Act 4: Birthday Ball

"I don't know Heeseung, I mean I haven't been able to remove this curse completely, are you sure you want to invite me?" Jungwon asked, he was holding a scroll in his hand, "Don't worry, I've planned so that you can leave the ball before sunrise, so no one knows your swan form," explained Heeseung, convincing Jungwon to come to Jay's birthday ball. Jungwon was still unsure about this decision, he looked back at the invitation in his hand. "I can accompany you if you are still in doubt, Prince Jungwon, I am quite close to the Dark Moon royal family ," suggested Yongbok, "Not a bad idea, and you can trust your people to me," suggested Ni-ki. Jungwon sighed, "I don't know...." Jungwon replied, "Come on hyung, take one night to have fun , taking off all the burdens of being a prince on your shoulders, besides, when was the last time you attended a royal ball?" Ni-ki said trying to convince Jungwon. The swan prince once again sighed, "Okay then, I'll come," said Jungwon smiling at Heeseung's direction. The prince's smile widened, "Thank you Jungwon, I will wait for you," said Heeseung.

"Prince Heeseung," Yongbok called as Heeseung was about to leave on his horse. Heeseung turned to the sorcerer, "I'm sure you've received the message from Bbokari?" Yongbok asked, Heeseung nodded, "That's my reason for inviting Jungwon to my little brother's birthday ball," Heeseung answered, "But I have to tell you something else," said Yongbok, Heeseung listened carefully.

"Huh, who would have thought," said Sunoo in his lotus position, Jake turned to Sunoo, "Your plan will soon come true," said Sunoo, Jake's smile widened hearing that, "Time to prepare yourself," Jake said grinning.

In the following days, Heeseung helped his two fathers prepare the birthday ball for Jay, he also didn't miss meeting Jungwon after sunset. During preparations, Heeseung avoided his papa's questions as much as possible about matchmaking, and considering his papa's nature, it was a difficult task.

And finally, one day before the ball was arrived.

"Hyung, you shouldn't have to help with preparations today," said Jay, who was waiting for Heeseung in his room. Heeseung, who had just arrived on the veranda, frowned, "Why?" asked the eldest, Jay sighed, "Have you seen your condition? If you're aware, your eye bags are already darker than Dark Moon coal," Jay answered. Hearing that, Heeseung went to his mirror table and looked at his face, "Huh, who would have thought..." Heeseung said looking at his eye bags, "Really?" Jay asked raising one eyebrow.

"You'd better rest now," said Jay pulling his brother onto the bed. "Okay, okay, I understand," said Heeseung who sat down on his bed. "But before that, can you please tell papa that I will invite someone to the ball tomorrow?" Heeseung asked. "You don't want to give details?" Jay asked back, "Well, knowing papa, he must have had his hopes high with that statement only," answered Heeseung, the two princes laughed.

"All the preparations are finished," said Sunoo when he saw Jake approaching him, "Good, now we just have to carry it out," replied Jake. The two of them were around a cauldron. Sunoo had put all the ingredients that Jake asked for into the cauldron, now he just had to wait for the dark sorcerer to cast the spell.

Jake then closed his eyes and felt the heat coming from the cauldron touch his skin. Jake started muttering the spell he wanted. Instantly, black smoke emerged from the cauldron and began billowing at the ceiling of the room. The smoke grew thicker as Jake cast his spell.

Jake was almost finished casting the spell. Instantly the smoke came down and began to surround Sunoo, the younger closed his eyes and let the smoke do its job.

Jake finished casting the spell, making the smoke return into the cauldron. "Huh, not bad," said Sunoo looking at his body, Jake grinned, "With this, I'm sure I'll get the power of love from that stubborn swan prince," said Jake then laughed with satisfaction.

Days passed, Jay's birthday ball finally arrived.

"You ready Jay?" Heeseung asked entering his little brother's room. Jay didn't answer, he just stood with his hands resting on the table. Heeseung frowned, "Are you okay?" Heeseung asked approaching his little brother, "No... I'm not...." Jay said under his breath, "Really? That's unusual," Heeseung said leaning on the table next to Jay as he grinned. Jay sighed heavily, "Hey, don't ruin that make up," said Heeseung tapping Jay's sweaty face with a handkerchief.

"What's wrong?" Heeseung asked while putting his handkerchief back, "I don't know... maybe because I'm going to propose to Sunghoon," Jay answered looking at the ring box on his desk, "Hey, you're not the only one who's going to propose to someone today," said Heeseung, taking out his ring box, "After all, I am a witness to the two of you together, your feelings don't grow overnight like a beanstalk," explained Heeseung, holding Jay's shoulder to calm him down, "You're right, I've kept this feeling for a long time , I'm sure Sunghoon feels that way too," said Jay turning to his brother, "That's the spirit," said Heeseung embracing Jay.

"Now, we can't keep the guests waiting right?" Heeseung asked, Jay chuckled, "Yeah," Jay replied. The two of them then headed to the ballroom.

The sun was almost setting, the guests were starting to arrive. "Sunghoon, you came," Heeseung said when he saw Sunghoon at the entrance to the ballroom, they hugged each other. "Jay is waiting for you, go to him," said Heeseung letting Sunghoon in, the younger nodded then walked towards Jay.

"Heeseung," someone called, the prince turned his head, "Lily!" Heeseung said when he saw who was calling him, they hugged. "You're come again," Heeseung said after releasing the hug, "Yeah, Mixtopia's situation has started to get better these past few weeks, so I'm allowed to attend the ball again," explained Lily.

Heeseung then noticed two people behind the princess, "Oh are they with you?" Heeseung asked, "Oh right!" Lily exclaimed. Liky then took the woman behind her, "This is my older sister, Sullyoon," said Lily introducing her older sister, "Nice to meet you, prince Heeseung," said Sullyoon bowing, Heeseung replied. "And this is her fiancé, Sunwoo," said Lily introducing the man beside Sullyoon. "Nice to meet you," said Sunwoo bowing and Heeseung replied, "Nice to meet you both, please, enjoy the ball," said Heeseung letting the three of them enter the ballroom.

Heeseung then looked at the western sky, The sun is almost setting, I hope you—

"Heeseung," someone called.

The prince turned to the source of the voice, his smile widening when he saw who was calling him, "Jungwon!"