The Brave One
“I, I don’t need it!”
When I spoke almost shouting, Seton made a surprised expression.
Ugh. I feel like Temarr hyung is glaring at me!
But I already received a gift, and now another one! Isn’t that too shameless? It’s burdensome! And embarrassing too…….
“It’s too expensive an item for Ren.”
I’m glad hyung stepped in.
Right, if I have a necklace like that, I’ll just become a target for crime!! When I nodded vigorously beside him, Seton made a troubled expression.
“And um…….”
When I kept glancing at Hugh, he made a puzzled expression. Seton also looked at Hugh following my gaze. When Seton gestured for him to come forward, Hugh approached me. He maintained a distance that wasn’t burdensome. Wow…… he’s really considerate!
“There’s something I really wanted to say…….”
It had been weighing on my mind the whole time. I opened my mouth with difficulty from the awkwardness.
“I’m sorry.”
“……Pardon?”
Hugh blinked as if he didn’t understand.
“I said I’m sorry!”
Ugh. Why am I trying to shout again! I steadied my fluttering heart from the awkwardness and bowed my head to him.
“If I hadn’t interfered, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt, right? I’m sorry for misunderstanding you as a bad person!”
I spoke quite calmly and maturely.
Once I spat out the words, after that, words flowed out without even thinking. I know better than anyone how shitty it is to be misunderstood! So this is something I should apologize for over and over!
Those surprised ash-gray eyes examined me… then held a gentle smile. Like sunlight shining on a foggy face… facing that briefly brightened face, my heart seemed to skip a beat for a moment.
It was brief, but it was an incredibly warm face.
It resembled Seton’s smile that I glimpsed earlier. The two really seemed to be brothers.
How much prettier must the youngest, Shon, have smiled? Remembering that boy lying quietly in the coffin, my heart ached again for a moment.
If the death of a stranger I never even spoke to hurts my heart this much.
The death of family… how terrible must it be?
“You have a warm heart. You don’t need to apologize. I got hurt because I was already handling an unreasonable schedule.”
But if I hadn’t clung to him, couldn’t he have landed more properly?
It was embarrassing to keep saying no, so I kept my mouth shut, but Hugh, who had been quietly observing my face, smiled knowingly.
“Ren, you’re lighter than a feather, so even if you clung to me, what impact could that have had?”
“What…!”
No, what are you saying, embarrassing me!
I think I heard Ruman’s voice laughing with a “pfft.” Ruman! Don’t laugh!
“Would you feel better if I accepted your apology?”
When I nodded, Hugh also nodded.
“I understand. Ren.”
Hugh! I can finally breathe. I felt refreshed as if a weight had been lifted.
“Ren. Please help us feel at ease too.”
“Huh?”
I froze with the same face I’d been smiling comfortably!
“Please accept Coco-nim’s heart.”
He took the box from Seton and held it out to me. No, this is cheating! Hyung won’t like me receiving something this expensive either! And, and I’ve never received a gift like this! Just receiving from Coco already exceeded the limit……!
Ruman was amused watching me flustered and waving my hands. Hugh carefully extended his hand. Without realizing it, I stretched out my hand as if drawn in, and he placed the box on my hand.
Extending my hand just now was force majeure! When he approached so carefully, I couldn’t not extend it…….
“We sincerely thank you, Ren. So please don’t refuse and accept it. To us, you are also a hero.”
A hero, good heavens! My face burned.
“I, I wasn’t that brave.”
I just jumped in! Because I promised I wouldn’t leave her alone!
Hugh laughed as if this version of me was difficult.
Am I making someone else uncomfortable again?!
What if Hugh thinks I’m a headache too?! I can’t do this from the awkwardness! Isn’t it polite to decline what’s offered? Should I just accept it now? Is that right!?
As I caused an earthquake in my pupils, Hugh suppressed his laughter.
“Hyung-nim.”
“Hugh. In official settings, call me Captain.”
Seton answered in a cold voice.
“Hyung-nim. Since we’re greeting the Princess Coco’s dear friend, isn’t this somewhat of a private occasion?”
When Hugh continued gently, Seton relaxed his expression. Hugh is kind to both Coco and his hyung.
“Hyung-nim. My eloquence doesn’t seem to work on this brave boy. Please help.”
No, what kind of request is that!
While I was moving my lips bewilderedly, Seton strode over and took out the necklace from the box. It was a necklace with a beautifully red ruby embedded in it, as if Princess Coco’s eyes had been plucked out and set there.
“If someone who jumps into a fire pit together because it’s dangerous isn’t brave, then it’s nothing but mocking others as cowards.”
“I didn’t mean it that way…!”
“I know that. Now, will you make people into cowards? Or will you become a brave boy?”
“…I’ll gratefully accept it.”
“Good.”
I obediently turned my back following his instruction. I flinched thinking Seton’s hand might touch my body, but he didn’t even touch my hair. The necklace chain seemed quite long. Seton, whose hand movements were quick, fastened the necklace in no time and stepped back as abruptly as he had approached.
“No matter how expensive it is, could it be worth a life?”
Seton whispered in passing. I looked at him in surprise, but Seton wasn’t looking at me. That’s right, I got stabbed instead of Coco, didn’t I? It was an unconscious action so I didn’t put much meaning to it. Did I, did I do something amazing……. While blankly fiddling with the necklace he put on me, I hurriedly greeted him under hyung’s glare.
“Thank you.”
Seton briefly cast his gaze at me.
“Travel safely. You brave ones.”
Ruman made a slightly surprised expression, then placed his hand on his chest and received the greeting.
Hyung also returned the greeting, and Gepetto and I bowed our heads awkwardly.
If by any chance I live a few more years, I thought I’d like to come back here and give gifts too. Receiving two gifts is too much. My hand kept going to the necklace.
Hugh looked at me with warm eyes like that.
I got on the carriage with hyung’s help, and Gepetto also hopped onto the carriage.
What, we’re riding the same carriage!
Ahem. Gepetto coughed awkwardly and sat pressed against the door. The carriage door closed with a rattle, and hyung and Ruman mounted their horses.
Ruman was holding two sets of reins. Wait, is it possible for one person to move two horses?!
I opened my eyes wide and looked out the window, and caught a glimpse of a yellowish light floating around the reins.
I narrowed my eyes to see what it was in detail, but I saw hyung’s chest.
“Ren. Don’t stick your head out, it’s dangerous.”
“Okay….”
I had to stop looking out the window.
With the neighing of horses, the carriage slowly began to move.
I want to look back. Should I peek out secretly without hyung knowing?
“Um, Ren-nim.”
“…Just call me Ren.”
What’s with the ‘-nim.’
Then Gepetto’s face brightened considerably.
“Come over here.”
“…I don’t want to.”
“That’s not it, Ruman-nim is riding ahead on this side.”
“So what?”
“Aren’t you trying to look out the window? It’s troublesome because Hero hyung-nim is guarding that side.”
Ah…! That’s what he meant!
After pondering, I decided not to have pointless pride.
I sneakily approached the opposite window and quickly stuck my head out through the window Gepetto opened for me.
From an open window in the middle of that tall ducal castle, long fluttering purple hair was waving like a flag. Coco’s hair looked exactly like it was waving hands saying ‘Goodbye, take care’ and wishing good fortune.
If I hadn’t looked back, I think I would have really regretted it.
Wait! Isn’t that dangerous?!
“Ren. You should pull your head in now.”
Whoa.
Ruman, how long have you been watching me!
As if those golden eyes had been watching me the whole time, as soon as I turned my head, our eyes met. Startled, I pulled my head back, and I heard a surprised “oh, oh” sound.
“Ugh.”
“Are, are you alright?”
Gepetto supported the back of my head with a flustered face.
“I’m, I’m fine. I’m okay.”
I hurriedly pushed his hand away and just bowed my head as thanks. He touched his own hand with a strange expression.
Soon after, the carriage stopped and the door opened.
“Ren. I told you not to stick your head out.”
“Yeah, I was wrong….”
“…….”
Hyung’s stern gaze swept over every part of my face.
“You’re not hurt?”
“No….”
“Then that’s fine.”
“Ruman. Don’t carelessly say he’s not your younger brother. It’s not important that he didn’t get hurt. What’s important is that he almost got hurt. Ren. If you do that again, I’ll tie you behind me and make you ride the horse, so don’t cause trouble.”
“Huh? Uh…….”
My butt would hurt, but I don’t dislike it…?
Rather… I’d like it!?
Ruman looked at Temarr hyung, who had spoken unusually long, with an exasperated face.
“Your words and actions are too different. You should give punishment, not a reward.”
Ruman sighed and then firmly closed the window.
