Act 2: So This Is Love

Heeseung was standing on the veranda of his room. He stared at the Dark Moon Forest and imagined the lake where he met Jungwon, the Swan Prince.

"Alright, that's the last time I'm going to the stables!" Jay said entering Heeseung's room, making the older man turn towards him. "Oh, you finally finished washing your horse?" Heeseung asked approaching Jay who was lying on his bed, "You didn't know, that is the hardest job anyone can do," Jay complained looking at the ceiling, Heeseung frowned as he smiled crookedly, "Em, yes a VERY hard job...." Heeseung said sarcastically as he sat next to his younger brother. Jay narrowed his eyes at Heeseung, "I don't like your tone," Jay said, Heeseung chuckled.

Heeseung then looked at his mirror table and saw his reflection. "Hey Jay, can I tell you something?" Heeseung asked looking at his little brother, "Hm? Sure," Jay said sitting up. "What's in your mind?" Jay asked looking at his brother. "Do you remember when I was separated from you last night?" Heeseung asked, Jay nodded, "When you were babbling about how boring it was to hunt at night, I heard a myterious voice calling my name, and instinctively I followed the voice, that's when I was separated from you guys," explained Heeseung, Jay frowned in confusion. "Voice?" Jay asked, Heeseung nodded, "A really soft voice, as if it was waiting to call me for something," explained Heeseung as he look at his reflection in his mirror table.

Jay looked at his brother, not understanding what the older prince was saying. "Then what happen?" Jay asked curiously, "I continued to follow the sound, until I arrived at a lake, a lake so beautiful that I couldn't believe that I was still in our kingdom," answered Heeseung remembering the lake where he met Jungwon, "Really? How beautiful the lake?" Jay asked, "Just imagine, a lake with sparkling water glittering under the light of the full moon, there is a small waterfall that falls into the lake and a wide expanse of grass field decorated with flying fireflies," explained Heeseung.

"But that's not the main point of the story," said Heeseung, Jay frowned, "Then?" he asked. "Right at that said lake... I found my first love," said Heeseung looking at his younger brother. Hearing that, Jay's eyes widened and his smile widened, "Really?!" Jay asked in disbelief as he held both of Heeseung's shoulders, the older nodded. Jay became even happier to hear him, "Wait until papa heard abo—", "You can't tell papa...." Heeseung said cutting off his younger brother's sentence, Jay's expression changed instantly after hearing his older brother, he frowned, "What? Why?" Jay asked curiously, "I can't... not yet... I want our relationship to remain a secret until the next ball..." Heeseung explained. Jay frowned in confusion, he thought that the sooner their papa would find out about Heeseung's love, first love even, the better for Heeseung. "I beg you, keep my relationship and the lake a secret," Heeseung asked.

"But, why do you want to keep it a secret, I mean the sooner papa finds out, the faster he will get off your back..." Jay said, still not understanding his brother's intention to keep his relationship a secret. Heeseung looked away then sighed, "Because I can only see him at night...." Heeseung answered, looking back at Jay. The younger was even more confused, "I can't explain the details, but what's clear is that for now papa and father can't know about this relationship," said Heeseung final. Jay, like it or not, nodded in agreement to fulfill his brother's wishes.

During their conversation, without their knowledge, a raven eavesdropped on them on the edge of the veranda on Heeseung's room. The raven immediately flew away.

The raven flew towards where Jake and Sunoo lived then landed on Sunoo's shoulder who was in the lotus position. "How is it?" Asked Jake who was standing behind Sunoo, "I have to say, he is a good-looking prince," said Sunoo opening his eyes, "and I can feel the power of his love is quite large, if Jungwon accepts that love, he can be free from your curse," continued Sunoo then let the raven on his shoulder fly away. "That's what I mean, that prince could be bad news for my plans," said Jake standing up from the sofa in annoyance and walking closer to the fireplace.

Jake stared at the fire crackling in the fireplace, "I have to get rid of that prince," Jake said coldly.

Sunoo looked at Jake, he thought of something. "Calm down Jake, let me offer my help to keep an eye on this prince and remove him from Jungwon's side slowly," said Sunoo approaching the older. Jake turned to look at his little brother.

Night began to show its face.

After dinner, Heeseung went straight to his room and closed the door tightly. Heeseung then looked at the veranda door which was open and the curtains were blowing in the evening breeze, "It's time," muttered Heeseung looking at the night sky. Heeseung then took the rope that he had prepared since this afternoon.

Heeseung tied one end of the rope to the doorknob of his veranda and threw the other end outside his veranda. Feeling that the rope was tight enough, Heeseung then climbed down from the veranda using the rope.

Heeseung went straight to the horse stables quietly without being noticed by the guards who guarding the palace.

Arriving at the horse stable, Heeseung went straight to his horse, he gave the horse some sugar cubes before opening its stable calmly.

"Prince Heeseung?" Someone called Heeseung, making the prince startled and immediately turned around. Heeseung sighed after seeing who called him, "Soobin–ssi, don't surprise me like that..." Heeseung said when he saw Soobin, the palace horse guard. "Sorry prince, but what do you do at night with your horse?" Soobin asked curiously, not being nosy, it was his job to look after the palace horses and make sure they were safe and sound.

Heeseung thought about the reason, but he didn't find a reason to cover up his goal. Heeseung sighed, "Listen, I met this guy and I felt something about him, I want to see him again, and I can only see him at night," Heeseung explained without making eye contact with Soobin. The cage keeper stared, "Oh really? So in the end this loveless prince found his love?" Soobin asked folding his arms with a grin. Heeseung's face turned red, "Y–yes, you can say that... but you can't say it to anyone," Heeseung asked, Soobin chuckled, "Okay, but I beg you to be careful, I'm not ready to be responsible if you have an accident ," answered Soobin, Heeseung smiled happily, "Thank you Soobin–ssi, don't worry, I will take care of myself and my horse," replied Heeseung.

Soobin then led Heeseung's horse, which had been ridden by its owner, to the palace gates. "Remember, Prince Heeseung, come back without any wounds or bruises," asked Soobin, Heeseung nodded, "Thank you again, Soobin-ssi," said Heeseung before riding his horse towards the Dark Moon Forest.