CH 137

Chapter 137

Side Story 2. Winter (1)

‘Good job, You did a really good job, Eugene.’

Yerine’s face, smiling like that, shone more than anyone else.

Although she didn’t see anything as bright as her magic, Eugene thought that even the magic’s shine couldn’t beat Yerine’s.

Eugene’s heart thumped as he recalled her smile.

He could feel all the trembling as he ran on the dark road.

‘Where the hell are you.’

Eugene did not know what he wanted to do specifically.

Of course, he didn’t even know what he wanted to say when Yerine left the banquet hall.

However, as her star-like smile tingled and her warm voice rang in his ears, only one thought came into Eugene’s head.

He wants to see Yerine Spade right now.

‘I’m a fool, too.’

Eugene did not stop even when he thought he was a fool.

As if the man trapped in the dark was attracted by the light of the fire, he was following her light.

‘All I have left is the northeast backyard.’

Eugene’s heart, which turned northeast, was heavily weighed down.

Why does it have to be the northeast backyard?

Rumours of a mistletoe passage there spread among the students.

‘If she’s really there…….’

The rumours said, if you kiss the back of your crush’s hand on the Foundation day festival night, you can be together forever.

Eugene didn’t think Yerine would believe such rumours.

She either went there by accident, or she was led by the Crown Prince.

The thought of it made his heart stuffy.

‘That’s……..’

As soon as he arrived in the backyard in the northeast, he could see the shadows of the two barely under the passage.

Eugene had no choice but to look still.

The Crown Prince carefully kissed Yerine on the back of her hand.

The scene unfolded before him slowly flowed.

The crown prince’s lips fell from Yerine’s hand and the two had a conversation.

However, the voices of the two could not reach Eugene’s ears.

‘It’s okay. It’s just a superstition anyway.’

Eugene, who hid in the shadow of the building and clenched his fist, retorted it into the path of mistletoe.

There was no need to be anxious about this.

He was originally a man who didn’t rely on luck.

He has always been a man who only sees the game through his skills.

He, of course, did not believe in superstitions.

Therefore, Eugene couldn’t figure out why he thought to himself, ‘It’s okay. It’s just a superstition anyway.’ several times as if he was trying to reassure himself.

It was just then.

“Thank you.”

It was a voice that couldn’t reach him as if it were scattered through the air.

Yerine’s voice, speaking the words, pierced Eugene’s ears like a spear piercing the target.

“Ah.”

As he looked up, Yerine’s face was seen slanted in the moonlight.

She was smiling wide like evening primrose.

A smile filled with innocence without any pretence.

And really, a happy-looking smile.

Yerine’s smile was even more shiny and sparkly than what she showed in front of Eugene after the performance.

Looking at the smile, Eugene bowed his head in the dark.

And he turned his steps.

Eugene knew he had to go back.

He couldn’t make Yerine smile like that.

***

“What’s wrong with this from the morning……….”

Eugene, who raised himself from the bed, grabbed his face and murmured.

Out of nowhere, he couldn’t understand why this happened to him because he had a dream from the day at the Academy a few years ago.

“Why do I dream like that today?”

While sighing, he rose steadily from his bed and prepared to get dressed right away.

The guest was supposed to arrive at 11 a.m., so he had to move diligently from early in the morning.

He was a great guest, so he should be eager to prepare well.

‘I’m out of my mind, too.’

Eugene had to move busily from the morning, but he didn’t feel bothered at all.

Rather, his heart throbbed as if he was waiting for something.

After being quickly dressed, he ordered the users to check their meals and refreshments, took a look around the Dukedom, and went down to the first floor for breakfast.

Then he met a familiar man with silver hair in the hallway.

“Father.”

Eugene’s voice turned him around.

His blue eyes, which are constantly emitting a sharp spirit, headed for Eugene.

And next to it was a slightly-white eye, faded its light from the injury…

“Are you Eugene?”

“Did you sleep well last night?”

Liktoanis Ace, the former Duke of the Ace Dukedom.

He, who always wore an eye patch not only on the outside but within the Dukedom also, no longer wore it.

Since the day Eugene inherited his title.

“I slept well.”

It was a neat answer without a hitch.

At the end of the answer, Eugene carefully opened his mouth, grabbing his father who was about to turn around and step forward.

“Are you sure you’ll be out till evening?”

He didn’t answer Eugene’s question right away.

He stared at Eugene with his blue eyes and answered in a subdued voice.

“I will.”

“You don’t have to go that far.”

“No.”

Liktoanis shook his head.

“She… No, the Duke will be uncomfortable with me, so I’ll just leave.”

“She doesn’t feel uncomfortable about Father that much. It’s okay to stay.”

“It’s okay, I’ll go.”

Eugene knew he could no longer break his father’s stubbornness.

Eventually, when Eugene gave up and closed his mouth, Liktoanis turned around and moved his step.

“You, talk to the Duke well.”

Looking at the back of a distant silver-haired man, Eugene nodded and headed for the dining room.

***

“Eugene!”

Entering the front door, Yerine’s face was red with cold.

Eugene thought to himself as he saw Yerine holding the robe with one hand and waving at him.

‘It’s been years but she’s still no different from the days we were in the Academy.’

Even after becoming Trump, Yerine was as bright as she was in the Academy Awards in front of his peers.

She showed her love for pudding without hesitation and still enjoyed teasing Eugene.

On top of that, her face hardly changed, which made feel even more like that.

“Michael, close the door. Take the robe.”

Yerine, who gave the robes to the users, smiled at Eugene after colouring her cheeks red.

“It’s been a long time. How are you?”

Eugene grinned at her naturally with her right hand out.

“I’ve been well.”

He shook his right hand with Yerine’s and replied.

“Let’s go inside. The porch is cold. I have the meal prepared.”

“Oh, thank you. I happened to be hungry after a long ride.”

Yerine walked side by side next to Eugene and talked.

Then she tilted her head looking at Eugene to be pierced.

“But Eugene.”

Eugene was nervous about her attitude for some reason.

Of course, he didn’t show that.

“Why, Spade?”

Then Yerine pointed her finger at her forehead and asked.

“Did you flip your side hair?”

Unlike his expression, which seemed extremely serious, Eugene was secretly relieved when a small question was asked.

“Uh. Why, is it weird?”

He prepared his hair with care.

When Eugene looks in the mirror in the morning, his hair is worth looking at.

He really thought so.

Now, however, he wondered if his judgment was wrong.

‘Is it that weird?’

There was a clear voice in Eugene’s ear, who was thinking inside.

“No, it looks good on you.”

Yerine replied with her purple and red eyes shining.

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“Then I’ll have to do this all the time.”

“Yes, do it. This hair suits your vibe much better.”

They talked as they walked to the dining room.

The lunch, which Eugene and the users worked hard on, was prepared, and fortunately, it seemed to suit Yerine’s taste.

For reference, the dessert was pudding.

“Wow, thank you so much. I didn’t expect to be treated so well.”

After finishing the meal, Yerine buried herself in the parlour chair and said.

“The meal was so great and the pudding for dessert was the best.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Eugene took a sip of black tea and nodded.

It seemed to be worthwhile to prepare.

After hearing Eugene’s reply, Yerine grinned and opened her mouth in an exaggerated voice.

“I’m so honoured that I can’t help myself.”

“What?”

“The Duke of Ace of the North, known for his coolness, treats me so well.”

Yerine continued with a big smile.

“As soon as I got here, I was provided such a luxurious meal.”

She stretched out her fingers toward the cup and spoke with delight.

“The dessert is prepared with the pudding that I love the most in the world.”

And she talked to Eugene with eye contact.

Eugene’s hand at the teacup paused.

Desserts should be prepared in the pudding in advance.

All people at the Academy know that Yerine Spade likes pudding.

“It’s natural for the owner to suit the guest’s taste.”

Her soft, purple eyes looked at him, and his stomach was strangely throbbing.

It’s always been like this.

When he’s with Yerine.

“As expected, everything that Ace does is different. I think Ace’s way of treating the guest is on a different level.”

Yerine said, taking a sip of black tea and putting down the cup.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this for a guest.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“It’s a big deal.”

Yerine smiled and waved her hand.

“Not only did you prepare the meal, but you even clean and style your hair for the guest.”

Eugene knew that Yerine had brought it up without any intention.

Nevertheless, his mouth kept tickling.

“I’ve never seen you put your hair back before, is that what you usually do when you get a guest?”

The words he wanted to say kept burning in his heart.

The words that shouldn’t have burst.

“No, just for today.”

In his head, Eugene thought so, but his mouth was moving freely.

“I’ve never done that in front of anyone else. You’re the first.”

“Oh, really?”

Still, the moment she saw the smiling face, Eugene couldn’t control himself.

He didn’t know what was wrong with him.

“Because I wanted to look good to you.”

A low trembling voice rang out in the parlour room.