SNEAK IN

"SINCE I only brought Pierce Willard with me, Count Woolsey doesn't mind if I asked Yvo hyung to escort me back to the Royal Capital, do you?"

Yvo was impressed at how Cyrus Helion, the Crown Prince, could sound so commanding even though he was asking a request. Although he didn't like the guy, he had to give it to him. [He's really a royal prince.]

Right now, he was in the study with Cyrus Helion and Eugenio Woolsey.

His noonim, Gypsy, was in her office while attending to the documents that needed to be signed today. He and the Crown Prince were there before they met the old count in the main mansion's study.

It was basic etiquette to say goodbye to the elder of the family before leaving the grand duchy even though Eugenio Woolsey wasn't the Clan Head.

"Moreover, I already got Her Ladyship's approval to leave the duchy with Yvo hyung," Cyrus Helion said cheerfully. "And since Her Ladyship already approved, there's no way Count Woolsey will have a different answer, right?"

[Way to remind the count that Noonim has the authority in the duchy and not him.]

As expected, the Crown Prince was a rude two-faced bastard pretending to be eloquent and righteous in front of the people he needed to be on his side.

"Of course, Your Royal Highness," Count Eugenio Woolsey said politely. If he was annoyed or insulted because of the Crown Prince's roundabout way of saying that he didn't have authority over the duchy, the count didn't show it. He remained a dignified, straight face. "I support Her Ladyship's decision."

Cyrus Helion acted like he was relieved. "Thank you, Count Woolsey."

"Not at all, Your Royal Highness. Anyone who visits the duchy is our responsibility– especially if the guest is as important as you, Prince Cyrus," Eugenio Woolsey said, then he put a hand on Yvo's shoulder. "Yvo, my precious nephew, take care of our Crown Prince."

[Suddenly acting like we're close, huh?]

Yvo nodded, acting docile in order to protect his noonim. "I will, Uncle."

***

"WHY DIDN'T you report to me that His Royal Highness summoned you and Yvo?"

Gypsy already expected that Count Eugenio Woolsey would scold her the moment he entered her office without even knocking.

If she was still the same Gypsy who had no one else to protect her but herself, she would have already shaken in fear. But now that she was slightly confident that Yvo was indeed her ally, her heart was at ease. She wasn't 100% sure yet, but she decided to trust her fake brother.

[Plus, Prince Cyrus is still here. If Count Woolsey decides to be violent, which is unlikely but you'll never know, I know that he won't let me get hurt.]

"I apologize, Count Woolsey," Gypsy said when she stood up, then she slightly bowed her head towards the count. "I didn't have the chance to do so because Sir Willard, the Crown Prince's personal knight, is watching my every move."

The Crown Prince already told her not to bow to just anyone.

She didn't want to bow to the count, too. But what choice did she have? She had to act like an obedient puppet until she destroyed Eugenio Woolsey with her hands.

"Why did you let Yvo go with the Crown Prince?"

"Young Master Yvo is asking questions about our finances," she lied with a straight face. "I thought sending him to the Royal Capital will give me time to hide the things that I didn't want the young master to see."

Of course, the thing she needed to hide was the duchy's flow of money.

Most of it went to Count Eugenio Woolsey, obviously. It was one of the reasons why the count wanted to control her.

[When I told Yvo about this, he didn't get surprised because he was already aware of it.]

"Very well," Count Eugenio Woolsey said, satisfied. "I'll rest in the Icelyn Villa for tonight– keep up the good work."

Look at this crooked old man acting like he was her boss.

Gypsy smiled and bowed anyway. "Have a pleasant night, my lord."

[Enjoy your last peaceful sleep, you crooked old man.]

***

"NOW LET'S SNEAK in Gypsy noona's bedroom!"

Yvo grabbed Cyrus Helion by his nape when the Crown Prince tried to get out of the carriage.

Pierce Willard, the Crown Prince's shadow who was sitting on the couch across from them, immediately grabbed the scabbard attached to his waist. It looked like the extremely loyal knight was about to cut him if the pesky little sun didn't raise his hand to stop him.

"It's alright, Pierce. Yvo hyung is just a touchy-feely person," Cyrus Helion said, then he turned to him with a bright smile. "Right, hyung?"

"I'm not your hyung," Yvo said with a frown. "And I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?" the Crown Prince asked "innocently" while clearly observing her. "I thought you like skinship since you can't keep your hands to yourself around Gypsy noona."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not close with my siblings, so I wouldn't know," Cyrus Helion said, "smiling." That smile was anything but sincere. "Is it normal for a younger brother to be that touchy-feely to his older sister?"

Ah, this pesky little sun was digging into his relationship with his noonim.

[Is this annoying Crown Prince looking for our weakness to take over the Winterbone Duchy?]

It was bothersome, but he needed to shut him up. He wasn't scared of the Crown Prince. But he didn't want this sly bastard to blackmail his noonim if Cyrus Helion found out that Gypsy was his fake sister.

"If you are deprived of physical warmth from other people because you have a cold relationship with your siblings, then just say so," Yvo said while removing the glove in his right hand. Then he "grabbed" Cyrus Helion's face with his bare hand. "Is this enough skinship for Your Royal Highness?"

Cyrus Helion laughed like the madman that he was. "Yvo hyung, I really like you!"

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'Butter Up the Crown Wolf' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3