ETHTKE chapter 39

* * *

“Cheong Dowoon, I asked what you are doing.”

The voice came again.

This… this is definitely Baek Yigang’s voice, no doubt, even if I were flying through the air.

I couldn’t turn my head easily. Why are you here?!

Of course, I did say I wanted to see him, but I didn’t mean for him to pop up right this instant!

With difficulty, I managed to roll my eyes and look in that direction. There stood a man with a stern, irritated expression, looking at me — no, glaring directly at me.

It was undoubtedly Baek Yigang.

A face I both wanted to see and did not want to see.

He’s always hiding something and never talks about his own matters, making others hear his stories instead — such an utterly cold-hearted guy.

But, still…

The moment he appeared, all the discomfort I had felt with Piel vanished completely.

Baek Yigang’s very presence was like a salvation. As much as I hated to admit it, it was the truth.

“Baek Yigang? How are you here…?”

My shocked lips moved slowly, yet swiftly.

Despite my rational mind knowing I shouldn’t casually call his name in front of Piel, my body instinctively reacted to Baek Yigang’s sudden appearance.

I bit my lip so hard that it felt like my insides were burning, as if to prove my nerves were frayed.

“Because you didn’t come.”

Whether he knew my feelings or not, Baek Yigang replied simply.

“What do you mean?”

“You said it yourself. The one who moves first is always the one at a disadvantage.”

With those words, Baek Yigang smoothly curled his lips into a smile and reached out his hand to me.

“Come here, Cheong Dowoon. I’m at a disadvantage right now.”

…Wow, seriously, what is going on?

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

Why did he appear out of nowhere and start behaving so assertively?

Honestly, I wanted to immediately shake off Piel’s hand and run to Baek Yigang. But Piel was still holding onto me.

Fortunately, he had let go of my chin, but he was gripping my wrist instead.

“Your Highness, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

I cautiously finished speaking with a face that tried to be as polite as possible and slowly slipped out of Piel’s grasp.

Perhaps thanks to Baek Yigang’s appearance, Piel didn’t hold onto me any longer and let me go without resistance.

“Wait.”

But only for a moment, as Piel called me back. His small, gentle voice pressed firmly against my eardrum.

When I turned my head, I saw Piel smiling sweetly. It was an unspoken pressure that I, of course, had to come to his side.

I couldn’t just ignore the Second Prince’s words and leave, so I had only one option.

Behind me was Baek Yigang, in front of me was Piel, and in between them was poor, helpless me…

If I had known being a possessor would be this exhausting, I would have given up a long time ago! Why did I do this three times for this crap?!

Anyway, suppressing a painful sigh inside, I approached him, and Piel gently tilted his head to whisper in my ear.

“Next time, be sure to visit my office. We still have much to discuss, don’t we?”

“…Yes.”

Piel soon moved away from me, looking relieved as if he had finished his business.

Seeing that expression, which left no regret behind… You’re just as annoying as Baek Yigang, aren’t you?

This is a different kind of annoyance than Baek Yigang, though. Is your business just finished, huh?!

I take back any thought I ever had that Piel might be better than Baek Yigang. Absolutely canceled.

After a moment of hesitation, I turned and walked straight to Baek Yigang’s side without looking back.

In a moment when no one spoke, an extremely heavy and tense atmosphere filled the surroundings. It felt like a battlefield, minus the swords.

All of it was entirely due to Baek Yigang’s aura.

Without saying a word, just with his gaze and presence, he created this oppressive feeling.

No wonder he’s a seed of darkness.

Hmm.

But is it really right to make such a dangerous and ominous person the emperor…?

After a harsh silence, it was Piel who first spoke up.

“Brother, did you really come all this way just to find a single wizard? You’ve put aside all your urgent work… It’s not like you.”

His words carried a blatant sharpness, but Piel’s face remained kind and gentle, contradicting the mood.

It seemed that Baek Yigang had been there since Piel grabbed my chin and asked that strange question.

Thinking about it made me shudder belatedly.

If I had said something stupid back then, I would have regretted it for a long time… I need to stay sharp from now on.

But Piel didn’t seem particularly surprised by Baek Yigang’s sudden appearance. He spoke to him calmly, as if he had known all along.

“I should be the one asking. Why are you lingering around my palace, pestering my people?”

Baek Yigang was always cold. But not like this. This was… on a different level from how he had been toward me before.

There was no intensity, no sincerity, not even the slightest hint of coldness — it was a truly emotionless statement.

Before Piel could respond, Baek Yigang spoke again.

“I told you not to even look at what you cannot have. I thought you might have learned something by now, but it seems I was mistaken. Know your place.”

Goodness, our Yigang really knows how to beat someone up with words.

A cold gaze shot bluntly toward Piel. It wasn’t just sharp; it was so cold it couldn’t even be described as fierce.

But isn’t the wording a bit harsh? I don’t know the specifics of their brotherly situation, but no matter what, he’s still your little brother…!

“Uh… Your Highness, how about we just leave now?”

I discreetly wiped away the cold sweat that wasn’t even there, grabbed Baek Yigang’s arm, and tried to pull him back.

…Did I ever mention?

That I’ve never been called weak, not even once in my life.

And yet…

Why won’t he move?

I’m using every bit of my strength right now, but damn Baek Yigang isn’t budging an inch.

Fine, I admit it. I might look big, but in front of Baek Yigang, I’m just a lamb. I can’t move him with my strength alone.

Just as I was about to give Asel, who had appeared beside me, a pleading look for help, Piel, who had been silent, suddenly spoke in a clear voice.

Piel, I don’t know what you want to say, but please just shut up for now. I have no desire to get involved in a fight between brothers!

“You misunderstand. I was just curious about the new royal Wizard who’s been the talk of the palace lately, nothing more.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Piel skillfully defused the tense atmosphere with a mild tone.

Great, it should have ended there… but Piel opened his mouth again.

“The Wizard is quite charming. Don’t forget our meeting next time, will you?”

He spoke while looking directly at me, and our eyes met.

Seriously, this is driving me insane. He’s still a member of the royal family, so I can’t exactly curse at him!

…Although I don’t think Baek Yigang would care much if I did, it would still be a loss for me to act out here.

“Haha… Yes, sure…”

I awkwardly nodded and gave a vague response, just as Baek Yigang, who had stood still like a rock until then, suddenly turned around.

The cold expression on his face was striking, as if he had no more words to exchange. Piel’s lips curled into a smile.

“Then, Brother, see you at the founding festival tomorrow. You too, Wizard.”

“Ah, yes. See you tomor—”

Thanks to Piel’s unnecessary inclusion of me, I was awkwardly answering when Baek Yigang grabbed my hand and pulled me roughly towards him.

My words were cut off, but who cares? Now I have to deal with Baek Yigang, not Piel.

---

“Asel, go back.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As we walked silently down the corridor, Baek Yigang’s brief command echoed softly through the wide hallway.

Asel, who had been following us at a distance, bowed his head and immediately disappeared.

No, Asel! Don’t leave…!

With Asel gone, not hearing the cry of my heart, only Baek Yigang and I remained in the desolate hallway of the Crown Prince’s palace.

And then…

“Ow, ow, it hurts!”

The grip on my wrist from Baek Yigang only grew stronger with time.

He wouldn’t really break my wrist just because I chatted with Piel, would he?

No, he wouldn’t… right?

“Couldn’t wait even that little while.”

Baek Yigang, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.

I, who was following behind him, walked right into his back before stopping myself.

“Making another appointment? My Wizard is light with both words and heart.”

“What? I was just…”

…Wait, why am I being scolded? What did I do wrong? It’s not like I could say no there!

Well, Baek Yigang, being the Crown Prince, couldn’t possibly understand having to comply with demands from higher-ups.

Unless… he knows exactly what’s going on and is just being petty.

It would make sense, which is even scarier. Honestly, I’d rather the former be the reason.

“Just try going to see him.”

“I won’t, I won’t. Absolutely not.”

Even if I don’t know the exact reason, I’m uneasy about Piel’s interest in me.

Going to see someone like that… who knows what might happen?

Absolutely not. Never.

Only after I frantically shook my head did the deep furrow between Baek Yigang’s brows finally relax.

“As you should.”

A satisfied voice murmured softly. Really, he only drains a person’s energy with his simplicity in times like these.

* * *