoo, you are going to wake up, I promise you.”

For some reason, he couldn't stay with that simple gesture. He felt his heart pounding, but he moved even closer to the unconscious hunter and placed a kiss on his cheek.

It was a gesture his mother gave him when he went to sleep, but it wasn't a good night kiss. It was a temporary goodbye kiss, hoping to leave in that small action a promise that he made to himself and it was to do everything in his power so that Wonwoo would return to his consciousness and recover from his injuries.

Without further delay and giving the hunter one last look, he approached the door and opened it. Chan looked directly at him for a few seconds and then looked away in a sheepish manner.

“Good morning, Chan, thanks for coming to let me know.”

“No need,” said the younger in a low voice. “I'm going to stay to take care of…”

“Wonwoo,” Junhui said with a soft smile.

“Wonwoo, yes. I'll take your place while you go with Seokmin.”

“Thank you very much, I entrust him to you, he's very important to me.” The prince ruffled the brown hair and Chan lowered his head, red cheeks. He only managed to nod.

Junhui walked down the hallway of the cabin until he reached the door and went out into the winter landscape. He put on his winter cloak without putting on the hood and walked down the simple snowy path to the largest cabin, where Soonyoung was waiting for him outside, with a cup of cinnamon tea that he immediately offered to warm up.

The young man accepted it with a grateful smile.

“Seokmin is always early- Since I've known him he has woken up with the sun and is very punctual.” Soonyoung also drank his own tea, looking out over the evergreen forests, the beautiful snow-covered pine trees, and their layered dark green leaves. 

“You said Joshua asked for a collateral and you needed an insurance too. Did Seokmin volunteer or...?”

Soonyoung looked at him with a very wide smile and his eyes almost disappeared.

“Joshua chose him. Between all of us, he pointed to Seokmin without hesitation. He didn't even look at the rest of us.”

Junhui took a sip and nodded. “Wow... How curious.”

“Yes, very curious.” Soonyoung raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes. “But it was no surprise, Seokmin was the one who watched over Joshua when he was injured and he stayed longer watching over him while he recovered. He did not refuse to go with him. And to this day he doesn't seem to want to go back.” Soonyoung told him, tapping his heel on the ground to brush the excess snow off his boot.

“Can he do it?” The young man continued to warm his hands with the steaming mug.

“Come back and stay with us?” The miner looked toward the pines and the path that lost between them. He pouted his lips. “Yes he can. It's obvious that we let Joshua stay in peace in the northern lands. And it is obvious that Joshua's protection is quite effective. Everyone fulfilled their part, and Seokmin as insurance was never necessary. We're all trusted men. Men off pacts. We keep our promises.”

Junhui nodded in understanding again.

“That's good,” he smiled and Soonyoung stared at him, to smile again.

“Oh prince, it really is good to have you back. Seokmin will be very glad to see you. More than anything because your smile is like a beautiful flower sticking out of the snow. Pure, beautiful and strong.”

Junhui felt his cheeks start to heat up with embarrassment. But his chest felt full when he heard those words, especially because the "strong" part was not expected.

Was he strong? According to Jeonghan he was a useless kid. In his view of himself he was too weak to ensure his own safety. If he compared himself to Wonwoo, a hunter with great strength, agility and speed, combat skills and endurance...

What kind of strength did Jun possess?

“So it's Seokmin's decision to stay with Joshua?” He decided to change the subject and hide his red cheeks that contrasted against his pale skin with the cup of tea in one last sip.

Soonyoung pouted his lips again, it was more of a nod.

“Of course, at the end of the day, you always stay where your heart keeps you... An example is me, who stayed here,” he jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the large cabin.

“For that reason, prince, you don't want to get away from that man and you want to save him with such might”

Junhui blinked, analyzing Soonyoung's words and then smiled tenderly in understanding.

“Jihoon told me that you came to this cabin together to take care of Hansol and Chan.”

The miner looked at him in surprise, but then lowered his gaze and smiled fondly. The smile that a person has when thinking of a loved one, or someone special.

“That's how it is. And like you can intuit, that's why Seokmin stayed there. We cannot hold him back, he has already found his true home.”

And Junhui understood. He was delighted to hear those words, to learn of the nature of Seokmin and Joshua's relationship and their reasons for staying together.

But he couldn't help but feel a longing.

“When will I find my home...?”

The prince without family. The prince without a castle. The prince without his kingdom. The prince... That only had a hunter by his side.

He thought again of Wonwoo and that he needed to save him. He wouldn't waste time on longing, when he had a mission on hand: A promise to keep.

They walked a little further, under the front of the cabin where there was a wooden bench similar to the one he'd seen in the dining room.

Jun conceived the image of the miners sitting face to face, with a pleasant meal and with the forest surrounding them, the gentle breeze. Hansol serving the dishes that were passed from hand to hand, Jihoon serving the drinks, Chan and Soonyoung laughing at a joke from the oldest in which the youngest's laugh rose above the others.

And he could perfectly imagine Seungkwan fitting in with them. Joking, laughing, being supportive.

But Jeonghan had taken all that away from him. His family.

His chance to be happy.

He pushed those thoughts away; he couldn't stay thinking about that for Soonyoung took his fingers to his mouth and gave a long whistle. Then he raised his right arm and began to move it from side to side.

“Seok!”

Junhui looked in the same direction in which the older was heading and saw a man with a hat that shone with the rays of the sun that seemed to impose on the winter landscape.

He was riding a pinto horse and was approaching through the path between the trees.

“Soon!”

The horse trotted towards them and Junhui got a better look at the man up close. The brown hair sticking out of his hat contrasted with his tan skin.

The equine stopped and the man in the winter cloak got down. He gave them a smile that Junhui found very bright and up close he could see some freckles on his face. He was shining a lot. He had leather gloves and more than a miner, he looked like a knight with his boots and the sword that Junhui could see resting in his hip, on the side where the cape revealed his clothing.

Both miners greeted each other with a hug.

“It's nice to have your ass back, but it won't be for long," Soonyoung said as he patted Seokmin on the back. "You have to help the prince.”

They separated and Seokmin looked at him without understanding. Then his dark eyes observed Junhui intently for the first time and he opened them in surprise.

“The prince? Prince... Junhui?”

The aforementioned nodded timidly. Then Seokmin's smile brightened even more, if that was possible.

“I can't believe it ... Well, you turned into a very handsome young man, I'm not going to lie!” He said animatedly, gesturing towards the younger and taking off his hat in a repeated bow.

Jun didn't understand why everyone commented on his beauty. Was he really that beautiful as they said?

“Nice to meet you and excuse me for I would like to ask you a favor…”

Seokmin looked back at Soonyoung, with both eyebrows raised.

“Take him to Joshua.”

The expression wavered for a moment, as if he was thinking about the idea.

“Tell me his story first,” he smiled softly.

“Seok, you see, the prince wants you to take him to Joshua because it's an emergency and only he can help him. So as soon as possible…” Soonyoung explained.

Seokmin's lips molded into an "o" and he nodded. “I see. In that case we have to go as soon as possible.”

“Don't be suspicious, Seokmin.” Soonyoung looked up at him, raising his eyebrows and nudging him playfully. “I know you want Joshua just for yourself.”

The other adult laughed and shook his head several times, embarrassed.

“It's not that, I don't distrust the prince at all, just seeing him makes his purity evident. I'm sure Joshua will be delighted to meet him.” Seokmin looked at Junhui with warm eyes and the prince smiled sheepishly. “It's just that I wanted to see the boys. But that can wait.”

“I am very grateful.” Junhui bowed his head cordially and heard Seokmin's pleasant laugh.

“I am honored, Prince.” Jun looked up at him and the smile the other man gave him was fond. “Really, I'd never see the day when-

But he broke off, looking at Soonyoung with a more serious gesture all of a sudden. The other miner seemed to understand something that Junhui did not.

“Anyway, we'd better hurry, the trip isn't short as one might think” he returned to his smile, but this time it was softer. Junhui nodded, not asking anything. Soonyoung for his part touched his shoulder lightly.

“I'll bring Lilili, I'm sure she'll be delighted to ride again, especially to see D.K, her old friend.”

The young man tilted his head in confusion and Soonyoung laughed outright.

“Lilili is a very stubborn mare who always wants to be riding, very hyperactive,” he explained. And then he pointed to the horse that lay quietly beside Seokmin, which he'd arrived on. “And he is D.K, who by the way, also fell in love with Joshua and that's why he went along Seokmin with him.”

The taller miner tapped Soonyoung on the arm.

“Stop being so dramatic. Joshua sends you his regards, by the way, he says he's working on investigating a way to... You know, the mines.” He gestured with his hands, again looking at Soonyoung in a way that only he understood, but that Junhui did not.

“Okay, say hi from us too and thank you in advance. I'll go for Lilili, I won't be long.”

He made a military-style farewell and retired. They waited for him, still outside the cabin, with a clear sky to travel, in appreciative silence.

And as he promised, Soonyoung returned right away, with one hand on the end of a rope and a beautiful white mare following closely behind. Junhui approached her and patted her gently. The equine immediately lowered her head towards him.

“Woah, she likes you. But I'm not surprised,” Soonyoung exclaimed, grinning widely.

Junhui kept stroking the mare and smiled. As a child, there were many horses in the castle stable, which he visited almost daily. They seemed amazing to him and very capable animals. As well as intelligent and with good instinct.

“Very well, prince.” Seokmin eased himself back onto D.K and took the reins. “Will you accompany me?”

Junhui looked at him for a few moments with his big eyes and then he nodded shyly but decisively. Soonyoung helped him get on the mare that he already had the saddle. He adjusted his winter cloak and looked at the miner who smiled at him from below.

“Joshua is a good man, I'm sure he will help you and he will like you, after all, it is impossible that someone does not like you.”

Junhui became embarrassed again. He really didn't understand what was in him for all of them to say those things.

“I'm just a plain and useless boy”

“Thanks for everything, Soonyoung. Take care of Wonwoo for me, please.”

“Aye, aye, captain, he will be safe in our hands.”

Junhui sighed in relief, but not quite. He wouldn't stop feeling that unease until he saw Wonwoo open-eyed, the dark orbs staring back at him. Conscious and above all, alive.

“See ya Soon, say hello to the rest,” Seokmin said, putting his hat back on and lowering the brim in farewell. “Ready?” He raised an eyebrow at the prince who nodded vehemently.

With that last, he herded the horse and Junhui followed closely, entrusting Wonwoo to those miners, to go to the northern lands to get help with the intention of seeing him awaken again.

❄❄❄

The trees around, the calm trot of the horses leaving their tracks on the snow road. The sky was clear and cloudless. The weather was cold, but it could be tolerated.

Junhui followed Seokmin closely. The other man, with his hat and perpetual smile, from time to time would turn to make a comment about the path, like that in spring the flowers of all colors seemed to be chaperones and that the birds flew near his head when he passed by.

The young prince listened to him attentively and could imagine everything the older man told him. He didn't know much of the outside world, but the little he saw was more than enough to amaze him.

He wondered if Wonwoo, with his immense knowledge of the forest, would be equally fascinated in this place different from Yabbay Forest.

Maybe he would smile.

And Jun smiled at the idea.

“From now on it will get colder and maybe snow will fall, but once we enter Joshua's territory, you will see the advantages of possessing a little magic,” Seokmin commented.

He seemed very calm, as if no problem could beset them. And Jun thought that he trusted Joshua so much that he had such faith in protecting him. Although of course, Seokmin had a sword and the only reason for carrying something like that was because he knew how to use it.

Maybe it was his own paranoia or that the last few days he was very stressed due to the constant attacks and surprises of Jeonghan. But he tried to convince himself that he was safe there. For the moment.

As Seokmin said, later down the road the temperature dropped a few degrees more and he had to pull on the hood of his winter cloak when it started to snow gently. Some flakes accumulated on Seokmin's hat.

The wind was increasing and they had to go slower because the snow was more abundant there. So much that Lilili jumped several times to be able to trot, purposely seeking to sink into the snow.

Seokmin, who had D.K, a calmer horse, saw the mare and prince having fun in the deeper snow areas.

Until the mare, quite hyperactive, trotted a little deviated from the path they had followed and Junhui couldn't control her because she seemed to want to go to a specific place.

He heard Seokmin's whistle so they wouldn't get too far from him, but Lilili seemed not to listen either the miner or the prince who was riding on her.

Worried and not knowing what to do, before being able to do something, the white mare stopped in front of a tree, with her head bowed, it seemed that she was inspecting something.

“What is it, Lilili?” Junhui craned his neck to see, but didn't visualize anything. Until he heard it. A high-pitched sound. A barely perceptible chirp.

The young man jumped off the mare and approached to see what she was sniffing curiously.

A small bird, barely a few days old, with few feathers and closed eyes, wept incessantly. With a heavy heart, Junhui knelt down and gently took the little bird in his hands to give it some warmth.

“Oh, poor creature, it must have fallen out of the nest.”

Junhui raised his head to search for a nest in the leafless branches of the tree, while he protected the bird in his cupped hands. How had he survived so long? And Lilili had found it.

“You're very perceptive, huh?” he commented to the mare who brought her head close to him and hit him lightly to be caressed. Junhui laughed softly, but kept searching in anguish for the nest from which the bird would've fallen.

“Prince Junhui!” He heard Seokmin's voice and D.K trotting behind him.

“Prince Jun- Oh, there you are!”

Seokmin came to his side and got off the horse to approach the young man with a worried gesture, looking at him from head to toe, looking for any wound or something out of place, with one hand on the handle of the sword in case he needed to protect the prince or if there was some danger.

But seeing Junhui safe and sound, with a calm, if slightly downcast expression, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good thing I found you. Although these lands are safe, it's better not to push our luck.”

Junhui nodded with lowered brows.

“Yes, sorry, I didn't want to deviate, but Lilili seemed determined to find this little friend.” Jun brought his hands to Seokmin and separated them slightly so that he could see the little bird. The miner heard the poor animal weeping in dismay.

“Poor birdy.”

The prince nodded. “I'm looking for a nest, but I can't see it,” he said in a disconsolated tone and Seokmin smiled softly at him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, it may not be safe to return it to the nest, it may fall again.”

Jun's eyes gleamed, feeling his throat closing as he felt empathy for the poor unfortunate creature. He didn't want to leave the little bird to fate, but he didn't know what to do.

“It doesn't look hurt, it's just abandoned.”

That made Junhui feel more sadness within himself. Seokmin noticed his downcast expression and gave him a squeeze on the shoulder.

“Joshua can help. Let's take it with him. He especially loves birds and he has an aviary where he takes care of them, because... Well, Joshua doesn't like the cold and you'll see why the birds follow him a lot. Surely he will take care that the little one survives.”

That made Jun look up and smile hopefully.

“Really?” He asked in a high-pitched voice and Seokmin nodded.

“My Joshua- Huh! I mean, Joshua, he's pretty good at what he does.” He laughed nervously and Junhui smiled.

“I understand. I will be indebted to Joshua for I will ask him a lot.”

Seokmin denied, still smiling. 

“He's not that kind of person. Don't worry about it, prince.” Then he reached a hand out to him. “Come on, we're nowhere near and we'd better do it before more snow falls or a storm hits us.”

Junhui nodded and let Seokmin help him onto the mare while he took care of the lonely bird. The miner then got on his horse and herded him. Again, Jun followed closely, wondering what Joshua would look like and what kind of man he was, from the wonders he'd heard from him.

They continued advancing along the path, now white, for a while, in silence, since the cold was greater and they didn't want to breathe the icy air through their mouths. They pulled up their hoods and the horses trotted faster to warm up their muscles and not feel so cold.

Until at one point, Seokmin diverted them from the path and they entered between the trees. Coincidentally, in that area it did not snow, in fact, there was not even a light layer of snow. Any. Just grass, when they passed the evergreen trees and came to a sunlit clearing that minutes before had been covered by falling snow.

Junhui found it curious, it was like finding an oasis in the desert. That sunny clearing surrounded by sentinel trees, clear green grass.

The equines shook off the snow and Seokmin got off his. Junhui did the same and looked at that place with curiosity, turning in circles when he felt that he was in another world.

“And we haven't entered Joshua's territory yet, this is just the gate. Or the corridor before the door, if you want to put it more literally,” Seokmin commented, removing the glove from his right hand and watching the prince's reaction with amusement.

“It doesn't feel like it's winter,” Junhui said, still holding the bird protectively against his chest.

“As I mentioned earlier, Joshua doesn't like the cold.”

Junhui paused for a few moments. That sounded like something familiar to him. It resonated in a certain way in his unconscious mind. In the memories that arose and he had the vision of the castle always warm even in the coldest of winter. All thanks to Jeonghan's magic.

“Because the king doesn't like the cold”, he heard one of the servants say.

He felt a chill, but didn't have a chance to dig deeper because something caught his eye.

Seokmin opened and closed his hand several times, the one without the glove, trying to gain some warmth and motility in the joints frozen by the cold they had left behind.

“Shua,” Seokmin spoke softly in a whisper, looking down at his hand in which a seal that had the shape of a sun appeared and suddenly took on a golden glow. Junhui was shocked. He had never seen magic directly, but on the back of the miner's hand, that symbol glowed. “Ready.”

He placed his hand on the bark of the nearest tree and Jun's surprise only increased when the trunk began to acquire a pattern of golden lights that extended from where Seokmin's hand touched it, as if they were veins of gold.

Then, as if a veil were being lifted, around the clearing, the forest that seemed to be in the middle of spring expanded.

The ragged snow disappeared alongside its velvety-leaved trees, giving way to lighter, greener lawns, birds singing in the pleasant, warm weather.

“We're in Joshua's territory now. If the miners' forest is protected, you cannot imagine the protection here. Only Joshua and I can get in and out. And well, you of course, since you're coming with me,” Seokmin explained, as he put the glove back on.

Junhui smiled widely, fascinated to witness magic in such a way.

“From here we go on foot, let the horses walk around the place and be free. They can graze without problems.”

Seokmin approached the pinto horse and took the bag that he hung from the saddle, to carry it over his shoulder and cross it over his chest. Then he reached forward to signal the prince to walk ahead.

Junhui nodded and was aware that there was another path ahead of them that they could follow without getting lost. It was impossible, because it was full of flowers on the sides, placed in asymptotic lines to guide the way.

The prince, who missed spring and its wonders, gazed in amazement at that forest in which he forgot they were on cold winter days. It was like having entered another reality. He took off his winter cloak and carried it on his forearm, walking in the warm sun, caring for the little bird that had stopped chirping and seemed very calm in his hands now.

“How does he do that?” Asked the young man, looking at the clouds like little sheep, finding various shapes in them.

“I really don't know. I'll never understand magic, no matter how much Joshua explains it to me. I'm a fool, but you prince seem to be someone very intelligent, and if you ask him, surely Joshua will answer you and you'll understand him without problem.”

Junhui laughed softly. “I don't think you're a fool.”

But Seokmin hit softly with his knuckles on the side of his head and stuck out his tongue. Junhui laughed louder.

In a short time following the path, Jun could see a large cabin, surrounded by more flowers, and above all, the birds that perched on the branches of the trees. Seokmin was right, they seemed to be very comfortable there. There were many species, even some he did not recognize.

The miner went ahead of him and opened the door, taking off his hat and brushing off the trail of remaining snow before entering when he realized that he'd forgotten. Then he walked in and Junhui followed closely behind.

The cabin was warmer and more spacious from the inside. There was a living room with a fireplace and shelves of books. It all seemed very normal. They kept walking until they entered a room where there was a sweet smell of cinnamon coming from.

“Seokmin, you came back! And this time you did not forget to remove the snow before entering. Didn't your miners complain about the fact that I have you all to myself again?”

Junhui heard a very soft male voice as he entered the room, where there were clotheslines with many leaves upside down and flowers on the tables. Then he saw the back of a dark-haired man who seemed to be working at a table where there was a crucible and a pot on the fire, which he stirred.

“Soonyoung, as always. He says hello and thanks you for the mine, by the way.” Junhui watched as Seokmin put his hat on one of the tables where there were flowers and approached the man from behind, but stopped midway and looked at Jun, as if he had suddenly remembered that he arrived with him.

Neither of them could say anything, because Joshua turned suddenly, looking directly at the prince with a smile.

“And are you going to introduce me to the fine gentleman you brought with you?”

Jun felt heat on his cheeks when he saw Joshua for the first time. The fine gentleman should be him, with his deer eyes and warm gaze, with his soft features and his smile and voice like honey. And still, he had a strong constitution that wouldn't have to envy Wonwoo anything.

However, Joshua had a very elegant demeanor about him that in a way intimidated him. Although not in a bad manner.

“Ah! Well, you see, he is Junhui. He's not just anyone... he is a prince. Our prince,” Seokmin said, scratching the back of his neck nervously as he introduced the young man.

Joshua observed Junhui for a few moments.

“The Prince of Diamant,” he stated suddenly. “I thought the royal family had…” Seokmin, and Junhui especially, waited for him to finish the sentence, but he didn't, instead he just nodded thoughtfully. “Then it is my honor to meet you, prince. Although I was not born in Diamant I am aware that this forest is still your territory, in that case, you are clearly my prince as well.”

Joshua bowed and Junhui's shyness was greater. 

He shook his head several times in denial. “No, not at all, I don't…”

Joshua raised an eyebrow and then smiled again. Junhui fell silent, his cheeks red.

“And to what do I owe the honor of your visit, Prince?”

Seokmin and Jun looked at each other. The miner nodded and leaned back on a table. So Junhui had to explain.

“Jihoon and Soonyoung told me about you and that you would be able to help me. So I apologize in advance for I have come to ask you for a favor.”

Joshua was paying attention to him and nodding at his words.

“Don't talk to me so formally, prince. And don't worry, I have no problem helping.” His eyes fell to the young man's closed hands. “I guess it doesn't exactly have to do with the poor newborn bird you have there.” 

Jun was shocked and then smiled awkwardly, looking down in embarrassment.

“That would be another favor, sorry.”

“You don't have to apologize for anything." Joshua laughed in good faith. “A very pure boy that you are. Like the snow itself…” He said that last in a low voice, so none of those present heard him. “Of course I will help the sparrow, but I would like to know the main reason for coming to me. I'm flattered that Soonyoung and Jihoon are so confident in my abilities.”

Seokmin snorted from his spot and crossed his arms. “That's because you're amazing, obviously.”

Joshua turned to the miner and gave him a different smile from the others and Jun felt the warmth in his gaze. He felt his heart pound as he recognized something he had seldom seen.

“Anyway, I would like to know how I can help Junhui.” The wizard looked back at him and Jun nodded.

“It's because of Wonwoo, he's... An important person to me and he was horribly hurt. He can't wake up and I don't want him to-

He broke off, noticing the stinging of tears that threatened to flow. Joshua nodded in understanding.

“He needs to be healed, I see.” Joshua put a thoughtful hand to his chin. “My magic is not especially healing. But…” Then he looked at Junhui analytically. It was strange. As if he saw something in him or knew something about his person that the prince did not know.

“But I know how we can help him. Or rather, how you can help him, prince.”

“Me?” Jun pointed to himself, surprised. How could he help Wonwoo? He was a simple man without power or talent in anything special.

“That's how it is.” Joshua walked to face him and Jun seemed to see something familiar on his face that he couldn't pinpoint exactly.

Joshua looked back at Seokmin and the miner raised an eyebrow, apparently he didn't understand what was happening either.

Afterwards, the wizard clasped both hands on his chest, as if he were holding back some kind of emotion.

“Tell me, prince, have you ever seen a real unicorn?”