The sound of the doors opening, had Sehun pushing to his feet. A smile dancing on his face, knowing it was certainly his husband. The servants and the emperor were the only ones allowed to visit him. And it wasn't yet time for supper to be brought, thus he believed it was the emperor. Sure enough, Kai briskly walked in and Sehun's heart jumped at the sight of his lover. However the expression on him had Sehun freezing, his smile vanishing instantly. The emperor stood by the door regarding Sehun. Desperation. Sadness. Futility. All those and more in the eyes that stared nearly unseeing into Sehun's. Something had happened. After a moment or two Kai forced himself to move further as more people stepped inside. Behind Kai was the captain of the royal guards– Jungkook, that was carrying a motionless Hyunjin. Then another guard pushed a maid inside, Sehun recognize as the one that mostly served him his meals since he'd been sent to the cold palace. She was forced to her knees, by the second guard. What was going on? The maid had said Hyunjin was stable, the poison successfully extracted by the royal healers. The last person to step into the room was a sobbing consort Rue, a hand on her pregnant belly, he met her eyes and she quickly averted her gaze. Sehun did not bother with her, his attention was on the crown prince. He itched to reach Hyunjin and check the boy for himself, desperately wanting to know why he was unmoving. "Repeat what you told me again." Kai snapped at the maid and Sehun glanced to see the emperor's eyes sharp on the girl that whimpered. She scrambled, kowtowing as she rabble on. Something about Sehun being the one that ordered her to deliver Hyunjin some snacks. "Is she telling the truth?" Kai's expression told Sehun he didn't want the answer to be positive. He looked almost desperate for Sehun to say otherwise, and it confused the out of Sehun. "Yes." Sehun answered truthfully, watching Kai's expression crumbled even more and he staggered as though unable to hold himself upright. This morning, after his breakfast was brought to him, Sehun had packed away the heart shaped cookies that Hyunjin liked and had asked the maid to deliver it to the prince that according to her had recovered. Kai shook his head, vulnerability on his face, nothing like the strong emperor he was. Sehun realized there were tears in his eyes running down his cheeks which he wiped away furiously. "This time you have succeeded." Kai's hands shook, as he dropped them to his sides, clenched. "I shouldn't have trusted you– believed you when you told me it wasn't your doing. If I had, my only son would be alive." What? Sehun's eyes widened, his knees almost buckling as emotions rained all over his chest. Hyunjin was dead? No it shouldn't be. He couldn't be. He snapped out of his daze and made to reach the prince. As a paladin, Sehun had a little healing magic and could– A strong palm on his chest halted him in place, almost pushing him back if not for his own hands falling on Kai's shoulders to steady himself. He met Kai's eyes and the anger of betrayal burn bright in them. "Kai–" He began and quickly amended his address. "Your majesty I did not." Sehun said, desperately wanting to be believed. He would never harm Hyunjin. The boy was his best friend in the scheming palace full of vipers. He was like a son to Sehun, that he held dearly. Grief tore through him when he allowed his gaze behind Kai to watch for the second time. Now that he was closer, he realized Hyunjin's skin was ashy, his lips blue devoid of life. Oh mothers. Who could be heatless enough to do this? "Do not lie to me Sehun." Kai said, through gritted teeth, the hand on Sehun's chest, sliding down. Sehun couldn’t fight the rush of rage, heartache—the insane swell of emotions warring in his head and he felt as if his entire universe was ping. Sehun heaved, trying to control his emotions long enough to say."I am no child killer and you know." "Your twin sister–" Sehun reeled back, his chest squeezing even more, lips trembling. "That was an accident." His voice was barely audible as he matched Kai's gaze of betrayal. He couldn't believe Kai would bring that up, would use it against him. Sehun had trusted Kai enough to tell him a secret buried deep inside him, that at some point he had forced his mind to forget because of how traumatic it was. "I want to believe you Sehun, but I cannot, not when things are clear." Kai said, his voice edgy. "The high alchemist and poison master recognized your signature." Sehun blinked away the tears, shaking his head. This was all wrong. He wanted to understand how it became like this. When the vial of poison was found in his chambers, Kai had believed Sehun when he said he didn't do it. He had only agreed to send Sehun to the cold palace because a lot of voices demanded it, until the investigation was done. Someone hated him so much to harm Hyunjin just so Sehun would take the fall– Wait what? His head snapped up when his brain registered what Kai had said. His signature? "What do you mean my signature?" Kai didn't respond, he only stared at Sehun, allowing him to puzzle it himself. It didn't make sense, though. He was barely an alchemist– a hobby he had taken a year ago, after he realized he had little affinity for alchemy. There was no way he was talented enough to have his own signature. If not for the fact Sehun knew Seokjin was a good man, he would have thought the high alchemist set him up. Sehun opened his mouth to speak, but shut it the next second. The look in Kai's eyes said enough. No matter what Sehun say, Kai wouldn't believe him this time. His mind had been set and heart clouded with grief to think with his head. For some reason his eyes found consort Rue and their eyes met, this time she held his gaze, with something in those gray orbs that he couldn't read. She was an alchemist, a good one, and Sehun couldn't help the suspicions in his heart. "If you think because of the probability of carrying my child is enough to murder the crown prince that was in your way, then you're mistaken." Of course Kai would think that. Even though not a bearer himself, Sehun could still carry the emperor's child, because Kai had the ability to impregnate even a non fecundate person. Sehun closed his eyes, more grief tearing through him. Oh goddesses. He chanted in his mind. I pray for your strength. He would need it for what was to come.  It was all too much. He was a paladin not a priest. He had neither the duty nor the talent to handle psychological troubles. His calling was to defend the faith, the innocent, and the random bystander with his blade and the mothers Radiance. Not that it mattered anymore. Surely the ministers/peerages would push for his execution, now that a more concrete evidence had been found. It was no secret most of them hated Sehun for being the emperor's favorite when their children were rotting in the harem, many of which Kai had forgotten about their existence. Oh so they believed. Truth was, Kai divided his time to spend a night at least three times a week with his eight concubines and three consorts. Prove of which one was currently heavy with his child. Something that had shocked the whole court, considering conception was extremely rare. Some even believed consort Rue could possibly be the emperor's pearl. Sehun spent four out seven nights without Kai. He hated the fact that he had to share his lover, but there was nothing he could do about it and knowing Kai loved him, eased that pain a lot. Always thinking, though he may share the body but Kai's heart was his alone. The only one to truly have Kai's affection. However he wasn't so sure at the moment. Those vipers wouldn't give Sehun a chance to defend himself. Not when Kai was against him too. But that's alright. Something warm curled up inside him. The mothers radiance, calming him. Surprisingly Sehun did not feel fear even with the knowledge he was certainly going to die.  Maybe it was better this way. The only people to grieve him were his family. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, his sister Irene and his best friend Baekhyun. However his main regret was not being able to bring Hyunjin justice. Sehun would die while Hyunjin's real killer roam free, and might probably even end up being the one carrying the next heir. Sudden pain sliced through him, snapping him out of his thoughts. His hands on Kai's shoulders tightened reflexively as he lowered his head to gaze at the clawed hand in his belly, away Sehun's life and his– Oh mothers. Sehun shook his head, tears blurring his vision, not from the physical pain but the one in his heart. It seemed Kai didn't plan on giving him a trial. This was where it would end.  He couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped him. He had thought even if the world was against him, Kai would stand with him. He had thought even if no one believed him, doubted him, Kai would believe in him. The other being stirred in him, wanting to fight back, and Sehun had to use all his will power to stop it. It would only prolong his suffering.  Let's give up now. Sehun told it. No, ours betrayed. Fight.  Please. I beg you. Let it be.  Sehun pleaded. It trashed for a moment, clearly unwilling, before settling back inside. "I–" Sehun began to say, but choked, that sent him into a wheezing fit. He jerked, blood pouring out of his mouth painting his white robes. H