"I thought love was the sun, warm and golden, something to reach for in the cold darkness. But when I flew too close, I learned that love can burn, sear, and destroy, leaving only the ashes of who I once was. I am Icarus, who mistook the flames for...
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Seonghwa sat in his study, the dim glow of the desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. The bouquet of roses from Vivian sat in a vase nearby, their fragrance subtly filling the air. His mind raced, torn between the cool, composed image of Seonghwa Park Margrave that the world knew and the jumble of nerves that he was becoming inside.
Vivian had been giving clear signals—her messages, her gifts, the way she looked at him. It was undeniable. But despite all of that, Seonghwa found himself in unfamiliar territory. He, the man who always had everything under control, had never been in love before. Never even pursued someone seriously. Now, here he was, struggling with the idea of making the first move.
He tapped his fingers on the desk, feeling utterly lost. A frustrated sigh escaped him. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered. The Seonghwa Park Margrave, unsure about a woman? It was almost laughable.
After pacing back and forth in the study for a few more minutes, Seonghwa came to an uncomfortable realization: he needed help. And unfortunately, the only person who might be able to give him that help was... Wooyoung.
As much as Seonghwa hated the thought, his younger brother had a way with people, especially women. He seemed to effortlessly charm everyone he met. And while Seonghwa was far from clueless, this was different—this was Vivian. He couldn’t afford to mess this up.
He took a deep breath and reluctantly called out, “Wooyoung! Come down here for a minute.”
There was a loud thud upstairs, probably Wooyoung jumping off his bed in excitement. A few seconds later, Wooyoung appeared in the doorway, looking half-curious and half-annoyed. “Hyung, what is it? You dragged me away from my game!”
Seonghwa cleared his throat, suddenly feeling awkward. “I need… some advice.”
Wooyoung raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “Advice? You? From me? This should be interesting.”
Seonghwa rolled his eyes. “Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”
Wooyoung chuckled and sauntered over, plopping down in the chair opposite Seonghwa. “Okay, okay. What’s the deal? Business? Life? Or—wait—" he paused dramatically, "is this about a girl?”
Seonghwa’s silence was all the confirmation Wooyoung needed. His younger brother’s eyes widened, and then he broke out into a huge grin. “Oh my God, it is about a girl! Hyung, is this about Vivian?”
Seonghwa rubbed his temple, feeling the beginnings of a headache. “Yes, it’s about Vivian. I think… she’s interested in me.”
Wooyoung burst out laughing. “You think? Hyung, she sent you roses! Girls don’t do that unless they’re head over heels. You’ve got this in the bag.”
Seonghwa frowned, still feeling unsure. “I’ve never been in a serious relationship before, Wooyoung. I don’t want to misinterpret anything, and I definitely don’t want to mess this up. She’s… different.”
