Side Story 1: Unaccustomed
Chapter 9
Woo stared blankly at the spot where Sue had left, then slumped to the ground, burying his face in his hands.
‘…Woo Acrea is kneeling?’
Pel had been watching them from his room window since he had heard that Sue had gone to the back of the inn.
He couldn’t hear their conversation, but he could tell what had happened from their changing expressions and gestures.
And then, he heard a familiar voice at the door.
“So? How’s Master Woo?”
He turned around, and a woman was standing there, her face expressionless. Pel slowly closed the window and said her name,
“Celine.”
“I’m asking how that man is doing.”
Pel chuckled awkwardly at Celine’s irritated tone, as if she hated even being called by her name.
“It seems like it wasn’t just a phase.”
“I told you, he’s not the same puppet he used to be.”
“But he’s still following our orders. He still has some of his old habits.”
Celine sighed heavily, her face filled with disdain, as Pel glanced at the window with interest. She raised her eyebrows and asked,
“Are you going to tell Duke Reeves?”
Pel shook his head.
“No, of course not. Besides…”
He had never intended to let go of the gem that had fallen into his lap.
“I’ll tease him as much as I want, then gently coax him over to our side.”
“Coax him? Don’t blame me if he slaps you.”
Celine scoffed, her arms crossed. She wanted to go back to the royal palace. She was tired of playing this childish game.
“Shouldn’t we stop this now? I’m also tired of pretending to be a nice girl.”
“Selena, you’re so impatient.”
Pel clicked his tongue at her. Celine, no, Selena, scoffed.
“Impatient? You’re talking about patience, Brother? You, who escaped from the royal palace because you couldn’t wait for the coronation? Are you kidding me?”
“Don’t bring up the coronation. What if someone hears you?”
“Then why did someone so important run away all the way here?”
Selena couldn’t understand her brother. Why had Father made her his brother’s assistant, causing her so much pain?
Selena, lost in her lament, buried her face in her hands. Pel remained silent, waiting for her anger to subside. An enraged younger sister was scary, he couldn’t provoke her any further. It was the wisdom he had accumulated through years of experience.
After a few minutes, Selena, having finally calmed down, brushed her long red hair back and said to her brother, her voice firm,
“I can’t wait any longer. It’s time to go back. Let’s end this charade, Brother Pheilik.”
***
Woo had encountered Pheilik Lokor on the first night of their arrival in Gemin.
He had left his room at dawn to carry out the plan they had agreed on.
“A distinguished guest has arrived from afar.”
Pheilik was leaning against the wall, waiting for him. The hallway was dark, and Woo couldn’t recognize him at first.
And then, the morning sun began to rise. A faint light streamed in through the window, and he finally recognized the man who had called out to him.
“…Congratulations on your upcoming coronation, Your Highness Pheilik.”
It didn’t matter how he had ended up in Gemin. What mattered was how he should act now. The crown prince, known for his eccentricities, was already smiling mischievously.
“I’m honored that you remember me.”
“I’m also honored that Your Highness remembers me.”
He had met him a few times, having accompanied his brother to the Lokor royal palace. Pheilik’s eyes narrowed as Woo responded politely.
“You say you’re honored, but why were you so cold to Selena?”
‘Selena’ was the name of Pheilik’s younger sister, the princess who was in charge of the Lokor royal palace’s administration. Woo didn’t understand why he was bringing her up.
“We met, on the stairs.”
“…Ah.”
So he was talking about the woman who had deliberately tried to fall down the stairs.
“Princess Selena’s… aura has changed quite a bit. That’s probably why I didn’t recognize her. I apologize for my rudeness.”
The Princess Selena in Woo’s memory was a very cynical and irritable woman. So he hadn’t imagined that the graceful woman on the stairs could be Princess Selena. Of course, the first reason was that he hadn’t even expected her to be in Gemin.
Besides, he hadn’t had the time to pay attention to the woman he had helped up. Sue had been there.
“…Hmm, you really are Woo Acrea.”
What a boring answer.
Pheilik nodded, his face indifferent. He had followed Woo after spotting him at the train station, but he still didn’t seem like a very interesting person.
Reeves had scoffed, “Woo is so much fun, Your Highness, you just don’t know him well enough,” but he was probably just being biased because Woo was his brother.
“Why are you in Gemin?”
Pheilik, seeing him, decided to probe him a little.
“I ran away from home.”
“…Hahaha, you’re surprisingly honest.”
He had expected him to be more evasive.
“There’s no point in lying to Your Highness.”
Woo’s smile hadn’t faded since he had recognized Pheilik. Pheilik suddenly felt the urge to wipe that smile off his face.
A mischievous smirk appeared on his lips.
“So the rumor that Duke Reeves’s younger brother ran away for a woman is true.”
There was no answer. Pheilik, knowing he wouldn’t answer, continued,
“That red-haired woman? The one you were with? Not Selena, the one with the curly hair… Sue Byron, was it?”
“….”
There was no answer again. But he couldn’t fool Pheilik’s eyes. Pheilik had clearly seen Woo Acrea’s eyes flicker at the mention of Sue Byron’s name.
‘This is getting interesting.’
Sue Byron, Sue Byron.
Pheilik licked his lips.
It had all been a coincidence. He had escaped from the royal palace because he was bored with the coronation preparations, he had come to Gemin to see the parade, he had booked a room at this inn, and he had met Woo Acrea.
It seemed like he had found his entertainment, thanks to a series of coincidences.
The heavens were kind to him.
Pheilik, thinking that, casually brushed his hair back.
“I apologize for speaking ill of your woman.”
“…It’s okay.”
Woo said that, but he hesitated, his lips parting slightly. Pheilik raised his eyebrows, encouraging him to speak. Woo, after a moment of deliberation, finally said,
“…She’s not my woman.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
Pheilik tilted his head at his low voice. Woo just smiled without answering.
“…You’re still so quiet.”
Pheilik had always found that face annoying. Acrea’s trademark dry, emotionless smile.
Honestly, he had only planned to see his face and then leave. He wasn’t close to Woo. But he had become intrigued, it was just the right amount of entertainment.
“I received a letter from my dear Duke Reeves Acrea a few days ago.”
“I see.”
Woo’s reaction was minimal, even though his brother’s name had been mentioned. But would he still be able to smile nonchalantly after hearing what he was about to say? Pheilik was curious.
“The letter said that if I found his dear brother in Lokor, I should escort him back to Atlantis immediately.”
He wished he had made it up to provoke Woo. But it was true that he had received a letter from Reeves. And the contents of the letter were also true.
Reeves was a strange man, sending him a letter like that when he was always at the palace. The timing was perfect, as if he had known they would both be in Gemin. He really hadn’t expected to meet Woo here.
Pheilik started circling Woo, who was standing there like a statue.
“It seems like it’s time for your rebellious phase to end. Unfortunately, your brother has no intention of letting you go.”
“I see, that’s just like Duke Reeves.”
Woo said in a calm voice.
“Do you want to go back to Lohn? Or do you want to stay with Sue Byron?”
“Well, that’s not for me to decide.”
Pheilik stopped circling him.
‘Is he really someone who abandoned everything and ran away?’
To Pheilik’s eyes, he didn’t seem to be yearning for his brother or his homeland, nor was he vehemently refusing to return to Lohn. He was being very passive, considering he had caused enough trouble for the rumors to reach a foreign country.
“Are you just going to go with the flow?”
“….”
“I didn’t think you were the type to live without a plan…”
But no matter how much Pheilik provoked him, Woo didn’t seem willing to reveal his true feelings.
Pheilik, in the ensuing silence, thought about how he could tease both Woo and Reeves at the same time. And then, an idea came to mind.
“Then let’s assume you agreed to my words, and let me make a suggestion.”
Woo’s gaze, which had been downcast, finally met Pheilik’s. He had been wondering when he could leave, when he should change inns. So he couldn’t help but clench his fists at Pheilik’s next words.
“Woo Acrea, become my vassal.”
“That’s absurd, Your Highness. Someone like me, your vassal?”
“Why not? Your abilities are too valuable to waste. Not just me, but everyone in Atlantis and the Lokor royal palace thinks so.”
“I’m… not worthy of such an honor.”
“Then will you go back to Lohn?”
“….”
Woo’s lips, which had been moving rapidly, suddenly closed. Pheilik raised his chin and said,
“Or are you going to spend the rest of your life wandering this land with Sue Byron?”
“….”
“Are you avoiding the question because you can’t decide on your own?”
“….”
“Then I’ll decide for you. Honestly, it’s too much trouble to escort you back to Atlantis. And I don’t want to do anything that would benefit Reeves. Just stay in Lokor. With that woman, Sue Byron. I’ll give you a territory and a title.”
It had been an impulsive suggestion, but Pheilik had convinced himself as he was speaking. Come to think of it, Woo Acrea was too valuable of an asset to just use and discard.
Besides, he was desperately short of allies, except for Selena and a few vassals. So if he could bring Woo Acrea to his side… How many people could he piss off? The thought sent shivers down his spine.
“So? What do you think? It’s a good offer, there’s nothing in it for you to lose.”
“…That’s true.”
But the conversation ended there, Woo’s lips sealed once again.