CHAPTER 16
Royal Dining Hall
The sun poured in softly through the tall windows, casting golden light across the long, ornate table where everyone was seated. Plates of steaming breakfast dishes were spread out in front of them — fruit slices, honeyed bread, savory dumplings, and warm broth.
Muwon, seated at the head of the table, calmly sipped his tea while listening to the gentle clatter of dishes and the hum of morning chatter. Sihyun sat beside him, helping Taeyang cut a stubborn piece of meat.
On either side of the trio, Yuhyun, Dohyun, and Taejin were already bickering lightly over who ate more dumplings than they should.
Suddenly, Taeyang raised his hand halfway, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Uhm… Your highness"
Muwon looked at him warmly.
"Yes, Taeyang?"
Taeyang pout
"Do I really have to keep studying with the King?"
Everyone chuckled softly.
Muwon tease
"You do. A future heir must understand royal tradition. Even when it's boring."
Taeyang huffed and slumped a little, poking at a fruit slice.
"Well… okay. But only if I get honeyed buns after."
The table chuckled again, and Taejin reached over to ruffle his hair.
"Spoiled already. You've been royalty for less than a week."
Taeyang beamed, then began cheerfully recounting his week so far.
"So far, His highness taught me to hold a sword, the King made me read a lot, Uncle Yuhyun taught me how to chop vegetables… oh! Speaking of that—"
He turned to Sihyun, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Dada… is it true you don't know how to cook?"
The entire room fell into still silence.
Every single person at the table froze. Dohyun's spoon paused halfway to his mouth. Taejin blinked. Yuhyun sat up straighter. Even Muwon, calm and composed as ever, found himself caught off guard.
But none were more stunned than Sihyun himself.
He stared at Taeyang, lips slightly parted, his hand frozen on his teacup. The word "Dada" echoed in his ears, heavy with unexpected weight. His breath hitched, chest tightening as the word settled deep in places he hadn't allowed anyone to touch. Sihyun hadn't expected to hear it. He never imagined that the child—this innocent boy he barely knew—would suddenly see him that way.
He didn't know what to say.
Taeyang tilted his head slightly at the silence, confused by everyone's reaction. Then, turning to Muwon, he asked again—this time with a softer voice.
"Papa… is Dada mad? Did I make Dada mad?"
Another blow.
Muwon looked at him in shock. The second name, "Papa," struck just as hard. His hand tightened slightly on the silverware as he tried to process what he'd just heard. That small voice, so pure, had just called him something he never thought he'd hear from a child—especially one not born of him.
No one spoke for a long second. Even Yuhyun, who was usually quick with a comment or smirk, said nothing. Dohyun looked down quietly. Taejin exhaled slowly, the corners of his lips twitching faintly in surprise.
Muwon sat up straighter, trying to mask the surprise on his face at being called "Papa" for the first time. He steadied his voice.
"No, Taeyang. Dada isn't mad at you."
That snapped Sihyun out of his trance. He reached for Taeyang gently.
"No, I'm not mad,"
he said quickly.
"Not at all."
Taeyang looked relieved.
Sihyun added,
"Who told you I can't cook?"
Taeyang pointed innocently,
"Uncle Yuhyun."
Sihyun scoffed, a little defensive.
"I can cook."
Yuhyun rolled his eyes.
"Sure you can."
Sihyun gave him a sharp side glance.
"I can, Yuhyun."
Taeyang turned to Muwon next.
"Papa, can you cook?"
Muwon hesitated, then gave a slow nod.
"Yes… I can."
Before he could say more, Dohyun chimed in with a grin.
"Your Papa can't cook."
Taejin added,
"He burned boiled eggs once."
Muwon sighed as everyone burst into laughter, and Taeyang clapped his hands, giggling joyfully. The room came back to life, but something had quietly changed — the moment Taeyang called them Papa and Dada, the air around the table had shifted into something softer, something more… like family.
Just as the laughter was settling at the table, Taeyang suddenly raised his hand like he was making an official announcement.
"I want Papa and Dada to face off in a cooking competition,"
he declared proudly.
The room fell silent again.
Sihyun stared at him, blinking.
"You want what?"
Taeyang nodded firmly.
"Papa and Dada will cook, and me, Uncle Yuhyun, Uncle Dohyun, and Uncle Taejin will be the judges."
Dohyun nearly choked on his tea.
"Wait—what?"
Taejin leaned forward, his interest piqued.
"That sounds interesting…"
Yuhyun raised an eyebrow, already amused.
"Now this, I want to see."
Taeyang was glowing with excitement as he looked between them.
"Yes! It'll be fun!"
"No,"
Sihyun said, almost too quickly.
"I don't think this is a good idea,"
Muwon added calmly, shaking his head.
But their protests were drowned out immediately.
"Yes, yes!"
Dohyun grinned, clearly entertained.
"I second this,"
Taejin added with a smirk.
"I'll prepare the judging sheets,"
Yuhyun said flatly, but a hint of a smile played on his lips.
"They already agreed!"
Taeyang laughed, clapping his hands in delight.
"So it's happening! The competition is today! Get ready, Dada. Get ready, Papa!"
Sihyun sighed, wiping his face lightly with his hand.
"What did I just get myself into…"
Muwon only shook his head again, unsure how to escape the trap he'd walked into.
Taeyang giggled again, eyes sparkling.
"I can't wait to taste Dada and Papa's food!"
Just then, a throat cleared behind them. Everyone turned.
The king had entered the room, his hands clasped behind his back, eyes calm but stern.
"Prince Taeyang,"
he said.
"It's time for your studies."
Taeyang's smile froze briefly. He looked back at everyone, then down at his half-empty plate.
"But I was—"
Sihyun stood, walking over to him quietly. He knelt and gently adjusted Taeyang's robe, smoothing the front and tugging it straight.
"There,"
he said softly, giving him a small pat on the shoulder.
"Go. You can tell us all about it later."
Taeyang nodded, hugging Sihyun quickly before hurrying over to the king.
As the doors closed behind them, the room remained quiet for a moment — still surprised, still digesting the fact that the heir prince and his consort were now enrolled in a cooking battle they didn't sign up for.
Sihyun exhaled sharply, placing a hand over his chest like he was trying to steady his heart.
"He called me Dada…"
he breathed out, almost in disbelief.
"Yuhyun, did you hear that? He actually called me Dada! Just like that. No warning, no hesitation—Dada!"
Yuhyun tried to hold back a laugh, nodding.
"We heard."
Sihyun turned to Muwon, eyes wide.
"That makes you Papa. We're both dads. This is happening."
"I noticed,"
Muwon said quietly, watching him with a faint smile.
Sihyun kept going, clearly overwhelmed.
"Are we good at this? I mean, I yell sometimes—okay maybe a lot—but he still likes me enough to call me Dada. And you—you're so strict and stiff sometimes but he still likes you too. Are we doing it right? Are we good parents?"
Dohyun let out a soft laugh and reached for another slice of fruit.
"You're panicking."
"You're doing fine,"
Taejin added warmly.
Yuhyun nodded in agreement.
"Honestly, I didn't expect it this soon. But yes. You both are doing really well."
Muwon extended his hand calmly toward Sihyun.
"Come here."
Sihyun blinked, then stepped closer as Muwon gently pulled him into a hug. It was firm, warm, and grounding.
"You're doing well,"
Muwon said quietly.
"We both are."
Sihyun stayed in his arms for a moment, letting the warmth settle the storm inside him. But then he pulled back suddenly, eyes lighting up again.
"I need to win this cooking battle,"
he said seriously.
"I have to make him proud. He called me Dada. I can't mess this up—"
Muwon raised an eyebrow.
"You're getting ahead of yourself."
"I'm not!"
Sihyun said, folding his arms.
"I'm serious. He believes in me."
"He believes in me too,"
Muwon replied calmly.
"Which is why I'm going to win."
"Oh please,"
Sihyun scoffed.
"You probably can't even boil rice properly."
"I can,"
Muwon said.
"No, you can't,"
Sihyun muttered, already walking away.
"I'm going to prepare now. This battle is mine."
Muwon stood as well.
"We'll see."
As the two exchanged sharp but playful glares, the trio left at the table watched them with soft smiles.
"They're really becoming parents,"
Taejin said.
"And still acting like children,"
Dohyun added with a grin.
Yuhyun chuckled.
"It's the perfect balance, honestly."