SIDE STORY 02……………………………………………
Arsene’s gaze fell upon a dark alleyway.
Unlike the bright street outside, the alley looked damp and gloomy, untouched by light.
But it wasn’t the atmosphere that caught his attention.
It was the people inside.
‘A girl? No… there’s a boy too.’
Tilting his head slightly, Arsene stared intently.
Judging by the small figure, they seemed young.
Silencing his footsteps, Arsene moved closer.
Soon, he heard a harsh voice.
“If you hand over everything you’ve got, we’ll let you go quietly.”
“I-I don’t have anything…”
A trembling female voice answered.
From the looks of it, they were thugs who wandered alleys, stealing money from children who were alone.
‘Already acting like gangsters at that age.’
Arsene clicked his tongue briefly.
“You look like some noble’s kid. Just hand over the money and we’ll let you go without a scratch.”
“I-I really don’t have any…”
Her voice was on the verge of tears.
Arsene leaned slightly to peek into the alley.
Large boys were surrounding a small girl in a circle.
The girl was trembling pitifully.
That girl was Evelina.
Terrified, tears welled up in her red eyes.
“Guess words won’t work!”
The biggest boy raised his hand as if to strike her.
“Eek!”
Evelina shrieked softly and curled into herself.
But even after a few moments, no pain came.
Still trembling, Evelina cautiously lifted her head.
A very tall man was gripping the wrist of the boy who had threatened her.
“Who the hell are you?!”
“Get lost.”
At the chilling voice, the boys flinched.
With one hand, Arsene touched the sword hanging at his waist.
The boys, thoroughly frightened, hurriedly ran away.
It was a remarkably quick exit.
Now only Evelina and Arsene remained in the dark alley.
Staring blankly at his back, Evelina let out a small hiccup.
“Hic!”
She quickly covered her mouth, but she couldn’t stop her trembling.
She was truly grateful he had saved her, but he was so tall and broad that he was still frightening.
Still, she had to thank him.
“S-s-s, thank—hic—thank you…”
She felt embarrassed for hiccupping midway.
Arsene slowly turned around and stared at Evelina, who had her head bowed low.
Normally, he would have just passed by.
He hated troublesome things.
But somehow, he couldn’t simply walk away.
That was why he helped her.
After hesitating, Arsene spoke.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, y-yes! I’m fine!”
Startled, Evelina nodded frantically.
Seeing how frightened she looked, Arsene felt awkward.
Still, he couldn’t remove his robe.
As he wondered what to do, a voice called from behind.
“Hyung! You were here? I’ve been looking everywhere.”
Jonas strode in, holding two skewers of grilled chicken that smelled delicious.
At his sudden appearance, Evelina stepped back.
Worried she might run away, Arsene quickly said,
“He’s my younger brother. You don’t need to be afraid.”
“O-okay…”
Thinking they were kind, Evelina tried to calm her pounding heart.
Because she was so small, Jonas only noticed her when he came closer.
“Huh? Who’s this?”
“…She was in trouble. I helped.”
“What? You did?”
Jonas made a strange face.
Arsene cleared his throat awkwardly and turned his head away.
Jonas tilted his head.
‘He agreed to come out when I asked, hates bothersome things, and now he says he saved a child? That’s odd.’
But he assumed it was just a passing whim and didn’t think too deeply about it.
Just then, a loud rumbling sound echoed.
Arsene and Jonas both looked at Evelina.
Soon, the sound of her stomach growling came again.
Her face turned bright red.
The delicious smell of the chicken skewers made her unbearably hungry.
Without hesitation, Arsene snatched one skewer from Jonas.
“Huh?”
Before Jonas could react, Arsene held it out to Evelina.
“Eat.”
“Pardon?”
“Eat. I’m not hungry.”
Evelina swallowed.
Normally, she should refuse out of politeness, but she was far too hungry.
Carefully, she reached out and accepted it.
“Th-thank you…”
In a small voice, she thanked him and took a bite.
The chicken was tender, coated with a sweet sauce—it was delicious.
“It’s good…”
Murmuring softly, she quickly finished it.
Jonas’s lips twitched.
He couldn’t believe Arsene had taken his skewer, but watching her eat so happily was oddly cute.
Suddenly Jonas asked,
“What’s your name?”
“Cough! Cough!”
Startled, Evelina choked.
Arsene shot Jonas a deadly glare and awkwardly patted her back.
Jonas felt wronged.
He had only asked her name.
Finally, when she stopped coughing, Evelina answered,
“Evelina… is my name.”
She almost added “Rotsfeld,” but quickly stopped herself.
So Arsene and Jonas assumed she was a commoner.
“I’m Jonas. My brother’s name is Arsene.”
“Yes…”
Evelina glanced at them.
They were obviously older than her.
“Th-then… may I call you oppa?”
“What? Oppa?”
Jonas burst into laughter.
Evelina would likely be the first and last person to ask a crown prince if she could call him that.
Seeing him only laugh, Evelina asked gloomily,
“Is that… not allowed?”
Arsene immediately smacked the back of Jonas’s head to quiet him and answered,
“No. It’s allowed.”
“Really?”
Her voice brightened instantly.
Though her face was hidden by her robe, she was surely smiling brightly.
“But isn’t it stuffy, covering your face like that?”
Jonas reached out to lift her robe.
Startled, Evelina jumped back and pressed it down firmly with her hands.
“N-no! It’s fine. I can see in front of me.”
“Really? Well, alright then.”
Jonas withdrew his hand.
Arsene turned to look outside.
“Let’s leave.”
“Yes!”
Arsene and Jonas walked ahead, with Evelina following closely behind—
like a baby chick trailing after its mother.
Outside, the streets were still crowded.
If they went out like this, she would surely get separated and lost.
After a moment’s thought, Arsene held out his hand to her.
Evelina blinked and tilted her head.
“Why?”
“Take it.”
“Pardon?”
“Take it. It’s dangerous with so many people.”
“Ah… okay!”
Carefully, Evelina took his hand.
Jonas rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
But the sight didn’t disappear.
Leaning close, Jonas whispered,
“Hyung, are you insane?”
“Shut up.”
“Okay.”
Arsene’s voice was cold enough to freeze everything solid.
Jonas closed his mouth.
For the first time, he was deeply curious about what Arsene was thinking.
Meanwhile, Evelina fidgeted with her fingers.
Arsene’s hand was so large it completely covered hers.
She giggled inwardly.
She technically had older brothers, but she had barely spoken to them.
So holding his hand felt very nice.
When she kept fidgeting, Arsene assumed she was uncomfortable and interlaced their fingers instead.
“Is there something you want to eat?”
“N-no!”
Startled, Evelina shook her head.
If someone bought her something, she knew she would have to repay it.
Mumbling, she said,
“I-I don’t have any money… so I can’t pay you back.”
Jonas looked dumbfounded.
“Do you think we’d ask for pocket change from a kid? We’ve got plenty of money. You don’t need to repay anything.”
“B-but…”
“That’s enough. Is there anything you want? Just say the word. Oppa will buy it all.”
Jonas puffed out his chest proudly.
Evelina stared at him, mouth slightly open.
At the mention of having lots of money, he almost seemed to glow behind her eyes.
“Really… anything is okay?”
“Yeah.”
Jonas grinned.
Evelina pointed somewhere.
“Then I want to try that.”
Arsene and Jonas turned to look.
It was a sweet snack—fruit skewered on sticks, coated with a thin layer of hardened sugar syrup.
Arsene was about to ask what was so tasty about that, but seeing how intently Evelina stared at it, he kept silent.
Jonas went to the stall, bought one, and returned.
“Here. Eat.”
“Thank you…”
Carefully, Evelina bit into it.
Crunch!
The thin sugar shell shattered.
It was sweet enough to make her tongue tingle.
She had never tasted sweetness like this before.
A smile bloomed on her lips.
After a moment of thought, she suddenly held the fruit skewer out to Arsene.
“Oppa, this is really good. Try some.”
She had read in a book that delicious things should be shared.
Arsene stared at the fruit skewer held out in front of him.
