PAY ATTENTION

MERFOLKS.

Yvo didn't expect that Count Eugenio Woolsey's hidden treasures turned out to be merfolks, but Gypsy had no reason to lie to him. Moreover, he knew that both his uncle and cousin were sick in the head. He wouldn't put it past them to abduct merfolks, even though a treaty existed between the humans and the merfolks.

[Once the merfolks find out that some of their people have been abducted by humans, then the merfolks might break the treaty and declare war on us. If that happens, the safe sea route that we barely secured from the merfolks will no longer be safe.]

The consequences would be worse for the Woolseys.

"Our whole clan will be punished if the merfolks break the treaty and declare war on us because of Eugenio and Ethan Woolsey's idiocy," Yvo said through gritted teeth. "And if that happens, the empire will make us take responsibility by leading the war against the merfolks. If we don't make peace with them and secure the sea routes again, the royal family will execute us."

He wasn't afraid of the royal family, but making enemies out of them wouldn't benefit him. His goal was to prove the Wolf Clan's innocence. He couldn't die before he cleared their name. Hence, he had to tread carefully.

[Should I kill all the merfolks that Eugenio and Ethan Woolsey abducted to get rid of the evidence?]

"Young Master Yvo, you're not thinking of killing the merfolks, are you?"

He was startled when Gypsy hit the bull's eye.

"Noonim, how did you know what I'm thinking?" Yvo asked, pleased. "Are you paying attention to me now?"

"When did I not pay attention to Young Master Yvo?"

Lip service.

He knew that his fake sister was just sucking up to him for her survival. But, for some reason, he found it endearing. Perhaps it was because he knew that Gypsy was a gentle and honest person. That was why he liked teasing her.

[She can't hide her expressions well. I wonder how she managed to fool my uncle with a fake contract.]

Or perhaps…?

[Am I the only one who pays this much attention to my fake sister?]

"Anyway, Young Master Yvo," Gypsy said, changing the topic. "If we succeed in finding the merfolks, let's rescue them instead of killing them."

"Do you think they will forgive us just because we rescued them?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Noonim, once the kidnapped merfolks were freed, they will definitely return to the ocean and tell their King about what happened."

Yes, the ocean had a monarchy, too.

"Eugenio and Ethan Woolsey are still Woolseys, Noonim," he reminded his fake sister. "Since you're now the head of the family, you'll take responsibility for the crimes they committed. The empire's royal family will sacrifice you to the merfolks if they need to in order to maintain the peace."

"That's why I'm telling you not to kill the merfolks that we will rescue."

He knitted his eyebrows. "What exactly is your plan, Noonim?"

Gypsy smiled brightly at him. "Just trust me, Young Master Yvo."

He wanted to protest, but seeing the innocent sparkle in his noonim's eyes made him stop.

[She looks so pure that I don't have the heart to reject her.]

Yvo let out a deep sigh while shaking his head. "My doe-eyed Noonim is playing dirty."

***

'XAVIER Lagun.'

As far as Gypsy remembered from the walkthrough videos of The Crown Wolf game that she had binge-watched as Baek Si-a, Xavier Lagun was the first villain that Yvo had encountered on his journey.

In the game, Yvo had never found out that his uncle and his cousin had abducted merfolks for their sick collection.

Xavier Lagun had escaped on his own, and returned to the Winterbone Dutchy to avenge his clan members that died because of Eugenio and Ethan Woolsey's cruelty. When Xavier Lagun came back, Yvo was already the head of House Woolsey. The merman wanted the complete annihilation of the Woolseys as revenge, so the Crown Wolf had no choice but to fight him.

[Yvo isn't the type to explain himself, and Xavier Lagun isn't the type to listen when he's mad.]

Thus, the two became bitter enemies.

[But they can totally be friends,] Gypsy thought to herself while looking outside the window of the carriage. All she could see was snow that covered the ground and the trees. They were truly back to the Winterbone Duchy. [Instead of fighting each other, Yvo and Xavier Lagun can be friends.]

Xavier Lagun was one of the most popular characters in the game. And it was all thanks to his tragic backstory. And because of that, she knew exactly how to appease him.

[I'll convince him to become our ally.]

Of course, there was a reason why he wanted Xavier Lagun to be on their side.

[He's connected to one of the Spirits of this world.]

"Noonim?" Yvo, who was sitting on the couch across from her. "What are you thinking?"

She was about to say something when, all of a sudden, the carriage shook.

Because of that, she almost got thrown from her seat. Thankfully, Yvo immediately went to her side and held her close.

"Noonim, are you okay?"

She nodded, then she flinched and looked up when something heavy landed on the roof of the carriage before it stopped.

Gypsy's eyes went wide. "What's that?"

Yvo, without a word, drew his sword and stabbed the ceiling of the carriage.

She covered her mouth when she gasped. [This reckless kid!]

"Hyung, you're really a Woolsey– you're too cold!"

The voice of the young man that complained loudly came from outside. To be precise, it came above them.

Gypsy turned to Yvo. "Young Master, you have a dongsaeng?"

"Dongsaeng, my ass," Yvo said, irritated, while pulling back his sword. He rarely cussed out, so he must really be pissed. "He's just a pest."

***

PLATINUM blond hair.

Bright green eyes.

Sun-kissed skin.

Gypsy almost choked on her saliva after she realized that the person who landed on the roof of their carriage and called Yvo 'hyung' was Cyrus Helion– the empire's Crown Prince. She almost missed her step while stepping down the carriage because of the shock.

Thankfully, Yvo caught her.

"Noonim, are you alright?" Yvo asked. When she just nodded, he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her. Then he carefully put her down. "You must have been startled."

[He really likes lifting me.]

She was about to say something, but the Crown Prince spoke.

His Royal Highness jumped down from the roof as soon as they stepped down from the carriage.

"Wow, hyung– this is the first time I've seen you speak politely to other people. You're even rude to me."

Yvo turned to the Crown Prince. "I don't know what Your Royal Highness is talking about. As far as I am concerned, I've never been rude to you."

"Stop acting nice to me– you're giving me goosebumps," Cyrus Helion complained playfully, then he turned to her. Slowly. As if he was hesitating. Then, he smiled shyly at her. "You must be Lady Gypsy Woolsey."

Oh?

She didn't know why, but she felt a warmth in her chest when the Crown Prince talked to her in a gentle voice.

[Why do I feel like we've known each for a long time now?]

Yvo put a hand on the small of her back, as if he was trying to snap her out of her trance. "Noonim?"

Gypsy, upon "waking up" from her trance, immediately bowed to the Crown Prince. "Greetings to the Blessed Sun of the Helion Empire," she said politely. "I am Gypsy Woolsey, the temporary head of House Woolsey."

Prince Cyrus smiled warmly at her. "Can I call you Gypsy noona?"

Gypsy raised her head, surprised by the warmth and familiarity with the way Prince Cyrus called her 'Gypsy noona.' [Have we met before?]

***

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