Prophesied Mates (5)

"I guess it's not your first time bringing equipment, right?" Yunho flashed a playful smile.

"That's right! I feel more comfortable surviving in the wilderness with my equipment set. This way, I can test samples and find out what possible foods to eat if I ever run out of food. You would see that I sent the majority of the fruit samples found as early as seven years ago if you took the time to look through the institute's records." Chantal replied, her enthusiasm evident.

"You are truly talented. But in this kind of wilderness, have you even thought that you might encounter monsters more powerful than you at that time? What if you got yourself killed?" Yunho's face changed, and his eyes contained anger and regret.

Undeterred, Chantal walked alongside him, affectionately pinching his cheeks. "I know you worry, but I needed to scavenge to survive in war before. I was not lucky enough to meet you in the past, yet look! I have you now. I don't have to venture alone in the wilderness."

Yunho sighed, his expression softening. "I will never allow you to take one step in danger without me in this life."

"Sometimes, I wonder how Major General Yunho could be this sweet when all the rumors point at him as a straight man of steel without emotions." Chantal teased.

"Why do I need to be sweet with everyone when they ain't you?" Yunho quipped, eliciting a shared laughter between the couple.

As they continued their journey into the forest, Chantal's curiosity got the better of her. "Can you tell me about your family? I want to know how it feels to live with blessed mutants." Chantal was very curious about Yunho's family, but above all, she wanted to know how much power was needed to capture the heroine. "Are you close with your family members?"

"I am close to my parents and to all of my brothers. I have four brothers and two sisters. Currently, my eldest and second brothers are managing the clan with my father. Since I am the third person in the house, I technically have two younger brothers in the academy. One is about to graduate, and the other is participating in this military training. While my sisters are twins, busy with their own lives," Yunho reminisced, recalling his family dynamics.

"Twins? How old are they? And which academy are they in?"

"Both of them will be turning fifteen next month."

"Are you not close to them?"

"I'm not. Not particularly. One of them, Eleanor, stays in the hospital year-round due to her fragile health, while the other, Gabriella, is an underage actress. Eleanor's formidable mental abilities more than make up for her physical weakness, which regrettably led to a decline in her general health. Gabriella, on the other hand, has a knack for the arts and resents being confined to one place. Hence, the family supports her pursuit of an acting career."

"Does anyone from your family visit any of your sisters?"

"My second brother is also Gabriella's manager, so they are together all the time. I also don't worry about Eleanor since my mother is the dean of the hospital she's admitted to."

Yunho talked a lot about his siblings' characteristics and likes, innocently thinking that Chantal might want to be close to them. But who knows? The future might be different in Chantal's hands. Chantal, on the other hand, was not expecting that the heroine would have a twin sister.

The novel never mentioned anyone with that name, but Chantal remembered that the original story started when the heroine turned fifteen and ran away. The current timeline might be different because instead of the heroine's engagement, it was her brother who was getting married. Chantal thought, 'Who would have imagined that the heroine is very sick? So how was she able to run?'

"Chanty, do you smell that?" Yunho stopped walking and closed his eyes, feeling intoxicated.

Chantal's consciousness slowly returned as she observed the path they were standing on. "The smell of grapes."

Yunho asked, "What are grapes?"

"A special ingredient for delicious wines."

Chantal's description of grapes piqued Yunho's interest, and he appeared genuinely curious. "Crafting wines? That sounds intriguing. I've never encountered such a scent in the wilderness before."

Chantal smiled, her eyes reflecting a glint of excitement. "Grapes are not native to our planet, and I have not seen them in the market as well. Finding them here is rather unexpected. It's possible that there might be a hidden wild vineyard nearby."

The couple followed the tantalizing scent through the dense foliage. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the aroma intensified, leading them to a clearing where light filtered through the trees, revealing clusters of ripe grapes hanging from vines.

Yunho's eyes widened with astonishment. "This is incredible! A hidden vineyard in the heart of the wilderness."

Chantal chuckled. "Nature always has its surprises. Shall we indulge ourselves a bit? These grapes might be a rare find, and who knows when we'll come across such a treasure again?"

"Let's test some samples before consuming." Yunho agreed, and they plucked the ripened grapes, savoring the sweetness that burst forth with each juicy bite. The unexpected discovery brought a sense of joy and spontaneity to their journey. "We can bring some seeds back to the cabin, and let's grow some at home."

As they enjoyed their impromptu feast, Chantal revisited the topic of Yunho's family. "Your sisters, Eleanor and Gabriella, seem to have unique qualities. I'd like to meet them soon!" But she silently thought, 'I never expected the heroine to have a twin sister in the original story. It adds a fascinating twist to the narrative.'

Yunho nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "We can see them on the day of our engagement. Chanty, you will meet more people in the future. Some will be close to you. Others will oppose you. And few who will stay with you till the end."

Chantal couldn't help but marvel at Yunho's philosophical outlook. "You truly have a remarkable perspective on life, Yunho. It's refreshing. But how about you?"

"I? Well, I am the person who'll love you till the end." Yunho grinned, his playful demeanor returning. "Well, life has a way of teaching us valuable lessons, and sometimes it's best to face it with a smile. Now, let's continue our journey through this enchanting forest. Who knows what other surprises await us?"